UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): June 22, 2021

 

NORTHERN GENESIS ACQUISITION CORP. II

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

Delaware		001-39881		85-3343695
(State of incorporation or organization)		(Commission File Number)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

4801 Main Street, Suite 1000 Kansas City, MO		64112
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

 

(816) 514-0324

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

	☒	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
	☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
	☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
	☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

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

 

Title of each class		Trading symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Units, each consisting of one share of common stock and one-third of one redeemable warrant		NGAB.U		New York Stock Exchange
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share		NGAB		New York Stock Exchange
Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share		NGAB WS		New York Stock Exchange

 

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

 

Emerging growth company ☒

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 

Item 1.01.

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

 

Merger Agreement

 

On June 22, 2021, Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II, a Delaware corporation (“Northern Genesis II”), Embark Trucks Inc., a Delaware Corporation (“Embark”), and NGAB Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Northern Genesis II (“Merger Sub”), entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, Merger Sub will be merged with and into Embark (the “Merger,” together with the other transactions related thereto, the “Business Combination”), with Embark surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Northern Genesis II (the “Surviving Corporation”).

 

On the date of closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), Northern Genesis II will amend and restate its certificate of incorporation (the “Post-Closing Charter”), pursuant to which, among other things, (i) Northern Genesis II will have a dual class share structure with (x) shares of Class A common stock that will carry voting rights in the form of one vote per share (the “New Class A Common Stock”), and (y) shares of Class B common stock that will carry voting rights in the form of ten votes per share (the “New Class B Common Stock” and, together with the New Class A Common Stock, the “New Common Stock”) and (ii) all outstanding shares of common stock of Northern Genesis II (“NGA Common Stock”) will be reclassified into shares of New Class A Common Stock. At Closing, Northern Genesis II will also change its name to Embark Technology, Inc.

 

Merger Consideration

 

Immediately prior to the Effective Time, by virtue of the effectiveness of the Post-Closing Charter and without any further action on the part of any holder of the shares of NGA Common Stock issued and outstanding:

 

●

each share of Embark common stock that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than any Treasury Shares (as defined below), shares of Embark common stock that exercise statutory dissenters rights and shares subject to the options, Embark Restricted Stock Awards and Embark Restricted Stock Unit Awards described below) (collectively, the “Exchange Shares”) will be canceled and converted into the right to receive the applicable portion of the number of shares of New Common Stock equal to an exchange ratio equal to the quotient of (i) (a) the base purchase price of $4,250,000,000 (as adjusted pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement) divided by (b) $10.00 (the “Aggregate Merger Consideration”) and (ii) Aggregate Fully Diluted Company Common Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement). Each holder of Exchange Shares shall have its Exchange Shares converted into either (i) New Class A Common Stock, or (ii) New Class B Common Stock, as follows:

 

	○	in the case of Exchange Shares held by each of the Founders of Embark, Alex Rodrigues and Brandon Moak (or, in each case, a trust established for the benefit of such Founder or their family), such Exchange Shares shall be converted into New Class B Common Stock (the New Class B Common Stock issued to (x) Mr. Rodrigues (or the applicable trust) will provide him with approximately 40.6% of the voting power and (y) Mr. Moak (or the applicable trust) will provide him with approximately 30.0% of the voting power, in each case, of the outstanding New Common Stock of Northern Genesis II following the Closing, assuming no redemptions by the Northern Genesis II stockholders); and
	○	in the case of any other holder of Exchange Shares, such Exchange Shares shall be converted into New Class A Common Stock;

 

●

each share of the capital stock of Merger Sub shall be converted into one (1) share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation;

 

●

each outstanding option to purchase Embark common stock that is then outstanding prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into the right to receive an option relating to shares of New Common Stock upon substantially the same terms and conditions as are in effect with respect to such option immediately prior to the Effective Time, including with respect to vesting and termination-related provisions based on the Exchange Ratio;

 

 

	●	each Embark Restricted Stock Award that is then outstanding prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into the right to receive restricted shares of New Common Stock with substantially the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such award immediately prior to the Effective Time (including with respect to vesting and termination-related provisions) based on the Exchange Ratio;
	●	each Embark Restricted Stock Unit Award that is then outstanding prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into the right to receive restricted stock units based on shares of New Common Stock (with substantially the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such Embark RSU immediately prior to the Effective Time (including with respect to vesting and termination-related provisions) based on the Exchange Ratio; and
	●	all shares of Embark common stock held in the treasury of Embark (“Treasury Shares”) will automatically be canceled and cease to exist as of the Effective Time, and no consideration will be delivered.

 

Closing

 

The Closing will occur on the date which is three (3) business days following the satisfaction or, if permissible, waiver of all of the closing conditions.

 

Representations and Warranties

 

The Merger Agreement contains customary representations and warranties of (i) Northern Genesis II and Merger Sub and (ii) Embark relating to, among other things, their ability to enter into the Merger Agreement and their outstanding capitalization. Such representations and warranties will terminate and be of no further force and effect as of the Closing.

  

Covenants

 

The Merger Agreement contains customary covenants of the parties, including, among others, covenants providing for:

 

●

certain limitations on the operation of the parties’ respective businesses prior to consummation of the Merger,

 

●

the parties’ efforts to satisfy conditions to consummation of the Merger, including by obtaining necessary approvals from governmental agencies (including U.S. federal antitrust authorities) and

 

●

Northern Genesis II preparing and filing a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and taking certain other actions to obtain the requisite approval of the stockholders of Northern Genesis II to vote in favor of certain matters, including the adoption of the Merger Agreement and approval of the Merger, at a special meeting to be called therefor.

 

Conditions to Closing

 

The obligations of each of Northern Genesis II, Embark and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where permissible) at or prior to the Effective Time certain closing conditions, including, but not limited to:

 

	●	the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended;
	●	the absence of any law or governmental order or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the Business Combination;
	●	the Registration Statement (as defined below) being declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”);
	●	the shares of New Class A Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Business Combination having been approved for listing on Nasdaq, or if requested by Embark, the New York Stock Exchange;
	●	the approval of Northern Genesis II’s stockholders;
	●	the approval of Embark’s stockholders;
	●	the accuracy of the parties’ respective representations and warranties (subject to specified materiality thresholds) and the material performance of the parties’ respective covenants and other obligations; and
	●	Northern Genesis II having at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) after giving effect to the PIPE remaining after the Closing.

 

In addition, unless waived by Embark, the obligation of Embark to consummate the Merger is subject to the satisfaction of, among other conditions, the aggregate cash proceeds from Northern Genesis II’s trust account, together with the proceeds from the PIPE, equaling no less than $295,000,000 (after deducting any amounts paid to Northern Genesis II stockholders that exercise their redemption rights in connection with the Business Combination).

 

 

Termination

 

The Merger Agreement may be terminated, and the Business Combination may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time, notwithstanding any requisite approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement and the Business Combination by the stockholders of Northern Genesis II, as follows:

 

	●	by mutual written consent of Northern Genesis II and Embark;
	●	by Embark or Northern Genesis II if any governmental entity shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any order which has become final and nonappealable and has the effect of making consummation of the Business Combination illegal or otherwise preventing or prohibiting consummation of the Business Combination;
	●	by either Embark or Northern Genesis II if the other party breaches its representations, warranties or covenants such that the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement would not be satisfied, and such party fails to cure such breach (other than for certain limited exceptions)
	●	by Embark if there has been a modification in the recommendation of the board of directors of Northern Genesis II relating to the approval of the Business Combination;
	●	by either Embark or Northern Genesis II if the Business Combination is not consummated on or prior to November 20, 2021, plus a maximum of thirty days to the extent the Registration Statement is not declared effective by the SEC on or prior to October 21, 2021; or
	●	by NGA if the Embark stockholder approvals shall not have been obtained within five (5) business days after the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC and delivered or otherwise made available to stockholders.

 

Effect of Termination

 

If the Merger Agreement is terminated, the Merger Agreement will become void and there will be no liability under the Merger Agreement on the part of any party, except in the case of fraud or a willful material breach of the Merger Agreement prior to such termination, except that certain provisions of the Merger Agreement shall survive such termination.

 

A copy of the Merger Agreement is filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 2.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K. The Merger Agreement is included to provide security holders with information regarding its terms. It is not intended to provide any other factual information about Northern Genesis II, Embark or Merger Sub. In particular, the assertions embodied in representations and warranties by Northern Genesis II, Embark and Merger Sub contained in the Merger Agreement are qualified by information in the disclosure schedules provided by the parties in connection with the signing of the Merger Agreement. These disclosure schedules contain information that modifies, qualifies and creates exceptions to the representations and warranties set forth in the Merger Agreement. Moreover, certain representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement were used for the purpose of allocating risk between the parties, rather than establishing matters as facts. Accordingly, security holders should not rely on the representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement as characterizations of the actual state of facts about Northern Genesis II, Embark or Merger Sub.

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

In connection with the Closing, Northern Genesis II will enter into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with Northern Genesis Sponsor II LLC (the “Sponsor”) and certain former stockholders of Embark (“Embark Holders”). The Registration Rights Agreement, subject to the terms thereof, will require Northern Genesis II to, among other things, file a resale shelf registration statement on behalf of the Sponsor and the Embark Holders within thirty (30) days following the Closing. The Registration Rights Agreement will also provide for certain demand rights and piggyback registration rights to in favor of each of the Sponsor and the Embark Holders, subject to customary underwriter cutbacks. Northern Genesis II will agree to pay certain fees and expenses relating to registrations under the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

 

The foregoing description of the Registration Rights Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is included as Exhibit C to the Merger Agreement, filed as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Sponsor Support Agreement

 

In connection with the Merger Agreement, Northern Genesis II, Embark and the Sponsor entered into the Sponsor Support Agreement (the “Sponsor Support Agreement”) pursuant to which Sponsor agreed to vote all of its shares of NGA Common Stock in favor of the approval and adoption of the Business Combination. Additionally, Sponsor agreed, among other things, not to (i) transfer any of its shares of New Class A Common Stock or warrants for certain periods of time as set forth in the Sponsor Support Agreement, subject to certain customary exceptions or (ii) enter into any voting arrangement that is inconsistent with the commitment under the Sponsor Support Agreement to vote in favor of the approval and adoption of the Business Combination. Sponsor also agreed to forfeit (i) a relative percentage of the Sponsor founder shares to the extent that the Sponsor’s investors fail to hold, at the Closing, at least one-half of the shares of NGA Common Stock issued to such Sponsor investors in connection with the Northern Genesis II initial public offering, and (ii) a portion of the founder shares in connection with the forward purchase agreement investment. The Sponsor Support Agreement will terminate upon the termination of the Merger Agreement if the Closing does not occur.

 

The foregoing description of the Sponsor Support Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Sponsor Support Agreement, a copy of which is included as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Embark Holders Support Agreement

 

In connection with the Merger Agreement, Northern Genesis II, Embark and certain stockholders of Embark (the “Embark Holders”) entered into the Company Holders Support Agreement (the “Embark Holders Support Agreement”) pursuant to which the Embark Holders each agreed to (i) vote his, her or its shares of Embark common stock in favor of the approval and adoption of the Business Combination, (ii) not transfer, subject to limited exceptions, any shares of Embark common stock prior to the Closing or termination of the Merger Agreement, (iii) deliver a duly executed counterpart to the Registration Rights Agreement at Closing and (iv) be bound by certain other covenants and agreements related to the Business Combination. The Embark Holders Support Agreement will terminate upon the termination of the Merger Agreement if the Closing does not occur.

 

The foregoing description of the Embark Holders Support Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Embark Holders Support Agreement, a copy of which is included as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Subscription Agreements

 

In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, on June 22, 2021, Northern Genesis II and Embark entered into separate subscription agreements (collectively, the “Subscription Agreements”) with a number of investors (the “Subscribers”), pursuant to which the Subscribers agreed to purchase, and Northern Genesis II agreed to sell to the Subscribers, an aggregate of 16,000,000 shares of New Class A Common Stock (the “PIPE Shares”), for a purchase price of $10.00 per share and an aggregate purchase price of $160 million, in a private placement (the “PIPE”). In addition, on June 22, 2021, Northern Genesis II entered into joinders with a number of the forward purchase investors (the “FPA Subscribers”) that were parties to the previously disclosed Northern Genesis II amended and restated forward purchase agreements dated April 21, 2021 (the “Forward Purchase Agreements”), pursuant to which the FPA Subscribers confirmed their intent to purchase, and Northern Genesis II agreed to sell to the FPA Subscribers, an aggregate of 4,000,000 units of Northern Genesis II, consisting of one share of New Class A Common Stock and one-sixth of a warrant (the “PIPE Units”), for a purchase price of $10.00 per unit and an aggregate of $40 million, in the PIPE.

 

The closing of the sale of the PIPE Shares pursuant to the Subscription Agreements and PIPE Units pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreements is contingent upon, among other customary closing conditions, the substantially concurrent consummation of the Business Combination. The purpose of the PIPE is to raise additional capital for use by the combined company following the Closing.

 

Pursuant to the Subscription Agreements, Northern Genesis II agreed that, within 15 business days after the consummation of the Business Combination, Northern Genesis II will file with the SEC a registration statement registering the resale of the PIPE Shares and the New Class A Common Stock and Warrants underlying the PIPE Units (the “PIPE Resale Registration Statement”), and will use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the PIPE Resale Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, but no later than the earlier of (i) the 60th calendar day (or 120th calendar day if the SEC notifies Northern Genesis II that it will “review” the PIPE Resale Registration Statement) following the Closing and (ii) the 10th business day after the date Northern Genesis II is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the SEC that the PIPE Resale Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review.

 

 

The foregoing description of the Subscription Agreements is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of the Subscription Agreement, a copy of which is included as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3.02.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

The disclosure set forth above under “Subscription Agreements” in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference herein. The shares of New Class A Common Stock and units to be offered and sold in connection with the PIPE have not been registered under the Securities Act in reliance upon the exemption provided in Section 4(a)(2) thereof.

 

Item 7.01.

Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

On June 23, 2021, Northern Genesis II and Embark issued a joint press release announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement and announcing that Northern Genesis II and Embark will hold a conference call on June 23, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (the “Conference Call”). A copy of the press release, which includes information regarding participation in the Conference Call and a telephone replay, is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference. The script that Northern Genesis II and Embark used for the Conference Call is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and incorporated herein by reference. Such exhibits and the information set forth therein shall not be deemed to be filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise be subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

 

Attached as Exhibit 99.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference is an investor presentation relating to the Business Combination. Such exhibit and the information set forth therein shall not be deemed to be filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise be subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Embark’s and Northern Genesis II’s actual results may differ from their expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, Embark’s and Northern Genesis II’s expectations with respect to future performance. These forward-looking statements also involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted in connection with any proposed business combination; (2) the inability to complete any proposed business combination in a timely manner or at all; (3) delays in obtaining, adverse conditions contained in, or the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals or complete regulatory reviews required to complete any proposed business combination; (4) the risk that the business combination may not be completed by Northern Genesis II’s business combination deadline and the potential failure to obtain an extension of the business combination deadline if sought; (5) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the transaction, including the adoption of the agreement and plan of merger by the stockholders of Northern Genesis II and Embark and the satisfaction of the minimum trust account amount following redemptions by Northern Genesis II’s public stockholders; (6) the lack of a third party valuation in determining whether or not to pursue the proposed business combination; (7) the risk that any proposed business combination disrupts current plans and operations and/or the impact that the announcement of the proposed business combination may have on Embark’s business relationships; (8) the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of any proposed business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain key employees; (9) costs related to the any proposed business combination; (10) changes in the applicable laws or regulations; (11) volatility in the price of Northern Genesis II’s securities due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which Embark plans to operate, variations in performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting Embark’s business and changes in the combined capital structure; (12) the possibility that Embark or Northern Genesis II may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (13) the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic; and (14) other risks and uncertainties separately provided to you and indicated from time to time described in filings and potential filings by Embark and Northern Genesis II with the SEC, including those discussed in Northern Genesis II’s Annual Report Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 (“Form 10-K”) and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 and those that are expected to be included in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 and proxy statement/prospectus discussed below and other documents filed by Northern Genesis II from time to time. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Embark and Northern Genesis II caution that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive and not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, including projections, which speak only as of the date made. Embark and Northern Genesis II undertake no obligation to and accepts no obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

 

 

Additional Information About the Business Combination and Where to Find It

 

The proposed transactions will be submitted to stockholders of Northern Genesis II for their consideration. Northern Genesis II intends to file a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) with the SEC which will include preliminary and definitive proxy statements to be distributed to Northern Genesis II’s stockholders in connection with Northern Genesis II’s solicitation for proxies for the vote by Northern Genesis II’s stockholders in connection with the proposed transactions and other matters as described in the Registration Statement, as well as the prospectus relating to the offer of the securities to be issued to Embark’s shareholders in connection with the completion of the proposed merger. After the Registration Statement has been filed and declared effective, Northern Genesis II will mail a definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents to its stockholders as of the record date established for voting on the proposed transactions. Northern Genesis II’s stockholders and other interested persons are advised to read, once available, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and any amendments thereto and, once available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus, in connection with Northern Genesis II’s solicitation of proxies for its special meeting of stockholders to be held to approve, among other things, the proposed business combination, because these documents will contain important information about Northern Genesis II, Embark and the proposed business combination. Stockholders may also obtain a copy of the preliminary or definitive proxy statement, once available, as well as other documents filed with the SEC regarding the proposed transactions and other documents filed with the SEC by Northern Genesis II, without charge, at the SEC’s website located at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to Northern Genesis II.

 

INVESTMENT IN ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SEC OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY NOR HAS ANY AUTHORITY PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THE OFFERING OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

 

Participants in the Solicitation

 

Northern Genesis II, Embark and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees may, under SEC rules, be deemed to be participants in the solicitations of proxies from Northern Genesis II’s stockholders in connection with the proposed transactions. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of Northern Genesis II’s stockholders in connection with the proposed transactions will be set forth in Northern Genesis II’s proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. You can find more information about Northern Genesis II’s directors and executive officers in Northern Genesis II’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available. Stockholders, potential investors and other interested persons should read the proxy statement/prospectus carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free copies of these documents from the sources indicated above.

 

No Offer or Solicitation

 

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

 

 

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.		Exhibit
2.1*		Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 22, 2021, by and among Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II, NGAB Merger Sub Inc. and Embark Trucks Inc.
10.1		Sponsor Support Agreement, dated as of June 22, 2021, by and among Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II, Embark Trucks Inc. and the Sponsor.
10.2		Company Holders Support Agreement, dated as of June 22, 2021, by and among Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II, Embark Trucks Inc. and certain holders of Embark Trucks Inc. named therein.
10.3		Form of Subscription Agreement.
99.1		Press Release, dated June 23, 2021.
99.2		Conference Call Script.
99.3		Investor Presentation.

 

*	All schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule and/or exhibit will be furnished to the SEC upon request.

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated: June 23, 2021

 

	NORTHERN GENESIS ACQUISITION CORP. II
	By:	/s/ Ian Robertson
	Name:	Ian Robertson
	Title:	Chief Executive Officer

 

 

8

Exhibit 2.1

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

by and among

 

NORTHERN GENESIS ACQUISITION CORP. II,

NGAB MERGER SUB INC.,

 

and

 

EMBARK TRUCKS INC.

 

dated as of June 22, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  

	Page
Article I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1. Definitions	3
Section 1.2. Construction	19
Section 1.3. Knowledge	20
Article II
THE MERGER; CLOSING
Section 2.1. The Merger	20
Section 2.2. Effects of the Merger	20
Section 2.3. Closing; Effective Time	21
Section 2.4. Closing Deliverables	21
Section 2.5. Governing Documents	22
Section 2.6. Directors and Officers	23
Section 2.7. Tax Free Reorganization Matters	23
Section 2.8. Closing Statements	23
Article III
EFFECTS OF THE MERGER
Section 3.1. Reclassification and Conversion of Securities	25
Section 3.2. Exchange Procedures	26
Section 3.3. Treatment of Company Awards	27
Section 3.4. Withholding	28
Section 3.5. Dissenting Shares	28
Article IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Section 4.1. Company Organization	29
Section 4.2. Subsidiaries	29
Section 4.3. Due Authorization	30
Section 4.4. No Conflict	30
Section 4.5. Governmental Authorities; Consents	31
Section 4.6. Capitalization of the Company	31
Section 4.7. Capitalization of Subsidiaries	32
Section 4.8. Financial Statements	33

 

 

Section 4.9. Undisclosed Liabilities	33
Section 4.10. Litigation and Proceedings	33
Section 4.11. Legal Compliance	34
Section 4.12. Contracts; No Defaults	34
Section 4.13. Company Benefit Plans	36
Section 4.14. Labor Relations; Employees	38
Section 4.15. Taxes	39
Section 4.16. Brokers’ Fees	40
Section 4.17. Insurance	40
Section 4.18. Licenses	41
Section 4.19. Equipment and Other Tangible Property	41
Section 4.20. Real Property	41
Section 4.21. Intellectual Property	42
Section 4.22. Privacy and Cybersecurity	43
Section 4.23. Environmental Matters	44
Section 4.24. Absence of Changes	44
Section 4.25. Anti-Corruption Compliance	45
Section 4.26. Sanctions and International Trade Compliance	45
Section 4.27. Information Supplied	45
Section 4.28. No Additional Representation or Warranties	46

 

 

Article V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ACQUIROR AND MERGER SUB
Section 5.1. Company Organization	47
Section 5.2. Due Authorization	47
Section 5.3. No Conflict	48
Section 5.4. Litigation and Proceedings	48
Section 5.5. SEC Filings	48
Section 5.6. Internal Controls; Listing; Financial Statements	49
Section 5.7. Governmental Authorities; Consents	50
Section 5.8. Trust Account	50
Section 5.9. Investment Company Act; JOBS Act	51
Section 5.10. Absence of Changes	51
Section 5.11. No Undisclosed Liabilities	51
Section 5.12. Capitalization of Acquiror	51
Section 5.13. Brokers’ Fees	52
Section 5.14. Indebtedness	52
Section 5.15. Taxes	53
Section 5.16. Business Activities	54
Section 5.17. Stock Market Quotation	55
Section 5.18. Registration Statement, Proxy Statement and Proxy Statement/Registration Statement	55
Section 5.19. No Additional Representation or Warranties	56
Article VI
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
Section 6.1. Conduct of Business	56
Section 6.2. Inspection	59
Section 6.3. Preparation and Delivery of Additional Company Financial Statements	60
Section 6.4. Affiliate Agreements	61
Section 6.5. Acquisition Proposals	61
Article VII
COVENANTS OF ACQUIROR
Section 7.1. Employee Matters	61
Section 7.2. Trust Account Proceeds and Related Available Equity	62
Section 7.3. Listing	62
Section 7.4. No Solicitation by Acquiror	62
Section 7.5. Acquiror Conduct of Business	63
Section 7.6. Post-Closing Directors and Officers of Acquiror	65
Section 7.7. Indemnification and Insurance	65
Section 7.8. Acquiror Public Filings	66
Section 7.9. PIPE Subscriptions; Forward Purchase	66
Section 7.10. Stockholder Litigation	67
Section 7.11. Amendments to Acquiror Governing Documents	67
Article VIII
JOINT COVENANTS
Section 8.1. HSR Act; Other Filings	67
Section 8.2. Preparation of Proxy Statement/Registration Statement; Shareholders’ Meeting and Approvals	69
Section 8.3. Support of Transaction	73
Section 8.4. Tax Matters	73
Section 8.5. Section 16 Matters	74
Section 8.6. Cooperation; Consultation	74

 

 

Article IX
CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS
Section 9.1. Conditions to Obligations of Acquiror, Merger Sub, and the Company	74
Section 9.2. Conditions to Obligations of Acquiror and Merger Sub	75
Section 9.3. Conditions to the Obligations of the Company	75
Article X
TERMINATION/EFFECTIVENESS
Section 10.1. Termination	76
Section 10.2. Effect of Termination	77
Article XI
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11.1. Trust Account Waiver	77
Section 11.2. Waiver	78
Section 11.3. Notices	78
Section 11.4. Assignment	79
Section 11.5. Rights of Third Parties	79
Section 11.6. Expenses	79
Section 11.7. Governing Law	80
Section 11.8. Headings; Counterparts	80
Section 11.9. Company and Acquiror Disclosure Letters	80
Section 11.10. Entire Agreement	80
Section 11.11. Amendments	80
Section 11.12. Publicity	80
Section 11.13. Severability	81
Section 11.14. Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial	81
Section 11.15. Enforcement	82
Section 11.16. Non-Recourse	82
Section 11.17. Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants	82
Section 11.18. Conflicts and Privilege	83

 

Exhibits 

 

Exhibit A	Form of Acquiror Second A&R Charter	A-1
Exhibit B	Form of Acquiror A&R Bylaws	B-1
Exhibit C	Form of Registration Rights Agreement	C-1
Exhibit D	Form of Incentive Equity Plan	D-1
Exhibit E	Form of Employee Stock Purchase Plan	E-1

 

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

This Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 22, 2021 (this “Agreement”), is made and entered into by and among Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II, a Delaware corporation (“Acquiror”), NGAB Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Acquiror (“Merger Sub”), and Embark Trucks Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, Acquiror is a blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation and incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities;

 

WHEREAS, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (the “DGCL”), (i) Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease and the Company will be the surviving corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Acquiror (the “Merger”) and (ii) Acquiror will change its name to “Embark Technology, Inc.”;

 

WHEREAS, prior to the Effective Time (as defined below), (i) all of the Company Warrants (as defined below) will be exercised in full on a cash or cashless basis or terminated without exercise, as applicable, in accordance with their respective terms (the “Company Warrant Settlement”) and (ii) each share of Company Founders Preferred Stock (as defined below) and Company Preferred Stock (as defined below) will be converted into one share of Company Common Stock (as defined below) (the “Company Preferred Conversion”);

 

WHEREAS, upon the Effective Time and following the Company Warrant Settlement and Company Preferred Conversion, all shares of the Company’s Capital Stock (as defined below) and Company Awards (as defined below) will be converted into the right to receive (in the case of the Company Awards, if and to the extent earned and subject to their respective terms) the Aggregate Merger Consideration (as defined below), as set forth in this Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, each of the parties intends that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (i) this Agreement shall constitute a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and the Treasury Regulations (as defined below) promulgated thereunder, and (ii) the Merger shall constitute a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and/or the Merger, the FPA Investment and the PIPE Investment shall be considered part of an overall plan in which the Company Stockholders exchange their shares of Company Capital Stock for the Merger Consideration in an exchange described in Section 351 of the Code;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has approved this Agreement and the documents contemplated hereby and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, declared it advisable for the Company to enter into this Agreement and the other documents contemplated hereby and recommended the approval of this agreement by the Company’s stockholders;

 

 

WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to Acquiror’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Requisite Company Stockholders (as defined below) have executed and delivered to Acquiror a Company Holders Support Agreement (as defined below) pursuant to which the Requisite Company Stockholders have agreed, among other things, to vote (whether pursuant to a duly convened meeting of the stockholders of the Company or pursuant to an action by written consent of the stockholders of the Company) in favor of the adoption and approval, promptly following the time at which the Registration Statement (as defined below) shall have been declared effective and delivered or otherwise made available to stockholders, of this Agreement and the other documents contemplated hereby and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Acquiror has (i) determined that it is advisable for Acquiror to enter into this Agreement and the documents contemplated hereby, (ii) approved the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the documents contemplated hereby and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and (iii) recommended the adoption and approval of this Agreement and the other documents contemplated hereby and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby by the Acquiror Shareholders (as defined below);

 

WHEREAS, Acquiror, as sole shareholder of Merger Sub, has approved and adopted this Agreement and the documents contemplated hereby and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby;

 

WHEREAS, in furtherance of the Merger and in accordance with the terms hereof, Acquiror shall provide an opportunity to its shareholders to have their outstanding Acquiror IPO Shares (as defined below) redeemed on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Acquiror’s Governing Documents (as defined below) in connection with obtaining the Acquiror Shareholder Approval (as defined below) (the “Offer”);

 

WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to the Company’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Sponsor (as defined below) has executed and delivered to the Company the Sponsor Support Agreement (as defined below) pursuant to which the Sponsor has agreed to, among other things, vote to adopt and approve this Agreement and the other documents contemplated hereby and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby;

 

WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to the Company’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the FPA Purchasers have concurrently agreed to subscribe for and purchase, and Acquiror has agreed to issue and sell to the FPA Purchasers, (i) 4,000,000 shares of Acquiror Class A Common Stock and (ii) 666,667 Acquiror Warrants in exchange for an aggregate purchase price of $40,000,000 (the “FPA Investment Amount”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, such purchases to be consummated prior to or substantially concurrently with the Closing;

 

WHEREAS, on or prior to the date hereof, Acquiror entered into Subscription Agreements (as defined below) with PIPE Investors (as defined below) pursuant to which, and on the terms and subject to the conditions of which, such PIPE Investors agreed to purchase from Acquiror shares of Acquiror Class A Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price, together with the FPA Investment Amount, equal to at least the Minimum PIPE Investment Amount (as defined below), such purchases to be consummated prior to or substantially concurrently with the Closing; and

 

 

WHEREAS, at the Closing, Acquiror, the Sponsor, the Major Company Stockholders (as defined below), and certain of their respective Affiliates (as defined below), as applicable, shall enter into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (with such changes as may be agreed in writing by Acquiror and the Company), which shall be effective as of the Closing.

 

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

 

Article I

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1 Definitions. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

“Acquiror” has the meaning specified in the Preamble hereto.

 

“Acquiror A&R Bylaws” has the meaning specified in Section 7.11(a).

 

“Acquiror Class A Common Stock” means Acquiror’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, as defined in the Acquiror Second A&R Charter on the Closing Date following the filing thereof.

 

“Acquiror Class B Common Stock” means Acquiror’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, as defined in the Acquiror Second A&R Charter on the Closing Date following the filing thereof.

 

“Acquiror Closing Statement” has the meaning specified in Section 2.8(a).

 

“Acquiror Common Stock” means, collectively, the Acquiror Class A Common Stock and the Acquiror Class B Common Stock.

 

“Acquiror Cure Period” has the meaning specified in Section 10.1(g).

 

“Acquiror Disclosure Letter” has the meaning specified in the introduction to Article V.

 

“Acquiror Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 5.6(d).

 

“Acquiror Indemnified Parties” has the meaning specified in Section 7.7(a).

 

 

“Acquiror IPO Shares” means shares of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock issued by Acquiror pursuant to Acquiror’s initial public offering, which shares are defined as “IPO Shares” in Acquiror’s Governing Documents.

 

“Acquiror Option” has the meaning specified in Section 3.3(a).

 

“Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock” means the Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Acquiror, as such class of Common Stock exists as of the date of this Agreement.

 

“Acquiror Private Placement Warrant” means an Acquiror Warrant issued by Acquiror to the Sponsor pursuant to a private placement in connection with Acquiror’s initial public offering.

 

“Acquiror Public Warrant” means an Acquiror Warrant that was included in the units sold as part of Acquiror’s initial public offering.

 

“Acquiror SEC Filings” has the meaning specified in Section 5.5.

 

“Acquiror Second A&R Charter” has the meaning specified in Section 7.11(a).

 

“Acquiror Securities” means the Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock (or, following the Closing, Acquiror Common Stock), the Acquiror Warrants, and any other securities or equity interests of Acquiror.

 

“Acquiror Share Redemption” means the election of an eligible (as determined in accordance with Acquiror’s Governing Documents) holder of Acquiror IPO Shares to redeem all or a portion of the Acquiror IPO Shares held by such holder at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to a pro rata share of the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account (including any interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account) (as determined in accordance with Acquiror’s Governing Documents) in connection with the Transaction Proposals.

 

“Acquiror Share Redemption Amount” means the aggregate amount payable with respect to all Acquiror Share Redemptions.

 

“Acquiror Shareholder Approval” means the approval of (i) the Charter Proposal by an affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock, at a shareholders’ meeting duly called by the Board of Directors of Acquiror and held for such purpose, and (ii) each of the other Transaction Proposals by an affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock present in person or by proxy at a shareholders’ meeting duly called by the Board of Directors of Acquiror and held for such purpose.

 

“Acquiror Shareholders” means the shareholders of Acquiror as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

“Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting” has the meaning specified in Section 8.2(b).

 

“Acquiror Warrants” means each warrant to purchase one (1) share of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock (or, from and after the Closing, one (1) share of Acquiror Class A Common Stock), in each case at an exercise price of eleven Dollars fifty cents ($11.50) and includes, for the avoidance of doubt, the Acquiror Public Warrants, the Acquiror Private Placement Warrants, the Acquiror Working Capital Warrants, and warrants to be issued and sold pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreements.

 

 

“Acquiror Working Capital Warrants” means up to 2,000,000 Acquiror Warrants, having the same terms as the Acquiror Private Placement Warrants, that may be issued prior to the Closing by Acquiror to the Sponsor pursuant to a private placement, at a price of $1.50 per Acquiror Warrant, including in satisfaction of Working Capital Loans.

 

“Acquisition Proposal” means, with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, other than the transactions contemplated hereby and other than the acquisition or disposition of inventory, equipment or other tangible personal property in the ordinary course of business, any offer or proposal relating to: (a) any acquisition or purchase, direct or indirect, of (i) 15% or more of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries or (ii) 15% or more of any class of equity or voting securities of (x) the Company or (y) one or more Subsidiaries of the Company holding assets constituting, individually or in the aggregate, 15% or more of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries; (b) any tender offer (including a self-tender offer) or exchange offer that, if consummated, would result in any Person beneficially owning 15% or more of any class of equity or voting securities of (i) the Company or (ii) one or more Subsidiaries of the Company holding assets constituting, individually or in the aggregate, 15% or more of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries; or (c) a merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, sale of substantially all the assets, reorganization, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or other similar transaction involving the sale or disposition of (i) the Company or (ii) one or more Subsidiaries of the Company holding assets constituting, individually or in the aggregate, 15% or more of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

“Action” means any claim, action, suit, audit, examination, assessment, arbitration, mediation or inquiry, or any proceeding or investigation, by or before any Governmental Authority.

 

“Adjusted Restricted Stock Award” has the meaning specified in Section 3.3(b).

 

“Adjusted Restricted Stock Unit Award” has the meaning specified in Section 3.3(c).

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person, whether through one or more intermediaries or otherwise. The term “control” (including the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by Contract or otherwise.

 

“Affiliate Agreements” has the meaning specified in Section 4.12(a)(v).

 

“Aggregate Fully Diluted Company Common Shares” means, without duplication, (a) the aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock that are (i) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Dissenting Shares) or (ii) issuable upon, or subject to, the settlement of Company Options (other than any Company Option with an exercise price equal to or greater than the Per Share Merger Consideration) Restricted Stock Awards, and Restricted Stock Unit Awards that, in each case, are outstanding and vested immediately prior to the Effective Time, minus (b) the Treasury Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, minus (c) a number of shares equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Company Options described in clause (ii) above divided by the Per Share Merger Consideration; provided, that any Company Options, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Unit Awards, warrants or other securities convertible or exchangeable for (or exercisable into) Company Capital Stock that, in the case of any of the foregoing in this proviso, are not vested as of immediately prior to the Closing, shall not be counted for purposes of determining the number of Aggregate Fully Diluted Company Common Shares.

 

 

“Aggregate Merger Consideration” means a number of shares of Acquiror Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) an amount equal to (x) the Base Purchase Price plus (y) the Excess Acquiror Expense Amount (if any), by (ii) $10.00; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, any shares of Acquiror Common Stock issued as Aggregate Merger Consideration hereunder shall be issued as shares of Acquiror Class B Common Stock to the Founders and shares of Acquiror Class A Common Stock to all other holders of Company Capital Stock.

 

“Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Preamble hereto.

 

“Agreement End Date” has the meaning specified in Section 10.1(e).

 

“Ancillary Agreements” has the meaning specified in Section 11.10.

 

“Anti-Bribery Laws” means the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and all other applicable anti-corruption and bribery Laws (including the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder or other Laws of other countries implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Officials).

 

“Antitrust Authorities” means the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice, the United States Federal Trade Commission or the antitrust or competition Law authorities of any other jurisdiction (whether United States, foreign or multinational).

 

“Antitrust Information or Document Request” means any request or demand for the production, delivery or disclosure of documents or other evidence, or any request or demand for the production of witnesses for interviews or depositions or other oral or written testimony, by any Antitrust Authorities relating to the transactions contemplated hereby or by any third party challenging the transactions contemplated hereby, including any so called “second request” for additional information or documentary material or any civil investigative demand made or issued by any Antitrust Authority or any subpoena, interrogatory or deposition.

 

“Audited Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 4.8(a).

 

“Available Acquiror Cash” means the amount of cash available in the Trust Account immediately prior to Closing, plus the amount of the PIPE Investment Amount and FPA Investment Amount then held by the Acquiror or Merger Sub, plus the amount of any cash investments made into the Company after the date hereof and prior to the Closing Date which remain on the Company’s balance sheet at Closing, minus the amount required to satisfy the Acquiror Share Redemption Amount.

 

 

“Base Purchase Price” means $4,250,000,000.

 

“Business Combination” has the meaning set forth in Article Sixth of Acquiror’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as in effect on the date hereof.

 

“Business Combination Proposal” means any offer, inquiry, proposal or indication of interest (whether written or oral, binding or non-binding, and other than an offer, inquiry, proposal or indication of interest with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby), relating to a Business Combination.

 

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

 

“Charter Proposal” has the meaning specified in Section 8.2(b)(ii).

 

“Closing” has the meaning specified in Section 2.3(a).

 

“Closing Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.3(a).

 

“Closing Statement” has the meaning specified in Section 2.8(c).

 

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

 

“Company” has the meaning specified in the Preamble hereto.

 

“Company Award” shall mean a Company Option, a Restricted Stock Award, or a Restricted Stock Unit Award.

 

“Company Benefit Plan” has the meaning specified in Section 4.13(a).

 

“Company Capital Stock” means the shares of the Company Common Stock, the Company Founders Preferred Stock and the Company Preferred Stock.

 

“Company Closing Statement” has the meaning specified in Section 2.8(b).

 

“Company Common Shares” means shares of Company Common Stock.

 

“Company Common Stock” means the shares of Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of the Company.

 

“Company Cure Period” has the meaning specified in Section 10.1(e).

 

“Company Disclosure Letter” has the meaning specified in the introduction to Article IV.

 

“Company Exchange Shares” has the meaning specified in Section 3.1(a).

 

 

“Company Founders Preferred Stock” has the meaning specified in Section 4.6(a).

 

“Company Holders Support Agreement” means that certain Company Holders Support Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among Acquiror, the Company, and Persons constituting the Requisite Company Stockholders, as amended or modified from time to time.

 

“Company Incentive Plan” means the Embark Trucks Inc. 2016 Stock Plan, as amended from time to time.

 

“Company Indemnified Parties” has the meaning specified in Section 7.7(a).

 

“Company Material Adverse Effect” means any event, state of facts, development, circumstance, occurrence or effect (collectively, “Events”) that (i) has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the business, assets, results of operations or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (ii) does or would reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, prevent the ability of the Company to consummate the Merger; provided, however, that in no event would any of the following, alone or in combination, be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been or will be, a “Company Material Adverse Effect”: (a) any change in applicable Laws or GAAP or any interpretation thereof following the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in interest rates or economic, political, business or financial market conditions generally, (c) the taking of any action required or specifically contemplated by this Agreement, (d) any natural disaster (including hurricanes, storms, tornados, flooding, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or similar occurrences), pandemic or change in climate, (e) any acts of terrorism or war, the outbreak or escalation of hostilities, geopolitical conditions, local, national or international political conditions, (f) any failure of the Company to meet any projections or forecasts (provided that clause (f) shall not prevent a determination that any Event not otherwise excluded from this definition of Company Material Adverse Effect underlying such failure to meet projections or forecasts has resulted in a Company Material Adverse Effect), (g) any Events generally applicable to the industries or markets in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate (including increases in the cost of products, supplies, materials or other goods purchased from third party suppliers), (h) COVID-19 or any COVID-19 Measures, or the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ compliance therewith, (i) the announcement of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including any termination of, reduction in or similar adverse impact (but in each case only to the extent attributable to such announcement or consummation) on relationships, contractual or otherwise, with any landlords, customers, suppliers, distributors, partners or employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries (it being understood that this clause (i) shall be disregarded for purposes of the representation and warranty set forth in Section 4.4 and the condition to Closing with respect thereto), (j) any matter set forth on the Company Disclosure Letter, or (k) any action taken by, or at the request of, Acquiror or Merger Sub; provided, further, that any Event referred to in clauses (a), (b), (d), (e), (g) or (h) above may be taken into account in determining if a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred to the extent it has a disproportionate and adverse effect on the business, assets, results of operations or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to similarly situated companies in the industry in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct their respective operations, but only to the extent of the incremental disproportionate effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to similarly situated companies in the industry in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct their respective operations.

 

 

“Company Option” means an option to purchase shares of Company Common Stock granted under the Company Incentive Plan.

 

“Company Plan and Budget” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.

 

“Company Preferred Conversion” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Company Preferred Stock” means the shares of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock, the Series A-2 Preferred Stock, the Series A-3 Preferred Stock, the Series A-4 Preferred Stock, the Series A-5 Preferred Stock, the Series A-6 Preferred Stock, the Series A-7 Preferred Stock, the Series B Preferred Stock and the Series C Preferred Stock.

 

“Company Registered Intellectual Property” has the meaning specified in Section 4.21(a).

 

“Company Stockholder Approvals” means the approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby, by the (i) affirmative vote or written consent of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the outstanding Company Capital Stock, voting as a single class and on an as-converted basis, and (ii) the affirmative vote or written consent of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the outstanding Company Preferred Stock, voting as a single class and on an as-converted basis, in each case, pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of the Company’s Governing Documents and applicable Law.

 

“Company Transaction Expenses” means the following out-of-pocket fees and expenses paid or payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (whether or not billed or accrued for) as a result of or in connection with the negotiation, documentation and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby: (i) all fees, costs, expenses, brokerage fees, commissions, finders’ fees and disbursements of financial advisors, investment banks, data room administrators, attorneys, accountants and other advisors and service providers, (ii) Transfer Taxes, and (iii) any and all filing fees payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to the Antitrust Authorities in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

“Company Transaction Liabilities” means Company Transaction Expenses and any other out-of-pocket fees and expenses paid or payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (whether or not billed or accrued for) as a result of or in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including: (i) liabilities in respect of Dissenting Shares; (ii) change-in-control payments, transaction bonuses, retention payments, severance or similar compensatory payments payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the portion of payroll Taxes arising therefrom, (iii) amounts owing or that may become owed, payable or otherwise due, directly or indirectly, by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to any Affiliate Agreement or any termination thereof in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; and (iv) any other fees, costs or liabilities incurred by the Company or any of its subsidiaries to obtain any consent or approval under, or otherwise in relation to, any other contract, agreement, permit, license or similar arrangement as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

 

“Company Warrant Settlement” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Company Warrants” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter.

 

“Confidentiality Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 11.10.

 

“Constituent Corporations” has the meaning specified in Section 2.1(a).

 

“Contracts” means any legally binding contracts, agreements, subcontracts, leases, and purchase orders.

