EX-2.1 2 ea165315ex2-1_minority.htm BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT, BY AND AMONG MINORITY EQUALITY OPPORTUNITIES ACQUISITION INC., MEOA MERGER SUB, INC. AND DIGERATI TECHNOLOGIES, INC

Exhibit 2.1

 

Execution Version

 

BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT

 

BY AND AMONG

 

MINORITY EQUALITY OPPORTUNITIES ACQUISITION INC.,

 

MEOA MERGER SUB, INC.,

 

AND

 

DIGERATI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

DATED AS OF AUGUST 30, 2022

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

      Page
       
Article 1 CERTAIN DEFINITIONS 3
  Section 1.1 Definitions 3
Article 2 MERGER 23
  Section 2.1 Closing Transactions 23
  Section 2.2 Closing of the Transactions Contemplated by this Agreement 26
  Section 2.3 Allocation Schedule 27
  Section 2.4 Deliverables 28
  Section 2.5 Withholding 30
Article 3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES RELATING TO THE GROUP COMPANIES 30
  Section 3.1 Organization and Qualification 30
  Section 3.2 Capitalization of the Group Companies 31
  Section 3.3 Authority 33
  Section 3.4 Company SEC Filings 33
  Section 3.5 Internal Control; Quotation 34
  Section 3.6 Financial Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities 35
  Section 3.7 Consents and Requisite Governmental Approvals; No Violations 36
  Section 3.8 Permits 36
  Section 3.9 Material Contracts 37
  Section 3.10 Absence of Changes 40
  Section 3.11 Litigation 40
  Section 3.12 Compliance with Applicable Law 40
  Section 3.13 Employee Benefit Plans 40
  Section 3.14 Environmental Matters 43
  Section 3.15 Intellectual Property 43
  Section 3.16 Labor Matters 47
  Section 3.17 Insurance 50
  Section 3.18 Tax Matters 50
  Section 3.19 Brokers 52
  Section 3.20 Real and Personal Property 52
  Section 3.21 Transactions with Affiliates 53
  Section 3.22 Data Privacy and Security 53
  Section 3.23 Compliance with International Trade & Anti-Corruption Laws 54
  Section 3.24 Information Supplied 55
  Section 3.25 Warranties; Product Liability 55
  Section 3.26 Investigation; No Other Representations 56
Article 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES RELATING TO THE MEOA PARTIES 56
  Section 4.1 Organization and Qualification 56
  Section 4.2 Authority 56

 

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  Section 4.3 Consents and Requisite Governmental Approvals; No Violations 57
  Section 4.4 Brokers 57
  Section 4.5 Information Supplied 57
  Section 4.6 Capitalization of the MEOA Parties 58
  Section 4.7 MEOA SEC Filings 59
  Section 4.8 Trust Account 59
  Section 4.9 Transactions with Affiliates 59
  Section 4.10 Litigation 60
  Section 4.11 Compliance with Applicable Law 60
  Section 4.12 Business Activities 60
  Section 4.13 Internal Controls; Listing; Financial Statements 60
  Section 4.14 No Undisclosed Liabilities 61
  Section 4.15 Tax Matters 62
  Section 4.16 Investigation; No Other Representations 63
  Section 4.17 Employees and Employee Benefit Plans 63
  Section 4.18 Properties 63
  Section 4.19 Compliance with International Trade & Anti-Corruption Laws 63
Article 5 COVENANTS 64
  Section 5.1 Conduct of Business of the Company 64
  Section 5.2 Efforts to Consummate; Litigation 66
  Section 5.3 Confidentiality and Access to Information 67
  Section 5.4 Public Announcements 69
  Section 5.5 Tax Matters 70
  Section 5.6 Exclusive Dealing 71
  Section 5.7 Preparation of Registration Statement / Proxy Statement 72
  Section 5.8 MEOA Stockholder Approval 73
  Section 5.9 Merger Sub Stockholder Approval 73
  Section 5.10 Conduct of Business of MEOA 73
  Section 5.11 Nasdaq Listing 75
  Section 5.12 Trust Account 75
  Section 5.13 Transaction Support Agreements; Company Stockholder Approval 75
  Section 5.14 MEOA Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance 76
  Section 5.15 Company Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance 77
  Section 5.16 Post-Closing Directors and Officers 78
  Section 5.17 PCAOB Financials 78
  Section 5.18 MEOA Incentive Equity Plan 79
  Section 5.19 FIRPTA Certificates 79
  Section 5.20 Compliance with International Trade & Anti-Corruption Laws 79
  Section 5.21 Section 280G of the Code 79
Article 6 CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT 81
  Section 6.1 Conditions to the Obligations of the Parties 81
  Section 6.2 Other Conditions to the Obligations of the MEOA Parties 82
  Section 6.3 Other Conditions to the Obligations of the Company 83
  Section 6.4 Frustration of Closing Conditions 84

 

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Article 7 TERMINATION 84
  Section 7.1 Termination 84
  Section 7.2 Effect of Termination 86
Article 8 MISCELLANEOUS 87
  Section 8.1 Non-Survival 87
  Section 8.2 Entire Agreement; Assignment 87
  Section 8.3 Amendment 87
  Section 8.4 Notices 87
  Section 8.5 Governing Law 88
  Section 8.6 Fees and Expenses 88
  Section 8.7 Construction; Interpretation 88
  Section 8.8 Exhibits and Schedules 89
  Section 8.9 Parties in Interest 89
  Section 8.10 Severability 89
  Section 8.11 Counterparts; Electronic Signatures 89
  Section 8.12 Knowledge of Company; Knowledge of MEOA 89
  Section 8.13 No Recourse 90
  Section 8.14 Extension; Waiver 90
  Section 8.15 Waiver of Jury Trial 90
  Section 8.16 Submission to Jurisdiction 91
  Section 8.17 Remedies 91
  Section 8.18 Trust Account Waiver 92
  Section 8.19 Conflicts and Privilege 92

 

iii

 

 

BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT

 

This BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of August 30, 2022, is made by and among Minority Equality Opportunities Acquisition Inc., a Delaware corporation (“MEOA”), MEOA Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”), and Digerati Technologies, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”). MEOA, Merger Sub and the Company may be referred to herein collectively as the “Parties”. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings set forth in Section 1.1.

 

WHEREAS, (a) MEOA is a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on February 18, 2021 for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, and (b) Merger Sub is a wholly-owned Subsidiary of MEOA that was formed for purposes of consummating the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Governing Documents of MEOA, MEOA is required to provide an opportunity for its stockholders to have their outstanding MEOA Class A Shares redeemed on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;

 

WHEREAS, as of the date of this Agreement, Minority Equality Opportunities Acquisition Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), owns 3,162,500 MEOA Class B Shares;

 

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the Sponsor, MEOA and the Company are entering into the letter agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Sponsor Letter Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Sponsor has agreed to (a) vote in favor of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (including the Merger), (b) waive any adjustment to the conversion ratio set forth in the Governing Documents of MEOA or any other anti-dilution or similar protection with respect to the MEOA Class B Shares, such that the MEOA Class B Shares will convert into MEOA Class A Shares at the Closing on a one-to-one basis, and (c) subject certain of the MEOA Class B Shares currently held by the Sponsor and certain MEOA Class A Shares issuable to the Sponsor on exercise of a warrant owned by the Sponsor to potential forfeiture, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Sponsor Letter Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of MEOA (the “MEOA Board”) has (a) approved this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents to which MEOA is or will be a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Merger) and (b) recommended, among other things, approval and adoption of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the Merger) by the holders of MEOA Shares entitled to vote thereon;

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of Merger Sub has approved this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents to which Merger Sub is or will be a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Merger);

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company (the “Company Board”) has (a) approved this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents to which the Company is or will be a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Merger) and (b) recommended, among other things, the approval and adoption of this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents to which the Company is or will be a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Merger) by the holders of Company Shares entitled to vote thereon;

 

1

 

 

WHEREAS, the Sponsor has provided its written consent to the entry by MEOA into this Agreement (the “Sponsor Approval”);

 

WHEREAS, MEOA, as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub, will as promptly as reasonably practicable (and in any event within one Business Day) following the date of this Agreement, approve and adopt this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents to which Merger Sub is or will be a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Merger);

 

WHEREAS, the stockholders of the Company set forth on Schedule I attached hereto, which Supporting Company Stockholders constitute the holders of a sufficient amount of the voting power of the Company to approve the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby on a fully diluted basis, consistent with the deadlines set forth on Schedule I attached hereto (collectively, the “Supporting Company Stockholders”), shall duly execute and deliver to MEOA a transaction support agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (collectively, the “Transaction Support Agreements”) as provided in Schedule I, pursuant to which, among other things, each such Supporting Company Stockholder will agree to support and vote in favor of this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents to which the Company is or will be a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Merger);

 

WHEREAS, prior to the Closing, pursuant to a written agreement to be entered into among the Company and the holders of the Company Series C Preferred Stock (the “Company Series C Preferred Stockholder Consent”), the Company Series C Preferred Stock then issued and outstanding will be exchanged for an aggregate number of Restricted Shares to which the holders thereof would be entitled upon conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock in accordance with the Company Governing Documents;

 

WHEREAS, immediately after the Closing, the Company Series A Preferred Stock outstanding at such time will be converted into MEOA Shares in accordance with the terms of the Governing Documents of the Company (such shares of Company Series A Preferred Stock as shall be outstanding at the Closing being referred to herein as “Rollover Company Series A Preferred Stock”);

 

WHEREAS, immediately prior to the Closing, the Company Series B Preferred Stock will be converted into Company Shares in accordance with the terms of the Governing Documents of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, prior to the Closing, but following the receipt of Company Stockholder Approval, pursuant to a written agreement to be entered into among the Company and the holders of the Company Series F Preferred Stock (the “Company Series F Preferred Stockholder Consent”), the Company Series F Preferred Stock then issued and outstanding will be redeemed by the Company at a redemption price of $0.01 per share;

 

2

 

 

WHEREAS, on the Closing Date, (a) Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company as the surviving corporation in the Merger and, after giving effect to the Merger, the Company will be a wholly-owned Subsidiary of MEOA, and (b) each Company Share will be automatically converted as of the Effective Time into a portion of the Transaction Share Consideration, in each case on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein; and

 

WHEREAS, each of the Parties intends for U.S. federal income tax purposes that (a) this Agreement constitutes a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code and Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder and (b) the Merger be treated as a transaction that qualifies as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code (clauses (a)-(b), the “Intended Tax Treatment”).

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual promises set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, each intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

Article 1
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below.

 

Adopted Incentive Equity Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.18(b).

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person who directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. The term “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “controlled” and “controlling” have meanings correlative thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the Affiliates of the Sponsor shall be deemed to include Sphere 3D Corp. and its controlled Affiliates.

 

Aggregate Transaction Share Consideration” means an aggregate number of MEOA Shares equal to (a) the Transaction Share Consideration, plus (b) the Rollover Vested Option Amount, plus (c) the Rollover Warrant Amount. For avoidance of doubt, Aggregate Transaction Share Consideration shall be equal to 6,868,080 MEOA Shares, issuable either as Transaction Share Consideration or upon exercise or conversion, as applicable, of Vested Rollover Options, Rollover Warrants, shares of Rollover Company Series A Preferred Stock and Rollover Notes.

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

 

Allocation Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

 

Ancillary Documents” means the Sponsor Letter Agreement, the Transaction Support Agreements, the Letters of Transmittal and each other agreement, document, instrument and/or certificate contemplated by this Agreement executed or to be executed in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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Anti-Corruption Laws” means the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and any other anti-bribery or anti-corruption Laws related to combatting bribery, corruption and money laundering, which are applicable to MEOA or the Company.

 

Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means all applicable Laws and sanctions, foreign, state and federal, criminal and civil, that: (a) limit the use of and/or seek the forfeiture of proceeds from illegal transactions; (b) limit commercial transactions with designated countries or individuals believed to be terrorists, narcotics dealers or otherwise engaged in activities contrary to the interests of the United States; (c) require identification and documentation of the parties with whom a “financial institution” (as defined in 31 U.S.C. 5312 (a)(z), as periodically amended) conducts business; (d) require reporting of suspicious activity; or (e) are designed to disrupt the flow of funds to terrorist organizations. Such applicable Laws shall be deemed to include the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, Pub. L. No. 107-56, the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, 31 U.S.C. Section 5311 et seq., the Trading with the Enemy Act, 50 U.S.C. App. Section 1 et seq., the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. Section 1701 et seq., the Intelligence Reform & Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, and the sanction regulations promulgated pursuant thereto by U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, as well as laws relating to prevention and detection of money laundering in 18 U.S.C. Sections 1956 and 1957.

 

Business” means the business of providing cloud services specializing in Unified Communications as a Service solutions for the business market.

 

Business Combination Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8.

 

Business Day” means a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which commercial banks in New York, New York are open for the general transaction of business.

 

Cap” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(b).

 

CARES Act” means the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Public Law No. 116-136.

 

Certificates of Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(ii).

 

Certificates” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(vii).

 

Change of Control Payment” means (a) any success, change of control, retention, transaction bonus or other similar payment or amount payable to any Person as a result of or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or any other Change of Control Transaction (including any such payments or similar amounts that may become due and payable based upon the occurrence of one or more additional circumstances, matters or events) or (b) any payments made or required to be made pursuant to or in connection with or upon termination of, and any fees, expenses or other payments owing or that will become owing in respect of, any Company Related Party Transaction during the period beginning on the date of the Latest Balance Sheet and ending on the Closing Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the MEOA Shares to be issued in respect of or that will become subject to, as applicable, the Rollover Options or Rollover Warrants at the Effective Time on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement shall not constitute Change of Control Payments.

 

4

 

 

Change of Control Transaction” means any transaction or series of related transactions (a) under which any Person(s), directly or indirectly, acquires or otherwise purchases (i) another Person or any of its Affiliates or (ii) all or a material portion of assets, businesses or equity securities of another Person, including by way of an equity or similar investment in such Person, (b) that results, directly or indirectly, in the stockholders of a Person as of immediately prior to such transaction holding, in the aggregate, less than 50% of the voting shares of such Person (or any successor or parent company of such Person) immediately after the consummation thereof (in the case of each of clause (a) and (b), whether by merger, consolidation, tender offer, recapitalization, purchase or issuance of equity securities, tender offer or otherwise).

 

Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

 

Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

 

Closing Filings” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(b).

 

Closing Press Release” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(b).

 

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

 

Company” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

 

Company Acquisition Proposal” means any inquiry, offer or proposal (other than an inquiry, offer or proposal from an MEOA Party), whether or not in writing, contemplating, relating to, or that could reasonably be expected to lead to, (a) any transaction or series of related transactions under which any Person(s), directly or indirectly, acquires or otherwise purchases (i) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) all or a material portion of the assets or businesses of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (in the case of each of clause (i) and (ii), whether by merger, consolidation, recapitalization, purchase or issuance of equity securities, tender offer or otherwise), or (b) any equity or similar investment in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than the issuance of the applicable class of shares of capital stock of the Company upon the exercise or conversion of any Company Options or Company Warrants outstanding on the date of this Agreement in accordance with the terms of the Company Equity Plans and the underlying grant, award or similar agreement) that results in the acquisition or transfer of beneficial ownership of equity securities, or the right to acquire beneficial ownership or to vote, equity securities representing 10% or more of the then-outstanding voting power of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, no transaction between the Company and an MEOA Party or the issuance by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to an MEOA Party, including as contemplated by this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall constitute a Company Acquisition Proposal.

 

Company Board” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

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Company D&O Persons” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.15(a).

 

Company Disclosure Schedules” means the disclosure schedules to this Agreement delivered to MEOA by the Company on the date of this Agreement.

 

Company Equity Award” means, as of any determination time, each outstanding Company Option and each other outstanding equity or equity-based award to any current or former director, manager, officer, employee, individual independent contractor, or other service provider of any Group Company.

 

Company Equity Plans” means, collectively, the 2015 Equity Compensation Plan and the 2022 Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan.

 

Company Expenses” means, as of any determination time, the aggregate amount of fees, expenses, commissions or other amounts incurred by or on behalf of, or otherwise payable by, whether or not due, any Group Company in connection with the negotiation, preparation or execution of this Agreement or any Ancillary Documents, the performance of its covenants or agreements in this Agreement or any Ancillary Document or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, including (a) the fees and expenses of outside legal counsel, accountants, advisors, brokers, investment bankers, consultants, or other agents or service providers of any Group Company, (b) any Change of Control Payments and (c) any other fees, expenses, commissions or other amounts that are expressly allocated to any Group Company pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Documents, including 50% of all such fees, costs, expenses, commissions or other amounts incurred in connection with any filing with any Governmental Entity required hereunder, including the HSR Act filing fee. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, Company Expenses shall not include any MEOA Expenses.

 

Company Fully-Diluted Shares” means the total number of Company Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, expressed on a fully-diluted and as-converted to Company Shares basis, and including, without limitation or duplication, (a) the number of Company Shares issuable upon conversion of all shares of Company Preferred Stock outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, (b) the number of Company Shares issuable upon exercise of all Company Options and Company Warrants, (c) the number of Company Shares issuable upon conversion of the Rollover Notes, (d) the number of Company Shares issuable upon conversion into Company Shares of the shares of the common stock of T3 Communications, Inc., a Nevada corporation, held by stockholders other than the Company, and (e) the Restricted Shares.

 

Company Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.1(a) and Section 3.1(b) (Organization and Qualification), Section 3.2(a), and Section 3.2(c) (Capitalization of the Group Companies), Section 3.3 (Authority), Section 3.10(a) (No Company Material Adverse Effect) and Section 3.19 (Brokers).

 

Company IT Systems” means all computer systems, Software, hardware, communication systems, servers, network equipment and related documentation, interfaces, data and databases, and all other information technology or telecommunications systems that are used to process, store, maintain or operate data, information, and functions used in connection with the business of a Group Company that are, in each case, owned or purported to be owned, licensed or leased by a Group Company.

 

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Company Licensed Intellectual Property” means Intellectual Property Rights owned or licensed by any Person (other than a Group Company) that is licensed or sublicensed, as applicable, to any Group Company.

 

Company Licensed Patent” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(a).

 

Company Material Adverse Effect” means any change, event, effect or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate with any other change, event, effect or occurrence, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on (a) the business, results of operations, financial condition or prospects of the Group Companies, taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in accordance with its terms; provided, however, that, in the case of clause (a), a Company Material Adverse Effect shall not be deemed to include any adverse change, event, effect or occurrence arising after the date of this Agreement from or related to (i) general business or economic conditions in or affecting the United States, or changes therein, or the global economy generally, (ii) any national or international political or social conditions in the United States or any other country, including the engagement by the United States or any other country in hostilities or the escalation thereof, whether or not pursuant to the declaration of a national emergency or war, or the occurrence in any place of any military or terrorist attack, sabotage or cyberterrorism, (iii) changes in conditions of the financial, banking, capital or securities markets generally in the United States or any other country or region in the world, (iv) any change, event, effect or occurrence, including a change in GAAP or in any Law or interpretations thereof, that is generally applicable to the industries or markets in which any Group Company operates, (v) the execution or public announcement of this Agreement or the pendency or consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or any actions or omissions of a Group Company taken pursuant thereto or in contemplation thereof, including the impact thereof on the relationships, contractual or otherwise, of any Group Company with employees, customers, investors, contractors, lenders, suppliers, vendors, partners, licensors, licensees, payors or other third parties related thereto (provided that the exception in this clause (v) shall not apply to the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.7(b) to the extent that its purpose is to address the consequences resulting from the public announcement or pendency or consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the condition set forth in Section 6.2(a) to the extent it relates to such representations and warranties), (vi) any hurricane, tornado, flood, earthquake, tsunami, natural disaster, mudslides, wild fires, epidemics, pandemics (including COVID-19) or quarantines, acts of God or other natural disasters or comparable events in the United States or any other country or region in the world, and the implementation of any Pandemic Measures, or any escalation of the foregoing, (vii) actions or omissions of a Group Company taken at the request of, or with the prior written consent of, an MEOA Party, or (ix) any matter to the extent that (A) it is disclosed in reasonable detail in the Company Disclosure Schedules and (B) such disclosed matter does not worsen in a materially adverse manner; except to the extent that any such change, event, effect or occurrence described in or resulting from a matter described in any of the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) or (vi) has had or would reasonably be expected to have a materially disproportionate adverse effect on the Group Companies, taken as a whole, relative to other participants operating in the industries or markets in which the Group Companies operate.

 

7

 

 

Company Non-Party Affiliates” means, collectively, each Company Related Party and each former, current or future Affiliates, Representatives, successors or permitted assigns of any Company Related Party (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, the Company).

 

Company Option” means, as of any determination time, each option to purchase Company Shares that is outstanding and unexercised.

 

Company-Owned Intellectual Property” means all Intellectual Property Rights that are owned or purported to be owned by the Group Companies.

 

Company Preferred Stock” means, collectively, the Company Series A Preferred Stock, the Company Series B Preferred Stock, the Company Series C Preferred Stock, and the Company Series F Preferred Stock.

 

Company Product” means each product that is being tested, developed, manufactured, marketed, sold or distributed by or on behalf of the Group Companies.

 

Company Registered Intellectual Property” means all Registered Intellectual Property owned or purported to be owned by, or filed in the name of any Group Company.

 

Company Related Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.21.

 

Company Related Party Transactions” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.21.

 

Company SEC Reports” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4.

 

Company Series A Preferred Stock” means the shares of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share.

 

Company Series B Preferred Stock” means the shares of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share.

 

Company Series C Preferred Stock” means the shares of the Company’s Series C Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share.

 

“Company Series C Preferred Stockholder Consent” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Company Series F Preferred Stock” means the shares of the Company’s Series F Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share.

 

“Company Series F Preferred Stockholder Consent” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Company Shares” means shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.

 

Company Stockholders” means, collectively, the holders of Company Shares as of any determination time prior to the Effective Time.

 

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Company Stockholder Approval” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.13(b).

 

Company Stockholders Meeting” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.13(b).

 

Company Warrants” means, as of any determination time, the warrants to purchase Company Shares that are outstanding and unexercised at such time.

 

Confidentiality Agreement” means that certain Confidentiality Agreement, dated as of April 29, 2022, by and between the Company and MEOA.

 

Consent” means any notice, authorization, qualification, registration, filing, notification, waiver, order, consent or approval to be obtained from, filed with or delivered to, a Governmental Entity or other Person.

 

Continental” means Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.

 

Contingent Worker” means any independent contractor, consultant, contractor, subcontractor, temporary employee, leased employee or other agent used by any Group Company and classified by such Group Company as other than an employee, or compensated other than through wages paid by such Group Company through the Group Company’s payroll function.

 

Contract” or “Contracts” means any written agreement, contract, license, sublicense, lease, obligation, undertaking or other commitment or arrangement.

 

Copyrights” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Intellectual Property Rights.

 

COVID-19” means SARS-CoV-2, including any variants thereof, COVID-19, or related or associated epidemics, pandemics or disease outbreaks.

 

Creator” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(d).

 

Credit Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22.

 

DE Certificate of Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(ii).

 

DGCL” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended.

 

Company Audited Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(a)(i).

 

Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(ii).

 

Employee Benefit Plan” means each “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not subject to ERISA), and each equity or equity-based, bonus, incentive, retention, severance pay, deferred compensation, employment, compensation, change in control, supplemental income arrangement, or vacation plan, program, arrangement or agreement, in each case that any Group Company maintains, sponsors or contributes to or has any obligation to contribute to, or with respect to which any Group Company has or may reasonably be expected to have any present or future Liability (including as an ERISA Affiliate).

 

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Environmental Laws” means all Laws and Orders concerning pollution, Hazardous Substances, restoration or protection of the environment or natural resources, public health, and workplace health or safety.

 

Equity Incentive Plan Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8.

 

Equity Securities” means any share, share capital, capital stock, partnership, membership, joint venture or similar interest in any Person (including any stock appreciation, phantom stock, profit participation or similar rights), and any option, warrant, right or security (including debt securities) convertible, exchangeable or exercisable therefor.

 

Equity Value” means $68,680,807.

 

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

ERISA Affiliate” means any entity, trade or business that is, or at any applicable time was, a member of a group described in Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA that includes any Group Company.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Exchange Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).

 

Exchange Fund” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(c).

 

Exchange Ratio” means the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Equity Value by (ii) the aggregate number of Company Fully-Diluted Shares, by (y) the MEOA Share Value.

 

Federal Securities Laws” means the Exchange Act, the Securities Act and the other U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder or otherwise.

 

Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(a).

 

Forbearance Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22.

 

Foreign Benefit Plan” means each Employee Benefit Plan for the benefit of employees employed and outside of the United States of America (other than any plans, funds or similar programs that are maintained by a Governmental Entity) and which plan is not subject to ERISA or the Code.

 

Fraud” means an act or omission by a Party, and requires: (a) a false or incorrect representation or warranty expressly set forth in this Agreement, (b) with actual knowledge (as opposed to constructive, imputed or implied knowledge) by the Party making such representation or warranty that such representation or warranty expressly set forth in this Agreement is false or incorrect, (c) an intention to deceive another Party, to induce him, her or it to enter into this Agreement, (d) another Party, in justifiable or reasonable reliance upon such false or incorrect representation or warranty expressly set forth in this Agreement, causing such Party to enter into this Agreement, and (e) another Party to suffer damage by reason of such reliance. For the avoidance of doubt, “Fraud” does not include any claim for equitable fraud, promissory fraud, unfair dealings fraud or any torts (including a claim for fraud or alleged fraud) based on negligence or recklessness.

 

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GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles.

 

Governing Document Proposals” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8.

 

Governing Documents” means the legal document(s) by which any Person (other than an individual) establishes its legal existence or which govern its internal affairs. For example, the “Governing Documents” of a U.S. corporation are its certificate or articles of incorporation and by-laws, the “Governing Documents” of a U.S. limited partnership are its limited partnership agreement and certificate of limited partnership, and the “Governing Documents” of a U.S. limited liability company are its operating or limited liability company agreement and certificate of formation.

 

Governmental Entity” means any United States or non-United States (a) federal, state, regional, provincial, local, municipal or other government, (b) governmental or quasi-governmental entity of any nature (including any governmental agency, branch, department, official, or entity and any court or other tribunal) or (c) body exercising or entitled to exercise any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, police, regulatory, or taxing authority or power of any nature, including any arbitral tribunal (public or private); provided, however, that (for the avoidance of doubt) institutional review boards shall not be “Governmental Entities” hereunder.

 

Group Companies” means, collectively, the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

Group Company” means either the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as the context requires.

 

Hazardous Substance” means any hazardous, toxic, explosive or radioactive material, substance, waste or other pollutant that is regulated by, or may give rise to Liability pursuant to, any Environmental Law.

 

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

 

Indebtedness” means, as of any time, without duplication, with respect to any Person, the outstanding principal amount of, accrued and unpaid interest on, fees and expenses arising under or in respect of (a) indebtedness for borrowed money, (b) other obligations evidenced by any note, bond, debenture or other debt security, (c) obligations for the deferred purchase price of property or assets, including “earn-outs” and “seller notes” (but excluding any trade payables arising in the ordinary course of business), (d) reimbursement and other obligations with respect to letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers’ acceptances or other similar instruments, in each case, solely to the extent drawn, (e) leases required to be capitalized under GAAP, but excluding for the avoidance of doubt the effects of Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), (f) derivative, hedging, swap, foreign exchange or similar arrangements, including swaps, caps, collars, hedges or similar arrangements, and (g) any of the obligations of any other Person of the type referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above directly or indirectly guaranteed by such Person or secured by any assets of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness has been assumed by such Person.

 

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Intellectual Property Rights” means all intellectual property rights and related priority rights protected, created or arising under the Laws of the United States or any other jurisdiction or treaty regime, or under any international convention, and whether registered or not registered, including all (a) patents, inventions, industrial designs, continuations, divisionals, continuations-in-part and provisional applications and statutory invention registrations, and patents issuing on any of the foregoing and any reissues, reexaminations, substitutes, supplementary protection certificates, extensions of any of the foregoing (collectively, “Patents”); (b) trademarks, service marks, trade names, service names, brand names, trade dress rights, logos, icons, Internet domain names, corporate names, social medial handles and account identifiers, and other source or business identifiers, and together with the goodwill associated with any of the foregoing (collectively, “Marks”); (c) copyrights, copyrightable works, works of authorship, data and databases, mask work rights, and moral rights (collectively, “Copyrights”); (d) trade secrets, know-how, methods, techniques, processes, and confidential and proprietary information, including business, financial, customer and technical information, inventions and formulae, whether patentable or not; (e) Software or other technology; and (f) all applications, registrations, extensions and renewals of any of the foregoing.

 

Intended Tax Treatment” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

IPO” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.18.

 

Joinder” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22.

 

Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus” means the joint proxy statement/prospectus to be included in the Registration Statement and that shall be (a) a proxy statement of MEOA with respect to the matters to be submitted to MEOA at the MEOA Stockholders Meeting and a prospectus of MEOA and (b) a proxy statement of the Company relating to the matters to be submitted to the Company Stockholders at the Company Stockholders Meeting, including all amendments and supplements thereto.

 

Latest Balance Sheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(a).

 

Law” means any federal, state, provincial, local, foreign, national or supranational statute, law (including common law), act, statute, ordinance, treaty, rule, code, regulation or other binding directive issued, promulgated or enforced by a Governmental Entity having jurisdiction over a given matter.

 

Leased Real Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(b).

 

Letter of Transmittal” means the letter of transmittal, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C hereto and with such modifications, amendments or supplements as may be requested by the Exchange Agent and mutually agreed to by each of MEOA and the Company (in either case, such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

 

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Liability” or “liability” means any and all debts, liabilities and obligations, whether accrued or fixed, absolute or contingent, known or unknown, matured or unmatured or determined or determinable, including those arising under any Law (including any Environmental Law), Proceeding or Order and those arising under any Contract, agreement, arrangement, commitment or undertaking.

 

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien, charge or other similar interest (including, in the case of any Equity Securities, any voting, transfer or similar restrictions).

 

Marks” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Intellectual Property Rights.

 

Material Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(a).

 

Material Customers” means the top 10 customers of the Company, taken as a whole, based on revenue received by the Company from each such customer for the trailing 12 months ended June 30, 2022.

 

Material Permits” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8.

 

Material Suppliers” means the top 10 suppliers (determined by the amount purchased) of the Company, taken as a whole, for the trailing 12 months ended June 30, 2022.

 

MEOA” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

 

MEOA Acquisition Proposal” means any inquiry, offer or proposal (other than an inquiry, offer or proposal from a Group Company), whether or not in writing, contemplating, relating to, or that could reasonably be expected to lead to, any transaction or series of related transactions under which MEOA or any of its Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, (i) acquires or otherwise purchases any other Person(s), (ii) engages in a business combination with any other Person(s) or (iii) acquires or otherwise purchases all or a material portion of the assets or businesses of any other Person(s) (in the case of each of clause (i), (ii) and (iii), whether by merger, consolidation, recapitalization, purchase or issuance of equity securities, tender offer or otherwise). Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, none of this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall constitute a MEOA Acquisition Proposal.

 

MEOA Board” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

MEOA Board Recommendation” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8.

 

MEOA Bylaws” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(ix).

 

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MEOA Certificate of Incorporation” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(ix).

 

MEOA Class A Shares” means MEOA’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

 

MEOA Class B Shares” means MEOA’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

 

MEOA D&O Persons” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.14(a).

 

MEOA Disclosure Schedules” means the disclosure schedules to this Agreement delivered to the Company by MEOA on the date of this Agreement.

 

MEOA Expenses” means, as of any determination time, the aggregate amount of fees, expenses, commissions or other amounts incurred by or on behalf of, or otherwise payable by, whether or not due, a MEOA Party in connection with the negotiation, preparation or execution of this Agreement or any Ancillary Documents, the performance of its covenants or agreements in this Agreement or any Ancillary Document or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, including (a) the fees and expenses of outside legal counsel, accountants, advisors, brokers, investment bankers, consultants, or other agents or service providers of any MEOA Party and (b) any other fees, costs, expenses, commissions or other amounts that are expressly allocated to any MEOA Party pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Document, including 50% of all such fees, costs, expenses, commissions or other amounts incurred in connection with any filing with any Governmental Entity required hereunder, including the HSR Act filing fee. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, MEOA Expenses shall not include any Company Expenses.

 

MEOA Financial Statements” means all of the financial statements of MEOA included in the MEOA SEC Reports.

 

MEOA Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.1 (Organization and Qualification), Section 4.2 (Authority), Section 4.4 (Brokers) and Section 4.6 (Capitalization of the MEOA Parties).

 

MEOA Group” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.19.

 

MEOA Incentive Equity Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.18(a).

 

MEOA Material Adverse Effect” means any change, event, effect or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate with any other change, event, effect or occurrence, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of any MEOA Party to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in accordance with its terms.

 

MEOA Non-Party Affiliates” means, collectively, each MEOA Related Party and each of the former, current or future Affiliates, Representatives, successors or permitted assigns of any MEOA Related Party (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, any MEOA Party).

 

MEOA Parties” means, collectively, MEOA and Merger Sub.

 

MEOA Related Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.9.

 

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MEOA Related Party Transactions” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.9.

 

MEOA Sale” means a Change of Control Transaction with respect to MEOA.

 

MEOA Sale Price” means the price per share for one MEOA Share in a MEOA Sale, inclusive of any escrows, holdbacks or fixed deferred purchase price, but exclusive of any contingent deferred purchase price, earn outs or the like. If and to the extent the price is payable in whole or in part with consideration other than cash, the price for such non-cash consideration shall be determined as follows: (i) with respect to any securities: (A) the average of the closing prices of the sales of the securities on all securities exchanges on which the securities may at the time be listed, or, if there have been no sales on any such exchange on any day, the average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices on all such exchanges at the end of such day, or, if on any day such securities are not listed on any securities exchange, the average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices on such day in the domestic over-the-counter market as reported by the OTC Markets Group, or any similar successor organization, in each such case averaged over a period of 21 days consisting of the day as of which such value is being determined and the 20 consecutive Business Days prior to such day or (B) if at any time the securities are not listed on any securities exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq or the over-the-counter market, the value of each such security shall be equal to the fair value thereof as of the date of valuation as determined by an independent, nationally recognized investment banking firm on the basis of an orderly sale to a willing, unaffiliated buyer in an arm’s-length transaction, taking into account all factors determinative of value as the investment banking firm determines relevant (and giving effect to any transfer taxes payable in connection with such sale), and (ii) with respect to any other non-cash assets, the fair value thereof as of the date of valuation as determined by an independent, nationally recognized investment banking firm on the basis of an orderly sale to a willing, unaffiliated buyer in an arm’s-length transaction, taking into account all factors determinative of value as the investment banking firm determines relevant (and giving effect to any transfer taxes payable in connection with such sale).

 

MEOA SEC Reports” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7.

 

MEOA Share Value” means $10.00.

 

MEOA Shares” means (a) prior to the consummation of the Merger, collectively, the MEOA Class A Shares and the MEOA Class B Shares and (b) from and after the consummation of the Merger, shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of MEOA. Any reference to the MEOA Shares in this Agreement or any Ancillary Document shall be deemed to refer to clause (a) and/or clause (b) of this definition, as the context so requires.

 

MEOA Stockholder Approval” means, collectively, the Required MEOA Stockholder Approval and the Other MEOA Stockholder Approval.

 

MEOA Stockholder Redemption” means the right of the holders of MEOA Class A Shares to redeem all or a portion of their MEOA Class A Shares prior to the Closing (in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise) as set forth in Governing Documents of MEOA.

 

MEOA Stockholders Meeting” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8.

 

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MEOA Stock Price” means on any date from and after the consummation of the Merger, the volume weighted average price per share of MEOA Shares on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which MEOA Shares trade, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in New York, New York on such date, as reported by Bloomberg, or if not available on Bloomberg, as reported by Morningstar, or if not available on Bloomberg or Morningstar, as reasonably estimated by the MEOA Board in good faith.

 

Merger” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Merger Sub” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

 

Multiemployer Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section (3)37 of ERISA.

 

Nasdaq” means The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC.

 

Nasdaq Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8.

 

Non-Party Affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.13.

 

NRS” means the Nevada Revised Statutes of the State of Nevada.

 

NV Certificate of Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(ii).

 

Off-the-Shelf Software” means any Software that is made generally and widely available to the public on a commercial basis and is licensed to any of the Group Companies on a non-exclusive basis under standard terms and conditions for a one-time license fee of less than $25,000 per license or an ongoing licensee fee of less than $10,000 per year.

 

Officers” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.16(a).

 

Open Source Software” shall mean any Software distributed under an “open source” or “public library” license, including any “general public license” (including AGPL), or other such license generally understood to be a “copyleft” or “restrictive” open source license.

 

Order” means any outstanding writ, order, judgment, injunction, binding decision or determination, award, ruling, subpoena, verdict or decree entered, issued or rendered by any Governmental Entity.

 

Other MEOA Stockholder Approval” means the approval of each Other Transaction Proposal by the affirmative vote of the holders of the requisite number of MEOA Shares entitled to vote thereon, whether in person or by proxy at the MEOA Stockholders Meeting (or any adjournment thereof), in accordance with the Governing Documents of MEOA and applicable Law.

 

Other Transaction Proposal” means each Transaction Proposal, other than the Required Transaction Proposals.

 

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Pandemic Measures” means any “shelter-in-place,” “stay at home,” workforce reduction, furlough, employee time off, employee leave, social distancing, shut down, closure, sequester, business or workplace reopening, or other conditions, restrictions or requirements pursuant to any Law, order, or directive of or by any Governmental Entity, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, in connection with or in respect to COVID-19 or any other virus.

 

Parties” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

 

Patents” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Intellectual Property Rights.

 

PCAOB” means the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

 

Permits” means any approvals, authorizations, clearances, licenses, registrations, permits or certificates of a Governmental Entity.

 

Permitted Liens” means (a) mechanic’s, materialmen’s, carriers’, repairers’ and other similar statutory Liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business for amounts that are not yet delinquent or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which sufficient reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, (b) Liens for Taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet due and payable as of the Closing Date or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which, in either case, sufficient reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, (c) encumbrances and restrictions on real property (including easements, covenants, conditions, rights of way and similar restrictions) that do not prohibit or materially interfere with any of the Group Companies’ use or occupancy of such real property, (d) zoning, building codes and other land use Laws regulating the use or occupancy of real property or the activities conducted thereon which are imposed by any Governmental Entity having jurisdiction over such real property and which are not violated by the use or occupancy of such real property or the operation of the businesses of the Group Company and do not prohibit or materially interfere with any of the Group Companies’ use or occupancy of such real property, (e) cash deposits or cash pledges to secure the payment of workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, social security benefits or obligations arising under similar Laws or to secure the performance of public or statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business and which are not yet due and payable, (f) grants by any Group Company of nonexclusive rights in Intellectual Property Rights in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (g) other Liens that do not materially and adversely affect the value, use or operation of the asset subject thereto, and (h) Liens disclosed on Section 3.18(a)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Schedules.

 

Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, joint stock company, unincorporated organization or association, trust, joint venture or other similar entity, whether or not a legal entity.

 

Personal Data” means any data or information relating to an identified natural person that is regulated by the Privacy Laws.

 

Post Road” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22.

 

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PPP Loan” means those certain SBA Paycheck Protection Program Loans, dated as of April 22, 2020, April 22, 2020 and May 4, 2020, in the original aggregate principal amount of $361,600, made by the Bank of San Antonio, as lender, to the Company, as borrower, and all other agreements and documents entered into in connection therewith or related thereto.

 

PPP Program” means the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program contemplated by Section 1102 of the CARES Act and all rules, regulations and guidelines adopted by the SBA and the Department of Treasury or otherwise in connection with the implementation and administration thereof.

 

Pre-Closing MEOA Holders” means the holders of MEOA Shares at any time prior to the Effective Time.

 

PRG Credit Agreement Defaults” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22.

 

Privacy and Data Security Policies” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(a).

 

Privacy Laws” means Laws relating to the Processing or protection of Personal Data that apply to the Group Companies.

 

Privacy Requirements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.22(a).

 

Proceeding” means any lawsuit, litigation, action, audit, investigation, examination, claim, complaint, charge, proceeding, suit, arbitration, investigation, or mediation (in each case, whether civil, criminal or administrative and whether public or private) pending by or before or otherwise involving any Governmental Entity.

 

Process” (or “Processing” or “Processes”) means the collection, use, receipt, storage, processing, compilation, recording, distribution, transfer, import, export, protection (including security measures), sharing, retention, disposal or disclosure or other activity regarding data (whether electronically or in any other form or medium).

 

Prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.18.

 

Pryor” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.19.

 

Pryor Privileged Communications” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.19.

 

Public Stockholders” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.18.

 

Public Software” means any Software that contains, includes, incorporates, or has instantiated therein, or is derived in any manner (in whole or in part) from, any Software that is distributed as free software, Open Source Software or pursuant to similar free licensing, access or distribution models, including under any terms or conditions that impose any requirement that any Software using, linked with, incorporating, distributed with or derived from such Public Software (a) be made available or distributed in source code form, (b) be licensed for purposes of making derivative works, or (c) be redistributable at no, or a nominal, charge.

 

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Real Property Leases” means all leases, sub-leases, licenses or other agreements, in each case, pursuant to which any Group Company leases or sub-leases any real property.

 

Registered Intellectual Property” means all (i) issued and pending applications for Patents, (ii) registered and pending applications for Marks, (iii) registered and pending applications for Copyrights, (iv) social media handles and account identifiers registered with social media platforms, and (v) registered and pending applications for Internet domain names.

 

Registration Statement” means a registration statement on Form S-4 relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and containing the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, including all amendments and supplements thereto.

 

Representatives” means with respect to any entity, such entity’s directors, managers, officers, employees, accountants, consultants, advisors, attorneys, agents and other representatives or agents engaged or retained by such Person.

 

Required MEOA Stockholder Approval” means the approval of each Required Transaction Proposal by the affirmative vote of the holders of the requisite number of MEOA Shares entitled to vote thereon, whether in person or by proxy at the MEOA Stockholders Meeting (or any adjournment thereof), in accordance with the Governing Documents of MEOA and applicable Law.

 

Required Transaction Proposals” means, collectively, the Business Combination Proposal, the Nasdaq Proposal and the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal.

 

Restricted Shares” means restricted Company Shares that have not yet vested or are subject to risk of forfeiture, granted under a Company Equity Plan or to any current or former director, employee, officer or service provider.

 

Rollover Notes” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.

 

Rollover Note Amount” means the number of MEOA Shares to which the holders of the Rollover Notes would be entitled hereunder at the Effective Time in respect of the Rollover Notes held by them if all of the Rollover Notes were converted in full into Company Shares immediately prior to the Closing, which for the avoidance of doubt shall be equal to the product of (x) the aggregate number of Company Shares into which all then outstanding Rollover Notes are convertible immediately prior to Closing and (y) the Exchange Ratio.

 

Rollover Option” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c)(i).

 

Rollover Company Series A Preferred Stock” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Rollover Company Series A Preferred Stock Amount” means the number of MEOA Shares to which the holders of Rollover Company Series A Preferred Stock would be entitled hereunder at the Effective Time in respect of the Rollover Company Series A Preferred Stock held by them if all of the shares of Rollover Company Series A Preferred Stock were converted in full into Company Shares immediately prior to the Closing, which for avoidance of doubt shall be equal to the product of (x) the aggregate number of Company Shares into which all then outstanding shares of Rollover Company Series A Preferred Stock are convertible immediately prior to Closing and (y) the Exchange Ratio.

 

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Rollover Unvested Option Amount” means the number of MEOA Shares to which the holders of Unvested Company Options would be entitled hereunder at the Effective Time in respect of such Unvested Company Options if such Unvested Company Options (i) vested by their current terms and (ii) were exercised in full (and not on a net-exercise basis) in exchange for Company Shares immediately prior to the Closing, which for avoidance of doubt shall be equal to the product of (x) the aggregate number of Company Shares into which all then outstanding Unvested Company Options would be exercisable immediately prior to Closing if such Unvested Company Options had vested by their terms at such time and (y) the Exchange Ratio.

 

Rollover Vested Option Amount” means the number of MEOA Shares to which the holders of Vested Company Options would be entitled hereunder at the Effective Time in respect of such Vested Company Options if such Vested Company Options were exercised in full (and not on a net-exercise basis) in exchange for Company Shares immediately prior to the Closing, which for avoidance of doubt shall be equal to the product of (x) the aggregate number of Company Shares into which all then outstanding Vested Company Options are exercisable immediately prior to Closing and (y) the Exchange Ratio.

 

Rollover Warrant” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(d).

 

Rollover Warrant Amount” means the number of MEOA Shares to which each holder of a Company Warrant would be entitled hereunder at the Effective Time in respect of such Company Warrant if such Company Warrant were exercised in full (and not on a net-exercise basis) in exchange for Company Shares immediately prior to the Closing, which for avoidance of doubt shall be equal to the product of (x) the aggregate number of Company Shares into which all then outstanding Company Warrants are exercisable immediately prior to Closing and (y) the Exchange Ratio.

 

Sanctions and Export Control Laws” means any applicable Law related to (a) import and export controls, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations, (b) economic sanctions, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, or (c) anti-boycott measures that apply to the Company.

 

Sarbanes-Oxley Act” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

Schedules” means, collectively, the Company Disclosure Schedules and the MEOA Disclosure Schedules.

 

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933.

 

Securities Laws” means Federal Securities Laws and other applicable foreign and domestic securities or similar Laws.

 

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Signing Filings” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(b).

 

Signing Press Release” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(b).

 

Software” shall mean any and all: (a) computer programs, applications, and code, including system software, mobile apps, software provided for access or use in a “hosted” or “SaaS” basis, scripts, routines, screens, user interfaces, report formats and software implementations of algorithms, models and methodologies, whether in source code, object code or other form; (b) data, databases and data compilations, including libraries and collections of data, whether machine readable or otherwise; (c) descriptions, flowcharts and other work product 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) the technology supporting, and the contents and audiovisual displays of, any website(s); and (e) all documentation, including user manuals and other training documentation, related to any of the foregoing.

 

Sponsor” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Sponsor Approval” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Sponsor Letter Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Stockholders” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other legal entity of which (a) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof, or (b) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity (other than a corporation), a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership interests thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof and for this purpose, a Person or Persons own a majority ownership interest in such a business entity (other than a corporation) if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of such business entity’s gains or losses or shall be a, or control any, managing director or general partner of such business entity (other than a corporation). The term “Subsidiary” shall include all Subsidiaries of such Subsidiary.

 

Supporting Company Stockholders” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Surviving Company” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(i).

 

T3 Nevada” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22.

 

T3 Nevada Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.22.

 

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Tax” means any United States federal, state or local, or any non-United States, income, gross receipts, franchise, estimated, alternative minimum, sales, use, transfer, value added, excise, stamp, customs, duties, ad valorem, real property, personal property (tangible and intangible), capital stock, social security, unemployment, payroll, wage, employment, severance, occupation, registration, environmental, communication, mortgage, profits, license, lease, service, goods and services, withholding, premium, unclaimed property, escheat, turnover, windfall profits or other taxes of any kind whatever, whether computed on a separate or combined, unitary or consolidated basis or in any other manner, together with any interest, deficiencies, penalties, additions to tax, or additional amounts imposed by any Governmental Entity with respect thereto, whether disputed or not, and including any secondary Liability for any of the aforementioned.

 

Tax Authority” means any Governmental Entity responsible for the collection or administration of Taxes or Tax Returns.

 

Tax Returns” means returns, information returns, statements, declarations, claims for refund, schedules, attachments and reports relating to Taxes required to be filed with any Governmental Entity.

 

Termination Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(d).

 

Trading Day” means any day on which MEOA Shares are actually traded on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which MEOA Shares are then traded.

 

Transaction Litigation” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(d).

 

Transaction Proposals” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8.

 

Transaction Share Consideration” means an aggregate number of MEOA Shares equal to (a)(1) the Equity Value, divided by (2) the MEOA Share Value, minus (b) the sum of the Rollover Vested Option Amount, the Rollover Warrant Amount, the Rollover Company Series A Preferred Stock Amount and the Rollover Note Amount.

 

Transaction Support Agreement Deadline” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.13(a).

 

Transaction Support Agreements” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Trust Account” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.18.

 

Trust Account Released Claims” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.18.

 

Trust Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.8.

 

Trustee” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.8.

 

Unaudited Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(a).

 

Union” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.16(g).

 

Unpaid MEOA Expenses” means the MEOA Expenses that are unpaid as of immediately prior to the Closing.

 

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Unpaid Company Expenses” means the Company Expenses that are unpaid as of immediately prior to the Closing.

 

Unvested Company Option” means each Company Option outstanding and unexercised as of immediately prior to the Effective Time that is not a Vested Company Option.

 

Vested Company Option” means each Company Option outstanding and unexercised as of immediately prior to the Effective Time that is vested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

Vested Rollover Options” means Rollover Options issued in respect of Vested Company Options pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

WARN” means the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act of 1988, as well as analogous applicable foreign, provincial, state or local Laws related to plant closings, relocations, mass layoffs and employment losses.

 

Warrant Agreement” means that certain Warrant Agreement, dated August 25, 2021, between MEOA and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent.

 

Willful Breach” means a material breach that is a consequence of an act undertaken or a failure to act by the breaching party with the knowledge that the taking of such act or such failure to act would, or would reasonably be expected to, constitute or result in a breach of this Agreement.

 

Article 2
MERGER

 

Section 2.1 Closing Transactions. On the terms of and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the following transactions shall occur in the order set forth in this Section 2.1:

 

(a) The Merger.

 

(i) On the terms of and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the DGCL and the NRS, on the Closing Date, Merger Sub and the Company shall consummate the Merger at the Effective Time. Following the Effective Time, the separate existence of Merger Sub shall cease and the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation in the Merger (the “Surviving Company”).

 

(ii) At the Closing, the parties hereto shall (i) cause a certificate of merger, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and MEOA (the “DE Certificate of Merger”), to be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and (ii) cause a certificate of merger, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and MEOA (the “NV Certificate of Merger” and, together with the DE Certificate of Merger, the “Certificates of Merger”), to be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada. The Merger shall become effective on the date and time as is agreed by MEOA and the Company and specified in the Certificates of Merger (the time the Merger becomes effective being referred to herein as the “Effective Time”).

 

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(iii) The Merger shall have the effects set forth in Section 259 of the DGCL and Section 92A.250 of the NRS. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all of the assets, properties, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Company and all debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions, disabilities and duties of each of the Company and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities, obligations and duties of the Surviving Company, in each case, in accordance with the DGCL and the NRS, as applicable.

 

(iv) At the Effective Time, subject to Section 5.15, (A) each MEOA Class A Share and each MEOA Class B Share that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Merger shall become one share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of MEOA, and (B) the Governing Documents (including the certificate of incorporation) of the Surviving Company shall be amended so that the Governing Documents of Merger Sub shall be the Governing Documents of the Surviving Company, in each case, until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable Law.

 

(v) At the Effective Time, Arthur L. Smith, Craig K. Clement, Maxwell Polinsky, R. Greg Smith and Shawn D. Rochester shall become the directors of each of MEOA and of the Surviving Company, Arthur L. Smith shall become the Chief Executive Officer of MEOA and of the Surviving Company, and Antonio Estrada Jr. shall become the Chief Financial Officer of MEOA and of the Surviving Company, each to hold office in accordance with the Governing Documents of MEOA and the Surviving Company, as applicable, until such director’s or officer’s successor is duly elected or appointed and qualified, or until the earlier of their death, resignation or removal. In addition, at the Effective Time, MEOA shall form a strategic advisory committee, of which one member shall be appointed by the Sponsor. For the avoidance of doubt, (A) the Sponsor shall have the right to designate the one additional director, and (B) the directors who shall become directors of MEOA and of the Surviving Company at the Effective Time shall have sufficient characteristics and attributes, both individually and collectively, so as to satisfy the board and committee requirements as per the rules and regulations of Nasdaq.

 

(vi) At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of any Party or any other Person, each share of capital stock of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into one share of common stock, par value $0.0001, of the Surviving Company.

 

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(vii) At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of any Party or any other Person, each Company Share (other than the Company Shares cancelled and extinguished pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(viii)) issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be automatically canceled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive that number of MEOA Shares as is equal to the product obtained by multiplying (A) the Exchange Ratio by (B) 1; provided, however, that any Company Shares that are Restricted Shares shall be converted into restricted MEOA Shares, subject to the same vesting, transfer and other restrictions as the applicable Restricted Shares. A Company Stockholder may obtain the Transaction Share Consideration into which his, her or its Company Shares have been converted by following the requirements contemplated by Section 2.4. From and after the Effective Time, each Company Stockholder’s certificates (the “Certificates”), evidencing ownership of the Company Shares and the Company Shares held in book-entry form issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall each cease to have any rights with respect to such Company Shares except as otherwise expressly provided for herein or under applicable Law.

 

(viii) At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of any Party or any other Person, each Company Share held immediately prior to the Effective Time by the Company as treasury stock shall be automatically canceled and extinguished, and no consideration shall be paid with respect thereto.

 

(ix) In connection with the Merger, the certificate of incorporation, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the “MEOA Certificate of Incorporation”), and the bylaws, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E (the “MEOA Bylaws”), shall become the Governing Documents of MEOA, and MEOA’s name shall be changed to “Digerati Holdings, Inc.”

 

(b) Company Options.

 

(i) At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action of any Party or any other Person, the Company Equity Plans and each Vested Company Option and Unvested Company Option shall be assumed by MEOA, except that following the Effective Time each Vested Company Option and Unvested Company Option shall cease to represent the right to purchase Company Shares and shall thereafter be exercisable for MEOA Shares (each, a “Rollover Option”) in an amount, at an exercise price and subject to such terms and conditions, in each case, as set forth on the Allocation Schedule to be delivered in accordance with Section 2.3. Each Rollover Option shall be subject to the same terms and conditions (including applicable vesting, expiration and forfeiture provisions) that applied to the corresponding Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time, except for (i) terms (A) rendered inoperative by reason of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including any anti-dilution or other similar provisions that adjust the number of underlying shares that could become exercisable subject to the options or the exercise price therefor) or (B) to the extent they conflict with the Adopted Incentive Equity Plans and (ii) such other immaterial administrative or ministerial changes as the MEOA Board (or the compensation committee of the MEOA Board) may determine in good faith are appropriate to effectuate the administration of the Rollover Options; it being understood that the MEOA Board shall have no authority pursuant to the foregoing clause (ii) to adopt or make any such changes, and the Company Board shall have no obligation to adopt such changes pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(ii), to the extent that such changes are materially adverse to the holders thereof vis-à-vis the rights of such holders with respect to the Vested Company Options and the Unvested Company Options, in each case without consent of such holders.

 

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(ii) The treatment of the Company Options specified in this Section 2.1(b) will be subject to such modifications, if any, as are required to cause the conversion to be made in a manner consistent with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(v)(D) and, as applicable, Section 424 of the Code. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company Board (or appropriate committee thereof) shall pass resolutions and take such other actions as are necessary to provide for the treatment of the Company Options as contemplated by this Section 2.1.

 

(c) Company Warrants. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action of any Party or any other Person, each Company Warrant shall cease to represent the right to purchase Company Shares and shall be canceled in exchange for a warrant to purchase MEOA Shares (each, a “Rollover Warrant”) in an amount, at an exercise price and subject to such terms and conditions, in each case, as set forth on the Allocation Schedule. Each Rollover Warrant shall be subject to the same terms and conditions that applied to the corresponding Company Warrant immediately prior to the Effective Time, except for (i) terms rendered inoperative by reason of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including any anti-dilution or other similar provisions that adjust the number of underlying shares that could become exercisable subject to the warrants or the exercise price therefor) and (ii) such other immaterial administrative or ministerial changes as the MEOA Board (or the compensation committee of the MEOA Board) may determine in good faith are appropriate to effectuate the administration of the Rollover Warrants.

 

(d) Company Equity Plans. Prior to the Closing, the Company shall take, or cause to be taken, all necessary or appropriate actions under the Company Equity Plans (and the underlying grant, award or similar agreements) or otherwise to give effect to the provisions of this Section 2.1.

 

Section 2.2 Closing of the Transactions Contemplated by this Agreement. The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) shall take place electronically by exchange of the closing deliverables by the means provided in Section 8.11 as promptly as reasonably practicable, but in no event later than the third Business Day, following the satisfaction (or, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, waiver) of the conditions set forth in Article 6 (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to satisfaction or waiver of such conditions) (the “Closing Date”) or at such other place, date and/or time as MEOA and the Company may mutually agree in writing.

 

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Section 2.3 Allocation Schedule. No later than five Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver to MEOA an allocation schedule (the “Allocation Schedule”) setting forth:

 

(a) the number of Company Shares, including Restricted Shares, held by each Company Stockholder, the number of Company Shares subject to each Company Option held by each holder thereof, as well as whether each such Company Option will be a Vested Company Option or an Unvested Company Option as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, the number of Company Warrants held by each holder thereof and, in the case of the Company Options and Company Warrants, the exercise price thereof, the number of Company Shares held by each Company Stockholder upon conversion of the Company Series B Preferred Stock into Company Shares immediately prior to the Closing, the number of Restricted Shares held by each Company Stockholder pursuant to the exchange of the Company Series C Preferred Stock into Restricted Shares, and the number of Company Shares that would be held by each Company Stockholder upon conversion of the Company Series A Preferred Stock into Company Shares assuming that the shares of Company Series A Preferred Stock would have been converted into Company Shares immediately prior to the Closing;

 

(b) the number of MEOA Shares that will be subject to each Rollover Option and Rollover Warrant, the exercise price thereof at the Effective Time, as well as the exchange ratio on which such calculations are based (which shall, for the avoidance of doubt, be the same exchange ratio for each calculation pursuant to this clause (b));

 

(c) the number of MEOA Shares that will be included in the Rollover Series A Preferred Stock Amount and the number of MEOA Shares that will be included in the Rollover Note Amount; and

 

(d) the portion of the Transaction Share Consideration allocated to each Company Stockholder.

 

The Company will review any comments to the Allocation Schedule provided by MEOA or any of its authorized Representatives and consider in good faith all reasonable comments on the final Allocation Schedule. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, (A) the aggregate number of MEOA Shares that each Company Stockholder will have a right to receive pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(vii) will be rounded down to the nearest whole share, (B) in no event shall the aggregate number of MEOA Shares set forth on the Allocation Schedule that are allocated in respect of Company Shares exceed or be less than the Transaction Share Consideration, (C) in no event shall the aggregate number of MEOA Shares set forth on the Allocation Schedule that are allocated in respect of Vested Company Options exceed or be less than the Rollover Vested Option Amount, (D) in no event shall the aggregate number of MEOA Shares set forth on the Allocation Schedule that are allocated in respect of Company Warrants exceed or be less than the Rollover Warrant Amount, (E) in no event shall the aggregate number of MEOA Shares set forth on the Allocation Schedule that are allocated in respect of the Rollover Company Series A Preferred Stock Amount set forth on the Allocation Schedule exceed or be less than the Rollover Company Series A Preferred Stock Amount, (F) in no event shall the aggregate number of MEOA Shares set forth on the Allocation Schedule that are allocated in respect of the Rollover Note Amount exceed or be less than the Rollover Note Amount, (G) in no event shall the Allocation Schedule (or the calculations or determinations therein) breach, as applicable, any applicable Law, the Governing Documents of the Company, the Company Equity Plans or any other Contract to which the Company is a party or bound (taking into account, for the avoidance of doubt, any actions taken by the Company pursuant to Section 2.1(e)), or fail to take into account the exercise price and other terms of the Company Options and Company Warrants, and (H) in no event shall the number of MEOA Shares that will be subject to the Rollover Options corresponding to the Unvested Company Options exceed the Rollover Unvested Option Amount. The Parties acknowledge and agree that MEOA may rely exclusively (without any independent inquiry or investigation and without any liability) on the Allocation Schedule as setting forth a true, complete and accurate listing of all amounts required to be specified in this Section 2.3.

 

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Section 2.4 Deliverables.

 

(a) As promptly as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement, but in no event later than 10 Business Days prior to the Closing Date, MEOA shall appoint Continental (or its applicable Affiliate thereof) as the exchange agent (the “Exchange Agent”) and enter into an exchange agent agreement with the Exchange Agent for the purpose of exchanging Certificates, if any, representing the Company Shares and each Company Share held in book-entry form on the stock transfer books of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time, in either case, for the portion of the Transaction Share Consideration issuable in respect of such Company Shares pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(vii) and on the terms and subject to the other conditions set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, in the event that Continental is unable or unwilling to serve as the Exchange Agent, then MEOA and the Company shall, as promptly as reasonably practicable thereafter, but in no event later than the Closing Date, mutually agree upon an exchange agent (in either case, such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), MEOA shall appoint and enter into an exchange agent agreement with such exchange agent, who shall for all purposes under this Agreement constitute the Exchange Agent and each of MEOA and the Company shall mutually agree to any changes to the Letter of Transmittal in order to satisfy any requirements of such exchange agent (in either case, such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

 

(b) At least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall mail or otherwise deliver, or shall cause to be mailed or otherwise delivered, to the Company Stockholders a Letter of Transmittal.

 

(c) At the Effective Time, MEOA shall deposit, or cause to be deposited, with the Exchange Agent, for the benefit of the Company Stockholders and for exchange in accordance with this Section 2.4 through the Exchange Agent, evidence of MEOA Shares in book-entry form representing the portion of the Transaction Share Consideration issuable pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(vii) in exchange for the Company Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. All shares in book-entry form representing the portion of the Transaction Share Consideration issuable pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(vii) deposited with the Exchange Agent shall be referred to in this Agreement as the “Exchange Fund”.

 

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(d) Each Company Stockholder whose Company Shares have been converted into a portion of the Transaction Share Consideration pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(vii) shall receive the portion of the Transaction Share Consideration to which he, she or it is entitled on the date provided in Section 2.4(e) upon (i) in the case of Company Shares held in certificated form, surrender of a Certificate (or affidavit of loss in lieu thereof in the form required by the Letter of Transmittal), together with the delivery of a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any documents or agreements required by the Letter of Transmittal), to the Exchange Agent or (ii) in the case of Company Shares held in book-entry form or Company Warrants, delivery of a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any documents or agreements required by the Letter of Transmittal), to the Exchange Agent.

 

(e) If a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal, together with any Certificates (or affidavit of loss in lieu thereof in the form required by the Letter of Transmittal), if any, is delivered to the Exchange Agent in accordance with Section 2.4(d) (i) at least one Business Day prior to the Closing Date, then MEOA and the Company shall take all necessary actions to reflect the issuance of the applicable portion of the Transaction Share Consideration the applicable Company Stockholder in book-entry form on the Closing Date, or (ii) less than one Business Day prior to the Closing Date, then MEOA and the Company (or the Surviving Company) shall take all necessary actions to reflect the issuance of the applicable portion of the Transaction Share Consideration to the Company Stockholder in book-entry form within two Business Days after such delivery.

 

(f) If any portion of the Transaction Share Consideration is to be issued to a Person other than the Company Stockholder in whose name the surrendered Certificate or the transferred Company Share in book-entry form is registered, the issuance of the applicable portion of the Transaction Share Consideration shall not be reflected unless (i) either such Certificate shall be properly endorsed or shall otherwise be in proper form for transfer or such Company Share in book-entry form shall be properly transferred and (ii) the Person requesting such consideration pay to the Exchange Agent any transfer Taxes required as a result of such consideration being issued to a Person other than the registered holder of such Certificate or Company Share in book-entry form or establish to the satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such transfer Taxes have been paid or are not payable.

 

(g) No interest will be paid or accrued on the Transaction Share Consideration (or any portion thereof). From and after the Effective Time, until the applicable portion of the Transaction Share Consideration is obtained by the applicable Company Stockholders in accordance with this Section 2.4, each Company Share (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, the Company Shares cancelled and extinguished pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(viii)) shall solely represent the right to receive the MEOA Common Stock to which such Company Share is entitled to receive pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(h) At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed and there shall be no transfers of Company Shares that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

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(i) Any portion of the Exchange Fund not obtained by the Company Stockholders 12 months following the Closing Date shall be delivered to MEOA or as otherwise instructed by MEOA, and any Company Stockholder who has not obtained the applicable portion of the Transaction Share Consideration in accordance with this Section 2.4 prior to that time shall thereafter look only to MEOA for such portion of the Transaction Share Consideration, without any interest thereon. None of MEOA, the Surviving Company or any of their respective Affiliates shall be liable to any Person in respect of any consideration delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, unclaimed property, escheat, or similar Law. Any portion of the Transaction Share Consideration not obtained by the Company Stockholders immediately prior to such time when the amounts would otherwise escheat to or become property of any Governmental Entity shall become, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, the property of MEOA free and clear of any claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.

 

Section 2.5 Withholding. MEOA, the Group Companies, and the Exchange Agent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold (or cause to be deducted and withheld) from any consideration payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as are required or permitted to be deducted and withheld under applicable Tax Law and to the extent that any consideration paid or issued pursuant to Section 2.1 is compensatory in nature, such consideration shall be subject to the Company’s standard payroll procedures. To the extent that amounts are so withheld and timely remitted to the applicable Governmental Entity, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made. The Parties shall cooperate in good faith to eliminate or reduce any such deduction or withholding (including through the request and provision of any statements, forms or other documents to reduce or eliminate any such deduction or withholding).

 

Article 3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES RELATING
TO THE GROUP COMPANIES

 

(a) Subject to Section 8.8, except as set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedules, or (b) except as set forth in any Company SEC Report (excluding any disclosures in any “risk factors” section that do not constitute statements of fact, disclosures in any forward-looking statements disclaimers and other disclosures that are generally cautionary, predictive or forward-looking in nature), the Company hereby represents and warrants to the MEOA Parties as follows:

 

Section 3.1 Organization and Qualification.

 

(a) Each Group Company is a corporation, limited liability company or other applicable business entity duly organized or formed, as applicable, validly existing and in good standing (or the equivalent thereof, if applicable, in each case, with respect to the jurisdictions that recognize the concept of good standing or any equivalent thereof) under the Laws of its jurisdiction of formation or organization (as applicable). Section 3.1(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth the jurisdiction of formation or organization (as applicable) for each Group Company. Each Group Company has the requisite corporate, limited liability company or other applicable business entity power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its businesses as presently conducted, except where the failure to have such power or authority could not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(b) True and complete copies of the Governing Documents of the Company have been made available to MEOA, in each case, as amended and in effect as of the date of this Agreement. The Governing Documents of the Company are in full force and effect, and the Company is not in breach or violation of any provision set forth in its Governing Documents.

 

(c) Each Group Company is duly qualified or licensed to transact business and is in good standing (or the equivalent thereof, if applicable, in each case, with respect to the jurisdictions that recognize the concept of good standing or any equivalent thereof) in each jurisdiction in which the property and assets owned, leased or operated by it, or the nature of the business conducted by it, makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so duly qualified or licensed and in good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 3.2 Capitalization of the Group Companies.

 

(a) Section 3.2(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true and complete statement as of the date of this Agreement of (i) the number and class or series (as applicable) of all of the Equity Securities of the Company issued and outstanding, (ii) the identity of the Persons that are the record owners thereof, (iii) with respect to each Company Option, (A) the date of grant, (B) the exercise price, (C) the expiration date, (D) any applicable vesting schedule (including acceleration provisions), (E) the number of Company Shares subject to the Company Option on the date of grant, and (F) the number of Company Shares subject to the Company Option as of the date of this Agreement, (iv) with respect to each Company Warrant, (A) the date of issuance, (B) any applicable exercise (or similar) price, (C) the expiration date, (D) any applicable vesting schedule (including acceleration provisions), (E) the number of Company Shares subject to the Company Warrant on the date of issuance, and (F) the number of Company Shares subject to the Company Warrant as of the date of this Agreement, (v) with respect to each convertible promissory note of the Company, (A) the date of issuance, (B) any applicable conversion price, (C) the maturity date, and (D) the number of Company Shares issuable upon conversion of such convertible promissory note, and (vi) with respect to each Restricted Share, (A) the date of grant, (B) any applicable vesting schedule (including acceleration provisions), and (C) whether the recipient has made an election under Section 83(b) of the Code. All of the Equity Securities of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued. All of the outstanding Company Shares are fully paid and non-assessable. The Equity Securities of the Company (1) were not issued in violation of the Governing Documents of the Company or any other Contract to which the Company is party or bound, (2) were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights, call option, right of first refusal or first offer, subscription rights, transfer restrictions or similar rights of any Person, and (3) have been offered, sold and issued in material compliance with applicable Law, including Securities Laws. Except for the Company Options and Company Warrants set forth on Section 3.2(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules or the Company Options either permitted by Section 5.1(b) or issued, granted or entered into in accordance with Section 5.1(b), the Company has no outstanding (x) equity appreciation, phantom equity or profit participation rights, or (y) options, restricted stock, phantom stock, warrants, purchase rights, subscription rights, conversion rights, exchange rights, calls, puts, rights of first refusal or first offer or other Contracts that could require the Company to issue, sell or otherwise cause to become outstanding or to acquire, repurchase or redeem any Equity Securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Securities of the Company.

 

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(b) The issued and outstanding Equity Securities of the Company are free and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company (other than transfer restrictions under applicable Securities Law). There are no voting trusts, proxies or other Contracts to which the Company is a party with respect to the voting or transfer of the Company’s Equity Securities.

 

(c) Section 3.2(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true and complete statement of (i) the number and class or series (as applicable) of all of the Equity Securities of each Subsidiary of the Company issued and outstanding and (ii) the identity of the Persons that are the record and beneficial owners thereof. Except as set forth in Section 3.2(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, there are no outstanding (A) equity appreciation, phantom equity, or profit participation rights or (B) options, restricted stock, phantom stock, warrants, purchase rights, subscription rights, conversion rights, exchange rights, calls, puts, rights of first refusal or first offer or other Contracts that could require any Subsidiary of the Company to issue, sell or otherwise cause to become outstanding or to acquire, repurchase or redeem any Equity Securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Securities of the Subsidiaries of the Company, or (C) voting trusts, proxies or other Contracts with respect to the voting or transfer of any Equity Securities of any Subsidiary of the Company.

 

(d) Except as set forth in Section 3.2(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, none of the Group Companies owns or holds (of record, beneficially, legally or otherwise), directly or indirectly, any Equity Securities in any other Person or the right to acquire any such Equity Security, and none of the Group Companies are a partner or member of any partnership, limited liability company or joint venture.

 

(e) Section 3.2(e) of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of all Indebtedness of the Group Companies as of the date of this Agreement, including the principal amount of such Indebtedness, the outstanding balance as of the date of this Agreement, and the debtor and the creditor thereof.

 

(f) Section 3.2(f) of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of all Change of Control Payments of the Group Companies.

 

(g) Each Company Equity Award was granted in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws and all of the terms and conditions of the applicable Company Equity Plan, and each Company Option has an exercise price per share that is equal to or greater than the fair market value of a Company Share on the date of such grant determined in a manner consistent with Section 409A of the Code.

 

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Section 3.3 Authority. The Company has the requisite corporate, limited liability company or other similar power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is or will be a party, to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder, and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Subject to the receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval, the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents to which the Company is or will be a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been (or, in the case of any Ancillary Document entered into after the date of this Agreement, will be upon execution thereof) duly authorized by all necessary corporate (or other similar) action on the part of the Company. This Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which the Company is or will be a party has been or will be, upon execution thereof, as applicable, duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes or will constitute, upon execution and delivery thereof, as applicable, a valid, legal and binding agreement of the Company (assuming that this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which the Company is or will be a party are or will be upon execution thereof, as applicable, duly authorized, executed and delivered by the other Persons party thereto), enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other Laws affecting generally the enforcement of creditors’ rights and subject to general principles of equity). The Company Stockholders set forth on Schedule I attached hereto, who will deliver Transaction Support Agreements on the date of this Agreement, constitute as of the date of this Agreement, and will constitute (including through their heirs, successors and assigns, if any) on the record date of the Company Stockholders Meeting, the holders of a sufficient amount of the voting power of the Company that will be present at the Company Stockholders Meeting to approve the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the Merger), including on a fully diluted basis assuming the conversion or exercise of all securities of the Company that are or that may be converted or exercised at or prior to the Closing.

 

Section 3.4 Company SEC Filings. Except as set forth in Section 3.4 of the Company Disclosure Schedules, the Company has timely filed or furnished all statements, forms, reports and documents required to be filed or furnished by it prior to the date of this Agreement with the SEC pursuant to Federal Securities Laws since January 1, 2017 (collectively, and together with any information incorporated therein by reference, and as they have been supplemented, modified or amended since the time of filing, the “Company SEC Reports”). Each of the Company SEC Reports, as of their respective dates of filing, and as of the date of any amendment or filing that superseded the initial filing, complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Federal Securities Laws. As of their respective dates of filing, the Company SEC Reports did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no outstanding or unresolved comments in any comment letters received from the SEC with respect to the Company SEC Reports.

 

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Section 3.5 Internal Control; Quotation.

 

(a) Except as set forth in Section 3.5(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules and except as is not required in reliance on exemptions from various reporting requirements by virtue of the Company’s status as an “emerging growth company” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act or a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, since July 31, 2002, to the extent required under the Federal Securities Laws, (i) the Company has established and maintained a system of internal control 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 the Company’s financial reporting and the preparation of the Company’s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, and that: (a) all transactions by or with the Group Companies are executed in accordance with management’s authorizations; and (b) all transactions by or with the Group Companies are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of proper and accurate financial statements in accordance with GAAP and to maintain accountability for the Group Companies’ assets and liabilities, and (ii) the Company 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 the Group Companies is made known to the management of the Company by others within those entities as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

(b) The Company has complied in all material respects with all applicable reporting rules of the OTC Markets Group applicable with respect to its OTCQB Venture Market. The class of securities representing issued and outstanding Company Shares is registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is quoted on the OTCQB. There is no Proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company by OTC Markets Group or the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister the Company Shares or prohibit or terminate the quotation of the Company Shares on the OTCQB. The Company has not taken any action that is designed to terminate the registration of the Company Shares under the Exchange Act.

 

(c) The Company maintains and, for all periods covered by the Financial Statements, has maintained, books and records of the Company in the ordinary course of business that are accurate and complete and reflect the revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities of the Company in all material respects.

 

(d) To the Company’s knowledge, no Group Company has received any written complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that, as alleged therein, would constitute (i) a “significant deficiency” in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, (ii) a “material weakness” in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, or (iii) fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees of any Group Company who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Section 3.6 Financial Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities.

 

(a) The Company has made available to MEOA a true and complete copy of (i) the audited consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of July 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, and the related audited consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ deficit and cash flows of the Company for the years then ended (collectively, the “Company Audited Financial Statements”) and (ii) the unaudited consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of April 30, 2022 and July 31, 2021 (the balance sheet as of April 30, 2022, the “Latest Balance Sheet”) and the related unaudited consolidated statements of operations of the Company for the three-month and nine-month periods then ended, consolidated statements of stockholders’ deficit of the Company for the nine-month period then ended, and consolidated statements of cash flows of the Company for the nine-month period then ended (collectively, the “Unaudited Financial Statements”, and, together with the Company Audited Financial Statements, the “Financial Statements”). Each of the Financial Statements (including the notes thereto) (A) was prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto), (B) fairly presents, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as at the date thereof and for the period indicated therein, except as otherwise specifically noted therein, (C) in the case of the Financial Statements described in clause (i) of the preceding sentence, were audited in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB and (D) comply in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements and with the applicable 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).

 

(b) Except (i) as set forth on the face of the Latest Balance Sheet, (ii) for Liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business since the date of the Latest Balance Sheet (none of which is a Liability for breach of contract, breach of warranty, tort, infringement or violation of Law), (iii) for Liabilities incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation or execution of this Agreement or any Ancillary Documents, the performance of their respective covenants or agreements in this Agreement or any Ancillary Document or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (iv) for executory obligations under contracts to which any member of the Group Companies is a party (other than Liabilities for breach thereof), and (v) for Liabilities that are not and would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole, no Group Company has any Liabilities of the type required to be set forth on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.

 

(c) The PPP Loan was forgiven in full on April 15, 2021 and May 13, 2021 and as of the date hereof, no Group Company is subject to any further obligations or liabilities thereunder. The Company’s application for the PPP Loan and application for forgiveness thereof, including all representations and/or certifications contained therein, including representations and certifications as to the Company’s need to obtain the PPP Loan, was true, correct and complete in all material respects and was otherwise completed in accordance in all material respects with the rules and regulations of the PPP Program. The Company was an “eligible recipient” under the CARES Act and the PPP Program. The Company used the proceeds of the PPP Loan solely for the purposes permitted by the CARES Act and the PPP Program. Except for the PPP Loan, the Company has not applied for or accepted (i) any loan pursuant to the PPP Program, (ii) any funds pursuant to the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program or an advance on an Economic Injury Disaster Loan pursuant to Section 1110 of the CARES Act, or (iii) any loan or funds from applicable Law enacted by any Governmental Entity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

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Section 3.7 Consents and Requisite Governmental Approvals; No Violations.

 

(a) Except as set forth on Section 3.7(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, no consent, approval or authorization of, or designation, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Entity is required on the part of the Company with respect to the Company’s execution, delivery or performance of its obligations under this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents to which the Company is or will be party or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or by the Ancillary Documents, except for (i) compliance with and filings under the HSR Act, (ii) the filing with the SEC of (A) the Registration Statement and the declaration of the effectiveness thereof by the SEC and (B) such reports under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (iii) filing of the Certificates of Merger, or (iv) any other consents, approvals, authorizations, designations, declarations, waivers or filings, the absence of which would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b) Except as set forth on Section 3.7(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, neither the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this Agreement nor the Ancillary Documents to which the Company is or will be a party nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby will, directly or indirectly (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) (i) result in any breach of any provision of the Company’s Governing Documents, (ii) result in a violation or breach of, or constitute a default or give rise to any right of termination, Consent, cancellation, amendment, modification, suspension, revocation or acceleration under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of (A) any Contract to which any Group Company is a party or (B) any Material Permits, (iii) violate, or constitute a breach under, any Order or applicable Law to which any Group Company or any of its properties or assets are bound, or (iv) result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the assets or properties (other than any Permitted Liens) or Equity Securities of any Group Company, except, in the case of any of clauses (ii) through (iv) above, as would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 3.8 Permits. Section 3.8 of the Company Disclosure Schedules contains a complete listing of all Permits that are necessary to own and operate the business of the Group Companies as presently conducted and each of the Group Companies has all Permits that are required to own, lease or operate its properties and assets and to conduct its business as currently conducted, except for such Permits that are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole (the “Material Permits”). Except as is not could not reasonably be expected to be material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole, (i) to the Company’s knowledge, each Material Permit is in full force and effect in accordance with its terms, (ii) no written notice of revocation, cancellation or termination of any Material Permit has been received by the Group Companies, and (iii) there are, and have been, no Proceedings pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened relating to the suspension, revocation or material and adverse modification of any of such Material Permit. Except as set forth on Section 3.8 of the Company Disclosure Schedules, neither the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this Agreement nor the Ancillary Documents to which the Company is or will be a party nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby will, directly or indirectly, require the provision of any notice to any Governmental Entity or the approval of any Material Permit for the continued conduct of the business of the Group Companies as currently conducted.

 

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Section 3.9 Material Contracts.

 

(a) Section 3.9(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of the following Contracts to which a Group Company is, as of the date of this Agreement, a party (each Contract required to be set forth on Section 3.9(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, together with each of the Contracts entered into after the date of this Agreement that would be required to be set forth on Section 3.9(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules if entered into prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, collectively, the “Material Contracts”):

 

(i) any Contract relating to Indebtedness of any Group Company or to the placing of a Lien (other than any Permitted Lien) on any assets or properties of any Group Company, in each case, other than ordinary course trade payables;

 

(ii) any Contract under which any Group Company is lessee of or holds, in each case, any tangible property (other than real property), owned by any other Person;

 

(iii) any Contract under which any Group Company is lessor of or permits any third party to hold or operate, in each case, any tangible property (other than real property), owned or controlled by such Group Company;

 

(iv) any (A) joint venture, profit-sharing, partnership, collaboration, co-promotion, commercialization or research or development Contract and (B) any Contract with respect to material Company Licensed Intellectual Property (other than (I) any Contract of the type described in Section 3.15(c)(i), (II) licenses to Off-the-Shelf Software, (III) licenses to Public Software, and (IV) non-disclosure agreements and licenses granted by employees, individual consultants or individual contractors of any Group Company pursuant to Contracts with employees, individual consultants or individual contractors);

 

(v) any Contract that (A) limits or purports to limit, in any material respect, the freedom of any Group Company to engage or compete in any line of business or with any Person or in any area or that would so limit or purport to limit, in any material respect, the operations of MEOA or any of its Affiliates after the Closing, (B) contains any exclusivity, “most favored nation” or similar provisions, obligations or restrictions or (C) contains any other provisions restricting or purporting to restrict the ability of any Group Company to sell, manufacture, develop, commercialize, test or research products, directly or indirectly through third parties, or to solicit any potential employee or customer in any material respect or that would so limit or purports to limit, in any material respect, MEOA or any of its Affiliates after the Closing;

 

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(vi) any Contract requiring any future capital commitment or capital expenditure (or series of capital expenditures) by any Group Company in an amount in excess of (A) $100,000 annually, or (B) $100,000 over the life of the agreement;

 

(vii) any Contract requiring any Group Company to guarantee the Liabilities of any Person (other than the Company or a Subsidiary) or pursuant to which any Person (other than the Company or a Subsidiary) has guaranteed the Liabilities of a Group Company;

 

(viii) any Contract under which any Group Company has, directly or indirectly, made or agreed to make any loan, advance, or assignment of payment to any Person or made any capital contribution to, or other investment in, any Person;

 

(ix) any Contract required to be disclosed on Section 3.21 of the Company Disclosure Schedules;

 

(x) any Contract with any Person under which any Group Company grants to any Person any right of first refusal, right of first negotiation, option to purchase, option to license or any other similar rights with respect to any Company Product or any Intellectual Property Rights;

 

(xi) any Contract governing the terms of, or otherwise related to, the employment, engagement or services of any current director, manager, officer, employee, or Contingent Worker of a Group Company (A) whose annual base salary (or, in the case of a Contingent Worker, actual or anticipated annual base compensation) is in excess of $100,000, or (B) that provides for severance or any other post-termination payments or benefits;

 

(xii) any Contract governing the terms of, or otherwise related to, the employment, engagement or services of any former director, manager, officer, employee, or Contingent Worker of a Group Company pursuant to which any Group Company, as of the Closing, has or will have an obligation to pay severance or other post-termination pay;

 

(xiii) any Contract providing for any Change of Control Payment of the type described in clause (a) of the definition thereof;

 

(xiv) any collective bargaining agreements and any other agreements executed with a union or similar organization;

 

(xv) any Contract for the disposition of any portion of the assets or business of any Group Company or for the acquisition by any Group Company of the assets or business of any other Person (other than acquisitions or dispositions made in the ordinary course of business), or under which any Group Company has any continuing obligation with respect to an “earn-out”, contingent purchase price or other contingent or deferred payment obligation;

 

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(xvi) any Contract for the settlement or conciliation of a prior Proceeding or other dispute with a third party (A) the performance of which would be reasonably likely to involve any payments after the date of this Agreement, (B) with a Governmental Entity, or (C) that imposes or is reasonably likely to impose, at any time in the future, any material, non-monetary obligations on any Group Company (or MEOA or any of its Affiliates after the Closing);

 

(xvii) any Contract with any (x) Material Customer or (y) Material Supplier;

 

(xviii) any Contract with any Governmental Entity;

 

(xix) any Contract granting an exclusive or other material license in and to Company Licensed Intellectual Property, other than licenses for Off-the-Shelf Software;

 

(xx) any Contract granting an exclusive or other material license in and to any Company-Owned Intellectual Property, other than incidental licenses granted in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(xxi) any other Contract the performance of which requires either (A) annual payments to or from any Group Company in excess of $100,000 or (B) aggregate payments to or from any Group Company in excess of $100,000 over the life of the agreement and, in each case, that is not terminable by the applicable Group Company without penalty upon less than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice.

 

(b) (i) Each Material Contract is valid and binding on the applicable Group Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the counterparties thereto, and is in full force and effect and enforceable in accordance with its terms against the applicable Group Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the counterparties thereto (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other Laws affecting generally the enforcement of creditors’ rights and subject to general principles of equity), (ii) the applicable Group Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the counterparties thereto are not in material breach of, or default under, any Material Contract, and (iii) no event has occurred that (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) could reasonably be expected to result in a material breach of, or default under, any Material Contract by the applicable Group Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, the counterparties thereto.

 

(c) Section 3.9(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of each of the Material Suppliers and the Material Customers. Since July 31, 2021, no such Material Supplier or Material Customer has canceled, terminated or materially and adversely altered its relationship with the Company, or to the Company’s knowledge, threatened in writing to cancel or terminate its relationship with the Company. There have been no material disputes between the Company and any Material Supplier or Material Customer since the date of the Latest Balance Sheet.

 

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Section 3.10 Absence of Changes. During the period beginning on July 31, 2021 and ending on the date of this Agreement, (a) no Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred and (b) except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, any Ancillary Document or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (i) the Company has conducted its business in the ordinary course in all material respects and (ii) no Group Company has taken any action that would require the consent of MEOA if taken during the period from the date of this Agreement until the Closing pursuant to Section 5.1(b).

 

Section 3.11 Litigation. There is (and for the past three years there has been) no Proceeding pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Group Company that, if adversely decided or resolved, has been or could reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole. Neither the Group Companies nor any of their respective properties or assets is subject to any material Order. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no material Proceedings by a Group Company pending against any other Person.

 

Section 3.12 Compliance with Applicable Law. Each Group Company (a) currently conducts (and for the past three years, has conducted) its business in accordance with all Laws and Orders applicable to such Group Company and is not in violation of any such Law or Order, including those concerning any Group Company’s liability in the event of possible misuse of public funds granted by any Governmental Entity, and (b) has not received any written or to the Company’s knowledge, oral, communications from a Governmental Entity that alleges that such Group Company is not in compliance with any such Law or Order. Except as could not reasonably be expected to be material to any Group Company, without limiting the foregoing, no Group Company has violated or, to the Company’s knowledge, is under investigation with respect to, or have been threatened in writing or charged with or given notice of any violation of any provisions of: (i) Laws applicable to lending activities; (ii) the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA); (iii) any comparable or similar Law of any jurisdiction; or (iv) any Law regulating or covering conduct in, or the nature of, the workplace, including regarding sexual harassment or, on any impermissible basis, a hostile work environment.

 

Section 3.13 Employee Benefit Plans.

 

(a) Section 3.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true and complete list of (i) all Employee Benefit Plans (including, for each such Employee Benefit Plan, its jurisdiction) and (ii) all employee benefit plans sponsored by an entity other than the Company in which employees of the Group Companies participated during the three-year period prior to the date hereof.

 

(b) True, complete and correct copies of the following documents, with respect to each Employee Benefit Plan, where applicable, have previously been delivered or made available to MEOA: (i) all documents embodying or governing such Employee Benefit Plan (or for unwritten Employee Benefit Plans a written description of the material terms of such Employee Benefit Plan) and any funding medium for the Employee Benefit Plan; (ii) the most recent IRS determination, advisory or opinion letter; (iii) the most recently filed Form 5500; (iv) the most recent actuarial valuation report; (v) the most recent summary plan description and all summaries of material modifications thereto; (vi) the last three years of non-discrimination and compliance testing results; (vii) all non-routine written correspondence to and from any governmental agency; and (viii) all valuation reports with respect to Company Options.

 

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(c) Each Employee Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and has timely received a favorable determination or approval from the Internal Revenue Service with respect to such qualification, or may rely on an opinion or advisory letter issued by the Internal Revenue Service with respect to a prototype plan adopted in accordance with the requirements for such reliance, or has time remaining for application to the Internal Revenue Service for a determination of the qualified status of such Employee Benefit Plan for any period for which such Employee Benefit Plan would not otherwise be covered by an Internal Revenue Service determination and, to the knowledge of the Company, no event or omission has occurred that would reasonably be expected to cause any such Employee Benefit Plan to lose such qualification.