 

“Copyleft License” means any license that requires, as a condition of use, modification and/or distribution of software subject to such license, that such software subject to such license, or other software incorporated into, derived from, or used or distributed with such software subject to such license (i) in the case of software, be made available or distributed in a form other than binary (e.g., source code form), (ii) be licensed for the purpose of preparing derivative works, (iii) be licensed under terms that allow the Company’s or any Subsidiary of the Company’s products or portions thereof or interfaces therefor to be reverse engineered, reverse assembled or disassembled (other than by operation of Law) or (iv) be redistributable at no license fee. Copyleft Licenses include the GNU General Public License, the GNU Lesser General Public License, the Mozilla Public License, the Common Development and Distribution License, the Eclipse Public License and all Creative Commons “sharealike” licenses.

 

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

 

“COVID-19 Measures” means any actions taken or omitted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects resulting from such taken or omitted actions (including (a) any required or recommended quarantines, travel restrictions, “stay-at-home” orders, social distancing measures, or other safety measures, (b) workforce reductions, workplace or worksite shutdowns or slowdowns, factory closures, (c) any delays in shipment of products to customers or in receipt of deliveries of supplies from vendors, and (d) other measures initiated, to the extent reasonably necessary or appropriate to respond to, or mitigate the effects of, the COVID-19 pandemic).

 

“D&O Indemnified Parties” has the meaning specified in Section 7.7(a).

 

“DGCL” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Disclosure Letter” means, as applicable, the Company Disclosure Letter or the Acquiror Disclosure Letter.

 

“Dissenting Shares” has the meaning specified in Section 3.5.

 

“Dollars” or “$” means lawful money of the United States.

 

“Effective Time” has the meaning specified in Section 2.3(b).

 

“Embark Group” has the meaning specified in Section 11.18(b).

 

 

“Environmental Laws” means any and all applicable Laws relating to Hazardous Materials, pollution, or the protection or management of the environment or natural resources, or protection of human health (with respect to exposure to Hazardous Materials).

 

“ERISA” has the meaning specified in Section 4.13(a).

 

“ERISA Affiliate” means any Affiliate or business, whether or not incorporated, that together with the Company would be deemed to be a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 414(b) of the Code.

 

“ESPP” has the meaning specified in Section 7.1(a).

 

“Excess Acquiror Expense Amount” means an amount equal to (i) the excess of the Outstanding Acquiror Expenses over $32,000,000 divided by (ii) (x) 1 minus (y) an amount equal to (A) the aggregate pro forma ownership percentage of Acquiror immediately after Closing (assuming the Excess Acquiror Expense Amount is $0) by the persons who were holders of shares of Company Common Stock and the holders of Company Awards immediately prior to the Closing divided by (B) 100; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, to the extent the aggregate Outstanding Acquiror Expenses is an amount equal to or less than $32,000,000, the Excess Acquiror Expense Amount shall be $0. 

 

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

 

“Exchange Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 3.2(a).

 

“Exchange Ratio” means the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the number of shares constituting the Aggregate Merger Consideration, by (b) the number of Aggregate Fully Diluted Company Common Shares.

 

“Export Approvals” has the meaning specified in Section 4.26(a).

 

“Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 4.8(a).

 

“Forward Purchase Agreements” means (a) the Amended and Restated Forward Purchase Agreement by and between Acquiror and Northern Genesis Capital II LLC, and (b) each additional Forward Purchase Agreement by and between Acquiror and an institutional investor party thereto, in each case entered into prior to the date hereof, as amended as of the date hereof and as further amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time, together with any subscription or similar agreement implementing the terms thereof.

 

“Founders” means Alex Rodrigues and Brandon Moak and any Permitted Trust (as defined in the Acquiror Second A&R Charter) of either Person.

 

“FPA Investment” means the purchase of shares of Acquiror Class A Common Stock and Acquiror Warrants pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreements.

 

 

“FPA Investment Amount” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

“FPA Purchasers” means one or more Persons who have agreed, on or prior to the date hereof, to purchase, upon or immediately prior to the Closing, Acquiror Class A Common Stock and Acquiror Forward Purchase Warrants pursuant to the terms of a Forward Purchase Agreement.

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect from time to time.

 

“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 corporation are its certificate of incorporation and by-laws, the “Governing Documents” of a limited partnership are its limited partnership agreement and certificate of limited partnership and the “Governing Documents” of a limited liability company are its operating agreement and certificate of formation.

 

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

 

“Governmental Authorization” has the meaning specified in Section 4.5.

 

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

 

“Hazardous Material” means any (i) pollutant, contaminant, chemical, (ii) industrial, solid, liquid or gaseous toxic or hazardous substance, material or waste, (iii) petroleum or any fraction or product thereof, (iv) asbestos or asbestos-containing material, (v) polychlorinated biphenyl, (vi) chlorofluorocarbons, and (vii) other substance, material or waste, in each case, which are regulated under any Environmental Law or as to which liability may be imposed pursuant to Environmental Law.

 

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

 

“Husch Blackwell” has the meaning specified in Section 11.18(a).

 

“Incentive Equity Plan” has the meaning specified in Section 7.1(a).

 

“Indebtedness” means with respect to any Person, without duplication, any obligations, contingent or otherwise, in respect of (a) the principal of and premium (if any) in respect of all indebtedness for borrowed money, including accrued interest and any per diem interest accruals, (b) the principal and interest components of capitalized lease obligations under GAAP, (c) amounts drawn (including any accrued and unpaid interest) on letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers’ acceptances and other similar instruments (solely to the extent such amounts have actually been drawn), (d) the principal of and premium (if any) in respect of obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes and similar instruments, (e) the termination value of interest rate protection agreements and currency obligation swaps, hedges or similar arrangements (without duplication of other indebtedness supported or guaranteed thereby), (f) the principal component of all obligations to pay the deferred and unpaid purchase price of property and equipment which have been delivered, including “earn outs” and “seller notes”, (g) breakage costs, prepayment or early termination premiums, penalties, or other fees or expenses payable as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby in respect of any of the items in the foregoing clauses (a) through (f), and (h) all liabilities of another Person guaranteed directly or indirectly by the applicable Person, jointly or severally.

 

 

“Intellectual Property” means any rights in or to the following, throughout the world, including all U.S. and foreign: (i) patents, patent applications, invention disclosures, and all related continuations, continuations-in-part, divisionals, reissues, re-examinations, substitutions, and extensions thereof; (ii) registered and unregistered trademarks, logos, service marks, trade dress and trade names, slogans, pending applications therefor, and internet domain names, together with the goodwill of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses symbolized by or associated with any of the foregoing; (iii) registered and unregistered copyrights, and applications for registration of copyright, including such corresponding rights in software and other works of authorship; and (iv) trade secrets, know-how, processes, and other confidential information or proprietary rights.

 

“Intended Tax Treatment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.7.

 

“Interim Financial Statements” means, collectively, the Q1 Interim Financial Statements, the Q2 Interim Financial Statements and the Q3 Interim Financial Statements.

 

“Interim Period” has the meaning specified in Section 6.1.

 

“International Trade Laws” means all Laws relating to the import, export, re-export, deemed export, deemed re-export, or transfer of information, data, goods, and technology, including but not limited to the Export Administration Regulations administered by the United States Department of Commerce, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations administered by the United States Department of State, customs and import Laws administered by United States Customs and Border Protection, any other export or import controls administered by an agency of the United States government, the anti-boycott regulations administered by the United States Department of Commerce and the United States Department of the Treasury, and other Laws adopted by Governmental Authorities of other countries relating to the same subject matter as the United States Laws described above.

 

“Intervening Event” means an event or circumstance with respect to the Company (and not Acquiror) that was not known, or the consequences of which were not known by the Board of Directors of Acquiror as of or prior to the date of this Agreement and did not result from or arise out of the announcement or pendency of, or any actions required to be taken by the Company (or to be refrained from being taken by the Company) pursuant to this Agreement, which event or circumstance, or any consequence thereof, (i) becomes known to the Board of Directors of Acquiror prior to obtaining the Acquiror Shareholder Approval and (ii) has resulted in a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

“Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

“IRS” means Internal Revenue Service.

 

“JOBS Act” has the meaning specified in Section 5.6(a).

 

“Latham” has the meaning specified in Section 11.18(b).

 

“Law” means any statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation or Governmental Order, in each case, of any Governmental Authority.

 

“Leased Real Property” means all real property (other than Owned Real Property) that is leased, licensed, or subleased to or otherwise used or occupied by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

“Legal Proceedings” has the meaning specified in Section 4.10.

 

“Letter of Transmittal” has the meaning specified in Section 3.2(b).

 

“Licenses” means any approvals, authorizations, consents, licenses, registrations, permits or certificates of a Governmental Authority.

 

“Lien” means all liens, mortgages, deeds of trust, pledges, hypothecations, encumbrances, security interests, adverse claim, options, restrictions, claims or other liens of any kind whether consensual, statutory or otherwise.

 

“Major Company Stockholder” means each of the holders of Company Capital Stock set forth on Section 8.2(a)(v) of the Company Disclosure Letter.

 

“Merger” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Merger Certificate” has the meaning specified in Section 2.1(a).

 

“Merger Sub” has the meaning specified in the Preamble hereto.

 

“Merger Sub Capital Stock” means the shares of the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Merger Sub.

 

“Minimum Available Acquiror Cash Amount” means an amount equal to $295,000,000.

 

“Minimum PIPE Investment Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 5.12(e).

 

“Modification in Recommendation” has the meaning specified in Section 8.2(b).

 

“Nasdaq” has the meaning specified in Section 7.3.

 

“NG Group” has the meaning specified in Section 11.18(a).

 

“NG Representative” has the meaning specified in Section 7.6(a)(ii).

 

“NYSE” has the meaning specified in Section 5.6(c).

 

“Offer” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Offer Documents” has the meaning specified in Section 8.2(a)(i).

 

 

“Open Source License” means any license meeting the Open Source Definition (as promulgated by the Open Source Initiative) or the Free Software Definition (as promulgated by the Free Software Foundation), or any substantially similar license, including any license approved by the Open Source Initiative or any Creative Commons License. “Open Source Licenses” shall include Copyleft Licenses.

 

“Open Source Materials” means any software subject to an Open Source License.

 

“Outstanding Acquiror Expenses” means all expenses incurred, accrued, or payable by Acquiror or its subsidiaries, or on Acquiror’s behalf by Sponsor or any representative of Acquiror or Sponsor (which shall include any deferred underwriting fees and any outstanding amounts under any Working Capital Loans), in any case prior to the Closing that remain unpaid immediately prior to Closing; provided, however, that Outstanding Acquiror Expenses shall not include any payments due or other liabilities with respect to (a) Acquiror Share Redemptions; (b) Company Transaction Liabilities; (c) the Aggregate Merger Consideration or any securities to be issued or other consideration to be paid under the Subscription Agreements or Forward Purchase Agreements; or (d) any liability recorded by Acquiror as a result of the classification of any Acquiror Warrants as derivatives or other instruments rather than as equity.

 

“Outstanding Acquiror Shares” has the meaning specified in Section 5.12(a).

 

“Outstanding Acquiror Warrants” has the meaning specified in Section 5.12(b).

 

“Owned Real Property” means all real property owned in fee simple by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

“Per Share Merger Consideration” means the product obtained by multiplying (i) the Exchange Ratio by (ii) $10.00.

 

“Permitted Liens” means (i) mechanic’s, materialmen’s and similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business with respect to any amounts not yet due and payable or which are being contested in good faith through appropriate proceedings, (ii) Liens for Taxes (A) not yet due and payable or (B) which are being contested in good faith through appropriate proceedings and for which adequate accruals or reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, (iii) defects or imperfections of title, easements, encroachments, covenants, rights-of-way, conditions, matters that would be apparent from a physical inspection or current, accurate survey of such real property, restrictions and other similar charges or encumbrances that do not, in the aggregate, materially impair the value or materially interfere with the present use of the Owned Real Property or Leased Real Property, (iv) with respect to any Leased Real Property (A) the interests and rights of the respective lessors with respect thereto, including any statutory landlord liens and any Lien thereon, (B) any Lien permitted under a Real Property Lease, and (C) any Liens encumbering the underlying fee title of the real property of which the Leased Real Property is a part, (v) zoning, building, entitlement and other land use and environmental regulations promulgated by any Governmental Authority that do not, in the aggregate, materially interfere with the current use of, or materially impair the value of, the Owned Real Property or Leased Real Property, (vi) non-exclusive licenses of Intellectual Property entered into in the ordinary course of business, (vii) ordinary course purchase money Liens and Liens securing rental payments under operating or capital lease arrangements for amounts not yet due or payable, (viii) other Liens arising in the ordinary course of business and not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or other types of social security, (ix) reversionary rights in favor of landlords under any Real Property Leases with respect to any of the buildings or other improvements owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (x) restrictions on transfer under applicable securities Laws, (xi) Liens set forth on Section 1.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter and (xii) Liens that do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially and adversely affect, or materially disrupt or materially limit, the ordinary course operation of the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

 

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

 

“PIPE Investment” means the purchase of shares of Acquiror Class A Common Stock pursuant to the Subscription Agreements.

 

“PIPE Investment Amount” means the aggregate gross purchase price received by Acquiror prior to or substantially concurrently with Closing for the shares in the PIPE Investment.

 

“PIPE Investors” means those certain investors participating in the PIPE Investment pursuant to the Subscription Agreements.

 

“Proxy Statement” has the meaning specified in Section 8.2(a)(i).

 

“Proxy Statement/Registration Statement” has the meaning specified in Section 8.2(a)(i).

 

“Q1 Interim Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 6.3(a).

 

“Q2 Interim Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 6.3(b).

 

“Q3 Interim Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 6.3(c).

 

“Real Property Leases” has the meaning specified in Section 4.20(a)(ii).

 

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

 

“Registration Statement” means the Registration Statement on Form S-4, or other appropriate form, including any pre-effective or post-effective amendments or supplements thereto, to be filed with the SEC by Acquiror under the Securities Act with respect to the Registration Statement Securities.

 

“Registration Statement Securities” has the meaning specified in Section 8.2(a)(i).

 

 

“Requisite Company Stockholders” means each of the holders of Company Capital Stock set forth on Section 8.2(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, which holders, taken together, represent the holders of (i) a majority of the Company Capital Stock then outstanding, and (ii) a majority of the Company Preferred Stock then outstanding.

 

“Restricted Stock Award” means an award of restricted shares of Company Common Stock granted under the Company Incentive Plan, which includes any shares of Company Common Stock issued pursuant to early-exercised Company Options that remain subject to vesting conditions.

 

“Restricted Stock Unit Award” means an award of restricted stock units based on shares of Company Common Stock (whether to be settled in cash or shares), granted under the Company Incentive Plan.

 

“Sanctioned Country” means at any time, a country or territory which is itself the subject or target of any country-wide or territory-wide Sanctions Laws (at the time of this Agreement, the Crimea region, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).

 

“Sanctioned Person” means (i) any Person identified in any sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by (a) the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, or the United States Department of State; (b) Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom; (c) any committee of the United Nations Security Council; or (d) the European Union; (ii) any Person located, organized, or resident in, organized in, or a Governmental Authority or government instrumentality of, any Sanctioned Country; and (iii) any Person directly or indirectly owned or controlled by, or acting for the benefit or on behalf of, a Person described in clause (i) or (ii), either individually or in the aggregate.

 

“Sanctions Laws” means those trade, economic and financial sanctions Laws administered, enacted or enforced from time to time by (i) the United States (including the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control), (ii) the European Union and enforced by its member states, (iii) the United Nations, or (iv) Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.

 

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

 

“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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

 

“Series A-1 Preferred Stock” has the meaning specified in Section 4.6(a).

 

“Series A-2 Preferred Stock” has the meaning specified in Section 4.6(a).

 

“Series A-3 Preferred Stock” has the meaning specified in Section 4.6(a).

 

“Series A-4 Preferred Stock” has the meaning specified in Section 4.6(a).

 

“Series A-5 Preferred Stock” has the meaning specified in Section 4.6(a).

 

 

“Series A-6 Preferred Stock” has the meaning specified in Section 4.6(a).

 

“Series A-7 Preferred Stock” has the meaning specified in Section 4.6(a).

 

“Series B Preferred Stock” has the meaning specified in Section 4.6(a).

 

“Series C Preferred Stock” has the meaning specified in Section 4.6(a).

 

“Sponsor” means Northern Genesis Sponsor II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

“Sponsor Support Agreement” means that certain Support Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Sponsor, Acquiror and the Company, as amended or modified from time to time.

 

“Subscription Agreements” means the subscription agreements pursuant to which the PIPE Investment will be consummated.

 

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to a Person, a corporation or other entity of which more than 50% of the voting power of the equity securities or equity interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person. As of the date hereof, the Company does not have any Subsidiaries.

 

“Surviving Corporation” has the meaning specified in Section 2.1(b).

 

“Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, statement, information statement or other document filed or required to be filed with any Governmental Authority with respect to Taxes, including any claims for refunds of Taxes, any information returns and any schedules, attachments, amendments or supplements of any of the foregoing.

 

“Taxes” means any and all federal, state, local, foreign or other taxes imposed by any Governmental Authority, including all income, gross receipts, license, payroll, recapture, net worth, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits, environmental, customs duties, capital stock, ad valorem, value added, inventory, franchise, profits, withholding, social security (or similar), unemployment, disability, real property, personal property, sales, use, transfer, registration, alternative or add-on minimum, or estimated taxes, and including any interest, penalty, or addition thereto.

 

“Terminating Acquiror Breach” has the meaning specified in Section 10.1(g).

 

“Terminating Company Breach” has the meaning specified in Section 10.1(e).

 

“Transaction Proposals” has the meaning specified in Section 8.2(b)(ii).

 

“Transactions” means, collectively, the Merger, the PIPE Investment, and the FPA Investment.

 

“Transfer Taxes” has the meaning specified in Section 8.4.

 

 

“Treasury Regulations” means the regulations promulgated under the Code by the United States Department of the Treasury (whether in final, proposed or temporary form), as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

“Treasury Share” means a share of Company Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

“Trust Account” has the meaning specified in Section 11.1.

 

“Trust Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 5.8.

 

“Trust Claims” has the meaning specified in Section 11.1.

 

“Trustee” has the meaning specified in Section 5.8.

 

“Unpaid Company Transaction Liabilities” has the meaning specified in Section 2.4(c).

 

“Warrant Agreement” means the Warrant Agreement, dated as of January 12, 2021, between Acquiror and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.

 

“Working Capital Loans” means any loan made to Acquiror by any of the Sponsor, an Affiliate of the Sponsor, or any of Acquiror’s officers or directors, and evidenced by a promissory note, for the purpose of financing costs incurred in connection with a proposed Business Combination or other working capital purposes.

 

“Written Consent” has the meaning specified in Section 8.2(c).

 

Section 1.2. Construction.

 

(a) Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, (i) words of any gender include each other gender; (ii) words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively; (iii) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereto” and derivative or similar words refer to this entire Agreement; (iv) the terms “Article” or “Section” refer to the specified Article or Section of this Agreement; (v) the word “including” shall mean “including, without limitation” and (vi) the word “or” shall be disjunctive but not exclusive.

 

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

 

(c) Whenever this Agreement refers to a number of days, such number shall refer to calendar days unless Business Days are specified.

 

(d) All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined herein shall have the meanings given to them under GAAP.

 

 

(e) The term “actual fraud” means, with respect to a party to this Agreement, an actual and intentional fraud with respect to the making of the representations and warranties pursuant to Article IV or Article V (as applicable), provided, that such actual and intentional fraud of such Person shall only be deemed to exist if any of the individuals included on Section 1.3 of the Company Disclosure Letter (in the case of the Company) or Section 1.3 of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter (in the case of Acquiror) had actual knowledge (as opposed to imputed or constructive knowledge) that the representations and warranties made by such Person pursuant to, in the case of the Company, Article IV as qualified by the Company Disclosure Letter, or, in the case of Acquiror, Article V as qualified by the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, were actually breached when made, with the express intention that the other party to this Agreement rely thereon to its detriment.

 

(f) When used herein, “ordinary course” and “ordinary course of business” mean an action taken, or omitted to be taken, in the ordinary and usual course of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ business (including, for the avoidance of doubt, actions taken in response to COVID-19, including when determining whether actions taken after the date of this Agreement are in the ordinary course of business).

 

Section 1.3. Knowledge. As used herein, (i) the phrase “to the knowledge” of the Company shall mean the knowledge of the individuals identified on Section 1.3 of the Company Disclosure Letter and (ii) the phrase “to the knowledge” of Acquiror shall mean the knowledge of the individuals identified on Section 1.3 of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, in each case, as such individuals would have acquired in the exercise of a reasonable inquiry of direct reports.

 

Article II

THE MERGER; CLOSING

 

Section 2.1. The Merger.

 

(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, Acquiror, Merger Sub and the Company (Merger Sub and the Company sometimes being referred to herein as the “Constituent Corporations”) shall cause Merger Sub to be merged with and into the Company, with the Company being the surviving corporation in the Merger. The Merger shall be consummated in accordance with this Agreement and shall be evidenced by a certificate of merger with respect to the Merger (as so filed, the “Merger Certificate”), executed by the Constituent Corporations in accordance with the relevant provisions of the DGCL, such Merger to be effective as of the Effective Time.

 

(b) Upon consummation of the Merger, the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall cease and the Company, as the surviving corporation of the Merger (hereinafter referred to for the periods at and after the Effective Time as the “Surviving Corporation”), shall continue its corporate existence under the DGCL, as a wholly owned subsidiary of Acquiror.

 

Section 2.2. Effects of the Merger. At and after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall thereupon and thereafter possess all of the rights, privileges, powers and franchises, of a public as well as a private nature, of the Constituent Corporations, and shall become subject to all the restrictions, disabilities and duties of each of the Constituent Corporations; and all rights, privileges, powers and franchises of each Constituent Corporation, and all property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to each such Constituent Corporation, on whatever account, shall become vested in the Surviving Corporation; and all property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises, and all and every other interest shall become thereafter the property of the Surviving Corporation as they are of the Constituent Corporations; and the title to any real property vested by deed or otherwise or any other interest in real estate vested by any instrument or otherwise in either of such Constituent Corporations shall not revert or become in any way impaired by reason of the Merger; but all Liens upon any property of a Constituent Corporation shall thereafter attach to the Surviving Corporation and shall be enforceable against it to the same extent as if said debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it; all of the foregoing in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL.

 

 

Section 2.3. Closing; Effective Time.

 

(a) In accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) shall take place electronically through the exchange of documents via e-mail or facsimile on the date which is three (3) Business Days after the first date on which all conditions set forth in Article IX shall have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver thereof) or such other time and place as Acquiror and the Company may mutually agree in writing. The date on which the Closing actually occurs is referred to in this Agreement as the “Closing Date”.

 

(b) In connection with the Closing, Acquiror, Merger Sub, and the Company shall cause the Merger Certificate to be executed and duly submitted for filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL. The Merger shall become effective at the time when the Merger Certificate has been accepted for filing by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, or at such later time as may be agreed by Acquiror and the Company in writing and specified in the Merger Certificate (the “Effective Time”).

 

Section 2.4. Closing Deliverables.

 

(a) At the Closing, the Company will deliver or cause to be delivered:

 

(i) to Acquiror, a certificate signed by an officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying that, to the knowledge and belief of such officer, the conditions specified in Section 9.2(a) and Section 9.2(b) have been fulfilled;

 

(ii) to Acquiror, the written resignations of all of the directors of the Company (other than any such Persons identified as initial directors of the Surviving Corporation, in accordance with Section 2.6), effective as of the Effective Time;

 

(iii) to Acquiror, the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Major Company Stockholders who have elected to execute the Registration Rights Agreement; and

 

(iv) to Acquiror, a certificate on behalf of the Company, prepared in a manner consistent and in accordance with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.897-2(g), (h) and 1.1445-2(c)(3), certifying that no interest in the Company is, or has been during the relevant period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code, a “U.S. real property interest” within the meaning of Section 897(c) of the Code, and a form of notice to the Internal Revenue Service prepared in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.897-2(h)(2); provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the sole remedy under this Agreement for any failure of the Company to deliver a certification and notice pursuant to this Section 2.4(a)(iv) shall be for Acquiror, the Company or the Exchange Agent, as applicable, to withhold from payments pursuant to this Agreement in accordance with Section 3.4 any Taxes that are required to be withheld by such Person pursuant to Section 1445 of the Code by reason of such failure.

 

 

(b) At the Closing, Acquiror will deliver or cause to be delivered:

 

(i) to the Exchange Agent, the portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration payable in respect of the Company Exchange Shares, for further distribution to the Company’s stockholders pursuant to Section 3.2;

 

(ii) to the Company, a certificate signed by an officer of Acquiror, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying that, to the knowledge and belief of such officer, the conditions specified in Section 9.3(a) and Section 9.3(b) have been fulfilled;

 

(iii) to the Company, the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by duly authorized representatives of Acquiror and the Sponsor; and

 

(iv) to the Company, the written resignations of all of the directors and officers of Acquiror and Merger Sub (other than those Persons identified as initial directors or officers, respectively, of Acquiror after the Effective Time, in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.6 and Section 7.6 ), effective as of the Effective Time.

 

(c) At the Closing, Acquiror shall pay or cause to be paid, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, (i) all Outstanding Acquiror Expenses as set forth on the final Acquiror Closing Statement and (ii) all accrued and unpaid Company Transaction Liabilities (“Unpaid Company Transaction Liabilities”) as set forth on the final Company Closing Statement; provided, that any Unpaid Company Transaction Liabilities due to current or former employees, independent contractors, officers, or directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be paid to the Company for further payment to such employee, independent contractor, officer or director through the Company’s payroll.

 

Section 2.5. Governing Documents.

 

(a) The certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided therein and under the DGCL.

 

(b) The certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Acquiror as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (which shall be in the forms of the Acquiror Second A&R Charter and Acquiror A&R Bylaws, respectively), shall be the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Acquiror from and after the Effective Time, until thereafter amended as provided therein and under the DGCL.

 

 

Section 2.6. Directors and Officers.

 

(a) The (i) officers of the Company as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation from and after the Effective Time, and (ii) the persons set forth on Section 2.6(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation from and after the Effective Time, in each case, each to hold office in accordance with the Governing Documents of the Surviving Corporation.

 

(b) The parties shall take all actions necessary to ensure that, upon and immediately following the Effective Time, the Persons identified as the initial post-Closing directors and officers of Acquiror in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.6 shall be the directors and officers (and in the case of such officers, holding such positions as are set forth on Section 7.6 of the Company Disclosure Letter), respectively, of Acquiror, each to hold office in accordance with the Governing Documents of Acquiror.

 

Section 2.7. Tax Free Reorganization Matters. The parties intend that, for United States federal income tax purposes (and for purposes of any applicable state or local income tax law that follows U.S. federal income tax treatment), (i) the Merger will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations to which each of Acquiror and the Company are to be parties under Section 368(b) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and/or the Merger, the FPA Investment and the PIPE Investment shall be considered part of an overall plan in which the Company Stockholders exchange their shares of Company Capital Stock for the Merger Consideration in an exchange described in Section 351 of the Code, and (ii) this Agreement is intended to be, and is adopted as, a plan of reorganization for purposes of Sections 354, 361 and the 368 of the Code and within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a) (the “Intended Tax Treatment”). None of the parties will take any action, or knowingly fail to take any action, which action or failure would be reasonably expected to cause the Merger to fail to qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment. The Merger shall be reported by the parties for all Tax purposes in accordance with the foregoing, unless otherwise required by a Governmental Authority as a result of a “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code. The parties shall cooperate with each other and their respective counsel to document and support the Intended Tax Treatment, including providing factual support letters.

 

Section 2.8. Closing Statements.

 

(a) Acquiror shall use its reasonable best efforts to prepare and deliver to the Company no less than three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing, and not earlier than the time that holders of Acquiror IPO Shares can no longer elect redemption in accordance with the Acquiror Share Redemption, a written statement (the “Acquiror Closing Statement”):

 

(i) certifying the number of (A) shares of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock and Acquiror Warrants to be issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than as a result of the closing of the Merger), and (B) Acquiror IPO Shares to be redeemed pursuant to Acquiror Share Redemptions; and

 

 

(ii) setting forth Acquiror’s good faith estimate of (A) the amount of cash to be available in the Trust Account as of the Effective Time, (B) the amount of cash to be held by the Acquiror or Merger Sub outside the Trust Account as of the Effective Time (excluding any of the PIPE Investment Amount or FPA Investment Amount then held by the Acquiror or Merger Sub), (C) the Acquiror Share Redemption Amount, and (D) the aggregate amount of Outstanding Acquiror Expenses as of the Effective Time, including in each case relevant supporting documentation used by Acquiror in calculating such amounts reasonably requested by the Company.

 

(b) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to prepare and deliver to the Acquiror no less than (3) Business Days prior to the Closing a written statement (the “Company Closing Statement”):

 

(i) confirming that the Company Warrant Settlement and the Company Preferred Conversion will be completed in connection with the Closing and that, as of immediately after such completion and the Closing, the Company will have no issued and outstanding securities other than Company Common Stock issued to Acquiror;

 

(ii) certifying (A) the number of Company Common Shares, Treasury Shares, Dissenting Shares, and Company Exchange Shares to be issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time; (B) an updated list of all Company Awards to be outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, including the holder thereof, the type of Company Award, the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject thereto, vesting schedule and, if applicable, the exercise price thereof; and (C) the record holders of any of the foregoing that are entitled to receive, by reason of the Merger (subject, in the case of any Company Awards, to the terms thereof), Acquiror Class B Common Stock; and

 

(iii) setting forth the Company’s good faith estimate of any Unpaid Company Transaction Liabilities, which shall include the respective amounts and wire transfer instructions for the payment thereof (other than with respect to amounts payable through the Company’s payroll), together with corresponding invoices for the foregoing.

 

(c) From and after delivery of the Acquiror Closing Statement and the Company Closing Statement (each, a “Closing Statement”):

 

(i) The parties shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to (A) cooperate with each other and provide each other such additional information reasonably requested by such other party in connection with such other party’s review of the Closing Statements, (B) reasonably consider any and all changes reasonably requested by such other party and (C) revise its Closing Statement as necessary to render such Closing Statement true and correct and reflective of the terms of this Agreement; and

 

(ii) The parties shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to jointly calculate in accordance with the terms hereof and shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to mutually confirm (A) the number of shares of Acquiror Common Stock constituting the Aggregate Merger Consideration, including the number of shares thereof consisting of Acquiror Class A Common Stock and Acquiror Class B Common Stock, (B) the Exchange Ratio, and (C) the portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration payable from and after the Effective Time in respect of the Company Exchange Shares, including the number of shares thereof consisting of Acquiror Class A Common Stock and Acquiror Class B Common Stock

 

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) no requested changes to any Closing Statement received from another party or any dispute among the parties with respect to any Closing Statement shall prevent or delay the Closing and (ii) no actual or alleged breach of or failure to comply with the terms of this Section 2.8 shall serve as the basis for the failure of any closing condition set forth in Article IX to be satisfied.

 

 

Article III

EFFECTS OF THE MERGER

 

Section 3.1. Reclassification and Conversion of Securities.

 

(a) At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of any holder of Company Common Stock, each share of Company Common Stock that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than (i) any shares of Company Common Stock subject to Company Awards (which shall be respectively subject to Section 3.3), (ii) any Treasury Shares, which shall be canceled as part of the Merger and shall not constitute Company Capital Stock hereunder as of the Effective Time, and (iii) any Dissenting Shares) (such shares of Company Common Stock, other than such exclusions in clauses (i)-(iii), the “Company Exchange Shares”), shall be canceled and converted into the right to receive the applicable portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration determined pursuant to Section 3.1(c).

 

(b) At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Acquiror or Merger Sub, each share of Merger Sub Capital Stock shall be converted into a share of common stock, par value $0.0001, of the Surviving Corporation.

 

(c) Each holder of Company Exchange Shares immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be entitled to receive a portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration equal to (i) the Exchange Ratio, multiplied by (ii) the number of Company Exchange Shares held by such holder immediately prior to the Effective Time, with fractional shares rounded down to the nearest whole share. Any shares of Acquiror Common Stock issued as part of the Aggregate Merger Consideration pursuant to this Section 3.1(c) shall be issued as shares of Acquiror Class B Common Stock to the Founders and shares of Acquiror Class A Common Stock to all other holders of Company Common Stock. Each of the parties to this Agreement intend that the Aggregate Merger Consideration payable to the holders of Company Common Stock pursuant to the Merger and this Agreement are entirely in consideration for such holders’ shares of Company Common Stock held immediately prior to the Merger and agree to report the same for U.S. federal and applicable state income tax purposes entirely as consideration for such Company Common Stock (and not as compensation for services and/or any consideration for other property, etc.), unless otherwise required by a “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code.

 

(d) Immediately prior to the Effective Time, by virtue of the effectiveness of the Acquiror Second A&R Charter and without any further action on the part of any holder of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock, the Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock, as a class, shall be reclassified as the Acquiror Class A Common Stock, with each share of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock that is issued and outstanding at such time thereafter constituting one share of Acquiror Class A Common Stock. From and after the Effective Time until presented for exchange, each certificate that previously represented shares of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock shall represent the shares of Acquiror Class A Common Stock, equal in number to the number of shares of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock previously represented by such certificate. In addition, immediately prior to the Effective Time, any shares of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock (or Acquiror Class A Common Stock) held in the treasury of Acquiror shall be cancelled.

 

 

(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no fractional shares of Acquiror Common Stock shall be issued in the Merger.

 

Section 3.2. Exchange Procedures 

 

(a) Prior to the Closing, Acquiror shall appoint an exchange agent (the “Exchange Agent”), reasonably acceptable to the Company, to act as the agent for the purpose of paying the portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration payable in respect of Company Exchange Shares. At or before the Effective Time, Acquiror shall deposit with the Exchange Agent the number of shares of Acquiror Class A Common Stock and Acquiror Class B Common Stock constituting the portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration payable in respect of the Company Exchange Shares.

 

(b) Reasonably promptly after the Effective Time, Acquiror shall send, or shall cause the Exchange Agent to send, to each record holder of Company Exchange Shares a letter of transmittal and instructions (which shall specify that the delivery shall be effected, and the risk of loss and title shall pass, only upon proper transfer of each share to the Exchange Agent, and which letter of transmittal will be in customary form and have such other provisions as Acquiror may reasonably specify) for use in such exchange (each, a “Letter of Transmittal”).

 

(c) Each holder of Company Exchange Shares shall be entitled to receive such portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration upon receipt of an “agent’s message” by the Exchange Agent (or such other evidence, if any, of transfer as the Exchange Agent may reasonably request), together with a duly completed and validly executed Letter of Transmittal and such other documents as may reasonably be requested by the Exchange Agent. No interest shall be paid or accrued upon the transfer of any share.

 

(d) Promptly following the date that is one (1) year after the Effective Time, Acquiror shall instruct the Exchange Agent to deliver to Acquiror all documents in its possession relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Exchange Agent’s duties shall terminate. Thereafter, any portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration deposited with the Exchange Agent that remains unclaimed shall be returned to Acquiror, and any Person that was a holder of Company Exchange Shares immediately prior to the Effective Time that has not exchanged such Company Exchange Shares for an applicable portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration in accordance with this Section 3.2 prior to the date that is one (1) year after the Effective Time may transfer such Company Exchange Shares to Acquiror and (subject to applicable abandoned property, escheat and similar Laws) receive in consideration therefor, and Acquiror shall promptly deliver, such applicable portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration without any interest thereupon. None of Acquiror, Merger Sub, the Company, the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent shall be liable to any Person in respect of any of the Aggregate Merger Consideration delivered to a public official pursuant to and in accordance with any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Laws. If any such shares shall not have not been transferred immediately prior to such date on which any amounts payable pursuant to this Article III would otherwise escheat to or become the property of any Governmental Authority, any such amounts shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of the Surviving Corporation, free and clear of all claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.

 

 

Section 3.3. Treatment of Company Awards.

 

(a) As of the Effective Time, each Company Option that is then outstanding shall be converted into the right to receive an option relating to shares of Acquiror Common Stock upon substantially the same terms and conditions as are in effect with respect to such option immediately prior to the Effective Time, including with respect to vesting and termination-related provisions (each, an “Acquiror Option”), except that (a) such Acquiror Option shall relate to that whole number of shares of Acquiror Common Stock (rounded down to the nearest whole share) equal to the number of Company Common Shares subject to such Company Option, multiplied by the Exchange Ratio, and (b) the exercise price per share for each such Acquiror Option shall be equal to the exercise price per share of such Company Option in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, divided by the Exchange Ratio (the exercise price per share, as so determined, being rounded up to the nearest full cent); provided, however, that the conversion of the Company Options will be made in a manner consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.424-1, such that such conversion will not constitute a “modification” of such Company Options for purposes of Section 409A or Section 424 of the Code. For the avoidance of doubt, each Acquiror Option held by any person shall relate to shares of Acquiror Class A Common Stock.

 

(b) As of the Effective Time, each Restricted Stock Award that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into the right to receive restricted shares of Acquiror Common Stock (each, an “Adjusted Restricted Stock Award”) with substantially the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such Restricted Stock Award immediately prior to the Effective Time (including with respect to vesting and termination-related provisions), except that such Adjusted Restricted Stock Award shall relate to such number of shares of Acquiror Common Stock as is equal to the product of (i) the number of Company Common Shares subject to such Restricted Stock Award immediately prior to the Effective Time, multiplied by (ii) the Exchange Ratio, with any fractional shares rounded down to the nearest whole share. For the avoidance of doubt, each Adjusted Restricted Stock Award held by any person shall represent the right to receive shares of Acquiror Class A Common Stock.

 

(c) As of the Effective Time, each Restricted Stock Unit Award that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into the right to receive restricted stock units based on shares of Acquiror Common Stock (each, an “Adjusted Restricted Stock Unit Award”) with substantially the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such Restricted Stock Unit Award immediately prior to the Effective Time (including with respect to vesting and termination-related provisions), except that such Adjusted Restricted Stock Unit Award shall relate to such number of shares of Acquiror Common Stock as is equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Restricted Stock Unit Award immediately prior to the Effective Time, multiplied by (ii) the Exchange Ratio, with any fractional shares rounded down to the nearest whole share. For the avoidance of doubt, each Adjusted Restricted Stock Unit Award held by any person shall represent the right to receive restricted stock units based on shares of Acquiror Class A Common Stock.

 

 

(d) The Company shall take all necessary actions to effect the treatment of Company Options, Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Unit Awards pursuant to Section 3.3(a), Section 3.3(b) and Section 3.3(c), respectively, in accordance with the Company Incentive Plan and the applicable award agreements and to ensure that no Acquiror Option may be exercised prior to the effective date of an applicable Form S-8 (or other applicable form, including Form S-1 or Form S-3) of Acquiror. The Board of Directors of the Company shall amend the Company Incentive Plan and take all other necessary actions, effective as of immediately prior to the Closing, in order to (i) cancel the remaining unallocated share reserve under the Company Incentive Plan and provide that shares in respect of Company Awards that for any reason become re-eligible for future issuance shall be cancelled, (ii) provide that no new Company Awards will be granted under the Company Incentive Plan, and (iii) provide that no Company Options shall be subject to the Option Exchange Program, as defined therein.

 

Section 3.4. Withholding. Notwithstanding any other provision to this Agreement, Acquiror, the Company and the Exchange Agent, as applicable, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any amount payable pursuant to this Agreement such Taxes that are required to be deducted and withheld by Acquiror, the Company or the Exchange Agent, as applicable, from such amounts under the Code or any other applicable Law (as reasonably determined by Acquiror, the Company, or the Exchange Agent, respectively); provided, that Acquiror shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide the Company with at least ten (10) days’ prior written notice of any amounts that it intends to withhold in connection with the payment of the Aggregate Merger Consideration and will reasonably cooperate with the Company to reduce or eliminate any applicable withholding. To the extent that any amounts are so deducted and withheld, such deducted and withheld amounts shall be (i) timely remitted to the appropriate Governmental Authority and (ii) treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.

 

Section 3.5. Dissenting Shares. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, shares of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by a holder who has not voted in favor of adoption of this Agreement or consented thereto in writing and who is entitled to demand and has properly exercised appraisal rights of such shares in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL (such shares of Company Common Stock being referred to collectively as the “Dissenting Shares” until such time as such holder fails to perfect or otherwise waives, withdraws, or loses such holder’s appraisal rights under the DGCL with respect to such shares) shall not be converted into a right to receive a portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration, but instead shall be entitled to only such rights as are granted by Section 262 of the DGCL; provided, however, that if, after the Effective Time, such holder fails to perfect, waives, withdraws, or loses such holder’s right to appraisal pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL, or if a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that such holder is not entitled to the relief provided by Section 262 of the DGCL, such shares of Company Common Stock shall be treated as if they had been converted as of the Effective Time into the right to receive a portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration in accordance with Section 3.1 without interest thereon, upon transfer of such shares. The Company shall provide Acquiror prompt written notice of any demands received by the Company for appraisal of shares of Company Common Stock, any waiver or withdrawal of any such demand, and any other demand, notice, or instrument delivered to the Company prior to the Effective Time that relates to such demand. Except with the prior written consent of Acquiror (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld, delayed or denied), the Company shall not make any payment with respect to, or settle, or offer to settle, any such demands.

 

 

Article IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

 

Except as set forth in the disclosure letter delivered to Acquiror and Merger Sub by the Company on the date of this Agreement (the “Company Disclosure Letter”) (each section of which, subject to Section 11.9, qualifies the correspondingly numbered and lettered representations in this Article IV), the Company represents and warrants to Acquiror and Merger Sub as follows:

 

Section 4.1. Company Organization. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing under the Laws of the State of Delaware, and has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease or operate all of its properties and assets and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted. The Governing Documents of the Company, as amended to the date of this Agreement and as previously made available by or on behalf of the Company to Acquiror, are true, correct and complete. The Company is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing as a foreign or extra-provincial corporation (or other entity, if applicable) in each jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the character of its activities is such as to require it to be so licensed or qualified or in good standing, as applicable, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified or in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 4.2. Subsidiaries. A complete list of each Subsidiary of the Company and its jurisdiction of incorporation, formation or organization, as applicable, is set forth on Section 4.2 of the Company Disclosure Letter. The Subsidiaries of the Company have been duly formed or organized and are validly existing under the Laws of their jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and have the requisite power and authority to own, lease or operate all of their respective properties and assets and to conduct their respective businesses as they are now being conducted. True, correct and complete copies of the Governing Documents of the Company’s Subsidiaries, in each case, as amended to the date of this Agreement, have been previously made available to Acquiror by or on behalf of the Company. Each Subsidiary of the Company is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing as a foreign or extra-provincial corporation (or other entity, if applicable) in each jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the character of its activities is such as to require it to be so licensed or qualified or in good standing, as applicable, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified or in good standing would not have, or would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

Section 4.3. Due Authorization.

 

(a) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the other documents to which it is contemplated hereby to be a party and (subject to the Company Stockholder Approvals and the approvals described in Section 4.5) to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and to perform all of its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other documents to which the Company is contemplated hereby to be a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly and validly authorized and approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, and no other company or corporate proceeding on the part of the Company is necessary to authorize this Agreement and the other documents to which the Company is contemplated hereby to be a party. This Agreement has been, and on or prior to the Closing, the other documents to which the Company is contemplated hereby to be a party will be, duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company, and this Agreement constitutes, and on or prior to the Closing, the other documents to which the Company is contemplated hereby to be a party will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity.

 

(b) On or prior to the date of this Agreement, the Board of Directors of the Company has duly adopted resolutions (i) determining that this Agreement and the other documents to which the Company is contemplated hereby to be a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby are advisable and fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its stockholders, as applicable, and (ii) authorizing and approving the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the other documents to which the Company is contemplated hereby to be party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. No other corporate action is required on the part of the Company or any of its stockholders to enter into this Agreement or the documents to which the Company is contemplated hereby to be a party or to approve the Merger other than the Company Stockholder Approvals.

 

Section 4.4. No Conflict. Subject to the receipt of the consents, approvals, authorizations and other requirements set forth in Section 4.5 and except as set forth on Section 4.4 of the Company Disclosure Letter, the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the documents to which the Company is contemplated hereby to be a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not (a) violate or conflict with any provision of, or result in the breach of or a default under, the Governing Documents of the Company, (b) violate or conflict with any provision of, or result in the breach of or a default under, any Law or Governmental Order applicable to the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, (c) violate or conflict with any provision of, or result in the breach of, or result in the loss of any right or benefit under, or cause acceleration under, or constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under, any Contract of the type described in Section 4.12(a) to which the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries may be bound, or terminate or result in the termination of any such foregoing Contract or (d) result in the creation of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, except, in the case of clauses (b) through (d), to the extent that the occurrence of the foregoing would not (i) have, or would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the ability of the Company to enter into and perform their obligations under this Agreement or (ii) be material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

 

Section 4.5. Governmental Authorities; Consents. Assuming the truth and completeness of the representations and warranties of Acquiror contained in this Agreement, no consent, waiver, approval or authorization of, or designation, declaration or filing with, or notification to, any Governmental Authority (each, a “Governmental Authorization”) is required on the part of the Company or its Subsidiaries with respect to the Company’s execution or delivery of this Agreement or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for (i) applicable requirements of the HSR Act; (ii) any consents, approvals, authorizations, designations, declarations, waivers or filings, the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Company to perform or comply with on a timely basis any material obligation of the Company under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and (iii) the filing of the Merger Certificate in accordance with the DGCL.

 

Section 4.6. Capitalization of the Company. ¹

 

(a) As of the date of this Agreement, the authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (x) 150,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock, of which 47,763,826 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, (y) 1,124,856 shares of Founders Preferred Stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Company Founders Preferred Stock”), of which 162,558 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, and (z) 87,355,585 shares of Company Preferred Stock (of which (i) 3,654,873 shares are designated as Series A-1 Preferred Stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of which 3,654,873 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement (the “Series A-1 Preferred Stock”), (ii) 5,372,703 shares are designated as Series A-2 Preferred Stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of which 5,372,703 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement (the “Series A-2 Preferred Stock”), (iii) 2,485,296 shares are designated as Series A-3 Preferred Stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of which 2,485,296 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement (the “Series A-3 Preferred Stock”), (iv) 590,688 shares are designated as Series A-4 Preferred Stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of which 590,688 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement (the “Series A-4 Preferred Stock”), (v) 2,680,236 shares are designated as Series A-5 Preferred Stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of which 2,680,236 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement (the “Series A-5 Preferred Stock”), (vi) 3,647,817 shares are designated as Series A-6 Preferred Stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of which 3,647,817 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement (the “Series A-6 Preferred Stock”), (vii) 15,139,917 shares are designated as Series A-7 Preferred Stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of which 15,139,917 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement (the “Series A-7 Preferred Stock”), (viii) 32,834,601 shares are designated as Series B Preferred Stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of which 32,834,601 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), and (ix) 20,949,454 shares are designated as Series C Preferred Stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of which 20,949,454 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement (the “Series C Preferred Stock”)), and there are no other authorized equity interests of the Company that are issued and outstanding. Except as set forth on Section 4.6(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, all of the issued and outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) have been offered, sold and issued in compliance with applicable Law, including federal and state securities Laws, and all requirements set forth in (1) the Governing Documents of the Company and (2) any other applicable Contracts governing the issuance of such securities; (iii) are not subject to, nor have they been issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of any applicable Law, the Governing Documents of the Company or any Contract to which the Company is a party or otherwise bound; and (iv) are free and clear of any Liens, other than restrictions on transfer under applicable securities Laws. All shares of Company Common Stock are uncertificated, book-entry shares.

 

1

Note to draft: Capitalization as of the date of signing to be confirmed

 

 

(b) As of the date of this Agreement, (i) Company Options to purchase 8,760,253 shares of Company Common Stock, with an aggregate exercise price equal to $5,162,826, are outstanding, (ii) Restricted Stock Awards with respect to zero (0) shares of Company Common Stock are outstanding and (iii) Restricted Stock Unit Awards with respect to zero (0) shares of Company Common Stock, are outstanding. The Company has provided to Acquiror, prior to the date of this Agreement, a true and complete list of each Person who, as of the date of this Agreement, holds a Company Award, including the type of Company Award, the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject thereto, vesting schedule and, if applicable, the exercise price thereof. All Company Options, Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Unit Awards are evidenced in all material respects by award agreements in substantially the forms previously made available to Acquiror. Each Company Option, each Restricted Stock Award, and each Restricted Stock Unit Award was validly issued and properly approved by the Board of Directors of the Company (or appropriate committee thereof).

 

(c) Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 4.6 or on Section 4.6(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no securities of the Company issued and outstanding, and the Company has not granted any outstanding subscriptions, options, stock appreciation rights, warrants, rights or other securities (including debt securities) convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Company Capital Stock, any other commitments, calls, conversion rights, rights of exchange or privilege (whether pre-emptive, contractual or by matter of Law), plans or other agreements of any character providing for the issuance of additional shares, the sale of treasury shares or other equity interests, or for the repurchase or redemption of shares or other equity interests of the Company or the value of which is determined by reference to shares or other equity interests of the Company, and there are no voting trusts, proxies or agreements of any kind which may obligate the Company to issue, purchase, register for sale, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of Company Capital Stock.

 

Section 4.7. Capitalization of Subsidiaries.

 

(a) The outstanding shares of capital stock or equity interests of each of the Company’s Subsidiaries (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are, to the extent applicable, fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) have been offered, sold and issued in compliance with applicable Law, including federal and state securities Laws, and all requirements set forth in (1) the Governing Documents of each such Subsidiary, and (2) any other applicable Contracts governing the issuance of such securities; (iii) are not subject to, and have not been issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of any applicable Law, the Governing Documents of each such Subsidiary or any Contract to which each such Subsidiary is a party or otherwise bound; and (iv) are free and clear of any Liens, other than restrictions on transfer under applicable securities Laws.

 

(b) The Company owns of record and beneficially all the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or equity interests of such Subsidiaries free and clear of any Liens other than Permitted Liens.

 

(c) Except as set forth on Section 4.7(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no outstanding capital stock or equity interests of, and no subscriptions, options, warrants, rights or other securities (including debt securities) exercisable or exchangeable for any capital stock or equity interests of, such Subsidiaries, any other commitments, calls, conversion rights, rights of exchange or privilege (whether pre-emptive, contractual or by matter of Law), plans or other agreements of any character providing for the issuance of additional shares, the sale of treasury shares or other equity interests, or for the repurchase or redemption of shares or other equity interests of such Subsidiaries or the value of which is determined by reference to shares or other equity interests of the Subsidiaries, and there are no voting trusts, proxies or agreements of any kind which may obligate any Subsidiary of the Company to issue, purchase, register for sale, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its capital stock or equity interests.

 

 

Section 4.8. Financial Statements.

 

(a) Attached as Section 4.8(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter are true and complete copies of the audited consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations, comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of and for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, together with the auditor’s reports thereon (the “Audited Financial Statements” and, together with the applicable Interim Financial Statements, if and when delivered pursuant to Section 6.3, the “Financial Statements”).

 

(b) Except as set forth on Section 4.8(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Audited Financial Statements and, when delivered pursuant to Section 6.3, the Interim Financial Statements (i) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, as at the respective dates thereof, and the consolidated results of their operations, their consolidated incomes, their consolidated changes in stockholders’ equity (with respect to the Audited Financial Statements only) and their consolidated cash flows for the respective periods then ended (subject, in the case of the Interim Financial Statements, to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes), (ii) were prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto and, in the case of the Interim Financial Statements, the absence of footnotes or the inclusion of limited footnotes), (iii) were prepared from, and are in accordance in all material respects with, the books and records of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries and (iv) when delivered by the Company for inclusion in the Registration Statement for filing with the SEC following the date of this Agreement in accordance with Section 6.3, 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 applicable to a registrant, in effect as of the respective dates thereof.

 

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

 

(d) Management of the Company believes that the net proceeds of the Transactions, taken together with existing cash on the Company’s balance sheet, are sufficient to fund the Company through commercialization of its business.

 

Section 4.9. Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as set forth on Section 4.9 of the Company Disclosure Letter, as of the date hereof, there is no other liability, debt (including Indebtedness) or obligation of, or claim or judgment against, the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries (whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, known or unknown, liquidated or unliquidated, or due or to become due), except for liabilities, debts, obligations, claims or judgments (a) reflected or reserved for on the Financial Statements or disclosed in the notes thereto or (b) that have arisen since the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Financial Statements in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

Section 4.10. Litigation and Proceedings. Except as set forth on Section 4.10 of the Company Disclosure Letter, as of the date hereof (a) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, lawsuits, actions, suits, judgments, claims, proceedings or any other Actions (including any investigations or inquiries initiated, pending or threatened by any Governmental Authority), or other proceedings at law or in equity (collectively, “Legal Proceedings”), against the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets; and (b) there is no outstanding Governmental Order imposed upon the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, nor binding upon any properties or assets of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries’ respective businesses, except, in each case, as would not be, or would not reasonably be expected to be, material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

 

Section 4.11. Legal Compliance.

 

(a) As of the date hereof, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable Laws in all material respects.

 

(b) For the past three (3) years, none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice of, or been charged with, the violation of any Laws, except where such violation has not been material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

(c) The Company and its Subsidiaries maintain a program of policies, procedures and internal controls reasonably designed and implemented to provide reasonable assurance that violation of applicable Law by any of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ directors, officers, employees or its or their respective agents, representatives or other Persons, acting on behalf of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, will be prevented, detected and deterred.

 

Section 4.12. Contracts; No Defaults.

 

(a) Section 4.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a listing of all Contracts described in clauses (i) through (xiv) below to which, as of the date of this Agreement, the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries is a party or by which they are bound, other than a Company Benefit Plan. True, correct and complete copies of the Contracts listed on Section 4.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter have previously been delivered to or made available to Acquiror or its agents or representatives, together with all amendments thereto.

 

(i) each note, debenture, other evidence of Indebtedness, guarantee, loan, credit or financing agreement or instrument or other Contract for money borrowed by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, including any agreement or commitment for future loans, credit or financing, in each case, in excess of $1,000,000;

 

(ii) each Contract for the acquisition of any Person or any business unit thereof or the disposition of any material assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the last two (2) years, in each case, involving payments in excess of $1,000,000, other than Contracts (A) in which the applicable acquisition or disposition has been consummated and there are no material obligations ongoing, or (B) between the Company and its wholly owned Subsidiaries;

 

(iii) each lease, rental or occupancy agreement, license, installment and conditional sale agreement and other Contract that provides for the ownership of, leasing of, title to, use of, or any leasehold or other interest in any real or personal property that involves aggregate payments in excess of $1,000,000 in any calendar year;

 

(iv) each Contract involving the formation of a (A) joint venture, (B) partnership, or (C) limited liability company (excluding, in the case of clauses (B) and (C), any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company);

 

(v) material Contracts (other than employment agreements or arrangements (including the Company Benefit Plans), Governing Documents and those entered into in the ordinary course of business) between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and (A) any stockholder of the Company or any Affiliate thereof, (B) any Affiliate of the Company or of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries (other than the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries), (C) any director, officer, manager or employee of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, or (D) a member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing Persons, on the other hand (collectively, “Affiliate Agreements”);

 

 

(vi) employment or similar Contracts with any employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that provide for an annual base salary greater than $250,000;

 

(vii) Contracts containing covenants of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries (A) prohibiting or limiting the right of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries to engage in or compete with any Person in any line of business in any material respect or (B) prohibiting or restricting the Company’s and the Company’s Subsidiaries’ ability to conduct their business with any Person in any geographic area in any material respect;

 

(viii) any collective bargaining (or similar) agreement or Contract between the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, on one hand, and any labor union or other body representing employees of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, on the other hand;

 

(ix) each Contract (including license agreements, coexistence agreements, and agreements with covenants not to sue, but not including non-disclosure agreements, contractor services agreements, consulting services agreements, employment agreements or employee invention assignment agreements, incidental trademark licenses incident to marketing, printing or advertising Contracts) pursuant to which the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries (i) grants to a third Person the right to use material Intellectual Property of the Company and its Subsidiaries or (ii) is granted by a third Person the right to use Intellectual Property that is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than Contracts granting nonexclusive rights to use commercially available off-the-shelf software and Open Source Licenses);

 

(x) each Contract requiring capital expenditures by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries after the date of this Agreement in an amount in excess of $1,000,000 in any calendar year;

 

(xi) any Contract that grants to any Person (other than the Company or its Subsidiaries) (A) any “most favored nation” rights or (B) a right of first refusal, first offer or similar preferential right to purchase or otherwise acquire equity interests in or any material assets of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries;

 

(xii) each Contract that involves aggregate payments by or to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $2,500,000 in any calendar year, including any such Contracts with any service provider, supplier, licensor, licensee or customer;

 

(xiii) Contracts requiring the payment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any material change of control, transaction bonus or similar payment to any Person as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (and not tied to any subsequent event or condition, such as a termination of employment);

 

 

(xiv) any Contract not otherwise identified pursuant to the foregoing if the violation, breach or termination thereof would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(xv) any outstanding commitment to enter into any Contract of the type described in subsections (i) through (xiv) of this Section 4.12(a).

 

(b) Except for any Contract that will terminate upon the expiration of the stated term thereof prior to the Closing Date, all of the Contracts listed pursuant to Section 4.12(a) in the Company Disclosure Letter are (i) in full force and effect and (ii) represent the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company or the Subsidiary of the Company party thereto and, to the knowledge of the Company, represent the legal, valid and binding obligations of the counterparties thereto. Except, in each case, where the occurrence of such breach or default or failure to perform would not be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (x) the Company and its Subsidiaries have performed in all respects all respective obligations required to be performed by them to date under such Contracts listed pursuant to Section 4.12(a) and neither the Company, the Company’s Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto is in breach of or default under any such Contract, (y) during the last twelve (12) months, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written claim or written notice of termination or breach of or default under any such Contract, and (z) to the knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred which individually or together with other events, would reasonably be expected to result in a breach of or a default under any such Contract by the Company or its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto (in each case, with or without notice or lapse of time or both).

 

Section 4.13. Company Benefit Plans.

 

(a) Section 4.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a complete list, as of the date hereof, of each material Company Benefit Plan. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Company Benefit Plan” means an “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, (“ERISA”) or any other plan, policy, program or agreement (including any employment, bonus, incentive or deferred compensation, employee loan, equity or equity-based compensation, severance, retention, supplemental retirement, change in control or similar plan, policy, program or agreement) providing compensation or other benefits to any current or former director, officer, individual consultant, employee, which are maintained, sponsored or contributed to by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, or to which the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries is a party or has any liability, and in each case whether or not (i) subject to the Laws of the United States, (ii) in writing or (iii) funded, but excluding in each case any Multiemployer Plan and any statutory plan, program or arrangement that is required under applicable Law and maintained by any Governmental Authority. With respect to each material Company Benefit Plan, the Company has made available to Acquiror, to the extent applicable, true, complete and correct copies of (A) such Company Benefit Plan (or, if not written a written summary of its material terms) and all plan documents, trust agreements, insurance Contracts or other funding vehicles and all amendments thereto, (B) the most recent summary plan descriptions, including any summary of material modifications, (C) the most recent annual reports (Form 5500 series) filed with the IRS with respect to such Company Benefit Plan, (D) the most recent actuarial report or other financial statement relating to such Company Benefit Plan, and (E) the most recent determination or opinion letter, if any, issued by the IRS with respect to any Company Benefit Plan and any pending request for such a determination letter.

 

 

(b) Except as set forth on Section 4.13(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter or would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (i) each Company Benefit Plan has been operated and administered in compliance with its terms and all applicable Laws, including ERISA and the Code, and (ii) each Company Benefit Plan which is intended to be qualified within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination or opinion letter from the IRS as to its qualification or may rely upon an opinion letter for a prototype plan and, to the knowledge of the Company, no fact or event has occurred that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualified status of any such Company Benefit Plan.

 

(c) Neither the Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has sponsored or contributed to, been required to contribute to, or had any actual or contingent liability under, a Multiemployer Plan or other pension plan subject to Title IV of ERISA at any time within the previous six (6) years.

 

(d) Except would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, with respect to each Company Benefit Plan, no Legal Proceedings (other than routine claims for benefits in the ordinary course of business) are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened and, to the knowledge of the Company, no facts or circumstances exist that would reasonably be expected to give rise to any such Legal Proceedings.

 

(e) No Company Benefit Plan provides medical, surgical, hospitalization, death or similar benefits (whether or not insured) for employees or former employees of the Company or any Subsidiary for periods extending beyond their retirement or other termination of service, other than (i) coverage mandated by applicable Law, or (ii) benefits the full cost of which is borne by the current or former employee (or his or her beneficiary).

 

(f) Except as set forth on Section 4.13(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, either alone or in combination with another event (such as termination following the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby), (i) entitle any current or former employee, officer or other service provider of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company to any material severance pay or any other compensation or benefits payable or to be provided by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company as expressly provided in this Agreement, (ii) accelerate the time of payment, funding or vesting, or materially increase the amount of material compensation or benefits due any such employee, officer or other individual service provider by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) accelerate the vesting and/or settlement of any Company Award or (iv) result in any “excess parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code. No Company Benefit Plan provides for a Tax gross-up, make whole or similar payment with respect to the Taxes imposed under Sections 409A or 4999 of the Code.

 

 

Section 4.14. Labor Relations; Employees.

 

(a) Except as set forth on Section 4.14(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (i) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement, or any similar agreement, (ii) no such agreement is being negotiated by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, and (iii) in the past three (3) years, no labor union or any other employee representative body has requested or, to the knowledge of the Company, has sought to represent any of the employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries. In the past three (3) years, there has been no actual or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout or other labor dispute against or affecting the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

(b) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries are, and have been for the past three (3) years, in compliance with all applicable Laws respecting labor and employment including, but not limited to, all Laws respecting terms and conditions of employment, health and safety, wages and hours, holiday pay and the calculation of holiday pay, working time, employee classification (with respect to both exempt vs. non-exempt status and employee vs. independent contractor and worker status), child labor, immigration, employment discrimination, disability rights or benefits, equal opportunity and equal pay, plant closures and layoffs, affirmative action, workers’ compensation, labor relations, employee leave issues and unemployment insurance, except where the failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

(c) In the past three (3) years, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not received (i) notice of any unfair labor practice charge pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened before the National Labor Relations Board or any other Governmental Authority against them, (ii) notice of any complaints, grievances or arbitrations arising out of any collective bargaining agreement or any other complaints, grievances or arbitration procedures against them, (iii) notice of any charge or complaint with respect to or relating to them pending before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, (iv) notice of the intent of any Governmental Authority responsible for the enforcement of labor, employment, wages and hours of work, child labor, immigration, or occupational safety and health Laws to conduct an investigation with respect to or relating to them or notice that such investigation is in progress, or (v) notice of any complaint, lawsuit or other proceeding pending or threatened in any forum by or on behalf of any present or former employee of such entities, any applicant for employment or classes of the foregoing alleging breach of any express or implied Contract of employment, any applicable Law governing employment or the termination thereof or other discriminatory, wrongful or tortious conduct in connection with the employment relationship, in each case, except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

(d) In the past three (3) years, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not engaged in layoffs, furloughs or employment terminations sufficient to trigger application of the Workers’ Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act or any similar state or local law relating to group terminations, the liability for which has not been satisfied in all material respects. The Company and its Subsidiaries have not engaged in material layoffs, furloughs, employment terminations (other than for cause) or effected any broad-based salary or other compensation or benefits reductions, in each case, whether temporary or permanent, since January 1, 2020 through the date hereof.

 

 

Section 4.15. Taxes.

 

(a) All material Tax Returns required to be filed by or with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have been timely filed (taking into account any applicable extensions), all such Tax Returns (taking into account all amendments thereto) are true, complete and accurate in all material respects.

 

(b) All material Taxes due and payable by the Company and its Subsidiaries (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been paid, other than Taxes being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP.

 

(c) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have withheld from amounts owing to any employee, creditor or other Person all material Taxes required by Law to be withheld, paid over to the proper Governmental Authority in a timely manner all such withheld amounts required to have been so paid over and complied in all material respects with all applicable withholding and related reporting requirements with respect to such Taxes.

 

(d) There are no Liens for any material amount of Taxes (other than Permitted Liens) upon the property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(e) No claim, assessment, deficiency or proposed adjustment for any material amount of Tax has been asserted or assessed in writing by any Governmental Authority against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that remains unresolved or unpaid except for claims, assessments, deficiencies or proposed adjustments being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP.

 

(f) There are no ongoing or pending legal proceedings with respect to any material taxes of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries presently in progress, and there are no waivers, extensions or requests for any waivers or extensions of any statute of limitations currently in effect with respect to any material Taxes of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(g) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any Tax indemnification or Tax sharing or similar agreement (other than any such agreement solely between the Company and its existing Subsidiaries and customary commercial Contracts (or Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business) not primarily related to Taxes).

 

(h) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a party to any transaction treated by the parties as a distribution of stock qualifying for Tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code in the two (2) years prior to the date of this Agreement.

 

(i) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has any material liability for Taxes of any other Person (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Tax Law or as a transferee or successor or by Contract (other than customary commercial Contracts (or Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business) not primarily related to Taxes) or (ii) has within the last thirty-six (36) months been a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group filing for U.S. federal, state or local income Tax purposes, other than a group the common parent of which was or is the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

 

(j) No written claim has been made by any Governmental Authority within the last thirty-six (36) months where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries does not file Tax Returns that it is or may be subject to taxation in that jurisdiction that has not since been resolved.

 

(k) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has participated in a “listed transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 1.6011-4(b)(2).

 

(l) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will be required to include any material amount in taxable income, exclude any material item of deduction or loss from taxable income, for any taxable period (or portion thereof) beginning after the Closing Date as a result of any (i) installment sale or open transaction disposition made prior to the Closing outside the ordinary course of business, (ii) prepaid amount received or deferred revenue recognized prior to the Closing outside the ordinary course of business, (iii) change in method of accounting for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date made or requested prior to the Closing, (iv) “closing agreements” described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law) executed prior to the Closing, or (v) any election pursuant to Section 965(h) of the Code.

 

(m) The Company has not taken any action, nor to the knowledge of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are there any facts or circumstances, that would reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment.

 

Section 4.16. Brokers’ Fees. Except as set forth on Section 4.16 of the Company Disclosure Letter, 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 hereby based upon arrangements made by the Company, any of the Company’s Subsidiaries’ or any of their Affiliates for which Acquiror, Merger Sub, the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries has any obligation.

 

Section 4.17. Insurance. Section 4.17 of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a list of, as of the date hereof, all material policies or binders of property, fire and casualty, product liability, workers’ compensation, and other forms of insurance held by, or for the benefit of, the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement. True, correct and complete copies of such insurance policies as in effect as of the date hereof have previously been made available to Acquiror. All such policies are in full force and effect, all premiums due have been paid, and no notice of cancellation or termination has been received by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries with respect to any such policy. Except as disclosed on Section 4.17 of the Company Disclosure Letter, no insurer has denied or disputed coverage of any material claim under an insurance policy during the last twelve (12) months.

 

 

Section 4.18. Licenses. The Company and its Subsidiaries possess all of the material Licenses reasonably required to permit the Company and its Subsidiaries to acquire, originate, own, operate, use and maintain their material assets in all material respects in the manner in which they are now operated and maintained and to conduct the material business operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries in all material respects as currently conducted, except as would not be reasonably expected to materially disrupt the conduct of business by the Company and its Subsidiaries. Each such material License held by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries is in full force and effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (a) is in default or violation (and no event has occurred which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a material default or violation) in any material respect of any term, condition or provision of any material License to which it is a party, (b) is or has been the subject of any pending or threatened Action by a Governmental Authority seeking the revocation, suspension, termination, modification, or impairment of any material License, or (c) has received any notice that any Governmental Authority that has issued any material License intends to cancel, terminate, or not renew any such material License, except to the extent such material License may be amended, replaced, or reissued as a result of and as necessary to reflect the transactions contemplated hereby, or as otherwise disclosed in Section 4.4 of the Company Disclosure Letter.

 

Section 4.19. Equipment and Other Tangible Property. The Company or one of its Subsidiaries owns and has good title to, and has the legal and beneficial ownership of or a valid leasehold interest in or right to use by license or otherwise, all material machinery, equipment and other tangible property reflected on the books of the Company and its Subsidiaries as owned by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens. All material personal property and leased personal property assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries are structurally sound and in good operating condition and repair (ordinary wear and tear expected) and are suitable for their present use.

 

Section 4.20. Real Property.

 

(a) Section 4.20(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete list as of the date of this Agreement of all Leased Real Property and all Real Property Leases (as hereinafter defined) pertaining to such Leased Real Property. With respect to each parcel of Leased Real Property:

 

(i) The Company or one of its Subsidiaries holds a good and valid leasehold estate in such Leased Real Property, free and clear of all Liens, except for Permitted Liens.

 

(ii) The Company and its Subsidiaries have delivered to Acquiror true, correct and complete copies of all leases, lease guaranties, subleases, agreements for the leasing, use or occupancy of, or otherwise granting a right in and to the Leased Real Property by or to the Company and its Subsidiaries, including all amendments, terminations and modifications thereof (collectively, the “Real Property Leases”), and none of such Real Property Leases have been modified in any material respect, except to the extent that such modifications have been disclosed by the copies delivered to Acquiror.

 

 

(iii) The Company and its Subsidiaries’, as applicable, possession and quiet enjoyment of the Leased Real Property under such Real Property Leases has not been materially disturbed and, to the knowledge of the Company, there are no material disputes with respect to such Real Property Leases.

 

(iv) As of the date of this Agreement, no party, other than the Company or its Subsidiaries, has any right to use or occupy the Leased Real Property or any portion thereof.

 

(v) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have received written notice of any current condemnation proceeding or proposed similar Action or agreement for taking in lieu of condemnation with respect to any portion of the Leased Real Property.

 

(b) None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Owned Real Property.

 

Section 4.21. Intellectual Property.

 

(a) Section 4.21(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists each item of Intellectual Property that is registered and applied-for with a Governmental Authority and is owned by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement, whether applied for or registered in the United States or internationally as of the date of this Agreement (“Company Registered Intellectual Property”). The Company or one of the Company’s Subsidiaries is the sole and exclusive beneficial and record owner of all of the items of Company Registered Intellectual Property, and, to the knowledge of the Company, all such Company Registered Intellectual Property is subsisting and, excluding any pending applications included in the Company Registered Intellectual Property, is valid and enforceable.

 

(b) Except as would not be expected to be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, the Company or one of its Subsidiaries owns, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), or has a valid right to use, all material Intellectual Property reasonably necessary for the continued conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries in substantially the same manner as such business has been operated during the twelve (12) months prior to the date hereof, provided that the foregoing shall not be deemed a representation or warranty regarding non-infringement, validity or enforceability of Intellectual Property.

 

(c) To the knowledge of the Company, the Company and its Subsidiaries are not infringing upon, misappropriating or otherwise violating any Intellectual Property of any third Person. There is no action pending to which the Company or such Subsidiary of the Company is a named party, or to the knowledge of the Company, that is threatened in writing, alleging the Company’s or such Subsidiaries’ infringement, misappropriation or other violation of any Intellectual Property of any third Person and there has not been, within the three (3) years preceding the date of this Agreement, any such action brought or threatened in writing.

 

 

(d) Except as set forth on Section 4.21(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter, to the knowledge of the Company as of the date of this Agreement (i) no Person is infringing upon, misappropriating or otherwise violating any material Intellectual Property of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries in any material respect, and (ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries have not sent to any Person within the three (3) years preceding the date of this Agreement (or, in the case of any Subsidiary of the Company or any business unit, as applicable, that was acquired within the eighteen (18) period prior to the date of this Agreement, within the twelve (12) months preceding the date of this Agreement) any written notice, charge, complaint, claim or other written assertion against such third Person claiming infringement or violation by or misappropriation of any Intellectual Property of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries.

 

(e) The Company and its Subsidiaries take commercially reasonable measures to protect the confidentiality of trade secrets included in their Intellectual Property that are material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries. To the knowledge of the Company, there has not been any material unauthorized disclosure of or unauthorized access to any trade secrets of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries to or by any Person in a manner that has resulted or may result in the misappropriation of, or loss of trade secret or other rights in and to such information.

 

(f) With respect to the software used or held for use in the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, to the knowledge of the Company, no such software contains any undisclosed or hidden device or feature designed to disrupt, disable, or otherwise impair the functioning of any software or any “back door,” “time bomb”, “Trojan horse,” “worm,” “drop dead device,” or other malicious code or routines that permit unauthorized access or the unauthorized disablement or erasure of such or other software or information or data (or any parts thereof) of the Company or its Subsidiaries or customers of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

(g) The Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ use and distribution of (i) software developed by the Company or any Subsidiary, and (ii) Open Source Materials, is in material compliance with all Open Source Licenses applicable thereto. None of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company has used any Open Source Materials in a manner that requires any proprietary software or Intellectual Property owned by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, to be subject to Copyleft Licenses.

 

Section 4.22. Privacy and Cybersecurity.

 

(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries maintain and are in compliance with, and during the three (3) years preceding the date hereof have maintained and been in compliance with, (i) all applicable Laws relating to the privacy and/or security of personal information, (ii) the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ posted or publicly facing privacy policies, and (iii) the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ contractual obligations concerning cybersecurity, data security and the security of the Company’s and each of its Subsidiaries’ information technology systems, in each case of (i)-(iii) above, other than any non-compliance that, individually or in the aggregate, has not been and would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries. There are no Actions by any Person (including any Governmental Authority) pending to which the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries is a named party or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing against the Company or its Subsidiaries alleging a violation of any third Person’s privacy or personal information rights.

 

 

(b) During the three (3) years preceding the date of this Agreement (i) there have been no material breaches of the security of the information technology systems of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and (ii) there have been no disruptions in any information technology systems that materially adversely affected the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ business or operations. The Company and its Subsidiaries take commercially reasonable and legally compliant measures designed to protect confidential, sensitive or personally identifiable information in its possession or control against unauthorized access, use, modification, disclosure or other misuse, including through administrative, technical and physical safeguards. To the knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company has (A) experienced any incident in which such information was stolen or improperly accessed, including in connection with a breach of security, or (B) received any written notice or complaint from any Person with respect to any of the foregoing, nor has any such notice or complaint been threatened in writing against the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries.

 

Section 4.23. Environmental Matters.

 

(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries are and, except for matters which have been fully resolved, have been in material compliance with all Environmental Laws.

 

(b) There has been no material release of any Hazardous Materials by the Company or its Subsidiaries (i) at, in, on or under any Leased Real Property or in connection with the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ operations off-site of the Leased Real Property or (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, at, in, on or under any formerly owned or Leased Real Property during the time that the Company owned or leased such property or at any other location where Hazardous Materials generated by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries have been transported to, sent, placed or disposed of.

 

(c) Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries are subject to any current Governmental Order relating to any material non-compliance with Environmental Laws by the Company or its Subsidiaries or the investigation, sampling, monitoring, treatment, remediation, removal or cleanup of Hazardous Materials.

 

(d) No material Legal Proceeding is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened with respect to the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ compliance with or liability under Environmental Laws, and, to the knowledge of the Company, there are no facts or circumstances which could reasonably be expected to form the basis of such a Legal Proceeding.

 

(e) The Company has made available to Acquiror all material environmental reports, assessments, audits and inspections and any material communications or notices from or to any Governmental Authority concerning any material non-compliance of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries with, or liability of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries under, Environmental Law.

 

Section 4.24. Absence of Changes. From the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Financial Statements to the date of this Agreement, there has not been any Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

Section 4.25. Anti-Corruption Compliance.

 

(a) For the past three (3) years, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee or agent acting on behalf of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, has offered or given anything of value to: (i) any official or employee of a Governmental Authority, any political party or official thereof, or any candidate for political office or (ii) any other Person, in any such case while knowing that all or a portion of such money or thing of value will be offered, given or promised, directly or indirectly, to any official or employee of a Governmental Authority or candidate for political office, in each case in violation of the Anti-Bribery Laws.

 

(b) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has instituted and maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance in all material respects with the Anti-Bribery Laws.

 

(c) To the knowledge of the Company, as of the date hereof, there are no current or pending internal investigations, third party investigations (including by any Governmental Authority), or internal or external audits that address any material allegations or information concerning possible material violations of the Anti-Bribery Laws related to the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries.

 

Section 4.26. Sanctions and International Trade Compliance.

 

(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are, and have been for the past five (5) years, in compliance in all material respects with all International Trade Laws and Sanctions Laws, and (ii) have obtained all required licenses, consents, notices, waivers, approvals, orders, registrations, declarations, or other authorizations from, and have made any material filings with, any applicable Governmental Authority for the import, export, re-export, deemed export, deemed re-export, or transfer required under the International Trade Laws and Sanctions Laws (the “Export Approvals”). There are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, claims, complaints, charges, investigations, voluntary disclosures or Legal Proceedings against the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries related to any International Trade Laws or Sanctions Laws or any Export Approvals.

 

(b) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any of their respective directors or officers or, to the knowledge of the Company, employees or any of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ respective agents, representatives or other Persons acting on behalf of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, (i) is, or has during the past five (5) years been, a Sanctioned Person or (ii) has transacted business directly or knowingly indirectly with any Sanctioned Person or in any Sanctioned Country in violation of Sanctions Laws.

 

Section 4.27. Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries specifically in writing for inclusion in the Registration Statement will, at the date on which the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement is first mailed to the Acquiror Shareholders or at the time of the Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

 

 

Section 4.28. No Additional Representation or Warranties. Except as provided in this Article IV, neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates, nor any of their respective directors, managers, officers, employees, equityholders, partners, members or representatives has made, or is making, any representation or warranty whatsoever to Acquiror or Merger Sub or their Affiliates and no such party shall be liable in respect of the accuracy or completeness of any information provided to Acquiror or Merger Sub or their Affiliates. Without limiting the foregoing, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, each of Acquiror and Merger Sub, on behalf of themselves and each of their respective directors, managers, officers, employees, equityholders, partners, members or representatives, acknowledge and agree that Acquiror has made its own investigation of the Company and that neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates, agents or representatives is making any representation or warranty whatsoever, express or implied, beyond those expressly given by the Company in Article IV, including any implied warranty or representation as to condition, merchantability, suitability or fitness for a particular purpose or trade as to any of the assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is understood that any cost estimates, financial or other projections or other predictions that may be contained or referred to in the Company Disclosure Letter or elsewhere, as well as any information, documents or other materials (including any such materials contained in any “data room” (whether or not accessed by Acquiror or its representatives) or reviewed by Acquiror pursuant to the Confidentiality Agreement) or management presentations that have been or shall hereafter be provided to Acquiror or any of its Affiliates, agents or representatives are not and will not be deemed to be representations or warranties of the Company, and no representation or warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of any of the foregoing except as may be expressly set forth in Article IV of this Agreement. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement, Acquiror understands and agrees that any assets, properties and business of the Company and its Subsidiaries are furnished “as is”, “where is” and subject to and except as otherwise provided in the representations and warranties contained in Article IV, with all faults and without any other representation or warranty of any nature whatsoever.

 

Article V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ACQUIROR AND MERGER SUB

 

Except as set forth in (i) in the case of Acquiror, any Acquiror SEC Filings filed or submitted on or prior to the date hereof (excluding (a) any disclosures in any risk factors section that do not constitute statements of fact, disclosures in any forward-looking statements disclaimer and other disclosures that are generally cautionary, predictive or forward-looking in nature and (b) any exhibits or other documents appended thereto) (it being acknowledged that nothing disclosed in such Acquiror SEC Filings will be deemed to modify or qualify the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.8, Section 5.12 and Section 5.15), or (ii) in the case of Acquiror and Merger Sub, in the disclosure letter delivered by Acquiror and Merger Sub to the Company (the “Acquiror Disclosure Letter”) on the date of this Agreement (each section of which, subject to Section 11.9, qualifies the correspondingly numbered and lettered representations in this Article V), Acquiror and Merger Sub represent and warrant to the Company as follows:

 

 

Section 5.1. Company Organization. Each of Acquiror and Merger Sub has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware, and has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease or operate all of its properties and assets and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted. The copies of Acquiror’s Governing Documents and the Governing Documents of Merger Sub, in each case, as amended prior to the date of this Agreement, previously delivered by Acquiror to the Company, are true, correct and complete. Merger Sub has no assets or operations other than those required to effect the transactions contemplated hereby. All of the equity interests of Merger Sub are held directly by Acquiror. Each of Acquiror and Merger Sub is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing as a foreign corporation or company in all jurisdictions in which its ownership of property or the character of its activities is such as to require it to be so licensed or qualified, except where failure to be so licensed or qualified would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to Acquiror.

 

Section 5.2. Due Authorization.

 

(a) Each of Acquiror and Merger Sub has all requisite corporate power and authority to (a) execute and deliver this Agreement and the documents to which it is contemplated hereby to be a party, and (b) subject to the Acquiror Shareholder Approvals, consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and perform all obligations to be performed by it hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the documents to which Acquiror or Merger Sub is contemplated hereby to be a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been (i) duly and validly authorized and approved by the Board of Directors of Acquiror and by Acquiror as the sole shareholder, as applicable, of Merger Sub and (ii) determined by the Board of Directors of Acquiror as advisable to Acquiror and the Acquiror Shareholders and recommended for approval by the Acquiror Shareholders. No other company proceeding on the part of Acquiror or Merger Sub is necessary to authorize this Agreement and the documents to which it is contemplated hereby to be a party (other than the Acquiror Shareholder Approval). This Agreement has been, and at or prior to the Closing, the other documents to which Acquiror or Merger Sub is contemplated hereby to be a party will be, duly and validly executed and delivered by each of Acquiror and Merger Sub, as applicable, and this Agreement constitutes, and at or prior to the Closing, the other documents to which Acquiror or Merger Sub is contemplated hereby to be a party will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of Acquiror and/or Merger Sub, as applicable, enforceable against Acquiror and/or Merger Sub, as applicable, in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity.

 

(b) Assuming that a quorum (as determined pursuant to Acquiror’s Governing Documents) is present, (i) the Charter Proposal shall require approval by an affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock, at a shareholders’ meeting duly called by the Board of Directors of Acquiror and held for such purpose, and (ii) each of the other Transaction Proposals shall require approval by an affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock present in person or by proxy at a shareholders’ meeting duly called by the Board of Directors of Acquiror and held for such purpose.

 

 

(c) The foregoing votes are the only votes of any of Acquiror’s share capital necessary in connection with entry into this Agreement by Acquiror and Merger Sub and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Closing.

 

(d) At a meeting duly called and held, the Board of Directors of Acquiror has unanimously approved the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as a Business Combination.

 

Section 5.3. No Conflict. Subject to the Acquiror Shareholder Approval, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Acquiror and Merger Sub and the other documents contemplated hereby by Acquiror and Merger Sub and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not (a) violate or conflict with any provision of, or result in the breach of or default under, the Governing Documents of Acquiror or Merger Sub, (b) violate or conflict with any provision of, or result in the breach of or default under, any applicable Law or Governmental Order applicable to Acquiror or Merger Sub, (c) violate or conflict with any provision of, or result in the breach of, or result in the loss of any right or benefit under, or cause acceleration under, or constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under, any Contract to which Acquiror or Merger Sub is a party or by which Acquiror or Merger Sub may be bound, or terminate or result in the termination of any such Contract or (d) result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of Acquiror or Merger Sub, except, in the case of clauses (b) through (d), to the extent that the occurrence of the foregoing would not (i) have, or would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the ability of Acquiror or Merger Sub to enter into and perform their obligations under this Agreement or (ii) be material to Acquiror.

 

Section 5.4. Litigation and Proceedings. There are no pending or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, threatened Legal Proceedings against Acquiror or Merger Sub, their respective properties or assets, or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, any of their respective directors, managers, officers or employees (in their capacity as such), other than matters arising after the date hereof that would not reasonably be expected to be material to Acquiror. There are no investigations or other inquiries pending or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, threatened by any Governmental Authority against Acquiror or Merger Sub, their respective properties or assets, or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, any of their respective directors, managers, officers or employees (in their capacity as such). There is no outstanding Governmental Order imposed upon Acquiror or Merger Sub, nor are any assets of Acquiror’s or Merger Sub’s respective businesses bound or subject to any Governmental Order the violation of which would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to Acquiror. As of the date hereof, each of Acquiror and Merger Sub is in compliance with all applicable Laws in all material respects. For the past three (3) years, Acquiror and Merger Sub have not received any written notice of or been charged with the violation of any Laws, except where such violation has not been, individually or in the aggregate, material to Acquiror.

 

Section 5.5. SEC Filings. Acquiror has timely filed or furnished all statements, prospectuses, registration statements, forms, reports and documents required to be filed by it with the SEC since January 12, 2021, pursuant to the Exchange Act or the Securities Act (collectively, as they have been amended since the time of their filing through the date hereof, the “Acquiror SEC Filings”). Each of the Acquiror SEC Filings, as of the respective date of its filing (or if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement or the Closing Date, then on the date of such filing), complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder applicable to the Acquiror SEC Filings. As of the respective date of its filing (or if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement or the Closing Date, then on the date of such filing), the Acquiror SEC Filings 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 made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of the date hereof, there are no outstanding or unresolved comments in comment letters received from the SEC with respect to the Acquiror SEC Filings. To the knowledge of Acquiror, none of the Acquiror SEC Filings filed on or prior to the date hereof is subject to ongoing SEC review or investigation as of the date hereof.

 

 

Section 5.6. Internal Controls; Listing; Financial Statements.

 

(a) Except as not required in reliance on exemptions from various reporting requirements by virtue of Acquiror’s status as an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (“JOBS Act”), Acquiror has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act). Such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to Acquiror, including its consolidated Subsidiaries, if any, is made known to Acquiror’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within those entities, particularly during the periods in which the periodic reports required under the Exchange Act are being prepared. Such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting Acquiror’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer to material information required to be included in Acquiror’s periodic reports required under the Exchange Act. Since January 12, 2021, Acquiror has established and maintained a system of internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of Acquiror’s financial reporting and the preparation of Acquiror Financial Statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP.