 

(d) Each Employee Benefit Plan is and has been established, operated and administered in all material respects in accordance with applicable Laws and with its terms, including without limitation ERISA, the Code and the Affordable Care Act. No Employee Benefit Plan is, or within the past three years has been, the subject of an application or filing under a government sponsored amnesty, voluntary compliance, or similar program, or been the subject of any self-correction under any such program. No litigation or governmental administrative proceeding, audit or other proceeding (other than those relating to routine claims for benefits) is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan or any fiduciary or service provider thereof and, to the knowledge of the Company, there is no reasonable basis for any such litigation or proceeding. All payments and/or contributions required to have been made with respect to all Employee Benefit Plans either have been made or have been accrued in accordance with the terms of the applicable Employee Benefit Plan and applicable Law.

 

(e) Each Employee Benefit Plan that is a group health plan is, and at all times has been, in compliance in all material respects with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and all regulations thereunder. No Group Company has been assessed, or is reasonably likely to be assessed, Liability for assessable payments under, or has incurred or is reasonably expected to incur or to be subject to any material Tax or other material penalty under Sections 4980H, 4980D, 4980B of the Code or Sections 6055 or 6056 of the Code.

 

(f) No Group Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has in the past three years maintained, contributed to, or been required to contribute to or had any liability (whether contingent or otherwise) or obligation (including on account of any ERISA Affiliate) with respect to: (i) any employee benefit plan that is or was subject to Title IV of ERISA, Section 412 of the Code, Section 302 of ERISA, (ii) a Multiemployer Plan, (iii) any funded welfare benefit plan within the meaning of Section 419 of the Code, (iv) any “multiple employer plan” (within the meaning of Section 210 of ERISA or Section 413(c) of the Code), or (v) any “multiple employer welfare arrangement” (as such term is defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA), and neither any Group Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has ever incurred any liability under Title IV of ERISA that has not been paid in full and no facts exist that would reasonably be likely to result in Liability to any Group Company with respect to any such plan.

 

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(g) No Group Company nor any ERISA Affiliate provides health care or any other non-pension benefits to any employees after their employment is terminated (other than as required by Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA or similar Law), and no Group Company has ever formally promised to provide such post-termination benefits.

 

(h) Except as required by applicable Law, no Group Company has announced its intention to modify or terminate any Employee Benefit Plan or adopt any arrangement or program which, once established, would come within the definition of an Employee Benefit Plan.

 

(i) Each Employee Benefit Plan that constitutes in any part a nonqualified deferred compensation plan within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code has been operated and maintained in all material respects in operational and documentary compliance with Section 409A of the Code and applicable guidance thereunder so that no payment under such Employee Benefit Plan will be subject to tax under Section 409A.

 

(j) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the stockholder approval of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement could be reasonably expected to (either alone or in combination with any other event) (i) result in, or cause the accelerated vesting payment, funding or delivery of, or increase the amount or value of, any payment or benefit to any current or former director, manager, officer, employee, individual independent contractor or other service providers of any of the Group Companies, (ii) result in, or cause the accelerated vesting of any Company Options or Restricted Shares, (iii) further restrict any rights of the Group Companies to amend or terminate any Employee Benefit Plan, or (iv) result in any “parachute payment” as defined in Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code (whether or not such payment is considered to be reasonable compensation for services rendered).

 

(k) The Group Companies have no obligation to make any tax “gross-up” or similar “make whole” payments, whether under Sections 409A or 4999 of the Code or otherwise.

 

(l) Each Foreign Benefit Plan that is required to be registered or intended to be tax exempt has been registered (and, where applicable, accepted for registration) and is tax exempt and has been maintained in good standing, to the extent applicable, with each Governmental Entity. No Foreign Benefit Plan is a “defined benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA, whether or not subject to ERISA) or has any material unfunded or underfunded Liabilities. All material contributions required to have been made by or on behalf of the Group Companies with respect to plans or arrangements maintained or sponsored by a Group Company (including severance, termination notice, termination indemnities or other similar benefits maintained for employees outside of the U.S.) have been timely made or fully accrued.

 

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Section 3.14 Environmental Matters. Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect:

 

(a) None of the Group Companies have received any written notice or communication from any Governmental Entity or any other Person regarding any actual, alleged, or potential violation in any respect of, or a failure to comply in any respect with, or Liability under, any applicable Environmental Laws.

 

(b) There is (and since August 1, 2019 there has been) no Proceeding pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened in writing against any Group Company pursuant to applicable Environmental Laws.

 

(c) The Group Companies are in compliance with Environmental Laws. There has been no manufacture, release, treatment, storage, disposal, arrangement for disposal, transport or handling of, contamination by, or exposure of any Person to, any Hazardous Substances by the Group Companies in violation of, or which could reasonably be expected to give rise to Liability under, applicable Environmental Laws.

 

(d) The Group Companies are in compliance with and have all Permits required pursuant to applicable Environmental Laws with respect to the operation of the Business as currently conducted.

 

(e) The Group Companies have made available to MEOA copies of all material environmental, health and safety reports and documents that are in any Group Company’s possession or control relating to the current operations, properties or facilities of the Group Companies.

 

Section 3.15 Intellectual Property.

 

(a) Section 3.15(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true and complete list of (i) all currently issued or pending Company Registered Intellectual Property, (ii) Company Party-owned Software other than Off-the-Shelf Software; (iii) Company Licensed Intellectual Property that constitutes an issued or pending application for Patent or Trademark owned, or purported to be owned, by or registered to a third party (each, a “Company Licensed Patent”), and (iv) unregistered Marks or Copyrights owned by any Group Company, in each case, as of the date of this Agreement. Section 3.15(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules lists, for each item of Company Registered Intellectual Property and each Company Licensed Patent as of the date of this Agreement (A) the record owner of such item, (B) the jurisdictions in which such item has been issued or registered or filed, (C) the issuance, registration or application date, as applicable, for such item, (D) the issuance, registration or application number, as applicable, for such item, and (E) whether the Intellectual Property Rights covered by such an item arose from research and/or activities performed under a government (including US and foreign governments) research, educational institution, or other public funding contract.

 

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(b) As of the date of this Agreement, all necessary fees and filings with respect to all Company Registered Intellectual Property have been timely submitted to the relevant intellectual property office or Governmental Entity and Internet domain name registrars to maintain such Company Registered Intellectual Property in full force and effect. As of the date of this Agreement, no issuance or registration obtained and no application filed by the Group Companies for any Intellectual Property Rights has been cancelled, abandoned, allowed to lapse or not renewed, except where such Group Company has, in its reasonable business judgment, decided to cancel, abandon, allow to lapse or not renew such issuance, registration or application. There are no material Proceedings pending, including litigations, interference, re-examination, inter parties review, reissue, opposition, nullity, or cancellation proceedings pending that relate to any of the Company Registered Intellectual Property and, to the Company’s knowledge, no such Proceedings are threatened by any Governmental Entity or any other Person.

 

(c) A Group Company exclusively owns all right, title and interest in and to all Company-Owned Intellectual Property free and clear of all Liens or obligations to others (other than Permitted Liens). For all Patents owned by the Group Companies, each inventor on the Patent has assigned their rights to a Group Company. Except as set forth in Section 3.15(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, no Group Company has (i) transferred ownership of, or granted any exclusive license with respect to, any Company-Owned Intellectual Property or Company Licensed Intellectual Property used or held for use in the business as currently conducted to any other Person, or (ii) granted any customer the right to use any Company Product or service on anything other than a non-exclusive basis. Section 3.15(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of all current licenses, sublicenses or other agreements, including covenants not to sue, under which any Person has been granted by any of the Group Companies any right or otherwise has received or acquired any right (whether or not exercisable) or interest in, any Company-Owned Intellectual Property or Company Licensed Intellectual Property, in each case, other than (A) licenses to Off-the-Shelf Software, (B) licenses to Public Software, (C) non-exclusive licenses granted by the Group Companies in the ordinary course of business, and (D) non-disclosure agreements granted by employees, individual consultants or individual contractors of any Group Company pursuant to Contracts with employees, individual consultants or individual contractors, in each case, that do not materially differ from the Group Companies’ form that has been made available to MEOA. The applicable Group Company has rights under all Contracts for Company Licensed Intellectual Property to use, sell, license and otherwise exploit, as the case may be, all Company Licensed Intellectual Property licensed pursuant to such Contracts as the same is currently used, sold, licensed and otherwise exploited by such Group Company. The Company-Owned Intellectual Property and the Company Licensed Intellectual Property constitute all of the Intellectual Property Rights owned, used or held for use by the Group Companies in the operation of their respective businesses, and all Intellectual Property Rights necessary and sufficient to enable the Group Companies to conduct their respective businesses as currently conducted. The Company Registered Intellectual Property and, to the knowledge of the Company, the Company Licensed Intellectual Property is valid, subsisting and enforceable (except for applications for Company Registered Intellectual Property that have not issued), and all of the Group Companies’ rights in and to the Company Registered Intellectual Property, the Company-Owned Intellectual Property and the Company Licensed Intellectual Property, are valid and enforceable, in each case, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other Laws affecting generally the enforcement of creditors’ rights and subject to general principles of equity. Immediately following the Closing, each Group Company shall continue to own and possess or have the rights or licenses sufficient to use all of the Company-Owned Intellectual Property (including Company Software), Company Licensed Intellectual Property Licenses, and Company IT Systems to the same extent as prior to the Closing, and the transaction contemplated by this Agreement will not result in the loss or impairment of any Group Company’s rights therein.

 

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(d) Each Group Company’s employees, consultants, advisors and independent contractors who independently or jointly contributed to or otherwise participated in the invention, improvement, modification or development of any material Company-Owned Intellectual Property (each such person, a “Creator”) have signed written agreements agreeing to maintain and protect the trade secrets and confidential information of all Group Companies. Each Creator has signed written agreements agreeing to a present assignment to such Group Company all Intellectual Property Rights invented, improved, modified or developed by such person in the course of such Creator’s employment or other engagement with such Group Company.

 

(e) Each Group Company has taken commercially reasonable steps to safeguard and maintain the secrecy of any trade secrets, know-how and other confidential information owned by, possessed or used by each Group Company. Without limiting the foregoing, each Group Company has not disclosed any trade secrets, know-how or confidential information to any other Person unless such disclosure was under a written non-disclosure agreement containing appropriate limitations on use, reproduction and disclosure. To the Company’s knowledge, there has been no violation or unauthorized access to or disclosure of any trade secrets, know-how or confidential information of or in the possession of each Group Company, or of any written obligations with respect to such.

 

(f) None of the Company-Owned Intellectual Property and, to the Company’s knowledge, none of the Company Licensed Intellectual Property, is subject to any outstanding Order that restricts in any manner the use, sale, transfer, licensing or exploitation thereof by the Group Companies or affects the validity, use or enforceability of any such Company-Owned Intellectual Property or Company Licensed Intellectual Property.

 

(g) Neither the conduct of the business of the Group Companies nor any of the Company Products offered, marketed, licensed, provided, sold, distributed or otherwise exploited by the Group Companies nor the design, development, manufacturing, reproduction, use, marketing, offer for sale, sale, importation, exportation, distribution, maintenance or other exploitation of any Company Product infringes, constitutes or results from an unauthorized use or misappropriation of or otherwise violates any Intellectual Property Rights of any other Person.

 

(h) There is and has never been any Proceeding pending nor has any Group Company received any written communications (i) alleging that a Group Company has infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated any Intellectual Property Rights of any other Person, (ii) challenging the validity, enforceability, use or exclusive ownership of any Company-Owned Intellectual Property or (iii) inviting any Group Company to take a license under any Patent or consider the applicability of any Patents to any products or services of the Group Companies or to the conduct of the business of the Group Companies.

 

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(i) To the Company’s knowledge, no Person is infringing, misappropriating, misusing, diluting or violating any Company-Owned Intellectual Property or Company Licensed Intellectual Property. No Group Company has made any written claim against any Person alleging any infringement, misappropriation or other violation of any Company-Owned Intellectual Property in any material respect.

 

(j) Each Group Company has obtained, possesses and is in compliance with valid licenses to use all of the Software present on the computers and other Software-enabled electronic devices that it owns or leases or that is otherwise used by such Group Company and/or its employees in connection with the Group Company business. No Group Company has disclosed or delivered to any escrow agent or any other Person, other than employees or contractors who are subject to written confidentiality obligations, any of the source code that is Company-Owned Intellectual Property, and no other Person has the right, contingent or otherwise, to obtain access to or use any such source code. To the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred, and no circumstance or condition exists, that (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) will, or could reasonably be expected to, result in the delivery, license or disclosure of any source code that is owned by a Group Company or otherwise constitutes Company-Owned Intellectual Property to any Person who is not, as of the date the event occurs or circumstance or condition comes into existence, a current employee or contractor of a Group Company subject to written confidentiality obligations with respect thereto.

 

(k) Section 3.15(k) of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth all Public Software that is incorporated or embedded in any proprietary Software of a Group Company by any Group Company as of the date of this Agreement. No Group Company has accessed, used, modified, linked to, created derivative works from or incorporated into any proprietary Software that constitutes a product or service offered by a Group Company or is otherwise considered Company-Owned Intellectual Property and that is distributed outside of the Group Companies, or is otherwise used in a manner that may trigger or subject such Group Company to any obligations set forth in the license for such Public Software, any Public Software, in whole or in part, in each case in a manner that (i) requires any Company-Owned Intellectual Property to be licensed, sold, disclosed, distributed, hosted or otherwise made available, including in source code form and/or for the purpose of making derivative works, for any reason, (ii) grants, or requires any Group Company to grant, the right to decompile, disassemble, reverse engineer or otherwise derive the source code or underlying structure of any Company-Owned Intellectual Property, (iii) limits in any manner the ability to charge license fees or otherwise seek compensation in connection with marketing, licensing or distribution of any Company-Owned Intellectual Property, or (iv) otherwise imposes any limitation, restriction or condition on the right or ability of any Group Company to use, hold for use, license, host, distribute or otherwise dispose of any Company-Owned Intellectual Property, other than compliance with notice and attribution requirements, in each case, except as is not and could not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole.

 

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(l) None of the Company IT Systems contain any viruses, worms, Trojan horses, bugs, faults or other harmful devices, errors, contaminants or effects that (i) disrupt or adversely affect the functionality of any Company IT Systems or Company Software, or (ii) enable or assist any Person to access any Company IT Systems or Company Software without authorization. Each Group Company maintains commercially reasonable security, disaster recovery, and business continuity procedures and technologies. Each Group Company uses commercially reasonable efforts to protect the confidentiality, operation, and internal and external security of the Company IT Systems and all information therein or transmitted thereby.

 

Section 3.16 Labor Matters.

 

(a) Section 3.16(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules contains a complete and accurate list of each employee of each Group Company as of the date of this Agreement, setting forth for each employee: (i) the employee’s position or title; (ii) whether classified as exempt or non-exempt for wage and hour purposes; (iii) whether paid on a salary, hourly or commission basis; (iv) the employee’s actual annual base salary (if paid on a salary basis), hourly rate (if paid on an hourly basis), or commission rate (if paid on a commission-only basis), as applicable; (v) bonus and commission potential; (vi) date of hire; (vii) work location; (viii) status (i.e., active or inactive and if inactive, the type of leave and estimated duration); (ix) the entity that employs the individual; and (x) the total amount of Change of Control Payment to be paid to such employee at the Closing or otherwise in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(b) Section 3.16(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules contains a complete and accurate list of all Contingent Workers, showing for each such individual: (i) a description of his, her, or its services rendered; (ii) fees and other compensation paid and accrued to such Contingent Worker during calendar year 2021; (iii) fees and other compensation accrued and/or paid, whichever is greater, to such Contingent Worker thus far during calendar year 2022; (iv) actual or estimated hours worked per week; and (v) the primary location (e.g., U.S. state) from which services are performed.

 

(c) Each Group Company currently classifies and has properly classified for the last three years each of its employees as exempt or non-exempt for the purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act and state, provincial, local and foreign wage and hour Laws (as applicable), except as has not and could not reasonably be expected to result in material Liability to the Group Companies, and is and has been otherwise in material compliance with such Laws. To the extent that any Contingent Workers are or were engaged by any Group Company, such Group Company currently classifies and treats them, and has properly classified and treated them for the last three years, as Contingent Workers (as distinguished from employees) in accordance with applicable Law and for the purpose of all Employee Benefit Plans and perquisites.

 

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(d) Each Group Company is, and for the past three years has been, in material compliance with all applicable Laws and regulations respecting labor and employment matters, including but not limited to fair employment practices, pay equity, the classification of independent contractors, and/or consultants and/or agents, the classification of employees as exempt or non-exempt for wage and hour purposes, workplace safety and health, work authorization and immigration, unemployment compensation, workers’ compensation, accommodation of disabilities, discrimination, harassment, whistleblowing, retaliation, affirmative action, background checks, prevailing wages, terms and conditions of employment, child labor, reductions in force, employee leave and wages and hours, including payment of minimum wages and overtime. No Group Company is delinquent in any payments to any employee or Contingent Worker for any wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, severance, fees or other direct compensation due with respect to any services performed for it or amounts required to be reimbursed to such employees or Contingent Workers.

 

(e) In the last three years, (i) none of the Group Companies (A) has or has had any material Liability for any arrears of wages or other compensation for services (including salaries, wage premiums, commissions, fees or bonuses), or any penalty or other sums for failure to comply with any of the foregoing, and (B) has or has had any material Liability for any failure to pay into any trust or other fund governed by or maintained by or on behalf of any Governmental Entity with respect to unemployment compensation benefits, social security, social insurances or other benefits or obligations for any employees of any Group Company (other than routine payments to be made in the normal course of business and consistent with past practice); and (ii) the Group Companies have withheld all amounts required by applicable Law or by agreement to be withheld from wages, salaries and other payments to employees or independent contractors or other service providers of each Group Company, except as has not and could not reasonably be expected to result in, individually or in the aggregate, material Liability to the Group Companies.

 

(f) In the last three years, no Group Company has experienced a “mass layoff” or “plant closing” as defined by WARN, and no Group Company has incurred any material Liability under WARN nor will they incur any Liability under WARN as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(g) No Group Company is a party to, bound by, or negotiating any collective bargaining agreements, work rules or practices, or other agreements or Contracts with any labor organization, labor union, works council or other Person purporting to act as exclusive bargaining representative (“Union”) of any employees or Contingent Workers with respect to the wages, hours or other terms and conditions of employment of any employee or Contingent Worker, nor is there any duty on the part of any Group Company to bargain with any Union. In the last three years, there has been no actual or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened unfair labor practice charges, material grievances, arbitrations, strikes, lockouts, work stoppages, slowdowns, picketing, hand billing or other material labor disputes against or affecting any Group Company. To the Company’s knowledge, in the last three years, there have been no labor organizing activities with respect to any employees of any Group Company nor has the Company engaged in any unfair labor practice.

 

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(h) No employee layoff, facility closure or shutdown (whether voluntary or by Order), reduction-in-force, furlough, temporary layoff, material work schedule change or reduction in hours, or reduction in salary or wages, or other workforce changes affecting employees of the Group Companies has occurred within the past six months or is currently contemplated, planned or announced, including as a result of COVID-19 or any applicable employment-related Pandemic Measure. Except as could not reasonably be expected to give rise to a material Liability, each Group Company has materially complied with (i) all applicable employment-related Pandemic Measures including, without limitation, all applicable COVID-19 related Laws, regulations, orders and guidance of any Governmental Entity; and (ii) the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (including with respect to eligibility for tax credits under such Act), and any other applicable COVID-19 related leave Law.

 

(i) Except as set forth on Section 3.16(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, in the past 12 months (i) no director, officer, or management-level or key employee’s employment with any Group Company has been terminated or furloughed for any reason; and (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, no director, officer, or management-level or key employee, or group of employees or Contingent Workers, has indicated an intention to terminate his, her or their employment or service arrangement with the Company.

 

(j) Currently and within the three years preceding the date of this Agreement, no Group Company has been a party to any form of litigation, arbitration, mediation, investigation (including but not limited to material internal investigations), audit, administrative agency proceeding, other private dispute resolution proceeding, settlement, or out-of-court or pre-charge or pre-litigation arrangement, in each case relating to employment or labor matters concerning the employees or Contingent Workers of the Company (including but not limited to those concerning allegations of employment discrimination, retaliation, breach of contract, noncompliance with wage and hour Laws, the misclassification of employees, independent contractors, consultants or agents, violation of restrictive covenants, sexual or other harassment or misconduct, other unlawful harassment, or unfair labor practices), and no such matters are pending or threatened against any Group Company or any employees or Contingent Workers of any Group Company (in their respective capacity as employees or Contingent Workers of any Group Company), as applicable.

 

(k) Except as set forth on Section 3.16(k) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, each employee of each Group Company is employed at-will and no employee is subject to any employment contract with any Group Company, whether oral or written, for a fixed term of employment with any Group Company.

 

(l) In the last three years, no allegations of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct have been made to any Group Company against any employee, officer, or director of any Group Company and no Group Company has otherwise become aware of any such allegations. To the knowledge of the Company, there are no facts that could reasonably be expected to give rise to a claim of sexual harassment or misconduct, other unlawful harassment or unlawful discrimination or retaliation against or involving any Group Company or any employee, officer, or director of any Group Company. In the last three years, there have not been any internal investigations by or on behalf of any Group Company with respect to any claims or allegations of sexual harassment, misconduct or abuse against or involving any employee, officer, or director of any Group Company, nor have there been any settlements or out-of-court or pre-charge or pre-litigation arrangements relating to such matters.

 

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(m) No Group Company (i) is subject to any affirmative action obligations under any Law, including, without limitation, Executive Order 11246, and/or (ii) is a government contractor or subcontractor for purposes of any Law with respect to the terms and conditions of employment, including, without limitation, the Service Contracts Act or prevailing wage Laws.

 

(n) There are no outstanding assessments, penalties, fines, liens, charges, surcharges, or other amounts due or owing pursuant to any workplace safety and insurance legislation and no Group Company has been reassessed in any material respect under such legislation during the past three years and, to the knowledge of the Company, no audit of any Group Company is currently being performed pursuant to any applicable workplace safety and insurance legislation.

 

(o) True and complete copies of all work permits and labor market impact assessment opinion confirmations relating to employees of any Group Company have been made available to MEOA. Each Group Company is in compliance with all terms and conditions of the work permits and the labor market impact assessment confirmations. No audit by a Governmental Entity is being conducted, or to the Company’s knowledge, is pending in respect of any foreign workers.

 

Section 3.17 Insurance. Section 3.17 of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of all material policies of fire, liability, workers’ compensation, property, casualty and other forms of insurance owned or held by any Group Company as of the date of this Agreement. All such policies are in full force and effect, all premiums due and payable thereon as of the date of this Agreement have been paid in full as of the date of this Agreement, and true and complete copies of all such policies have been made available to MEOA. No claim by any Group Company is pending under any such policies as to which coverage has been denied or disputed, or rights reserved to do so, by the underwriters thereof, except as is not and could not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole.

 

Section 3.18 Tax Matters.

 

(a) Each Group Company has prepared and filed all material Tax Returns required to have been filed by it, all such Tax Returns are true and complete in all material respects and prepared in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws and Orders, and each Group Company has paid all material Taxes required to have been paid by it regardless of whether shown on a Tax Return, and has paid all assessments and reassessments in respect of Taxes in all material respects. Each Group Company has made full and adequate provision in its books and records and interim financial statements for all Taxes which are not yet due and payable but which relate to periods ending on or before the Effective Time. No Group Company has received a refund of Taxes to which it was not entitled.

 

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(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.18(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, each Group Company has timely withheld and paid to the appropriate Tax Authority all material amounts required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, individual independent contractor, other service providers, equity interest holder or other third-party. Each Group Company has, to the extent required under applicable Laws, duly charged, collected and remitted on a timely basis all material Taxes on any sale, supply or delivery whatsoever, made by it.

 

(c) No Group Company is currently the subject of a Tax audit or examination with respect to material Taxes. No Group Company has been informed in writing of the commencement or anticipated commencement of any Tax audit or examination that has not been resolved or completed in each case with respect to material Taxes.

 

(d) No Group Company has consented to extend or waive the time in which any material Tax may be assessed or collected by any Tax Authority, other than any such extensions or waivers that are no longer in effect or that were extensions of time to file Tax Returns obtained in the ordinary course of business.

 

(e) No “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. income Tax Law), private letter rulings, technical advice memoranda or similar agreements or rulings have been entered into or issued by any Tax Authority with respect to a Group Company which agreement or ruling would be effective after the Closing Date.

 

(f) No Group Company is or has been a party to any “listed transaction” as defined in Section 6707A of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4 (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. income Tax Law).

 

(g) There are no Liens for material Taxes on any assets of the Group Companies other than Permitted Liens.

 

(h) During the two (2)-year period ending on the date of this Agreement, no Group Company was a distributing corporation or a controlled corporation in a transaction purported or intended to be governed by Section 355 of the Code.

 

(i) No Group Company (i) has been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated federal income Tax Return (other than a group the common parent of which was a Group Company or any of its current Affiliates), or (ii) has any material Liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than a Group Company or any of its current Affiliates) under Section 1.1502-6 of the Treasury Regulations (or any similar provision of state, local or non-United States Law), as a transferee or successor or by Contract (other than any Contract the principal purpose of which does not relate to Taxes).

 

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(j) In the past three years, no written claims have been received by any Group Company from any Tax Authority in a jurisdiction where a Group Company does not file Tax Returns that such Group Company is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction, which claims have not been resolved or withdrawn.

 

(k) No Group Company is a party to any Tax allocation, Tax sharing or Tax indemnity or similar agreements (other than one that is included in a Contract entered into in the ordinary course of business that is not primarily related to Taxes) and no Group Company is a party to any joint venture, partnership or other arrangement that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income Tax purposes.

 

(l) Each Group Company is a tax resident only in its jurisdiction of formation.

 

(m) No Group Company has a permanent establishment (within the meaning of an applicable Tax treaty) or otherwise has an office or fixed place of business in a country other than the country in which it is organized.

 

(n) No Group Company has taken or agreed to take any action not contemplated by this Agreement and/or any Ancillary Document that could reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment. To the knowledge of the Company, no facts or circumstances exist, other than any facts or circumstances to the extent that such facts or circumstances exist or arise as a result of or related to any act or omission occurring after the signing date of any MEOA Party or any of their respective Affiliates not contemplated by this Agreement and/or any of the Ancillary Documents, that could reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment.

 

Section 3.19 Brokers. Except for fees payable to Persons set forth on Section 3.19 of the Company Disclosure Schedules (which fees shall be the sole responsibility of the Company, except as otherwise provided in Section 8.6), 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 this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Affiliates for which any of the Group Companies has any obligation.

 

Section 3.20 Real and Personal Property.

 

(a) Owned Real Property. No Group Company owns any real property.

 

(b) Leased Real Property. Section 3.20(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true and complete list (including street addresses) of all real property leased by any of the Group Companies (the “Leased Real Property”) and all Real Property Leases pursuant to which any Group Company is a tenant as of the date of this Agreement. True and complete copies of all such Real Property Leases have been made available to MEOA. Each Real Property Lease is in full force and effect and is a valid, legal and binding obligation of the applicable Group Company party thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms against such Group Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, each other party thereto (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other Laws affecting generally the enforcement of creditors’ rights and subject to general principles of equity). There is no material breach or default by any Group Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any third party under any Real Property Lease, and, to the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred which (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) would constitute a material breach or default or would permit termination of, or a material modification or acceleration thereof by any party to such Real Property Leases in each case if such event could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse impact on the ability to use the Leased Real Property for the operation of the Business as currently conducted.

 

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(c) Personal Property. Each Group Company has good, marketable and indefeasible title to, or a valid leasehold interest in or license or right to use, all of the material assets and properties of the Group Companies reflected in the Financial Statements or thereafter acquired by the Group Companies used or held for use in the operation of the Company’s Business, except for assets disposed of in the ordinary course of business, and such material assets and properties constitute all of the material assets and properties of, or used by, the Group Companies necessary to operate the Business of the Group Companies in the same manner as presently conducted.

 

Section 3.21 Transactions with Affiliates. Section 3.21 of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth all Contracts between (a) any Group Company, on the one hand, and (b) any officer, director, employee, partner, member, manager, direct or indirect equityholder or Affiliate of any Group Company (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, any other Group Company) or any family member of the foregoing Persons, on the other hand (each Person identified in this clause (b), a “Company Related Party”), other than (i) Contracts with respect to a Company Related Party’s employment with (including benefit plans and other ordinary course compensation from) any of the Group Companies entered into in the ordinary course of business, (ii) Contracts with respect to a Company Stockholder’s or a holder of Company Equity Awards’ status as a holder of Equity Securities of the Company and (iii) Contracts entered into after the date of this Agreement that are either permitted pursuant to Section 5.1(b) or entered into in accordance with Section 5.1(b). No Company Related Party (A) owns any interest in any material asset used in any Group Company’s business, or (B) owes any material amount to, or is owed any material amount by, any Group Company (other than ordinary course accrued compensation, employee benefits, employee or director expense reimbursement or other transactions entered into after the date of this Agreement that are either permitted pursuant to Section 5.1(b) or entered into in accordance with Section 5.1(b)). All Contracts, arrangements, understandings, interests and other matters that are required to be disclosed pursuant to this Section 3.21 are referred to herein as “Company Related Party Transactions”.

 

Section 3.22 Data Privacy and Security.

 

(a) Except as set forth on Section 3.22(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, each Group Company has implemented written internal and external policies relating to the Processing of Personal Data as and to the extent required by applicable Privacy Law (“Privacy and Data Security Policies”). Except as set forth on Section 3.22(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, for the past three years, each Group Company has at all times complied with all applicable Privacy Laws, the Privacy and Data Security Policies, and contractual obligations entered into by a Group Company relating to the Processing of Personal Data and any other applicable industry standards or requirements binding upon such Group Company (collectively, the “Privacy Requirements”).

 

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(b) The Company has not received notice of any pending Proceedings, nor has there been any material Proceedings against any Group Company initiated by (i) any Person; (ii) the United States Federal Trade Commission, any state attorney general or similar state official; (iii) any other Governmental Entity; or (iv) any state, federal, or international data protection authority, in each case, alleging that any Processing of Personal Data by or on behalf of a Group Company is in violation of any Privacy Requirements.

 

(c) Except as set forth on Section 3.22(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, for the past three years, (i) there has been no material unauthorized access, use or disclosure of Personal Data in the possession or control of any Group Company and/or any of the service providers of any Group Company and (ii) there have been no unauthorized intrusions or breaches of security into any Company IT Systems under the control of any Group Company.

 

(d) Each Group Company owns or has a license to use the Company IT Systems as necessary to operate the business of each Group Company as currently conducted. Each Group Company has taken commercially reasonable steps to protect (i) the operation, confidentiality, integrity and security of the Company IT systems and (ii) personal data in the Group Company’s possession or control, or otherwise processed by the Group Company, from unauthorized, accidental or unlawful use, disclosure and modification.

 

(e) Each Group Company is, and at all times has been, in compliance with all legal requirements that are applicable to each Group Company’s business as presently conduct pertaining to sales, marketing, and electronic communications, including, without limitation, the U.S. CAN-SPAM Act, the U.S. Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

 

(f) Each Group Company has reasonable procedures in place to ensure that the third parties with which such Group Company shares or transfers Personal Data are required to protect the confidentiality of the shared or transferred Personal Data in compliance with all applicable Privacy Requirements. Each Group Company has contractual arrangements with such third parties that comply with all applicable Privacy Requirements to the extent applicable to the third party’s services, use, or processing of Personal Data.

 

Section 3.23 Compliance with International Trade & Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

(a) Each of the Group Companies is in material compliance with all Sanctions and Export Control Laws, Anti-Corruption Laws, and Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

 

(b) There is no Proceeding pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against any Group Company or their respective Representatives that relates to a violation of Sanctions and Export Control Laws, Anti-Corruption Laws, or Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

 

(c) Neither the Group Companies nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of their Representatives, or any other Persons acting for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, is or has been, in the past five years, (i) a Person named on any Sanctions and Export Control Laws-related list of designated Persons maintained by a Governmental Entity, (ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory which is itself the subject of or target of any Sanctions and Export Control Laws, (iii) an entity owned, directly or indirectly, by one or more Persons described in clause (i) or (ii), or (iv) otherwise engaging in unlawful dealings with or for the benefit of any Person described in clauses (i) - (iii) or any country or territory which is or has, during the past three years, been the subject of or target of any comprehensive Sanctions and Export Control Laws.

 

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(d) Neither the Group Companies nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of their Representatives, or any other Persons acting for or on behalf of any of the foregoing has (i) made, offered, promised, paid or received any unlawful bribes, kickbacks or other similar payments to or from any Person, (ii) made or paid any improper contributions, directly or indirectly, to a domestic or foreign political party or candidate, or (iii) otherwise made, offered, received, authorized, promised or paid any improper payment under any Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

Section 3.24 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by or on behalf of the Group Companies expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference prior to the Closing in the Registration Statement, including the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will, when the Registration Statement is declared effective or when the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus is mailed to the Pre-Closing MEOA Holders and the Company Stockholders or at the time of the MEOA Stockholders Meeting and the Company Stockholders Meeting, and in the case of any amendment thereto, at the time of such amendment, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

 

Section 3.25 Warranties; Product Liability.

 

(a) Each product or service provided by the Group Companies to a purchaser was provided in material conformity with all applicable contractual commitments and all express warranties by which the Group Companies are bound. To the knowledge of the applicable Company Party, there are no claims or other Proceedings threatened or that have been submitted or asserted, relating to breach of any guarantee, warranty or indemnity relating to any products designed, sold, manufactured, distributed or delivered by, or services provided by, the Group Companies and, to the knowledge of the applicable Company Party, there is no reasonable basis for any present or future claim or other Proceeding that would reasonably be expected to give rise to any such liability. To the knowledge of the applicable Company Party, there is no design defect, nor any failure to warn, with respect to any products now or previously designed, tested, sold, manufactured, distributed or delivered by, or services now or previously provided by, the Group Companies.

 

(b) There are no claims or other Proceedings pending, to the knowledge of the applicable Company Party, threatened, or other Proceeding the have been submitted or asserted, alleging that the Group Companies have any Liability (whether in negligence, breach of warranty, strict liability, failure to warn, or otherwise) arising out of or relating to any claimed injury or damage to individuals or property as a result of the claimed ownership, possession or use of any products or services allegedly designed, tested, sold, manufactured, distributed or delivered by the Group Companies.

 

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Section 3.26 Investigation; No Other Representations.

 

(a) The Company, on its own behalf and on behalf of its Representatives, acknowledges, represents, warrants and agrees that (i) it has conducted its own independent review and analysis of, and, based thereon, has formed an independent judgment concerning, the business, assets, condition, operations and prospects of, the MEOA Parties and (ii) it has been furnished with or given access to such documents and information about the MEOA Parties and their respective businesses and operations as it and its Representatives have deemed necessary to enable it to make an informed decision with respect to the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

(b) In entering into this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is or will be a party, the Company has relied solely on its own investigation and analysis and the representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article 4, in the Ancillary Documents to which it is or will be a party, and in the certificate delivered pursuant to Section 6.3(c)(i) and no other representations or warranties of any MEOA Party, any MEOA Non-Party Affiliate or any other Person, either express or implied, and the Company, on its own behalf and on behalf of its Representatives, acknowledges, represents, warrants and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article 4, in the Ancillary Documents to which it is or will be a party and in the certificate delivered pursuant to Section 6.3(c)(i), none of the MEOA Parties, any MEOA Non-Party Affiliate or any other Person makes or has made any representation or warranty, either express or implied, in connection with or related to this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

 

Article 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES RELATING TO THE MEOA PARTIES

 

(a) Subject to Section 8.8, except as set forth on the MEOA Disclosure Schedules, or (b) except as set forth in any MEOA SEC Reports (excluding any disclosures in any “risk factors” section that do not constitute statements of fact, disclosures in any forward-looking statements disclaimers and other disclosures that are generally cautionary, predictive or forward-looking in nature), each MEOA Party hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

 

Section 4.1 Organization and Qualification. Each MEOA Party is a corporation duly organized, incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware.

 

Section 4.2 Authority. Each MEOA Party has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents to which it is or will be a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Subject to the receipt of the MEOA Stockholder Approval and the approvals and consents to be obtained by Merger Sub pursuant to Section 5.9, the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents to which a MEOA Party is or will be a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been (or, in the case of any Ancillary Document entered into after the date of this Agreement, will be upon execution thereof) duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of such MEOA Party. This Agreement has been and each Ancillary Document to which a MEOA Party is or will be a party will be, upon execution thereof, duly and validly executed and delivered by such MEOA Party and constitutes or will constitute, upon execution thereof, as applicable, a valid, legal and binding agreement of such MEOA Party (assuming this Agreement has been and the Ancillary Documents to which such MEOA Party is or will be a party are or will be, upon execution thereof, as applicable, duly authorized, executed and delivered by the other Persons party hereto or thereto, as applicable), enforceable against such MEOA Party in accordance with their terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other Laws affecting generally the enforcement of creditors’ rights and subject to general principles of equity).

 

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Section 4.3 Consents and Requisite Governmental Approvals; No Violations.

 

(a) No consent, approval or authorization of, or designation, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Entity is required on the part of a MEOA Party with respect to such MEOA Party’s execution, delivery or performance of its obligations under this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents to which it is or will be party or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or by the Ancillary Documents, except for (i) compliance with and filings under the HSR Act, (ii) the filing with the SEC of (A) the Registration Statement and the declaration of the effectiveness thereof by the SEC and (B) such reports under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (iii) such filings with and approvals of Nasdaq to permit the MEOA Shares to be issued in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Ancillary Documents to be listed on Nasdaq, (iv) filing of the Certificates of Merger, (v) the approvals and consents to be obtained by Merger Sub pursuant to Section 5.10, (vi) the MEOA Stockholder Approval, (vii) the Sponsor Approval, or (viii) any other consents, approvals, authorizations, designations, declarations, waivers or filings, the absence of which could not reasonably be expected to have a MEOA Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b) Neither the execution, delivery or performance by a MEOA Party of this Agreement nor the Ancillary Documents to which a MEOA Party is or will be a party nor the consummation by a MEOA Party of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby will, directly or indirectly (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) (i) result in any breach of any provision of the Governing Documents of a MEOA Party, (ii) result in a violation or breach of, or constitute a default or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation, amendment, modification, suspension, revocation or acceleration under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contract to which a MEOA Party is a party, (iii) violate, or constitute a breach under, any Order or applicable Law to which any such MEOA Party or any of its properties or assets are bound, or (iv) result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the assets or properties (other than any Permitted Liens) of a MEOA Party, except in the case of clauses (ii) through (iv) above, as could not reasonably be expected to have a MEOA Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 4.4 Brokers. Except for fees (including the amounts due and payable assuming the Closing occurs) set forth on Section 4.4 of the MEOA Disclosure Schedules (which fees shall be the sole responsibility of the MEOA, except as otherwise provided in Section 8.6), 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 this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of MEOA for which MEOA has any obligation.

 

Section 4.5 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by or on behalf of either MEOA Party expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference prior to the Closing in the Registration Statement, including the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will, when the Registration Statement is declared effective or when the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus is mailed to the Pre-Closing MEOA Holders and the Company Stockholders or at the time of the MEOA Stockholders Meeting or the Company Stockholders, and in the case of any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time of such amendment, 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.

 

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Section 4.6 Capitalization of the MEOA Parties.

 

(a) Section 4.6(a) of the MEOA Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true and complete statement of the number and class or series (as applicable) of all of the issued and outstanding MEOA Shares as of immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger. All outstanding Equity Securities of MEOA prior to the consummation of the Merger have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. Such Equity Securities (i) were not issued in violation of the Governing Documents of MEOA and (ii) are not subject to any preemptive rights, call option, right of first refusal, subscription rights, transfer restrictions or similar rights of any Person (other than transfer restrictions under applicable Securities Laws or under the Governing Documents of MEOA) and were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights, call option, right of first refusal, subscription rights, transfer restrictions or similar rights of any Person. Except for the MEOA Shares set forth on Section 4.6(a) of the MEOA Disclosure Schedules (taking into account, for the avoidance of doubt, any changes or adjustments to the MEOA Shares as a result of, or to give effect to, the Merger and assuming that no MEOA Stockholder Redemptions are effected), immediately prior to Closing, there shall be no other outstanding Equity Securities of MEOA.

 

(b) After giving effect to the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (i) the Transaction Share Consideration will be duly authorized, validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable, (ii) will not be issued in violation of the Governing Documents of MEOA and (iii) will not be subject to any preemptive rights, call option, right of first refusal, subscription rights, transfer restrictions or similar rights of any Person (other than transfer restrictions under applicable Securities Laws or under the Governing Documents of the Company) and will not be issued in violation of any preemptive rights, call option, right of first refusal, subscription rights, transfer restrictions or similar rights of any Person.

 

(c) Except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or as otherwise mutually agreed to by the Company and MEOA, there are no outstanding (A) equity appreciation, phantom equity or profit participation rights or (B) options, restricted stock, phantom stock, warrants, purchase rights, subscription rights, conversion rights, exchange rights, calls, puts, rights of first refusal or first offer or other Contracts that could require MEOA, and, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or as otherwise mutually agreed in writing by the Company and MEOA, there is no obligation of MEOA, to issue, sell or otherwise cause to become outstanding or to acquire, repurchase or redeem any Equity Securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Securities of MEOA.

 

(d) The authorized capital stock of Merger Sub consists of 100 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and as of the date hereof, all such shares are issued and outstanding. The Equity Securities of Merger Sub outstanding as of the date of this Agreement (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, (ii) were issued in compliance in all material respects with applicable Law, and (iii) were not issued in breach or violation of any preemptive rights or Contract to which Merger Sub is a party or bound. All of the outstanding Equity Securities of Merger Sub are owned directly by MEOA free and clear of all Liens (other than transfer restrictions under applicable Securities Law). As of the date of this Agreement, MEOA has no Subsidiaries other than Merger Sub and does not own, directly or indirectly, any Equity Securities in any Person other than Merger Sub.

 

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Section 4.7 MEOA SEC Filings. MEOA has timely filed or furnished all statements, forms, reports and documents required to be filed or furnished by it prior to the date of this Agreement with the SEC pursuant to Federal Securities Laws since its initial public offering (collectively, and together with any information incorporated by reference therein, and as they have been supplemented, modified or amended since the time of filing, the “MEOA SEC Reports”). Each of the MEOA SEC Reports, as of their respective dates of filing, and as of the date of any amendment or filing that superseded the initial filing, complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Federal Securities Laws applicable to the MEOA SEC Reports. As of their respective dates of filing, the MEOA SEC Reports did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no outstanding or unresolved comments in any comment letters received from the SEC with respect to the MEOA SEC Reports.

 

Section 4.8 Trust Account. As of the date of this Agreement, MEOA has an amount in cash in the Trust Account equal to at least $128,576,560. The funds held in the Trust Account are (a) invested in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, having a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations and (b) held in trust pursuant to that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of August 30, 2021 (the “Trust Agreement”), between MEOA and Continental, as trustee (the “Trustee”). 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 MEOA SEC Reports to be inaccurate in any material respect or, to MEOA’s knowledge, that would entitle any Person to any portion of the funds in the Trust Account (other than (i) in respect of deferred underwriting commissions or Taxes, (ii) the Pre-Closing MEOA Holders who shall have elected to redeem their MEOA Class A Shares pursuant to the Governing Documents of MEOA or (iii) if MEOA fails to complete a business combination within the allotted time period set forth in the Governing Documents of MEOA and liquidates the Trust Account, subject to the terms of the Trust Agreement, MEOA (in limited amounts to permit MEOA to pay the expenses of the Trust Account’s liquidation, dissolution and winding up of MEOA) and then the Pre-Closing MEOA Holders. Prior to the Closing, none of the funds held in the Trust Account are permitted to be released, except in the circumstances described in the Governing Documents of MEOA and the Trust Agreement. MEOA 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, to the knowledge of MEOA, no event has occurred which, with due notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a material default thereunder. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no claims or proceedings pending with respect to the Trust Account. MEOA has not released any money from the Trust Account (other than interest income earned on the funds held in the Trust Account as permitted by the Trust Agreement). Upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the distribution of assets from the Trust Account (A) in respect of deferred underwriting commissions or Taxes or (B) to the Pre-Closing MEOA Holders who have elected to redeem their MEOA Class A Shares pursuant to the Governing Documents of MEOA, each in accordance with the terms of and as set forth in the Trust Agreement, MEOA shall have no further obligation under either the Trust Agreement or the Governing Documents of MEOA to liquidate or distribute any assets held in the Trust Account, and the Trust Agreement shall terminate in accordance with its terms.

 

Section 4.9 Transactions with Affiliates. Section 4.9 of the MEOA Disclosure Schedules sets forth all Contracts between (a) MEOA, on the one hand, and (b) any officer, director, employee, partner, member, manager, direct or indirect equityholder (including the Sponsor) or Affiliate of either MEOA or the Sponsor, on the other hand (each Person identified in this clause (b), an “MEOA Related Party”), other than (i) Contracts with respect to a MEOA Related Party’s employment with, or the provision of services to, MEOA entered into in the ordinary course of business (including benefit plans, indemnification arrangements and other ordinary course compensation), or (ii) Contracts entered into after the date of this Agreement that are either permitted pursuant to Section 5.10 or entered into in accordance with Section 5.10. No MEOA Related Party (A) owns any interest in any material asset used in the business of MEOA, (B) possesses, directly or indirectly, any material financial interest in, or is a director or executive officer of, any Person which is a material client, supplier, customer, lessor or lessee of MEOA, or (C) owes any material amount to, or is owed material any amount by, MEOA. All Contracts, arrangements, understandings, interests and other matters that are required to be disclosed pursuant to this Section 4.9 are referred to herein as “MEOA Related Party Transactions”.

 

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Section 4.10 Litigation. There is (and since its organization, incorporation or formation, as applicable, there has been) no Proceeding pending or, to MEOA knowledge, threatened against or involving any MEOA Party that, if adversely decided or resolved, would be material to the MEOA Parties, taken as a whole, or which in any manner challenges or seeks to prevent the transactions contemplated hereby. None of the MEOA Parties nor any of their respective properties or assets is subject to any material Order. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no material Proceedings by any MEOA Party pending against any other Person.

 

Section 4.11 Compliance with Applicable Law. Each MEOA Party is (and since its incorporation has been) in compliance with all applicable Laws, except as could not reasonably be expected to have a MEOA Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 4.12 Business Activities.

 

(a) Since its incorporation, MEOA has not conducted any business activities other than activities (i) in connection with or incident or related to its incorporation or continuing corporate (or similar) existence, (ii) directed toward the accomplishment of a business combination, including those incident or related to or incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation or execution of this Agreement or any Ancillary Documents, the performance of its covenants or agreements in this Agreement or any Ancillary Document or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or (iii) those that are administrative, ministerial or otherwise immaterial in nature. Except as set forth in MEOA’s Governing Documents, there is no Contract binding upon any MEOA Party or to which any MEOA Party is a party which has or could reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting or materially impairing any business practice of it or its Subsidiaries, any acquisition of property by it or its Subsidiaries or the conduct of business by it or its Subsidiaries (including, in each case, following the Closing).

 

(b) Merger Sub was incorporated solely for the purpose of entering into this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and consummating the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and has not engaged in any activities or business, other than those incident or related to or incurred in connection with its incorporation or continuing corporate existence or the negotiation, preparation or execution of this Agreement or any Ancillary Documents, the performance of its covenants or agreements in this Agreement or any Ancillary Document or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

 

Section 4.13 Internal Controls; Listing; Financial Statements.

 

(a) Except as is not required in reliance on exemptions from various reporting requirements by virtue of MEOA’s status as an “emerging growth company” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, or a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, since its initial public offering, (i) MEOA has established and maintained a system of internal control 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 MEOA’s financial reporting and the preparation of MEOA’s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and that: (a) all transactions by or with MEOA and its Subsidiaries are executed in accordance with management’s authorizations; and (b) all transactions by or with MEOA and its Subsidiaries are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of proper and accurate financial statements in accordance with GAAP and to maintain accountability for MEOA’s and its Subsidiaries’ assets and liabilities, and (ii) MEOA 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 MEOA is made known to MEOA’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within MEOA as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

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(b) Since its initial public offering, MEOA has complied in all material respects with all applicable listing and corporate governance rules and regulations of Nasdaq. The classes of securities representing issued and outstanding MEOA Class A Shares are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on Nasdaq. There is no Proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of MEOA, threatened against MEOA by Nasdaq or the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister MEOA Class A Shares or prohibit or terminate the listing of MEOA Class A Shares on Nasdaq. MEOA has not taken any action that is designed to terminate the registration of MEOA Class A Shares under the Exchange Act.

 

(c) The MEOA SEC Reports contain true and complete copies of the applicable MEOA Financial Statements. Except as disclosed in the MEOA SEC Reports, the MEOA Financial Statements (i) fairly present in all material respects the financial position of MEOA as at the respective dates thereof, and the results of its operations, stockholders’ 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 expected to be material) and the absence of footnotes), (ii) were prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except, in the case of any audited financial statements, as may be indicated in the notes thereto and subject, in the case of any unaudited financial statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments (none of which is expected to be material) and the absence of footnotes), (iii) in the case of the audited MEOA 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).

 

(d) MEOA maintains and, for all periods covered by the MEOA Financial Statements, has maintained books and records of MEOA in the ordinary course of business that are accurate and complete and reflect the revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities of MEOA in all material respects.

 

(e) Since its incorporation, MEOA to its knowledge has not received any written complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that, as alleged therein, would constitute (i) a “significant deficiency” in the internal control over financial reporting of MEOA, (ii) a “material weakness” in the internal control over financial reporting of MEOA or (iii) Fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees of MEOA who have a significant role in the internal control over financial reporting of MEOA.

 

Section 4.14 No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except for the Liabilities (a) set forth in Section 4.14 of the MEOA Disclosure Schedules, (b) incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation or execution of this Agreement or any Ancillary Documents, the performance of its covenants or agreements in this Agreement or any Ancillary Document or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (it being understood and agreed that the expected third parties that are, as of the date hereof, entitled to fees, expenses or other payments in connection with the matters described in this clause (b) shall be set forth on Section 4.14 of the MEOA Disclosure Schedules), (c) that are incurred in connection with or incident or related to a MEOA Party’s incorporation, or continuing corporate existence, in each case, which are immaterial in nature, (d) that are incurred in connection with activities that are administrative or ministerial, in each case, which are immaterial in nature, (e) that are either permitted pursuant to Section 5.10(d) or incurred in accordance with Section 5.10(d) (for the avoidance of doubt, in each case, with the written consent of the Company) or (f) set forth or disclosed in the MEOA Financial Statements included in the MEOA SEC Reports, none of the MEOA Parties has any Liabilities of the type required to be set forth on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.

 

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Section 4.15 Tax Matters.

 

(a) MEOA has prepared and filed all material Tax Returns required to have been filed by it, all such Tax Returns are true and complete in all material respects and prepared in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws and Orders, and MEOA has paid all material Taxes required to have been paid or deposited by it regardless of whether shown on a Tax Return.

 

(b) MEOA has timely withheld and paid to the appropriate Tax Authority all material amounts required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, individual independent contractor, other service providers, equity interest holder or other third-party.

 

(c) MEOA is not currently the subject of a Tax audit or examination with respect to material taxes. MEOA has not been informed in writing of the commencement or anticipated commencement of any Tax audit or examination that has not been resolved or completed, in each case with respect to material Taxes.

 

(d) MEOA has not consented to extend or waive the time in which any material Tax may be assessed or collected by any Tax Authority, other than any such extensions or waivers that are no longer in effect or that were extensions of time to file Tax Returns obtained in the ordinary course of business, in each case with respect to material Taxes.

 

(e) No “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. income Tax Law), private letter rulings, technical advice memoranda or similar agreements or rulings have been entered into or issued by any Tax Authority with respect to any MEOA Party which agreement or ruling would be effective after the Closing Date.

 

(f) None of the MEOA Parties is and none of the MEOA Parties has been a party to any “listed transaction” as defined in Section 6707A of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4 (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. income Tax Law).

 

(g) None of the MEOA Parties has taken or agreed to take any action not contemplated by this Agreement and/or any Ancillary Documents that could reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment. To the knowledge of MEOA, no facts or circumstances exist, other than any facts or circumstances to the extent that such facts or circumstances exist or arise as a result of or related to any act or omission occurring after the signing date by a Group Company or a Company Stockholder or any of their respective Affiliates in each case not contemplated by this Agreement and/or any of the Ancillary Documents, that could reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment.

 

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Section 4.16 Investigation; No Other Representations.

 

(a) Each MEOA Party, on its own behalf and on behalf of its Representatives, acknowledges, represents, warrants and agrees that (i) it has conducted its own independent review and analysis of, and, based thereon, has formed an independent judgment concerning, the business, assets, condition, operations and prospects, of the Group Companies and (ii) it has been furnished with or given access to such documents and information about the Group Companies and their respective businesses and operations as it and its Representatives have deemed necessary to enable it to make an informed decision with respect to the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

(b) In entering into this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is or will be a party, each MEOA Party has relied solely on its own investigation and analysis and the representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article 3, in the Ancillary Documents to which it is or will be a party, and in the certificate delivered pursuant to Section 6.2(d)(i) and no other representations or warranties of the Company, any Company Non-Party Affiliate or any other Person, either express or implied, and each MEOA Party, on its own behalf and on behalf of its Representatives, acknowledges, represents, warrants and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth in Article 3, in the Ancillary Documents to which it is or will be a party, and in the certificate delivered pursuant to Section 6.2(d)(i), none of the Company, any Company Non-Party Affiliate or any other Person makes or has made any representation or warranty, either express or implied, in connection with or related to this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

 

Section 4.17 Employees and Employee Benefit Plans. None of the MEOA Parties (a) have any paid employees or (b) maintain, sponsor, contribute to or otherwise have any liability under any Employee Benefit Plans (substituting “MEOA Party” for “Group Company” in the definition thereof). Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents to which it is or will be a party nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will: (i) result in any payment (including severance, unemployment compensation, golden parachute, bonus or otherwise) becoming due to any director, officer or employee of MEOA; or (ii) result in the acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such benefits. Other than reimbursement of any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by MEOA’s officers and directors in connection with activities on MEOA’s behalf in an aggregate amount not in excess of the amount of cash held by MEOA outside of the Trust Account, MEOA has no unsatisfied material liability with respect to any officer or director.

 

Section 4.18 Properties. MEOA does not own, license or otherwise have any right, title or interest in any material Intellectual Property Rights (other than Marks). MEOA does not own, or otherwise have an interest in, any real property, including under any real property lease, sublease, space sharing, license or other occupancy agreement.

 

Section 4.19 Compliance with International Trade & Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

(a) Since MEOA’s incorporation, neither MEOA nor, to MEOA’s knowledge, any of its Representatives, or any other Persons acting for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, is or has been, (i) a Person named on any Sanctions and Export Control Laws-related list of designated Persons maintained by a Governmental Entity; (ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory which is itself the subject of or target of any Sanctions and Export Control Laws; (iii) an entity owned, directly or indirectly, by one or more Persons described in clause (i) or (ii); or (iv) otherwise engaging in unlawful dealings with or for the benefit of any Person described in clauses (i) - (iii) or any country or territory which is or has, since MEOA’s incorporation, been the subject of or target of any Sanctions and Export Control Laws.

 

(b) Since MEOA’s incorporation, neither MEOA nor, to MEOA’s knowledge, any of its Representatives, or any other Persons acting for or on behalf of any of the foregoing has (i) made, offered, promised, paid or received any unlawful bribes, kickbacks or other similar payments to or from any Person, (ii) made or paid any improper contributions, directly or indirectly, to a domestic or foreign political party or candidate or (iii) otherwise made, offered, received, authorized, promised or paid any improper payment under any Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

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Article 5
COVENANTS

 

Section 5.1 Conduct of Business of the Company.

 

(a) From and after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Company shall, and the Company shall cause its Subsidiaries to, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document, as required by applicable Law, as set forth on Section 5.1(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, or as consented to in writing by MEOA (it being agreed that any request for a consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), (i) operate the business of the Group Companies in the ordinary course in all material respects and (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain and preserve intact in all material respects the business organization, assets, Permits, properties and material business relations of the Group Companies, taken as a whole

 

(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, from and after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Company shall, and the Company shall not and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to do any of the following, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document, as required by applicable Law, as set forth on Section 5.1(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules or as consented to in writing by MEOA:

 

(i) declare, set aside, make or pay a dividend on, or make any other distribution or payment in respect of, any Equity Securities of any Group Company or repurchase any outstanding Equity Securities of any Group Company, other than dividends or distributions, declared, set aside or paid by any of the Company’s Subsidiaries to the Company or any Subsidiary that is, directly or indirectly, wholly owned by the Company;

 

(ii) (A) merge, consolidate, combine or amalgamate any Group Company with any Person or (B) purchase or otherwise acquire (whether by merging or consolidating with, purchasing any Equity Security in or a substantial portion of the assets of, or by any other manner) any corporation, partnership, association or other business entity or organization or division thereof;

 

(iii) adopt any amendments, supplements, restatements or modifications to any Group Company’s Governing Documents;

 

(iv) other than as set forth below or as disclosed in Schedule 5.1(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, transfer, issue, sell, grant or otherwise directly or indirectly dispose of, or subject to a Lien, (A) any Equity Securities of any Group Company or (B) any options, warrants, rights of conversion or other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments obligating any Group Company to issue, deliver or sell any Equity Securities of any Group Company, other than the issuance of shares of the applicable class of capital stock of the Company upon the exercise or conversion of any Company Options, Company Warrants and/or convertible promissory notes of the Company outstanding on the date of this Agreement in accordance with the terms of the applicable Company Equity Plan and the underlying grant, award or similar agreement;

 

(v) sell, exclusively license, abandon, permit to lapse, assign or transfer any material Company Parties Owned Intellectual Property;

 

(vi) incur, create or assume any Indebtedness, other than ordinary course trade payables;

 

(vii) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or guarantees for the benefit of, or any investments in, any Person, other than (A) intercompany loans or capital contributions between the Company and any of its Subsidiaries and (B) the reimbursement of expenses of employees in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(viii) other than as disclosed in Schedule 5.1(b), and except (x) as required under the terms of any Employee Benefit Plan of any Group Company that is set forth on the Section 3.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, (y) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice (it being understood and agreed, for the avoidance of doubt, that in no event shall the exception in this clause (y) be deemed or construed as permitting any Group Company to take any action that is not permitted by any other provision of this Section 5.1(b)), or (z) as required by applicable Law, (A) amend, modify, adopt, enter into or terminate any material Employee Benefit Plan of any Group Company or any material benefit or compensation plan, policy, program or Contract that would be an Employee Benefit Plan if in effect as of the date of this Agreement, (B) increase the compensation or benefits payable to any current or former director, manager, officer, employee, or Contingent Worker of any Group Company earning annual compensation in excess of $150,000, or increase the aggregate annual compensation or benefits payable to any other current or former director, manager, officer, employee, or Contingent Worker of any Group Company to be greater than $85,000, (C) take any action to accelerate any payment, right to payment, or benefit, or the funding of any payment, right to payment or benefit, payable or to become payable to any current or former director, manager, officer, employee, or Contingent Worker of any Group Company, (D) take any action to accelerate the vesting of any Company Options or Restricted Shares; (E) waive or release any noncompetition, non-solicitation, no-hire, nondisclosure or other restrictive covenant obligation of any current or former director, manager, officer, employee, individual independent contractor or other service provider of any Group Company, (F) pay any special bonus or special remuneration to any director, officer or employee of any Group Company, (G) terminate or furlough the employment of any director, officer, management-level or key employee of any Group Company, or (H) enter into a settlement agreement with any current or former director, officer, or employee of any Group Company;

 

(ix) make, change or revoke any material election concerning Taxes, claim any reserve that may cause a material income inclusion in any Tax period after Closing;

 

(x) enter into any settlement, conciliation or similar Contract the performance of which would involve the payment by the Group Companies in excess of $500,000, in the aggregate, or that imposes, or by its terms will impose at any point in the future, any material, non-monetary obligations on any Group Company (or MEOA or any of its Affiliates after the Closing);

 

(xi) authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to adopt, or otherwise effect, a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization, reorganization or similar transaction involving any Group Company;

 

(xii) change any Group Company’s methods of accounting in any material respect, other than changes that are made in accordance with PCAOB standards;

 

(xiii) enter into any Contract with any broker, finder, investment banker or other Person under which such Person is or will be entitled to any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(xiv) make any Change of Control Payment that is not set forth on Section 3.2(f) of the Company Disclosure Schedules;

 

(xv) (A) amend, modify or terminate any Material Contract of the type described in Section 3.9(a)(ix) (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any expiration or automatic extension or renewal of any such Material Contract pursuant to its terms), (B) waive any material benefit or right under any Material Contract of the type described in Section 3.9(a)(ix) or (C) enter into any Contract that would constitute a Material Contract of the type described in Section 3.9(a)(ix);

 

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(xvi) terminate or fail to timely renew, or otherwise take any act or omission that would impair the continued maintenance or renewal of, any Permit required for the operation of the Business as it is currently conducted; or

 

(xvii) enter into any Contract or otherwise agree to take, or cause to be taken, any of the actions set forth in this Section 5.1.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.1 or elsewhere in this Agreement to the contrary, nothing set forth in this Agreement shall give MEOA, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the operations of the Group Companies prior to the Closing; nor shall anything set forth in this Section 5.1 or otherwise in this Agreement prohibit the Company from issuing (A) securities from time to time in one or more tranches pursuant to that certain Equity Purchase Agreement, dated August 15, 2022, with Peak One Opportunity Fund, LP, and with any incremental tranche thereof being in an amount of not more than $250,000, and (B) convertible promissory notes in a principal amount of up to $300,000 per note (such notes, the “Rollover Notes”), up to a maximum aggregate amount of issuances pursuant to items (A) and (B) of this paragraph of $2,000,000 (the “Cap”), and in each instance, with the proceeds thereof to be used solely for working capital and operational purposes. If the Closing does not occur by November 30, 2022, the Cap shall be increased by $250,000 per month until such time as the earlier of the Closing hereunder or the expiration or termination of this Agreement.

 

Section 5.2 Efforts to Consummate; Litigation.

 

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions herein provided, each of the Parties shall use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary or advisable to consummate and make effective as promptly as reasonably practicable the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including (i) the satisfaction, but not waiver, of the closing conditions set forth in Article 6 and, in the case of any Ancillary Document to which such Party will be a party after the date of this Agreement, (ii) to execute and delivery such Ancillary Document when required pursuant to this Agreement, and (iii) the Company taking, or causing to be taken, all actions necessary or advisable to cause the agreements set forth on Section 5.2(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules to be terminated effective as of the Closing without any further obligations or liabilities to the Company or any of its Affiliates (including the other Group Companies and, from and after the Effective Time, MEOA)). In furtherance of the foregoing, and not in limitation thereof, each of MEOA and the Company (and, to the extent applicable, the Surviving Company) shall take all such actions as are reasonably necessary to fulfill the closing conditions set forth in Sections 6.2(f) – 6.2(k) of this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of the Parties shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain, file with or deliver to, as applicable, any Consents of any Governmental Entities or other Persons necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents. The Company shall bear the costs incurred in connection with obtaining such Consents; provided, however, that the MEOA Parties, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, shall pay 50% of the HSR Act filing fee; and provided, further, that each Party shall bear its out-of-pocket costs and expenses in connection with the preparation of any such Consents. Each Party shall (i) make any appropriate filings pursuant to the HSR Act with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement promptly (and in any event within five Business Days) following the date of this Agreement and (ii) respond as promptly as reasonably practicable to any requests by any Governmental Entity for additional information and documentary material that may be requested pursuant to the HSR Act. MEOA shall promptly inform the Company of any communication between any MEOA Party, on the one hand, and any Governmental Entity, on the other hand, and the Company shall promptly inform MEOA of any communication between the Company, on the one hand, and any Governmental Entity, on the other hand, in either case, regarding any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document. Without limiting the foregoing, (A) the Parties agree that if available to request early termination of the applicable waiting period under the HSR Act, and (B) each Party and their respective Affiliates shall not extend any waiting period, review period or comparable period under the HSR Act or enter into any agreement with any Governmental Entity not to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or by the Ancillary Documents, except with the prior written consent of MEOA and the Company. Nothing in this Section 5.2 obligates any Party or any of its Affiliates to agree to (i) sell, license or otherwise dispose of, or hold separate and agree to sell, license or otherwise dispose of, any entities, assets, lines of business or facilities of any Group Company or any entity, facility, line of business or asset of such Party or any of its Affiliates, (ii) terminate, amend or assign existing relationships and contractual rights or obligations, (iii) amend, assign or terminate existing licenses or other agreements, or (iv) enter into new licenses or other agreements. No Party shall agree to any of the foregoing measures with respect to any other Party or any of its Affiliates, except with MEOA’s and the Company’s prior written consent.

 

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(b) From and after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing or termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, the MEOA Parties, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, shall give counsel for the Company (in the case of any MEOA Party) or MEOA (in the case of the Company), a reasonable opportunity to review in advance, and consider in good faith the views of the other in connection with, any proposed written communication to any Governmental Entity relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents. Each of the Parties agrees not to participate in any substantive meeting or discussion, either in person or by telephone with any Governmental Entity in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement unless it consults with, in the case of any MEOA Party, the Company, or, in the case of the Company, MEOA in advance and, to the extent not prohibited by such Governmental Entity, gives, in the case of any MEOA Party, the Company, or, in the case of the Company, MEOA, the opportunity to attend and participate in such meeting or discussion.

 

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, in the event that this Section 5.2 conflicts with any other covenant or agreement in this Article 5 that is intended to specifically address any subject matter, then such other covenant or agreement shall govern and control solely to the extent of such conflict.

 

(d) From and after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing or termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, MEOA, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, shall each notify the other in writing promptly after learning of any stockholder demands or other stockholder Proceedings (including derivative claims) relating to this Agreement, any Ancillary Document or any matters relating thereto (collectively, the “Transaction Litigation”) commenced against, in the case of MEOA, any of the MEOA Parties or any of their respective Representatives (in their capacity as a representative of a MEOA Party) or, in the case of the Company, any Group Company or any of their respective Representatives (in their capacity as a representative of a Group Company). MEOA and the Company shall each (i) keep the other reasonably informed regarding any Transaction Litigation (to the extent such action would not jeopardize an attorney-client privilege or the attorney work product doctrine), (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, (iii) consider in good faith the other’s advice with respect to any such Transaction Litigation and (iv) reasonably cooperate with the other, including with respect to the defense, settlement and compromise of any such Transaction Litigation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, MEOA shall, subject to and without limiting the covenants and agreements, and the rights of the Company, set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, control the negotiation, defense and settlement of any such Transaction Litigation; provided, however, that in no event shall MEOA or any of its respective Representatives settle or compromise any Transaction Litigation without the prior written consent of the Company (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

 

Section 5.3 Confidentiality and Access to Information.

 

(a) The Parties hereby acknowledge and agree that the information being provided in connection with this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby is subject to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in the event that this Section 5.3(a) or either Confidentiality Agreement conflicts with any other covenant or agreement contained herein or any Ancillary Document that contemplates the disclosure, use or provision of information or otherwise, then such other covenant or agreement contained herein shall govern and control to the extent of such conflict.

 

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(b) From and after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing Date or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, upon reasonable advance written notice, the Company shall provide, or cause to be provided, to MEOA and its authorized Representatives during normal business hours reasonable access to the directors, officers, books and records, and premises of the Group Companies, in a manner so as to not interfere with the normal business operations of the Group Companies). Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the Group Companies shall be required to provide to MEOA or any of its authorized Representatives any information (i) if and to the extent doing so would (A) violate any Law to which any Group Company is subject, including any Privacy Law, (B) result in the disclosure of any trade secrets of third parties in breach of any Contract with such third party, (C) violate any legally-binding obligation of any Group Company with respect to confidentiality, non-disclosure or privacy, or (D) jeopardize protections afforded to any Group Company under the attorney-client privilege or the attorney work product doctrine (provided that, in case of each of clauses (A) through (D), the Company shall, and shall cause the other Group Companies to, use commercially reasonable efforts to (x) provide such access as can be provided (or otherwise convey such information regarding the applicable matter as can be conveyed) without violating such privilege, doctrine, Contract, obligation or Law and (y) provide such information in a manner without violating such privilege, doctrine, Contract, obligation or Law), or (ii) if any Group Company, on the one hand, and any MEOA Party, any MEOA Non-Party Affiliate or any of their respective Representatives, on the other hand, are adverse parties in a litigation and such information is reasonably pertinent thereto; provided that the Company shall, in the case of clause (i) or (ii), provide prompt written notice of the withholding of access or information on any such basis.

 

(c) From and after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing Date or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, upon reasonable advance written notice, MEOA shall provide, or cause to be provided, to the Company and its authorized Representatives during normal business hours reasonable access to the directors, officers, books and records of the MEOA Parties (in a manner so as to not interfere with the normal business operations of the MEOA Parties). Notwithstanding the foregoing, MEOA shall not be required to provide, or cause to be provided to, the Company or any of its authorized Representatives any information (i) if and to the extent doing so would (A) violate any Law to which any MEOA Party is subject, (B) result in the disclosure of any trade secrets of third parties in breach of any Contract with such third party, (C) violate any legally-binding obligation of any MEOA Party with respect to confidentiality, non-disclosure or privacy or (D) jeopardize protections afforded to any MEOA Party under the attorney-client privilege or the attorney work product doctrine (provided that, in case of each of clauses (A) through (D), MEOA shall use, and shall cause the other MEOA Parties to use, commercially reasonable efforts to (x) provide such access as can be provided (or otherwise convey such information regarding the applicable matter as can be conveyed) without violating such privilege, doctrine, Contract, obligation or Law and (y) provide such information in a manner without violating such privilege, doctrine, Contract, obligation or Law), or (ii) if a MEOA Party, on the one hand, and any Group Company, any Company Non-Party Affiliate or any of their respective Representatives, on the other hand, are adverse parties in a litigation and such information is reasonably pertinent thereto; provided that MEOA shall, in the case of clause (i) or (ii), provide prompt written notice of the withholding of access or information on any such basis.

 

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Section 5.4 Public Announcements.

 

(a) Subject to Section 5.4(b), Section 5.7 and Section 5.8, none of the Parties shall, nor shall any of the Parties authorize any of their respective Representatives on such Party’s behalf to, issue any press releases or make any public announcements with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby without the prior written consent of, prior to the Closing, the Company, the Sponsor and MEOA or, after the Closing, the Sponsor and MEOA, which consent shall not be unreasonably delayed or withheld; provided, however, that each Party may make any such announcement or other communication (i) if such announcement or other communication is required by applicable Law, in which case (A) prior to the Closing, the disclosing Party and its Representatives shall use reasonable best efforts to consult with the Company, if the disclosing party is any MEOA Party, or MEOA and the Sponsor, if the disclosing party is the Company, to review such announcement or communication and the opportunity to comment thereon and the disclosing Party shall consider such comments in good faith, or (B) after the Closing, the disclosing Party and its Representatives shall use reasonable best efforts to consult with the Sponsor and MEOA and the disclosing Party shall consider such comments in good faith, (ii) to the extent such announcements or other communications contain only information previously disclosed in a public statement, press release or other communication previously approved in accordance with this Section 5.4 and (iii) to Governmental Entities in connection with any Consents required to be made or obtained under this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.4 or otherwise in this Agreement, the Parties agree that the Sponsor and its Affiliates may provide general information about the subject matter of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby to any direct or indirect current or prospective investor or in connection with normal fund raising or related marketing or informational or reporting activities, in each case, of any Affiliate of the Sponsor.

 

(b) The initial press release concerning this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be a joint press release in the form agreed by the Company, the Sponsor and MEOA prior to the execution of this Agreement and such initial press release (the “Signing Press Release”) shall be released as promptly as reasonably practicable after the execution of this Agreement on the day thereof. Promptly after the execution of this Agreement, each of MEOA and the Company shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K (the “Signing Filings”) with the Signing Press Release and a description of this Agreement as required by, and in compliance with, the Securities Laws, which (x) with respect to the Form 8-K to be filed by MEOA, the Company shall have the opportunity to review and comment upon prior to filing and MEOA shall consider such comments in good faith, and (y) with respect to the Form 8-K to be filed by the Company, MEOA and the Sponsor shall have the opportunity to review and comment upon prior to filing and the Company shall consider such comments in good faith. The Company, on the one hand, and MEOA and the Sponsor, on the other hand, shall mutually agree upon (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed by either the Company, the Sponsor or MEOA, as applicable) a press release announcing the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing Press Release”) prior to the Closing, and, on the Closing Date, the Parties shall cause the Closing Press Release to be released. Promptly after the Closing (but in any event within four (4) Business Days after the Closing), each of MEOA and the Company shall file a current report on Form 8-K (the “Closing Filings”) with the Closing Press Release and a description of the Closing as required by Securities Laws. In connection with the preparation of each of the Signing Press Release, the Signing Filings, the Closing Press Release and the Closing Filings, each Party shall, upon written request by any other Party, furnish such other Party with all information concerning itself, its directors, officers and equityholders, and such other matters as may be reasonably necessary for such press release or filing.

 

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Section 5.5 Tax Matters.

 

(a) Tax Treatment.

 

(i) The Parties intend that, for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes, the Merger shall be treated as a transaction that qualifies as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code, and each Party shall, and shall cause its respective Affiliates to, use reasonable best efforts to so qualify. The Parties shall file all Tax Returns consistent with, and take no position inconsistent with (whether in audits, Tax Returns or otherwise), the treatment described in this Section 5.6(a)(i) unless required to do so pursuant to a “determination” that is final within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code.

 

(ii) MEOA and the Company hereby adopt this Agreement as a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a). From the date hereof through the Closing, and following the Closing, the Parties shall not, and shall not permit or cause their respective Affiliates to, take any action, or knowingly fail to take any action, which action or failure to act prevents or impedes, or would reasonably be expected to prevent or impede the Merger qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment.

 

(iii) If, in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, the SEC requests or requires that tax opinions be prepared and submitted in such connection, MEOA and the Company shall deliver to Pryor Cashman LLP and Lucosky Brookman LLP, respectively, customary Tax representation letters satisfactory to its counsel, dated and executed as of the date the Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the SEC and such other date(s) as determined reasonably necessary by such counsel in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, and, if required, Lucosky Brookman LLP shall furnish an opinion, subject to customary assumptions and limitations, to the effect that the Intended Tax Treatment should apply to the Merger.

 

(b) Tax Matters Cooperation. Each of the Parties shall (and shall cause their respective Affiliates to) cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by another Party, in connection with the filing of relevant Tax Returns, and any audit or tax proceeding. Such cooperation shall include the retention and (upon the other Party’s request) the provision (with the right to make copies) 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.

 

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Section 5.6 Exclusive Dealing.

 

(a) From the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Company shall not, and shall cause the other Group Companies and its and their respective Representatives not to, directly or indirectly: (i) solicit, initiate, or knowingly encourage (including by means of furnishing or disclosing information) or facilitate, discuss or negotiate, directly or indirectly, any inquiry, proposal or offer (written or oral) that constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, a Company Acquisition Proposal; (ii) furnish or disclose any non-public information relating to the Group Companies to any Person in connection with, or that could reasonably be expected to lead to, a Company Acquisition Proposal; (iii) enter into any Contract or other arrangement or understanding regarding a Company Acquisition Proposal; (iv) prepare or take any steps in connection with a public offering of any Equity Securities of any Group Company (or any successor of any Group Company), including filing, amending or supplementing any registration statement relating to a public offering of any Equity Securities of any Group Company (or any successor of any Group Company), or causing any such registration statement to become effective; or (v) 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. The Company agrees to (A) notify MEOA promptly (and in any event within two Business Days) upon receipt of any Company Acquisition Proposal by any Group Company, and to describe the material terms and conditions of any such Company Acquisition Proposal in reasonable detail (including the identity of the Persons making such Company Acquisition Proposal) and (B) keep MEOA reasonably informed on a current basis of any modifications to such offer or information. The Company shall immediately cease and cause to be terminated any and all existing activities, discussions or negotiations with any Persons (other than MEOA) conducted prior to or as of the date hereof by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and will cause the other Group Companies and its and their respective Representatives to cease and cause to be terminated any and all existing activities, discussions or negotiations, that would reasonably be expected to lead to a Company Acquisition Proposal, and shall, as promptly as practicable, terminate access by each such Person and its Representatives to any online or other data rooms containing any non-public information in respect of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the purpose of permitting such Persons to evaluate a potential Company Acquisition Proposal. For clarity, any actions taken by any of the Representatives of the Group Companies that are inconsistent with this Section 5.6(a) will be deemed to be a breach of this Section 5.6(a) by the Group Companies. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing set forth in this or any other section of this Agreement shall, or shall be deemed to, prohibit the Company from pursuing discussions with potential acquisition candidates or consummating transactions with such candidates provided that no such transaction constitutes a Company Acquisition Proposal.

 

(b) From the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, the MEOA Parties shall not, and each of them shall cause their Representatives not to, directly or indirectly: (i) solicit, initiate, or knowingly encourage (including by means of furnishing or disclosing information) or facilitate, discuss or negotiate, directly or indirectly, any inquiry, proposal or offer (written or oral) that constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, a MEOA Acquisition Proposal; (ii) furnish or disclose any non-public information relating to MEOA or any of its Subsidiaries to any Person in connection with, or that could reasonably be expected to lead to, a MEOA Acquisition Proposal; (iii) enter into any Contract or other arrangement or understanding regarding a MEOA Acquisition Proposal; (iv) prepare or take any steps in connection with an offering of any securities of any MEOA Party (or any successor of any MEOA Party); or (v) 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. MEOA agrees to (A) notify the Company promptly upon receipt of any MEOA Acquisition Proposal by any MEOA Party, and to describe the material terms and conditions of any such MEOA Acquisition Proposal in reasonable detail (including the identity of any person or entity making such MEOA Acquisition Proposal) and (B) keep the Company reasonably informed on a current basis of any modifications to such offer or information. For clarity, any actions taken by any of the Representatives of MEOA that are inconsistent with this Section 5.6(b) will be deemed to be a breach of this Section 5.6(b) by MEOA. MEOA shall immediately cease and cause to be terminated any and all existing activities, discussions or negotiations with any Persons (other than with the Group Companies) conducted prior to or as of the date hereof by any of the MEOA Parties, and will cause its Representatives to cease and cause to be terminated any and all existing activities, discussions or negotiations, that would reasonably be expected to lead to a MEOA Acquisition Proposal, and shall, as promptly as practicable, terminate access by each such Person and its Representatives to any online or other data rooms containing any non-public information in respect of MEOA or any of its Subsidiaries for the purpose of permitting such Persons to evaluate a potential MEOA Acquisition Proposal.

 

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Section 5.7 Preparation of Registration Statement. As promptly as reasonably practicable and no later than 45 days following the date of this Agreement, MEOA and the Company shall prepare and mutually agree upon (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed by either MEOA or the Company, as applicable), and MEOA shall file with the SEC, the Registration Statement (it being understood that the Registration Statement shall include the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of the offer and sale of the MEOA Shares to be issued in the Merger and which will be used as a proxy statement for the MEOA Stockholders Meeting and the Company Stockholders Meeting. Each of MEOA and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to (a) cause the Registration Statement, including the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, to comply in all material respects with the applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC (including, with respect to the Group Companies, the provision of financial statements of, and any other information with respect to, the Group Companies for all periods, and in the form, required to be included in the Registration Statement and the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus under Securities Laws (after giving effect to any waivers received) or in response to any comments from the SEC); (b) promptly notify the other of any comments of the SEC or its staff with respect to the Registration Statement received by such Party, and respond promptly thereto; (c) have the Registration Statement declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as reasonably practicable after it is filed with the SEC; and (d) keep the Registration Statement effective through the Closing in order to permit the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. MEOA, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, shall promptly furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the other all information concerning such Party, its Non-Party Affiliates and their respective Representatives that may be required or reasonably requested in connection with any action contemplated by this Section 5.7 or for inclusion in any other statement, filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of MEOA to the SEC or Nasdaq in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents, including delivering customary tax representation letters to counsel to enable counsel to deliver any tax opinions requested or required by the SEC to be submitted in connection therewith as described in Section 5.5(a)(iii). If any Party becomes aware of any information that should be disclosed in an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and/or the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, then: (i) such Party shall promptly inform, in the case of any MEOA Party, the Company, or, in the case of the Company, MEOA, thereof; (ii) such Party shall prepare and mutually agree upon with, in the case of MEOA, the Company, or, in the case of the Company, MEOA (in either case, such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and/or the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus; (iii) MEOA shall file such mutually agreed upon amendment or supplement with the SEC; and (iv) the Parties shall reasonably cooperate, if appropriate, in disseminating such amendment or supplement to the Pre-Closing MEOA Holders and the Company Stockholders. MEOA shall as promptly as is reasonably practicable advise the Company of the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the issuance of any stop order relating thereto or the suspension of the qualification of MEOA Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, and MEOA and the Company shall each use its reasonable best efforts to have any such stop order or suspension lifted, reversed or otherwise terminated. Each of the Parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to ensure that none of the information related to it or any of its Non-Party Affiliates or its or their respective Representatives, supplied by or on their behalf for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement, including the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will, at the time the Registration Statement is initially filed with the SEC, at each time at which it is amended, or at the time it becomes effective under the Securities Act contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit 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 are made, not misleading.

 

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Section 5.8 MEOA Stockholder Approval. As promptly as reasonably practicable following the time at which the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act, MEOA shall (a) duly give notice of and (b) use best efforts to duly convene and hold a meeting of its stockholders (the “MEOA Stockholders Meeting”) in accordance with the Governing Documents of MEOA, for the purposes of obtaining the MEOA Stockholder Approval and, if applicable, any approvals related thereto and providing its stockholders with the opportunity to elect to effect a MEOA Stockholder Redemption. MEOA shall, through approval of its board of directors, recommend to its stockholders (the “MEOA Board Recommendation”), (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 issuance of the MEOA Shares in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as required by Nasdaq listing requirements (the “Nasdaq Proposal”); (iii) the adoption and approval of the amendments to the Governing Documents of MEOA contemplated by the MEOA Certificate of Incorporation and the MEOA Bylaws (the “Governing Document Proposals”); (iv) the adoption and approval of the MEOA Incentive Equity Plan (the “Equity Incentive Plan Proposal”); (v) the election of directors effective as of the Closing as contemplated by Section 5.16(a) and Section 5.16(b); (vi) the adoption and approval of each other proposal that either the SEC or Nasdaq (or the respective staff members thereof) indicates is necessary in its comments to the Registration Statement or in correspondence related thereto; (vii) the adoption and approval of each other proposal reasonably agreed to by MEOA and the Company as necessary or appropriate in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents; and (viii) the adoption and approval of a proposal for the adjournment of the MEOA Stockholders Meeting, if necessary, to permit further solicitation of proxies because there are not sufficient votes to approve and adopt any of the foregoing (such proposals in (i) through (viii) together, the “Transaction Proposals”); provided, that MEOA may adjourn the MEOA Stockholders Meeting (A) to solicit additional proxies for the purpose of obtaining the MEOA Stockholder Approval, (B) for the absence of a quorum, or (C) to allow reasonable additional time for the filing or mailing of any supplemental or amended disclosures that MEOA has determined, based on the advice of outside legal counsel, is reasonably likely to be required under applicable Law and for such supplemental or amended disclosure to be disseminated and reviewed by the Pre-Closing MEOA Holders prior to the MEOA Stockholders Meeting; provided that, without the consent of the Company, in no event shall MEOA adjourn the MEOA Stockholders Meeting for more than 15 Business Days later than the most recently adjourned meeting or to a date that is beyond the Termination Date. The MEOA recommendation contemplated by the preceding sentence shall be included in the Registration Statement. Except as otherwise required by applicable Law, MEOA covenants that none of the MEOA Board or MEOA nor any committee of the MEOA Board shall withdraw or modify, or propose publicly or by formal action of the MEOA Board, any committee of the MEOA Board or MEOA to withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse to the Company, the MEOA Board Recommendation or any other recommendation by the MEOA Board or MEOA of the proposals set forth in the Registration Statement.

 

Section 5.9 Merger Sub Stockholder Approval. As promptly as reasonably practicable (and in any event within one Business Day) following the date of this Agreement, MEOA, as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub, will approve and adopt this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents to which Merger Sub is or will be a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Merger).

 

Section 5.10 Conduct of Business of MEOA. From and after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, MEOA shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, as applicable, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document, as required by applicable Law, as set forth on Section 5.10 of the MEOA Disclosure Schedules or as consented to in writing by the Company, do any of the following:

 

(a) adopt any amendments, supplements, restatements or modifications to the Trust Agreement or the Governing Documents of any MEOA Party or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

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(b) declare, set aside, make or pay a dividend on, or make any other distribution or payment in respect of, any Equity Securities of MEOA or any of its Subsidiaries, or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or offer to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, any outstanding Equity Securities of MEOA or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable;

 

(c) split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or other Equity Securities or issue any other security in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its capital stock;

 

(d) incur, create or assume any Indebtedness or other Liability;

 

(e) make any loans or advances to, or capital contributions in, any other Person, other than to, or in, MEOA or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

(f) issue any Equity Securities of MEOA or any of its Subsidiaries or grant any additional options, warrants or stock appreciation rights with respect to Equity Securities of the foregoing of MEOA or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

(g) enter into, renew, modify or revise any MEOA Related Party Transaction (or any Contract or agreement that if entered into prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement would be a MEOA Related Party Transaction);

 

(h) engage in any activities or business, other than activities or business (i) in connection with or incident or related to such Person’s incorporation or continuing corporate existence, (ii) contemplated by, or incident or related to, this Agreement, any Ancillary Document, the performance of covenants or agreements hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or (iii) those that are administrative or ministerial, in each case, which are immaterial in nature;

 

(i) make, change or revoke any material election concerning Taxes, enter into any material Tax closing agreement, settle any material Tax claim or assessment, or consent to any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to or relating to any material Tax claim or assessment, other than any such extension or waiver that is obtained in the ordinary course of business;

 

(j) authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation or dissolution;

 

(k) enter into any Contract with any broker, finder, investment banker or other Person under which such Person is or will be entitled to any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(l) change its methods of accounting in any material respect, other than changes that are made in accordance with PCAOB standards; or

 

(m) enter into any Contract to take, or cause to be taken, any of the actions set forth in this Section 5.10.

 

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Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.10 or this Agreement to the contrary, (i) nothing set forth in this Agreement shall give the Company, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the operations of any MEOA Party, and (ii) nothing set forth in this Agreement shall prohibit, or otherwise restrict the ability of, any MEOA Party from using the funds held by MEOA outside the Trust Account to pay any MEOA Expenses or from otherwise distributing or paying over any funds held by MEOA outside the Trust Account to the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates, in each case, prior to the Closing.

 

Section 5.11 Nasdaq Listing. MEOA shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause: (a) MEOA’s initial listing application with Nasdaq in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to have been approved; (b) MEOA to satisfy all applicable initial and continuing listing requirements of Nasdaq, and (c) the MEOA Shares issuable in accordance with this Agreement, including the Merger, to be approved for listing on Nasdaq (and the Company shall reasonably cooperate in connection therewith), 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.

 

Section 5.12 Trust Account. Upon satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, waiver of the conditions set forth in Article 6 and provision of notice thereof to the Trustee, (a) at the Closing, MEOA shall (i) cause the documents, certificates and notices required to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to the Trust Agreement to be so delivered, and (ii) make all appropriate arrangements to cause the Trustee to (A) pay as and when due all amounts, if any, payable to the Public Stockholders of MEOA pursuant to the MEOA Stockholder Redemption, (B) pay the amounts due to the underwriters of MEOA’s initial public offering for their deferred underwriting commissions as set forth in the Trust Agreement and (C) immediately thereafter, pay all remaining amounts then available in the Trust Account to MEOA in accordance with the Trust Agreement, and (b) thereafter, the Trust Account shall terminate, except as otherwise provided therein.