 

(b) Each director and executive officer of Acquiror has filed with the SEC on a timely basis all statements required by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Acquiror has not taken any action prohibited by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

(c) Since January 12, 2021, Acquiror has complied in all material respects with the applicable listing and corporate governance rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”). The Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is listed for trading on the NYSE. There is no Legal Proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, threatened against Acquiror by the NYSE or the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister the Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock or prohibit or terminate the listing of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock on the NYSE.

 

(d) The Acquiror SEC Filings contain true and complete copies of (i) the audited balance sheet as of December 31, 2020, and statements of operations, changes in stockholder’s equity and cash flows of Acquiror for the period from September 25, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, together with the auditor’s reports thereon (the “Acquiror Audited Financial Statements” and (ii) if and when filed prior to the Effective Time, the unaudited balance sheet and statement of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows of Acquiror as of and for the relevant interim periods ending March 31, 2021, June 30, 2021, and September 30, 2021 (together with the Acquiror Audited Financial Statements, the “Acquiror Financial Statements”). Except as disclosed in the Acquiror SEC Filings, the Acquiror Financial Statements (i) fairly present in all material respects the financial position of Acquiror as at the respective dates thereof and the results of operations and consolidated cash flows for the respective periods then ended, (ii) were prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated therein or in the notes thereto), and (iii) 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. The books and records of Acquiror have been, and are being, maintained in all material respects in accordance with GAAP and any other applicable legal and accounting requirements.

 

 

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

 

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

 

Section 5.7. Governmental Authorities; Consents. Assuming the truth and completeness of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement, no consent, waiver, approval or authorization of, or designation, declaration or filing with, or notification to, any Governmental Authority or other Person is required on the part of Acquiror or Merger Sub with respect to Acquiror’s or Merger Sub’s execution or delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for (i) applicable requirements of the HSR Act, and (ii) as otherwise disclosed on Section 5.7 of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter.

 

Section 5.8. Trust Account. As of the date of this Agreement, Acquiror has at least $414,000,000 in the Trust Account (including an aggregate of approximately $14,490,000 of deferred underwriting commissions and other fees being held in the Trust Account), such monies invested in United States government securities or money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act pursuant to the Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of January 12, 2021, between Acquiror and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as trustee (the “Trustee”) (the “Trust Agreement”). There are no separate Contracts, side letters or other arrangements or understandings (whether written or unwritten, express or implied) that would cause the description of the Trust Agreement in the Acquiror SEC Filings to be inaccurate or that would entitle any Person (other than Acquiror, shareholders of Acquiror holding Acquiror IPO Shares who shall have elected to redeem their Acquiror IPO Shares pursuant to Acquiror’s Governing Documents and the underwriters of Acquiror’s initial public offering with respect to deferred underwriting commissions) to any portion of the proceeds in the Trust Account. Prior to the Closing, none of the funds held in the Trust Account may be released other than to pay Taxes and payments to shareholders of Acquiror holding Acquiror IPO Shares who shall have elected to redeem their Acquiror IPO Shares pursuant to Acquiror’s Governing Documents. There are no claims or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, threatened with respect to the Trust Account. Acquiror has performed all material obligations required to be performed by it to date under, and is not in default, breach or delinquent in performance or any other respect (claimed or actual) in connection with, the Trust Agreement, and no event has occurred which, with due notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default or breach thereunder. As of the Effective Time, the obligations of Acquiror to dissolve or liquidate pursuant to Acquiror’s Governing Documents shall terminate, and as of the Effective Time, Acquiror shall have no obligation whatsoever pursuant to Acquiror’s Governing Documents to dissolve and liquidate the assets of Acquiror by reason of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. To Acquiror’s knowledge, as of the date hereof, following the Effective Time, no Acquiror Shareholder shall be entitled to receive any amount from the Trust Account except to the extent such Acquiror Shareholder is exercising an Acquiror Share Redemption. As of the date hereof, assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein and the compliance by the Company with its obligations hereunder, neither Acquiror or Merger Sub have any reason to believe that any of the conditions to the use of funds in the Trust Account will not be satisfied or funds then available in the Trust Account will not be available to Acquiror and Merger Sub on the Closing Date.

 

 

Section 5.9. Investment Company Act; JOBS Act. Acquiror is not an “investment company” or a Person directly or indirectly “controlled” by or acting on behalf of an “investment company”, in each case within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. Acquiror constitutes an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the JOBS Act.

 

Section 5.10. Absence of Changes. Since January 12, 2021, (a) there has not been any event or occurrence that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the ability of Acquiror or Merger Sub to enter into and perform their obligations under this Agreement and (b) except as set forth in Section 5.10 of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, Acquiror and Merger Sub have, in all material respects, conducted their business and operated their properties in the ordinary course of business.

 

Section 5.11. No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except for any fees and expenses payable by Acquiror or Merger Sub as a result of or in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, there is no liability, debt or obligation of or claim or judgment against Acquiror or Merger Sub (whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, known or unknown, liquidated or unliquidated, or due or to become due), except for liabilities and obligations (i) reflected or reserved for on the financial statements or disclosed in the notes thereto included in Acquiror SEC Filings, (ii) that have arisen since the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Acquiror SEC Filings in the ordinary course of business of Acquiror and Merger Sub, or (iii) which would not be, or would not reasonably be expected to be, material to Acquiror.

 

Section 5.12. Capitalization of Acquiror.

 

(a) As of the date of this Agreement, the authorized capital stock of Acquiror consists of (i) 100,000,000 shares of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock, of which 51,750,000 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement (the “Outstanding Acquiror Shares”), and (ii) 1,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of which no shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement. The Outstanding Acquiror Shares constitute all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of Acquiror as of the date of this Agreement. All Outstanding Acquiror Shares (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) have been offered, sold and issued in compliance with applicable Law, including federal and state securities Laws, and all requirements set forth in (1) Acquiror’s Governing Documents, and (2) any other applicable Contracts governing the issuance of such securities; and (iii) are not subject to, nor have they been issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of any applicable Law, Acquiror’s Governing Documents or any Contract to which Acquiror is a party or otherwise bound.

 

(b) Subject to the terms of conditions of the Warrant Agreement, the Acquiror Warrants will be exercisable after giving effect to the Merger for one share of Acquiror Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of eleven Dollars fifty cents ($11.50) per share. As of the date of this Agreement, 13,800,000 Acquiror Public Warrants and 6,686,667 Acquiror Private Placement Warrants are issued and outstanding (the “Outstanding Acquiror Warrants”). The Acquiror Warrants are not exercisable until the later of (x) January 15, 2022 and (y) thirty (30) days after the Closing. All Outstanding Acquiror Warrants (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued and constitute valid and binding obligations of Acquiror, enforceable against Acquiror in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity; (ii) have been offered, sold and issued in compliance with applicable Law, including federal and state securities Laws, and all requirements set forth in (1) Acquiror’s Governing Documents and (2) any other applicable Contracts governing the issuance of such securities; and (iii) are not subject to, nor have they been issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of any applicable Law, Acquiror’s Governing Documents or any Contract to which Acquiror is a party or otherwise bound. Except for the Subscription Agreements, the Forward Purchase Agreements, Acquiror’s Governing Documents and this Agreement, there are no outstanding Contracts of Acquiror to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock or other equity securities of Acquiror.

 

 

(c) The Outstanding Acquiror Shares and Outstanding Acquiror Warrants constitute all of the issued and outstanding Acquiror Securities as of the date of this Agreement. Acquiror has not (x) granted any outstanding options, stock appreciation rights, warrants, rights or other securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Acquiror Securities or the value of which is determined by reference to any Acquiror Securities or (y) entered into any commitments or agreements providing for the issuance of additional shares or the sale of treasury shares, and there are no Contracts or other commitments of any kind which may obligate Acquiror to issue, purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its Acquiror Securities, other than (i) redemption rights with respect to the Acquiror IPO Shares prior to or in connection with the Closing as set forth in Acquiror’s Governing Documents, (ii) the potential forfeiture of certain Acquiror Securities to Acquiror by the Sponsor pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, (iii) any Working Capital Loans that may be incurred, and any Acquiror Working Capital Warrants that may be issued, by Acquiror prior to Closing, (iv) the issuance of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock (or, following the Closing, Acquiror Class A Common Stock) upon the exercise of any Acquiror Warrants, (v) the issuance of Acquiror Securities pursuant to the Subscription Agreements and the Forward Purchase Agreements, and (vi) the issuance of the Aggregate Merger Consideration pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(d) The Aggregate Merger Consideration, when issued in accordance with the terms hereof, shall be duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and issued in compliance with all applicable state and federal securities Laws and not subject to, and not issued in violation of, any Lien, purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of applicable Law, Acquiror’s Governing Documents, or any Contract to which Acquiror is a party or otherwise bound.

 

(e) On or prior to the date of this Agreement, Acquiror has entered into Forward Purchase Agreements with the FPA Investors and Subscription Agreements with PIPE Investors, true and correct copies of which have been provided to the Company on or prior to the date of this Agreement, pursuant to which, and on the terms and subject to the conditions of which, such FPA Investors and PIPE Investors have agreed, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, to purchase from Acquiror, shares of Acquiror Class A Common Stock and (with respect to the Forward Purchase Agreements) Acquiror Warrants, for a combined FPA Investment Amount and PIPE Investment Amount of at least $200,000,000 (such amount, the “Minimum PIPE Investment Amount”). On or prior to the date of this Agreement, Acquiror has identified to the Company each of the PIPE Investors that are not also existing stockholders of the Company (or has caused the identification of each such PIPE Investor to the Company) and, to the knowledge of Acquiror, the Company has not exercised its right to reasonably object to any such PIPE Investor as of the date of this Agreement. Such Forward Purchase Agreements and Subscription Agreements are in full force and effect with respect to, and binding on, Acquiror and, to the knowledge of Acquiror, on each FPA Investor or PIPE Investor party thereto, in accordance with their terms.

 

(f) Acquiror has no Subsidiaries apart from Merger Sub, and does not own, directly or indirectly, any equity interests or other interests or investments (whether equity or debt) in any Person, whether incorporated or unincorporated. Acquiror is not party to any Contract that obligates Acquiror to invest money in, loan money to or make any capital contribution to any other Person.

 

Section 5.13. Brokers’ Fees. Except fees described on Section 5.13 of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, 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 hereby based upon arrangements made by Acquiror or any of its Affiliates.

 

Section 5.14. Indebtedness. Neither Acquiror nor Merger Sub has any Indebtedness, other than Working Capital Loans (none of which are outstanding as of the date hereof).

 

 

Section 5.15. Taxes.

 

(a) All material Tax Returns required to be filed by or with respect to Acquiror or Merger Sub have been timely filed (taking into account any applicable extensions), all such Tax Returns (taking into account all amendments thereto) are true, complete and accurate in all material respects.

 

(b) All material Taxes due and payable by Acquiror and Merger Sub (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been paid.

 

(c) The Acquiror and its Subsidiaries have withheld from amounts owing to any employee, creditor or other Person all material Taxes required by Law to be withheld, paid over to the proper Governmental Authority in a timely manner all such withheld amounts required to have been so paid over and otherwise complied in all material respects with all applicable withholding and related reporting requirements.

 

(d) There are no Liens for any material amount of Taxes (other than Permitted Liens) upon the property or assets of Acquiror or Merger Sub.

 

(e) No claim, assessment, deficiency or proposed adjustment for any material amount of Tax has been asserted or assessed in writing by any Governmental Authority against Acquiror or Merger Sub that remains unpaid.

 

(f) There are no ongoing or pending Legal Proceedings with respect to any material Taxes of Acquiror or Merger Sub and there are no waivers, extensions or requests for any waivers or extensions of any statute of limitations currently in effect with respect to any material Taxes of Acquiror or Merger Sub.

 

(g) Neither the Acquiror nor Merger Sub is a party to any Tax indemnification or Tax sharing or similar agreement (other than any such agreement solely between the Acquiror and/or Merger Sub and customary commercial contracts not primarily related to Taxes that were entered into with persons who are not Affiliates or equity owners of Acquiror).

 

(h) Neither the Acquiror nor Merger Sub has been a party to any transaction treated by the parties as a distribution of stock qualifying for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code in the two (2) years prior to the date of this Agreement.

 

(i) Neither the Acquiror nor Merger Sub (i) has any material liability for Taxes of any other Person (other than the Acquiror or Merger Sub) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Tax Law or as a transferee or successor or by contract (other than customary commercial contracts (or Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business) not primarily related to Taxes) or (ii) has within the last thirty-six (36) months been a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group filing for U.S. federal, state or local income Tax purposes, other than a group the common parent of which was or is Acquiror or Merger Sub.

 

 

(j) No written claim has been made by any Governmental Authority where the Acquiror or Merger Sub does not file Tax Returns that it is or may be subject to taxation in that jurisdiction.

 

(k) Neither Acquiror nor Merger Sub has participated in a “listed transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 1.6011-4(b)(2).

 

(l) Neither the Acquiror nor Merger Sub will be required to include any material amount in taxable income, exclude any material item of deduction or loss from taxable income, for any taxable period (or portion thereof) beginning after the Closing Date as a result of any (i) installment sale or open transaction disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date, (ii) prepaid amount received or deferred revenue recognized prior to the Closing outside the ordinary course of business, (iii) change in method of accounting for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date made or requested prior to the Closing, (iv) “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law) executed prior to the Closing, or (v) any election pursuant to Section 965(h) of the Code.

 

(m) Acquiror and Merger Sub have not taken any action, nor to the knowledge of Acquiror are there any facts or circumstances, that would reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment.

 

Section 5.16. Business Activities.

 

(a) Since formation, neither Acquiror or Merger Sub have conducted any business activities other than activities related to Acquiror’s initial public offering or directed toward the accomplishment of a Business Combination. Except as set forth in Acquiror’s Governing Documents or as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, there is no agreement, commitment, or Governmental Order binding upon Acquiror or Merger Sub or to which Acquiror or Merger Sub is a party which has or would reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting or impairing any business practice of Acquiror or Merger Sub or any acquisition of property by Acquiror or Merger Sub or the conduct of business by Acquiror or Merger Sub as currently conducted or as contemplated to be conducted as of the Closing, other than such effects, individually or in the aggregate, which have not been and would not reasonably be expected to be material to Acquiror or Merger Sub.

 

(b) Except for Merger Sub and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, Acquiror does not own or have a right to acquire, directly or indirectly, any interest or investment (whether equity or debt) in any corporation, partnership, joint venture, business, trust or other entity. Except for this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, Acquiror has no material interests, rights, obligations or liabilities with respect to, and is not party to, bound by or has its assets or property subject to, in each case whether directly or indirectly, any Contract or transaction which is, or would reasonably be interpreted as constituting, a Business Combination. Except for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, Merger Sub does not own or have a right to acquire, directly or indirectly, any interest or investment (whether equity or debt) in any corporation, partnership, joint venture, business, trust or other entity.

 

 

(c) Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of effecting the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and has not engaged in any business activities or conducted any operations other than in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and has no, and at all times prior to the Effective Time, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements and the other documents and transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, will have no, assets, liabilities or obligations of any kind or nature whatsoever other than those incident to its formation.

 

(d) As of the date hereof and except for this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements and the other documents and transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including with respect to expenses and fees incurred in connection therewith), neither Acquiror nor Merger Sub are party to any Contract with any other Person that would require payments by Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries after the date hereof in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate with respect to any individual Contract, other than Working Capital Loans or as set forth in Section 5.16 of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter. As of the date hereof, there are no amounts outstanding under any Working Capital Loans.

 

Section 5.17. Stock Market Quotation. As of the date hereof, the Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is listed for trading on the NYSE under the symbol “NGAB”. As of the date hereof, the Acquiror Public Warrants are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on the NYSE under the symbol “NGAB WS”. As of the Closing, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and by the other agreements contemplated hereby) to occur prior to the Closing, the Acquiror Common Stock and the Acquiror Public Warrants will be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and listed for trading on the NYSE or Nasdaq. Acquiror is in compliance with the rules of the NYSE or Nasdaq, as applicable, and there is no Action or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, threatened against Acquiror by the NYSE, Nasdaq or the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister the Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock or Acquiror Warrants or terminate the listing of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock or Acquiror Warrants on the NYSE or Nasdaq, as applicable. None of Acquiror, Merger Sub or their respective Affiliates has taken any action in an attempt to terminate the registration of the Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock or Acquiror Warrants under the Exchange Act except as contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 5.18. Registration Statement, Proxy Statement and Proxy Statement/Registration Statement. Subject to the last sentence of this Section 5.18, (a) on the effective date of the Registration Statement, the Registration Statement, and when first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) and/or filed pursuant to Section 14A, the Proxy Statement and the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto), shall comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; (b) on the effective date of the Registration Statement, the Registration Statement will not 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 not misleading; and (c) on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and/or Section 14A, the date the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement, as applicable, is first mailed to the Acquiror Shareholders and certain of the Company’s stockholders, as applicable, and at the time of the Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting, the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement, as applicable (together with any amendments or supplements thereto) will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision hereof, Acquiror makes no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement, Proxy Statement or the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to Acquiror by or on behalf of the Company specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement, Proxy Statement or the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement.

 

 

Section 5.19. No Additional Representation or Warranties. Except as provided in this Article V, neither Acquiror nor Merger Sub nor any of their respective Affiliates, nor any of their respective directors, managers, officers, employees, stockholders, partners, members or representatives has made, or is making, any representation or warranty whatsoever to the Company or its Affiliates and no such party shall be liable in respect of the accuracy or completeness of any information provided to the Company or its Affiliates. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company acknowledges that the Company and its advisors have made their own investigation of Acquiror and Merger Sub and, except as provided in this Article V, are not relying on any representation or warranty whatsoever as to the condition, merchantability, suitability or fitness for a particular purpose or trade as to any of the assets of Acquiror or Merger Sub, the prospects (financial or otherwise) or the viability or likelihood of success of the business of Acquiror, Merger Sub and their respective Subsidiaries as conducted after the Closing, as contained in any materials provided by Acquiror, Merger Sub or any of their Affiliates or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, shareholders, partners, members or representatives or otherwise.

 

Article VI

 

COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

 

Section 6.1. Conduct of Business. From the date of this Agreement through the earlier of the Closing and the valid termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article X (the “Interim Period”), the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, as required by Law, as consented to by Acquiror in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld, delayed or denied) or as set forth in the Company’s business plan and/or budget previously made available to Acquiror (together, the “Company Plan and Budget”), use reasonable best efforts to operate the business of the Company in the ordinary course of business. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as set forth on Section 6.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter, as consented to by Acquiror in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld, delayed or denied) or as set forth in the Company Plan and Budget, the Company shall not, and the Company shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or required by Law:

 

(a) change or amend the Governing Documents of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries in any manner that would (i) increase the Aggregate Merger Consideration, (ii) impose or modify the terms of any Company Transaction Liability (excluding those described in subsection (ii) of the definition thereof), or (iii) impose or modify the terms of any obligation, liability, restriction or requirement that would be binding on the Surviving Corporation, as a vested right in contract or otherwise, upon or following the Effective Time;

 

 

(b) make or declare any dividend or distribution to the stockholders of the Company or make any other distributions in respect of any of the Company Capital Stock or equity interests;

 

(c) split, combine, reclassify, recapitalize or otherwise amend any terms of any shares or series of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ capital stock or equity interests, except for any such transaction by a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company that remains a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company after consummation of such transaction;

 

(d) purchase, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any issued and outstanding share capital, outstanding shares of capital stock, membership interests or other equity interests of the Company or its Subsidiaries, except for (i) the acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any shares of capital stock, membership interests or other equity interests (other than Company Awards) of the Company or its Subsidiaries in connection with the forfeiture or cancellation of such interests and (ii) transactions between the Company and any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company or between wholly owned Subsidiaries of the Company;

 

(e) enter into, modify in any material respect or terminate (other than expiration in accordance with its terms) any Contract of a type required to be listed on Section 4.12(a) or Section 4.16 of the Company Disclosure Letter, or any Real Property Lease, in each case, other than (i) renewals of existing Contracts in the ordinary course of business, (ii) as required by Law or (iii) Contracts of the type set forth on Section 6.1(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter;

 

(f) sell, assign, transfer, convey, lease or otherwise dispose of any material tangible assets or properties of the Company or its Subsidiaries, except for (i) sales of inventory to customers in the ordinary course of business, (ii) dispositions of obsolete or worthless equipment and (iii) transactions among the Company and its wholly owned Subsidiaries or among its wholly owned Subsidiaries;

 

(g) acquire any ownership interest in any real property;

 

(h) except as otherwise required by Law, existing Company Benefit Plans or the Contracts listed on Section 4.12 of the Company Disclosure Letter or otherwise in the ordinary course of business, (i) grant any material severance, retention, change in control or termination pay with respect to any employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries whose employment or similar Contract is listed on Section 4.12(a)(vi) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (ii) make any change in the key senior management structure of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, including the hiring of additional executive officers or the termination of existing executive officers, other than terminations for cause or due to death or disability or hiring or promotions to fill positions due to voluntary resignations or other vacancies, (iii) terminate, adopt, enter into or materially amend any material Company Benefit Plan, (iv) materially increase the base cash compensation of any employee, officer, director or other individual service provider, or (v) amend or waive any material performance or vesting criteria or to accelerate the time of payment or vesting of any material compensation or benefit payable by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries;

 

 

(i) acquire by merger or consolidation with, or merge or consolidate with, or purchase substantially all or a material portion of the assets of, any corporation, partnership, association, joint venture or other business organization or division thereof;

 

(j) (i) issue or sell any debt securities or warrants or other rights to acquire any debt securities of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or otherwise incur or assume any Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness among the Company and its wholly owned Subsidiaries, or (ii) guarantee any Indebtedness of another Person (other than the Company and its wholly owned Subsidiaries);

 

(k) (i) make or change any material election in respect of material Taxes, (ii) materially amend, modify or otherwise change any filed material Tax Return, (iii) adopt or request permission of any taxing authority to change any accounting method in respect of material Taxes, (iv) enter into any closing agreement in respect of material Taxes, (v) settle any claim or assessment in respect of material Taxes, (vi) knowingly surrender or allow to expire any right to claim a refund of material Taxes or (vii) consent to any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any claim or assessment in respect of material Taxes, except in the ordinary course of business;

 

(l) take any action, or knowingly fail to take any action, where such action or failure to act could reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment;

 

(m) (i) issue any additional shares of Company Capital Stock or securities exercisable for or convertible into Company Capital Stock, other than the issuance of Company Common Stock upon the exercise or settlement of Company Options or Restricted Stock Unit Awards in the ordinary course of business under the Company Incentive Plan and the applicable award agreement, in each case, outstanding on the date of this Agreement in accordance with their terms as in effect as of the date of this Agreement, or (ii) grant any additional Company Awards or other equity or equity-based compensation, other than the grant of Company Awards in accordance with the Company Incentive Plan, (A) in the ordinary course of business, to the extent, in such amounts, and upon terms consistent with past practice, (B) required by the terms of any Company Benefit Plan or (C) to the extent necessary or appropriate in connection with new hires or promotions (as determined by the Company in good faith);

 

(n) adopt a plan of, or otherwise enter into or effect a, complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of the Company or its Subsidiaries (other than the Merger);

 

(o) waive, release, settle, compromise or otherwise resolve any inquiry, investigation, claim, Action, litigation or other Legal Proceedings, except in the ordinary course of business or where such waivers, releases, settlements or compromises involve only the payment of monetary damages in an amount less than $1,000,000 in the aggregate;

 

 

(p) grant to, or agree to grant to, any Person rights to any Intellectual Property that is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, or dispose of, abandon or permit to lapse any rights to any Intellectual Property that is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, except for the expiration of Company Registered Intellectual Property in accordance with the applicable statutory term (or in the case of domain names, applicable registration period) or in the reasonable exercise of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ business judgment as to the costs and benefits of maintaining the item;

 

(q) enter into or extend any collective bargaining agreement or similar labor agreement, other than as required by applicable Law, or recognize or certify any labor union, labor organization, or group of employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries as the bargaining representative for any employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries; or

 

(r) enter into any agreement to do any action prohibited under this Section 6.1.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, after the date hereof, the Company and its Subsidiaries may take actions that are outside of the ordinary course of business or not in accordance with past practice (A) to the extent reasonably necessary to protect the health and safety of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ employees or (B) reasonably in response to any applicable Law, directive, guideline or recommendation arising out of, or otherwise related to, COVID-19 (including any COVID-19 Measure), and such actions shall not serve as a basis for Acquiror to terminate this Agreement or assert that the Company has violated any covenant or agreement in this Agreement or that any of the conditions set forth in Section 9.2 have not been satisfied.

 

Section 6.2. Inspection. Subject to confidentiality obligations that may be applicable to information furnished to the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries by third parties that may be in the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ possession from time to time, and except for any information that is subject to attorney-client privilege (provided that, to the extent possible, the parties shall cooperate in good faith to permit disclosure of such information in a manner that preserves such privilege or compliance with such confidentiality obligation), and to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, afford to Acquiror and its accountants, counsel and other representatives reasonable access during the Interim Period (including for the purpose of coordinating transition planning for employees), during normal business hours and with reasonable advance notice, in such manner as to not materially interfere with the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, to all of their respective properties, books, Contracts, commitments, Tax Returns, records and appropriate officers and employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and shall furnish such representatives with all financial and operating data and other information concerning the affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries as such representatives may reasonably request; provided, that (A) such access shall not include any unreasonably invasive or intrusive investigations or any other testing, sampling or analysis of any properties, facilities or equipment of the Company or its Subsidiaries without the prior written consent of the Company, and (B) remote access may be provided by the Company and its Subsidiaries in lieu of physical access in response to COVID-19 to the extent reasonably necessary (1) to protect the health and safety of such officers and employees or (2) in order to comply with any applicable COVID-19 Measures, and (b) the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, provide to Acquiror and, if applicable, its accountants, counsel or other representatives, (x) such information and such other materials and resources relating to any Legal Proceeding initiated, pending or threatened during the Interim Period, or to the compliance and risk management operations and activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the Interim Period, in each case, as Acquiror or such representative may reasonably request, (y) prompt written notice of any material status updates in connection with any such Legal Proceedings or otherwise relating to any compliance and risk management matters or decisions of the Company or its Subsidiaries, and (z) copies of any communications sent or received by the Company or its Subsidiaries in connection with such Legal Proceedings, matters and decisions (and, if any such communications occurred orally, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, memorialize such communications in writing to Acquiror). All information obtained by Acquiror, Merger Sub or their respective representatives pursuant to this Section 6.2 shall be subject to the Confidentiality Agreement.

 

 

Section 6.3. Preparation and Delivery of Additional Company Financial Statements.

 

(a) The Company shall act in good faith to deliver to Acquiror, as soon as reasonably practicable following the date hereof, the unaudited consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations, comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of and for the three-month period ending March 31, 2021 (the “Q1 Interim Financial Statements”), which comply with the applicable accounting requirements and with the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act applicable to a registrant; provided, that upon delivery of such Q1 Interim Financial Statements, the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.8 shall be deemed to apply to the Q1 Interim Financial Statements with the same force and effect as if made as of the date of this Agreement.

 

(b) If the Effective Time has not occurred prior to August 12, 2021, as soon as reasonably practicable following August 12, 2021, the Company shall deliver to Acquiror the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ deficit, and cash flow of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of and for the three- and six-month period ended June 30, 2021 (the “Q2 Interim Financial Statements”), which comply with the applicable accounting requirements and with the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act applicable to a registrant; provided, that upon delivery of such Q2 Interim Financial Statements, the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.8 shall be deemed to apply to the Q2 Interim Financial Statements in the same manner as the Q1 Interim Financial Statements, mutatis mutandis, with the same force and effect as if made as of the date of this Agreement.

 

(c) If the Effective Time has not occurred prior to November 12, 2021, as soon as reasonably practicable following November 12, 2021, the Company shall deliver to Acquiror the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ deficit, and cash flow of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of and for the three- and nine-month period ended September 30, 2021 (the “Q3 Interim Financial Statements”), which comply with the applicable accounting requirements and with the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act applicable to a registrant; provided, that upon delivery of such Q3 Interim Financial Statements, the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.8 shall be deemed to apply to the Q3 Interim Financial Statements in the same manner as the Q1 Interim Financial Statements, mutatis mutandis, with the same force and effect as if made as of the date of this Agreement.

 

 

Section 6.4. Affiliate Agreements. All Affiliate Agreements set forth on Section 6.4 of the Company Disclosure Letter shall be terminated or settled at or prior to the Closing without further liability to Acquiror, the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, in each case, except as otherwise set forth on Section 6.4 of the Company Disclosure Letter.

 

Section 6.5. Acquisition Proposals. From the date hereof until the Closing Date or, if earlier, the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article X, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not, and the Company shall instruct and use its reasonable best efforts to cause its representatives not to, (i) continue or initiate any negotiations with any Person with respect to, or provide any non-public information or data concerning the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries to any Person relating to, an Acquisition Proposal or afford to any Person access to the business, properties, assets or personnel of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries in connection with an Acquisition Proposal, (ii) enter into any acquisition agreement, merger agreement or similar definitive agreement, or any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or agreement in principle, or any other agreement relating to an Acquisition Proposal, (iii) grant any waiver, amendment or release under any confidentiality agreement or the anti-takeover laws of any state, or (iv) otherwise knowingly facilitate any such inquiries, proposals, discussions, or negotiations or any effort or attempt by any Person to make an Acquisition Proposal. From and after the date hereof, the Company shall, and shall instruct its officers and directors to, and shall instruct and cause its representatives, its Subsidiaries and their respective representatives to, immediately cease and terminate all discussions and negotiations with any Persons (other than Acquiror, Merger Sub and their representatives) that may be ongoing with respect to any Acquisition Proposal.

 

Article VII

 

COVENANTS OF ACQUIROR

 

Section 7.1. Employee Matters.

 

(a) Equity Plan. Prior to the Closing Date, but subject to Acquiror Shareholder Approval thereof, Acquiror shall approve and adopt (i) an incentive equity plan in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (with such changes as may be agreed in writing by Acquiror and the Company prior to Acquiror Shareholder Approval thereof) (the “Incentive Equity Plan”) and (ii) the form employee stock purchase plan attached hereto as Exhibit E (with such changes as may be agreed in writing by Acquiror and the Company prior to Acquiror Shareholder Approval thereof) (the “ESPP”).

 

(b) No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each of the parties to this Agreement acknowledges and agrees that all provisions contained in this Section 7.1 are included for the sole benefit of Acquiror and the Company, and that nothing in this Agreement, whether express or implied, (i) shall be construed to establish, amend, or modify any employee benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement, (ii) shall limit the right of Acquiror, the Company or their respective Affiliates to amend, terminate or otherwise modify any Company Benefit Plan or other employee benefit plan, agreement or other arrangement following the Closing Date, or (iii) shall confer upon any Person who is not a party to this Agreement (including any equityholder, any current or former director, manager, officer, employee or independent contractor of the Company, or any participant in any Company Benefit Plan or other employee benefit plan, agreement or other arrangement (or any dependent or beneficiary thereof)), any right to continued or resumed employment or recall, any right to compensation or benefits, or any third-party beneficiary or other right of any kind or nature whatsoever.

 

 

Section 7.2. Trust Account Proceeds and Related Available Equity.

 

(a) The parties to this Agreement do not have any intention as of the Effective Time to use, or to cause to be used, any amount of Available Acquiror Cash to effect any repurchase, redemption or other acquisition of outstanding shares of Acquiror Common Stock within the six (6)-month period after the Closing, other than as may be required by any Acquiror Share Redemptions or with respect to Dissenting Shares.

 

(b) Upon satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article IX and provision of notice thereof to the Trustee (which notice Acquiror shall provide to the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement), (i) in accordance with and pursuant to the Trust Agreement, at the Closing, Acquiror (a) shall cause any documents, opinions and notices required to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to the Trust Agreement to be so delivered and (b) shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Trustee to, and the Trustee shall thereupon be obligated to (1) pay as and when due all amounts payable to Acquiror Shareholders pursuant to the Acquiror Share Redemptions, and (2) pay all remaining amounts then available in the Trust Account to Acquiror for immediate use, subject to this Agreement and the Trust Agreement, and (ii) thereafter, the Trust Account shall terminate, except as otherwise provided therein.

 

Section 7.3. Listing. From the date hereof through the Effective Time, Acquiror shall take all actions necessary to ensure Acquiror remains listed as a public company on the NYSE. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at least three (3) Business Days prior to the initial filing of the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement with the SEC pursuant to Section 8.2(a), Acquiror will take such action as necessary to delist the Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock and Acquiror Warrants from the NYSE effective upon the Effective Time, and shall prepare and submit to Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) a listing application, in accordance with Nasdaq rules, covering all shares of Acquiror Common Stock and all Acquiror Warrants, and shall take all actions necessary to obtain approval for the listing of the Acquiror Common Stock and Acquiror Warrants on Nasdaq from and after the Effective Time, and the Company shall reasonably cooperate with Acquiror with respect to such listing; provided, however, that if requested by the Company in writing no later than fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, in lieu of the foregoing Acquiror shall prepare and submit to NYSE a listing application, if required under NYSE rules, covering the shares of Acquiror Common Stock issuable in the Merger and shall take all actions necessary to obtain approval for the listing of such shares of Acquiror Common Stock, and the Company shall reasonably cooperate with Acquiror with respect to such listing.

 

Section 7.4. No Solicitation by Acquiror. From the date hereof until the Closing Date or, if earlier, the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article X, Acquiror shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, and Acquiror shall instruct its and their representatives not to, (i) make any proposal or offer that constitutes a Business Combination Proposal, (ii) continue or initiate any discussions or negotiations with any Person with respect to a Business Combination Proposal or (iii) enter into any acquisition agreement, business combination agreement, merger agreement or similar definitive agreement, or any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or agreement in principle, or any other agreement relating to a Business Combination Proposal, in each case, other than to or with the Company and its respective representatives. From and after the date hereof, Acquiror shall, and shall instruct its officers and directors to, and Acquiror shall instruct and cause its representatives, its Subsidiaries and their respective representatives to, immediately cease and terminate all discussions and negotiations with any Persons that may be ongoing with respect to a Business Combination Proposal (other than the Company and its representatives). From and after the date hereof, Acquiror shall, and shall instruct its officers and directors to, and shall instruct and cause its representatives, its Subsidiaries (including Merger Sub) and their respective representatives to, immediately cease and terminate all discussions and negotiations with any Persons (other than the Company and its representatives) that may be ongoing with respect to any Business Combination Proposal.

 

 

Section 7.5. Acquiror Conduct of Business.

 

(a) During the Interim Period, Acquiror shall, and shall cause Merger Sub to, except as contemplated by this Agreement (including as contemplated by the FPA Investment or PIPE Investment) or as consented to by the Company in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld, delayed or denied), operate its business in the ordinary course of business. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as consented to by the Company in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld, delayed or denied), Acquiror shall not, and Acquiror shall cause Merger Sub not to, except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement (including as contemplated by the FPA Investment or the PIPE Investment) or the Ancillary Agreements or as required by Law:

 

(i) seek any approval from the Acquiror Shareholders to change, modify or amend the Trust Agreement or the Governing Documents of Acquiror or Merger Sub, except as contemplated by the Transaction Proposals;

 

(ii) (x) make or declare any dividend or distribution to the shareholders of Acquiror or make any other distributions in respect of any of Acquiror’s capital stock or any Merger Sub Capital Stock, share capital or equity interests, (y) split, combine, reclassify or otherwise amend any terms of any shares or series of Acquiror’s capital stock or any Merger Sub Capital Stock or equity interests, or (z) purchase, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any issued and outstanding share capital, outstanding shares of capital stock, share capital or membership interests, warrants or other equity interests of Acquiror or Merger Sub, other than a redemption of shares of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock made as part of the Acquiror Share Redemptions;

 

(iii) (A) make or change any material election in respect of material Taxes, (B) materially amend, modify or otherwise change any filed material Tax Return, (C) adopt or request permission of any taxing authority to change any accounting method in respect of material Taxes, (D) enter into any closing agreement in respect of material Taxes or enter into any Tax sharing or similar agreement, (E) settle any claim or assessment in respect of material Taxes, (F) knowingly surrender or allow to expire any right to claim a refund of material Taxes; or (G) consent to any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any claim or assessment in respect of material Taxes;

 

 

(iv) take any action, or knowingly fail to take any action, where such action or failure to act could reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment;

 

(v) other than as expressly required by the Sponsor Support Agreement, enter into, renew or amend in any material respect, (A) any transaction or Contract with an Affiliate of Acquiror or Merger Sub (including, for the avoidance of doubt, (x) the Sponsor, (y) Northern Genesis Capital II LLC and (z) any Person in which the Sponsor has a direct or indirect legal, contractual or beneficial ownership interest of five percent (5%) or greater) or (B) any transaction or Contract with any counterparty to a Forward Purchase Agreement, to the extent related in any respect to Acquiror;

 

(vi) incur or assume any Indebtedness or guarantee any Indebtedness of another Person, issue or sell any debt securities or warrants or other rights to acquire any debt securities of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or guarantee any debt securities of another Person, other than (A) Working Capital Loans and (B) any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee (x) incurred in the ordinary course of business and in an aggregate amount not to exceed $100,000, or (y) incurred between Acquiror and Merger Sub;

 

(vii) incur, guarantee or otherwise become liable for (whether directly, contingently or otherwise) any Indebtedness or otherwise knowingly and purposefully incur, guarantee or otherwise become liable for (whether directly, contingently or otherwise) any other material liabilities, debts or obligations, other than fees and expenses for professional services incurred in support of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements or in support of the ordinary course operations of Acquiror (which the parties agree shall include any Indebtedness in respect of any Working Capital Loan);

 

(viii)  (A) issue any Acquiror Securities or securities exercisable for or convertible into Acquiror Securities, other than the issuance of the Aggregate Merger Consideration, the incurrence of Working Capital Loans and issuance of Acquiror Working Capital Warrants to Sponsor, and the issuance of Acquiror Securities pursuant to the Subscription Agreements and the Forward Purchase Agreements, (B) grant any options or other equity-based awards with respect to Acquiror Securities not outstanding on the date hereof, or (C)  amend, modify or waive any of the material terms or rights set forth in any Acquiror Warrant or the Warrant Agreement, including any amendment, modification or reduction of the warrant price set forth therein; or

 

(ix) enter into any agreement to do any action prohibited under this Section 7.5.

 

(b) During the Interim Period, Acquiror shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries (including Merger Sub) to, comply with, and continue performing under, as applicable, Acquiror’s Governing Documents, the Trust Agreement and all other agreements or Contracts to which Acquiror or its Subsidiaries may be a party.

 

 

Section 7.6. Post-Closing Directors and Officers of Acquiror. Subject to the terms of the Acquiror’s Governing Documents, Acquiror shall take all such action within its power as may be necessary or appropriate such that immediately following the Effective Time:

 

(a) the Board of Directors of Acquiror shall consist of up to seven (7) directors, which shall initially include:

 

(i) one (1) director nominee to be mutually agreed by the Sponsor and the Company;

 

(ii) one (1) director nominee (the “NG Representative”) to be (A) designated by Acquiror pursuant to written notice to be delivered to the Company as soon as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement and (B) reasonably acceptable to the Company; and

 

(iii) up to five (5) director nominees to be designated by the Company pursuant to written notice to Acquiror as soon as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement; and

 

(b) the initial officers of Acquiror and their initial officer positions shall be as set forth on Section 7.6 of the Company Disclosure Letter, who shall serve in such capacity in accordance with the terms of Acquiror’s Governing Documents following the Effective Time.

 

Section 7.7. Indemnification and Insurance.

 

(a) From and after the Effective Time, Acquiror agrees that it shall indemnify and hold harmless each present and former director and officer of the (x) Company and each of its Subsidiaries (the “Company Indemnified Parties”) and (y) Acquiror and each of its Subsidiaries (the “Acquiror Indemnified Parties” together with the Company Indemnified Parties, the “D&O Indemnified Parties”) against any costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages or liabilities incurred in connection with any Legal Proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, arising out of or pertaining to matters existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Effective Time, to the fullest extent that the Company, Acquiror or their respective Subsidiaries, as the case may be, would have been permitted under applicable Law and their respective Governing Documents in effect on the date of this Agreement to indemnify such D&O Indemnified Parties (including the advancing of expenses as incurred to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law). Without limiting the foregoing, Acquiror shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, (i) maintain for a period of not less than six (6) years from the Effective Time provisions in its Governing Documents concerning the indemnification and exoneration (including provisions relating to expense advancement) of Acquiror’s and its Subsidiaries’ former and current officers, directors, employees, and agents that are no less favorable to those Persons than the provisions of the Governing Documents of the Company, Acquiror or their respective Subsidiaries, as applicable, in each case, as of the date of this Agreement, and (ii) not amend, repeal or otherwise modify such provisions in any respect that would adversely affect the rights of those Persons thereunder, in each case, except as required by Law.

 

 

(b) For a period of six (6) years from the Effective Time, Acquiror shall maintain in effect directors’ and officers’ liability insurance covering those Persons who are currently covered by Acquiror’s, the Company’s or their respective Subsidiaries’ directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies (true, correct and complete copies of which have been heretofore made available to Acquiror or its agents or representatives) on terms not less favorable than the terms of such current insurance coverage, except that in no event shall Acquiror be required to pay an annual premium for such insurance in excess of three hundred percent (300%) of the aggregate annual premium payable by Acquiror or the Company, as applicable, for such insurance policy for the year ended December 31, 2020; provided, however, that (i) Acquiror may cause coverage to be extended under the current directors’ and officers’ liability insurance by obtaining a six (6) year “tail” policy containing terms not materially less favorable than the terms of such current insurance coverage with respect to claims existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time and (ii) if any claim is asserted or made within such six (6) year period, any insurance required to be maintained under this Section 7.7 shall be continued in respect of such claim until the final disposition thereof.

 

(c) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, this Section 7.7 shall survive the consummation of the Merger indefinitely and shall be binding, jointly and severally, on Acquiror and all successors and assigns of Acquiror. In the event that Acquiror or any of its successors or assigns consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in each such case, Acquiror shall ensure that proper provision shall be made so that the successors, assigns and/or transferees of Acquiror shall succeed to the obligations set forth in this Section 7.7.

 

(d) On the Closing Date, Acquiror shall enter into customary indemnification agreements reasonably satisfactory to each of the Company and Acquiror with the post-Closing directors and officers of Acquiror, which indemnification agreements shall continue to be effective following the Closing.

 

Section 7.8. Acquiror Public Filings. From the date hereof through the Effective Time, Acquiror will keep current and timely file all reports required to be filed or furnished with the SEC and otherwise comply in all material respects with its reporting obligations under applicable Laws.

 

Section 7.9. PIPE Subscriptions; Forward Purchase. Unless otherwise approved in writing by the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), and except for any of the following actions that would not increase conditionality or impose any new obligation on the Company or Acquiror, reduce the Minimum PIPE Investment Amount or the FPA Investment Amount or the subscription amount under any Subscription Agreement or Forward Purchase Agreement or reduce or impair the rights of Acquiror under any Subscription Agreement or Forward Purchase Agreement, Acquiror shall not permit any amendment or modification to be made to, or permit any waiver (in whole or in part) of, or provide consent to modify (including consent to terminate) any provision or remedy under, or permit any replacements of, any of the Subscription Agreements or any of the Forward Purchase Agreements, in each case, other than any assignment or transfer contemplated therein or expressly permitted thereby (without any further amendment, modification or waiver to such assignment or transfer provision); provided, that, in the case of any such assignment or transfer, the party to such Subscription Agreement or any Forward Purchase Agreement that on the date hereof is obligated thereunder to purchase shares of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock remains bound by its obligations with respect thereto in the event that the transferee or assignee, as applicable, does not comply with its obligations to consummate the purchase of shares of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock contemplated thereby. Subject to the immediately preceding sentence and in the event that all conditions in the Subscription Agreements and the Forward Purchase Agreements have been satisfied, Acquiror shall use its reasonable best efforts to take, or to cause to be taken, all actions required, necessary or that it otherwise deems to be proper or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Subscription Agreements and the Forward Purchase Agreements on the terms described therein, including using its reasonable best efforts to enforce its rights under the Subscription Agreements to cause the PIPE Investors to pay to (or as directed by) Acquiror the applicable purchase price under each PIPE Investor’s applicable Subscription Agreement in accordance with its terms and under each Forward Purchase Agreement to cause the purchasers thereunder to pay to (or as directed by) Acquiror the applicable purchase price under such Forward Purchase Agreement in accordance with its terms.

 

 

Section 7.10. Stockholder Litigation. In the event that any litigation related to this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby is brought, or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, threatened in writing, against Acquiror or the Board of Directors of Acquiror by any of Acquiror’s stockholders prior to the Closing, Acquiror shall promptly notify the Company of any such litigation and keep the Company reasonably informed with respect to the status thereof. Acquiror shall provide the Company the opportunity to participate in (subject to a customary joint defense agreement), but not control, the defense of any such litigation, shall give due consideration to the Company’s advice with respect to such litigation and shall not settle any such litigation without prior written consent of the Company, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

 

Section 7.11. Amendments to Acquiror Governing Documents. On the Closing Date, Acquiror shall amend and restate, effective as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, its certificate of incorporation and bylaws, respectively, in the forms of (a) the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Acquiror, in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto (with such changes as may be agreed in writing by Acquiror and the Company) (the “Acquiror Second A&R Charter”), and (b) the Amended and Restated Bylaws of Acquiror, in the form attached as Exhibit B hereto (with such changes as may be agreed in writing by Acquiror and the Company) (the “Acquiror A&R Bylaws”).

 

Article VIII

JOINT COVENANTS

 

Section 8.1. HSR Act; Other Filings.

 

(a) In connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, each of the Company and Acquiror shall (and, to the extent required, shall cause its Affiliates to) comply promptly, but in no event later than ten (10) Business Days after the date hereof, with the notification and reporting requirements of the HSR Act. Each of the Company and Acquiror shall substantially comply with any Antitrust Information or Document Requests.

 

 

(b) Each of the Company and Acquiror shall (and, to the extent required, shall cause its Affiliates to) request early termination (if available) of any waiting period under the HSR Act and exercise its reasonable best efforts to (i) obtain termination or expiration of the waiting period under the HSR Act and (ii) prevent the entry, in any Legal Proceeding brought by an Antitrust Authority or any other Person, of any Governmental Order which would prohibit, make unlawful or delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(c) Acquiror shall cooperate in good faith with Governmental Authorities and undertake promptly any and all action required to complete lawfully the transactions contemplated hereby as soon as practicable (but in any event prior to the Agreement End Date) and any and all action necessary or advisable to avoid, prevent, eliminate or remove the actual or threatened commencement of any proceeding in any forum by or on behalf of any Governmental Authority or the issuance of any Governmental Order that would delay, enjoin, prevent, restrain or otherwise prohibit the consummation of the Merger, including, with the Company’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, delayed or denied), (i) proffering and consenting and/or agreeing to a Governmental Order or other agreement providing for (A) the sale, licensing or other disposition, or the holding separate, of particular assets, categories of assets or lines of business of the Company or Acquiror or (B) the termination, amendment or assignment of existing relationships and contractual rights and obligations of the Company or Acquiror and (ii) promptly effecting the disposition, licensing or holding separate of assets or lines of business or the termination, amendment or assignment of existing relationships and contractual rights, in each case, at such time as may be necessary to permit the lawful consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby on or prior to the Agreement End Date.

 

(d) With respect to each of the above filings, and any other requests, inquiries, Actions or other proceedings by or from Governmental Authorities, each of the Company and Acquiror shall (and, to the extent required, shall cause its controlled Affiliates to) (i) diligently and expeditiously defend and use reasonable best efforts to obtain any necessary clearance, approval, consent, or Governmental Authorization under Laws prescribed or enforceable by any Governmental Authority for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to resolve any objections as may be asserted by any Governmental Authority with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and (ii) cooperate fully with each other in the defense of such matters. To the extent not prohibited by Law, the Company shall promptly furnish to Acquiror, and Acquiror shall promptly furnish to the Company, copies of any notices or written communications received by such party or any of its Affiliates from any third party or any Governmental Authority with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, and each party shall permit counsel to the other parties an opportunity to review in advance, and each party shall consider in good faith the views of such counsel in connection with, any proposed written communications by such party and/or its Affiliates to any Governmental Authority concerning the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, that none of the parties shall extend any waiting period or comparable period under the HSR Act or enter into any agreement with any Governmental Authority without the written consent of the other parties. To the extent not prohibited by Law, the Company agrees to provide Acquiror and its counsel, and Acquiror agrees to provide the Company and its counsel, the opportunity, on reasonable advance notice, to participate in any substantive meetings or discussions, either in person or by telephone, between such party and/or any of its Affiliates, agents or advisors, on the one hand, and any Governmental Authority, on the other hand, concerning or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

 

(e) Each of the Company, on the one hand, and Acquiror, on the other, shall be responsible for and pay one-half of the filing fees payable to the Antitrust Authorities in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 8.2. Preparation of Proxy Statement/Registration Statement; Shareholders’ Meeting and Approvals.

 

(a) Registration Statement and Prospectus.

 

(i) As promptly as practicable after the execution of this Agreement, (x) Acquiror and the Company shall jointly prepare, and Acquiror shall file with the SEC, mutually acceptable materials which shall include the proxy statement to be filed with the SEC as part of the Registration Statement and sent to the Acquiror Shareholders relating to the Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting (such proxy statement, together with any amendments or supplements thereto, the “Proxy Statement”), and (y) Acquiror shall prepare (with the Company’s reasonable cooperation (including causing its Subsidiaries and representatives to cooperate)) and file with the SEC the Registration Statement, in which the Proxy Statement will be included as a prospectus (the “Proxy Statement/Registration Statement”), in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of the shares of Acquiror Common Stock that constitute the Aggregate Merger Consideration (collectively, the “Registration Statement Securities”). Each of Acquiror and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement to comply with the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, to have the Registration Statement declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after such filing and to keep the Registration Statement effective as long as is necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Acquiror also agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain all necessary state securities law or “Blue Sky” permits and approvals required to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Company shall furnish all information concerning the Company, its Subsidiaries and any of their respective members or stockholders as may be reasonably requested in connection with any such action. Each of Acquiror and the Company agrees to furnish to the other party all information concerning itself, its Subsidiaries, officers, directors, managers, stockholders, and other equityholders and information regarding such other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable or as may be reasonably requested in connection with the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement, a Current Report on Form 8-K pursuant to the Exchange Act in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or any other statement, filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of Acquiror, the Company or their respective Subsidiaries to any regulatory authority (including the NYSE or Nasdaq, as applicable) in connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby (the “Offer Documents”). Acquiror will cause the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement to be mailed to the Acquiror Shareholders in each case promptly after the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act.

 

 

(ii) To the extent not prohibited by Law, Acquiror will advise the Company, reasonably promptly after Acquiror receives notice thereof, of the time when the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement has become effective or any supplement or amendment has been filed, of the issuance of any stop order or the suspension of the qualification of the Acquiror Common Stock for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or written threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the SEC for the amendment or supplement of the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement or for additional information. To the extent not prohibited by Law, the Company and their counsel shall be given a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement and any Offer Document each time before any such document is filed with the SEC, and Acquiror shall give reasonable and good faith consideration to any comments made by the Company and its counsel. To the extent not prohibited by Law, Acquiror shall provide the Company and their counsel with (i) any comments or other communications, whether written or oral, that Acquiror or its counsel may receive from time to time from the SEC or its staff with respect to the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement or Offer Documents promptly after receipt of those comments or other communications and (ii) a reasonable opportunity to participate in the response of Acquiror to those comments and to provide comments on that response (to which reasonable and good faith consideration shall be given), including by participating with the Company or its counsel in any discussions or meetings with the SEC.

 

(iii) Each of Acquiror and the Company shall ensure that none of the information supplied by or on its behalf for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (A) the Registration Statement will, at the time the Registration Statement is filed with the SEC, at each time at which it is amended and 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 not misleading or (B) the Proxy Statement will, at the date it is first mailed to the Acquiror Shareholders and at the time of the Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

 

(iv) If at any time prior to the Effective Time any information relating to the Company, Acquiror or any of their respective Subsidiaries, Affiliates, directors or officers is discovered by the Company or Acquiror, which information is required to be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement or the Registration Statement so that neither of such documents would include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, with respect to the Proxy Statement, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the party that discovers such information shall promptly notify the other parties and an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information shall be promptly filed with the SEC and, to the extent required by Law, disseminated to the Acquiror Shareholders.

 

 

(v) The Registration Statement, to the extent permitted by applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, also will register the resale of the shares of Acquiror Common Stock that constitute the Aggregate Merger Consideration, other than certain equity securities issuable under the Incentive Equity Plan that are based on Acquiror Common Stock and constitute a portion of the Aggregate Merger Consideration, which shall instead be registered pursuant to an effective registration statement on Form S-8 (or other applicable form, including Form S-1 or Form S-3) in accordance with Section 7.1(a).

  

(b) Acquiror Shareholder Approval.

 

(i) Acquiror shall as promptly as practicable after the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act, (A) cause the Proxy Statement to be disseminated to Acquiror Shareholders in compliance with applicable Law, (B) duly give notice of, and convene and hold, a meeting of its shareholders (the “Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting”) in accordance with Acquiror’s Governing Documents and Section 710 of the NYSE Listing Rules or Nasdaq Listing Rule 5620(b), as applicable, for a date no later than thirty (30) Business Days following the date the Registration Statement is declared effective, and (C) solicit proxies from the holders of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock to vote in favor of each of the Transaction Proposals.

 

(ii) Acquiror shall, through its Board of Directors, recommend to its shareholders the (A) amendment and restatement of Acquiror’s Governing Documents, in the respective forms of the Acquiror Second A&R Charter and the Acquiror A&R Bylaws (as may be subsequently amended by mutual written agreement of the Company and Acquiror at any time before the effectiveness of the Registration Statement) at the Closing, including approval of the change of Acquiror’s name to “Embark Technology, Inc.”, and any separate or unbundled proposals as are required to implement the foregoing (the proposal in this clause (A), the “Charter Proposal”), (B) the adoption and approval of this Agreement in accordance with applicable Law and exchange rules and regulations, (C) approval of the issuance of shares of Acquiror Common Stock in connection with the Merger, (D) approval of the issuance of more than one percent (1%) of Acquiror’s outstanding common stock to a “related party” pursuant to the rules of the NYSE or Nasdaq, as applicable, as contemplated by the Subscription Agreements with the applicable PIPE Investors, (E) the election of directors effective as of the Closing as contemplated by Section 7.6, (F) adoption and approval of any other proposals as the SEC (or staff member thereof) may indicate are necessary in its comments to the Registration Statement or correspondence related thereto, (G) approval of the adoption by Acquiror of the equity plans described in Section 7.1, (H) adoption and approval of any other proposals as reasonably agreed by Acquiror and the Company to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and (I) adjournment of the Acquiror Shareholders’ 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 (A) through (I), together, the “Transaction Proposals”), and include such recommendation in the Proxy Statement.

 

 

(iii) The Board of Directors of Acquiror shall not withdraw, amend, qualify or modify its recommendation to the shareholders of Acquiror that they vote in favor of the Transaction Proposals (together with any withdrawal, amendment, qualification or modification of its recommendation to the shareholders of Acquiror described in the Recitals hereto, a “Modification in Recommendation”), except to the extent that the Board of Directors of Acquiror shall have determined in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that, an Intervening Event has occurred prior to the Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting and, in response to such Intervening Event, a failure to make a Modification in Recommendation would violate its fiduciary duties under applicable Law; provided, that the Board of Directors of Acquiror will not be entitled to make, or agree or resolve to make, a Modification in Recommendation until (A) Acquiror delivers to the Company a written notice (an “Intervening Event Notice”) advising the Company that the Board of Directors of Acquiror proposes to take such action and containing the material facts underlying such determination that an Intervening Event has occurred, (B) until 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the fifth Business Day immediately following the day on which Acquiror delivered the Intervening Event Notice (such period from the time the Intervening Event Notice is provided until 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the fifth Business Day immediately following the day on which Acquiror delivered the Intervening Event Notice (it being understood that any material development with respect to an Intervening Event shall require a new notice but with an additional three-Business Day (instead of five-Business Day) period from the date of such notice), the “Intervening Event Notice Period”), Acquiror and its representatives shall have negotiated in good faith with the Company and its representatives regarding any revisions or adjustments proposed by the Company during the Intervening Event Notice Period to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as would enable Acquiror to proceed with its recommendation of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and not make such Modification in Recommendation, and (C) if the Company requested negotiations in accordance with the foregoing clause (B), Acquiror may make a Modification in Recommendation only if the Board of Directors of Acquiror, after considering in good faith any revisions or adjustments to the terms and conditions of this Agreement that the Company shall have, prior to the expiration of the five-Business Day period, offered in writing in a manner that would form a binding Contract if accepted by Acquiror (and the other applicable parties hereto), reaffirms in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel) that the failure to make a Modification in Recommendation would violate its fiduciary duties under applicable Law. For the avoidance of doubt, a Modification in Recommendation will not affect Acquiror’s obligations pursuant to this Section 8.02 (other than as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence) or elsewhere in this Agreement. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law (A) Acquiror’s obligations to establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting shall not be affected by any Modification in Recommendation, (B) Acquiror agrees to establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting and submit for approval the Transaction Proposals and (C) Acquiror agrees that if the Acquiror Shareholder Approval with respect to all Transaction Proposals shall not have been obtained at any such Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting, then Acquiror shall promptly continue to take all such necessary actions, including the actions required by this Section 8.2(b), and hold additional Acquiror Shareholders’ Meetings in order to obtain the Acquiror Shareholder Approval of all Transaction Proposals.

 

 

(iv) Acquiror may only, and to the extent necessary to obtain the Acquiror Shareholder Approval Acquiror shall, adjourn the Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting (A) to solicit additional proxies for the purpose of obtaining the Acquiror Shareholder 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 disclosure that Acquiror has determined in good faith after consultation with outside legal counsel is required under applicable Law and for such supplemental or amended disclosure to be disseminated and reviewed by Acquiror Shareholders prior to the Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting; provided, that the Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting (x) may not be adjourned to a date that is more than fifteen (15) days after the date for which the Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting was originally scheduled (excluding any adjournments required by applicable Law) and (y) shall not be held later than three (3) Business Days prior to the Agreement End Date.

 

(v) Acquiror agrees that it shall provide the holders of shares of Acquiror IPO Shares the opportunity to elect redemption of such Acquiror IPO Shares in connection with (but prior to) the Acquiror Shareholders’ Meeting, as required by Acquiror’s Governing Documents.

 

(c) Company Stockholder Approvals. Upon the terms set forth in this Agreement, the Company shall (i) use its reasonable best efforts to solicit and obtain the Company Stockholder Approvals in the form of an irrevocable written consent (the “Written Consent”) of the Requisite Company Stockholders (pursuant to the Company Holders Support Agreement) promptly following the time at which the Registration Statement shall have been declared effective under the Securities Act and delivered or otherwise made available to stockholders, or (ii) in the event the Company is not able to obtain the Written Consent, the Company shall duly convene a meeting of the stockholders of the Company for the purpose of voting solely upon the adoption of this Agreement, the other agreements contemplated hereby and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Merger, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Registration Statement is declared effective. The Company shall obtain the Company Stockholder Approvals at such meeting of the stockholders of the Company and shall take all other action necessary or advisable to secure the Company Stockholder Approvals as soon as reasonably practicable after the Registration Statement is declared effective.

 

Section 8.3. Support of Transaction. Without limiting any covenant contained in Article VI or Article VII, Acquiror and the Company shall each, and each shall cause its Subsidiaries to, (a) use reasonable best efforts to obtain all material consents and approvals of third parties that any of Acquiror, the Company or their respective Affiliates are required to obtain in order to consummate the Merger, and (b) take such other action as may be reasonably necessary or as another party hereto may reasonably request to satisfy the conditions of Article IX or otherwise to comply with this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby as soon as practicable.

 

Section 8.4. Tax Matters. All transfer, documentary, sales, use, real property, stamp, registration and other similar Taxes, fees and costs (including any associated penalties and interest) (“Transfer Taxes”) incurred in connection with this Agreement shall constitute Company Transaction Expenses. For U.S. federal and state income Tax purposes, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the Merger will constitute a “reverse acquisition” as described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-75(d)(3), and to refrain from taking any position inconsistent with the foregoing for U.S. federal, state and other relevant Tax purposes, unless otherwise required pursuant to a determination within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code.

 

 

Section 8.5. Section 16 Matters. Prior to the Effective Time, each of the Company and Acquiror shall take all such steps as may be required (to the extent permitted under applicable Law) to cause any dispositions of shares of the Company Capital Stock or acquisitions of shares of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock (including, in each case, securities deliverable upon exercise, vesting or settlement of any derivative securities) resulting from the transactions contemplated hereby by each individual who may become subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby to be exempt under Rule B-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

Section 8.6. Cooperation; Consultation. From the date of the announcement of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (pursuant to any applicable public communication made in compliance with Section 11.12) until the Closing Date, Acquiror shall use its reasonable best efforts to, and shall instruct its financial advisors to, keep the Company and its financial advisors reasonably informed with respect to the FPA Investment and PIPE Investment and the rotation of the shares of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock during such period, including by (i) providing regular updates and (ii) consulting and cooperating with, and considering in good faith any feedback from, the Company or its financial advisors with respect to such matters.

 

Article IX

 

CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS

 

Section 9.1. Conditions to Obligations of Acquiror, Merger Sub, and the Company. The obligations of Acquiror, Merger Sub, and the Company to consummate, or cause to be consummated, the Merger are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing by all of such parties:

 

(a) the Acquiror Shareholder Approval shall have been obtained with respect to all Transaction Proposals;

 

(b) the Company Stockholder Approvals shall have been obtained;

 

(c) the Registration Statement shall have become effective under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the SEC and not withdrawn;

 

(d) the waiting period or periods under the HSR Act applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements shall have expired or been terminated;

 

(e) there shall not be in force any Governmental Order enjoining or prohibiting the consummation of the Merger; provided, that the Governmental Authority issuing such Governmental Order has jurisdiction over the parties hereto with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby;

 

 

(f) Acquiror shall have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets after giving effect to the FPA Investment and PIPE Investment (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Exchange Act); and

 

(g) the shares of Acquiror Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Merger shall have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq or, if requested by the Company pursuant to Section 7.3, NYSE.

 

Section 9.2. Conditions to Obligations of Acquiror and Merger Sub. The obligations of Acquiror and Merger Sub to consummate, or cause to be consummated, the Merger are subject to the satisfaction of the following additional conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing by Acquiror and Merger Sub:

 

(a) each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement (disregarding any qualifications and exceptions contained therein relating to materiality, material adverse effect and Company Material Adverse Effect or any similar qualification or exception) shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date, except with respect to such representations and warranties which speak as to an earlier date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct at and as of such date, except for, in each case, inaccuracies or omissions that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(b) each of the covenants of the Company to be performed as of or prior to the Closing shall have been performed in all material respects or, in the event of any failure to so perform, such breach shall have been cured by the Company.

 

Section 9.3. Conditions to the Obligations of the Company. The obligation of the Company to consummate, or cause to be consummated, the Merger is subject to the satisfaction of the following additional conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing by the Company:

 

(a) (i) The representations and warranties of Acquiror contained in Section 5.12 shall be true and correct in all but de minimis respects as of the Closing Date, except with respect to such representations and warranties which speak as to an earlier date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all but de minimis respects at and as of such date, except for changes after the date of this Agreement which are contemplated or expressly permitted by this Agreement and (ii) each of the representations and warranties of Acquiror contained in this Agreement (other than Section 5.12) (disregarding any qualifications and exceptions contained therein relating to materiality, material adverse effect or any similar qualification or exception) shall be true and correct in all material respects, in each case as of the Closing Date, except with respect to such representations and warranties which speak as to an earlier date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as of such date;

 

(b) each of the covenants of Acquiror to be performed as of or prior to the Closing shall have been performed in all material respects or, in the event of any failure to so perform, such breach shall have been cured by Acquiror;

 

 

(c) the Acquiror Second A&R Charter shall have been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and Acquiror shall have adopted the Acquiror A&R Bylaws; and

 

(d) the Available Acquiror Cash shall be no less than the Minimum Available Acquiror Cash Amount; provided, that, the parties agree that this condition may not be waived unless the Board of Directors of the Company has approved such waiver after the Company’s management has expressed its belief, in its sole discretion, that, following the Closing, the Company will have enough cash to fund the Company through commercialization of its business.

 

Article X

TERMINATION/EFFECTIVENESS

 

Section 10.1. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby abandoned:

 

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

 

(b) by the Company or Acquiror if any Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Governmental Order which has become final and nonappealable and has the effect of making consummation of the Merger illegal or otherwise preventing or prohibiting consummation of the Merger;

 

(c) by the Company if there has been a Modification in Recommendation;

 

(d) prior to the Closing by written notice to the Company from Acquiror if (i) there is any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of the Company set forth in this Agreement, such that the conditions specified in Section 9.2(a) or Section 9.2(b) would not be satisfied at the Closing (a “Terminating Company Breach”), except that, if such Terminating Company Breach is curable by the Company through the exercise of its reasonable best efforts, then, for a period of up to thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of notice from Acquiror of such breach, but only as long as the Company continues to use its respective reasonable best efforts to cure such Terminating Company Breach (the “Company Cure Period”), such termination shall not be effective, and such termination shall become effective only if the Terminating Company Breach is not cured within the Company Cure Period, or (ii) the Closing has not occurred on or before the date that is (A) one fifty (150) days after the date of this Agreement plus (B) to the extent the Registration Statement has not been declared effective on or prior to the date which is one hundred twenty (120) days following the date of this Agreement, the lesser of (x) thirty (30) days and (y) a number of days equal to the number of days after the date of this Agreement on which the Registration Statement is declared effective minus one hundred twenty (120) days (such date, the “Agreement End Date”), unless Acquiror is in material breach hereof;

 

(e) by Acquiror if the Company Stockholder Approvals shall not have been obtained within five (5) Business Days after the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC and delivered or otherwise made available to stockholders; or

 

 

(f) prior to the Closing, by written notice to Acquiror from the Company if (i) there is any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of Acquiror or Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement, such that the conditions specified in Section 9.3(a) or Section 9.3(b) would not be satisfied at the Closing (a “Terminating Acquiror Breach”), except that, if any such Terminating Acquiror Breach is curable by Acquiror through the exercise of its reasonable best efforts, then, for a period of up to thirty (30) days after receipt by Acquiror of notice from the Company of such breach, but only as long as Acquiror continues to exercise such reasonable best efforts to cure such Terminating Acquiror Breach (the “Acquiror Cure Period”), such termination shall not be effective, and such termination shall become effective only if the Terminating Acquiror Breach is not cured within the Acquiror Cure Period or (ii) the Closing has not occurred on or before the Agreement End Date, unless the Company is in material breach hereof.

 

Section 10.2. Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 10.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect, without any liability on the part of any party hereto or its respective Affiliates, officers, directors or stockholders, other than liability of the Company, Acquiror or Merger Sub, as the case may be, for any willful and material breach of this Agreement occurring prior to such termination, except that the provisions of this Section 10.2 and Article XI and the Confidentiality Agreement shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

 

Article XI

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 11.1. Trust Account Waiver. The Company understands that Acquiror has established a trust account containing the proceeds of its initial public offering and certain private placements occurring simultaneously with such initial public offering (collectively, with interest accrued from time to time thereon, the “Trust Account”) initially in an amount of approximately $414,000,000, which is for the sole benefit of Acquiror’s public stockholders until the consummation by Acquiror of an initial business combination and redemption of all Acquiror IPO Shares that any such public stockholder may elect to have redeemed in connection therewith. For and in consideration of Acquiror entering into this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company hereby agrees that it does not now and shall not at any time hereafter have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account or distributions therefrom, or make any claim against the Trust Account, with respect to claims arising out of or relating to this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, 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 Claims”). The Company hereby irrevocably waives any Trust Claims it may have against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) now or in the future as a result of, or arising out of, this Agreement and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) for Trust Claims arising out of this Agreement; provided, that (i) nothing herein shall serve to limit or prohibit the Company’s right to pursue a claim against Acquiror for legal relief against assets held outside the Trust Account, or for specific performance or other non-monetary equitable relief, and (ii) nothing herein shall serve to limit or prohibit any claims that the Company may have in the future against Acquiror’s assets or funds that are not held in the Trust Account (including any funds that have been released from the Trust Account to Acquiror and any assets that have been purchased or acquired by Acquiror with any such funds). The Company agrees and acknowledges that such irrevocable waiver is material to this Agreement and specifically relied upon by Acquiror to induce it to enter into this Agreement with the Company, and the Company further intends and understands such waiver to be valid, binding and enforceable under applicable law.

 

 

Section 11.2. Waiver. Any party to this Agreement may, at any time prior to the Closing, by action taken by its Board of Directors or other officers or Persons thereunto duly authorized, (a) extend the time for the performance of the obligations or acts of the other parties hereto, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties (of another party hereto) that are contained in this Agreement or (c) waive compliance by the other parties hereto with any of the agreements or conditions contained in this Agreement, but such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the party granting such extension or waiver.

 

Section 11.3. Notices. All notices and other communications among the parties shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered in person, (ii) when delivered after posting in the United States mail having been sent registered or certified mail return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) when delivered by FedEx or other nationally recognized overnight delivery service, or (iv) when delivered by email (in each case in this clause (iv), solely if receipt is confirmed, but excluding any automated reply, such as an out-of-office notification), addressed as follows:

 

	(a)	If to Acquiror or Merger Sub prior to the Closing, to:
		Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II
		4801 Main Street, Suite 1000
		Kansas City, MO 64112
		Attention:	Ian Robertson
			Ken Manget
		Email:	Ian.Robertson@northerngenesis.com
			Ken.Manget@northerngenesis.com
	with copies to (which shall not constitute notice):
		Husch Blackwell LLP
		4801 Main Street, Suite 1000
		Kansas City, MO 64112
		Attention:	James G. Goettsch
			Rebecca Taylor
		Email:	jim.goettsch@huschblackwell.com
			rebecca.taylor@huschblackwell.com
	(b)	If to the Company prior to the Closing, or to any Party after the Effective Time, to:
		Embark Trucks Inc.
		424 Townsend Street
		San Francisco, CA 94107
		Attention:	Alex Rodrigues
			Siddhartha Venkatesan
		Email:	alex@embarktrucks.com
			sid@embarktrucks.com

 

 

	with copies to (which shall not constitute notice):
		Latham & Watkins LLP
		885 Third Avenue
		New York, New York 10022
		Attention:	Justin G. Hamill
			Marc A. Granger
		Email:	justin.hamill@lw.com
			marc.granger@lw.com

 

or to such other address or addresses as the parties may from time to time designate in writing. Copies delivered solely to outside counsel shall not constitute notice.

 

Section 11.4. Assignment. No party hereto shall assign this Agreement or any part hereof without the prior written consent of the other parties and any such transfer without prior written consent shall be void. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns.

 

Section 11.5. Rights of Third Parties. Nothing expressed or implied in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give any Person, other than the parties hereto, any right or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement; provided, however, that (a) the D&O Indemnified Parties are intended third-party beneficiaries of, and may enforce, Section 7.7 and this Section 11.5(a), and any amendment thereof or of any other provision of this Agreement, in any case following the Closing, shall not be effective to adversely affect the rights of any such Person except to the extent that such Person has expressly agreed thereto in writing; and (b) the past, present and future directors, managers, officers, employees, incorporators, members, partners, stockholders, Affiliates, agents, attorneys, advisors and representatives of the parties, and any Affiliate of any of the foregoing (and their successors, heirs and representatives), are intended third-party beneficiaries of, and may enforce, Section 11.16 and this Section 11.5(b), and any amendment thereof or of any other provision of this Agreement, in any case following the Closing, shall not be effective to adversely affect the rights of any such Person except to the extent that such Person has expressly agreed thereto in writing.

 

Section 11.6. Expenses. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, each party hereto shall be responsible for and pay its own expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including all fees of its legal counsel, financial advisers and accountants; provided, that if the Closing shall occur, Acquiror shall (x) pay or cause to be paid, the Unpaid Company Transaction Liabilities, and (y) pay or cause to be paid, any Outstanding Acquiror Expenses, in each of case (x) and (y), in accordance with Section 2.4(c). For the avoidance of doubt, any payments to be made (or to cause to be made) by Acquiror pursuant to this Section 11.6 shall be paid upon consummation of the Merger and release of proceeds from the Trust Account.

 

 

Section 11.7. Governing Law. This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles or rules of conflict of Laws to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of Laws of another jurisdiction.

 

Section 11.8. Headings; Counterparts. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be considered a part of or affect the construction or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

Section 11.9. Company and Acquiror Disclosure Letters. The Company Disclosure Letter and the Acquiror Disclosure Letter (including, in each case, any section thereof) referenced herein are a part of this Agreement as if fully set forth herein. All references herein to the Company Disclosure Letter and/or the Acquiror Disclosure Letter (including, in each case, any section thereof) shall be deemed references to such parts of this Agreement, unless the context shall otherwise require. Any disclosure made by a party in the applicable Disclosure Letter, or any section thereof, with reference to any section of this Agreement or section of the applicable Disclosure Letter shall be deemed to be a disclosure with respect to such other applicable sections of this Agreement or sections of applicable Disclosure Letter if it is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure that such disclosure is responsive to such other section of this Agreement or section of the applicable Disclosure Letter. Certain information set forth in the Disclosure Letters is included solely for informational purposes and may not be required to be disclosed pursuant to this Agreement. The disclosure of any information shall not be deemed to constitute an acknowledgment that such information is required to be disclosed in connection with the representations and warranties made in this Agreement, nor shall such information be deemed to establish a standard of materiality.

 

Section 11.10. Entire Agreement. (i) This Agreement (together with the Company Disclosure Letter and the Acquiror Disclosure Letter), (ii) the Sponsor Support Agreement and Company Holders Support Agreement, and (iii) the Confidentiality Agreement, dated as of March 22, 2021, between Acquiror and the Company (the “Confidentiality Agreement”)(clauses (ii)-(iii), collectively, the “Ancillary Agreements”), constitute the entire agreement among the parties to this Agreement relating to the transactions contemplated hereby and supersede any other agreements, whether written or oral, that may have been made or entered into by or among any of the parties hereto or any of their respective Subsidiaries relating to the transactions contemplated hereby. No representations, warranties, covenants, understandings, agreements, oral or otherwise, relating to the transactions contemplated hereby exist between such parties except as expressly set forth in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.

 

Section 11.11. Amendments. This Agreement may be amended or modified in whole or in part, only by a duly authorized agreement in writing executed in the same manner as this Agreement and which makes reference to this Agreement.

 

Section 11.12. Publicity.

 

(a) All press releases or other public communications relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and the method of the release for publication thereof, shall prior to the Closing be subject to the prior mutual approval of Acquiror and the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld by any party; provided, that no party shall be required to obtain consent pursuant to this Section 11.12(a) to the extent any proposed release or statement is substantially equivalent to the information that has previously been made public without breach of the obligation under this Section 11.12(a).

 

 

(b) The restriction in Section 11.12(a) shall not apply to the extent the public announcement is required by applicable securities Law, any Governmental Authority or stock exchange rule; provided, however, that in such an event, the party making the announcement shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to consult with the other party in advance as to its form, content and timing. Disclosures resulting from the parties’ efforts to obtain approval or early termination under the HSR Act and to make any relating filing shall be deemed not to violate this Section 11.12.

 

Section 11.13. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. The parties further agree that if any provision contained herein is, to any extent, held invalid or unenforceable in any respect under the Laws governing this Agreement, they shall take any actions necessary to render the remaining provisions of this Agreement valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by Law and, to the extent necessary, shall amend or otherwise modify this Agreement to replace any provision contained herein that is held invalid or unenforceable with a valid and enforceable provision giving effect to the intent of the parties.

 

Section 11.14. Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a) Any proceeding or Action based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby must be brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, to the extent such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware), or, if it has or can acquire jurisdiction, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, and each of the parties irrevocably (i) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of each such court in any such proceeding or Action, (ii) waives any objection it may now or hereafter have to personal jurisdiction, venue or to convenience of forum, (iii) agrees that all claims in respect of the proceeding or Action shall be heard and determined only in any such court, and (iv) agrees not to bring any proceeding or Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in any other court. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to affect the right of any party to serve process in any manner permitted by Law or to commence Legal Proceedings or otherwise proceed against any other party in any other jurisdiction, in each case, to enforce judgments obtained in any Action, suit or proceeding brought pursuant to this Section 11.14.

 

(b) EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY, UNCONDITIONALLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

 

Section 11.15. Enforcement. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage could occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to specific enforcement of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, in addition to any other remedy to which any party is entitled at law or in equity. In the event that any Action shall be brought in equity to enforce the provisions of this Agreement, no party shall allege, and each party hereby waives the defense, that there is an adequate remedy at law, and each party agrees to waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection therewith.

 

Section 11.16. Non-Recourse. Except in the case of claims against a Person in respect of such Person’s actual fraud:

 

(a) this Agreement may be enforced only against, and any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be brought only against, the Company, Acquiror and Merger Sub as named parties hereto; and

 

(b) except to the extent a named party hereto, no Person (including (i) any past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, stockholder, agent, attorney, advisor or representative or Affiliate of the Company, Acquiror or Merger Sub and (ii) any past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, stockholder, agent, attorney, advisor or representative or Affiliate of any of the foregoing) shall have any liability (whether in Contract, tort, equity or otherwise) for any one or more of the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations or liabilities of any one or more of the Company, Acquiror or Merger Sub under this Agreement or for any claim based on, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, except to the extent of the specific obligations expressly under taken by such Person in a separate written agreement.

 

Section 11.17. Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants. Except (x) as otherwise contemplated by Section 10.2 or (y) in the case of claims against a Person in respect of such Person’s actual fraud, none of the representations, warranties, covenants, obligations or other agreements in this Agreement or in any certificate, statement or instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement, including any rights arising out of any breach of such representations, warranties, covenants, obligations, agreements and other provisions, shall survive the Closing, and all of the representations, warranties, covenants, obligations or other agreements in this Agreement shall terminate and expire upon the occurrence of the Effective Time (and there shall be no liability after the Closing in respect thereof), except for (a) those covenants and agreements contained herein that by their terms expressly apply in whole or in part after the Closing and then only with respect to any breaches occurring after the Closing and (b) this Article XI.

 

 

Section 11.18. Conflicts and Privilege.

 

(a) Acquiror and the Company, on behalf of their respective successors and assigns (including, after the Closing, the Surviving Corporation), 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 Acquiror or the Sponsor and/or any of their respective directors, members, partners, officers, employees or Affiliates (other than the Surviving Corporation) (collectively, the “NG Group”), on the one hand, and (y) the Surviving Corporation and/or any member of the Embark Group, on the other hand, any legal counsel, including Husch Blackwell LLP (“Husch Blackwell”), that represented Acquiror and/or the Sponsor prior to the Closing may represent the Sponsor and/or any other member of the NG Group in such dispute even though the interests of such Persons may be directly adverse to the Surviving Corporation, and even though such counsel may have represented Acquiror in a matter substantially related to such dispute, or may be handling ongoing matters for the Surviving Corporation and/or the Sponsor. Acquiror and the Company, on behalf of their respective successors and assigns (including, after the Closing, the Surviving Corporation), further agree that, as to all legally privileged communications prior to the Closing (made in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance under, or any dispute or Action arising out of or relating to, this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby) between or among Acquiror, the Sponsor and/or any other member of the NG Group, on the one hand, and Husch Blackwell, on the other hand, the attorney/client privilege and the expectation of client confidence shall survive the Merger and belong to the NG Group after the Closing, and shall not pass to or be claimed or controlled by the Surviving Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any privileged communications or information shared by the Company prior to the Closing with Acquiror or the Sponsor under a common interest agreement shall remain the privileged communications or information of the Surviving Corporation.

 

(b) Acquiror and the Company, on behalf of their respective successors and assigns (including, after the Closing, the Surviving Corporation), 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 stockholders or holders of other equity interests of the Company and any of their respective directors, members, partners, officers, employees or Affiliates (other than the Surviving Corporation) (collectively, the “Embark Group”), on the one hand, and (y) the Surviving Corporation and/or any member of the NG Group, on the other hand, any legal counsel, including Latham & Watkins LLP (“Latham”) that represented the Company prior to the Closing may represent any member of the Embark Group in such dispute even though the interests of such Persons may be directly adverse to the Surviving Corporation, and even though such counsel may have represented Acquiror and/or the Company in a matter substantially related to such dispute, or may be handling ongoing matters for the Surviving Corporation. Acquiror and the Company, on behalf of their respective successors and assigns (including, after the Closing, the Surviving Corporation), further agree that, as to all legally privileged communications prior to the Closing (made in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance under, or any dispute or Action arising out of or relating to, this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby) between or among the Company and/or any member of the Embark Group, on the one hand, and Latham, on the other hand, the attorney/client privilege and the expectation of client confidence shall survive the Merger and belong to the Embark Group after the Closing, and shall not pass to or be claimed or controlled by the Surviving Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any privileged communications or information shared by Acquiror prior to the Closing with the Company under a common interest agreement shall remain the privileged communications or information of the Surviving Corporation.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have hereunto caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

	NORTHERN GENESIS ACQUISITION CORP. II
	By:	/s/ Ian Robertson
		Name:	Ian Robertson
		Title:	Chief Executive Officer
	NGAB MERGER SUB INC.
	By:	/s/ Ian Robertson
		Name:	Ian Robertson
		Title:	President
	EMBARK TRUCKS INC.
	By:	/s/ Alex Rodrigues
		Name:	Alex Rodrigues
		Title:	Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

 

 

Exhibit A

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF 

NORTHERN GENESIS ACQUISITION CORP. II

 

Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II, 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 “Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II”. The original certificate of incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on September 25, 2020 (the “Original Certificate”). The name under which the Original Certificate was filed is “Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II”.

 

2.

The Corporation amended and restated the Original Certificate on January 12, 2021 (the “First A&R Certificate”).

 

3.

This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (this “Second A&R Certificate”), which both restates and amends the provisions of the First A&R Certificate, was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time.

 

4.

This Second A&R Certificate shall become effective upon filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Filing Effective Time” and the date thereof, the “Filing Date”).

 

5.

This Second A&R Certificate has been adopted in connection with the transactions contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June [22], 2021, by and among the Corporation, NGAB Merger Sub Inc. and Embark Trucks Inc. (as amended, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”).

 

6.

This Second A&R Certificate hereby amends and restates the provisions of the First A&R Certificate to read in its entirety as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

The name of the corporation is Embark Technology, Inc. (the “Corporation”).

 

ARTICLE II

 

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 1013 Centre Road, Suite 403-B, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware, 19805, and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is Vcorp Services, LLC.

 

ARTICLE III

 

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) as it now exists or may hereafter be amended and supplemented.

 

 

ARTICLE IV

 

The total number of shares of capital stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is [●], consisting of: (i) [●] shares of Class A common stock, having a par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”); (ii) [●] shares of Class B common stock, having a par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Common Stock” and together with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”); and (iii) [●] shares of preferred stock, having a par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).

 

Immediately upon the Filing Effective Time, each share of common stock, having a par value of $0.0001 per share, that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (the “Old Common Stock”) shall be automatically reclassified and become one validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of the Class A Common Stock authorized by this Article IV, without any action by the holder thereof. Each certificate that prior to the Filing Effective Time represented shares of Old Common Stock shall thereafter represent shares of Class A Common Stock equal in number to the number of shares of Old Common Stock previously represented by such certificate; provided, that each person holding of record a stock certificate or certificates that represented shares of Old Common Stock shall receive, upon surrender of such certificate or certificates, a new certificate or certificates (or book-entry shares in lieu of a new certificate or certificates) evidencing and representing shares of Class A Common Stock equal in number to the number of shares of Old Common Stock previously represented by such surrendered certificate or certificates.

 

ARTICLE V

 

The designations and the powers, privileges and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof in respect of each class of capital stock of the Corporation are as follows:

 

A. COMMON STOCK

 

1. General. The voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights and powers of the Common Stock are subject to and qualified by the rights, powers and preferences of any series of Preferred Stock as may be designated by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) and outstanding from time to time. Except as expressly provided in this Article V, all shares of Common Stock shall, as among each other, have the same rights, preferences and privileges and rank equally, share ratably and be identical in all respects as to all matters, except to the extent such requirement is waived in advance by the written consent or affirmative vote of the holders of shares representing a majority of the voting power of each outstanding class of Common Stock (each voting separately as a class) that is adversely affected, relative to any other outstanding class of Common Stock, by such different treatment.

 

2. Voting. Except as otherwise provided herein or expressly required by law, each holder of Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to vote on each matter submitted to a vote of stockholders generally and shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Class A Common Stock and, prior to conversion thereof into Class A Common Stock, ten votes¹ for each share of Class B Common Stock, in each case, held of record by such holder as of the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote on such matter. Except as otherwise required in this Certificate of Incorporation or by the DGCL, the holders of Common Stock will vote together as a single class on all matters (or, if any holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with such holders of Common Stock, as a single class with the holders of Preferred Stock).

 

1

Note to Draft: All provisions related to the high-vote stock and related mechanics remains subject to further review and comment by Embark.

 

 

Except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Second A&R Certificate, as may be amended and/or restated from time to time (including any Certificate of Designation (as defined below)) (this “Certificate of Incorporation”) that relates solely to the rights, powers, preferences (or the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof) or other terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock or other classes of Common Stock if the holders of such affected series of Preferred Stock or Common Stock, as applicable, are entitled exclusively, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation) or pursuant to the DGCL.

 

Except as otherwise required pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation and subject to the rights of any holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, the number of authorized shares of each class of Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto).

 

3. Dividends.

 

(i) Subject to applicable law and the rights and preferences of any holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, the holders of Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to the payment of dividends on the Common Stock when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors in accordance with applicable law.