 

Section 5.13 Transaction Support Agreements; Company Stockholder Approval.

 

(a) As promptly as reasonably practicable and in any event: (i) on or prior to the date of this Agreement with respect to those Supporting Company Stockholders identified on Schedule I as being required to execute a Transaction Support Agreement concurrent herewith, and (ii) on or prior to the later dates set forth on Schedule I with respect to those Supporting Company Stockholders identified on Schedule I as being required to execute a Transaction Support Agreement on or prior to such later date (in each instance, a “Transaction Support Agreement Deadline”), the Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to MEOA the Transaction Support Agreements duly executed by each Supporting Company Stockholder.

 

(b) As promptly as reasonably practicable following the time at which the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act, the Company shall (a) duly give notice of and (b) use best efforts to duly convene and hold a meeting of its stockholders (the “Company Stockholders Meeting”) in accordance with the Company’s Governing Documents, for the purposes of obtaining the approval of this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents to which the Company is or will be a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including the Merger), in each case to the extent required by the Company’s Governing Documents and applicable Law, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least the requisite number of issued and outstanding Company Shares entitled to vote thereon, whether in person or by proxy at the Company Stockholders Meeting (or any adjournment thereof), in accordance with the DGCL and the Company’s Governing Documents (the “Company Stockholder Approval”). The Company, through its board of directors, shall recommend to the holders of Company Shares the approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the Merger). The Company recommendation contemplated by the preceding sentence shall be included in the Registration Statement. Except as otherwise required by applicable Law, the Company covenants that none of the Company Board or the Company nor any committee of the Company Board shall withdraw or modify, or propose publicly or by formal action of the Company Board, any committee of the Company Board or the Company to withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse to MEOA, the recommendation by the Company Board or the Company of the proposals relating to the Company Stockholder Approval set forth in the Registration Statement.

 

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Section 5.14 MEOA Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance.

 

(a) Each Party agrees that (i) all rights to indemnification, advancement or exculpation now existing in favor of the directors and officers of each MEOA Party, as provided in the applicable MEOA Party’s Governing Documents or otherwise in effect as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, in either case, solely with respect to any matters occurring on or prior to the Effective Time shall survive the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall continue in full force and effect from and after the Effective Time for a period of six years and (ii) MEOA will perform and discharge, or cause to be performed and discharged, all obligations to provide such indemnity, advancement and exculpation during such six-year period. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, during such six-year period, MEOA shall advance, or caused to be advanced, expenses reasonably incurred in connection with such indemnification as provided in the applicable MEOA Party’s Governing Documents or other applicable agreements as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time. The indemnification, advancement and liability limitation or exculpation provisions of the MEOA Parties’ Governing Documents shall not, during such six-year period, be amended, repealed or otherwise modified after the Effective Time in any manner that would materially and adversely affect the rights thereunder of individuals who, as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, or at any time prior to such time, were directors or officers of any MEOA Party (the “MEOA D&O Persons”) entitled to be so indemnified, have their liability limited or be exculpated with respect to any matters occurring on or prior to the Effective Time and relating to the fact that such MEOA D&O Person was a director or officer of any MEOA Party immediately prior to the Effective Time, unless such amendment, repeal or other modification is required by applicable Law.

 

(b) MEOA shall not have any obligation under this Section 5.14 to any MEOA D&O Person when and if a court of competent jurisdiction shall ultimately determine (and such determination shall have become final and non-appealable) that the indemnification of such MEOA D&O Person in the manner contemplated hereby is prohibited by applicable Law.

 

(c) The MEOA Parties shall purchase, at or prior to the Closing, and MEOA shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, in effect for a period of six years after the Effective Time, without lapses in coverage, a “tail” policy providing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage for the benefit of those Persons who are currently covered by any comparable insurance policies of the MEOA Parties as of the date of this Agreement with respect to matters occurring on or prior to the Effective Time. Such “tail” policy shall provide coverage on terms (with respect to coverage and amount) that are substantially the same as (and no less favorable in the aggregate to the insured than) the coverage provided under the MEOA Parties’ directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies as of the date of this Agreement.

 

(d) If MEOA or any of its successors or assigns (i) shall merge or consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or entity and shall not be the surviving or continuing corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger, or (ii) shall transfer all or substantially all of their respective properties and assets as an entity in one or a series of related transactions to any Person, then in each such case, proper provisions shall be made so that the successors or assigns of MEOA shall assume all of the obligations set forth in this Section 5.14.

 

(e) The MEOA D&O Persons entitled to the indemnification, liability limitation, exculpation and insurance set forth in this Section 5.14 are intended to be third-party beneficiaries of this Section 5.14. This Section 5.14 shall survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall be binding on all successors and assigns of MEOA.

 

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Section 5.15 Company Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance.

 

(a) Each Party agrees that (i) all rights to indemnification, advancement or exculpation now existing in favor of the directors and officers of the Group Companies, as provided in the Group Companies’ Governing Documents or otherwise in effect as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, in either case, solely with respect to any matters occurring on or prior to the Effective Time, shall survive the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall continue in full force and effect from and after the Effective Time for a period of six years and (ii) MEOA will cause the applicable Group Companies to perform and discharge all obligations to provide such indemnity, advancement and exculpation during such six-year period. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, during such six-year period, MEOA shall cause the applicable Group Companies to advance expenses reasonably incurred in connection with such indemnification as provided in the Group Companies’ Governing Documents or other applicable agreements in effect as of immediately prior to the Effective Time. The indemnification, advancement and liability limitation or exculpation provisions of the Group Companies’ Governing Documents shall not, during such six-year period, be amended, repealed or otherwise modified after the Effective Time in any manner that would materially and adversely affect the rights thereunder of individuals who, as of the Effective Time or at any time prior to the Effective Time, were directors or officers of the Group Companies (the “Company D&O Persons”) entitled to be so indemnified, have their liability limited or be exculpated with respect to any matters occurring prior to Closing and relating to the fact that such Company D&O Person was a director or officer of any Group Company prior to the Effective Time, unless such amendment, repeal or other modification is required by applicable Law.

 

(b) None of MEOA or the Group Companies shall have any obligation under this Section 5.15 to any Company D&O Person when and if a court of competent jurisdiction shall ultimately determine (and such determination shall have become final and non-appealable) that the indemnification of such Company D&O Person in the manner contemplated hereby is prohibited by applicable Law.

 

(c) The Company shall purchase, at or prior to the Closing, and MEOA shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, in effect for a period of six years after the Effective Time, without lapses in coverage, a “tail” policy providing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage for the benefit of those Persons who are currently covered by any comparable insurance policies of the Group Companies as of the date of this Agreement with respect to matters occurring on or prior to the Effective Time. Such “tail” policy shall provide coverage on terms (with respect to coverage and amount) that are substantially the same as (and no less favorable in the aggregate to the insured than) the coverage provided under the Group Companies’ directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies as of the date of this Agreement.

 

(d) If MEOA or any of its successors or assigns (i) shall merge or consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or entity and shall not be the surviving or continuing corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) shall transfer all or substantially all of their respective properties and assets as an entity in one or a series of related transactions to any Person, then in each such case, proper provisions shall be made so that the successors or assigns of MEOA shall assume all of the obligations set forth in this Section 5.15.

 

(e) The Company D&O Persons entitled to the indemnification, liability limitation, exculpation and insurance set forth in this Section 5.15 are intended to be third-party beneficiaries of this Section 5.15. This Section 5.15 shall survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall be binding on all successors and assigns of MEOA.

 

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Section 5.16 Post-Closing Directors and Officers.

 

(a) MEOA shall take all such action within its power as may be necessary or appropriate such that effective immediately after the Effective Time (i) the MEOA Board shall initially consist of five directors, which shall be divided into three classes, designated Class I, II and III, with Class I consisting of one director, Class II consisting of one director and Class III consisting of two directors; (ii) the members of the MEOA Board are the individuals determined in accordance with Section 5.16(b); (iii) the members of the compensation committee, audit committee and nominating committee of the MEOA Board are the individuals determined in accordance with Section 5.16(c); and (iv) the officers of MEOA (the “Officers”) are the individuals determined in accordance with Section 5.16(d).

 

(b) The MEOA Board immediately after the Effective Time shall consist of five individuals in accordance with Section 2.1(a)(v). Furthermore, immediately after the Effective Time, MEOA shall form a strategic advisory committee, which shall consist of the two individuals identified on Section 5.16(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules plus an additional individual to be designated by the Sponsor.

 

(c) Prior to the mailing of the Registration Statement / Proxy Statement to the Pre-Closing MEOA Holders, the Company and MEOA shall mutually agree to each director that will serve on the compensation committee, the audit committee and the nominating committee of the MEOA Board immediately after the Effective Time, based on the qualifications of each director, subject to applicable listing rules of Nasdaq and applicable Law.

 

(d) The individuals identified on Section 5.16(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedules shall be the Officers immediately after the Effective Time, with each such individual holding the title set forth opposite his or her name. In the event that such individuals identified on Section 5.16(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedules is unwilling or unable (whether due to death, disability, termination of service or otherwise) to serve as an Officer, then, prior to the mailing of the Registration Statement / Proxy Statement to the Pre-Closing MEOA Holders, the Company may in its sole discretion replace such individual with another individual to serve as such Officer by amending Section 5.16(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedules to include such replacement individual as such Officer.

 

Section 5.17 PCAOB Financials.

 

(a) As promptly as reasonably practicable, but in no event later than September 15, 2022, the Company shall deliver to MEOA any audited or unaudited consolidated balance sheets of the Company and the related audited or unaudited consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ deficit and cash flows of the Company as of and for a year-to-date period ended as of the end of any other different fiscal quarter (and as of and for the same period from the previous fiscal year) or fiscal year (and as of and for the prior fiscal quarter) and any required pro forma financial statements relating to any of the Group Companies, in each case, that are required to be included in the Registration Statement / Proxy Statement. All such financial statements, together with any audited or unaudited consolidated balance sheet and the related audited or unaudited consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ deficit and cash flows of the Company as of and for a year-to-date period ended as of the end of a different fiscal quarter (and as of and for the same period from the previous fiscal year) or fiscal year (and as of and for the prior fiscal quarter) that is required to be included in the Registration Statement / Proxy Statement (A) will fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company as at the date thereof, and the results of its operations, stockholders’ 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 expected to be material) and the absence of footnotes), (B) will be prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except, in the case of any audited financial statements, as may be indicated in the notes thereto and subject, in the case of any unaudited financial statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments (none of which is expected to be material) and the absence of footnotes), (C) in the case of any audited financial statements, will be audited by a PCAOB-registered accounting firm that will confirm that the audit was conducted in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB, and (D) will 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).

 

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(b) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts (i) to assist, upon advance written notice, during normal business hours and in a manner such as to not unreasonably interfere with the normal operation of any member of such Group Company, MEOA in causing to be prepared in a timely manner any other financial information or statements (including customary pro forma financial statements) that are required to be included in the Registration Statement and any other filings to be made by MEOA with the SEC in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document, and (ii) to obtain the consents of its auditors with respect thereto as may be required by applicable Law or requested by the SEC.

 

Section 5.18 MEOA Incentive Equity Plan.

 

(a) Prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the MEOA Board shall approve and adopt an equity incentive plan, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit F and with any changes or modifications thereto as the Company and MEOA may mutually agree (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed by either the Company or MEOA, as applicable) (the “MEOA Incentive Equity Plan”), in the manner prescribed under applicable Laws, effective as of one day prior to the Closing Date, reserving for grant thereunder an initial number of MEOA Shares equal to 10% of the fully diluted MEOA Shares as of immediately following the Effective Time, including the MEOA Shares issuable upon the exercise of Rollover Warrants.

 

(b) Prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the MEOA Board shall approve the assumption by MEOA of the Company Equity Plans, which shall reflect that no further grants will be made on or after the Effective Time and such other changes as the Company and MEOA may mutually agree (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed by either the Company or MEOA, as applicable) (the “Adopted Incentive Equity Plans”), in the manner prescribed under applicable Laws, effective as of one day prior to the Closing Date, reserving for grant thereunder the number of MEOA Shares that will be subject to the Rollover Options, as set forth on the Allocation Schedule.

 

Section 5.19 FIRPTA Certificates. At or prior to the Closing, the Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to MEOA (a) a certificate, duly executed by the Company, complying with Treasury Regulations Section 1.1445-2(c)(3), together with evidence that the Company has provided notice to the Internal Revenue Service in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.897-2(h)(2), in each case, in a form and substance reasonably acceptable to MEOA and (b) an IRS Form W-9 duly executed by the Company.

 

Section 5.20 Compliance with International Trade & Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

(a) Within 90 days from the Closing, the Company shall implement appropriate controls reasonably designed to promote compliance by each Group Company and their respective Representatives with Sanctions and Export Control Laws, Anti-Corruption Laws, and Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

 

(b) Following the Effective Time, the Group Companies shall not knowingly, directly or indirectly use or contribute the proceeds from any funds provided by MEOA or the Sponsor for any purpose that would breach the Sanctions and Export Control Laws, Anti-Corruption Laws, or Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

 

Section 5.21 Section 280G of the Code. To the extent applicable, each Company Party shall (a) use its reasonable commercial efforts to secure from any Person who (i) is a “disqualified individual” (as defined in Section 280G of the Code) and (ii) has a right or potential right to any payments and/or benefits in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement that could be deemed to constitute “parachute payments” pursuant to Section 280G of the Code, a waiver of all or a portion of such Person’s rights to any such payments and/or benefits, such that all remaining payments and/or benefits applicable to such Person shall not be deemed to be “parachute payments” pursuant to Section 280G of the Code (the “Waived 280G Benefits”), and (b) for all such obtained waivers, submit for approval by the respective Company Party’s stockholders the Waived 280G Benefits, to the extent and in the manner required under Sections 280G(b)(5)(A)(ii) and 280G(b)(5)(B) of the Code. No later than five Business Days before the Closing Date, the Company Parties shall provide to Parent or its counsel drafts of the consent, waiver, disclosure statement and calculations necessary to effectuate the approval process and shall consider in good faith Parent’s comments. Prior to the Closing Date, to the extent applicable, the Company Party shall deliver to Parent evidence that (x) a vote of the respective Company Party’s stockholders was received in conformance with Section 280G of the Code and the regulations thereunder, or (y) such requisite Company Party stockholder approval has not been obtained with respect to the Waived 280G Benefits, and, as a consequence, the Waived 280G Benefits have not been and shall not be paid or provided.

 

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Section 5.22 Covenants Regarding Post Road Group. The Company shall cause Post Road Administrative LLC and its affiliate Post Road Special Opportunity Fund II LP (collectively, “Post Road”), on or prior to October 15, 2022, to enter into a written agreement with the Company (or its applicable Subsidiaries) that is reasonably satisfactory to MEOA (such agreement, the “PRG Resolution Agreement”), provided that MEOA does not act unreasonably in making its determination as to its satisfaction, pursuant to which PRG Resolution Agreement: (i) the breaches, if any, of the financial covenants and non-financial covenants contained in the Credit Agreement between and among T3 Communications, Inc. (“T3 Nevada”), T3 Nevada’s subsidiaries and Post Road (the “Credit Agreement”; and such defaults, the “PRG Credit Agreement Defaults”), are resolved to the reasonable satisfaction of MEOA; (ii) Post Road agrees to forbear from exercising its rights and remedies with regard to the PRG Credit Agreement Defaults until the Closing Date; and (iii) Post Road provides (whether in such PRG Resolution Agreement or in documents or instruments to be delivered concurrently the execution and delivery thereof) such consents as may be required under the Credit Agreement (and any other agreements or instruments that were entered into or issued in connection therewith) in connection with transactions contemplated by this Agreement. It is expressly hereby acknowledged and agreed that the PRG Resolution Agreement shall not provide Post Road with a right, exercisable in its sole discretion, to convert all or any portion of the indebtedness owed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to Post Road pursuant to the Credit Agreement into Company Shares or MEOA Shares (or securities exercisable for or convertible into Company Shares or MEOA Shares, or the securities of the any of the Subsidiaries of the Company or MEOA) prior to or following the Closing Date.

 

Section 5.23 Covenants Regarding Extension of Business Combination Period. If the Closing shall not be consummated on or prior to November 30, 2022, MEOA shall take such actions as are reasonably necessary pursuant to the Trust Agreement and MEOA’s Governing Documents to extend the period of time for it to complete an initial business combination for an additional period of three months, including providing any required notices to the Trustee. So long as MEOA takes such actions as are described in the immediately preceding sentence, and provides written notice thereof to the Company not less than two (2) Business Days prior to November 30, 2022, the Company shall unconditionally be required to, and hereby agrees that it shall, deposit into the Trust Account, not later than November 30, 2022, such funds as are required pursuant to the Trust Agreement and MEOA’s Governing Documents to extend the period of time for MEOA to complete an initial business combination for an additional period of three months; provided however, that the Company’s payment of such funds as are required to extend the period of time to complete the initial business combination as provided herein shall not be or be deemed to be prohibited by or a breach of the Company’s obligations under Section 5.1 or any other section of this Agreement.

 

Section 5.24 Employment Agreements. Following the Closing, MEOA shall enter into employment agreements between MEOA and each of Arthur L. Smith, Craig K. Clement and Antonio Estrada Jr. (which new employment agreements shall supersede the existing employment agreements between the Company and such individuals), to be approved by the Board of Directors of MEOA (and the compensation committee thereof) following the Closing, containing substantially the same terms as are contained in the existing employment agreements between each such individual and the Company, including titles, responsibilities, compensation terms, severance and restrictive covenants, provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, such employment agreements shall provide for (i) increases in the base salaries of each of Messrs. Smith and Estrada to be consistent with market standards applicable to the position in which each such individual serves following the Closing, (ii) maintenance of the existing bonus structures presently provided for each of such individual’s respective employment agreement, and (iii) preservation of the severance provisions presently included in the existing employment agreements of each such individual.

 

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Article 6
CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
BY THIS AGREEMENT

 

Section 6.1 Conditions to the Obligations of the Parties. The obligations of the Parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction or, if permitted by applicable Law, waiver, at or prior to the Closing Date, by the Party for whose benefit such condition exists of the following conditions:

 

(a) the applicable waiting period under the HSR Act relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have expired or been terminated and any other required regulatory approvals applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements shall have been obtained and shall remain in full force and effect;

 

(b) (i) all shares of the Company Series C Preferred Stock shall have been exchanged for Restricted Shares, and no shares of the Company Series C Preferred Stock shall be outstanding, and (ii) all shares of the Company Series F Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed by the Company at a redemption price of $0.01 per share, and no shares of the Company Series F Preferred Stock shall be outstanding;

 

(c) no Order or Law issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or other Governmental Entity or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be pending or in effect;

 

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

 

(e) MEOA’s initial listing application with Nasdaq in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been approved and, immediately following the Effective Time, MEOA shall satisfy any applicable initial and continuing listing requirements of Nasdaq, and MEOA shall not have received any notice of non-compliance therewith that has not been cured or would not be cured at or immediately following the Effective Time, and the MEOA Shares to be issued pursuant to the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been approved for listing on Nasdaq;

 

(f) the MEOA Board shall consist of the number of directors, and be comprised of the individuals, determined pursuant to Section 5.16(a) and Section 5.16(b);

 

(g) the Required MEOA Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained; and

 

(h) the Company Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained.

 

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Section 6.2 Other Conditions to the Obligations of the MEOA Parties. The obligations of the MEOA Parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction or, if permitted by applicable Law, waiver, at or prior to the Closing Date, by MEOA (on behalf of itself and the other MEOA Parties) of the following further conditions:

 

(a) (i) the Company Fundamental Representations shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Company Material Adverse Effect” or any similar limitation set forth herein) in all respects (except for de minimis inaccuracies) as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing 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 in all respects (except for de minimis inaccuracies) as of such earlier date); and (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Article 3 (other than the Company Fundamental Representations) shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Company Material Adverse Effect” or any similar limitation set forth herein) in all respects as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing 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 in all respects as of such earlier date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct, taken as a whole, does not cause a Company Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b) the Company shall have performed and complied in all material respects with the covenants and agreements required to be performed or complied with by the Company under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing;

 

(c) since the date of this Agreement, no Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred that is continuing;

 

(d) at or prior to the Closing, the Company shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to MEOA:

 

(i) a certificate duly executed by an authorized officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that the conditions specified in Section 6.2(a), Section 6.2(b) and Section 6.2(c) are satisfied, in a form and substance reasonably satisfactory to MEOA; and

 

(ii) a certificate of the secretary or equivalent officer of each of the Company Parties certifying that attached thereto are true, correct and complete copies of all resolutions adopted by the board of directors or equivalent body of each of the Company Parties authorizing the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that all such resolutions are in full force and effect and are all of the resolutions adopted in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(e) the Company shall have delivered to MEOA a good standing certificate (or similar documents applicable for such jurisdictions) for each Group Company certified as of a date no earlier than 10 days prior to the Closing Date from the proper governmental authority of each such Group Company’s jurisdiction of organization and from each other jurisdiction in which each such Group Company is qualified to do business as a foreign entity as of the Closing, in each case to the extent that good standing certificates or similar documents are generally available in such jurisdictions;

 

(f) MEOA shall have repaid, or shall have irrevocably arranged to have repaid upon the Closing, any and all loans that have been made to MEOA by the Sponsor, including, without limitation, any extension loans or working capital loans, or, in lieu thereof, and with the consent of the Sponsor, such loans have been converted into warrants to purchase shares of the Class A common stock of MEOA having equivalent terms and conditions as the warrants that were issued by MEOA to investors in its initial public offering;

 

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(g) the Company shall have provided to MEOA evidence reasonably satisfactory to MEOA of (i) the exchange, effective prior to the Closing, of all of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company Series C Preferred Stock for Restricted Shares; (ii) the redemption, effective prior to the Closing, by the Company of all of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company Series F Preferred Stock; and (iii) the exercise, effective prior to the Closing, of the warrant issued to Post Road Group for Company Shares;

 

(h) at or prior to the Closing, the Company shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to MEOA a certificate duly executed by an authorized officer of the Company, without personal liability, that, to the best of his or her knowledge, information and belief, (i) the information delivered pursuant to clauses (a), (b) and (c) of Section 2.3 is true and correct in all respects and (ii) the Company has performed, or otherwise complied with, as applicable, its covenants and agreements set forth in Section 2.1(d);

 

(i) on the date of this Agreement, the Company shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to MEOA, waivers in the form of Exhibit G attached hereto duly executed by each of Arthur Smith, Craig Clement, Antonio Estrada and Felipe Lahrssen whereby each such individual waives any entitlement to claim that the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, constitutes “Good Reason” as defined in the existing employment agreements that such individual has entered into with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

(j) at or prior to the Closing, MEOA shall have received from each Supporting Company Stockholder a lock-up agreement as contemplated by Section 2(c) of the Transaction Support Agreement between such Supporting Company Stockholder and MEOA (which lock-up period, for the avoidance of doubt, shall last for not less than 180 days from the Closing Date); and

 

(k) at or prior to Closing, the Company shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to MEOA a duly executed copy of the PRG Resolution Agreement.

 

Section 6.3 Other Conditions to the Obligations of the Company. The obligations of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction or, if permitted by applicable Law, waiver, at or prior to the Closing Date, by the Company of the following further conditions:

 

(a) (i) the MEOA Fundamental Representations shall be true and correct in all respects (except for de minimis inaccuracies) as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing 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 in all respects (except for de minimis inaccuracies) as of such earlier date); and (ii) the representations and warranties of the MEOA Parties contained in Article 4 of this Agreement (other than the MEOA Fundamental Representations) shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “MEOA Material Adverse Effect” or any similar limitation set forth herein) in all respects as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing 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 as of such earlier date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct, taken as a whole, does not cause a MEOA Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(b) the MEOA Parties shall have performed and complied in all material respects with the covenants and agreements required to be performed or complied with by them under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing;

 

(c) at or prior to the Closing, MEOA shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the Company a certificate duly executed by an authorized officer of MEOA, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that the conditions specified in Section 6.3(a), Section 6.3(b) and Section 6.3(d) are satisfied, in a form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company; and

 

(d) MEOA shall have delivered to the Company a good standing certificate (or similar documents applicable for such jurisdictions) for MEOA and Merger Sub certified as of a date no earlier than 10 days prior to the Closing Date from the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

 

Section 6.4 Frustration of Closing Conditions. The Company may not rely on the failure of any condition set forth in this Article 6 to be satisfied if such failure was proximately caused by the Company’s failure to use reasonable best efforts to cause the Closing to occur, as required by Section 5.2. None of the MEOA Parties may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in this Article 6 to be satisfied if such failure was proximately caused by a MEOA Party’s failure to use reasonable best efforts to cause the Closing to occur, as required by Section 5.2.

 

Article 7
TERMINATION

 

Section 7.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be abandoned at any time prior to the Closing:

 

(a) by mutual written consent of MEOA and the Company;

 

(b) by MEOA, if any of the representations or warranties set forth in Article 3 shall not be true and correct or if the Company has failed to perform any covenant or agreement on the part of the Company set forth in this Agreement (including an obligation to consummate the Closing) such that the conditions to Closing set forth in either Section 6.2(a) or Section 6.2(b) could not be satisfied and the breach or breaches causing such representations or warranties not to be true and correct, or the failures to perform any covenant or agreement, as applicable, is (or are) not cured or cannot be cured within the earlier of (i) 30 days after written notice thereof is delivered to the Company by MEOA, and (ii) the Termination Date; provided, however, that none of the MEOA Parties is then in breach of this Agreement so as to prevent the conditions to Closing set forth in either Section 6.3(a) or Section 6.3(b) from being satisfied;

 

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(c) by the Company, if any of the representations or warranties set forth in Article 4 shall not be true and correct or if any MEOA Party has failed to perform any covenant or agreement on the part of such applicable MEOA Party set forth in this Agreement (including an obligation to consummate the Closing) such that the conditions to Closing set forth in either Section 6.3(a) or Section 6.3(b) could not be satisfied and the breach or breaches causing such representations or warranties not to be true and correct, or the failures to perform any covenant or agreement, as applicable, is (or are) not cured or cannot be cured within the earlier of (i) 30 days after written notice thereof is delivered to MEOA by the Company and (ii) the Termination Date; provided, however, the Company is not then in breach of this Agreement so as to prevent the conditions to Closing set forth in Section 6.2(a) or Section 6.2(b) from being satisfied;

 

(d) by either MEOA or the Company, if the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall not have been consummated on or prior to February 25, 2023 (the “Termination Date”); provided, that (i) the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(d) shall not be available to MEOA if any MEOA Party’s breach of any of its covenants or obligations under this Agreement shall have proximately caused the failure to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement on or before the Termination Date, and (ii) the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(d) shall not be available to the Company if the Company’s breach of its covenants or obligations under this Agreement shall have proximately caused the failure to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement on or before the Termination Date;

 

(e) by either MEOA or the Company, if any Governmental Entity shall have issued an Order or taken any other action permanently enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and such Order or other action shall have become final and non-appealable;

 

(f) by either MEOA or the Company if the MEOA Stockholders Meeting has been held (including any adjournment thereof), has concluded, MEOA’s stockholders have duly voted and the Required MEOA Stockholder Approval was not obtained;

 

(g) by MEOA, if the Company does not deliver, or cause to be delivered, to MEOA (i) a Transaction Support Agreement duly executed by each of the Company Stockholders identified on Schedule I, in accordance with Section 5.13(a) and Schedule I, on or prior to the Transaction Support Agreement Deadline applicable to each such Company Stockholder; provided, that MEOA shall not unreasonably enforce its termination rights pursuant to this Section 7.1(g)(i) (and no termination fee shall be payable by the Company in the event that MEOA unreasonably enforces its termination rights pursuant to this Section 7.1(g)(i)), or (ii) the Company Stockholders Meeting has been held (including any adjournment thereof), has concluded, the Company Stockholders have duly voted and the Company Stockholder Approval was not obtained;

 

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(h) by MEOA, if the Company does not deliver, or cause to be delivered, to MEOA a duly executed copy of the PRG Resolution Agreement on or prior to October 15, 2022;

 

(i) by the Company should MEOA not have timely taken such actions as are reasonably necessary pursuant to the Trust Agreement and the Governing Documents of MEOA to extend the period of time for it to complete an initial business combination for an additional period of three months from November 30, 2022; provided, that it is understood and agreed that, as per Section 5.23, it shall be the obligation of the Company to timely make the deposit into the Trust Account in connection with such extension, and the Company shall not have a right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.1(i) as a result of the Company’s failure to make such deposit; and

 

(j) by MEOA should the Company not deposit into the Trust Account in a timely manner the funds necessary to extend the period for MEOA to complete an initial business combination for an additional period of three months from November 30, 2022, in accordance with, and as required pursuant to, Section 5.23; and

 

(k) by MEOA should: (i) Nasdaq not approve the initial listing application for the combined company with Nasdaq in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (ii) the combined company not have satisfied all applicable initial listing requirements of Nasdaq; or (iii) the common stock of the combined company not have been approved for listing on Nasdaq prior to the Closing Date.

 

Section 7.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1, this entire Agreement shall forthwith become void (and there shall be no Liability or obligation on the part of the Parties and their respective Non-Party Affiliates) with the exception of Section 5.3(a), this Section 7.2, Article 8 and Article 1 (to the extent related to the foregoing), each of which shall survive such termination and remain valid and binding obligations of the Parties, and the Confidentiality Agreement, which shall survive such termination and remain valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto; provided, that if MEOA shall terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(b) (due to the failure by the Company to perform any covenant or agreement on the part of the Company set forth in this Agreement, including an obligation to consummate the Closing), Section 7.1(g), Section 7.1(h), Section 7.1(j) or Section 7.1(k), or if MEOA shall terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(d) for any reason other than due to the failure by the SEC to declare the Registration Statement effective on or prior to the Termination Date, or if the Company shall terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(c) (due to the failure by MEOA to perform any covenant or agreement on the part of MEOA set forth in this Agreement, including an obligation to consummate the Closing) or Section 7.1(i) (due to failure by MEOA to timely taken such actions as are reasonably necessary pursuant to the Trust Agreement and the Governing Documents of MEOA to extend the period of time for it to complete an initial business combination for an additional period of three months from November 30, 2022), the Company shall pay to MEOA, or MEOA shall pay to the Company, as applicable, promptly following such termination, and in any event within not less than five Business Days following delivery of notice of termination, a termination fee in the amount of $2,000,000 (or, in the event of a termination by MEOA pursuant to Section 7.1(j) or Section 7.1(k), an amount equal to $1,265,000) by wire transfer of immediately funds to an account designated in writing by MEOA or the Company, as applicable (with it hereby being understood and agreed that any such fee that is payable by the Company shall be paid to Sphere 3D Corp., the majority member of the Sponsor, in advance of (and in priority to) the repayment of any Company Expenses). Each Party acknowledges that the agreements contained in this Article 7 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that, without these agreements, no party would have entered into this Agreement; accordingly, if the Company fails to timely pay MEOA the termination fee referenced in the immediately preceding sentence, or if MEOA fails to timely pay to the Company the termination fee referenced in the immediately preceding sentence, as applicable, and, in order to obtain such payment, MEOA or the Company, as applicable, commences a suit that results in a judgment against the Company or MEOA, as applicable, for such termination fee, the Company or MEOA, as applicable, shall pay to MEOA or the Company, as applicable, its costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) in connection with such suit, together with interest thereon at the prime rate as published in The Wall Street Journal in effect on the date such termination fee was required to be paid from such date through the date of full payment thereof. Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that the termination fee is not intended to be a penalty, but rather is liquidated damages in a reasonable amount that will compensate MEOA or the Company, as applicable, in the circumstances in which the termination fee is due and payable and which do not involve Fraud or willful and material breach, for the efforts and resources expended and opportunities forgone while negotiating this Agreement and in reliance on this Agreement and on the expectation of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, which amount would otherwise be impossible to calculate with precision. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in no event shall more than one termination fee be payable under this Agreement, and, upon payment of the termination fee, the Company (and its Affiliates and its and their respective directors, officers, employees, stockholders and representatives) shall have no further liability to MEOA, or MEOA (and its Affiliates and its and their respective directors, officers, employees, stockholders and representatives) shall have no further liability to the Company, as applicable, under this Agreement. Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that the termination fee, if paid to MEOA or the Company, as applicable, shall be treated as liquidated damages that are capital in nature to which Section 1234A of the Code applies. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1 shall not affect (i) any Liability on the part of any Party for any Willful Breach of any covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement prior to such termination or Fraud or (ii) any Person’s Liability under any Confidentiality Agreement, any Transaction Support Agreement or the Sponsor Letter Agreement to which he, she or it is a party to the extent arising from a claim against such Person by another Person party to such agreement on the terms and subject to the conditions thereunder.

 

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Article 8
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 8.1 Non-Survival. Other than as otherwise provided in the last sentence of this Section 8.1, each of the representations and warranties, and each of the agreements and covenants (to the extent such agreement or covenant contemplates or requires performance at or prior to the Effective Time), of the Parties set forth in this Agreement, shall terminate at the Effective Time, such that no claim for breach of any such representation, warranty, agreement or covenant, detrimental reliance or other right or remedy (whether in contract, in tort, at law, in equity or otherwise) may be brought with respect thereto after the Effective Time against any Party, any Company Non-Party Affiliate or any MEOA Non-Party Affiliate, in each case, except in the case of and without in any way limiting any remedies available with regard to Fraud. Each covenant and agreement contained herein that, by its terms, expressly contemplates performance after the Effective Time shall so survive the Effective Time in accordance with its terms, and each covenant and agreement contained in any Ancillary Document that, by its terms, expressly contemplates performance after the Effective Time shall so survive the Effective Time in accordance with its terms and any other provision in any Ancillary Document that expressly survives the Effective Time shall so survive the Effective Time in accordance with the terms of such Ancillary Document.

 

Section 8.2 Entire Agreement; Assignment. This Agreement (together with the Ancillary Documents) constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may not be assigned by any Party (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of (a) MEOA and the Company prior to Closing, and (b) MEOA and the Sponsor after the Closing. Any attempted assignment of this Agreement not in accordance with the terms of this Section 8.2 shall be void.

 

Section 8.3 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written agreement executed and delivered by (a) MEOA and the Company prior to the Closing, and (b) MEOA and the Sponsor after the Closing. This Agreement may not be modified or amended except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence and any purported amendment by any Party or Parties effected in a manner which does not comply with this Section 8.3 shall be void, ab initio.

 

Section 8.4 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given) by delivery in person, by e-mail (having obtained electronic delivery confirmation thereof (i.e., an electronic record of the sender that the e-mail was sent to the intended recipient thereof without an “error” or similar message that such e-mail was not received by such intended recipient)), or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) (upon receipt thereof) to the other Parties as follows:

 

(a)If to any MEOA Party prior to the Effective Time, to:

 

(b)Minority Equality Opportunities Acquisition Inc.
   

100 Executive Court

Waxahachie, Texas 75165

Attention: Shawn D. Rochester

E-mail: srochester@meoaus.com

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

Pryor Cashman LLP

7 Times Square

New York, NY 10036

Attention: M. Ali Panjwani, Esq.

E-mail: Ali.Panjwani@pryorcashman.com

 

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(c)If to the Company or to any MEOA Party after the Effective Time, to:
   
  

Digerati Technologies, Inc.

825 W. Bitters, Suite 104

San Antonio, TX 78216

Attention: Arthur L. Smith

Email: a.smith@t3com.net

 

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

 

Lucosky Brookman LLP

101 Wood Avenue South, 5th Floor

Woodbridge, New Jersey 08830

Attention: Steven A. Lipstein, Esq.

E-mail: slipstein@lucbro.com

Attention: Joseph M. Lucosky, Esq.

Email: jlucosky@lucbro.com

 

or to such other address as the Party to whom notice is given may have previously furnished to the others in writing in the manner set forth above.

 

Section 8.5 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the law of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

 

Section 8.6 Fees and Expenses. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, all fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents 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 that, for the avoidance of doubt, (a) if this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, the Company shall pay, or cause to be paid, all Unpaid Company Expenses and MEOA shall pay, or cause to be paid, all Unpaid MEOA Expenses and (b) if the Closing occurs, then MEOA shall pay, or cause to be paid, all Unpaid Company Expenses and all Unpaid MEOA Expenses.

 

Section 8.7 Construction; Interpretation. The term “this Agreement” means this Business Combination Agreement together with the Schedules and Exhibits hereto, as the same may from time to time be amended, modified, supplemented or restated in accordance with the terms hereof. The headings set forth in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. No Party, nor its respective counsel, shall be deemed the drafter of this Agreement for purposes of construing the provisions hereof, and all provisions of this Agreement shall be construed according to their fair meaning and not strictly for or against any Party. Unless otherwise indicated to the contrary herein by the context or use thereof: (a) the words, “herein,” “hereto,” “hereof” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole, including the Schedules and Exhibits, and not to any particular section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph or clause set forth in this Agreement; (b) masculine gender shall also include the feminine and neutral genders, and vice versa; (c) words importing the singular shall also include the plural, and vice versa; (d) the words “include,” “includes” or “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (e) references to “$” or “dollar” or “US$” shall be references to United States dollars; (f) the word “or” is disjunctive but not necessarily exclusive; (g) the words “writing”, “written” and comparable terms refer to printing, typing and other means of reproducing words (including electronic media) in a visible form; (h) the word “day” means calendar day unless Business Day is expressly specified; (i) the word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” means the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase shall not mean simply “if”; (j) all references to Articles, Sections, Exhibits or Schedules are to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules of this Agreement; (k) the words “provided” or “made available” or words of similar import (regardless of whether capitalized or not) shall mean, when used with reference to documents or other materials required to be provided or made available to MEOA, any documents or other materials posted to the electronic data room located at [●] under the project name “Digerati” as of 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, at least one day prior to the date of this Agreement; (1) all references to any Law will be to such Law as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified or re-enacted from time to time; and (m) all references to any Contract are to that Contract as amended or modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof (subject to any restrictions on amendments or modifications set forth in this Agreement). If any action under this Agreement is required to be done or taken on a day that is not a Business Day, then such action shall be required to be done or taken not on such day but on the first succeeding Business Day thereafter.

 

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Section 8.8 Exhibits and Schedules. All Exhibits and Schedules, or documents expressly incorporated into this Agreement, are hereby incorporated into this Agreement and are hereby made a part hereof as if set out in full in this Agreement. The Schedules shall be arranged in sections and subsections corresponding to the numbered and lettered Sections and subsections set forth in this Agreement. Any item disclosed in the Company Disclosure Schedules or in the MEOA Disclosure Schedules corresponding to any Section or subsection of Article 3 (in the case of the Company Disclosure Schedules) or Article 4 (in the case of the MEOA Disclosure Schedules) shall be deemed to have been disclosed with respect to every other section and subsection of Article 3 (in the case of the Company Disclosure Schedules) or Article 4 (in the case of the MEOA Disclosure Schedules), as applicable, where the relevance of such disclosure to such other Section or subsection is reasonably apparent on the face of the disclosure. The information and disclosures set forth in the Schedules that correspond to the section or subsections of Article 3 or Article 4 may not be limited to matters required to be disclosed in the Schedules, and any such additional information or disclosure is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily include other matters of a similar nature.

 

Section 8.9 Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each Party and its successors and permitted assigns and, except as provided in Section 5.15, Section 5.16 and the two subsequent sentences of this Section 8.9, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any rights, benefits or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement. The Sponsor shall be an express third-party beneficiary of Section 8.2, Section 8.3, Section 8.14 and this Section 8.9 (to the extent related to the foregoing). Each of the Non-Party Affiliates shall be an express third-party beneficiary of Section 8.13 and this Section 8.9 (to the extent related to the foregoing).

 

Section 8.10 Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such a manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Law, but if any term or other provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable under applicable Law, all other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable under applicable Law, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

Section 8.11 Counterparts; Electronic Signatures. This Agreement and each Ancillary Document (including any of the closing deliverables contemplated hereby) may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement or any Ancillary Document (including any of the closing deliverables contemplated hereby) by e-mail, or scanned pages shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart to this Agreement or any such Ancillary Document.

 

Section 8.12 Knowledge of Company; Knowledge of MEOA. For all purposes of this Agreement, the phrase “to the Company’s knowledge” and “known by the Company” and any derivations thereof shall mean as of the applicable date, the actual knowledge of the individuals set forth on Section 8.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, after reasonable due inquiry of his or her direct reports. For all purposes of this Agreement, the phrase “to MEOA’s knowledge” and “to the knowledge of MEOA” and any derivations thereof shall mean as of the applicable date, the actual knowledge of the individuals set forth on Section 8.12(b) of the MEOA Disclosure Schedules, after reasonable due inquiry of his or her direct reports. For the avoidance of doubt, none of the individuals set forth on Section 8.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules or Section 8.12(b) of the MEOA Disclosure Schedules shall have any personal Liability or obligations regarding such knowledge.

 

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Section 8.13 No Recourse. Except for claims pursuant to any Ancillary Document by any party(ies) thereto against any Company Non-Party Affiliate or any MEOA Non-Party Affiliate (each, a “Non-Party Affiliate”), and then solely with respect to claims against the Non-Party Affiliates that are party to the applicable Ancillary Document, each Party agrees on behalf of itself and on behalf of the Company Non-Party Affiliates, in the case of the Company, and the MEOA Non-Party Affiliates, in the case of MEOA, that (a) this Agreement may only be enforced against, and any action for breach of this Agreement may only be made against, the Parties, and no claims of any nature whatsoever arising under or relating to this Agreement, the negotiation hereof or its subject matter, or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be asserted against any Non-Party Affiliate, and (b) none of the Non-Party Affiliates shall have any Liability arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the negotiation hereof or its subject matter, or the transactions contemplated hereby, including with respect to any claim (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) for breach of this Agreement or in respect of any written or oral representations made or alleged to be made in connection herewith, as expressly provided herein, or for any actual or alleged inaccuracies, misstatements or omissions with respect to any information or materials of any kind furnished by the Company, MEOA or any Non-Party Affiliate concerning any Group Company, any MEOA Party, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 8.14 Extension; Waiver. The Company prior to the Closing, and the Company and the Sponsor after the Closing, may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the MEOA Parties set forth herein, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the MEOA Parties set forth herein or (c) waive compliance by the MEOA Parties with any of the agreements or conditions set forth herein. MEOA may (i) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the Company, set forth herein, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the Company set forth herein or (iii) waive compliance by the Company with any of the agreements or conditions set forth herein. Any agreement on the part of any such Party to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument signed on behalf of such Party. Any waiver of any term or condition shall not be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or a subsequent waiver of the same term or condition, or a waiver of any other term or condition of this Agreement. The failure of any Party to assert any of its rights hereunder shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.

 

Section 8.15 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, CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION, OR CAUSE OF ACTION (I) ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR UNDER ANY ANCILLARY DOCUMENT 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 DOCUMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO OR THERETO 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, CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION 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 8.15.

 

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Section 8.16 Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the Parties irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (or, if the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware declines to accept jurisdiction, any state or federal court within the State of Delaware), for the purposes of any Proceeding, claim, demand, action or cause of action (a) arising under this Agreement or under any Ancillary Document 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 Document or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or any of the transactions contemplated thereby, and irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such Proceeding in any such court, and further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such Proceeding 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 Proceeding claim, demand, action or cause of action against such Party (i) arising under this Agreement or under any Ancillary Document 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 Document or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or any of the transactions contemplated thereby, (A) any claim that such Party is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the courts as described in this Section 8.16 for any reason, (B) that such Party or such Party’s property is exempt or immune from the jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process 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 Proceeding, claim, demand, action or cause of action in any such court is brought against such Party in an inconvenient forum, (y) the venue of such Proceeding, claim, demand, action or cause of action against such Party is improper or (z) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced against such Party 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 8.4 shall be effective service of process for any such Proceeding, claim, demand, action or cause of action.

 

Section 8.17 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 seek 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. Without limiting the foregoing, each Party hereto hereby agrees that service of process upon such party in any action or proceeding contemplated by this Section shall be effective if notice is given in accordance with Section 8.4 of this Agreement.