 

(ii) Except to the extent waived in advance by the written consent or affirmative vote of the holders of shares representing a majority of the voting power of each outstanding class of Common Stock (each voting separately as a class) that is adversely affected, relative to any other outstanding class of Common Stock, by different treatment: (a) dividends of cash or property may not be declared or paid on any class of Common Stock unless a dividend of the same amount per share and same type of cash or property (or combination thereof) per share is concurrently declared or paid on the other classes of outstanding Common Stock; and (b) in no event will any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, combination of stock, subdivision, exchange, reclassification or recapitalization be declared or made on any class of Common Stock (each, a “Stock Adjustment”) unless a corresponding Stock Adjustment for all other classes of Common Stock at the time outstanding is made in the same proportion and the same manner.

 

(iii) Stock dividends with respect to each class of Common Stock shall only be paid with shares of stock of the same class of Common Stock.

 

 

4. Liquidation. Subject to the rights and preferences of any holders of any shares of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the funds and assets of the Corporation that may be legally distributed to the Corporation’s stockholders shall be distributed among the holders of the then outstanding Common Stock pro rata in accordance with the number of shares of Common Stock held by each such holder.

 

5. Merger, Consolidation, Tender or Exchange Offer. Unless such requirement as to different treatment of such class of Common Stock is waived in advance by the affirmative vote or written consent of holders of shares representing a majority of the voting power of any outstanding class of Common Stock (voting separately as a class) that is adversely affected, relative to any other outstanding class of Common Stock, by such different treatment: (i) in the event of a merger, consolidation or other business combination requiring the approval of the holders of the Corporation’s capital stock entitled to vote thereon (whether or not the Corporation is the surviving entity), the holders of any class of Common Stock shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, the same form of consideration, if any, as the holders of any other class of Common Stock, and the holders of any class of Common Stock shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, at least the same amount of consideration, if any, on a per share basis as the holders of any other class of Common Stock; and (ii) in the event of (a) any tender or exchange offer to acquire any shares of Common Stock by any third party pursuant to an agreement to which the Corporation is a party or (b) any tender or exchange offer by the Corporation to acquire any shares of Common Stock, pursuant to the terms of the applicable tender or exchange offer, the holders of any class of Common Stock shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, the same form of consideration, if any, as the holders of any other class of Common Stock, and the holders of any class of Common Stock shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, at least the same amount of consideration, if any, on a per share basis as the holders of any other class of Common Stock; provided that, for the purposes of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) and notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, in the event any such consideration includes securities, the consideration payable to holders of Class B Common Stock shall be deemed the same form of consideration and at least the same amount of consideration on a per share basis as the holders of Class A Common Stock on a per share basis if the only difference in the per share distribution to the holders of Class B Common Stock is that each share of the securities distributed to such holders has up to ten times the voting power of each share of the securities distributed to the holder of a share of Class A Common Stock, provided that any such securities distributed to a holder of Class B Common Stock remain subject to automatic conversion to an equal number of securities distributed to a holder of Class A Common Stock upon the terms set forth in Article IV, Section A.7 of this Certificate of Incorporation.

 

6. Transfer Rights. Subject to applicable law and the transfer restrictions set forth in Article VII of the Bylaws and Article V, Section A.7 of this Certificate of Incorporation, shares of Common Stock and the rights and obligations associated therewith shall be fully transferable to any transferee.

 

7. Conversion of Class B Common Stock.

 

(i) Voluntary Conversion. Each share of Class B Common Stock shall be convertible into one share of Class A Common Stock at the option of the holder thereof at any time upon written notice to the transfer agent of the Corporation.

 

 

(ii) Automatic Conversion.

 

(a) Each share of Class B Common Stock shall automatically, without any further action, convert into one share of Class A Common Stock upon a Transfer of such share other than to a Qualified Stockholder.

 

(b) Each share of Class B Common Stock held by a Founder or by any Permitted Trust, Permitted IRA, Permitted Entity or Permitted Foundation of such Founder shall automatically, without any further action, convert into one share of Class A Common Stock upon the date that is nine months following the last date on which such Founder provided services to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries as a member of the senior leadership team, officer or director, whether as a result of death, resignation, removal or otherwise.

 

(c) Every share of Class B Common Stock shall automatically, without any further action, convert into one share of Class A Common Stock upon the earlier of (x) the date that is nine months following the last date on which both Founders provided services to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries as a member of the senior leadership team, officer or director, whether as a result of death, resignation, removal or otherwise, and (y) the date as of which the Qualified Stockholders have Transferred, in the aggregate, to one or more persons that are not Qualified Stockholders, more than seventy-five (75%) of the total shares of Class B Common Stock that were held by the Qualified Stockholders immediately following the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement) (the “Effective Time”).

 

(iii) Procedures. The Corporation may, from time to time, establish such policies and procedures relating to the conversion of Class B Common Stock into Class A Common Stock and the general administration of this multi-class stock structure, including the issuance of stock certificates (or the establishment of book-entry positions) with respect thereto, as it may deem reasonably necessary or advisable, and may from time to time request that holders of shares of Class B Common Stock furnish certifications, affidavits or other proof to the Corporation as it deems necessary to verify the ownership of Class B Common Stock and to confirm that a conversion into Class A Common Stock has not occurred. A determination in good faith by the Board of Directors that a Transfer results or has resulted in a conversion into Class A Common Stock shall be conclusive and binding.

 

(iv) Effect of Conversion. Conversion of shares of Class B Common Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to this Article V, Section A.7 shall be deemed to have been made immediately upon any Transfer resulting in such conversion, or otherwise at 11:59 pm on the date of such conversion. Upon any conversion of Class B Common Stock into Class A Common Stock, all rights of the holder of shares of Class B Common Stock shall cease and the person or persons in whose names or names the certificate or certificates (or book-entry position(s)) representing the shares of Class A Common Stock are to be issued shall be treated for all purposes as having become the record holder or holders of such shares of Class A Common Stock. Shares of Class B Common Stock that are converted into shares of Class A Common Stock as provided in this Article V, Section A.7 shall be retired and may not be reissued. The date on which all outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock have been converted into Class A Common Stock is referred to herein as the “Sunset Date”.

 

(v) Reservation of Stock. The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the shares of Class B Common Stock, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock.

 

 

8. No Further Issuances. Except for a dividend payable in accordance with Article V, Section A.3 or a Stock Adjustment effectuated in accordance with Article V or Section A.3, the Corporation shall not at any time after the Effective Time issue any additional shares of Class B Common Stock, unless such issuance is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, voting as a separate class. After the Sunset Date, the Corporation shall not issue any additional shares of Class B Common Stock.

 

9. Certain Terms. For purposes of this Article V, Section A, references to:

 

(i) “Change of Control Issuance” means the issuance by the Corporation, in a transaction or series of related transactions, of voting securities to any person or persons acting as a group as contemplated in Rule 13d-5(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (or any successor provision) that immediately prior to such transaction or series of related transactions held fifty percent (50%) or less of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation (assuming that the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock each entitle the holder thereof to one vote per share), such that, immediately following such transaction or series of related transactions, such person or group of persons would hold more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation (assuming that the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock each entitle the holder thereof to one vote per share).

 

(ii) “Change of Control Transaction” means (a) the sale, lease, exclusive license, exchange, or other disposition (other than liens and encumbrances created in the ordinary course of business, including liens or encumbrances to secure indebtedness for borrowed money that are approved by the Board of Directors, so long as no foreclosure occurs in respect of any such lien or encumbrance) of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s property and assets (which shall for such purpose include the property and assets of any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Corporation), provided that any sale, lease, exclusive license, exchange or other disposition of property or assets exclusively between or among the Corporation and any direct or indirect subsidiary or subsidiaries of the Corporation shall not be deemed a “Change of Control Transaction”; (b) the merger, consolidation, business combination, or other similar transaction of the Corporation with any other entity, other than a merger, consolidation, business combination, or other similar transaction that would result in the voting securities of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation (or such surviving or parent entity) or more than fifty percent (50%) of the total number of outstanding shares of the Corporation’s (or such surviving or parent entity’s) capital stock, in each case as outstanding immediately after such merger, consolidation, business combination, or other similar transaction, and the stockholders of the Corporation immediately prior to the merger, consolidation, business combination, or other similar transaction continuing to own voting securities of the Corporation, the surviving entity or its parent immediately following the merger, consolidation, business combination, or other similar transaction in substantially the same proportions (vis-à-vis each other only) as such stockholders owned of the voting securities of the Corporation immediately prior to the transaction; (c) a recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, or other similar transaction involving the Corporation, other than a recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, or other similar transaction that would result in the voting securities of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Corporation (or such surviving or parent entity) or more than fifty percent (50%) of the total number of outstanding shares of the Corporation’s (or such surviving or parent entity’s) capital stock, in each case as outstanding immediately after such recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or other similar transaction, and the stockholders of the Corporation immediately prior to the recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or other similar transaction continuing to own voting securities of the Corporation, the surviving entity or its parent immediately following the recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or other similar transaction in substantially the same proportions (vis-à-vis each other only) as such stockholders owned the voting securities of the Corporation immediately prior to the transaction; and (d) any Change of Control Issuance.

 

 

(iii) “Dispositive Power” means the power to directly or indirectly cause a Transfer of the owner’s shares (including, without limitation, the power to direct a trustee of a Permitted Trust to Transfer such Permitted Trust’s shares).

 

(iv) “Family Member” means an individual’s spouse, ex-spouse, domestic partner, lineal (including by adoption) descendant or antecedent, brother or sister, or the spouse or domestic partner of any child, adopted child or grandchild (including by adoption) of such individual.

 

(v) “Founders” means Alex Rodrigues and Brandon Moak and any Permitted Trust (as defined below) of either Person.

 

(vi) “Permitted Entity” means, with respect to a Qualified Stockholder, (a) a corporation in which such Qualified Stockholder directly, or indirectly through one or more Permitted Entities, owns shares with sufficient Voting Control in the corporation, or otherwise has legally enforceable rights, such that the Qualified Stockholder retains Dispositive Power and Voting Control with respect to the shares of Class B Common Stock held by such corporation; (b) a partnership in which such Qualified Stockholder directly, or indirectly through one or more Permitted Entities, owns partnership interests with sufficient Voting Control in the partnership, or otherwise has legally enforceable rights, such that the Qualified Stockholder retains Dispositive Power and Voting Control with respect to the shares of Class B Common Stock held by such partnership; or (c) a limited liability company in which such Qualified Stockholder directly, or indirectly through one or more Permitted Entities, owns membership interests with sufficient Voting Control in the limited liability company, or otherwise has legally enforceable rights, such that the Qualified Stockholder retains Dispositive Power and Voting Control with respect to the shares of Class B Common Stock held by such limited liability company.

 

(vii) “Permitted Foundation” means, with respect to a Qualified Stockholder, a trust or private non-operating organization that is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code so long as such Qualified Stockholder has Dispositive Power and Voting Control with respect to the shares of Class B Common Stock held by such trust or organization and the Transfer to such trust does not involve any payment of cash, securities, property or other consideration (other than an interest in such trust or organization) to such Qualified Stockholder.

 

(viii) “Permitted IRA” means an Individual Retirement Account, as defined in Section 408(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), or a pension, profit sharing, stock bonus or other type of plan or trust of which a Qualified Stockholder is a participant or beneficiary and which satisfies the requirements for qualification under Section 401 of the Code; provided that in each case such Qualified Stockholder has Dispositive Power and Voting Control with respect to the shares of Class B Common Stock held in such account, plan or trust.

 

(ix) “Permitted Transfer” means, and is restricted to, any Transfer of a share of Class B Common Stock: (a) by a Qualified Stockholder to any Permitted Trust, Permitted IRA, Permitted Entity, or Permitted Foundation of such Qualified Stockholder; or (b) by a Permitted Trust, Permitted IRA, Permitted Entity or Permitted Foundation of a Qualified Stockholder to such Qualified Stockholder or to any Permitted Trust, Permitted IRA, Permitted Entity or Permitted Foundation of such Qualified Stockholder.

 

(x) “Permitted Trust” means, with respect to a Qualified Stockholder, a trust which (a) is held for the benefit of such Qualified Stockholder and/or one or more Family Members of the Qualified Stockholder in which no person other than such Qualified Stockholder and/or one or more Family Members of the Qualified Stockholder is then a beneficiary entitled to distributions of income or principal from such trust, and (b) confers upon the Qualified Stockholder a Dispositive Power and Voting Control with respect to the shares of Class B Common Stock held by such trust.

 

 

(xi) “Qualified Stockholder” means (a) a Founder; (b) any Permitted Trust, Permitted IRA, Permitted Entity or Permitted Foundation of a Founder that becomes a registered holder of one or more shares of Class B Common Stock upon and by virtue of (x) the Effective Time, (y) the exercise, conversion or settlement of a Right (provided that such Right was issued to and at all times held by a holder who would have been a Qualified Stockholder if such Right had been a share and without reference to this clause (y)), or (z) a Permitted Transfer.

 

(xii) “Rights” means any option, restricted stock unit, warrant, conversion right or contractual right of any kind to acquire (through purchase, conversion or otherwise) shares of the Corporation’s authorized but unissued capital stock (or issued but not outstanding capital stock).

 

(xiii) “Transfer” means, with respect to a share of Class B Common Stock, any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, hypothecation or other transfer or disposition of such share or any legal or beneficial interest in such share, whether or not for value and whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law, including, without limitation, a transfer to a broker or other nominee (regardless of whether there is a corresponding change in beneficial ownership), or the transfer of, or entering into a binding agreement with respect to, Voting Control over such share by proxy or otherwise; provided that the following shall not be considered a “Transfer”: (a) the granting of a revocable proxy to officers or directors or agents of the Corporation with the approval and at the request of the Board of Directors in connection with actions to be taken at an annual or special meeting of stockholders; (b) entering into a voting trust, agreement or arrangement (with or without granting a proxy) (x) solely with stockholders who are holders of Class B Common Stock that (I) is disclosed either in a Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or in writing to the Secretary of this Corporation, (II) either has a term not exceeding one year or is terminable by the holder of the shares subject thereto at any time and (III) does not involve any payment of cash, securities, property or other consideration to the holder of the shares subject thereto other than the mutual promise to vote shares in a designated manner, or (y) pursuant to a written agreement to which the Corporation is a party; (c) in connection with a Change of Control Transaction that has been approved by the Board of Directors, the entering into a support, voting, tender or similar agreement or arrangement (in each case, with or without the grant of a proxy) that has also been approved by the Board of Directors; (d) the pledge of shares of Class B Common Stock by a stockholder that creates a mere security interest in such shares pursuant to a bona fide loan or indebtedness transaction for so long as such stockholder (or Founder) continues to exercise Voting Control over such pledged shares and no such Voting Control is exercised by the Person to whom the shares are pledged (other than a Founder if such Founder is the Person to whom the shares are pledged), provided that a foreclosure on such shares or other similar action by the pledgee shall constitute a “Transfer” unless such foreclosure or similar action qualifies as a “Permitted Transfer” or (e) the fact that, as of the Effective Time or at any time after the Effective Time, the spouse of any holder of Class B Common Stock possesses or obtains an interest in such holder’s shares of Class B Common Stock arising solely by reason of the application of the community property laws of any jurisdiction, so long as no other event or circumstance shall exist or have occurred that constitutes a Transfer of such shares of Class B Common Stock (including a Transfer by operation of law pursuant to a qualified domestic order or in connection with a divorce settlement or any other court order).

 

A Transfer shall also be deemed to have occurred with respect to a share of Class B Common Stock beneficially held by (a) an entity that is a Permitted Trust, Permitted IRA, Permitted Entity or Permitted Foundation, if there occurs any act or circumstance that causes such entity to no longer be a Permitted Trust, Permitted IRA, Permitted Entity or Permitted Foundation or if there occurs a Transfer on a cumulative basis, from and after the Effective Time, of a majority of the voting power of the voting securities of such entity or any direct or indirect Parent of such entity, other than a Transfer to parties that are, as of the Effective Time, holders of voting securities of any such entity or Parent of such entity, or (b) an entity that is a Qualified Stockholder, if there occurs a Transfer on a cumulative basis, from and after the Effective Time, of a majority of the voting power of the voting securities of such entity or any direct or indirect Parent of such entity, other than a Transfer to parties that are, as of the Effective Time, holders of voting securities of any such entity or Parent of such entity.

 

 

(xiv) “Voting Control” means, with the respect to a share of Class B Common Stock, the power (whether directly or indirectly) to vote or direct the voting of an equity interest, interest in a trust or other interest or security by proxy, voting agreement, or otherwise. For this purpose, the Voting Control with respect to shares transferred to and held in a Permitted Trust shall be deemed to be held exclusively by the trustee of such Permitted Trust; provided, however, if there is any individual powerholder who possesses the power to remove and replace the trustee of such Permitted Trust (a) without cause, (b) for any reason, and (c) not less often than once in any twelve (12) month period, then the Voting Control of such Permitted Trust’s shares shall be deemed to be held exclusively by such individual powerholder (and not the trustee of such Permitted Trust).

 

B. PREFERRED STOCK

 

Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, each of such series to have such terms as stated or expressed herein and in the resolution or resolutions providing for the creation and issuance of such series adopted by the Board of Directors as hereinafter provided.

 

Authority is hereby expressly granted to the Board of Directors from time to time to issue the Preferred Stock in one or more series, and in connection with the creation of any such series, by adopting a resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of the shares thereof and by filing a certificate of designation relating thereto in accordance with the DGCL (a “Certificate of Designation”), to determine and fix the number of shares of such series and such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including without limitation thereof, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, and to increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any series as shall be stated and expressed in such resolutions, 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 and issuance of any series of Preferred Stock may provide that such series shall be superior or rank equally or be junior to any other series of Preferred Stock to the extent permitted by law and this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation). Except as otherwise required by law, holders of any series of Preferred Stock shall be entitled only to such voting rights, if any, as shall expressly be granted thereto by this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation).

 

 

ARTICLE VI

 

For the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation it is further provided that:

 

A. The directors of the Corporation shall be classified with respect to the time for which they severally hold office into three classes, designated as Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly as may be possible, of one third of the total number of directors constituting the whole Board.

 

B. The initial Class I directors shall serve for a term expiring at the first annual meeting of the stockholders following the Filing Effective Time; the initial Class II directors shall serve for a term expiring at the second annual meeting of the stockholders following the Filing Effective Time; and the initial Class III directors shall serve for a term expiring at the third annual meeting following the Filing Effective Time. At each annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation beginning with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the Filing Effective Time, the successors of the class of directors whose term expires at that meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the third year following the year of their election. If the number of such directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any such additional director of any class elected to fill a newly created directorship resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors remove or shorten the term of any incumbent director. Any such director shall hold office until the annual meeting at which his or her term expires and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, or his or her death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office. The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to their respective class. Each director shall hold office until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal in accordance with this Certificate of Incorporation.

 

C. Except as otherwise expressly provided by the DGCL or this Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. The number of directors that shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be fixed exclusively by one or more resolutions adopted from time to time by the Board of Directors in accordance with the Bylaws.

 

D. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, (i) beginning on the Trigger Date (as defined below) and until the Sunset Date, the Board of Directors or any individual director may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors; and (ii) during any other period, the Board of Directors or any individual director may be removed from office at any time only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors. For purposes of this Second A&R Certificate, “Trigger Date” shall mean the date that is the earlier of (a) the second (2^nd) anniversary of the Filing Date, or (b) the date that is the first (1^st) anniversary of the first date on which the last sales price of the Class A Common Stock has equaled or exceeded $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like following the Filing Date) for any twenty (20) trading days (whether or not consecutive) within any 30-trading day period commencing at least one hundred fifty (150) days after the Filing Date.

 

 

E. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, except as otherwise provided by law, any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, retirement, removal or other causes and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall be filled (i) following the Trigger Date and until the Sunset Date, only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors, and (ii) during any other period, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director.

 

F. Whenever the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more such other series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, removal and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article VI, the number of directors that may be elected by the holders of any such series of Preferred Stock shall be in addition to the number fixed pursuant to paragraph C of this Article VI, and the total number of directors constituting the whole Board of Directors shall be automatically adjusted accordingly. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Designation(s) in respect of one or more series of Preferred Stock, whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having such right to elect additional directors are divested of such right pursuant to the provisions of such Certificate of Designation(s), the terms of office of all such additional directors elected by the holders of such series of Preferred Stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of such additional directors, shall forthwith terminate (in which case each such director thereupon shall cease to be qualified as, and shall cease to be, a director) and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be reduced accordingly.

 

G. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws, without the assent or vote of the stockholders of the Corporation entitled to vote with respect thereto in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or this Certificate of Incorporation; provided, however, that the provisions of Section 7.12 of the Bylaws adopted pursuant to the Merger Agreement shall not be waived, amended, or repealed prior to the Lock-Up Expiration Date (as defined therein) without the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office (including the NG Representative (as defined in the Merger Agreement)). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law that might otherwise permit a lesser vote of the stockholders, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by applicable law or by this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation(s) in respect of one or more series of Preferred Stock) or the Bylaws of the Corporation, the adoption, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws of the Corporation by the stockholders of the Corporation shall require at any time (i) prior to the Trigger Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of each class of Common Stock (each voting separately as a class), (ii) after the Trigger Date and until the Sunset Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in an election of directors, and (iii) after the Sunset Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (66 2/3%) of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in an election of directors, voting as a single class.

 

H. The directors of the Corporation need not be elected by written ballot unless the Bylaws so provide.

 

 

ARTICLE VII

 

A. Beginning on the Trigger Date and until the Sunset Date, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation may be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders or may, except as otherwise required by applicable law or this Certificate of Incorporation, be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding shares of stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL. During all other periods, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation and, except to the extent expressly provided in this Certificate of Incorporation, shall not be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more other such series, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, to the extent expressly so provided by the applicable Certificate of Designation relating to such series of Preferred Stock, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding shares of the relevant series of Preferred Stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL.

 

B. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called for any purpose or purposes, at any time by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, in each case, in accordance with the Bylaws. In addition, beginning on the Trigger Date and until the Sunset Date, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may and shall be called for any purpose or purposes by the Secretary of the Corporation upon the request, in writing, of any one or more holders of record that collectively hold, in the aggregate, at least 25% of the voting power of the issued and outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation. Special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation shall not be called by any person or persons other than as set forth in this Article VII, Section B. Any such special meeting so called may be postponed, rescheduled or cancelled by the Board of Directors or other person calling the meeting.

 

C. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of other business proposed to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws. Any business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes identified in the notice of meeting.

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

No director of the Corporation shall have any personal liability to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or hereafter may be amended. Any amendment, repeal or modification of this Article VIII, or the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article VIII, shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such amendment, repeal, modification or adoption. If the DGCL is amended after approval by the stockholders of this Article VIII to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as so amended.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

A. The Corporation hereby expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL. By operation of Section 203(b)(3) of the DGCL, the restrictions on business combinations (as defined in Section 203(c)(3) of the DGCL) under Section 203 of the DGCL shall continue to apply until the Trigger Date, at which time they shall cease to apply by virtue of the election set forth in the immediately preceding sentence (the “203 Opt-Out Effective Date”). The provisions of Article IX(B)-(D), including the restrictions on business combinations (as defined in Article IX(D)(3) below) set forth in Article IX(B) below, shall not apply before the 203 Opt-Out Effective Date. From and after the 203 Opt-Out Date, the provisions of Article IX(B)-(D) below shall become effective if, and shall continue in effect for so long as, the Class A Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act.

 

B. The Corporation shall not engage in any business combination with any interested stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

(1) prior to such time, the Board of Directors approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

 

(2) upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock (as defined below) of the Corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned by (i) persons who are directors and also officers and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

 

 

(3) at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the Board of Directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (66 2/3%) of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

C. The restrictions contained in the foregoing Article IX(B) shall not apply if:

 

(1) a stockholder becomes an interested stockholder inadvertently and (i) as soon as practicable divests itself of ownership of sufficient shares so that the stockholder ceases to be an interested stockholder and (ii) would not, at any time, within the three-year period immediately prior to the business combination between the Corporation and such stockholder, have been an interested stockholder but for the inadvertent acquisition of ownership; or

 

(2) the business combination is proposed prior to the consummation or abandonment of and subsequent to the earlier of the public announcement or the notice required hereunder of a proposed transaction which (i) constitutes one of the transactions described in the second sentence of this Article IX(C)(2), (ii) is with or by a person who either was not an interested stockholder during the previous three years or who became an interested stockholder with the approval of the Board of Directors and (iii) is approved by a majority of the directors then in office (but not less than one) who were directors prior to any person becoming an interested stockholder during the previous three years or were recommended for election or elected to succeed such directors by a majority of such directors. The proposed transactions referred to in the preceding sentence are limited to (x) a merger or consolidation of the Corporation (except for a merger in respect of which, pursuant to Section 251(f) of the DGCL, no vote of the stockholders of the Corporation is required), (y) a sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (other than to any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary or to the Corporation) having an aggregate market value equal to fifty percent or more of either that aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding stock of the Corporation or (z) a proposed tender or exchange offer for 50% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation. The Corporation shall give not less than 20 days’ notice to all interested stockholders prior to the consummation of any of the transactions described in clause (x) or (y) of the second sentence of this Article IX(C)(2).

 

D. For purposes of this Article IX, references to:

 

(1) “affiliate” means a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another person.

 

(2) “associate,” when used to indicate a relationship with any person, means: (i) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of the voting power thereof; (ii) any trust or other estate in which such person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (iii) any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such person.

 

 

(3) “business combination,” when used in reference to the Corporation and any interested stockholder of the Corporation, means:

 

a. any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (a) with the interested stockholder, or (b) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the interested stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation subsection (B) of this Article IX is not applicable to the surviving entity;

 

b. any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation, to or with the interested stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which assets have an aggregate market value equal to 10% or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding stock of the Corporation;

 

c. any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of any stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the interested stockholder, except: (i) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the interested stockholder became such; (ii) pursuant to a merger under Section 251(g) of the DGCL; (iii) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of stock of the Corporation subsequent to the time the interested stockholder became such; (iv) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase stock made on the same terms to all holders of said stock; or (v) any issuance or transfer of stock by the Corporation; provided, however, that in no case under items (iii) through (v) of this subsection shall there be an increase in the interested stockholder’s proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the voting stock of the Corporation (except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments);

 

d. any transaction involving the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series, or securities convertible into the stock of any class or series, of the Corporation or of any such subsidiary which is owned by the interested stockholder, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares of stock not caused, directly or indirectly, by the interested stockholder; or

 

e. any receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges, or other financial benefits (other than those expressly permitted in subsections (a) through (d) above) provided by or through the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary.

 

 

(4) “control,” including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting stock, by contract, or otherwise. A person who is the owner of 20% or more of the outstanding voting stock of a corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this subsection (D) of Article IX, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity.

 

(5) “interested stockholder” means any person (other than the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, or (ii) is an affiliate or associate of the Corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation at any time within the three year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested stockholder; and the affiliates and associates of such person; but “interested stockholder” shall not include (a) any Stockholder Party, any Stockholder Party Direct Transferee, any Stockholder Party Indirect Transferee or any of their respective affiliates or successors or any “group,” or any member of any such group, to which such persons are a party under Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act, or (b) any person whose ownership of shares in excess of the 15% limitation set forth herein is the result of any action taken solely by the Corporation; provided, further, that in the case of clause (b) such person shall be an interested stockholder if thereafter such person acquires additional shares of voting stock of the Corporation, except as a result of further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an interested stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include stock deemed to be owned by the person through application of the definition of “owner” below.

 

(6) “owner,” including the terms “own,” “owned,” and “ownership” when used with respect to any stock, means a person that individually or with or through any of its affiliates or associates:

 

a. beneficially owns such stock, directly or indirectly;

 

b. has (i) the right to acquire such stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such person or any of such person’s affiliates or associates until such tendered stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (ii) the right to vote such stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of any stock because of such person’s right to vote such stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more persons; or

 

c. has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in item (ii) of subsection (b) above), or disposing of such stock with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such stock.

 

 

(7) “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity.

 

(8) “stock” means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest.

 

(9) “Stockholder Party” means any Qualified Stockholder of the Corporation.

 

(10) “Stockholder Party Direct Transferee” means any person that acquires (other than in a registered public offering) directly from any Stockholder Party or any of its successors or any “group,” or any member of any such group, of which such persons are a party under Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act ownership of 15% or more of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation.

 

(11) “Stockholder Party Indirect Transferee” means any person that acquires (other than in a registered public offering) directly from any Stockholder Party Direct Transferee or any other Stockholder Party Indirect Transferee ownership of 15% or more of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation.

 

(12) “voting stock” means stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and, with respect to any entity that is not a corporation, any equity interest entitled to vote generally in the election of the governing body of such entity. Every reference to a percentage of voting stock shall be calculated on the basis of the aggregate number of votes applicable to all outstanding shares of such voting stock, and by allocating to each share of voting stock, that number of votes to which such share is entitled.

 

ARTICLE X

 

A. Subject to Article X(C), the Corporation shall indemnify any 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 (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful.

 

 

B. Subject to Article X(C), the Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation; except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

C. Any indemnification under this Article X (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director or officer is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Article X(A) or Article X(B), as the case may be. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (i) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by a majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (iii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (iv) by the stockholders. Such determination shall be made, with respect to former directors and officers, by any person or persons having the authority to act on the matter on behalf of the Corporation. To the extent, however, that a present or former director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding described above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith, without the necessity of authorization in the specific case.

 

D. For purposes of any determination under Article X(C), a person shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, or, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, to have had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful, if such person’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Corporation or another enterprise, or on information supplied to such person by the officers of the Corporation or another enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Corporation or another enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Corporation or another enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Corporation or another enterprise. The provisions of this Article X(D) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Article X(A) or Article X(B), as the case may be.

 

 

E. Notwithstanding any contrary determination in the specific case under Article X(C), and notwithstanding the absence of any determination thereunder, any director or officer may apply to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or any other court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware for indemnification to the extent otherwise permissible under Article X(A) or Article X(B). The basis of such indemnification by the Corporation shall be a determination by such court that indemnification of the director or officer is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Article X(A) or Article X(B), as the case may be. Neither a contrary determination in the specific case under Article X(C) nor the absence of any determination thereunder shall be a defense to such application or create a presumption that the director or officer seeking indemnification has not met any applicable standard of conduct. Notice of any application for indemnification pursuant to this Article X shall be given to the Corporation promptly upon the filing of such application. If successful, in whole or in part, the director or officer seeking indemnification shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such application.

 

F. Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a present or former director or officer in appearing at, participating in or defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding in advance of its final disposition or in connection with a proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article X shall be paid by the Corporation upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article X. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by employees and agents of the Corporation or by persons acting at the request of the Corporation as directors, officers, employees or agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Corporation deems appropriate.

 

G. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article X shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, it being the policy of the Corporation that indemnification of the persons specified in Article X(A) or Article X(B) shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law. The provisions of this Article X shall not be deemed to preclude the indemnification of any person who is not specified in Article X(A) or Article X(B) but whom the Corporation has the power or obligation to indemnify under the provisions of the DGCL, or otherwise.

 

 

H. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was a director or officer of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power or the obligation to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article X.

 

I. 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 or officers, so that any person who is or was a director or officer of such constituent corporation, or is or was a director or officer of such constituent corporation 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 the provisions of this Article X with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued. The term “another enterprise” as used in this Article X shall mean any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which such person is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent. For purposes of this Article X, references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director or officer with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this Article X.

 

J. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article X shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified as provided in this Article X, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

 

K. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article X to the contrary, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification (which shall be governed by Article X, Section E), the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any present or former director or officer (or his or her heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives) or advance expenses in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board of the Corporation.

 

 

L. The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to employees and agents of the Corporation and to persons serving at the request of the Corporation as directors, officers, employees and agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise similar to those conferred in this Article X to directors and officers of the Corporation.

 

M. Notwithstanding that a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation (collectively, the “Covered Persons”) may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by other persons (collectively, the “Other Indemnitors”), with respect to the rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance set forth herein, the Corporation: (i) shall be the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to Covered Persons are primary and any obligation of the Other Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by Covered Persons are secondary); and (ii) shall be required to advance the full amount of expenses incurred by Covered Persons and shall be liable for the full amount of all liabilities, without regard to any rights Covered Persons may have against any of the Other Indemnitors. No advancement or payment by the Other Indemnitors on behalf of Covered Persons with respect to any claim for which Covered Persons have sought indemnification from the Corporation shall affect the immediately preceding sentence, and the Other Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution and/or be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of Covered Persons against the Corporation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the obligations of the Corporation under this Article X(M) shall only apply to Covered Persons in their capacity as Covered Persons.

 

N. Any repeal or amendment of this Article X by the Board or the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in applicable law, or the adoption of any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article X, will, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in applicable law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights to indemnitees on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

A. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery (the “Chancery Court”) of the State of Delaware (or, in the event that the Chancery Court does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware or other state courts of the State of Delaware) and any appellate court thereof shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action, suit or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, stockholder or employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or to the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action, suit or proceeding arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Bylaws or this Certificate of Incorporation (as either may be amended from time to time), (iv) any action, suit or proceeding as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Chancery Court, or (v) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim against the Corporation or any current or former director, officer or stockholder governed by the internal affairs doctrine. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of the immediately preceding sentence is filed in a court other than the courts in the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (a) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence and (b) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Article XI(A) shall not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts of the United States have exclusive jurisdiction.

 

 

B. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act.

 

C. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to this Article XI.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

A. In recognition and anticipation that (a) certain directors, principals, officers, employees and/or other representatives of an Exempted Person (as defined below) and its Affiliates (as defined below) may serve as directors, officers or agents of the Corporation, (b) an Exempted Person and its Affiliates, including (i) any portfolio company in which it or any of its investment fund Affiliates have made a debt or equity investment (and vice versa) or (ii) any of its limited partners, non-managing members or other similar direct or indirect investors may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, and (c) members of the Board of Directors who are not employees of the Corporation (“Non-Employee Directors”) and their respective Affiliates, including (i) any portfolio company in which they or any of their respective investment fund Affiliates have made a debt or equity investment (and vice versa) or (ii) any of their respective limited partners, non-managing members or other similar direct or indirect investors may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, the provisions of this Article XII are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Corporation with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities as they may involve any Exempted Person, Non-Employee Director or their respective Affiliates and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Corporation and its directors, officers and stockholders in connection therewith.

 

 

B. Neither (i) any Exempted Person nor (ii) any Non-Employee Director (including any Non-Employee Director who serves as an officer of the Corporation in both his or her director and officer capacities) or his or her Affiliates (other than the Corporation, any of its subsidiaries or their respective officers or employees) (the Persons (as defined below) identified in (i) and (ii) above being referred to, collectively, as “Identified Persons” and, individually, as an “Identified Person”) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have any fiduciary duty to refrain from directly or indirectly (A) engaging in and possessing interests in other business ventures of every type and description, including those engaged in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries now engages or proposes to engage or (B) competing with the Corporation or any of its Affiliates or subsidiaries, on its own account, or in partnership with, or as an employee, officer, director or shareholder of any other Person (other than the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries), and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no Identified Person shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any Affiliate of the Corporation for breach of any fiduciary duty solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person engages in any such activities. To the fullest extent permitted from time to time by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Corporation hereby renounces any interest or expectancy in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity that may be a corporate opportunity for an Identified Person and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, except as provided in Section C of Article XII. Subject to Section C of Article XII, in the event that any Identified Person acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or matter that may be a corporate or other business opportunity for itself, herself or himself, or any of its or his or her Affiliates, and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, such Identified Person shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have no duty (fiduciary, contractual or otherwise) to communicate or present such transaction or matter to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, as the case may be and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any subsidiary of the Corporation for breach of any duty (fiduciary, contractual or otherwise) as a stockholder or director of the Corporation by reason of the fact that such Identified Person, directly or indirectly, pursues or acquires such opportunity for itself, herself or himself, directs such opportunity to another Person or does not present such opportunity to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries (or its Affiliates).

 

C. The Corporation does not renounce its interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any Non-Employee Director (including any Non-Employee Director who serves as an officer of this Corporation in both his or her director and officer capacities) if such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation, and the provisions of Section B of this Article XII shall not apply to any such corporate opportunity.

 

D. In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article XII, a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to be a potential corporate opportunity for the Corporation if it is a business opportunity that (a) the Corporation is neither financially or legally able, nor contractually permitted, to undertake, (b) from its nature, is not in the line of the Corporation’s business or is of no practical advantage to the Corporation or (c) is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.

 

 

E. For purposes of this Article XII, (i) “Affiliate” means (a) in respect of an Exempted Person, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by such Exempted Person, controls such Exempted Person or is under common control with such Exempted Person and shall include any principal, member, director, partner, stockholder, officer, employee or other representative of any of the foregoing (other than the Corporation and any entity that is controlled by the Corporation), (b) in respect of a Non-Employee Director, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by such Non-Employee Director (other than the Corporation and any entity that is controlled by the Corporation) and (c) in respect of the Corporation, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by the Corporation; (ii) “Exempted Person” means [●] and its Affiliates; and (iii) “Person” means any individual, corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, association or any other entity.

 

F. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article XII.

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

A. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, in addition to any vote required by applicable law, the provisions of Article V through this Article XIII of this Certificate of Incorporation may not be amended, altered, repealed or rescinded, in whole or in part, and no provision inconsistent therewith or herewith may be adopted, without (i) prior to the Trigger Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of each class of Common Stock (each voting separately as a class), and (ii) on or after the Trigger Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (66 2/3%) of the total voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class; provided, however, that, in addition to any other vote required by law or this Certificate of Incorporation, any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation that (x) increases the voting power of the Class B Common Stock pursuant to Article V, Section A.2 or (y) alters or changes Article V, Section A.7 in a manner that adversely affects the holders of Class A Common Stock shall not be approved, in each case, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the total voting power of all then-outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting as a separate class.

 

B. If any provision or provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Certificate of Incorporation 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.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Second A&R Certificate to be executed by its duly authorized officer as this ______ day of ____________, 2021.

 

	Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II
	By:
	Name:
	Title:

 

 

 

Exhibit B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws

 

of

 

Embark Technology, Inc.

 

(a Delaware corporation)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

		Page
Article I - Corporate Offices		1
1.1	Registered Office	1
1.2	Other Offices	1
Article II - Meetings of Stockholders		1
2.1	Place of Meetings	1
2.2	Annual Meeting	1
2.3	Special Meeting	1
2.4	Notice of Business to be Brought before a Meeting.	2
2.5	Notice of Nominations for Election to the Board of Directors.	5
2.6	Additional Requirements for Valid Nomination of Candidates to Serve as Director and, if Elected, to be Seated as Directors.	8
2.7	Notice of Stockholders’ Meetings	9
2.8	Quorum	9
2.9	Adjourned Meeting; Notice	10
2.10	Conduct of Business	10
2.11	Voting	11
2.12	Record Date for Stockholder Meetings and Other Purposes	11
2.13	Proxies	12
2.14	List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote	12
2.15	Inspectors of Election	12
2.16	Delivery to the Corporation.	13
Article III - Directors		13
3.1	Powers	13
3.2	Number of Directors	13
3.3	Election, Qualification and Term of Office of Directors	14
3.4	Resignation and Vacancies	14
3.5	Place of Meetings; Meetings by Telephone	14
3.6	Regular Meetings	14
3.7	Special Meetings; Notice	15
3.8	Quorum	15
3.9	Board Action without a Meeting	15
3.10	Fees and Compensation of Directors	15
Article IV - Committees		16
4.1	Committees of Directors	16
4.2	Meetings and Actions of Committees	16
4.3	Subcommittees.	16
Article V - Officers		17
5.1	Officers	17
5.2	Appointment of Officers	17
5.3	Subordinate Officers	17
5.4	Removal and Resignation of Officers	17
5.5	Vacancies in Offices	17

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

		Page
5.6	Representation of Shares of Other Corporations	17
5.7	Authority and Duties of Officers	17
5.8	Compensation.	17
Article VI - Records		18
Article VII - General Matters		18
7.1	Execution of Corporate Contracts and Instruments	18
7.2	Stock Certificates	18
7.3	Special Designation of Certificates.	18
7.4	Lost Certificates	18
7.5	Shares Without Certificates	18
7.6	Construction; Definitions	19
7.7	Dividends	19
7.8	Fiscal Year	19
7.9	Seal	19
7.10	Transfer of Stock	19
7.11	Stock Transfer Agreements	19
7.12	Lock-Up.	20
7.13	Registered Stockholders	22
7.14	Waiver of Notice	22
Article VIII - Notice		23
8.1	Delivery of Notice; Notice by Electronic Transmission	23
Article IX - Indemnification		24
9.1	Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings other than Those by or in the Right of the Corporation	24
9.2	Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings by or in the Right of the Corporation	24
9.3	Authorization of Indemnification	24
9.4	Good Faith Defined	25
9.5	Indemnification by a Court	25
9.6	Expenses Payable in Advance	25
9.7	Nonexclusivity of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses	25
9.8	Insurance	25
9.9	Certain Definitions	26
9.10	Survival of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses	26
9.11	Limitation on Indemnification	26
9.12	Indemnification of Employees and Agents	26
9.13	Primacy of Indemnification	26
9.14	Amendments	26
Article X - Amendments		27
Article XI - Definitions		27

 

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws

of

Embark Technology, Inc.

 

 

Article I - Corporate Offices

 

1.1 Registered Office.

 

The address of the registered office of Embark Technology, Inc. (the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware, and the name of its registered agent at such address, shall be as set forth in the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation, as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”).

 

1.2 Other Offices.

 

The Corporation may have additional offices at any place or places, within or outside the State of Delaware, as the Corporation’s board of directors (the “Board”) may from time to time establish or as the business of the Corporation may require.

 

Article II - Meetings of Stockholders

 

2.1 Place of Meetings.

 

Meetings of stockholders shall be held at any place within or outside the State of Delaware, designated by the Board. The Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). In the absence of any such designation or determination, stockholders’ meetings shall be held at the Corporation’s principal executive office.

 

2.2 Annual Meeting.

 

The Board shall designate the date and time of the annual meeting. At the annual meeting, directors shall be elected and other proper business properly brought before the meeting in accordance with Section 2.4 of these bylaws may be transacted. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled annual meeting of stockholders.

 

2.3 Special Meeting.

 

Special meetings of the stockholders may be called, postponed, rescheduled or cancelled only by such persons and only in such manner as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

No business may be transacted at any special meeting of stockholders other than the business specified in the notice of such meeting.

 

 

2.4 Notice of Business to be Brought before a Meeting.

 

(i) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be (i) specified in a notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board, (ii) if not specified in a notice of meeting, otherwise brought before the meeting by the Board or the Chairperson of the Board or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder present in person who (A) (1) was a record owner of shares of the Corporation both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.4 and at the time of the meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (3) has complied with this Section 2.4 in all applicable respects or (B) properly made such proposal in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (as so amended and inclusive of such rules and regulations, the “Exchange Act”). The foregoing clause (iii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose business to be brought before an annual meeting of the stockholders. For purposes of this Section 2.4, “present in person” shall mean that the stockholder proposing that the business be brought before the annual meeting of the Corporation, or a qualified representative of such proposing stockholder, appear at such annual meeting. A “qualified representative” of such proposing stockholder shall be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or any other person authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders. Stockholders seeking to nominate persons for election to the Board must comply with Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 and this Section 2.4 shall not be applicable to nominations except as expressly provided in Section 2.5 and Section 2.6.