 

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Section 8.18 Trust Account Waiver. Reference is made to the final prospectus of MEOA, filed with the SEC (File Nos. 333-258241 and 333-259071) on August 27, 2021 (the “Prospectus”). The Company acknowledges and agrees and understands that MEOA 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 MEOA’s public stockholders (including overallotment shares acquired by MEOA’s underwriters, the “Public Stockholders”), and MEOA may disburse monies from the Trust Account only in the express circumstances described in the Prospectus. For and in consideration of MEOA entering into this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company hereby agrees on behalf of itself and its Representatives that, notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in this Agreement, none of the Company nor any of it Representatives does now or shall at any time hereafter have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account or distributions therefrom, or make any claim against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom), regardless of whether such claim arises as a result of, in connection with or relating in any way to, this Agreement or any proposed or actual business relationship between MEOA or any of its Representatives, on the one hand, and, the Company or any of its Representatives, on the other hand, 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 “Trust Account Released Claims”). The Company, on its own behalf and on behalf of its Representatives, hereby irrevocably waives any Trust Account Released Claims that it or any of its Representatives may have against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) now or in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, or Contracts with MEOA or its Representatives and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) for any reason whatsoever (including for an alleged breach of any agreement with MEOA or its Affiliates).

 

Section 8.19 Conflicts and Privilege. MEOA 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 (x) the Sponsor, the stockholders or holders of other equity interests of MEOA, or any of their respective directors, members, partners, officers, employees or Affiliates (other than the Surviving Company) (collectively, the “MEOA Group”), on the one hand, and (y) the Surviving Company and/or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, on the other hand, Pryor Cashman LLP (“Pryor”), may represent the Sponsor and/or any other member of the MEOA 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 MEOA in a matter substantially related to such dispute, or may be handling ongoing unrelated matters for the Surviving Company and/or the Sponsor. MEOA 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 made prior to the Closing (in each case to the extent made in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance under, or any dispute or Proceeding arising out of or relating to, this Agreement, any Ancillary Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby) between or among MEOA, the Sponsor and/or any other member of the MEOA Group, on the one hand, and Pryor, on the other hand (the “Pryor Privileged Communications”), the attorney/client privilege, attorney work-product protection, and the expectation of client confidence shall survive the Merger and belong to the MEOA 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 MEOA or the Sponsor under a common interest agreement shall remain the privileged communications or information of the Surviving Company. MEOA and the Company, together with any of their respective Affiliates, Subsidiaries, successors or assigns, agree that no Person other than the MEOA Group may use or rely on any of the Pryor Privileged Communications, whether located in the records or email server of MEOA, Surviving Company or their respective Subsidiaries, in any Proceeding against or involving any of the parties after the Closing, and MEOA and the Company agree not to assert that any privilege has been waived as to the Pryor Privileged Communications, by virtue of the Merger.

 

* * * * *
 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has caused this Business Combination Agreement to be duly executed on its behalf as of the day and year first above written.

 

  MINORITY EQUALITY OPPORTUNITIES ACQUISITION INC.
   
  By: /s/ Shawn D. Rochester
    Name: Shawn D. Rochester
    Title: President & CEO
       
  MEOA MERGER SUB, INC.
   
  By: /s/ Shawn D. Rochester
    Name: Shawn D. Rochester
    Title: President
       
  DIGERATI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
   
  By: /s/ Arthur L. Smith
    Name:  Arthur L. Smith
    Title: President & CEO

 

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SCHEDULE I

 

List of Supporting Company Stockholders to Deliver Transaction Support Agreements

 

To be delivered concurrent herewith:

 

Arthur L. Smith (for the avoidance of doubt, Transaction Support Agreement to cover the Series F Super Voting Preferred Stock, and any shares of the Company issued in respect thereof, as well as any other securities of the Company held directly or indirectly by Mr. Smith (including securities issued upon conversion or exchange of the Series C Preferred Stock))
Antonio Estrada Jr. (for the avoidance of doubt, Transaction Support Agreement to cover the Series F Super Voting Preferred Stock, and any shares of the Company issued in respect thereof, as well as any other securities of the Company held directly or indirectly by Mr. Estrada (including securities issued upon conversion or exchange of the Series C Preferred Stock))
Craig K. Clement (for the avoidance of doubt, Transaction Support Agreement to cover the Series F Super Voting Preferred Stock, and any shares of the Company issued in respect thereof, as well as any other securities of the Company held directly or indirectly by Mr. Clement (including securities issued upon conversion or exchange of the Series C Preferred Stock))

 

To be delivered on or prior to October 15, 2022:

 

Post Road Special Opportunity Fund II LP / Post Road Special Opportunity Fund II Offshore LP

 

To be delivered on or prior to Closing:

 

The holders of all issued and outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock, to wit: [names of eight (8) holders].”

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

[Form of Sponsor Letter Agreement]

 

 

 

 

SPONSOR LETTER AGREEMENT

 

This SPONSOR LETTER AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of August 30, 2022, is made by and among Minority Equality Opportunities Acquisition Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), Minority Equality Opportunities Acquisition Inc., a Delaware corporation (“MEOA”), and Digerati Technologies, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”). The Sponsor, MEOA and the Company shall be referred to herein from time to time collectively as the “Parties”. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Business Combination Agreement (as defined below).

 

WHEREAS, MEOA, the Company and certain other Persons party thereto are entering into that certain Business Combination Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as it may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms, the “Business Combination Agreement”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Business Combination Agreement contemplates that the Parties will enter into this Agreement concurrently with the entry into the Business Combination Agreement by the parties thereto, pursuant to which, among other things, the Sponsor will (a) vote in favor of approval of the Business Combination Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, (b) waive any adjustment to the conversion ratio set forth in the Governing Documents of MEOA or any other anti-dilution or similar protection with respect to all of the MEOA Class B Shares, such that the MEOA Class B Shares will convert into MEOA Class A Shares at the Closing on a one-to-one basis, (c) subject certain of the MEOA Class B Shares currently held by it to potential forfeiture, (d) forfeit certain redeemable warrants owned by it and that are exercisable to purchase 3,776,500 MEOA Class A Shares (the “Sponsor Warrants”), and (e) execute a customary lock-up agreement with respect to any MEOA Class A Shares received by the Sponsor in connection with the consummation of the Merger and those MEOA Class A Shares issuable upon exercise of the Sponsor Warrants.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual promises contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, each intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

1.  Agreement to Vote. The Sponsor hereby agrees to vote at any meeting of the shareholders of MEOA, and in any action by written resolution of the shareholders of MEOA, all of the Sponsor’s MEOA Class B Shares (together with any other Equity Securities of MEOA that the Sponsor holds of record or beneficially, as of the date of this Agreement, or of which it acquires record or beneficial ownership after the date hereof, collectively, the “Subject Equity Securities”) in favor of the Transaction Proposals.

 

2.  Waiver of Anti-dilution Protection. The Sponsor hereby (a) waives any rights to adjustment or other anti-dilution protections, subject to, and conditioned upon, the occurrence of the Closing (for itself and for its successors and assigns), to the fullest extent permitted by law and the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of MEOA, and (b) agrees not to assert or perfect any rights to adjustment or other anti-dilution protections, in each case with respect to the rate that the MEOA Class B Shares held by it convert into MEOA Class A Shares in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, such that the MEOA Class B Shares held by it will convert into MEOA Class A Shares at the Closing on a one-to-one basis.

 

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3.  Forfeiture of Founder Shares and Sponsor Warrants.

  

(a)  General. The Parties hereby acknowledge that, as of the date of this Agreement, the Sponsor beneficially owns an aggregate of 3,162,500 MEOA Class B Shares (the “Founder Shares”) which it acquired pursuant to that certain Securities Subscription Agreement dated April 21, 2021 by and between the Sponsor and MEOA, and Sponsor Warrants exercisable to purchase 5,395,000 MEOA Class A shares, which it acquired pursuant to that certain Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement dated as of August 25, 2021 by and between the Sponsor and MEOA.

 

(b)  Forfeiture of Shares. The Sponsor hereby agrees that, upon the Closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, the Sponsor shall automatically forfeit and surrender to MEOA, for no consideration for such forfeiture and surrender and without the need for any further action on the part of the Sponsor or any other Party, a number of Founder Shares as is equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) if the Net Closing Cash (as defined below) is within a range set forth in one of the rows under the column entitled “Net Closing Cash” in the table set forth on Schedule A attached hereto, the percentage set forth in the corresponding row of such table under the column entitled “Percentage Forfeited”, by (ii) the total number of Sponsor Shares beneficially owned upon closing (and prior to giving effect to any transfer or contribution of Founder Shares as contemplated by the last sentence of this Section 3(b)). Following the forfeiture and surrender of any Founder Shares pursuant to this Section 3(b), such Founder Shares shall be deemed to be cancelled and no longer outstanding. Notwithstanding the foregoing and for the avoidance of doubt, in the event that the Sponsor transfers any Founder Shares to potential investors in a private placement of the securities of either MEOA or the Company to close on or prior to the Closing Date (the “PIPE”) as compensation for such investors participating in the PIPE, or the Sponsor otherwise contributes any Founder Shares to a PIPE or similar capital raising transaction, then the aggregate number of Founder Shares subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor pursuant to this Section 3(c) shall be reduced, on a one-for-one basis, by the number of Founder Shares so transferred and/or contributed.

 

(c) Net Closing Cash. For purposes of this Agreement, “Net Closing Cash” is defined as an amount of cash, as determined immediately prior to the Closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, calculated as follows: Cash in Trust in MEOA’s Trust Account (the “Trust Account”), gross of redemptions, plus (x) the amount of any third party investments that are made into MEOA at or about the time of the Closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, (y) any cash that is in the operating account of MEOA, and (z) fifty percent (50%) of the net proceeds received as a result of the issuance by the Company of its securities in connection with the Closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, if any, and minus (1) the aggregate amount of all redemptions from the Trust Account, (2) repayment to the Sponsor of any loans that have been made by the Sponsor (or its affiliates) to MEOA, (3) the payment of expenses that are payable by MEOA, and (4) fifty percent (50%) of the cash portion of the fee payable for the fairness opinion delivered to the Board of Directors of MEOA in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt: (A) amounts paid in stock will not be included in Net Closing Cash; (B) cash on the balance sheet of the Company will not be included in Net Closing Cash; (C) Net Closing Cash will not include cash transaction expenses of the Company; and (D) the loan(s) from the Sponsor include extension fees and working capital loan(s).

 

(d) Forfeiture of Warrants. The Sponsor hereby agrees that, upon the Closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, the Sponsor shall automatically forfeit and surrender to MEOA, for no consideration for such forfeiture and surrender, and without the need for any further action on the part of the Sponsor or any other Party, Sponsor Warrants exercisable in the aggregate to purchase 3,776,500 MEOA Class A Shares.

 

4. Lock Up. The Sponsor hereby agrees, in connection with closing of the Merger, to execute a customary lock-up agreement with respect to any MEOA Class A Shares received by the Sponsor in connection with the Merger and the Class A Shares issuable upon exercise of the Sponsor Warrants, which agreement shall terminate no later than 180 days from the Closing (such 180-day period, the “Lock-Up Period”).

 

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5.  No Transfers. The Sponsor hereby agrees that, except as provided in that certain letter agreement dated as of August 25, 2021, by and among MEOA, the Sponsor and certain other parties thereto (the “Insider Letter”), and except for any Transfers that may be effected so as to generate funds that the Sponsor will provide to the Company and/or MEOA prior to the Effective Time, and subject to the term of the Lock-Up Period, it shall not, directly or indirectly, effect any Transfers (as defined in the Insider Letter) of MEOA Class B Shares, the Sponsor Warrants or the Class A Shares issuable upon exercise of the Sponsor Warrants from the date hereof until the Expiration Time, provided, that the transferee of any Transfer permitted by the Insider Letter or that may otherwise be permitted pursuant to this Agreement, must enter into a written agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company agreeing to be bound by this Agreement prior to the occurrence of such Transfer.

 

6.  Other Covenants. During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the earlier to occur of (a) the Effective Time and (b) such date and time as the Business Combination Agreement shall be terminated in accordance with Section 7.1 thereof (the “Expiration Time”), the Sponsor hereby agrees to be bound by and subject to (i) Sections 5.3 (a) (Confidentiality) and 5.4(a) (Public Announcements) of the Business Combination Agreement to the same extent as such provisions apply to the parties to the Business Combination Agreement, as if the Sponsor is directly a party thereto, and (ii) Section 5.6(b) (Exclusive Dealing) of the Business Combination Agreement to the same extent as such provisions apply to MEOA as if the Sponsor is directly party thereto.

 

7.  Termination. This Agreement shall automatically terminate, without any notice or other action by any Party, and be void ab initio upon the earlier of (a) the Effective Time; and (b) the termination of the Business Combination Agreement in accordance with its terms. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the termination of this Agreement shall not affect any Liability on the part of any Party for a Willful Breach of any covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement prior to such termination or Fraud. Upon termination of this Agreement as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, none of the Parties shall have any further obligations or Liabilities under, or with respect to, this Agreement.

 

8.  No Recourse. Except for claims pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement or any other Ancillary Document by any party(ies) thereto against any other party(ies) thereto (but subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein), each Party agrees that (a) this Agreement may only be enforced against, and any action for breach of this Agreement may only be made against, the Parties, and no claims of any nature whatsoever (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising under or relating to this Agreement, the negotiation hereof or its subject matter, or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be asserted against any Company Non-Party Affiliate or any MEOA Non-Party Affiliate (other than the Sponsor, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein), and (b) none of the Company Non-Party Affiliates or the MEOA Non-Party Affiliates (other than the Sponsor, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein) shall have any Liability arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the negotiation hereof or its subject matter, or the transactions contemplated hereby, including with respect to any claim (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) for breach of this Agreement or in respect of any written or oral representations made or alleged to be made in connection herewith, as expressly provided herein, or for any actual or alleged inaccuracies, misstatements or omissions with respect to any information or materials of any kind furnished in connection with this Agreement, the negotiation hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

3

 

 

9.  Fiduciary Duties. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, (a) the Sponsor makes no agreement or understanding herein in any capacity other than in the Sponsor’s capacity as a record holder and beneficial owner of the Subject Equity Securities, and (b) nothing herein will be construed to limit or affect any action or inaction by any representative of the Sponsor serving as a member of the board of directors (or other similar governing body) of any MEOA Party or as an officer, employee or fiduciary of any MEOA Party, in each case, acting in such person’s capacity as a director, officer, employee or fiduciary of such MEOA Party.

 

10.  No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall be for the sole benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns and is not intended, nor shall be construed, to give any Person, other than the Parties and their respective successors and assigns, any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever by reason this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to or shall constitute the Parties, partners or participants in a joint venture.

 

11.  Incorporation by Reference. Sections 8.1 (Non-Survival), 8.2 (Entire Agreement; Assignment). 8.3 (Amendment), 8.5 (Governing Law), 8.7 (Construction; Interpretation), 8.10 (Severability), 8.11 (Counterparts; Electronic Signatures), 8.15 (Waiver of Jury Trial), 8.16 (Submission to Jurisdiction) and 8.17 (Remedies) of the Business Combination Agreement are incorporated herein and shall apply to this Agreement mutatis mutandis.

 

[remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]

 

4

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has caused this Agreement to be duly executed on its behalf as of the day and year first above written.

 

  Minority Equality Opportunities
  Acquisition Sponsor, LLC
     
  By:  
    Name:   Kurt Kalbfleisch
    Title: Co-Manager
     
  Minority Equality Opportunities Acquisition Inc.
     
  By:  
    Name: Shawn D. Rochester
    Title: President & CEO
     
  Digerati Technologies, Inc.
     
  By:  
    Name: Arthur L. Smith
    Title: President & CEO

 

[Signature Page to Sponsor Letter Agreement]

 

5

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

Forfeiture of Founder Shares

 

Net Closing Cash  Percentage
Forfeited
 
$35,000,000 or more   0.0%
$34,999,999 - $20,000,000   4.0%
$19,999,999 - $18,000,000   8.0%
$17,999,999-  $16,000,000   12.0%
$15,999,999 - $14,000,000   16.0%
$13,999,999 - $12,000,000   20.0%
$11,999,999 - $10,000,000   24.0%
$9,999,999 - $8,000,000   28.0%
$7,999,999 - $6,000,000   32.0%
$5,999,999 - $4,000,000   36.0%
$3,999,999 - $2,000,000   40.0%
$1,999,999 - $0   44.0%

  

6

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

[Form of Transaction Support Agreement]

 

 

 

  

FORM OF TRANSACTION SUPPORT AGREEMENT

 

This TRANSACTION SUPPORT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of August __, 2022, by and among Minority Equality Opportunities Acquisition Inc., a Delaware corporation (“MEOA”), and [•], a [•] (the “Stockholder”). Each of MEOA and the Stockholder are sometimes referred to herein individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the BCA (as defined below).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, [concurrent herewith][on August __, 2022], MEOA, MEOA Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of MEOA (“Merger Sub”), and Digerati Technologies, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), [is entering][entered into] that certain Business Combination Agreement (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms, the “BCA”) pursuant to which, among other things, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company as the surviving corporation in the merger and, after giving effect to such merger, becoming a wholly-owned Subsidiary of MEOA, and each Company Share (including the Subject Company Shares (as defined below)) will be converted into the right to receive MEOA Shares, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the BCA;

 

WHEREAS, the Stockholder is the record and beneficial owner of the number and type of Equity Securities of the Company set forth on Schedule A hereto (together with any other Equity Securities of the Company of which the Stockholder acquires record or beneficial ownership after the date hereof, and prior to any meeting of the stockholders of the Company described in Section 1(a) below, including, without limitation, upon exercise of outstanding options and warrants and upon conversion of outstanding convertible indebtedness), (collectively, the “Subject Company Shares”);

 

WHEREAS, in consideration for the benefits to be received by the Stockholder under the terms of the BCA and as a material inducement to MEOA and the other MEOA Parties agreeing to enter into and consummate the transactions contemplated by the BCA, the Stockholder agrees to enter into this Agreement and to be bound by the agreements, covenants and obligations contained in this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, the Parties acknowledge and agree that MEOA and the other MEOA Parties would not have entered into and agreed to consummate the transactions contemplated by the BCA without the Stockholder entering into this Agreement and agreeing to be bound by the agreements, covenants and obligations contained in this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual promises set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, each intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENT

 

1. Company Stockholder Support and Related Matters.

 

(a) At any meeting of the stockholders of the Company prior to the termination of this Agreement, however called, or at any adjournment thereof, or in any other circumstance in which the vote, consent or other approval of the stockholders of the Company is sought, the Stockholder shall (a) appear at each such meeting or otherwise cause all of its Subject Company Shares to be counted as present thereat for purposes of calculating a quorum and (b) vote (or cause to be voted), in person or by proxy, or execute and deliver, as promptly as reasonably practicable (and in any event within 48 hours) following any request therefor, a written consent (in such other form and substance as reasonably agreed by MEOA and the Company), or cause such a written consent to be executed and delivered, covering all of its Subject Company Shares, (i) approving and adopting the Business Combination Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby (including the Merger), (ii) against any proposal relating to a Company Acquisition Proposal, and (iii) against any proposal, action or agreement that would impede, frustrate, prevent or nullify the consummation of the Merger (including those proposals that would result in a breach in any respect of any covenant, representation, warranty or other obligation or agreement of the Company under the Business Combination Agreement) or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement.

 

1

 

 

(b) Without limiting any other rights or remedies of MEOA, the Stockholder hereby irrevocably appoints MEOA or any individual designated by MEOA as the Stockholder’s agent, attorney-in-fact and proxy (with full power of substitution and resubstituting), for and in the name, place and stead of the Stockholder, to attend on behalf of the Stockholder any meeting of the Company Stockholders with respect to the matters described in Section 1(a), to include the Subject Company Shares in any computation for purposes of establishing a quorum at any such meeting of the Company Stockholders, to vote (or cause to be voted) the Subject Company Shares or consent (or withhold consent) with respect to any of the matters described in Section 1(a) in connection with any meeting of the Company Stockholders or any action by written consent by the Company Stockholders, in each case, in the event that the Stockholder fails to perform or otherwise comply with the covenants, agreements or obligations set forth in Section 1(a).

 

(c) The proxy granted by the Stockholder pursuant to Section 1(b) is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable proxy and is granted in consideration for MEOA entering into the BCA and agreeing to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby. The proxy granted by the Stockholder pursuant to Section 1(b) is also a durable proxy and shall survive the bankruptcy, dissolution, death, incapacity or other inability to act by the Stockholder and shall revoke any and all prior proxies granted by the Stockholder with respect to the Subject Company Shares. The vote or consent of the proxyholder in accordance with Section 1(b) and with respect to the matters in Section 1(a) shall control in the event of any conflict between such vote or consent by the proxyholder of the Subject Company Shares and a vote or consent by the Stockholder of the Subject Company Shares (or any other Person with the power to vote the Subject Company Shares) with respect to the matters in Section 1(a). The proxyholder may not exercise the proxy granted pursuant to Section 1(b) on any matter except those provided in Section 1(a). For the avoidance of doubt, the Stockholder may vote the Subject Company Shares on all other matters, subject to, for the avoidance of doubt, the other applicable covenants, agreements and obligations set forth in this Agreement.

 

2. Other Covenants and Agreements.

 

(a) The Stockholder shall be bound by and subject to (i) Sections 5.3(a) (Confidentiality) and 5.4(a) (Public Announcements) of the BCA to the same extent as such provisions apply to the parties to the BCA, as if the Stockholder is directly party thereto, and (ii) the first sentence of Section 5.6(a) (Exclusive Dealing) and Section 8.18 (Trust Account Waiver) of the BCA to the same extent as such provisions apply to the Company, as if the Stockholder is directly party thereto.

 

(b) The Stockholder acknowledges and agrees that MEOA and the other MEOA Parties are entering into the BCA in reliance upon the Stockholder entering into this Agreement and agreeing to be bound by, and perform, or otherwise comply with, as applicable, the agreements, covenants and obligations contained in this Agreement and but for the Stockholder entering into this Agreement and agreeing to be bound by, and perform, or otherwise comply with, as applicable, the agreements, covenants and obligations contained in this Agreement, MEOA and the other MEOA Parties would not have entered into or agreed to consummate the transactions contemplated by the BCA.

 

(c) The Stockholder hereby agrees, in connection with the closing of the Merger, to execute a customary lock-up agreement with respect to any MEOA Shares received by such Stockholder in the Merger, which, in any event, shall terminate no later than 180 days from the Closing.

 

3. Stockholder Representations and Warranties. The Stockholder represents and warrants to MEOA as follows:

 

(a) If such Stockholder is not an individual, the Stockholder is a corporation, limited liability company or other applicable business entity duly organized or formed, as applicable, validly existing and in good standing (or the equivalent thereof, if applicable, in each case, with respect to the jurisdictions that recognize the concept of good standing or any equivalent thereof) under the Laws of its jurisdiction of formation or organization (as applicable).

 

(b) If such Stockholder is not an individual, the Stockholder has the requisite corporate, limited liability company or other similar power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its covenants, agreements and obligations hereunder (including, for the avoidance of doubt, those covenants, agreements and obligations hereunder that relate to the provisions of the BCA), and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate (or other similar) action on the part of the Stockholder. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Stockholder and constitutes a valid, legal and binding agreement of the Stockholder (assuming that this Agreement is duly authorized, executed and delivered by MEOA), enforceable against the Stockholder in accordance with its terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other Laws affecting generally the enforcement of creditors’ rights and subject to general principles of equity).

 

2

 

 

(c) No consent, approval or authorization of, or designation, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Entity is required on the part of the Stockholder with respect to the Stockholder’s execution, delivery or performance of its covenants, agreements or obligations under this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, those covenants, agreements and obligations under this Agreement that relate to the provisions of the BCA) or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for any consents, approvals, authorizations, designations, declarations, waivers or filings, the absence of which would not adversely affect the ability of the Stockholder to perform, or otherwise comply with, any of its covenants, agreements or obligations hereunder in any material respect.

 

(d) None of the execution or delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder, the performance by the Stockholder of any of its covenants, agreements or obligations under this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, those covenants, agreements and obligations under this Agreement that relate to the provisions of the BCA) or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will, directly or indirectly (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) (i) result in any breach of any provision of the Stockholder’s Governing Documents, (ii) result in a violation or breach of, or constitute a default or give rise to any right of termination, Consent, cancellation, amendment, modification, suspension, revocation or acceleration under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contract to which the Stockholder is a party, (iii) violate, or constitute a breach under, any Order or applicable Law to which the Stockholder or any of its properties or assets are bound or (iv) result in the creation of any Lien upon the Subject Company Shares, except, in the case of any of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, as would not adversely affect the ability of the Stockholder to perform, or otherwise comply with, any of its covenants, agreements or obligations hereunder in any material respect.

 

(e) The Stockholder is the record owner of the Subject Company Shares and has valid, good and marketable title to the Subject Company Shares, free and clear of all Liens (other than transfer restrictions under applicable Securities Law). Except for the Equity Securities of the Company set forth on Schedule A hereto, together with any other Equity Securities of the Company of which the Stockholder acquires record or beneficial ownership after the date hereof that is either permitted pursuant to, or acquired in accordance with, Section 5.1(b)(iv) of the BCA, the Stockholder does not own, beneficially or of record, any Equity Securities of any Group Company. Except as otherwise expressly contemplated by the Company Stockholders Agreement, the Stockholder does not have the right to acquire any Equity Securities of any Group Company. The Stockholder has the sole right to vote (and provide consent in respect of, as applicable) the Subject Company Shares and, except for this Agreement and the BCA, the Stockholder is not party to or bound by (i) any option, warrant, purchase right, or other Contract that would (either alone or in connection with one or more events, developments or events (including the satisfaction or waiver of any conditions precedent)) require the Stockholder to Transfer (as defined below) any of the Subject Company Shares or (ii) any voting trust, proxy or other Contract with respect to the voting or Transfer of any of the Subject Company Shares.

 

(f) There is no Proceeding pending or, to the Stockholder’s knowledge, threatened against the Stockholder that, if adversely decided or resolved, would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the ability of the Stockholder to perform, or otherwise comply with, any of its covenants, agreements or obligations under this Agreement in any material respect.

 

(g) The Stockholder, on his, her or its own behalf and on behalf of his, her or its Representatives, acknowledges, represents, warrants and agrees that (i) he, she or it has conducted his, her or its own independent review and analysis of, and, based thereon, has formed an independent judgment concerning, the business, assets, condition, operations and prospects of, the MEOA Parties and (ii) he, she or it has been furnished with or given access to such documents and information about the MEOA Parties and their respective businesses and operations as he, she or it and his, her or its Representatives have deemed necessary to enable him, her or it to make an informed decision with respect to the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the other Ancillary Documents to which he, she or it is or will be a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

3

 

 

(h) In entering into this Agreement and the other Ancillary Documents to which he, she or it is or will be a party, the Stockholder has relied solely on his, her or its own investigation and analysis and the representations and warranties expressly set forth in the Ancillary Documents to which he, she or it is or will be a party and no other representations or warranties of any MEOA Party (including, for the avoidance of doubt, none of the representations or warranties of any MEOA Party set forth in the BCA or any other Ancillary Document), any MEOA Non-Party Affiliate or any other Person, either express or implied, and the Stockholder, on his, her or its own behalf and on behalf of his, her or its Representatives, acknowledges, represents, warrants and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth in the Ancillary Documents to which he, she or it is or will be a party, none of the MEOA Parties, any MEOA Non-Party Affiliate or any other Person makes or has made any representation or warranty, either express or implied, in connection with or related to this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents to which he, she or it is or will be a party or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

 

4. Transfer of Subject Securities. Except as expressly contemplated by the BCA or with the prior written consent of MEOA (such consent to be given or withheld in its sole discretion), from and after the date hereof until the termination of this Agreement, the Stockholder agrees not to (a) Transfer any of the Subject Company Shares, (b) enter into (i) any option, warrant, purchase right, or other Contract that would (either alone or in connection with one or more events or developments (including the satisfaction or waiver of any conditions precedent)) require the Stockholder to Transfer the Subject Company Shares or (ii) any voting trust, proxy or other Contract with respect to the voting or Transfer of the Subject Company Shares, or (c) take any actions in furtherance of any of the matters described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b). For purposes of this Agreement, “Transfer” means any, direct or indirect, sale, offer, transfer, assignment, pledge, mortgage, exchange, hypothecation, grant of a security interest in or disposition or encumbrance of an interest (whether with or without consideration, whether voluntarily or involuntarily or by operation of law or otherwise), grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position, entry into any swap or other arrangement, or public announcement of any intention to effect any of the foregoing.

 

5. Termination. This Agreement shall automatically terminate, without any notice or other action by any Party, and be void ab initio upon the earlier of (a) the Effective Time; and (b) the termination of the BCA in accordance with its terms. Upon termination of this Agreement as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, none of the Parties shall have any further obligations or Liabilities under, or with respect to, this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 5(b) shall not affect any Liability on the part of any Party for a Willful Breach of any covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement prior to such termination or Fraud.

 

6. Fiduciary Duties. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, (a) the Stockholder makes no agreement or understanding herein in any capacity other than in such Stockholder’s capacity as a record holder and beneficial owner of the Subject Company Shares, and, if applicable, not in such Stockholder’s capacity as a director, officer or employee of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries and (b) if applicable, nothing herein will be construed to limit or affect any action or inaction by such Stockholder as a member of the board of directors of any Group Company or as an officer, employee or fiduciary of any Group Company, in each case, acting in such person’s capacity as a director, officer, employee or fiduciary of such Group Company.

 

7. No Recourse. Except for claims pursuant to the BCA or any other Ancillary Document by any party(ies) thereto against any other party(ies) thereto, each Party agrees that (a) this Agreement may only be enforced against, and any action for breach of this Agreement may only be made against, the Parties, and no claims of any nature whatsoever (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising under or relating to this Agreement, the negotiation hereof or its subject matter, or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be asserted against the Company or any Company Non-Party Affiliate (other than the Stockholder named as a party hereto, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein) or any MEOA Non-Party Affiliate, and (b) none of the Company, any Company Non-Party Affiliates (other than the Stockholder named as a party hereto, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein) or any MEOA Non-Party Affiliate shall have any Liability arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the negotiation hereof or its subject matter, or the transactions contemplated hereby, including with respect to any claim (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) for breach of this Agreement or in respect of any written or oral representations made or alleged to be made in connection herewith, as expressly provided herein, or for any actual or alleged inaccuracies, misstatements or omissions with respect to any information or materials of any kind furnished in connection with this Agreement, the negotiation hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

4

 

 

8. Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given) by delivery in person, by e-mail (having obtained electronic delivery confirmation thereof (i.e., an electronic record of the sender that the email was sent to the intended recipient thereof without an “error” or similar message that such email was not received by such intended recipient)), or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) (upon receipt thereof) to the other Parties as follows:

 

If to MEOA, to:

 

Minority Equality Opportunities Acquisition Inc.

100 Executive Court

Waxahachie, TX 75165
Attention: Shawn D. Rochester
E-mail: srochester@meoaus.com

 

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

 

Pryor Cashman LLP

7 Times Square

New York, NY 10033
Attention: M. Ali Panjwani, Esq.
E-mail: Ali.Panjwani@pryorcashman.com

 

If to the Stockholder, to:

 

[                                    ]
[                                    ]
[                                    ]

Attention: [                ]

Email: [                ]

 

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

 

Lucosky Brookman LLP
101 Wood Avenue South, 5th Floor
Woodbridge, NJ 08830

Attention: Victoria A. Baylin, Esq.

Email: VBaylin@lucbro.com

 

or to such other address as the Party to whom notice is given may have previously furnished to the others in writing in the manner set forth above.

 

9. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the BCA and the documents referred to herein and therein constitute the entire agreement of the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, and supersede all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement.

 

10. Amendments and Waivers; Assignment. Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, and only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and signed by the Stockholder and MEOA. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no failure or delay by any Party in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any other right hereunder. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assignable by the Stockholder without MEOA’s prior written consent (to be withheld or given in its sole discretion).

 

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11. Fees and Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in the BCA, all fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, shall be paid by the Party incurring such fees or expenses.

 

12. 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 either Party does not perform its respective obligations under the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with their specific terms or otherwise breach such provisions. It is accordingly agreed that each Party 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 Party 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.

 

13. No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall be for the sole benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns and is not intended, nor shall be construed, to give any Person, other than the Parties and their respective successors and assigns, any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever by reason this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to or shall constitute the Parties, partners or participants in a joint venture.

 

14. Miscellaneous. Sections 8.1 (Non-Survival), 8.5 (Governing Law), 8.7 (Construction; Interpretation), 8.10 (Severability), 8.11 (Counterparts; Electronic Signatures), 8.15 (Waiver of Jury Trial) and 8.16 (Submission to Jurisdiction) of the BCA are incorporated herein by reference and shall apply to this Agreement, mutatis mutandis.

 

[remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]

 

6

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has caused this Transaction Support Agreement to be duly executed on its behalf as of the day and year first above written.

 

MINORITY EQUALITY OPPORTUNITIES ACQUISITION INC.

     
  By:  
  Name: Shawn D. Rochester
  Title: President & CEO

 

[MEOA Signature Page to Transaction Support Agreement]

 

7

 

 

   
  Name of Stockholder

 

[Stockholder Signature Page to Transaction Support Agreement]

 

8

 

 

Schedule A

 

Owned Equity Securities

 

Security   Number
[●]   [●]

 

9

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

[Form of Letter of Transmittal]

 

10

 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

[MEOA Certificate of Incorporation]

 

 

 

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF

MINORITY EQUALITY OPPORTUNITIES ACQUISITION Inc.

 

[●], 2022

 

Minority Equality Opportunities Acquisition Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:

 

1. The name of the Corporation is “Minority Equality Opportunities Acquisition Inc.” The original certificate of incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on February 18, 2021 and amended and restated on August 25, 2021 (the “Certificate”).

 

2. This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Second Amended and Restated Certificate”), which both restates and amends the provisions of the Certificate, was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation by the holders of the requisite number of shares of the Corporation in accordance with Section 228 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”). This Second Amended and Restated Certificate has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 and 245 of the DGCL by the stockholders of the Corporation.

 

3. This Second Amended and Restated Certificate shall become effective on the date of filing with the Secretary of State of Delaware.

 

4. The text of the Certificate is hereby restated and amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

NAME

 

The name of the corporation is Digerati Holdings, Inc. (the “Corporation”).

 

ARTICLE II

REGISTERED AGENT

 

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

 

ARTICLE III

PURPOSE

 

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

 

ARTICLE IV

CAPITALIZATION

 

Section 4.1. Authorized Shares. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock, each with a par value of $0.0001 per share, which the Corporation is authorized to issue is [ ] shares, consisting of: (a) [ ] shares of common stock (the “Common Stock”) and (b) [ ] shares of preferred stock (the “Preferred Stock”). Such stock may be issued from time to time by the Corporation for such consideration as may be fixed by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”). The following is a statement of the powers, designations, preferences, privileges, and relative rights in respect of each class of capital stock of the Corporation.

 

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Section 4.2. Common Stock.

 

(a) General. The voting, dividend and liquidation rights of the holders of Common Stock are subject to and qualified by the rights of the holders of Preferred Stock.

 

(b) Voting. Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL or this Restated Certificate and subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock, all of the voting power of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be vested in the holders of the Common Stock, and each holder of Common Stock shall have one vote for each share held by such holder on all matters voted upon by the stockholders of the Corporation; provided, however, that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Restated Certificate (or on any amendment to a certificate of designations of any series of Preferred Stock) that alters or changes the powers, preferences, rights or other terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, on such amendment pursuant to this Restated Certificate (or pursuant to a certificate of designations of any series of Preferred Stock) or pursuant to the DGCL. There shall be no cumulative voting.

 

(c) Dividends. Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL or this Restated Certificate, dividends may be declared and paid on the Common Stock from funds lawfully available therefor if, as and when determined by the Board of Directors and subject to any preferential dividend rights of any then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock.

 

(d) No Preemptive Rights. The holders of the Common Stock shall have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any shares of any class of stock of the Corporation whether now or hereafter authorized.

 

(e) No Conversion Rights. The Common Stock shall not be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of the same class of the Corporation’s capital stock.

 

(f) Liquidation. Upon the dissolution or liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Common Stock will be entitled to receive all assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders equally on a per share basis, subject to any preferential rights of any then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock and after payment or provision for payment of the Corporation’s debts.

 

Section 4.3. Preferred Stock. To the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, each of such series to have such powers, designations, preferences, and relative, participating, optional, or other special rights, if any, and such qualifications and restrictions, if any, as are stated or expressed in the resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors providing for such series of Preferred Stock. Different series of Preferred Stock shall not be construed to constitute different classes of shares for the purposes of voting by classes unless expressly so provided in such resolution or resolutions.

 

Authority is hereby granted to the Board of Directors, acting by resolution or resolutions adopted at any time and from time to time, to create, provide for, designate and issue, out of the authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock, one or more series of Preferred Stock, and, in connection with the creation of any such series of Preferred Stock, to determine and fix the powers, designations, preferences, and relative, participating, optional, or other special rights, if any, and the qualifications and restrictions, if any, including without limitation dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights (if any), redemption privileges, and liquidation preferences, of such series of Preferred Stock (which need not be uniform among series), all to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the resolution or resolutions providing for the creation or issuance of any series of Preferred Stock may provide that such series shall be superior to, rank equally with, or be junior to any other series of Preferred Stock, all to the fullest extent permitted by law. No resolution, vote, or consent of the holders of the capital stock of the Corporation shall be required in connection with the creation or issuance of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock authorized by and complying with the conditions of this Restated Certificate, the right to any such resolution, vote, or consent being expressly waived by all present and future holders of the capital stock of the Corporation.

 

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Any resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to the authority vested in them by this Section 4.3 of Article IV shall be set forth in a certificate of designation along with the number of shares of such series of Preferred Stock as to which the resolution or resolutions shall apply and such certificate shall be executed, acknowledged, filed, recorded, and shall become effective, in accordance with Section 103 of the DGCL. Unless otherwise provided in any such resolution or resolutions, the number of shares of any such series of Preferred Stock to which such resolution or resolutions apply may be increased (but not above the total number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock) or decreased (but not below the number of shares of such series of Preferred Stock then outstanding) by a certificate likewise executed, acknowledged, filed and recorded, setting forth a statement that a specified increase or decrease therein has been authorized and directed by a resolution or resolutions likewise adopted by the Board of Directors. In case the number of such shares shall be decreased, the number of shares so specified in the certificate shall resume the status which they had prior to the adoption of the first resolution or resolutions. When no shares of any such series of Preferred Stock are outstanding, either because none were issued or because none remain outstanding, a certificate setting forth a resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors that none of the authorized shares of such series of Preferred Stock are outstanding, and that none will be issued subject to the certificate of designations previously filed with respect to such series of Preferred Stock, may be executed, acknowledged, filed and recorded in the same manner as previously described and it shall have the effect of eliminating from this Restated Certificate all matters set forth in the certificate of designations with respect to such series of Preferred Stock. If no shares of any such series of Preferred Stock established by a resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors have been issued, the voting powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, if any, with the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, may be amended by a resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors. In the event of any such amendment, a certificate which (i) states that no shares of such series of Preferred Stock have been issued, (ii) sets forth the copy of the amending resolution or resolutions and (iii) if the designation of such series of Preferred Stock is being changed, indicates the original designation and the new designation, shall be executed, acknowledged, filed, recorded, and shall become effective, in accordance with Section 103 of the DGCL.

 

ARTICLE V

DURATION OF CORPORATE EXISTENCE

 

The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.

 

ARTICLE VI

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 6.1. Classification of Directors. The Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes of directors, Class I, Class II, and Class III, such classes to be as nearly equal in number of directors as possible, having staggered three-year terms of office (except to the extent otherwise provided in the next sentence with respect to the initial terms of such classes of directors). The initial term of office of the directors of Class I shall expire as of the first annual meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders following the initial classification of the Board; the initial term of office of the directors of Class II shall expire as of the second annual meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders following the initial classification of the Board; and the initial term of office of the directors of Class III shall expire as of the third annual meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders following the initial classification of the Board. At each annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, nominees will stand for election to succeed those directors whose terms are to expire as of such annual meeting of stockholders, and such nominees elected at such annual meeting of stockholders shall be elected for a term expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders following their election. Directors shall hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders in which their term is scheduled to expire as set forth above in this Section 6.1 of Article VI and until their respective successors are duly elected or qualified or until their earlier death, incapacity, resignation or removal. Those directors shall be allocated among the three classes of directors contemplated under this Section 6.1 of Article VI pursuant to a resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 6.2. Removal. Subject to the special rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the directors of the Corporation may be removed only for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors or class of directors, voting together as a single class, at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose.

 

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Section 6.3. Vacancies. Except as the DGCL may otherwise require, any new directorships or vacancies in the Board of Directors, including new directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors to serve on the Board of Directors and/or any unfilled vacancies by reason of death, resignation, disqualification, removal for cause, failure to elect or otherwise with respect to any director, may be filled only by the vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director.

 

Section 6.4. Number of Directors. Subject to the special rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the number of directors which shall constitute the Board of Directors shall be fixed exclusively by the Board of Directors from time to time in accordance with the by-laws of the Corporation. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the whole board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

 

ARTICLE VII

POWERS OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Except as otherwise provided in the Bylaws, the Bylaws may be amended or repealed or new Bylaws adopted by the affirmative vote of at least fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE VIII

SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Except as otherwise provided for by any resolutions of the Board of Directors providing for the issuance of any series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation may be taken only at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders in which such action is properly brought before such meeting, and not by written consent in lieu of such a meeting. Subject to any special rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by or at the direction of the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors. Any business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting.

 

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENT OF AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Restated Certificate, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the DGCL, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.

  

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ARTICLE X

LIMITED LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION; CHANGE OF CONTROL

 

Section 10.1. Limitation of Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it now exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), no director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or to any of its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability; provided, however, that to the extent required from time to time by applicable law, this Article X shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director, to the extent such liability is provided by applicable law, (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) for any transactions from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

 

Section 10.2. Indemnification. The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL and as further provided in the Corporation’s by-laws, each as amended from time to time, indemnify each person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the request of the Corporation, as a director, officer or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (including any employee benefit plan), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom.

 

Indemnification may include payment by the Corporation of expenses in defending an action or proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by the person indemnified to repay such payment if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification under this Article X, which undertaking may be accepted without reference to the financial ability of such person to make such repayment.

 

The Corporation shall not indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless the initiation thereof was approved by the Board of Directors or except and to the extent otherwise permitted in the Corporation’s by-laws or in an agreement between the Corporation and such person.

 

The indemnification rights provided in this Article X (i) shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under the Corporation’s by-laws, any law, agreement or vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, and (ii) shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such persons. The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by its Board of Directors, grant indemnification rights to other employees or agents of the Corporation or other persons serving the Corporation and such rights may be equivalent to, or greater or less than, those set forth in this Article X.

 

Section 10.3. Merger or Consolidation. For purposes of this Article X, references to the “Corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this Article X with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

 

Section 10.4. Amendment or Repeal. No amendment to or repeal of this Article X shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to the effective date of such amendment or repeal.

 

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ARTICLE XI

EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LAWSUITS

 

Section 11.1. Forum for Certain Actions.

 

(a) Forum. Unless a majority of the Board of Directors, acting on behalf of the Corporation, consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum (which consent may be given at any time, including during the pendency of litigation), the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, another state court located within the State of Delaware or, if no court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware), to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer or other employee 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, this Restated Certificate or the Bylaws (in each case, as may be amended from time to time) 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 of the State of Delaware or (v) any other action asserting an “internal corporate claim,” as defined in Section 115 of the DGCL, in all cases subject to the court’s having personal jurisdiction over all indispensable parties named as defendants. The preceding sentence does not apply to claims to the extent brought under the U.S. federal securities laws. Unless a majority of the Board, acting on behalf of the Corporation, consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum (which consent may be given at any time, including during the pendency of litigation), the federal district courts of the United States of America, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any action asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(b) Personal Jurisdiction. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of subparagraph (b) of this Section 11.1 of Article XI is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce subparagraph (a) of this Section 11.1 of Article XI (an “Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

 

(c) Enforceability. If any provision of this Section 11.1 of Article XI shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person, entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Section 11.1 of Article XI, and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

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(d) Notice and Consent. For the avoidance of doubt, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 11.1 of Article XI.

 

ARTICLE XII
EXCLUDED OPPORTUNITIES

 

The Corporation renounces, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any interest or expectancy of the Corporation in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any Excluded Opportunity pursuant to Section 122(17) of the DGCL. An “Excluded Opportunity” is any matter, transaction or interest that is presented to, or acquired, created or developed by, or which otherwise comes into the possession of (i) any director of the Corporation who is not an employee of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, or (ii) any holder of Common Stock or Preferred Stock or any partner, member, director, stockholder, employee or agent of any such holder, other than someone who is an employee of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries (collectively, “Covered Persons”), unless such matter, transaction or interest is presented to, or acquired, created or developed by, or otherwise comes into the possession of, a Covered Person expressly and solely in such Covered Person’s capacity as a director of the Corporation, such opportunity is one the Corporation is legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for the Corporation to pursue, and to the extent the director is permitted to refer that opportunity to the Corporation without violating any legal or contractual obligation. Any amendment, repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article XII shall not adversely affect any right or protection of any director, officer or other agent of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification.

 

ARTICLE XIII
SEVERABILITY

 

If any provision or provisions of this Restated Certificate shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Restated Certificate (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Restated Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Restated Certificate (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Restated Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service to or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

[The remainder of this page is left intentionally blank.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been executed by a duly authorized officer of this Corporation on this __________ day of __________, 2022.

 

Minority Equality Opportunities Acquisition Inc.  
   
By:    
  Name:  Shawn D. Rochester  
  Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

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EXHIBIT E

 

[MEOA Bylaws]

 

 

 

 

DIGERATI HOLDINGS, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED
BY
-LAWS

 

Article I. - General.

 

1.1.  Offices. The registered office of Digerati Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware. The Company may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the board of directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”) may from time to time determine or the business of the Company may require.

 

1.2.  Seal. The seal, if any, of the Company shall be in the form of a circle and shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Company, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware.”

 

1.3.  Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Company shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

Article II. - Stockholders.

 

2.1.  Place of Meetings. Each meeting of the stockholders shall be held upon notice as hereinafter provided, at such place as the Board of Directors shall have determined and as shall be stated in such notice, either within or outside the State of Delaware, or by means of remote communication.

 

2.2.  Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held each year on such date and at such time as the Board of Directors may determine. At each annual meeting the stockholders entitled to vote shall elect such members of the Board of Directors as are standing for election, by plurality vote by ballot, and they may transact such other corporate business as may properly be brought before the meeting. At the annual meeting any business may be transacted, irrespective of whether the notice calling such meeting shall have contained a reference thereto, except where notice is required by law, the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as amended from time to time, the “Company’s Certificate of Incorporation”), or these By-laws.

 

2.3.  Quorum and Adjournment. At all meetings of the stockholders the holders of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum requisite for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by law, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, or these By-laws. Whether or not there is such a quorum at any meeting, the presiding officer of the meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time without notice other than announcement at the meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. At such adjourned meeting, at which the requisite amount of voting stock shall be represented, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted if the meeting had been held as originally called. The stockholders present in person or by proxy at a duly called meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.

 

2.4.  Right to Vote; Proxies. Subject to the provisions of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, each holder of a share or shares of capital stock of the Company having the right to vote at any meeting shall be entitled to one vote for each such share of stock held by such stockholder. Any stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders may vote either in person or by proxy, but no proxy that is dated more than three (3) years prior to the meeting at which it is offered shall confer the right to vote thereat unless the proxy provides that it shall be effective for a longer period. A proxy may be granted by a writing executed by the stockholder or his or her authorized agent or by transmission or authorization of transmission by means of electronic transmission to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization, or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such transmission, subject to the conditions set forth in Section 212 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as it may be amended from time to time (the “DGCL”).

 

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2.5.  Voting. At all meetings of stockholders, except as otherwise expressly provided for by statute, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, or these By-laws, (i) in all matters other than the election of directors, the majority of the votes cast at the meeting shall be the act of the stockholders, and (ii) directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast, present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors.

 

2.6.  Notice of Annual Meetings. Written notice of the annual meeting of the stockholders shall be mailed to each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat at such address as appears on the stock books of the Company at least ten (10) days (and not more than sixty (60) days) prior to the meeting. The Board of Directors may postpone any annual meeting of the stockholders at its discretion, even after notice thereof has been mailed. It shall be the duty of every stockholder to furnish to the Secretary of the Company or to the transfer agent, if any, of the class of stock owned by him or her, such stockholder’s post-office address, and to notify the Secretary of any change therein. Notice need not be given to any stockholder who submits a written waiver of notice signed by him or her before or after the time stated therein. Attendance of a stockholder at a meeting of stockholders shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the stockholder attends the 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. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice.

 

2.7.  Stockholders’ List. A complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each stockholder, and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder, shall be prepared by the Secretary and shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least ten (10) days before such meeting (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Company, and said list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of such meeting during the whole time of said meeting, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present at the place of said meeting, or, if the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, on a reasonably accessible electronic network and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.

 

2.8.  Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise provided by law, may be called only in the manner set forth in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation. Any such person or persons that has or have called a special meeting of stockholders in the manner set forth in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation may postpone or cancel any special meeting of the stockholders at its or their discretion, even after notice thereof has been mailed.

 

2.9.  Notice of Special Meetings. Written notice of a special meeting of stockholders, stating the time and place and purpose or purposes thereof, shall be mailed, postage prepaid, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before such meeting, to each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat, at such address as appears on the books of the Company. No business may be transacted at such meeting except that referred to in said notice, or in a supplemental notice given also in compliance with the provisions hereof, or such other business as may be germane or supplementary to that stated in said notice or notices. The individual or group calling such meeting shall have exclusive authority to determine the business included in such notice. Notice need not be given to any stockholder who submits a written waiver of notice signed by him or her before or after the time stated therein. Attendance of a stockholder at a meeting of stockholders shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the stockholder attends the 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. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice.

 

2.10.  Inspectors of Elections; Opening and Closing the Polls.

 

(a)  One or more inspectors may be appointed by the Board of Directors before or at any meeting of stockholders, or, if no such appointment shall have been made, the presiding officer may make such appointment at the meeting. At the meeting for which the inspector or inspectors are appointed, he, she or they shall open and close the polls, receive and take charge of the proxies and ballots, and decide all questions touching on the qualifications of voters, the validity of proxies, and the acceptance and rejection of votes. If any inspector previously appointed shall fail to attend or refuse or be unable to serve, the presiding officer shall appoint an inspector in his or her place.

 

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(b)  At any time at which the Company has a class of voting stock that is (i) listed on a national securities exchange, (ii) authorized for quotation on an inter-dealer quotation system of a registered national securities association, or (iii) held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders, the provisions of Section 231 of the DGCL with respect to inspectors of election and voting procedures shall apply, in lieu of the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section 2.10.

 

2.11.  Stockholders’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting. Unless otherwise provided in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Company, or any action that may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken only at such a meeting, and not by written consent of the stockholders.

 

2.12.  Advance Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations.

 

(a)  Timely Notice. 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. 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 the meeting by a stockholder who is a stockholder of record or beneficial owner of shares of the Company’s capital stock at the time such notice of meeting is delivered, 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, the Proposing Stockholder (as defined below) must have given timely and proper notice thereof pursuant to this Section 2.12, in writing to the Secretary of the Company even if such matter is already the subject of any notice to the stockholders or 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 Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), from the Board of Directors (a “Public Disclosure”). For purposes of these By-laws, Proposing Stockholder means (i) the stockholder providing the notice of proposed business or director nomination, (ii) the beneficial owner of the Company’s capital stock, if different, on whose behalf the proposed business or director nomination, as applicable, is given, (iii) any affiliate or associate (as defined under the Exchange Act) of such stockholder or beneficial owner, (iv) each person who is a member of a “group” (for purposes of these By-laws, as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) with any such stockholder or beneficial owner (or their respective affiliates and associates) or is otherwise Acting in Concert (as defined below) with any such stockholder or beneficial owner (or their respective affiliates and associates) with respect to the proposals or proposed nominations, as applicable, and (v) any participant (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii)-(vi) of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A, or any successor instructions) with such stockholder or beneficial owner in the solicitation of proxies in respect of any proposed nominations or other business proposed to be brought before the Company’s stockholders. To be timely, a Proposing Stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Company: (x) not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) calendar day, nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) calendar 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) calendar days in advance of the anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting or not later than sixty (60) calendar days after the anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting; and (y) with respect to any other annual meeting of stockholders, the close of business on the tenth (10th) calendar day following the date of Public Disclosure of the date of such meeting. In no event shall the Public Disclosure of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new notice time period (or extend any notice time period). For purposes of these By-laws, “close of business” shall mean 5:00 p.m. local time at the principal executive offices of the Company on any calendar day, whether or not such day is a business day.

 

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(b)  Stockholder Nominations. For the nomination of any person or persons for election to the Board of Directors, a Proposing Stockholder’s notice to the Secretary of the Company shall set forth (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 number of shares of capital stock of the Company which are owned of record and beneficially by each such nominee (if any), (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 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (v) the consent of the nominee to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected, and (vi) as to the Proposing Stockholder: (A) the name and address of the Proposing Stockholder as they appear on the Company’s books and of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made, (B) the class and number of shares of the Company which are owned by the Proposing Stockholder (beneficially and of record) and owned by the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made, as of the date of the Proposing Stockholder’s notice, and a representation that the Proposing Stockholder will notify the Company in writing of the class and number of such shares owned of record and beneficially as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, (C) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to such nomination between or among the Proposing Stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made, and any of their affiliates or associates, and any others (including their names) Acting in Concert with any of the foregoing, and a representation that the Proposing Stockholder will notify the Company in writing of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, (D) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the Proposing Stockholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, the Proposing Stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of the Proposing Stockholder, or any such beneficial owner, or any of its affiliates or associates with respect to shares of stock of the Company, and a representation that the Proposing Stockholder will notify the Company in writing of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, (E) a representation that the Proposing Stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the Company entitled to vote at the meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice, (F) a representation as to whether the Proposing Stockholder intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Company’s outstanding capital stock required to approve the nomination and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of the nomination, (G) the full notional amount of any securities that, directly or indirectly, underlie any “derivative security” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(c) under the Exchange Act) that constitutes a “call equivalent position” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(b) under the Exchange Act) (together, a “Synthetic Equity Position”) and that is, directly or indirectly, held or maintained by such Proposing Stockholder with respect to any shares of any class or series of shares of the Company; provided that, for the purposes of the definition of “Synthetic Equity Position,” the term “derivative security” shall also include any security or instrument that would not otherwise constitute a “derivative security” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(c) under the Exchange Act) as a result of any feature that would make any conversion, exercise or similar right or privilege of such security or instrument becoming determinable only at some future date or upon the happening of a future occurrence, in which case the determination of the amount of securities into which such security or instrument would be convertible or exercisable shall be made assuming that such security or instrument is immediately convertible or exercisable at the time of such determination; and, provided, further, that any Proposing Stockholder satisfying the requirements of Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act (other than a Proposing Stockholder that so satisfies Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act solely by reason of Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E)) shall not be deemed to hold or maintain the notional amount of any securities that underlie a Synthetic Equity Position held by such Proposing Stockholder as a hedge with respect to a bona fide derivatives trade or position of such Proposing Stockholder arising in the ordinary course of such Proposing Stockholder’s business as a derivatives dealer and (H) all other information relating to such Proposing Stockholder that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing if such a filing was to be made by any Proposing Stockholder in connection with the contested solicitation of proxies or consents (even if a contested solicitation is not involved) by any Proposing Stockholder in support of the business or nomination proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to this Section 2.12 and Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act. The Company 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 Company or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee. For purposes of these By-laws, a person shall be deemed to be “Acting in Concert” with another person if such person knowingly acts (whether or not pursuant to an express agreement, arrangement or understanding) in concert with, or towards a common goal relating to the management, governance or control of the Company in parallel with, such other person where (A) each person is conscious of the other person’s conduct or intent and this awareness is an element in their decision-making processes and (B) at least one additional factor suggests that such persons intend to act in concert or in parallel, which such additional factors may include, without limitation, exchanging information (whether publicly or privately), attending however, that a person shall not be deemed to be Acting in Concert with any other person solely as a result of the solicitation or receipt of revocable proxies, or special meeting demands from such other person in response to a solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act by way of a proxy statement filed on Schedule 14A. A person deemed to be Acting in Concert with another person shall be deemed to be Acting in Concert with any third party who is also Acting in Concert with such other person.

 

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(c)  Other Stockholder Proposals. For all business other than director nominations, a Proposing Stockholder’s notice to the Secretary of the Company 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 and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (ii) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration), (iii) a description in reasonable detail of any interest of any Proposing Stockholder in such business, including any anticipated benefit to the stockholder or any other Proposing Stockholder therefrom, including any interest that will be disclosed to the Company’s stockholders in any proxy statement to be distributed to the Company’s stockholders, (iv) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is being made, 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 and (v) the information required by Section 2.12(b)(vi) above.

 

(d)  Proxy Rules. In addition to the provisions of this Section 2.12, a Proposing Stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the DGCL, and other applicable law with respect to any nominations of directors for election at any stockholders’ meeting and any business that may be brought before any stockholders’ meeting and any solicitations of proxies in connection therewith and any filings required to be made with the SEC in connection therewith. Nothing in this Section 2.12 shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Company’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or any other rights conferred on stockholders by a rule under the Exchange Act.

 

(e)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.12, the information required to be included in a Proposing Stockholder’s notice of business or director nomination shall not include any ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who, in the ordinary course of business, is directed to prepare and submit such notice on behalf of a beneficial owner of the shares held of record by such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and who is not otherwise affiliated or associated with such beneficial owner.

 

(f)  Updating of Notice of Proposed Business or Director Nomination.

 

(i)  A stockholder providing notice of any business proposed to be conducted at an annual meeting or notice of a director nomination shall further update and supplement such notice, as necessary, from time to time, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to Sections 2.12(b) and 2.12(c) shall be true, correct and complete in all respects not only prior to the deadline for submitting such notice but also at all times thereafter and prior to the annual meeting, and such update and supplement shall be received by the Secretary of the Company not later than the earlier of (A) five (5) business days following the occurrence of any event, development or occurrence which would cause the information provided to be not true, correct and complete in all respects, and (B) ten (10) business days prior to the meeting at which such proposals or nominations contained therein are to be considered.

 

(ii)  If the information submitted pursuant to Section 2.12(b) or 2.12(c) by any stockholder proposing business for consideration at an annual meeting or a director nomination shall not be true, correct and complete in all respects prior to the deadline for submitting such notice, such information may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 2.12. For the avoidance of doubt, the updates required pursuant to this Section 2.12 do not cause a notice that was not in compliance with this Section 2.12 when first delivered to the Company prior to the deadline for submitting such notice to thereafter be in proper form in accordance with this Section 2.12.

 

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(iii)  Upon written request by the Secretary of the Company, the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof), any stockholder submitting a notice proposing business for consideration at an annual meeting or a director nomination shall provide, within five (5) business days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), written verification, satisfactory in the reasonable discretion of the Board of Directors, any duly authorized committee thereof or any duly authorized officer of the Company, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by the stockholder in such notice delivered pursuant to this Section 2.12 (including, if requested by the Company, written confirmation by such stockholder that it continues to intend to bring the business proposed or director nomination referenced in the notice before the meeting). If a stockholder fails to provide such written verification within such period, the information as to which written verification was requested may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 2.

 

(g)  Referencing and Cross-Referencing. For a notice proposing business or a director nomination at a stockholders’ meeting to comply with the requirements of Sections 2.12(b) and 2.12(c), each of the requirements of Sections 2.12(b) and 2.12(c) shall be directly and expressly responded to and a notice must clearly indicate and expressly reference which provisions of Sections 2.12(b) and 2.12(c) the information disclosed is intended to be responsive to. Information disclosed in one section of a notice in response to one provision of Sections 2.12(b) or 2.12(c) shall not be deemed responsive to any other provision of Sections 2.12(b) or 2.12(c) unless it is expressly cross-referenced to such other provision and it is clearly apparent how the information included in one section of the notice is directly and expressly responsive to the information required to be included in another section of the notice pursuant to Sections 2.12(b) or 2.12(c). For the avoidance of doubt, statements purporting to provide global cross-references that purport to provide that all information provided shall be deemed to be responsive to all requirements of Sections 2.12(b) and 2.12(c) shall not satisfy the requirements of this paragraph (g) of this Section 2.12.

 

(h)  No Incorporation by Reference. For a notice proposing business or a director nomination at a stockholders’ meeting to comply with the requirements of Sections 2.12(b) and 2.12(c), it must set forth in writing directly within the body of the notice (as opposed to being incorporated by reference from any other document or writing not prepared in response to the requirements of this Section 2.12) all the information required to be included therein as set forth in Sections 2.12(b) and 2.12(c) and each of the requirements of Sections 2.12(b) and 2.12(c) shall be directly responded to in a manner that makes it clearly apparent how the information provided is specifically responsive to any requirements of Sections 2.12(b) and 2.12(c). For the avoidance of doubt, a notice shall not be deemed to be in compliance with Section 2.12 if it attempts to include the required information by incorporating by reference into the body of the notice any other document, writing or part thereof, including, but not limited to, any documents publicly filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. For the further avoidance of doubt, the body of the notice does not include any documents not prepared in response to the requirements of this Section 2.12.

 

(i)  Accuracy of Information. A stockholder submitting a notice of proposed business or director nomination, by its delivery to the Company, represents and warrants that all information contained therein, as of the deadline for submitting such notice, is true, accurate and complete in all respects, contains no false and misleading statements and such stockholder acknowledges that it intends for the Company and the Board of Directors to rely on such information as (i) being true, accurate and complete in all respects and (ii) not containing any false or misleading statements.

 

(j)  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 Company’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Company’s notice of meeting (x) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or (y) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Company who is a beneficial owner or stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 2.12 is delivered to the Secretary of the Company, 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 Company 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 Company’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.12 shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the later of the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the date of 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 and not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting. In no event shall the Public Disclosure of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any notice time period).

 

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(k)  Effect of Noncompliance. Notwithstanding anything in these By-laws to the contrary, (i) no nominations shall be made or business shall be conducted at any annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.12, and (ii) unless otherwise required by law, if a Proposing Stockholder intending to propose business or make nominations at an annual meeting pursuant to this Section 2.12 does not provide the information required under this Section 2.12 to the Company promptly following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, 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 Company. For purposes of these By-laws, “qualified representative” means (i) if the stockholder is a corporation, any duly authorized officer of such corporation, (ii) if the stockholder is a limited liability company, any duly authorized member, manager or officer of such limited liability company, (iii) if the stockholder is a partnership, any general partner or person who functions as general partner for such partnership, (iv) if the stockholder is a trust, the trustee of such trust, or (v) if the stockholder is an entity other than the foregoing, the persons acting in such similar capacities as the foregoing with respect to such entity.

 

Article III. - Directors.

 

3.1.  Number of Directors.

 

(a)  Except as otherwise provided by law, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, or these By-laws, the property and business of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. Directors need not be stockholders, residents of Delaware, or citizens of the United States. The use of the phrase “whole board” herein refers to the total number of directors which the Company would have if there were no vacancies.

 

(b)  The number of directors constituting the full Board of Directors shall be as determined by the Board of Directors from time to time by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the directors then in office.

 

(c)  The Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes of directors as set forth in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation.

 

(d)  Directors shall hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders in which their term is scheduled to expire as set forth above in this Section 3.1 and until their respective successors are duly elected or qualified or until their earlier death, incapacity, resignation or removal. Any director serving as such pursuant to this Section 3.1 may be removed pursuant to Section 3.3.

 

(e)  Except as the DGCL or the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation may otherwise require, any new directorships or vacancies in the Board of Directors, including new directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors to serve on the whole board and/or any unfilled vacancies by reason of death, resignation, disqualification, removal for cause, failure to elect or otherwise with respect to any director, may be filled by only the vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director.

 

(f)  No decrease in the number of directors constituting the whole board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

 

3.2.  Resignation. Any director of the Company may resign at any time by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chairperson of the Board, the President, or the Secretary of the Company. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, at the time of receipt if no time is specified therein and at the time of acceptance if the effectiveness of such resignation is conditioned upon its acceptance. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

 

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3.3.  Removal. Except as may otherwise be provided by the DGCL or the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed only for cause and only by the vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote for the election of directors or class of directors, voting together as a single class, at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose.

 

3.4.  Place of Meetings and Books. The Board of Directors may hold their meetings and keep the books of the Company outside the State of Delaware, at such places as they may from time to time determine.

 

3.5. General Powers. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon them by these By-laws, the Board of Directors may exercise all such powers of the Company and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

 

3.6.  Committees. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, by resolution or resolutions passed by at least a majority vote of the Board of Directors; such committee or committees shall consist of one or more directors of the Company, and to the extent provided in the resolution or resolutions designating them, shall have and may exercise specific powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Company to the extent permitted by statute and shall have power to authorize the seal of the Company to be affixed to all papers that may require it. Such committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.

 

3.7.  Powers Denied to Committees. Committees of the Board of Directors shall not, in any event, have any power or authority to amend the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (except that a committee may, to the extent authorized in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of shares adopted by the Board of Directors as provided in Section 151(a) of the DGCL, fix the designations and any of the preferences or rights of such shares relating to dividends, redemption, dissolution, any distribution of assets of the Company or the conversion into, or the exchange of such shares for, shares of any other class or classes or any other series of the same or any other class or classes of stock of the Company or fix the number of shares of any series of stock or authorize the increase or decrease of the shares of any series), adopt an agreement of merger or consolidation, recommend to the stockholders the sale, lease, or exchange of all or substantially all of the Company’s property and assets, recommend to the stockholders a dissolution of the Company or a revocation of a dissolution, or amend the By-laws of the Company. Further, no committee of the Board of Directors shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend, to authorize the issuance of stock, or to adopt a certificate of ownership and merger pursuant to Section 253 of the DGCL, unless the resolution or resolutions designating such committee expressly so provides.

 

3.8. Substitute Committee Member. In the absence or on the disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Director’s to act at the meeting in the place of such absent or disqualified member. Any committee shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board of Directors as may be required by the Board of Directors.

 

3.9.  Compensation of Directors. The Board of Directors shall have the power to fix the compensation of directors and members of committees of the Board. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors, a stated amount per annum as director and/or other forms of compensation as the Board of Directors may approve. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Company in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for attending committee meetings.

 

3.10.  Regular Meetings. No notice shall be required for regular meetings of the Board of Directors for which the time and place have been fixed.

 

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3.11.  Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, if any, or the Chief Executive Officer, on two (2) days’ notice, which may be written, oral or by electronic transmission, to each director, or such shorter period of time before the meeting as will nonetheless be sufficient for the convenient assembly of the directors so notified; special meetings shall be called by the Secretary in like manner and on like notice, on the written request of two (2) or more directors.

 

3.12.  Quorum. At all meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise specifically permitted or provided by statute, by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, or by these By-laws. If at any meeting of the Board of Directors there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum is obtained, and no further notice thereof need be given other than by announcement at said meeting that shall be so adjourned.

 

3.13.  Telephonic Participation in Meetings. Members of the Board of Directors or any committee designated by the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear one another, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this section shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

3.14.  Action by Consent. Unless otherwise restricted by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, 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 written consent thereto is signed or submitted by electronic transmission by all members of the Board of Directors or of such committee as the case may be, and such written consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee.

 

3.15.  Chairperson of the Board. The Board of Directors may elect or remove, by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the directors then in office, a Chairperson. Any Chairperson must be a director of the Company. The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and at all meetings of the stockholders and, subject to the provisions of these By-laws and the direction of the Board of Directors, the Chairperson shall have such powers and perform such duties that are commonly incident to the position of chairperson of the board or as may be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors or provided in these By-laws.

 

Article IV. - Officers.

 

4.1.  Selection; Statutory Officers. The officers of the Company shall be chosen by the Board of Directors. There shall be a President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, and there may be a Chairperson of the Board of Directors, a Chief Executive Officer, one or more Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries, and one or more Assistant Treasurers, as the Board of Directors may elect. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.

 

4.2.  Time of Election. The officers above named shall be chosen by the Board of Directors at its first meeting after each annual meeting of stockholders. Other than the Chairperson, none of said officers need be a director.

 

4.3.  Additional Officers. The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary, who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

4.4.  Terms of Office. Each officer of the Company shall hold office until such officer’s successor is chosen and qualified, or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Any officer may be removed at any time by the Board of Directors.

 

4.5.  Compensation of Officers. The Board of Directors shall have power to fix the compensation of all officers of the Company. It may authorize any officer, upon whom the power of appointing subordinate officers may have been conferred, to fix the compensation of such subordinate officers.

 

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4.6.  Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer, if any, in the absence or disability of the Chairperson of the Board, shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders, shall have general and active management of the business of the Company, and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. The Chief Executive Officer shall execute bonds, mortgages, and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Company, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Company. In the absence of the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chairperson, or another officer of the Company, as designated by the Board of Directors, shall have the powers of the Chief Executive Officer.

 

4.7.  President and Vice-Presidents. The President shall act in an executive capacity as shall be directed from time to time by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, and shall have such powers and perform such other duties as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may determine from time to time (which may include, without limitation, assisting the Chief Executive Officer in the operation and administration of the Company’s business and the supervision of its policies and affairs), with such limitations on such powers or performance of duties as either of the foregoing shall prescribe. The Vice-President, or if there shall be more than one, the Vice-Presidents in the order determined by the Board of Directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the President, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President and shall perform such other duties and have such powers as the Board of Directors may, from time to time, determine or as these By-laws may prescribe.

 

4.8.  Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of all the funds and securities of the Company that may come into his or her hands as Treasurer, and the power and authority to endorse checks, drafts and other instruments for the payment of money for deposit or collection when necessary or proper and to deposit the same to the credit of the Company in such bank or banks or depository as the Board of Directors, or the officers or agents to whom the Board of Directors may delegate such authority, may designate, and such officer may endorse all commercial documents requiring endorsements for or on behalf of the Company. The Treasurer may sign all receipts and vouchers for the payments made to the Company. The Treasurer shall render an account of such officer’s transactions to the Board of Directors as often as the Board of Directors or the committee shall require the same. The Treasurer shall enter regularly in the books to be kept by such officer for that purpose full and adequate account of all moneys received and paid by him or her on account of the Company. The Treasurer shall perform all acts incident to the position of Treasurer, subject to the control of the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall when requested, pursuant to vote of the Board of Directors, give a bond to the Company conditioned for the faithful performance of such officer’s duties, the expense of which bond shall be borne by the Company.

 

4.9.  Secretary. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders; such officer shall attend to the giving and serving of all notices of the Company. Except as otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors, such officer shall attest the seal of the Company upon all contracts and instruments executed under such seal and shall affix the seal of the Company thereto and to all certificates of shares of capital stock of the Company. The Secretary shall have charge of the stock certificate book, transfer book and stock ledger, and such other books and papers as the Board of Directors may direct. The Secretary shall, in general, perform all the duties of Secretary, subject to the control of the Board of Directors.

 

4.10.  Assistant Secretary. The Board of Directors or any two of the officers of the Company acting jointly may appoint or remove one or more Assistant Secretaries of the Company. Any Assistant Secretary upon such officer’s appointment shall perform such duties of the Secretary, and also any and all such other duties as the Board of Directors or the President or a Vice-President or the Treasurer or the Secretary may designate.

 

4.11.  Assistant Treasurer. The Board of Directors or any two of the officers of the Company acting jointly may appoint or remove one or more Assistant Treasurers of the Company. Any Assistant Treasurer upon such officer’s appointment shall perform such of the duties of the Treasurer, and also any and all such other duties as the Board of Directors or the President or a Vice-President or the Treasurer or the Secretary may designate.

 

4.12.  Subordinate Officers. The Board of Directors may select such subordinate officers as it may deem desirable. Each such officer shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and perform such duties as the Board of Directors may prescribe. The Board of Directors may, from time to time, authorize any officer to appoint and remove subordinate officers and to prescribe the powers and duties thereof.

 

4.13.  Delegation of Authority. The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officer or agent, notwithstanding any provision hereof.

 

4.14.  Removal. The Board of Directors may remove any officer of the Company at any time, with or without cause.

 

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Article V. - Stock.

 

5.1.  Stock. The shares of the Company’s capital stock may be certificated or uncertificated and shall be entered in the books of the Company and registered as they are issued. Any certificate representing shares of stock issued to a stockholder of the Company (i) shall be numbered, (ii) shall certify the holder’s name, the number of shares and the class or series of stock, (iii) shall otherwise be in such form as the Board of Directors shall prescribe, (iv) shall be signed by both of (a) either the President or a Vice-President, and (b) any one of the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and (v) shall be sealed with the corporate seal of the Company, if any. If such certificate is countersigned (l) by a transfer agent other than the Company or its employee, or, (2) by a registrar other than the Company or its employee, the signature of the officers of the Company and the corporate seal may be facsimiles. In case any officer or officers who shall have signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been used on, any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Company, whether because of death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates shall have been delivered by the Company, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be adopted by the Company and be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates or whose facsimile signature shall have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Company.

 

5.2.  Fractional Share Interests. The Company may, but shall not be required to, issue fractions of a share.

 

5.3.  Transfers of Stock.

 

Subject to any transfer restrictions then in force, the shares of stock of the Company shall be transferable only upon its books by the holders thereof in person or by their duly authorized attorneys or legal representatives.

 

If the shares of stock of the Company to be transferred are certificated shares, then, subject to the provisions of Section 5.7 below, the holder of the certificate or certificates representing such shares shall surrender to the Company or the transfer agent of the Company such certificate or certificates duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignation or authority to transfer, and, subject to any transfer restrictions then in force, the Company or the transfer agent of the Company shall cancel such certificate or certificates upon receipt thereof or upon compliance by such holder with the provisions of Section 5.7 below and (i) deliver to the applicable stockholder transferee either a new certificate or certificates representing the number of shares transferred or appropriate documentation evidencing the applicable stockholder transferee’s record ownership of a number of uncertificated shares equal to the number of shares transferred, and, if applicable, (ii) deliver to the applicable stockholder transferor a new certificate or certificates representing the number of shares not transferred that were previously represented by the certificate or certificates so surrendered or appropriate documentation evidencing the applicable stockholder transferor’s record ownership of a number of uncertificated shares equal to such number of shares not transferred. Any transfer or transfers in compliance with the provisions of this paragraph shall be recorded upon the books of the Company.

 

If the shares of stock of the Company to be transferred are uncertificated shares, then the registered owner of such shares shall deliver to the Company or the transfer agent of the Company proper transfer instructions, with such proof of authenticity of signature as the Company or its transfer agent or registrar may reasonably require, and, subject to any transfer restrictions then in force that are applicable to such shares, the Company or the transfer agent of the Company shall cancel such shares upon receipt of such transfer instructions and (i) deliver to the applicable stockholder transferee either a new certificate or certificates representing such shares or appropriate documentation evidencing the applicable stockholder transferee’s record ownership of such shares in uncertificated form, and, if applicable and required, (ii) deliver to the applicable stockholder transferor appropriate documentation evidencing that the applicable stockholder transferor is no longer the record owner of such shares so transferred. Any transfer or transfers in compliance with the provisions of this paragraph shall be recorded upon the books of the Company.

 

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The Company shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares of stock as the holder in fact thereof and accordingly shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share on the part of any other person whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof save as expressly provided by the laws of Delaware.

 

5.4.  Record Date. For the purpose of determining the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or the allotment of any rights, or 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, in advance, a record date, that shall not be more than sixty (60) calendar days nor less than ten (10) calendar days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) calendar days prior to any other action. If no such 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 before the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day before the day on which the meeting is held; the record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at any 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 adjourned meeting.

 

5.5.  Transfer Agent and Registrar. The Board of Directors may appoint one or more transfer agents or transfer clerks and one or more registrars and may require all certificates of stock to bear the signature or signatures of any of them.

 

5.6.  Dividends.

 

(a)Power to Declare. Dividends upon the capital stock of the Company, subject to the provisions of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, if any, may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting, pursuant to law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock, subject to the provisions of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and the laws of Delaware.

 

(b)Reserves. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Company available for dividends such sum or sums as the directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Company, or for such other purpose as the directors shall think conducive to the interest of the Company, and the directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

 

5.7.  Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed Certificates. No certificates for shares of stock of the Company shall be issued in place of any certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, except upon production of such evidence of the loss, theft, or destruction and upon indemnification of the Company and its agents to such extent and in such manner as the officers of the Company may from time to time prescribe. Upon compliance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.7, the Company may issue (i) a new certificate or certificates of stock or (ii) uncertificated shares, in place of any certificate or certificates previously issued by the Company alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

 

5.8.  Inspection of Books. The stockholders of the Company, by a majority vote at any meeting of stockholders duly called, or in case the stockholders shall fail to act, the Board of Directors shall have power from time to time to determine whether and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions and regulations the accounts and books of the Company (other than the stock ledger) or any of them, shall be open to inspection of stockholders; and no stockholder shall have any right to inspect any account or book or document of the Company except as conferred by statute or authorized by the Board of Directors or by a resolution of the stockholders.

 

Article VI. - Miscellaneous Management Provisions.

 

6.1.  Checks, Drafts, and Notes. All checks, drafts, or orders for the payment of money, and all notes and acceptances of the Company shall be signed by such officer or officers, or such agent or agents, as the officers of the Company may designate.

 

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6.2.  Notices.

 

(a)  Notices to directors may, and notices to stockholders shall, be in writing or by electronic transmission, and delivered personally, electronically transmitted or mailed to the directors or stockholders at their postage or electronic mail addresses appearing on the books of the Company. Notice by mail and electronic transmission shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be mailed or transmitted. Notice to directors may also be given by telegram, facsimile or orally, by telephone or in person.

 

(b)  Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of any applicable statute or of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or of these By-laws, an electronic transmission or written waiver of notice, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein or the meeting or action to which such notice relates, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. 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.

 

6.3.  Conflict of Interest. No contract or transaction between the Company and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the Company and any other corporation, partnership, association, or other organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board of Directors or committee thereof that authorized the contract or transaction, or solely because his, her, or their votes are counted for such purpose, if: (i) the material facts as to his, her or their relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board of Directors or the committee and the Board of Directors or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors may be less than a quorum; (ii) the material facts as to his, her or their relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders of the Company entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction as specifically approved in good faith by vote of such stockholders; or (iii) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Company as of the time it is authorized, approved, or ratified, by the Board of Directors, a committee or the stockholders. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee that authorizes the contract or transaction.

 

6.4.  Voting of Securities owned by the Company. Subject always to the specific directions of the Board of Directors, (i) any shares or other securities issued by any other corporation and owned or controlled by the Company may be voted in person at any meeting of security holders of such other corporation by the President of the Company if he or she is present at such meeting, or in his or her absence by the Treasurer of the Company if he or she is present at such meeting, and (ii) whenever, in the judgment of the President, it is desirable for the Company to execute a proxy or written consent in respect to any shares or other securities issued by any other corporation and owned by the Company, such proxy or consent shall be executed in the name of the Company by the President, without the necessity of any authorization by the Board of Directors, affixation of corporate seal or countersignature or attestation by another officer, provided that if the President is unable to execute such proxy or consent by reason of sickness, absence from the United States or other similar cause, the Treasurer may execute such proxy or consent. Any person or persons designated in the manner above stated as the proxy or proxies of the Company shall have full right, power and authority to vote the shares or other securities issued by such other corporation and owned by the Company the same as such shares or other securities might be voted by the Company.

 

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Article VII. - Indemnification.

  

7.1.  Right to Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”), by reason of being or having been a director or officer of the Company or serving or having served at the request of the Company as a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “Indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action or failure to act in an official capacity as a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto) (as used in this Article 7, the “Delaware Law”), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, trustee, officer, employee, or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors, and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 7.2 hereof with respect to Proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Company shall indemnify any such Indemnitee in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Indemnitee only if such Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article 7 shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Company the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending any such Proceeding in advance of its final disposition (an “Advancement of Expenses”); provided, however, that, if the Delaware Law so requires, an Advancement of Expenses incurred by an Indemnitee shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking (an “Undertaking”), by or on behalf of such Indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (a “Final Adjudication”) that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Article 7 or otherwise.

 

7.2.  Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. If a claim under Section 7.1 hereof is not paid in full by the Company within sixty (60) days after a written claim has been received by the Company, except in the case of a claim for an Advancement of Expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty (20) days, the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Company to recover an Advancement of Expenses pursuant to the terms of an Undertaking, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to an Advancement of Expenses) it shall be a defense that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware Law. In addition, any suit by the Company to recover an Advancement of Expenses pursuant to the terms of an Undertaking the Company shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a Final Adjudication that, the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware Law. Neither the failure of the Company (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware Law, nor an actual determination by the Company (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the Indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an Advancement of Expenses hereunder, or by the Company to recover an Advancement of Expenses pursuant to the terms of an Undertaking, the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such Advancement of Expenses, under this Article 7 or otherwise shall be on the Company.

 

7.3.  Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights to indemnification and to the Advancement of Expenses conferred in this Article 7 shall not be exclusive of any other right that any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, by law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

7.4.  Insurance. The Company may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under this Article 7 or under the Delaware Law.

 

7.5.  Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Company. The Company may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification, and to the Advancement of Expenses, to any employee or agent of the Company to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article 7 with respect to the indemnification and Advancement of Expenses of directors and officers of the Company.

 

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7.6.  Merger or Consolidation. For purposes of this Article 7, references to the “Company” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this Article 7 with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

 

7.7.  Savings Clause. If this Article 7 or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Company shall nevertheless indemnify and advance expenses to each person entitled to indemnification under Article 7 as to all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees and related disbursements, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred or suffered by such person and for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is available to such person pursuant to this Article 7 to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article 7 that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

 

Article VIII. - Amendments.

 

8.1.  Amendments. Subject always to any limitations imposed by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, these By-laws and any amendment thereof may be altered, amended or repealed, or new By-laws may be adopted, by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting by the affirmative vote of a majority of all of the members of the Board of Directors, provided in the case of any special meeting at which all of the members of the Board of Directors are not present, that the notice of such meeting shall have stated that the amendment of these By-laws was one of the purposes of the meeting; but these By-laws and any amendment thereof, including the By-laws adopted by the Board of Directors, may be altered, amended or repealed and other By-laws may be adopted by the affirmative vote of holders of at least fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote in the election of directors or class of directors, voting together as a single class, provided, in the case of any special meeting, that notice of such proposed alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption is included in the notice of the meeting.

 

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EXHIBIT F

 

[Form of MEOA Incentive Equity Plan]

 

 

 

 

DIGERATI HOLDINGS, INC.
[2022] OMNIBUS SECURITIES AND INCENTIVE PLAN
[ # ] MILLION SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

 

Table of Contents

 
      Page
ARTICLE I PURPOSE 1
     
ARTICLE II DEFINITIONS 1
     
ARTICLE III EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN 5
     
ARTICLE IV ADMINISTRATION 5
  Section 4.1 Administration 5
  Section 4.2 Powers 5
  Section 4.3 Additional Powers 5
  Section 4.4 Delegation 6
  Section 4.5 Power and Authority of the Board 6
       
ARTICLE V SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN AND LIMITATIONS THEREON 6
  Section 5.1 Shares Grant and Award Limits 6
  Section 5.2 Prior Stock Plan 6
  Section 5.3 Common Stock Offered 6
  Section 5.4 Limitations on Awards for Directors 6
       
ARTICLE VI ELIGIBILITY FOR AWARDS 7
     
ARTICLE VII OPTIONS 8
  Section 7.1 Option Period 8
  Section 7.2 Limitations on Exercise of Option 8
  Section 7.3 Special Limitations on Incentive Share Options 8
  Section 7.4 Option Agreement 8
  Section 7.5 Option Price and Payment 9
  Section 7.6 Stockholder Rights and Privileges 9
  Section 7.7 Options and Rights in Substitution for Stock or Share Options Granted by Other Corporations 9
  Section 7.8 Prohibition Against Repricing 9
       
ARTICLE VIII RESTRICTED SHARE AWARDS 10
  Section 8.1 Restriction Period 10
  Section 8.2 Other Terms and Conditions 10
  Section 8.3 Payment for Restricted Shares 10
  Section 8.4 Restricted Share Award Agreements 10
       
ARTICLE IX UNRESTRICTED SHARE AWARDS 11
     
ARTICLE X. RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AWARDS 11
  Section 10.1 Terms and Conditions 11
  Section 10.2 Payments 11
       
ARTICLE XI PERFORMANCE UNIT AWARDS 12
  Section 11.1 Terms and Conditions 12
  Section 11.2 Payments 12

 

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ARTICLE XII DISTRIBUTION EQUIVALENT RIGHTS 13
  Section 12.1 Terms and Conditions 13
  Section 12.2 Interest Equivalents 13
       
ARTICLE XIII SHARE APPRECIATION RIGHTS 13
  Section 13.1 Terms and Conditions 13
  Section 13.2 Tandem Share Appreciation Rights 13
       
ARTICLE XIV RECAPITALIZATION OR REORGANIZATION 14
  Section 14.1 Adjustments to Common Stock 14
  Section 14.2 Recapitalization 14
  Section 14.3 Other Events 14
  Section 14.4 Powers Not Affected 14
  Section 14.5 No Adjustment for Certain Awards 14
       
ARTICLE XV AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF PLAN 15
     
ARTICLE XVI MISCELLANEOUS 15
  Section 16.1 No Right to Award 15
  Section 16.2 No Rights Conferred 15
  Section 16.3 Other Laws; No Fractional Shares; Withholding 15
  Section 16.4 No Restriction on Corporate Action 16
  Section 16.5 Restrictions on Transfer 16
  Section 16.6 Beneficiary Designations 16
  Section 16.7 Rule 16b-3 16
  Section 16.8 Section 409A 16
  Section 16.9 Indemnification 17
  Section 16.10 Other Plans 17
  Section 16.11 Limits of Liability 17
  Section 16.12 Governing Law 17
  Section 16.13 Severability of Provisions 17
  Section 16.14 No Funding 17
  Section 16.15 Headings 17
  Section 16.16 Terms of Award Agreements 17

 

-ii-

 

 

DIGERATI HOLDINGS, INC.
[2022] OMNIBUS SECURITIES AND INCENTIVE PLAN
[ #] MILLION SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

 

ARTICLE I
PURPOSE

 

The purpose of this Digerati Holdings, Inc. [2022] Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is to benefit the stockholders of Digerati Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), by assisting the Company to attract, retain and provide incentives to key management employees and non-employee directors of, and non-employee consultants to, the Company and its Affiliates, and to align the interests of such employees, non-employee directors and non-employee consultants with those of the Company’s stockholders. Accordingly, the Plan provides for the granting of Distribution Equivalent Rights, Incentive Share Options, Non-Qualified Share Options, Performance Unit Awards, Restricted Share Awards, Restricted Share Unit Awards, Share Appreciation Rights, Tandem Share Appreciation Rights, Unrestricted Share Awards or any combination of the foregoing, as may be best suited to the circumstances of the particular Employee, Director or Consultant as provided herein.

 

ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS

 

The following definitions shall be applicable throughout the Plan unless the context otherwise requires:

 

“Affiliate” shall mean any corporation which, with respect to the Company, is a “subsidiary corporation” within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.

 

“Award” shall mean, individually or collectively, any Distribution Equivalent Right, Option, Performance Unit Award, Restricted Share Award, Restricted Share Unit Award, Share Appreciation Right or Unrestricted Share Award.

 

“Award Agreement” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and the Holder with respect to an Award, setting forth the terms and conditions of the Award, and each of which shall constitute a part of the Plan.