 

(ii) Without qualification, for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to Section 2.4(i)(iii), the stockholder must (i) provide Timely Notice (as defined below) thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation and (ii) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.4. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (which, in the case of the first annual meeting of stockholders following the Effective Time (as defined in the Corporation’s Certification of Incorporation), the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting shall be deemed to be [●], 2021); provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered, or mailed and received, not later than the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or, if later, the 10th day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was first made by the Corporation (such notice within such time periods, “Timely Notice”). In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of Timely Notice as described above.

 

(iii) To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 2.4, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth:

 

(a) As to each Proposing Person (as defined below), (1) the name and address of such Proposing Person (including, if applicable, the name and address that appear on the Corporation’s books and records); and (2) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned of record or beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by such Proposing Person, except that such Proposing Person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series of the Corporation as to which such Proposing Person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (1) and (2) are referred to as “Stockholder Information”);

 

 

(b) As to each Proposing Person, (1) 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) (“Synthetic Equity Position”) and that is, directly or indirectly, held or maintained by such Proposing Person with respect to any shares of any class or series of shares of the Corporation; 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 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 Person satisfying the requirements of Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act (other than a Proposing Person 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 Person as a hedge with respect to a bona fide derivatives trade or position of such Proposing Person arising in the ordinary course of such Proposing Person’s business as a derivatives dealer, (2) any rights to dividends on the shares of any class or series of shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (3) any material pending or threatened legal proceeding in which such Proposing Person is a party or material participant involving the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any affiliate of the Corporation, (4) any other material relationship between such Proposing Person, on the one hand, and the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation, on the other hand, (5) any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement of such Proposing Person with the Corporation or any affiliate of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement), (6) a representation that such Proposing Person intends or is part of a group which intends to deliver a proxy statement or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or otherwise solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal, (7) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination or proposal and/or the voting of shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation between or among the Proposing Persons, (8) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including without limitation any contract to purchase or sell, acquisition or grant of any option, right or warrant to purchase or sell, swap or other instrument) to which any Proposing Person is a party, the intent or effect of which may be (i) to transfer to or from any Proposing Person, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security of the Corporation, (ii) to increase or decrease the voting power of any Proposing Person with respect to shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation and/or (iii) to provide any Proposing Person, directly or indirectly, with the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from, or to otherwise benefit economically from, any increase or decrease in the value of any security of the Corporation and (9) any other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies or consents by such Proposing Person in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (1) through (9) are referred to as “Disclosable Interests”); provided, however, that Disclosable Interests shall not include any such disclosures with respect to the ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner; and

 

 

(c) As to each item of business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting, (1) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting and any material interest in such business of each Proposing Person, (2) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the bylaws of the Corporation, the language of the proposed amendment), (3) a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings (x) between or among any of the Proposing Persons or (y) between or among any Proposing Person and any other record or beneficial holder(s) or persons(s) who have a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future of the shares of any class or series of the Corporation or any other person or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder; and (4) any other information relating to such item of business that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that the disclosures required by this paragraph (c) shall not include any disclosures with respect to any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner.

 

For purposes of this Section 2.4, the term “Proposing Person” shall mean (i) the stockholder providing the notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, (ii) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the business proposed to be brought before the annual meeting is made, and (iii) any participant (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii)-(vi) of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A) with such stockholder in such solicitation.

 

(iv) A Proposing Person shall update and supplement its notice to the Corporation of its intent to propose business at an annual meeting, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be true and correct as of the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and as of the date that is 10 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five business days after the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of 10 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this paragraph or any other Section of these bylaws shall not limit the Corporation’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any proposal or to submit any new proposal, including by changing or adding matters, business or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of the stockholders.

 

 

(v) Notwithstanding anything in these bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting that is not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.4. The Board or chairperson of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that the business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.4, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.4, if the Proposing Person (or a qualified representative of the Proposing Person) does not appear at the annual meeting to present the proposed business, such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such matter may have been received by the Corporation.

 

(vi) This Section 2.4 is expressly intended to apply to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders other than any proposal made in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and included in the Corporation’s proxy statement. In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.4 with respect to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, each Proposing Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such business. Nothing in this Section 2.4 shall be deemed to affect the rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.4, beginning on the Trigger Date (as defined in the Corporation’s Certification of Incorporation) and until the Sunset Date (as defined in the Corporation’s Certification of Incorporation), any holder of record of at least 25% in voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote in an election of directors generally shall not be subject to the notice procedures set forth in the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.4 and may bring any business before an annual meeting of stockholders in person at the annual meeting, without prior notice.

 

(vii) For purposes of these bylaws, “public disclosure” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service, in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or by such other means as is reasonably designed to inform the public or securityholders of the Corporation in general of such information including, without limitation, posting on the Corporation’s investor relations website.

 

2.5 Notice of Nominations for Election to the Board of Directors.

 

(i) Subject in all respects to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, nominations of any person for election to the Board at an annual meeting or at a special meeting (but only if the election of directors is a matter specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling such special meeting) may be made at such meeting only (x) by or at the direction of the Board, including by any committee or persons authorized to do so by the Board or these bylaws, or (y) by a stockholder present in person (A) who was a record owner of shares of the Corporation both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.5 and at the time of the meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (C) has complied with this Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 as to such notice and nomination. For purposes of this Section 2.5, “present in person” shall mean that the stockholder proposing that the business be brought before the meeting of the Corporation, or a qualified representative of such stockholder, appear at such meeting. A “qualified representative” of such proposing stockholder shall be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or any other person authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders. Except as may be otherwise provided by the terms of one or more series of Preferred Stock with respect to the rights of holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the foregoing clause (y) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board at an annual meeting or special meeting.

 

 

(ii)  Without qualification, for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board at an annual meeting, the stockholder must (1) provide Timely Notice (as defined in Section 2.4) thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation, (2) provide the information, agreements and questionnaires with respect to such stockholder and its candidate for nomination as required to be set forth by this Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 and (3) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.5 and Section 2.6.

 

(iii) Without qualification, if the election of directors is a matter specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling a special meeting in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation, then for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board at a special meeting, the stockholder must (1) provide timely notice thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (2) provide the information with respect to such stockholder and its candidate for nomination as required by this Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 and (3) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.5. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice for nominations to be made at a special meeting must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the 90th day prior to such special meeting or, if later, the 10th day following the day on which public disclosure (as defined in Section 2.4) of the date of such special meeting was first made.

 

(iv) In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or special meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

(v) In no event may a Nominating Person provide notice with respect to a greater number of director candidates than are subject to election by stockholders at the applicable meeting. If the Corporation shall, subsequent to such notice, increase the number of directors subject to election at the meeting, such notice as to any additional nominees shall be due on the later of (i) (x) in the case of an annual meeting, the conclusion of the time period for Timely Notice or (y) in the case of a special meeting, the conclusion of the time period for Timely Notice as set forth in Section 2.5(iii), or (iii) the tenth day following the date of public disclosure (as defined in Section 2.4) of such increase.

 

(vi) To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 2.5, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth:

 

(a) As to each Nominating Person (as defined below), the Stockholder Information (as defined in Section 2.4(iii)(a), except that for purposes of this Section 2.5 the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 2.4(iii)(a));

 

(b) As to each Nominating Person, any Disclosable Interests (as defined in Section 2.4(iii)(b), except that for purposes of this Section 2.5 the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 2.4(iii)(b) and the disclosure with respect to the business to be brought before the meeting in Section 2.4(iii)(b) shall be made with respect to the election of directors at the meeting); and

 

 

(c) As to each candidate whom a Nominating Person proposes to nominate for election as a director, (A) all information with respect to such candidate for nomination that would be required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice pursuant to this Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 if such candidate for nomination were a Nominating Person, (B) all information relating to such candidate for nomination that is required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14(a) under the Exchange Act (including such candidate’s written consent to being named in the Corporation’s proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected), (C) a description of any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement between or among any Nominating Person, on the one hand, and each candidate for nomination or his or her respective associates or any other participants in such solicitation, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K if such Nominating Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the candidate for nomination were a director or executive officer of such registrant (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (C) are referred to as “Nominee Information”), and (D) a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement as provided in Section 2.6(i).

 

For purposes of this Section 2.5, the term “Nominating Person” shall mean (i) the stockholder providing the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting, (ii) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting is made, and (iii) any other participant in such solicitation.

 

(vii) A stockholder providing notice of any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall be true and correct as of the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and as of the date that is 10 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five business days after the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of 10 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this paragraph or any other Section of these bylaws shall not limit the Corporation’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any nomination or to submit any new nomination.

 

(viii) In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.5 with respect to any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting, each Nominating Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such nominations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.5, beginning on the Trigger Date and until the Sunset Date, any holder of record of at least 25% in voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote in an election of directors generally shall not be subject to the notice procedures set forth in the foregoing notice and nomination provisions of this Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 and may nominate any person for election at an annual meeting or at a special meeting in person at the annual or special meeting, without prior notice.

 

 

2.6 Additional Requirements for Valid Nomination of Candidates to Serve as Director and, if Elected, to be Seated as Directors.

 

(i) To be eligible to be a candidate for election as a director of the Corporation at an annual or special meeting, a candidate must be nominated in the manner prescribed in Section 2.5 and the candidate for nomination, whether nominated by the Board or by a stockholder of record, must have previously delivered (in accordance with the time period prescribed for delivery in a notice to such candidate given by or on behalf of the Board), to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (i) a completed written questionnaire (in a form provided by the Corporation) with respect to the background, qualifications, stock ownership and independence of such proposed nominee, and such additional information with respect to such proposed nominee as would be required to be provided by the Corporation pursuant to Schedule 14A if such proposed nominee were a participant in the solicitation of proxies by the Corporation in connection with such annual or special meeting and (ii) a written representation and agreement (in form provided by the Corporation) that such candidate for nomination (A) is not and, if elected as a director during his or her term of office, will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given and will not give any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such proposed nominee, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such proposed nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such proposed nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (B) is not, and will not become a party to, any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation or reimbursement for service as a director that has not been disclosed therein or to the Corporation, (C) if elected as a director of the Corporation, will comply with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, stock ownership and trading and other policies and guidelines of the Corporation applicable to directors and in effect during such person’s term in office as a director (and, if requested by any candidate for nomination, the Secretary of the Corporation shall provide to such candidate for nomination all such policies and guidelines then in effect), (D) if elected as director of the Corporation, intends to serve the entire term until the next meeting at which such candidate would face re-election and (E) consents to being named as a nominee in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-4(d) under the Exchange Act and any associated proxy card of the Corporation and agrees to serve if elected as a director.

 

(ii) The Board may also require any proposed candidate for nomination as a Director to furnish such other information as may be requested by the Board in writing prior to the meeting of stockholders at which such candidate’s nomination is to be acted upon in order for the Board to determine the eligibility of such candidate for nomination to be an independent director of the Corporation in accordance with the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Exchange Act and applicable stock exchange rules.

 

(iii) A candidate for nomination as a director shall further update and supplement the materials delivered pursuant to this Section 2.6, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided pursuant to this Section 2.6 shall be true and correct as of the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and as of the date that is 10 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (or any other office specified by the Corporation in any public announcement) not later than five business days after the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of 10 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this paragraph or any other Section of these bylaws shall not limit the Corporation’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any proposal or to submit any new proposal, including by changing or adding nominees, matters, business or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of the stockholders.

 

 

(iv) No candidate shall be eligible for nomination as a director of the Corporation unless such candidate for nomination and the Nominating Person seeking to place such candidate’s name in nomination has complied with Section 2.5 and this Section 2.6, as applicable. The Board or chairperson of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that a nomination was not properly made in accordance with Section 2.5 and this Section 2.6, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare such determination to the meeting, the defective nomination shall be disregarded and any ballots cast for the candidate in question (but in the case of any form of ballot listing other qualified nominees, only the ballots cast for the nominee in question) shall be void and of no force or effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Section 2.5, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present the nomination, such nomination shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such nomination may have been received by the Corporation.

 

(v) Notwithstanding anything in these bylaws to the contrary, no candidate for nomination shall be eligible to be seated as a director of the Corporation unless nominated and elected in accordance with Section 2.5 and this Section 2.6.

 

2.7 Notice of Stockholders’ Meetings.

 

Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be sent or otherwise given in accordance with Section 8.1 of these bylaws not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. The notice shall specify the place, if any, date and time of the meeting, the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.

 

2.8 Quorum.

 

Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the stockholders, except that when specified business is to be voted on by a class or series of stock voting as a class, the holders of shares representing a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of such class or series shall constitute a quorum of such class or series for the transaction of such business. A quorum, once established at a meeting, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum. If, however, a quorum is not present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, then either (i) the person presiding over the meeting or (ii) a majority in voting power of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall have power to recess the meeting or adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 2.9 of these bylaws until a quorum is present or represented. At any recessed or adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present or represented, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed.

 

 

2.9 Adjourned Meeting; Notice.

 

When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, unless these bylaws otherwise require, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At any adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board shall fix as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

 

2.10 Conduct of Business.

 

The chairperson of each annual and special meeting shall be the Chairperson of the Board or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer (if he or she shall be a director) or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chief Executive Officer or if the Chief Executive Officer is not a director, the President (if he or she shall be a director) or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the President or if the President is not a director, such other person as shall be appointed by the Board. The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the chairperson of the meeting. The Board may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the chairperson of the meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures (which need not be in writing) and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of the chairperson of the meeting, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the chairperson of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present (including, without limitation, rules and procedures for removal of disruptive persons from the meeting); (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairperson of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The chairperson of the meeting, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting (including, without limitation, determinations with respect to the administration and/or interpretation of any of the rules, regulations or procedures of the meeting, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the chairperson of the meeting), shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter of business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such chairperson should so determine, such chairperson shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the chairperson of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure. The secretary of each annual and special meeting of stockholders shall be the Secretary or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary so appointed to act by the chairperson of the meeting. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary and all Assistant Secretaries, the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

 

2.11 Voting.

 

Except as may be otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws or the DGCL, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder.

 

Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation and subject to the rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors pursuant to the terms of one or more series of Preferred Stock, at all duly called or convened meetings of stockholders at which a quorum is present, for the election of directors, a plurality of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect a director. Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, each other matter presented to the stockholders at a duly called or convened meeting at which a quorum is present shall be decided by a majority of the votes cast (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes) on such matter.

 

2.12 Record Date for Stockholder Meetings and Other Purposes.

 

In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than 60 days nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If the Board so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be the close of business on the next day preceding the day on which notice is first given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting; and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.

 

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, in order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action without a meeting, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board. If no record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action without a meeting is fixed by the Board, (i) when no prior action of the Board is required by the DGCL, the record date for such purpose shall be the first date on which a signed consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law, and (ii) if prior action by the Board is required by the DGCL, the record date for such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

 

In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment or any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of capital stock, or for the purposes of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

 

2.13 Proxies.

 

Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing or by a transmission permitted by law in any manner provided under Section 212(c) of the DGCL or as otherwise provided under applicable law and filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section 212 of the DGCL. A proxy may be in the form of an electronic transmission that sets forth or is submitted with information from which it can be determined that the transmission was authorized by the stockholder.

 

2.14 List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. 

 

The Corporation shall prepare, at least 10 days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than 10 days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. The Corporation shall not be required to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least 10 days prior to the 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 Corporation’s principal executive office. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Such list shall presumptively determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them. Except as otherwise provided by law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Section 2.14 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

 

2.15 Inspectors of Election.

 

Before any meeting of stockholders, the Corporation shall appoint an inspector or inspectors of election to act at the meeting or its adjournment and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If any person appointed as inspector or any alternate fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, then the person presiding over the meeting shall appoint a person to fill that vacancy.

 

 

Such inspectors shall:

 

(i) determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the number of shares represented at the meeting and the validity of any proxies and ballots;

 

(ii) count all votes or ballots;

 

(iii) count and tabulate all votes;

 

(iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspector(s); and

 

(v) certify its or their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and its or their count of all votes and ballots.

 

Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of inspector, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspection with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability. Any report or certificate made by the inspectors of election is prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. The inspectors of election may appoint such persons to assist them in performing their duties as they determine.

 

2.16 Delivery to the Corporation.

 

Whenever this Article II requires one or more persons (including a record or beneficial owner of stock) to deliver a document or information to the Corporation or any officer, employee or agent thereof (including any notice, request, questionnaire, revocation, representation or other document or agreement), such document or information shall be in writing exclusively (and not in an electronic transmission) and shall be delivered exclusively by hand (including, without limitation, overnight courier service) or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, and the Corporation shall not be required to accept delivery of any document not in such written form or so delivered. For the avoidance of doubt, the Corporation expressly opts out of Section 116 of the DGCL with respect to the delivery of information and documents to the Corporation required by this Article II.

 

Article III - Directors

 

3.1 Powers. 

 

Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or the DGCL, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board.

 

3.2 Number of Directors. 

 

Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation or any certificate of designation with respect to any series of Preferred Stock, the total number of directors constituting the Board shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, no reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director before that director’s term of office expires.

 

 

3.3 Election, Qualification and Term of Office of Directors. 

 

Directors shall be elected by stockholders at their annual meeting or at a special meeting (but only if the election of directors is a matter specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling such special meeting), and the term of each director shall be as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation. Directors need not be stockholders. The Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws may prescribe qualifications for directors.

 

3.4 Resignation and Vacancies. 

 

Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation. The resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or upon the happening of an event specified therein, and if no time or event is specified, at the time of its receipt. When one or more directors so resigns and the resignation is effective at a future date or upon the happening of an event to occur on a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office as provided in Section 3.3.

 

Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, except as otherwise provided by applicable law, vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of any director, and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors shall be filled (i) beginning on the Trigger Date and until the Sunset Date, only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors, or (ii) at any other time, only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director.

 

3.5 Place of Meetings; Meetings by Telephone. 

 

The Board may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or outside the State of Delaware.

 

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, members of the Board, or any committee designated by the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board, or any committee, by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting pursuant to this bylaw shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

 

3.6 Regular Meetings. 

 

Regular meetings of the Board may be held within or outside the State of Delaware and at such time and at such place as which has been designated by the Board and publicized among all directors, either orally or in writing, by telephone, including a voice-messaging system or other system designed to record and communicate messages, facsimile, telegraph or telex, or by electronic mail or other means of electronic transmission. No further notice shall be required for regular meetings of the Board.

 

 

3.7 Special Meetings; Notice. 

 

Special meetings of the Board for any purpose or purposes may be held within or outside the State of Delaware and called at any time by the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Secretary or a majority of the total number of directors constituting the Board.

 

Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be:

 

(i) delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone;

 

(ii) sent by United States first-class mail, postage prepaid;

 

(iii) sent by facsimile or electronic mail; or

 

(iv) sent by other means of electronic transmission,

 

directed to each director at that director’s address, telephone number, facsimile number or electronic mail address, or other address for electronic transmission, as the case may be, as shown on the Corporation’s records.

 

If the notice is (i) delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone, (ii) sent by facsimile or electronic mail, or (iii) sent by other means of electronic transmission, it shall be delivered or sent at least 24 hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. If the notice is sent by U.S. mail, it shall be deposited in the U.S. mail at least four days before the time of the holding of the meeting. The notice need not specify the place of the meeting (if the meeting is to be held at the Corporation’s principal executive office) nor the purpose of the meeting.

 

3.8 Quorum. 

 

At all meetings of the Board, unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the Board, then the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.

 

3.9 Board Action without a Meeting. 

 

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission. After an action is taken, the consent or consents relating thereto shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board, or the committee thereof, in the same paper or electronic form as the minutes are maintained. Such action by written consent or consent by electronic transmission shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the Board.

 

3.10 Fees and Compensation of Directors. 

 

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation, including fees and reimbursement of expenses, of directors for services to the Corporation in any capacity.

 

 

Article IV - Committees

 

4.1 Committees of Directors. 

 

The Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Each committee of the Board may fix its own rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by such rules, except as may otherwise be provided by a resolution of the Board designating such committee. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, the presence of at least a majority of the members of the committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum unless the committee shall consist of one or two members, in which event one member shall constitute a quorum; and all matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present at a meeting of the committee at which a quorum is present. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board or in these bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority to (i) approve or adopt, or recommend to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval, or (ii) adopt, amend or repeal any bylaw of the Corporation.

 

4.2 Meetings and Actions of Committees. 

 

Meetings and actions of committees shall be governed by, and held and taken in accordance with, the provisions of:

 

(i) Section 3.5 (place of meetings; meetings by telephone);

 

(ii) Section 3.6 (regular meetings);

 

(iii) Section 3.7 (special meetings; notice);

 

(iv) Section 3.9 (board action without a meeting); and

 

(v) Section 7.14 (waiver of notice),

 

with such changes in the context of those bylaws as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the Board and its members.

 

4.3 Subcommittees.

 

Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, the resolutions of the Board designating the committee or the charter of such committee adopted by the Board, a committee may create one or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one or more members of the committee, and delegate to a subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee.

 

 

Article V - Officers

 

5.1 Officers. 

 

The officers of the Corporation shall include a Chief Executive Officer, a President and a Secretary. The Corporation may also have, at the discretion of the Board, a Chairperson of the Board, a Vice Chairperson of the Board, a Chief Financial Officer, a Treasurer, one or more Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Treasurers, one or more Assistant Secretaries, and any such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. No officer need be a stockholder or director of the Corporation.

 

5.2 Appointment of Officers. 

 

The Board shall appoint the officers of the Corporation, except such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3 of these bylaws.

 

5.3 Subordinate Officers. 

 

The Board may appoint, or empower the Chief Executive Officer or, in the absence of a Chief Executive Officer, the President, to appoint, such other officers and agents as the business of the Corporation may require. Each of such officers and agents shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and perform such duties as are provided in these bylaws or as the Board may from time to time determine.

 

5.4 Removal and Resignation of Officers. 

 

Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Board or, except in the case of an officer chosen by the Board, by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board.

 

Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice. Unless otherwise specified in the notice of resignation, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract to which the officer is a party.

 

5.5 Vacancies in Offices. 

 

Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled as provided in Section 5.2 or Section 5.3, as applicable.

 

5.6 Representation of Shares of Other Corporations. 

 

The Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President of this Corporation, or any other person authorized by the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, is authorized to vote, represent and exercise on behalf of this Corporation all rights incident to any and all shares or voting securities of any other corporation or other person standing in the name of this Corporation. The authority granted herein may be exercised either by such person directly or by any other person authorized to do so by proxy or power of attorney duly executed by such person having the authority.

 

5.7 Authority and Duties of Officers. 

 

All officers of the Corporation shall respectively have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the business of the Corporation as may be provided herein or designated from time to time by the Board and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board.

 

5.8 Compensation.

 

The compensation of the officers of the Corporation for their services as such shall be fixed from time to time by or at the direction of the Board. An officer of the Corporation shall not be prevented from receiving compensation by reason of the fact that he or she is also a director of the Corporation.

 

 

Article VI - Records

 

A stock ledger consisting of one or more records in which the names of all of the Corporation’s stockholders of record, the address and number of shares registered in the name of each such stockholder, and all issuances and transfers of stock of the corporation are recorded in accordance with Section 224 of the DGCL shall be administered by or on behalf of the Corporation. Any records administered by or on behalf of the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account, and minute books, may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device, or method, or one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks or databases), provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time and, with respect to the stock ledger, that the records so kept (i) can be used to prepare the list of stockholders specified in Sections 219 and 220 of the DGCL, (ii) record the information specified in Sections 156, 159, 217(a) and 218 of the DGCL, and (iii) record transfers of stock as governed by Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code as adopted in the State of Delaware.

 

Article VII - General Matters

 

7.1 Execution of Corporate Contracts and Instruments. 

 

The Board, except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation; such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

 

7.2 Stock Certificates. 

 

The shares of the Corporation shall be uncertificated, provided that the Board by resolution may provide that some or all of the shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation shall be certificated. Certificates for the shares of stock, if any, shall be in such form as is consistent with the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law. Every holder of stock represented by a certificate shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, any two officers authorized to sign stock certificates representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. The Chairperson or Vice Chairperson of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation shall be specifically authorized to sign stock certificates. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

 

7.3 Special Designation of Certificates.

 

If the Corporation is authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, then the powers, the designations, the preferences and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or on the back of the certificate that the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock (or, in the case of uncertificated shares, set forth in a notice provided pursuant to Section 151 of the DGCL); provided, however, that except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the DGCL, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face of back of the certificate that the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock (or, in the case of any uncertificated shares, included in the aforementioned notice) a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, the designations, the preferences and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.

 

7.4 Lost Certificates. 

 

Except as provided in this Section 7.4, no new certificates for shares shall be issued to replace a previously issued certificate unless the latter is surrendered to the Corporation and cancelled at the same time. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may, in addition to any other requirements as may be imposed by the Corporation, require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.

 

7.5 Shares Without Certificates

 

The Corporation may adopt a system of issuance, recordation and transfer of its shares of stock by electronic or other means not involving the issuance of certificates, provided the use of such system by the Corporation is permitted in accordance with applicable law.

 

 

7.6 Construction; Definitions. 

 

Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction and definitions in the DGCL shall govern the construction of these bylaws. Without limiting the generality of this provision, the singular number includes the plural and the plural number includes the singular.

 

7.7 Dividends. 

 

The Board, subject to any restrictions contained in either (i) the DGCL or (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation, may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of its capital stock. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the Corporation’s capital stock.

 

The Board may set apart out of any of the funds of the Corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve. Such purposes shall include but not be limited to equalizing dividends, repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, and meeting contingencies.

 

7.8 Fiscal Year. 

 

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board and may be changed by the Board.

 

7.9 Seal. 

 

The Corporation may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be adopted and which may be altered by the Board. The Corporation may use the corporate seal by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.

 

7.10 Transfer of Stock. 

 

Subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 7.12, shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferred on the books of the Corporation only by the holder of record thereof or by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, upon surrender to the Corporation of the certificate or certificates representing such shares endorsed by the appropriate person or persons (or by delivery of duly executed instructions with respect to uncertificated shares), with such evidence of the authenticity of such endorsement or execution, transfer, authorization and other matters as the Corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing the names of the persons from and to whom it was transferred.

 

7.11 Stock Transfer Agreements. 

 

The Corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes or series of stock of the Corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the Corporation of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL or other applicable law.

 

 

7.12 Lock-Up.

 

(i) Subject to Section 7.12(ii), the holders (the “Lock-up Holders”) of the Class A common stock and the Class B common stock of the Corporation issued (a) pursuant to the merger of NGAB Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”), with and into Embark Trucks Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Embark”), with Embark the surviving corporation (the “Merger”), as consideration for common stock or other securities of Embark outstanding immediately prior to the closing of the Merger or (b) to directors, officers and employees of the Corporation upon the settlement or exercise of restricted stock units, stock options or other equity awards outstanding as of immediately following the closing of the Merger in respect of awards of Embark outstanding immediately prior to the closing of the Merger (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the Acquiror Warrants (as defined in the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 22, 2021, by and among Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II, a Delaware corporation, Merger Sub and Embark (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”))) (such shares referred to in this Section 7.12(i)(b), the “Embark Equity Award Shares”), may not Transfer any Lock-up Shares until the end of the Lock-up Period (the “Lock-up”).

 

(ii) Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in Section 7.12(i), the Lock-up Holders or their respective Permitted Transferees may Transfer the Lock-up Shares during the Lock-up Period (a) to (i) any Related Holder of such Lock-up Holder, (ii) any of the Corporation’s officers or directors or any of their respective Related Holders, or (iii) any other Lock-up Holder or any of their respective Related Holders; (b) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual; (c) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (d) in connection with any mortgage, encumbrance or pledge in connection with any indebtedness or the secured party’s exercise or enforcement of rights thereunder, including its foreclosure, sale, pledge, rehypothecation, assignment or other use of such collateral; (f) to the Corporation; (g) to Qualified Stockholders (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) in the case of shares of Class B common stock, or (h) subsequent to the closing date of the Merger, in connection with a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization, tender offer approved by the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof or other similar transaction which results in all of the Corporation’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property; provided, however, that the Lock-up Shares acquired by any transferee pursuant to the foregoing clauses (a), (b), (c) or (g) shall remain subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 7.12(i) and the other provisions of this Section 7.12 following transfer to such transferee.

 

(iii) Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in Section 7.12(i), if (A) at least 120 days have elapsed since the closing date of the Merger and (B) the Lock-up Period is scheduled to end during a Blackout Period or within five Trading Days prior to a Blackout Period (such period, the “Specified Period”), the Lock-up Period shall end 10 Trading Days prior to the commencement of the Blackout Period (the “Blackout-Related Release”); provided that the Corporation shall announce the date of the expected Blackout-Related Release through a major news service, or on a Form 8-K, at least two Trading Days in advance of the Blackout-Related Release; and provided further that the Blackout-Related Release shall not occur unless the Corporation shall have publicly released its earnings results for the quarterly period during which the Closing occurred. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the Lock-Up Period end earlier than 120 days after the Closing Date pursuant to the Blackout-Related Release.

 

(iv) Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in Section 7.12(i) or Section 7.12(iii), if the last reported sale price of the common stock on the exchange on which the common stock is listed (the “Closing Price”) equals or exceeds $12.50 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) (the “Threshold Price”) for 20 out of any 30 consecutive Trading Days commencing at least 30 days after the Closing Date, including the last day of such 30 Trading Day period (any such 30 Trading Day period during which such condition is satisfied, the “Measurement Period”), then 50% of the Lock-up Holder’s Lock-Up Shares (with such 50% being calculated inclusive of all outstanding shares and equity awards, determined as if, with respect to any Embark Equity Award Shares that can be net settled, such Embark Equity Award Shares are cash settled, and rounded down to the nearest whole share) that are subject to the Lock-Up Period, which percentage shall be calculated based on the number of Lock-Up Shares subject to the  Lock-Up Period as of the last day of the Measurement Period, will be automatically released from such restrictions (an “Early Lock-Up Expiration”) immediately prior to the opening of trading on the exchange on which the common stock is listed on the second Trading Day following the end of the Measurement Period (an “Early Lock-Up Expiration Date”); provided that if the Threshold Price equals or exceeds $15.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for 20 Trading Days during any Measurement Period, then an additional 50% of the Lock-up Holder’s Lock-Up Shares (as calculated above) will be automatically released from such restrictions pursuant to the terms set forth above.

 

 

(v) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.12(i) or Section 7.12(iv), if, at the time of any the Lock-Up Expiration Date or any Early Lock-Up Expiration Date, the Corporation is in a Blackout Period, the actual date of the Lock-Up Expiration Date or such Early Lock-Up Expiration shall be delayed (the “Lock-Up Expiration Extension”) until immediately prior to the opening of trading on the second Trading Day (the “Extension Expiration Date”) following the first date (such first date, the “Extension Expiration Measurement Date”) that (i) the Corporation is no longer in a Blackout Period under its insider trading policy and (ii) the Closing Price on the Extension Expiration Measurement Date is at least greater than the Threshold Price; provided, further, that, in the case of any of an Early Lock-Up Expiration or any Lock-Up Expiration Extension, the Corporation shall announce through a major news service, or on a Form 8-K, the Early Lock-Up Expiration and the Early Lock-Up Expiration Date, or the Lock-Up Expiration Extension and the Extension Expiration Date, as the case may be, at least one full Trading Day prior to the opening of trading on the Early Lock-Up Expiration Date or the Extension Expiration Date, as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event that this Section 7.12(v) conflicts with the foregoing provisions, the Lock-Up Holders will be entitled to the earliest release date for the maximum number of Lock-Up Shares available.

 

(vi) Notwithstanding the other provisions of these bylaws, the provisions of this Section 7.12 shall not be waived, amended, or repealed prior to the Lock-Up Expiration Date without the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office (including the NG Representative (as defined in the Merger Agreement)).

 

(vii) For purposes of this Section 7.12:

 

(a) the term “Blackout Period” means a broadly applicable and regularly scheduled period during which trading in the Corporation’s securities would not be permitted under the Corporation’s insider trading policy;

 

(b) the term “Lock-Up Expiration Date” means the date that is 180 days after (and excluding) the closing date (the “Closing Date”) of the Merger, subject to any Early Lock-Up Expiration Date and/or Lock-Up Expiration Extension;

 

(c) the term “Lock-up Period” means the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending at 8:00 am Eastern Time on the Lock-Up Expiration Date;

 

(d) the term “Lock-up Shares” means (x) the shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock held by the Lock-up Holders immediately following the closing of the Merger (other than shares of common stock acquired in the public market or pursuant to a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to a subscription agreement where the issuance of common stock occurs on or after the closing of the Merger) and the Embark Equity Award Shares; provided, that, for clarity, shares of Class A common stock issued in connection with the FPA Investment or PIPE Investment (each as defined in the Merger Agreement) shall not constitute Lock-up Shares; and (y) any securities of the Corporation that are issued in respect of or upon any conversion, exercise, or exchange of, any Lock-Up Shares, including as a result of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or other similar change;

 

(e) the term “Permitted Transferees” means, prior to the expiration of the Lock-up Period, (x) any person or entity to whom such Lock-up Holder is permitted to transfer such shares of common stock prior to the expiration of the Lock-up Period pursuant to Section 7.12(ii), or (y) solely with respect to shares of Class B common stock, any Qualified Stockholder (as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation in effect as of immediately following the closing of the Merger);

 

(f) the term “Related Holder” means (i) in the case of a holder that is an entity, any securityholder, partner, member or affiliate (as defined below) of such holder; and (ii) in the case of a holder that is a natural person, (A) any member of such holder’s immediate family, (B) any trust, the beneficiaries of which are such holder, one or more members of such holder’s immediate family, and/or any charitable organization, or the assets of which are deemed for federal income tax purposes to be owned by such holder and/or one or more members of such holder’s immediate family, or (C) any entity that is directly or indirectly controlled by the holder and/or any combination of any of the foregoing; and for purposes of the foregoing, (x) “immediate family” of a specified person means his or her spouse or domestic partner, any parent of such specified person or of his or her spouse or domestic partner, or any lineal descendant of any of the foregoing (including by adoption), (y) “affiliate” of a specified person or entity means any other person or entity that directly, or indirectly through one or more other affiliates, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the specified person or entity, and (z) “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, or as trustee or executor, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee or executor, by contract or otherwise, and, in the case of a fund, includes the power to direct or cause the direction of the investment decisions of such fund, whether through authority as the manager, investment manager, general partner, or otherwise;

 

 

(g) the term “Trading Day” is a day on which the Nasdaq Stock Market (or if not listed thereon, any national securities exchange on which the shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock are then listed) is open for the buying and selling of securities; and

 

(h) the term “Transfer” means (i) to sell, assign, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of legal title to, or file (or participate in the filing of) a registration statement with the SEC (other than the Registration Statement) with respect to, any security, which transaction, offer, contract, or agreement provides for settlement or transfer prior to the date on which the Merger Agreement terminates, or (ii) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i) other than any public filings required by applicable Law (as defined in the Merger Agreement), other than, with respect to shares of Class B common stock, any Permitted Transfer (as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation in effect as of immediately following the closing of the Merger).

 

7.13 Registered Stockholders. 

 

The Corporation:

 

(i)  shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and to vote as such owner; and

 

(ii) shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of another person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

7.14 Waiver of Notice. 

 

Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, a written waiver, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, 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. 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 or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws.

 

 

Article VIII - Notice

 

8.1 Delivery of Notice; Notice by Electronic Transmission. 

 

Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provisions of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these bylaws may be given in writing directed to the stockholder’s mailing address (or by electronic transmission directed to the stockholder’s electronic mail address, as applicable) as it appears on the records of the Corporation and shall be given (1) if mailed, when the notice is deposited in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, (2) if delivered by courier service, the earlier of when the notice is received or left at such stockholder’s address or (3) if given by electronic mail, when directed to such stockholder’s electronic mail address unless the stockholder has notified the Corporation in writing or by electronic transmission of an objection to receiving notice by electronic mail. A notice by electronic mail must include a prominent legend that the communication is an important notice regarding the Corporation.

 

Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice or electronic transmission to the Corporation. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph, the Corporation may give a notice by electronic mail in accordance with the first paragraph of this section without obtaining the consent required by this paragraph.

 

Any notice given pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall be deemed given:

 

(i)

if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice;

 

(ii)

if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and

 

(iii)

if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a notice may not be given by an electronic transmission from and after the time that (1) the Corporation is unable to deliver by such electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Corporation and (2) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice, provided, however, the inadvertent failure to discover such inability shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.

 

An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

 

 

Article IX - Indemnification

 

9.1 Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings other than Those by or in the Right of the Corporation.

 

Subject to Section 9.3, the Corporation shall indemnify any 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 (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful.

 

9.2 Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings by or in the Right of the Corporation.

 

Subject to Section 9.3, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation; except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

9.3 Authorization of Indemnification.

 

Any indemnification under this Article IX (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director or officer is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 9.1 or Section 9.2, as the case may be. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (i) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by a majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (iii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (iv) by the stockholders. Such determination shall be made, with respect to former directors and officers, by any person or persons having the authority to act on the matter on behalf of the Corporation. To the extent, however, that a present or former director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding described above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith, without the necessity of authorization in the specific case.

 

 

9.4 Good Faith Defined.

 

For purposes of any determination under Section 9.3, a person shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, or, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, to have had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful, if such person’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Corporation or another enterprise, or on information supplied to such person by the officers of the Corporation or another enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Corporation or another enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Corporation or another enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Corporation or another enterprise. The provisions of this Section 9.4 shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 9.1 or 9.2, as the case may be.

 

9.5 Indemnification by a Court.

 

Notwithstanding any contrary determination in the specific case under Section 9.3, and notwithstanding the absence of any determination thereunder, any director or officer may apply to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or any other court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware for indemnification to the extent otherwise permissible under Section 9.1 or 9.2. The basis of such indemnification by the Corporation shall be a determination by such court that indemnification of the director or officer is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 9.1 or Section 9.2, as the case may be. Neither a contrary determination in the specific case under Section 9.3 nor the absence of any determination thereunder shall be a defense to such application or create a presumption that the director or officer seeking indemnification has not met any applicable standard of conduct. Notice of any application for indemnification pursuant to this Article IX shall be given to the Corporation promptly upon the filing of such application. If successful, in whole or in part, the director or officer seeking indemnification shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such application.

 

9.6 Expenses Payable in Advance.

 

Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a present or former director or officer in appearing at, participating in or defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding in advance of its final disposition or in connection with a proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article IX shall be paid by the Corporation upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article IX. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by employees and agents of the Corporation or by persons acting at the request of the Corporation as directors, officers, employees or agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Corporation deems appropriate.

 

9.7 Nonexclusivity of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses.

 

The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article IX shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, it being the policy of the Corporation that indemnification of the persons specified in Section 9.1 or 9.2 shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law. The provisions of this Article IX shall not be deemed to preclude the indemnification of any person who is not specified in Section 9.1 or Section 9.2 but whom the Corporation has the power or obligation to indemnify under the provisions of the DGCL, or otherwise.

 

9.8 Insurance.

 

The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was a director or officer of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power or the obligation to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article IX.

 

 

9.9 Certain Definitions.

 

For purposes of this Article IX, 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 or officers, so that any person who is or was a director or officer of such constituent corporation, or is or was a director or officer of such constituent corporation 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 the provisions of this Article IX with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued. The term “another enterprise” as used in this Article IX shall mean any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which such person is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent. For purposes of this Article IX, references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director or officer with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this Article IX.

 

9.10 Survival of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses.

 

The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article IX shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified as provided in this Article IX, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

 

9.11 Limitation on Indemnification.

 

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article IX to the contrary, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification (which shall be governed by Section 9.5), the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any present or former director or officer (or his or her heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives) or advance expenses in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board of the Corporation.

 

9.12 Indemnification of Employees and Agents.

 

The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to employees and agents of the Corporation and to persons serving at the request of the Corporation as directors, officers, employees and agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise similar to those conferred in this Article IX to directors and officers of the Corporation.

 

9.13 Primacy of Indemnification

 

Notwithstanding that a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation (collectively, the “Covered Persons”) may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by other persons (collectively, the “Other Indemnitors”), with respect to the rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance set forth herein, the Corporation: (i) shall be the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to Covered Persons are primary and any obligation of the Other Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by Covered Persons are secondary); and (ii) shall be required to advance the full amount of expenses incurred by Covered Persons and shall be liable for the full amount of all liabilities, without regard to any rights Covered Persons may have against any of the Other Indemnitors. No advancement or payment by the Other Indemnitors on behalf of Covered Persons with respect to any claim for which Covered Persons have sought indemnification from the Corporation shall affect the immediately preceding sentence, and the Other Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution and/or be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of Covered Persons against the Corporation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the obligations of the Corporation under this Section 9.13 shall only apply to Covered Persons in their capacity as Covered Persons.

 

9.14 Amendments. Any repeal or amendment of this Article IX by the Board or the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in applicable law, or the adoption of any other provision of these bylaws inconsistent with this Article IX, will, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in applicable law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights to indemnitees on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.

 

 

Article X - Amendments

 

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Board is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation. The stockholders also shall have power to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however, that such action by stockholders shall require, in addition to any other vote required by the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law (including any Certificate of Designation(s) in respect of one or more series of Preferred Stock), at any time (i) prior to the Trigger Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of each class of Common Stock (each voting separately as a class), (ii) after the Trigger Date and until the Sunset Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in an election of directors, and (iii) after the Sunset Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (66 2/3%) of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation with the power to vote generally in an election of directors, voting together as a single class.

 

Article XI - Definitions

 

As used in these bylaws, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

An “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, including the use of, or participation in, one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks or databases), that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

 

An “electronic mail” means an electronic transmission directed to a unique electronic mail address (which electronic mail shall be deemed to include any files attached thereto and any information hyperlinked to a website if such electronic mail includes the contact information of an officer or agent of the Corporation who is available to assist with accessing such files and information).

 

An “electronic mail address” means a destination, commonly expressed as a string of characters, consisting of a unique user name or mailbox (commonly referred to as the “local part” of the address) and a reference to an internet domain (commonly referred to as the “domain part” of the address), whether or not displayed, to which electronic mail can be sent or delivered.

 

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

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

 

 

Exhibit C

 

FORM OF

AMENDED AND RESTATED

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of [ ● ], 2021, is made and entered into by and among Embark Technology, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) (formerly known as Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II), a Delaware corporation, Northern Genesis Sponsor II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor” and, together with its Permitted Transferees, the “Sponsor Holders”), certain former stockholders of Embark Trucks Inc. (“Embark”) identified on the signature pages hereto, including the Founders (as defined below) (such stockholders, together with their respective Permitted Transferees, the “Embark Holders” and, collectively with the Sponsor Holders, and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.10 of this Agreement, the “Holders” and each, a “Holder”), and solely for purposes of Section 5.12 hereof, Northern Genesis Sponsor II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“NG Capital”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company, the Sponsor and NG Capital are party to that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of January 12, 2021 (the “Original RRA”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company has entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 22, 2021 (as amended or supplemented from time to time prior to the date hereof, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company, NGAB Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and Embark;

 

WHEREAS, on the date hereof, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Embark Holders received shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (collectively, the “Common Stock”);

 

WHEREAS, on the date hereof, certain other investors (such other investors, collectively, the “Third Party Investor Stockholders”) purchased an aggregate of [ ● ] shares of Common Stock and [ ● ] warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock (collectively, the “Investor Securities”) in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act pursuant to an Amended and Restated Forward Purchase Agreement between the Company and such Third Party Investor Stockholder (including by joinder thereto), dated as of April 21, 2021 (each, a “Forward Purchase Agreement”), and/or the respective Subscription Agreement, each dated as of June 22, 2021, entered into by and between the Company and such Third Party Investor Stockholder (each of the foregoing, including such Forward Purchase Agreements, a “Subscription Agreement” and, collectively, the “Subscription Agreements”);

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 6.6 of the Original RRA any amendment to the Original RRA is effective as to the Parties thereto only to the extent executed in writing by such Parties and each party to the Original RRA is a party to this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Sponsor desire to amend and restate the Original RRA in its entirety and enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which the Company shall grant the Holders certain registration rights with respect to the Registrable Securities (as defined below) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and NG Capital desires to consent to the foregoing and to be removed as a party hereto.