 

“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

“Cause” shall mean (i) Participant’s refusal to comply with any lawful directive or policy of the Board which refusal is not cured by the Participant within 10 days of such written notice from the Company; (ii) the Company’s determination that, in the reasonable judgment of the Board, Participant has committed any act of dishonesty, embezzlement, unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential information or other intellectual property or trade secrets, common law fraud or other fraud against the Company; (iii) a material breach by the Participant of any written agreement with or any fiduciary duty owed to any Company; (iv) Participant’s conviction (or the entry of a plea of a nolo contendere or equivalent plea) in a court of competent jurisdiction of a felony or any misdemeanor involving material dishonesty or moral turpitude; or (v) Participant’s habitual or repeated misuse of, or habitual or repeated performance of Participant’s duties under the influence of, alcohol, illegally obtained prescription controlled substances or non-prescription controlled substances. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Participant and the Company have entered into an employment agreement, consulting agreement or other similar agreement that specifically defines “cause,” then with respect to such Participant, “Cause” shall have the meaning defined in such other agreement.

 

 

 

 

“Change of Control” shall mean (i) for a Holder who is a party to an employment or consulting agreement with the Company or an Affiliate which agreement defines “Change of Control” (or a similar term) therein, “Change of Control” shall have the same meaning as provided for in such agreement, or (ii) for a Holder who is not a party to such an agreement, “Change of Control” shall mean the satisfaction of any one or more of the following conditions (and the “Change of Control” shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day that any one or more of the following conditions shall have been satisfied):

 

(a) Any person (as such term is used in paragraphs 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, hereinafter in this definition, “Person”), other than the Company or an Affiliate or an employee benefit plan of the Company or an Affiliate, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities;

 

(b) The closing of a merger, consolidation or other business combination (a “Business Combination”) other than a Business Combination in which holders of the Common Stock immediately prior to the Business Combination have substantially the same proportionate ownership of the Company or surviving corporation immediately after the Business Combination as immediately before;

 

(c) The closing of an agreement for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to any entity that is not an Affiliate;

 

(d) The approval by the holders of shares of Common Stock of a Plan of complete liquidation of the Company other than a liquidation of the Company into any subsidiary or a liquidation a result of which Persons who were stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such liquidation have substantially the same proportionate ownership of shares of the surviving corporation immediately after such liquidation as immediately before; or

 

(e) Within any twenty-four (24)-month period, the Incumbent Directors shall cease to constitute at least a majority of the Board or the board of directors of any successor to the Company; provided, however, that any director elected to the Board, or nominated for election, by a majority of the Incumbent Directors then still in office, shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director for purposes of this paragraph (e), but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an individual, entity or “group” other than the Board (including, but not limited to, any such assumption that results from paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d) of this definition).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change of Control” shall not be deemed to occur if the Company files for bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization under the United States Bankruptcy Code.

 

“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference in the Plan to any section of the Code shall be deemed to include any amendments or successor provisions to any section and any regulation under such section.

 

“Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board or such other committee designated by the Board to administer the Plan.

 

“Common Share” shall mean a share of Common Stock.

 

“Common Stock” shall mean the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company.

 

“Company” shall mean Digerati Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereto.

 

“Consultant” shall mean any non-Employee advisor to the Company or an Affiliate who or which has contracted directly with the Company or an Affiliate to render bona fide consulting or advisory services thereto.

 

“Director” shall mean a member of the Board or a member of the board of directors of an Affiliate, in either case, who is not an Employee.

 

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“Distribution Equivalent Right” shall mean an Award granted under Article XII of the Plan which entitles the Holder to receive bookkeeping credits, cash payments and/or Common Share distributions equal in amount to the distributions that would have been made to the Holder had the Holder held a specified number of Common Stock during the period the Holder held the Distribution Equivalent Right.

 

“Distribution Equivalent Right Award Agreement” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and a Holder with respect to a Distribution Equivalent Right Award.

 

“Effective Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Article III.

 

“Employee” shall mean any employee, including officers, of the Company or an Affiliate.

 

“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

“Fair Market Value” shall mean, as determined consistent with the applicable requirements of Sections 409A and 422 of the Code, as of any specified date, the closing sales price of the Common Stock for such date (or, in the event that the Common Stock is not traded on such date, on the immediately preceding trading date) as reported in The Wall Street Journal or a comparable reporting service. If the Common Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange, but are quoted on the OTC Markets OTC Link, the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock shall be the mean of the bid and asked prices per Common Share for such date. If the Common Stock is not quoted or listed as set forth above, Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Committee in good faith by any fair and reasonable means (which means, with respect to a particular Award grant, may be set forth with greater specificity in the applicable Award Agreement). The Fair Market Value of property other than Common Stock shall be determined by the Committee in good faith by any fair and reasonable means, and consistent with the applicable requirements of Sections 409A and 422 of the Code.

 

“Family Member” shall mean any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, any person sharing the Holder’s household (other than a tenant or employee of the Holder), a trust in which such persons have more than fifty percent (50%) of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which such persons (or the Holder) control the management of assets and any other entity in which such persons (or the Holder) own more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting interests.

 

“Holder” shall mean an Employee, Director or Consultant who has been granted an Award or any such individual’s beneficiary, estate or representative, to the extent applicable.

 

“Incentive Share Option” shall mean an Option which is intended by the Committee to constitute an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code.

 

“Incumbent Director” shall mean, with respect to any period of time specified under the Plan for purposes of determining whether or not a Change of Control has occurred, the individuals who were members of the Board at the beginning of such period.

 

“Non-Qualified Share Option” shall mean an Option which is not an Incentive Share Option.

 

“Option” shall mean an Award granted under Article VII of the Plan of an option to purchase Common Stock and includes both Incentive Share Options and Non-Qualified Share Options.

 

“Option Agreement” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and a Holder with respect to an Option.

 

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“Performance Goals” shall mean one or more goals that must be met by the end of a period specified by the Committee (but that is substantially uncertain of being met before the grant of the Award) based upon one or more of the following business criteria: (i) specified levels of or increases in pre-tax earnings, return on capital, equity measures/ratios (on a gross, net, pre-tax or post tax basis), including basic earnings per share, diluted earnings per share, total earnings (including total earnings as adjusted by the Committee at the time of the Award), operating earnings, earnings growth, earnings before interest and taxes, or EBIT, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA (including EBIT or EBITDA as adjusted by the Committee at the time of the Award); (ii) total sales or sales growth; (iii) gross margin; (iv) customer service levels; (v) employee recruiting and development; (vi) advertising effectiveness; (vii) development of new markets; (viii) financial ratios; (ix) strategic initiatives; (x) improvement in or attainment of operating expense levels; (xi) improvement in or attainment of capital expense levels; (xii) the attainment of certain target levels of, or a specified increase in, operational cash flow; (xiii) the achievement of a certain level of, reduction of, or other specified objectives with regard to limiting the level of increase in, all or a portion of, the Company’s bank debt or other long-term or short-term public or private debt or other similar financial obligations of the Company, which may be calculated net of such cash balances and/or other specified offsets; (xiv) appreciation in and/or maintenance of certain target levels in the Fair Market Value; (xv) the attainment of a certain level of, reduction of, or other specified objectives with regard to limiting the level of or rate of increase in all or a portion of specified expenses (xvi) individual objectives; and (xvii) any combination of the foregoing. The Committee shall have discretion to determine the specific targets with respect to each of these categories of Performance Goals and may apply to the Company.

 

“Performance Unit” shall mean a Unit awarded to a Holder pursuant to a Performance Unit Award.

 

“Performance Unit Award” shall mean an Award granted under Article XI of the Plan under which, upon the satisfaction of predetermined individual and/or Company (and/or Affiliate) performance goals and/or objectives, a cash payment shall be made to the Holder, based on the number of Units awarded to the Holder.

 

“Performance Unit Award Agreement” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and a Holder with respect to a Performance Unit Award.

 

“Plan” shall mean this Digerati Holdings, Inc. [2022] Omnibus Securities and Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time, together with each of the Award Agreements utilized hereunder.

 

“Restricted Share Award” shall mean an Award granted under Article VIII of the Plan of Common Stock, the transferability of which by the Holder shall be subject to Restrictions.

 

“Restricted Share Award Agreement” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and a Holder with respect to a Restricted Share Award.

 

“Restricted Share Unit Award” shall mean an Award granted under Article X of the Plan under which, upon the satisfaction of predetermined individual service-related vesting requirements, a cash payment shall be made to the Holder, based on the number of Units awarded to the Holder.

 

“Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and a Holder with respect to a Restricted Share Unit Award.

 

“Restriction Period” shall mean the period of time for which Common Stock subject to a Restricted Share Award shall be subject to Restrictions, as set forth in the applicable Restricted Share Award Agreement.

 

“Restrictions” shall mean forfeiture, transfer and/or other restrictions applicable to Common Stock awarded to an Employee, Director or Consultant under the Plan pursuant to a Restricted Share Award and set forth in a Restricted Share Award Agreement.

 

“Rule 16b-3” shall mean Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act, as such may be amended from time to time, and any successor rule, regulation or statute fulfilling the same or a substantially similar function.

 

“Shares” shall mean Common Stock, unless the context suggests otherwise.

 

“Share Appreciation Right” shall mean an Award granted under Article XIII of the Plan of a right, granted alone or in connection with a related Option, to receive a payment on the date of exercise.

 

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“Share Appreciation Right Award Agreement” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and a Holder with respect to a Share Appreciation Right.

 

“Tandem Share Appreciation Right” shall mean a Share Appreciation Right granted in connection with a related Option, the exercise of which shall result in termination of the otherwise entitlement to purchase some or all of the Common Stock under the related Option, all as set forth in Section 13.2.

 

“Ten Percent Shareholder” shall mean an Employee who, at the time an Option is granted to him or her, owns shares possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares of the Company or of any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation thereof (both as defined in Section 424 of the Code), within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code.

 

“Units” shall mean bookkeeping units, each of which represents such monetary amount as shall be designated by the Committee in each Performance Unit Award Agreement, or represents one (1) Common Share for purposes of each Restricted Share Unit Award.

 

“Unrestricted Share Award” shall mean an Award granted under Article IX of the Plan of Common Stock which are not subject to Restrictions.

 

“Unrestricted Share Award Agreement” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and a Holder with respect to an Unrestricted Share Award.

 

ARTICLE III
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN

 

The Plan shall be effective as of ________, 2022 (the “Effective Date”), subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company.

 

ARTICLE IV
ADMINISTRATION

 

Section 4.1. Administration. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.

 

Section 4.2. Powers. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the sole authority, in its discretion, to make all determinations under the Plan, including, but not limited to, determining which Employees, Directors or Consultants shall receive an Award, the time or times when an Award shall be made (the date of grant of an Award shall be the date on which the Award is awarded by the Committee), what type of Award shall be granted, the term of an Award, the date or dates on which an Award vests (including acceleration of vesting), the form of any payment to be made pursuant to an Award, the terms and conditions of an Award (including the forfeiture of the Award (and/or any financial gain) if the Holder of the Award violates any applicable restrictive covenant thereof), the Restrictions under a Restricted Share Award and the number of Common Stock which may be issued under an Award, all as applicable. In making such determinations, the Committee may take into account the nature of the services rendered by the respective Employees, Directors and Consultants, their present and potential contribution to the Company’s (or the Affiliate’s) success and such other factors as the Committee, in its discretion, shall deem relevant.

 

Section 4.3. Additional Powers. The Committee shall have such additional powers as are delegated to it under the other provisions of the Plan. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee is authorized to construe the Plan and the respective Award Agreements executed hereunder, to prescribe such rules and regulations relating to the Plan as it may deem advisable to carry out the intent of the Plan, and to determine the terms, restrictions and provisions of each Award, including such terms, restrictions and provisions as shall be requisite in the judgment of the Committee to cause designated Options to qualify as Incentive Share Options, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for administering the Plan. The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in any Award Agreement in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry it into effect. The determinations of the Committee on the matters referred to in this Article IV shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and all Holders.

 

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Section 4.4. Delegation. The Committee may delegate to one or more officers or Directors of the Company, subject to such terms, conditions and limitations as the Committee may establish, in its sole discretion, the authority to grant Awards; provided, however, that the Committee shall not delegate such authority (i) with regard to grants of Awards to be made to officers of the Company or any Affiliate who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, or (ii) in such a manner as would cause the Plan not to comply with the requirements of applicable law or applicable exchange rules.

 

Section 4.5. Power and Authority of the Board. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) the Board may, at any time and from time to time, without any further action of the Committee, exercise the powers and duties of the Committee under the Plan, unless the exercise of such powers and duties by the Board would cause the Plan not to comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3, other applicable law or applicable exchange rules, and (ii) only the Committee (or another committee of the Board comprised of directors who qualify as independent directors within the meaning of the independence rules of any applicable securities exchange where the shares of Common Stock are then listed) may grant Awards to Directors who are not also Employees.

 

Section 4.6. Conditions Upon Grant of Awards and Issuance of Shares. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) The implementation of the Plan, the grant of any Award and the issuance of Shares in connection with the issuance, exercise or vesting of any Award made under the Plan shall be subject to the Company’s procurement of all approvals and permits required by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the Plan, the Awards made under the Plan and the Shares issuable pursuant to those Awards; and (ii) No Shares or other assets shall be issued or delivered under the Plan unless and until there shall have been compliance with all applicable requirements of Applicable Law, including the filing and effectiveness of the Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the Shares issuable under the Plan and any interest in the Plan, and all applicable listing requirements of any stock exchange on which Shares are then listed for trading.

 

ARTICLE V
SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN AND LIMITATIONS THEREON

 

Section 5.1. Shares Grant and Award Limits. The Committee may from time to time grant Awards to one or more Employees, Directors and/or Consultants determined by it to be eligible for participation in the Plan in accordance with the provisions of Article VI. Subject to Article XIV, the aggregate number of Common Shares (including Common Shares underlying Options designated as Incentive Share Options or Non-Qualified Share Options) that may be issued under the Plan shall not exceed the sum of (i)] [#] million ([#],000,000) [Common Shares] plus (ii) an annual increase on the first day of each calendar year beginning January 1, 2023 and ending on and including January 1, 2031 equal to the lesser of (A) five percent (5%) of the Common Shares outstanding on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year, and (B) such smaller number of Common Shares as determined by the Board. The Common Stock shall be deemed to have been issued under the Plan solely to the extent actually issued and delivered pursuant to an Award. To the extent that an Award lapses, expires, is canceled, is terminated unexercised or ceases to be exercisable for any reason, or the rights of its Holder terminate, any Common Stock subject to such Award shall again be available for the grant of a new Award. Any Common Shares issued hereunder may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Common Shares or treasury Common Shares. Any Common Shares issued by the Company through the assumption or substitution of outstanding grants in connection with the acquisition of another entity shall not reduce the maximum number of Common Shares available for delivery under the Plan.

 

Section 5.2. Intentionally Omitted .

 

Section 5.3. Common Stock Offered. The Common Stock to be offered pursuant to the grant of an Award may be authorized but unissued Common Stock or Common Stock previously issued and outstanding and reacquired by the Company.

 

Section 5.4. Limitations on Awards for Directors. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Plan, the sum of the grant date fair value of equity-based Awards (such value computed as of the date of grant in accordance with applicable financial accounting rules) and the amount of any cash-based compensation granted to a non-employee Director during any calendar year shall not exceed Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000). The independent members of the Board may make exceptions to this limit, provided that the non-employee Director receiving such additional compensation may not participate in the decision to award such compensation

 

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Section 5.5. Effect of the Expiration of Termination Awards. If and to the extent that an Option expires, terminates or is canceled or forfeited for any reason without having been exercised in full, the Shares associated with that Option will again become available for grant under the Plan. Similarly, if and to the extent an Award of Restricted Stock is canceled or forfeited for any reason, the Shares subject to that Award will again become available for grant under the Plan. Shares withheld in settlement of a tax withholding obligation associated with an Award, or in satisfaction of the exercise price payable upon exercise of an Option, will not become available for grant under the Plan

 

Section 5.6. Other Adjustment. In the event of any corporate event or transaction such as a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, split up, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares, stock dividend, dividend in kind, or other like change in capital structure (other than ordinary cash dividends) to shareholders of the Company, or other similar corporate event or transaction affecting the Shares, the Committee, to prevent dilution or enlargement of Participants’ rights under the Plan, shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, substitute or adjust, in its sole discretion, the number and kind of shares that may be issued under the Plan or under any outstanding Awards, the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding Awards, the exercise price, grant price or purchase price applicable to outstanding Awards, and/or any other affected terms and conditions of this Plan or outstanding Awards. The Committee shall not make any adjustment that would adversely affect the status of any Award that is “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

Section 5.7. Change of Control. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Plan, upon any Change in Control, the Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the need for the consent of any Participant, take one or more of the following actions contingent upon the occurrence of that Change in Control: (i) cause any or all outstanding Awards to become vested and immediately exercisable (as applicable), in whole or in part; (ii) cause any outstanding Option to become fully vested and immediately exercisable for a reasonable period in advance of the Change in Control and, to the extent not exercised prior to that Change in Control, cancel that Option upon closing of the Change in Control; (iii) cancel any unvested Award or unvested portion thereof, with or without consideration; (iv) cancel any Award in exchange for a substitute award; (v) redeem any Restricted Stock for cash and/or other substitute consideration with value equal to Fair Market Value of an unrestricted Share on the date of the Change in Control; (vi) remove or deem satisfied any restriction on Shares of Restricted Stock; (vii) cancel any Option in exchange for cash and/or other substitute consideration with a value equal to: (A) the number of Shares subject to that Option, multiplied by (B) the difference, if any, between the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of the Change in Control and the exercise price of that Option; provided, that if the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of the Change in Control does not exceed the exercise price of any such Option, the Committee may cancel that Option without any payment of consideration therefor; (viii) take such other action as the Committee shall determine to be reasonable under the circumstances; and/or (ix) notwithstanding any provision of this Section 5.7, in the case of any Award subject to Section 409A of the Code, such Award shall vest and be distributed only in accordance with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement and the Committee shall only be permitted to use discretion to the extent that such discretion would be permitted under Section 409A of the Code.

 

ARTICLE VI
ELIGIBILITY FOR AWARDS

 

Awards made under the Plan may be granted solely to persons who, at the time of grant, are Employees, Directors or Consultants (or any such person to whom an offer of employment or engagement with the Company or any Affiliate is extended). An eligible person must be a natural person, and may only be granted an Award in connection with the provision of services not related to capital raising or promoting or maintaining a market for the Common Stock. An Award may be granted on more than one occasion to the same Employee, Director or Consultant, and, subject to the limitations set forth in the Plan, such Award may include a Non-Qualified Share Option, a Restricted Share Award, an Unrestricted Share Award, a Distribution Equivalent Right Award, a Performance Unit Award, a Share Appreciation Right, a Tandem Share Appreciation Right, any combination thereof or, solely for Employees, an Incentive Share Option.

 

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ARTICLE VII
OPTIONS

 

 

Section 7.1. Option Period. The term of each Option shall be as specified in the Option Agreement; provided, however, that except as set forth in Section 7.3, no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date of its grant.

 

Section 7.2. Limitations on Exercise of Option. An Option shall be exercisable in whole or in such installments and at such times as specified in the Option Agreement.

 

Section 7.3. Special Limitations on Incentive Share Options. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time the respective Incentive Share Option is granted) of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Share Options are exercisable for the first time by an individual during any calendar year under all plans of the Company and any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation thereof (both as defined in Section 424 of the Code) which provide for the grant of Incentive Share Options exceeds One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) (or such other individual limit as may be in effect under the Code on the date of grant), the portion of such Incentive Share Options that exceeds such threshold shall be treated as Non-Qualified Share Options. Incentive Share Options shall be granted to Employees only. The Committee shall determine, in accordance with applicable provisions of the Code, Treasury Regulations and other administrative pronouncements, which of a Holder’s Options, which were intended by the Committee to be Incentive Share Options when granted to the Holder, will not constitute Incentive Share Options because of such limitation, and shall notify the Holder of such determination as soon as practicable after such determination. No Incentive Share Option shall be granted to an Employee if, at the time the Incentive Share Option is granted, such Employee is a Ten Percent Shareholder, unless (i) at the time such Incentive Share Option is granted the Option price is at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Incentive Share Option, and (ii) such Incentive Share Option by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date of grant. No Incentive Share Option shall be granted more than ten (10) years from the date on which the Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders. The designation by the Committee of an Option as an Incentive Share Option shall not guarantee the Holder that the Option will satisfy the applicable requirements for “incentive stock option” status under Section 422 of the Code.

 

Section 7.4. Option Agreement. Each Option shall be evidenced by an Option Agreement in such form and containing such provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as the Committee from time to time shall approve, including, but not limited to, provisions intended to qualify an Option as an Incentive Share Option. An Option Agreement may provide for the payment of the Option price, in whole or in part, by the delivery of a number of shares of Common Stock (plus cash if necessary) that have been owned by the Holder for at least six (6) months and having a Fair Market Value equal to such Option price, or such other forms or methods as the Committee may determine from time to time, in each case, subject to such rules and regulations as may be adopted by the Committee. Each Option Agreement shall specify the effect of termination of employment, Director status or Consultant status on the exercisability of the Option. Moreover, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, an Option Agreement may provide for a “cashless exercise” of the Option, in whole or in part, by (a) establishing procedures whereby the Holder, by a properly-executed written notice, directs (i) an immediate market sale or margin loan as to all or a part of Common Stock to which he is entitled to receive upon exercise of the Option, pursuant to an extension of credit by the Company to the Holder of the Option price, (ii) the delivery of the Common Stock from the Company directly to a brokerage firm, and (iii) the delivery of the Option price from sale or margin loan proceeds from the brokerage firm directly to the Company, or (b) reducing the number of Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of the Option by the number of such Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the Option price (or portion thereof to be so paid) as of the date of the Option’s exercise. Each Option Agreement shall specify the effect of the termination of the Holder’s employment, Director status or Consultant status on the exercisability of the Option. An Option Agreement may also include provisions relating to (i) subject to the provisions hereof, accelerated vesting of Options, including, but not limited to, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, (ii) tax matters (including provisions covering any applicable Employee wage withholding requirements), and (iii) any other matters not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of the Plan that the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, determine. The terms and conditions of the respective Option Agreements need not be identical.

 

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Section 7.5. Option Price and Payment. The price at which a Common Share may be purchased upon exercise of an Option shall be determined by the Committee and shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Common Share on the date of grant of such Option; provided, however, that such Option price as determined by the Committee shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Article XIV. The Option price or portion thereof shall be paid in full in the manner prescribed by the Committee as set forth in the Plan and the applicable Option Agreement, which manner, with the consent of the Committee, may include the withholding of Common Stock otherwise issuable in connection with the exercise of the Option, for purposes of Section 7.4. Separate share certificates shall be issued by the Company for those Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Share Option and for those Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of a Non-Qualified Share Option.

 

Section 7.6. Stockholder Rights and Privileges. The Holder of an Option shall be entitled to all the privileges and rights of a stockholder of the Company solely with respect to such Common Stock as have been purchased under the Option and for which share certificates have been registered in the Holder’s name.

 

Section 7.7. Options and Rights in Substitution for Stock or Share Options Granted by Other Corporations. Options may be granted under the Plan from time to time in substitution for stock or share options held by individuals employed by entities who become Employees as a result of a merger or consolidation of the employing entity with the Company or any Affiliate, or the acquisition by the Company or an Affiliate of the assets of the employing entity or the acquisition by the Company or an Affiliate of stock or shares of the employing entity with the result that such employing entity becomes an Affiliate. Notwithstanding Section 7.5, the Committee may designate a purchase price below Fair Market Value on the date of grant if the Option is granted in substitution for a stock option previously granted by an entity that is acquired by or merged with the Company or an Affiliate.

 

Section 7.8. Prohibition Against Repricing. Except to the extent (i) approved in advance by holders of a majority of the shares of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, or (ii) as a result of any Change of Control or any adjustment as provided in Article XIV, the Committee shall not have the power or authority to reduce, whether through amendment or otherwise, the exercise price under any outstanding Option or Share Appreciation Right, or to grant any new Award or make any payment of cash in substitution for or upon the cancellation of Options and/or Share Appreciation Rights previously granted.

 

Section 7.9. Termination of Services. Unless otherwise specified with respect to a particular Option in the applicable Award Agreement or otherwise determined by the Committee, any portion of an Option that is not exercisable upon termination of service will expire immediately and automatically upon such termination and any portion of an Option that is exercisable upon termination of service will expire on the date it ceases to be exercisable in accordance with this Article VII.

 

(i) If a Participant’s service with the Company terminates by reason of death, any Option held by such Participant may thereafter be exercised, to the extent it was exercisable at the time of his or her death or on such accelerated basis as the Committee may determine at or after grant, by the legal representative of the estate or by the legatee of the Participant, for a period expiring (A) at such time as may be specified by the Committee at or after grant; (B) if not specified by the Committee, then 12 months from the date of death; or (C) if sooner than the applicable period specified under (A) or (B) above, upon the expiration of the stated term of such Option.

 

(ii) If a Participant’s service with the Company terminates by reason of Disability, any Option held by such Participant may thereafter be exercised by the Participant or his personal representative, to the extent it was exercisable at the time of termination, or on such accelerated basis as the Committee may determine at or after grant, for a period expiring: (A) at such time as may be specified by the Committee at or after grant; (B) if not specified by the Committee, then 12 months from the date of termination of service; or (C) if sooner than the applicable period specified under (A) or (B) above, upon the expiration of the stated term of such Option.

 

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(iii) If a Participant’s service with the Company is terminated for Cause: (A) any Option, or portion thereof, not already exercised will be immediately and automatically forfeited as of the date of such termination; and (B) any Shares for which the Company has not yet delivered share certificates will be immediately and automatically forfeited and the Company will refund to the Participant the Option exercise price paid for such Shares, if any.

 

(iv) If a Participant’s service with the Company terminates for any reason other than death, Disability or Cause, any Option held by such Participant may thereafter be exercised by the Participant, to the extent it was exercisable at the time of such termination, or on such accelerated basis as the Committee may determine at or after grant, for a period expiring: (A) at such time as may be specified by the Committee at or after grant; (B) if not specified by the Committee, then 90 days from the date of termination of service; or (C) if sooner than the applicable period specified under (A) or (B) above, upon the expiration of the stated term of such Option.

 

ARTICLE VIII
RESTRICTED SHARE AWARDS

 

Section 8.1. Issuance. Restricted Stock may be issued either alone or in conjunction with other Awards. The Committee will determine the time or times within which Restricted Stock may be subject to forfeiture, and all other conditions of such Awards. The purchase price for Restricted Stock may, but need not, be zero. The prospective recipient of an Award of Restricted Stock will not have any rights with respect to such Award, unless and until such recipient has delivered to the Company an executed Award Agreement and has otherwise complied with the applicable terms and conditions of such Award.

 

Section 8.2. Certificates. Upon the Award of Restricted Stock, the Committee may direct that a certificate or certificates representing the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such Award be issued to the Participant or placed in a restricted stock account (including an electronic account) with the transfer agent and in either case designating the Participant as the registered owner. The certificate(s) representing such shares shall be physically or electronically legended, as applicable, as to sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or other encumbrances during the Restriction Period and if issued to the Participant, returned to the Company, to be held in escrow during the Restriction Period. As a condition to any Award of Restricted Stock, the Participant may be required to deliver to the Company a share power, endorsed in blank, relating to the Shares covered by such Award.

 

Section 8.3. Restriction Period. During a period commencing with the date of an Award of Restricted Stock and ending at such time or times as specified by the Committee (the “Restriction Period”), the Participant will not be permitted to sell, transfer, pledge, assign or otherwise encumber Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan. The Committee may condition the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Stock upon the continued employment or service of the recipient, the attainment of specified individual or corporate performance goals, or such other factors as the Committee may determine, in its sole and absolute discretion. While any Share of Restricted Stock remains subject to restriction, the Participant will have, with respect to the Restricted Stock, the right to vote the Shares, but will not have the right to receive any cash distributions or dividends prior to the lapse of the Restriction Period underlying such Shares unless otherwise provided under the applicable Award Agreement or as determined by the Committee. If any cash distributions or dividends are payable with respect to the Restricted Stock, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may require the cash distributions or dividends to be subjected to the same Restriction Period as is applicable to the Restricted Stock with respect to which such amounts are paid, or, if the Committee so determines, reinvested in additional Restricted Stock to the extent Shares are available under Section 5.1 of the Plan. A Participant shall not be entitled to interest with respect to any dividends or distributions subjected to the Restriction Period. Any distributions or dividends paid in the form of securities with respect to Restricted Stock will be subject to the same terms and conditions as the Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid, including, without limitation, the same Restriction Period.

 

Section 8.4. Other Terms and Conditions. Common Stock awarded pursuant to a Restricted Share Award shall be represented by a share certificate registered in the name of the Holder of such Restricted Share Award. If provided for under the Restricted Share Award Agreement, the Holder shall have the right to vote Common Stock subject thereto and to enjoy all other stockholder rights, including the entitlement to receive dividends on the Common Stock during the Restriction Period, except that (i) the Holder shall not be entitled to delivery of the share certificate until the Restriction Period shall have expired, (ii) the Company shall retain custody of the share certificate during the Restriction Period (with a share power endorsed by the Holder in blank), (iii) the Holder may not sell, transfer, pledge, exchange, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of the Common Stock during the Restriction Period, and (iv) a breach of the terms and conditions established by the Committee pursuant to the Restricted Share Award Agreement shall cause a forfeiture of the Restricted Share Award. At the time of such Award, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, prescribe additional terms and conditions or restrictions relating to Restricted Share Awards, including, but not limited to, rules pertaining to the effect of termination of employment, Director status or Consultant status prior to expiration of the Restriction Period. Such additional terms, conditions or restrictions shall be set forth in a Restricted Share Award Agreement made in conjunction with the Award. Such Restricted Share Award Agreement may also include provisions relating to (i) subject to the provisions hereof, accelerated vesting of Awards, including, but not limited to, accelerated vesting upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, (ii) tax matters (including provisions covering any applicable Employee wage withholding requirements), and (iii) any other matters not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of the Plan that the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, determine. The terms and conditions of the respective Restricted Share Agreements need not be identical.

 

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Section 8.5. Payment for Restricted Shares. The Committee shall determine the amount and form of any payment from a Holder for Common Stock received pursuant to a Restricted Share Award, if any, provided that in the absence of such a determination, a Holder shall not be required to make any payment for Common Stock received pursuant to a Restricted Share Award, except to the extent otherwise required by law.

 

Section 8.6. Restricted Share Award Agreements. At the time any Award is made under this Article VIII, the Company and the Holder shall enter into a Restricted Share Award Agreement setting forth each of the matters contemplated hereby and such other matters as the Committee may determine to be appropriate.

 

Section 8.7. Termination of Services. Subject to the provisions of the applicable Award Agreement or as otherwise determined by the Committee, if a Participant’s service with the Company terminates for any reason prior to the expiration of the applicable Restriction Period, the Participant’s Restricted Stock that then remains subject to forfeiture will then be forfeited automatically. The foregoing notwithstanding, any Shares of Restricted Stock shall become free of all restriction if, during the Restriction Period, the Participant’s service with the Company terminates as a result of (i) the death or Disability of the Participant; (ii) the Participant retires after attaining the age of 59  years of age and five years of continuous service with the Company.

 

ARTICLE IX
UNRESTRICTED SHARE AWARDS

 

Pursuant to the terms of the applicable Unrestricted Share Award Agreement, a Holder may be awarded (or sold) Common Stock which are not subject to Restrictions, in consideration for past services rendered thereby to the Company or an Affiliate or for other valid consideration. Unrestricted Stock may be issued either alone or in conjunction with other Awards. Upon the Award of Unrestricted Stock, the Committee may direct that a certificate or certificates representing the number of Shares of Common Stock subject to such Award be issued to the Participant or placed in an unrestricted stock account (including an electronic account) with the transfer agent and in either case designating the Participant as the registered owner.

 

ARTICLE X
RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AWARDS

 

Section 10.1. Terms and Conditions. The Committee shall set forth in the applicable Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement the individual service-based vesting requirement which the Holder would be required to satisfy before the Holder would become entitled to payment pursuant to Section 10.2 and the number of Units awarded to the Holder. At the time of such Award, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, prescribe additional terms and conditions or restrictions relating to Restricted Share Unit Awards, including, but not limited to, rules pertaining to the effect of termination of employment, Director status or Consultant status prior to expiration of the applicable vesting period. The terms and conditions of the respective Restricted Share Unit Award Agreements need not be identical.

 

Section 10.2. Payments. The Holder of a Restricted Share Unit shall be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value of a Common Share, or one (1) Common Share, as determined, in the sole discretion, of the Committee and as set forth in the Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement, for each Restricted Share Unit subject to such Restricted Share Unit Award, if the Holder satisfies the applicable vesting requirement.

 

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ARTICLE XI
PERFORMANCE UNIT AWARDS

 

Section 11.1. Terms and Conditions. The Committee shall set forth in the applicable Performance Unit Award Agreement the performance goals and objectives (and the period of time to which such goals and objectives shall apply) which the Holder and/or the Company would be required to satisfy before the Holder would become entitled to payment pursuant to Section 11.2, the number of Units awarded to the Holder and the dollar value assigned to each such Unit. At the time of such Award, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, prescribe additional terms and conditions or restrictions relating to Performance Unit Awards, including, but not limited to, rules pertaining to the effect of termination of employment, Director status or Consultant status prior to expiration of the applicable performance period. The terms and conditions of the respective Performance Unit Award Agreements need not be identical. Performance Awards may be denominated as a number of Shares, or a specified number of other Awards, which may be earned upon achievement or satisfaction of such Performance Goals as may be specified by the Committee. In addition, the Committee may specify that any other Award shall constitute a Performance Award by conditioning the vesting or settlement of the Award upon the achievement or satisfaction of such Performance Goals as may be specified by the Committee

 

Section 11.2. Payments. The Holder of a Performance Unit shall be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the dollar value or number of Common Shares assigned to such Unit under the applicable Performance Unit Award Agreement if the Holder and/or the Company satisfy (or partially satisfy, if applicable under the applicable Performance Unit Award Agreement) the performance goals and objectives set forth in such Performance Unit Award Agreement.

 

Section 11.3. Adjustments to Performance Goals. The Committee may provide, at the time Performance Goals are established, that adjustments will be made to those performance goals to take into account, in any objective manner specified by the Committee, the impact of one or more of the following: (i) gain or loss from all or certain claims and/or litigation and insurance recoveries; (ii) the impairment of tangible or intangible assets; (iii) stock-based compensation expense; (iv) restructuring activities reported in the Company’s public filings; (v) investments, dispositions or acquisitions; (vi) loss from the disposal of certain assets; (vii) gain or loss from the early extinguishment, redemption or repurchase of debt; (viii) changes in accounting principles; or (ix) any other item, event or circumstance that would not cause an Award to fail to constitute “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code (to the extent such Award is intended to be “qualified performance-based compensation”). An adjustment described in this Section may relate to the Company or to any subsidiary, division or other operational unit of the Company, as determined by the Committee at the time the performance goals are established. Any adjustment shall be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and standards, unless such other objective method of measurement is designated by the committee at the time performance objectives are established. In addition, adjustments will be made as necessary to any performance criteria related to the Company’s stock to reflect changes in corporate capitalization, including a recapitalization, stock split or combination, stock dividend, spin-off, merger, reorganization or other similar event or transaction affecting the Company’s equity.

 

Section 11.4. Other Terms of Performance Awards. The Committee may specify other terms pertinent to a Performance Award in the applicable Award Agreement, including terms relating to the treatment of that Award in the event of a Change in Control prior to the end of the applicable performance period. The Participant shall not have any shareholder rights with respect to the Shares subject to a Performance Award until the Shares are actually issued thereunder. Subject to the provisions of the applicable Award Agreement or as otherwise determined by the Committee, if a Participant’s service with the Company terminates prior to the Performance Award vesting, the Participant’s Performance Award or portion thereof that then remains subject to forfeiture will then be forfeited automatically.

 

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ARTICLE XII
DISTRIBUTION EQUIVALENT RIGHTS

 

Section 12.1. Terms and Conditions. The Committee shall set forth in the applicable Distribution Equivalent Rights Award Agreement the terms and conditions applicable to such Award, including whether the Holder is to receive credits currently in cash, is to have such credits reinvested (at Fair Market Value determined as of the date of reinvestment) in additional Common Stock or is to be entitled to choose among such alternatives. Distribution Equivalent Rights Awards may be settled in cash or in Common Stock, as set forth in the applicable Distribution Equivalent Rights Award Agreement. A Distribution Equivalent Rights Award may, but need not, be awarded in tandem with another Award, whereby, if so awarded, such Distribution Equivalent Rights Award shall expire, terminate or be forfeited by the Holder, as applicable, under the same conditions as under such other Award.

 

Section 12.2. Interest Equivalents. The Distribution Equivalent Rights Award Agreement for a Distribution Equivalent Rights Award may provide for the crediting of interest on a Distribution Rights Award to be settled in cash at a future date, at a rate set forth in the applicable Distribution Equivalent Rights Award Agreement, on the amount of cash payable thereunder.

 

ARTICLE XIII
SHARE APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

Section 13.1. Terms and Conditions. The Committee shall set forth in the applicable Share Appreciation Right Award Agreement the terms and conditions of the Share Appreciation Right, including (i) the base value (the “Base Value”) for the Share Appreciation Right, which for purposes of a Share Appreciation Right which is not a Tandem Share Appreciation Right, shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a Common Share on the date of grant of the Share Appreciation Right (unless granted in substitution for an appreciation right previously granted by an entity that is acquired by or merged with the Company or an Affiliate), (ii) the number of Common Stock subject to the Share Appreciation Right, (iii) the period during which the Share Appreciation Right may be exercised; provided, however, that no Share Appreciation Right shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date of its grant, and (iv) any other special rules and/or requirements which the Committee imposes upon the Share Appreciation Right. Upon the exercise of some or all of the portion of a Share Appreciation Right, the Holder shall receive a payment from the Company, in cash or in the form of Common Stock having an equivalent Fair Market Value or in a combination of both, as determined, in the sole discretion of the Committee, equal to the product of: (a) The excess of (X) the Fair Market Value of a Common Share on the date of exercise, over (Y) the Base Value, multiplied by; (b) The number of Common Stock with respect to which the Share Appreciation Right is exercised.

 

Section 13.2. Tandem Share Appreciation Rights. If the Committee grants a Share Appreciation Right which is intended to be a Tandem Share Appreciation Right, the Tandem Share Appreciation Right shall be granted at the same time as the related Option, and the following special rules shall apply:

 

(a) The Base Value shall be equal to or greater than the per Common Share exercise price under the related Option;

 

(b) The Tandem Share Appreciation Right may be exercised for all or part of the Common Stock which are subject to the related Option, but solely upon the surrender by the Holder of the Holder’s right to exercise the equivalent portion of the related Option (and when an Common Share is purchased under the related Option, an equivalent portion of the related Tandem Share Appreciation Right shall be cancelled);

 

(c) The Tandem Share Appreciation Right shall expire no later than the date of the expiration of the related Option;

 

(d) The value of the payment with respect to the Tandem Share Appreciation Right may be no more than one hundred percent (100%) of the difference between the per Common Share exercise price under the related Option and the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the related Option at the time the Tandem Share Appreciation Right is exercised, multiplied by the number of the Common Stock with respect to which the Tandem Share Appreciation Right is exercised; and

 

(e) The Tandem Share Appreciation Right may be exercised solely when the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the related Option exceeds the per Common Share exercise price under the related Option.

 

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ARTICLE XIV
RECAPITALIZATION OR REORGANIZATION

 

Section 14.1. Adjustments to Common Stock. The shares with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan are Common Stock as presently constituted; provided, however, that if, and whenever, prior to the expiration or distribution to the Holder of Common Stock underlying an Award theretofore granted, the Company shall effect a subdivision or consolidation of the Common Stock or the payment of a Common Share dividend on Common Stock without receipt of consideration by the Company, the number of Common Stock with respect to which such Award may thereafter be exercised or satisfied, as applicable, (i) in the event of an increase in the number of outstanding Common Stock, shall be proportionately increased, and the purchase price per Common Share shall be proportionately reduced, and (ii) in the event of a reduction in the number of outstanding Common Stock, shall be proportionately reduced, and the purchase price per Common Share shall be proportionately increased. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Article XIV, any adjustment made with respect to an Award (x) which is an Incentive Share Option, shall comply with the requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code, and in no event shall any adjustment be made which would render any Incentive Share Option granted under the Plan to be other than an “incentive stock option” for purposes of Section 422 of the Code, and (y) which is a Non-Qualified Share Option, shall comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and in no event shall any adjustment be made which would render any Non-Qualified Share Option granted under the Plan to become subject to Section 409A of the Code.

 

Section 14.2. Recapitalization. If the Company recapitalizes or otherwise changes its capital structure, thereafter upon any exercise or satisfaction, as applicable, of a previously granted Award, the Holder shall be entitled to receive (or entitled to purchase, if applicable) under such Award, in lieu of the number of Common Stock then covered by such Award, the number and class of shares and securities to which the Holder would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the recapitalization if, immediately prior to such recapitalization, the Holder had been the holder of record of the number of Common Stock then covered by such Award.

 

Section 14.3. Other Events. In the event of changes to the outstanding Common Stock by reason of extraordinary cash dividend, reorganization, mergers, consolidations, combinations, split-ups, spin-offs, exchanges, stock split, reverse stock split or other relevant changes in capitalization occurring after the date of the grant of any Award and not otherwise provided for under this Article XIV, any outstanding Awards and any Award Agreements evidencing such Awards shall be adjusted by the Committee, in such manner as the Committee shall deem equitable or appropriate taking into consideration the applicable accounting and tax consequences, as to the number and price of Common Stock or other consideration subject to such Awards. In the event of any adjustment pursuant to Sections 14.1, 14.2 or this Section 14.3, the aggregate number of Common Stock available under the Plan pursuant to Section 5.1 may be appropriately adjusted by the Committee, the determination of which shall be conclusive. In addition, the Committee may make provision for a cash payment to a Holder or a person who has an outstanding Award. The number of Common Stock subject to any Award shall be rounded to the nearest whole number.

 

Section 14.4. Powers Not Affected. The existence of the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Board or of the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change of the Company’s capital structure or business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of debt or equity securities ahead of or affecting Common Stock or the rights thereof, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or any part of its assets or business or any other corporate act or proceeding.

 

Section 14.5. No Adjustment for Certain Awards. Except as hereinabove expressly provided, the issuance by the Company of shares of any class or securities convertible into shares of any class, for cash, property, labor or services, upon direct sale, upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor or upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, and in any case whether or not for fair value, shall not affect previously granted Awards, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to the number of Common Stock subject to Awards theretofore granted or the purchase price per Common Share, if applicable.

 

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ARTICLE XV
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF PLAN

 

The Plan shall continue in effect, unless sooner terminated pursuant to this Article XV, until the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date on which it is adopted by the Board (except as to Awards outstanding on that date). The Board, in its discretion, may terminate the Plan at any time with respect to any shares for which Awards have not theretofore been granted; provided, however, that the Plan’s termination shall not materially and adversely impair the rights of a Holder with respect to any Award theretofore granted without the consent of the Holder. The Board shall have the right to alter or amend the Plan or any part hereof from time to time; provided, however, stockholder approval shall be required for ay modification of the Plan that (i) requires stockholder approval under the rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any securities exchange applicable to the Company, (ii) increases the number of shares authorized under the Plan as specified in Section 5.1, (iii) increases the dollar limitation specified in Section 5.4, or (iv) amends, modifies or suspends Section 7.8 (repricing prohibitions) or this Article XV. In addition, unless otherwise permitted under the Award Agreement, no change in any Award theretofore granted may be made which would materially and adversely impair the rights of a Holder with respect to such Award without the consent of the Holder.

 

ARTICLE XVI
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 16.1. No Right to Award. Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Company nor any action of the Board or the Committee shall be deemed to give an Employee, Director or Consultant any right to an Award except as may be evidenced by an Award Agreement duly executed on behalf of the Company, and then solely to the extent and on the terms and conditions expressly set forth therein.

 

Section 16.2. No Rights Conferred. Nothing contained in the Plan shall (i) confer upon any Employee any right with respect to continuation of employment with the Company or any Affiliate, (ii) interfere in any way with any right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate the employment of an Employee at any time, (iii) confer upon any Director any right with respect to continuation of such Director’s membership on the Board, (iv)&nb