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

Article I
DEFINITIONS

 

1.1 Definitions. The terms defined in this Article I shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:

 

“Additional Holder” shall have the meaning given in Section 5.10.

 

“Additional Holder Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in Section 5.10.

 

“Adverse Disclosure” shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, after consultation with counsel to the Company, in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of the Company (i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any Prospectus and any preliminary Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (ii) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, declared effective or used, as the case may be, and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.

 

“Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.

 

“Block Trade” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.4.1.

 

“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

“Bylaws” shall mean the bylaws of the Company, as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time.

 

“Closing” shall have the meaning given in the Merger Agreement.

 

“Closing Date” shall have the meaning given in the Merger Agreement.

 

“Commission” shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

 

“Company” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto and includes the Company’s successors by recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization or similar transaction.

 

“Demanding Holders” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.4.

 

“Embark Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.

 

“Exchange Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

“Form S-1 Shelf” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.1.

 

“Form S-3 Shelf” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.1.

 

“Founders” shall mean Alex Rodrigues and Brandon Moak and any Permitted Trust (as defined in the Acquiror Second A&R Charter) of either Person.

 

“Holder Information” shall have the meaning given in Section 4.1.2.

 

“Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto, for so long as such person or entity holds any Registrable Securities.

 

“Investor Securities” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Joinder” shall have the meaning given in Section 5.10.

 

“Lock-up Period” shall mean (a) with respect to the Sponsor Holders, the Lock-up Period as defined in that certain Sponsor Support Agreement, dated as of June 22, 2021, by and among the Company, the Sponsor and the other parties thereto (the “Sponsor Support Agreement”), and (b) with respect to the Embark Holders, the Lock-up Period as defined in the Bylaws.

 

“Maximum Number of Securities” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.5.

 

“Merger Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Minimum Takedown Threshold” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.4.

 

“Misstatement” shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus (in the case of a Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.

 

“Original RRA” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Other Coordinated Offering” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.4.1.

 

 

“Permitted Transferees” shall mean (a) with respect to the Sponsor and its respective Permitted Transferees, (i) prior to the expiration of the Lock-up Period, any person or entity to whom such Holder is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities prior to the expiration of the Lock-up Period pursuant Section 1.8(b) of the Sponsor Support Agreement and (ii) after the expiration of the Lock-up Period, any person or entity, except to the extent that any applicable agreement between such Holder and the Company prohibits such transfer; (b) with respect to the Embark Holders and their respective Permitted Transferees, (i) prior to the expiration of the Lock-up Period, any person or entity to whom such Holder is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities prior to the expiration of the Lock-up Period pursuant to Section 7.12 of the Bylaws of the Company and (ii) after the expiration of the Lock-up Period, any person or entity, except to the extent that any applicable agreement between such Holder and the Company prohibits such transfer; and (d) with respect to all other Holders and their respective Permitted Transferees, any person or entity, except to the extent that any applicable agreement between such Holder and the Company prohibits such transfer.

 

“Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.2.1.

 

“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all materials incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

 

“Registrable Security” shall mean (a) any outstanding shares of Common Stock or any other equity security (including warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock, and shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such warrant or other equity security) of the Company held by a Holder immediately following the Closing; (b) any outstanding shares of Common Stock or any other equity security (including warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock and shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such warrant or other equity security) of the Company acquired by a Holder following the date hereof to the extent that such securities are “restricted securities” (as defined in Rule 144) or are otherwise held by an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company; (c) any Additional Holder Common Stock; and (d) any other equity security of the Company or any of its subsidiaries issued or issuable with respect to any securities referenced in clause (a), (b) or (c) above by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization or similar transaction; provided, however, that, as to any particular Registrable Security, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities upon the earliest to occur of: (A) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement by the applicable Holder; (B) (i) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, (ii) new certificates for such securities not bearing (or book entry positions not subject to) a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company or (iii) subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (C) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (D) such securities may be sold without registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(1) of the Securities Act or Rule 144 or Rule 145 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission) (but with no volume or other restrictions or limitations including as to manner or timing of sale); and (E) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction.

 

“Registration” shall mean a registration, including any related Shelf Takedown, effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement, Prospectus or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such Registration Statement becoming effective.

 

 

“Registration Expenses” shall mean the documented out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:

 

(A) all registration and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. and any national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed);

 

(B) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of outside counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);

 

(C) printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;

 

(D) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;

 

(E) reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration; and

 

(F) in an Underwritten Offering or Other Coordinated Offering, reasonable and documented fees and expenses not to exceed $30,000 in the aggregate for each Registration of one (1) legal counsel selected by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders with the approval of the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

“Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement that covers Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement, and all exhibits to and all materials incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

 

“Securities Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

“Shelf” shall mean the Form S-1 Shelf, the Form S-3 Shelf or any Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be.

 

“Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration of securities pursuant to a registration statement filed with the Commission in accordance with and pursuant to Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule then in effect).

 

“Shelf Takedown” shall mean an Underwritten Shelf Takedown or any proposed transfer or sale using a Registration Statement, including a Piggyback Registration.

 

“Sponsor” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.

 

“Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.2.

 

 

“Transfer” shall mean the (a) sale or assignment of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to, any security, (b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b).

 

“Underwriter” shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.

 

“Underwritten Offering” shall mean a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.

 

“Underwritten Shelf Takedown” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.4.

 

“Withdrawal Notice” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.6.

 

Article II
REGISTRATIONS and Offerings

 

2.1 Shelf Registration.

 

2.1.1 Filing. Within thirty (30) calendar days following the Closing Date, the Company shall submit to or file with the Commission a Registration Statement for a Shelf Registration on Form S-1 (the “Form S-1 Shelf”) or a Registration Statement for a Shelf Registration on Form S-3 (the “Form S-3 Shelf”), if the Company is then eligible to use a Form S-3 Shelf, in each case, covering the resale of all the Registrable Securities (determined as of two (2) business days prior to such submission or filing) on a delayed or continuous basis and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such Shelf declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, but no later than the earlier of (a) the ninetieth (90th) calendar day following the filing date thereof if the Commission notifies the Company that it will “review” the Registration Statement and (b) the tenth (10th) business day after the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that the Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review. Such Shelf shall provide for the resale of the Registrable Securities included therein pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder named therein. The Company shall maintain a Shelf in accordance with the terms hereof, and shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements as may be necessary to keep a Shelf continuously effective, available for use to permit the Holders named therein to sell their Registrable Securities included therein and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities. In the event the Company files a Form S-1 Shelf, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to convert the Form S-1 Shelf (and any Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement) to a Form S-3 Shelf as soon as practicable after the Company is eligible to use Form S-3. The Company’s obligation under this Section 2.1.1, shall, for the avoidance of doubt, be subject to Section 3.4.

 

 

2.1.2 Subsequent Shelf Registration. If any Shelf ceases to be effective under the Securities Act for any reason at any time while Registrable Securities are still outstanding, the Company shall, subject to Section 3.4, use its commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable cause such Shelf to again become effective under the Securities Act (including using its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf), and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable amend such Shelf in a manner reasonably expected to result in the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf or file an additional registration statement as a Shelf Registration (a “Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement”) registering the resale of all Registrable Securities (determined as of two (2) business days prior to such filing), and pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder named therein. If a Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement is filed, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cause such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably practicable after the filing thereof (it being agreed that the Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement shall be an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) if the Company is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) at the most recent applicable eligibility determination date) and (ii) keep such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, available for use to permit the Holders named therein to sell their Registrable Securities included therein and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities. Any such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 to the extent that the Company is eligible to use such form. Otherwise, such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement shall be on another appropriate form. The Company’s obligation under this Section 2.1.2, shall, for the avoidance of doubt, be subject to Section 3.4.

 

2.1.3 Additional Registrable Securities. Subject to Section 3.4, in the event that any Holder holds Registrable Securities that are not registered for resale on a delayed or continuous basis, the Company, upon written request of a Sponsor Holder or an Embark Holder, shall promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the resale of such Registrable Securities to be covered by either, at the Company’s option, any then available Shelf (including by means of a post-effective amendment) or by filing a Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement and cause the same to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and such Shelf or Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement shall be subject to the terms hereof; provided, however, that the Company shall only be required to cause such Registrable Securities to be so covered (i) twice per calendar year for the Sponsor Holders, collectively, and (ii) twice per calendar year for the Embark Holders, collectively.

 

 

2.1.4 Requests for Underwritten Shelf Takedowns. Subject to Section 3.4, following the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, at any time and from time to time when an effective Shelf is on file with the Commission, any one or more Holders (each, a “Demanding Holder”) may request to sell all or any portion of its Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering that is registered pursuant to the Shelf (each, an “Underwritten Shelf Takedown”); provided that the Company shall only be obligated to effect an Underwritten Shelf Takedown if such offering shall include Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by the Demanding Holder, either individually or together with other Demanding Holders, with an anticipated aggregate offering price, net of underwriting discounts and commissions, of at least $100 million (the “Minimum Takedown Threshold”). All requests for Underwritten Shelf Takedowns shall be made by giving written notice to the Company, which shall specify the approximate number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown. Subject to Section 2.4.4, the Company shall have the right to select the Underwriters for such offering (which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks), subject to the initial Demanding Holder’s prior approval (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). The Sponsor Holders, collectively, may demand not more than two (2) Underwritten Shelf Takedowns and the Embark Holders, collectively, may demand not more than three (3) Underwritten Shelf Takedowns, in each case, pursuant to this Section 2.1.4 in any twelve (12) month period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company may effect any Underwritten Offering pursuant to any then effective Registration Statement, including a Form S-3, that is then available for such offering.

 

2.1.5 Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the underwriter in an Underwritten Shelf Takedown advises the Demanding Holders in writing that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be underwritten, then the Demanding Holders shall so advise all Holders of Registrable Securities that would otherwise be underwritten pursuant hereto, and the number of shares of Registrable Securities that may be included in the underwriting (such maximum number of such securities, the “Maximum Number of Securities”) shall be allocated among all participating Holders thereof, including the Demanding Holders, in proportion (as nearly as practicable) to the amount of Registrable Securities of the Company owned by each participating Holder; provided, however, that the number of shares of Registrable Securities to be included in such underwriting shall not be reduced unless all other securities are first entirely excluded from the underwriting.

 

2.1.6 Withdrawal. Prior to the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used for marketing such Underwritten Shelf Takedown, a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating an Underwritten Shelf Takedown shall have the right to withdraw from such Underwritten Shelf Takedown for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification (a “Withdrawal Notice”) to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Underwritten Shelf Takedown; provided that one or more remaining participating Holders may elect to have the Company continue an Underwritten Shelf Takedown if the Minimum Takedown Threshold would still be satisfied by the Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown by such participating Holders, as applicable. If withdrawn, a demand for an Underwritten Shelf Takedown shall constitute a demand for an Underwritten Shelf Takedown by the withdrawing Demanding Holder for purposes of Section 2.1.4, unless either (i) such Demanding Holder has not previously withdrawn any Underwritten Shelf Takedown or (ii) such Demanding Holder reimburses the Company for all Registration Expenses with respect to such Underwritten Shelf Takedown (or, if there is more than one Demanding Holder, a pro rata portion of such Registration Expenses based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown); provided that, if one or more participating Holders elect to continue an Underwritten Shelf Takedown pursuant to the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence, such Underwritten Shelf Takedown shall instead count as an Underwritten Shelf Takedown demanded by such participating Holders for purposes of Section 2.1.4. Following the receipt of any Withdrawal Notice, the Company shall promptly forward such Withdrawal Notice to any other Holders that had elected to participate in such Shelf Takedown. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Shelf Takedown prior to its withdrawal under this Section 2.1.6, other than if a Demanding Holder elects to pay such Registration Expenses pursuant to clause (ii) of the second sentence of this Section 2.1.6.

 

 

2.2 Piggyback Registration.

 

2.2.1 Piggyback Rights. Subject to Section 2.4.3 and the terms of any lock-up contained in the Sponsor Support Agreement and/or the Bylaws, if the Company or any Holder proposes to conduct a registered offering of, or if the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Registration of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of security holders of the Company (or by the Company and by any security holders of the Company including, without limitation, an Underwritten Shelf Takedown pursuant to Section 2.1), other than a Registration Statement (or any registered offering with respect thereto) (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing security holders, (iii) pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (or similar form that relates to a transaction subject to Rule 145 under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto), (iv) for an offering of debt (other than warrants) that is convertible into equity securities of the Company, (v) for a dividend reinvestment plan or (vi) filed to register equity securities issued in connection with the Subscription Agreements, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed offering to all of the Applicable Holders as soon as practicable but not less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement or, in the case of an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration, the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used for marketing such offering, which notice shall (A) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, in such offering, and (B) offer to all of the Applicable Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to include in such registered offering such number of Registrable Securities as such Applicable Holders may request in writing within five (5) days after receipt of such written notice (such registered offering, a “Piggyback Registration”). As used herein, “Applicable Holder” means any Holder of Registrable Securities that are not subject to an applicable Lock-up Period as of the effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement or, in the case of an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration, the final prospectus or prospectus supplement for such offering. Subject to Section 2.2.2, the Company shall cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and, if applicable, shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of such Piggyback Registration to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Applicable Holders pursuant to this Section 2.2.1 to be included therein on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such registered offering and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. The inclusion of any Holder’s Registrable Securities in a Piggyback Registration shall be subject to such Holder agreement to enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company.

 

 

2.2.2 Reduction of Piggyback Registration. If the total amount of securities, including Registrable Securities, requested by holders of Registrable Securities to be included in such offering exceeds the amount of securities sold other than by the Company that the underwriters determine in their sole discretion is compatible with the success of the offering, then the Company shall be required to include in the offering only that number of such securities, including Registrable Securities, which the underwriters determine in their sole discretion will not jeopardize the success of the offering (the securities so included to be apportioned pro rata among the selling security holders according to the total amount of securities entitled to be included therein owned by each selling security holder or in such other proportions as shall mutually be agreed to by such selling security holders). For purposes of the preceding parenthetical concerning apportionment, for any selling security holder which is a holder of Registrable Securities and which is a partnership or corporation, the partners, retired partners and holders of capital stock of such holder, or the estates and family members of any such partners and retired partners and any trusts for the benefit of any of the foregoing persons shall be deemed to be a single “selling security holder,” and any pro-rata reduction with respect to such “selling security holder” shall be based upon the aggregate amount of shares carrying registration rights owned by all entities and individuals included in such “selling security holder,” as defined in this sentence.

 

2.2.3 Piggyback Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities (other than a Demanding Holder, whose right to withdraw from an Underwritten Shelf Takedown, and related obligations, shall be governed by Section 2.1.6) shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggyback Registration or, in the case of a Piggyback Registration pursuant to a Shelf Registration, the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement with respect to such Piggyback Registration used for marketing such transaction. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons or entities pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration (which, in no circumstance, shall include a Shelf) at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement (other than Section 2.1.6), the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this Section 2.2.3.

 

2.2.4 Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, subject to Section 2.1.6, any Piggyback Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall not be counted as a demand for an Underwritten Shelf Takedown under Section 2.1.4 hereof.

 

2.3 Market Stand-off. In connection with any Underwritten Offering of equity securities of the Company (other than a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering), if requested by the managing Underwriters, each Holder that is an executive officer, director or Holder in excess of five percent (5%) of the outstanding Common Stock (and for which it is customary for such a Holder to agree to a lock-up) agrees that it shall not Transfer any shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company (other than those included in such offering pursuant to this Agreement), without the prior written consent of the Company, during the ninety (90)-day period (or such shorter time agreed to by the managing Underwriters) beginning on the date of pricing of such offering, except to a Related Holder (as defined in Section 7.12 of the Bylaws) or as expressly otherwise permitted by such lock-up agreement or in the event the managing Underwriters otherwise agree by written consent. Each such Holder agrees to execute a customary lock-up agreement in favor of the Underwriters to such effect (in each case on substantially the same terms and conditions as all such Holders).

 

 

2.4 Block Trades; Other Coordinated Offerings.

 

2.4.1 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article II, but subject to Section 3.4, at any time and from time to time when an effective Shelf is on file with the Commission, if a Demanding Holder wishes to engage in (a) an underwritten block trade or similar transaction or other transaction with a two (2)-day or less marketing period (a “Block Trade”) or (b) an “at the market” or similar registered offering through a broker, sales agent or distribution agent, whether as agent or principal, (an “Other Coordinated Offering”), in each case, with an anticipated aggregate offering price of, either (x) at least $50 million or (y) all remaining Registrable Securities held by the Demanding Holder, then such Demanding Holder only needs to notify the Company of the Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering at least five (5) business days prior to the day such offering is to commence and the Company shall as expeditiously as possible use its commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering; provided that the Demanding Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering shall use commercially reasonable efforts to work with the Company and any Underwriters, brokers, sales agents or placement agents prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of the registration statement, prospectus and other offering documentation related to the Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering.

 

2.4.2 Prior to the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used in connection with a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering, a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering shall have the right to submit a Withdrawal Notice to the Company, the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) and any brokers, sale agents or placement agents (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering prior to its withdrawal under this Section 2.4.2.

 

2.4.3 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Section 2.2 shall not apply to a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering initiated by a Demanding Holder pursuant to this Agreement.

 

2.4.4 The Demanding Holder in a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering shall have the right to select the Underwriters and any brokers, sale agents or placement agents (if any) for such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering (in each case, which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks).

 

2.4.5 A Holder in the aggregate may demand no more than two (2) Block Trades or Other Coordinated Offerings pursuant to this Section 2.4 in any twelve (12) month period. For the avoidance of doubt, any Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering effected pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall not be counted as a demand for an Underwritten Shelf Takedown pursuant to Section 2.1.4 hereof.

 

 

Article III
COMPANY PROCEDURES

 

3.1 General Procedures. In connection with any Shelf and/or Shelf Takedown, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof (and including all manners of distribution in such Registration Statement as Holders may reasonably request in connection with the filing of such Registration Statement and as permitted by law, including distribution of Registrable Securities to a Holder’s members, securityholders or partners), and pursuant thereto the Company shall:

 

3.1.1 prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have ceased to be Registrable Securities;

 

3.1.2 prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be reasonably requested by any Holder that holds at least five percent (5%) of the Registrable Securities registered on such Registration Statement (including warrants on an as-exercised basis) or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;

 

3.1.3 prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration, and such Holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal counsel for any such Holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders;

 

3.1.4 prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as any Holder of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may reasonably request (or provide evidence that the Registrable Securities are exempt from such registration or qualification) and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;

 

 

3.1.5 take all actions necessary to cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each national securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;

 

3.1.6 provide a transfer agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

 

3.1.7 advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;

 

3.1.8 at least five (5) days prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus (or such shorter period of time as may be (a) necessary in order to comply with the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act or Exchange Act, as applicable or (b) advisable in order to reduce the number of days that sales are suspended pursuant to Section 3.4), furnish a copy thereof to each seller of such Registrable Securities or its counsel (excluding any exhibits thereto and any filing made under the Exchange Act that is to be incorporated by reference therein);

 

3.1.9 notify the Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4;

 

3.1.10 in the event of an Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade, an Other Coordinated Offering or sale by a broker, placement agent or sales agent pursuant to such Registration, permit a representative of the Holders, the Underwriters or other financial institutions facilitating such Underwritten Offering, Block Trade, Other Coordinated Offering or other sale pursuant to such Registration, if any, and any attorney, consultant or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such person’s or entity’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, financial institution, attorney, consultant or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however, that such representatives, Underwriters or financial institutions agree to confidentiality arrangements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information;

 

 

3.1.11 obtain a “cold comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade, an Other Coordinated Offering or sale by a broker, placement agent or sales agent pursuant to such Registration (subject to such broker, placement agent or sales agent providing such certification or representation reasonably requested by the Company’s independent registered public accountants and the Company’s counsel) in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders;

 

3.1.12 in the event of an Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade, an Other Coordinated Offering or sale by a broker, placement agent or sales agent pursuant to such Registration, on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the participating Holders, the broker, placement agents or sales agent, if any and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the participating Holders, broker, placement agent, sales agent or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters;

 

3.1.13 in the event of any Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade, an Other Coordinated Offering or sale by a broker, placement agent or sales agent pursuant to such Registration, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting or other purchase or sales agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter or the broker, placement agent or sales agent of such offering or sale;

 

3.1.14 make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule then in effect), and which requirement will be deemed to be satisfied if the Company timely files the information required by Forms 10-Q, 10-K and 8-K under the Exchange Act and otherwise complies with Rule 158 under the Securities Act;

 

3.1.15 with respect to an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.1.4, use its commercially reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in such Underwritten Offering; and

 

3.1.16 otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the participating Holders, consistent with the terms of this Agreement, in connection with such Registration.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to provide any documents or information to an Underwriter or broker, sales agent or placement agent if such Underwriter or broker, sales agent or placement agent has not then been named with respect to the applicable Underwritten Offering or other offering involving a registration as an Underwriter or broker, sales agent or placement agent, as applicable.

 

 

3.2 Registration Expenses. The Registration Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders that the Holders shall bear all incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ commissions and discounts, brokerage fees, Underwriter marketing costs and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” all fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders.

 

3.3 Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any Holder does not timely provide the Company with its requested Holder Information, the Company may exclude such Holder’s Registrable Securities from the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus if the Company determines, based on the advice of counsel, that such information is necessary to effect the registration and such Holder continues thereafter to withhold such information. No person or entity party to this Agreement may participate in any Underwritten Offering or other offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person or entity (i) agrees to sell such person’s or entity’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting, sales, distribution or placement arrangements approved by the Company and (ii) timely completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting or other agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting, sales, distribution or placement arrangements. The exclusion of a Holder’s Registrable Securities as a result of this Section 3.3 shall not affect the registration of the other Registrable Securities to be included in such Registration.

 

3.4 Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure; Restrictions on Registration Rights.

 

3.4.1 Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until he, she or it has received copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until he, she or it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed.

 

3.4.2 If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of any Registration at any time would (a) require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure or (b) require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control, the Company shall have the right, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders (which notice shall not specify the nature of the event giving rise to such delay or suspension), delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time determined in good faith by the Company to be necessary for such purpose; provided, however, that the Company may not delay or suspend the Registration Statement on more than three occasions or for more than ninety (90) consecutive calendar days, or more than ninety (90) total calendar days, in each case during any twelve-month period. In the event the Company exercises its rights under this Section 3.4.2, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities until such Holder receives written notice from the Company that such sales or offers of Registrable Securities may be resumed, and in each case maintain the confidentiality of such notice and its contents.

 

 

3.4.3 During the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending on a date ninety (90) days after the effective date of, a Company-initiated Registration and provided that the Company continues to actively employ, in good faith, all commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the applicable Shelf Registration Statement, or (b) if, pursuant to Section 2.1.4, Holders have requested an Underwritten Shelf Takedown and the Company and Holders are unable to obtain the commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite such offering, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay any other registered offering pursuant to Section 2.1.4 or 2.4 for not more than ninety (90) consecutive calendar days or more than one hundred twenty (120) total calendar days in each case during any twelve (12)-month period.

 

3.5 Reporting Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to use commercially reasonable efforts to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and to promptly furnish the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings; provided that any documents publicly filed or furnished with the Commission pursuant to the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System shall be deemed to have been furnished or delivered to the Holders pursuant to this Section 3.5. The Company further covenants that it shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Registrable Securities held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule then in effect). Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

 

Article IV
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION

 

4.1 Indemnification.

 

4.1.1 The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers, directors and agents and each person or entity who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act), against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable outside attorneys’ fees) caused by, resulting from, arising out of or based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in or incorporated by reference in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein. The Company shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers and directors and each person or entity who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to the indemnification of the Holder, subject to customary exclusions.

 

 

4.1.2 In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish (or cause to be furnished) to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (the “Holder Information”) and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its directors, officers and agents and each person or entity who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable outside attorneys’ fees) caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in or incorporated by reference in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement is contained in (or not contained in, in the case of an omission) any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Holder expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders of Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder of Registrable Securities shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. The Holders of Registrable Securities shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers, directors and each person or entity who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.

 

4.1.3 Any person or entity entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s or entity’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement includes a statement or admission of fault and culpability on the part of such indemnified party or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

 

 

4.1.4 The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person or entity of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities. The Company and each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party for contribution to such party in the event the Company’s or such Holder’s indemnification is unavailable for any reason.

 

4.1.5 If the indemnification provided under Section 4.1 from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and out-of-pocket expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and out-of-pocket expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by (or not made by, in the case of an omission), or relates to information supplied by (or not supplied by in the case of an omission), such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of any Holder under this Section 4.1.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 4.1.1, 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 above, any legal or other fees, charges or out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4.1.5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 4.1.5. No person or entity guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this Section 4.1.5 from any person or entity who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

Article V
MISCELLANEOUS

 

5.1 Notices. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be in writing and given by (i) deposit in the United States mail, addressed to the party to be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (ii) delivery in person or by courier service providing evidence of delivery, or (iii) transmission by hand delivery, electronic mail or facsimile. Each notice or communication that is mailed, delivered, or transmitted in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given, served, sent, and received, in the case of mailed notices, on the third business day following the date on which it is mailed and, in the case of notices delivered by courier service, hand delivery, electronic mail or facsimile, at such time as it is delivered to the addressee (with the delivery receipt of the intended recipient or the affidavit of messenger) or at such time as delivery is refused by the addressee upon presentation. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be addressed, if to the Company, to: [ ● ], [ ● ], Attention: [ ● ], Email: [ ● ], and, if to any Holder, at such Holder’s address, electronic mail address or facsimile number as set forth in the Company’s books and records. Any party may change its address for notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other parties hereto, and such change of address shall become effective ten (10) days after delivery of such notice as provided in this Section 5.1.

 

 

5.2 Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries.

 

5.2.1 This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part.

 

5.2.2 Subject to Section 5.2.4 and Section 5.2.5, this Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of a Holder hereunder may be assigned in whole or in part to such Holder’s Permitted Transferees; provided, that, with respect to the Embark Holders and the Founders, the rights hereunder that are personal to such Holders may not be assigned or delegated in whole or in part, except that (x) each of the Embark Holders (other than the Founders) shall be permitted to transfer its rights hereunder as the Embark Holders to one or more affiliates or any direct or indirect partners, members or equity holders of such Embark Holder (it being understood that no such transfer shall reduce any rights of such Embark Holder or such transferees) and (y) each Founder may transfer, in his sole discretion, all or any portion of his rights under this Agreement to any Permitted Transferee of such Founder.

 

5.2.3 This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors and the permitted assigns of the Holders, which shall include Permitted Transferees.

 

5.2.4 This Agreement shall not confer any rights or benefits on any persons or entities that are not parties hereto, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement and Section 5.2.

 

5.2.5 No assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the Company shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 5.1 hereof and (ii) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 5.2 shall be null and void.

 

5.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts (including facsimile or PDF counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same instrument, but only one of which need be produced.

 

 

5.4 Governing Law; Venue. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT (1) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND (2) THE VENUE FOR ANY ACTION TAKEN WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE EXCLUSIVELY IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, NEW YORK COUNTY, AND ANY STATE APPELLATE COURT THEREFROM WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, NEW YORK COUNTY, OR IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK.

 

5.5 TRIAL BY JURY. EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT TO ANY ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.

 

5.6 Amendments and Modifications. Upon the written consent of (a) the Company and (b) the Holders of at least a majority on the basis of voting power of the then outstanding Registrable Securities (including warrants on an as-exercised basis), compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof shall also require the written consent of the Sponsor so long as the Sponsor and its affiliates hold, in the aggregate, at least fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company owned by the Sponsor and its affiliates as of the Closing; provided, further, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof shall also require the written consent of each Embark Holder, so long as such Embark Holder and its affiliates hold, in the aggregate, at least five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company owned by such Holder and its affiliates as of the Closing; and provided, further, that any amendment or supplement hereto or waiver hereof that affects any Holder, solely in its capacity as a holder of securities of the Company, in a manner that is adverse as compared to and materially different from other Holders (in such capacity) shall require the consent of the Holder(s) so adversely affected. No course of dealing between any Holder or the Company and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or the Company. No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party.

 

 

5.7 Other Registration Rights. Other than (i) the Third Party Investor Stockholders who have registration rights with respect to their Investor Securities (and shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants constituting Investor Securities) pursuant to their respective Subscription Agreements and (ii) as provided in the Warrant Agreement, dated as of January 12, 2021, between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the Company represents and warrants that no person or entity, other than a Holder of Registrable Securities, has any right to require the Company to register any securities of the Company for sale or to include such securities of the Company in any Registration Statement filed by the Company for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other person or entity. For so long as any Holder, together with its affiliates, holds, in the aggregate, at least five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, the Company hereby agrees and covenants that it will not grant rights to register any Common Stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock) pursuant to the Securities Act that are more favorable, pari passu or senior to those granted to the Holders hereunder, without the prior written consent of such Holder (such rights “Competing Registration Rights”). Further, the Company represents and warrants that, except as provided in the first sentence of this Section 5.7, this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions, and in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.

 

5.8 Term. This Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (a) the fifth anniversary of the date of this Agreement or (b) with respect to any Holder, on the date that such Holder no longer holds any Registrable Securities. The provisions of Section 3.5 and Article IV shall survive any termination.

 

5.9 Holder Information. Each Holder agrees, if requested in writing, to represent to the Company the total number of Registrable Securities held by such Holder in order for the Company to make determinations hereunder.

 

5.10 Additional Holders; Joinder. In addition to persons or entities who may become Holders pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof, subject to the prior written consent of each Holder that, together with its affiliates, then holds, in the aggregate, at least five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, the Company may make any person or entity who acquires Common Stock or rights to acquire Common Stock after the date hereof a party to this Agreement (each such person or entity, an “Additional Holder”) by obtaining an executed joinder to this Agreement from such Additional Holder in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (a “Joinder”). Such Joinder shall specify the rights and obligations of the applicable Additional Holder under this Agreement; provided that any rights granted to any such Additional Holder to demand Underwritten Shelf Takedowns shall be separate from and in addition to the rights of the Sponsor Holders and Embark Holders under Section 2.1.4. Upon the execution and delivery and subject to the terms of a Joinder by such Additional Holder, the Common Stock of the Company then owned, or underlying any rights then owned, by such Additional Holder (the “Additional Holder Common Stock”) shall be Registrable Securities to the extent provided herein and therein and such Additional Holder shall be a Holder under this Agreement with respect to such Additional Holder Common Stock.

 

5.11 Severability. It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, if any particular provision of this Agreement shall be adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any reason, such provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

 

5.12 Removal of NG Capital. NG Capital hereby acknowledges and agrees that (a) NG Capital was a party to the Original RRA solely as a representative of certain Persons who had the right to subsequently elect to purchase certain shares of Common Stock and warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock, pursuant to (and by execution of a joinder to) that certain Amended and Restated Forward Purchase Agreement between the Company and NG Capital, dated as of April 21, 2021; (b) each of the Persons that made such an election has on the date hereof, as a Third Party Investor Stockholder, directly purchased such shares of Common Stock and warrants, as Investor Securities, pursuant to such Forward Purchase Agreement and has been directly granted registration rights pursuant hereto with respect to its Investor Securities (and shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants constituting Investor Securities); (c) NG Capital hereby consents to the amendment and restatement of the Original RRA effectuated by this Agreement; and (d) NG Capital and the Company hereby agree agrees that, except for this Section 5.12 (which, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, is for the express benefit of the Company and NG Capital and cannot be amended without the prior written consent of each), NG Capital shall not be deemed to be a party to this Agreement and shall have no rights or obligations under the Original RRA or this Agreement.

 

5.13 Entire Agreement; Restatement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire agreement and understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to such subject matter, including the Original RRA, which hereafter shall no longer be of any force or effect.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.

 

	COMPANY:
	[ ● ]
	a Delaware corporation
	By:
	Name:
	Title:

 

	HOLDERS:
	[ ● ]
	By:
	Name:
	Title:

 

	By:
	Name:
	Title:

 

	[ ● ]
	By:
	Name:
	Title:

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

Exhibit A

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT JOINDER

 

The undersigned is executing and delivering this joinder (this “Joinder”) pursuant to the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of [•], 2021 (as the same may hereafter be amended, the “Registration Rights Agreement”), among [______], a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the other persons or entities named as parties therein. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings provided in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

By executing and delivering this Joinder to the Company, and upon acceptance hereof by the Company upon the execution of a counterpart hereof, the undersigned hereby agrees to become a party to, to be bound by, and to comply with the Registration Rights Agreement as a Holder of Registrable Securities in the same manner as if the undersigned were an original signatory to the Registration Rights Agreement, and the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock shall be included as Registrable Securities under the Registration Rights Agreement to the extent provided therein; provided, however, that the undersigned and its permitted assigns (if any) shall not have any rights as Holders, and the undersigned’s (and its transferees’) shares of Common Stock shall not be included as Registrable Securities, for purposes of the Excluded Sections.

 

For purposes of this Joinder, “Excluded Sections” shall mean [_].

 

Accordingly, the undersigned has executed and delivered this Joinder as of the __________ day of __________, 20__.

 

	Signature of Stockholder
	Print Name of Stockholder
	Its:
	Address:

 

Agreed and Accepted as of

 

____________, 20__
[________]
By:
Name:
Its:

 

 

 

Exhibit D

 

EMBARK TECHNOLOGY, INC.
2021 INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN 

 

ARTICLE I.
Purpose

 

The Plan’s purpose is to enhance the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate persons who make (or are expected to make) important contributions to the Company by providing these individuals with equity ownership opportunities. Capitalized terms used in the Plan are defined in Article .

 

ARTICLE II.
Eligibility

 

Service Providers are eligible to be granted Awards under the Plan, subject to the limitations described herein.

 

ARTICLE III.
Administration and Delegation

 

3.1 Administration. The Plan is administered by the Administrator. The Administrator has authority to determine which Service Providers receive Awards, grant Awards and set Award terms and conditions, subject to the conditions and limitations in the Plan. The Administrator also has the authority to take all actions and make all determinations under the Plan, to interpret the Plan and Award Agreements and to adopt, amend and repeal Plan administrative rules, guidelines and practices as it deems advisable. The Administrator may correct defects and ambiguities, supply omissions and reconcile inconsistencies in the Plan or any Award as it deems necessary or appropriate to administer the Plan and any Awards. The Administrator’s determinations under the Plan are in its sole discretion and will be final and binding on all persons having or claiming any interest in the Plan or any Award. The Administrator may institute and determine the terms and conditions of an Exchange Program.

 

3.2 Appointment of Committees. To the extent Applicable Laws permit, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to one or more Committees. The Board may abolish any Committee or re-vest in itself any previously delegated authority at any time.

 

ARTICLE IV.
Stock Available for Awards

 

4.1 Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment under Article  and the terms of this Article , Awards may be made under the Plan covering up to the Overall Share Limit. Shares issued under the Plan may consist of authorized but unissued Shares, Shares purchased on the open market or treasury Shares.

 

4.2 Share Recycling. If all or any part of an Award expires, lapses or is terminated, exchanged for cash, surrendered (including, without limitation, pursuant to an Exchange Program), repurchased, canceled without having been fully exercised or forfeited, in any case, in a manner that results in the Company acquiring Shares at a price not greater than the price (as adjusted to reflect any Equity Restructuring) paid by the Participant for such Shares or not issuing any Shares covered by the Award, the unused Shares covered by the Award will, as applicable, become or again be available for Award grants under the Plan. Further, Shares delivered (either by actual delivery or attestation) to the Company by a Participant to satisfy the applicable exercise or purchase price of an Award and/or to satisfy any applicable tax withholding obligation (including Shares retained by the Company from the Award being exercised or purchased and/or creating the tax obligation) will, as applicable, become or again be available for Award grants under the Plan. The payment of Dividend Equivalents in cash in conjunction with any outstanding Awards shall not count against the Overall Share Limit.

 

 

4.3 Incentive Stock Option Limitations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no more than [ ● ] ¹ Shares may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options.

 

4.4 Substitute Awards. In connection with an entity’s merger or consolidation with the Company or the Company’s acquisition of an entity’s property or stock, the Administrator may grant Awards in substitution for any options or other stock or stock-based awards granted before such merger or consolidation by such entity or its affiliate in accordance with Applicable Laws. Substitute Awards may be granted on such terms as the Administrator deems appropriate, notwithstanding limitations on Awards in the Plan. Substitute Awards will not count against the Overall Share Limit (nor shall Shares subject to a Substitute Award be added to the Shares available for Awards under the Plan as provided above), except that Shares acquired by exercise of substitute Incentive Stock Options will count against the maximum number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan. Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan (and Shares subject to such Awards shall not be added to the Shares available for Awards under the Plan as provided above); provided that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not Service Providers prior to such acquisition or combination.

 

4.5 Non-Employee Director Compensation. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Plan, the Administrator may establish compensation for non-employee Directors from time to time, subject to the limitations in the Plan. The Administrator will from time to time determine the terms, conditions and amounts of all such non-employee Director compensation in its discretion and pursuant to the exercise of its business judgment, taking into account such factors, circumstances and considerations as it shall deem relevant from time to time, provided that the sum of any cash compensation, or other compensation, and the value (determined as of the grant date in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, or any successor thereto) of Awards granted to a non-employee Director as compensation for services as a non-employee Director during any fiscal year of the Company may not exceed $[__], increased to $[__] for a non-employee Director’s initial fiscal year of service as a non-employee Director. The Administrator may make exceptions to these limits for individual non-employee Directors in extraordinary circumstances, as the Administrator may determine in its discretion, provided that the non-employee Director receiving such additional compensation may not participate in the decision to award such compensation or in other contemporaneous compensation decisions involving non-employee Directors.

 

ARTICLE V.
Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights

 

5.1 General. The Administrator may grant Options or Stock Appreciation Rights to Service Providers subject to the limitations in the Plan, including any limitations in the Plan that apply to Incentive Stock Options. The Administrator will determine the number of Shares covered by each Option and Stock Appreciation Right, the exercise price of each Option and Stock Appreciation Right and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option and Stock Appreciation Right. A Stock Appreciation Right will entitle the Participant (or other person entitled to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right) to receive from the Company upon exercise of the exercisable portion of the Stock Appreciation Right an amount determined by multiplying the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise over the exercise price per Share of the Stock Appreciation Right by the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised, subject to any limitations of the Plan or that the Administrator may impose and payable in cash, Shares valued at such Fair Market Value or a combination of the two as the Administrator may determine or provide in the Award Agreement.

 

5.2 Exercise Price. The Administrator will establish each Option’s and Stock Appreciation Right’s exercise price and specify the exercise price in the Award Agreement. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the exercise price will not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the grant date of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right.

 

1

Note to Draft: To be equal to 10% of the fully-diluted outstanding stock immediately after the closing.

 

 

5.3 Duration. Each Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be exercisable at such times and as specified in the Award Agreement, provided that, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator in accordance with Applicable Laws, the term of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right will not exceed ten years. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Participant, prior to the end of the term of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, violates the non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality or other similar restrictive covenant provisions of any employment contract, confidentiality and nondisclosure agreement or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the right of the Participant and the Participant’s transferees to exercise any Option or Stock Appreciation Right issued to the Participant shall terminate immediately upon such violation unless the Administrator otherwise determines.

 

5.4 Exercise. Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised by delivering to the Company a written notice of exercise, in a form the Administrator approves (which may be electronic), signed by the person authorized to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, together with, as applicable, payment in full (i) as specified in Section 5.5 for the number of Shares for which the Award is exercised and (ii) as specified in Section 9.5 for any applicable taxes. Unless the Administrator otherwise determines, an Option or Stock Appreciation Right may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

 

5.5 Payment Upon Exercise. Subject to Section 10.8, any Company insider trading policy (including blackout periods) and Applicable Laws, the exercise price of an Option must be paid by:

 

(a) cash, wire transfer of immediately available funds or by check payable to the order of the Company, provided that the Company may limit the use of one of the foregoing payment forms if one or more of the payment forms below is permitted;

 

(b) if there is a public market for Shares at the time of exercise, unless the Company otherwise determines, (A) delivery (including telephonically to the extent permitted by the Company) of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by a broker acceptable to the Company to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay the exercise price, or (B) the Participant’s delivery to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a broker acceptable to the Company to deliver promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to pay the exercise price; provided that such amount is paid to the Company at such time as may be required by the Administrator;

 

(c) to the extent permitted by the Administrator, delivery (either by actual delivery or attestation) of Shares owned by the Participant valued at their Fair Market Value;

 

(d) to the extent permitted by the Administrator, surrendering Shares then issuable upon the Option’s exercise valued at their Fair Market Value on the exercise date;

 

(e) to the extent permitted by the Administrator, delivery of any other property that the Administrator determines is good and valuable consideration; or

 

(f) to the extent permitted by the Company, any combination of the above payment forms approved by the Administrator.

 

ARTICLE VI.
Restricted Stock; Restricted Stock Units

 

6.1 General. The Administrator may grant Restricted Stock, or the right to purchase Restricted Stock, to any Service Provider, subject to the Company’s right to repurchase all or part of such shares at their issue price or other stated or formula price from the Participant (or to require forfeiture of such shares) if conditions the Administrator specifies in the Award Agreement are not satisfied before the end of the applicable restriction period or periods that the Administrator establishes for such Award. In addition, the Administrator may grant to Service Providers Restricted Stock Units, which may be subject to vesting and forfeiture conditions during the applicable restriction period or periods, as set forth in an Award Agreement. The Administrator will determine and set forth in the Award Agreement the terms and conditions for each Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Award, subject to the conditions and limitations contained in the Plan.

 

 

6.2 Restricted Stock.

 

(a) Dividends. Participants holding shares of Restricted Stock will be entitled to all ordinary cash dividends paid with respect to such Shares, unless the Administrator provides otherwise in the Award Agreement. In addition, unless the Administrator provides otherwise, if any dividends or distributions are paid in Shares, or consist of a dividend or distribution to holders of Common Stock of property other than an ordinary cash dividend, the Shares or other property will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid.

 

(b) Stock Certificates. The Company may require that the Participant deposit in escrow with the Company (or its designee) any stock certificates issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock, together with a stock power endorsed in blank.

 

(c) Section 83(b) Election. If a Participant makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed with respect to the Restricted Stock as of the date of transfer of the Restricted Stock rather than as of the date or dates upon which such Participant would otherwise be taxable under Section 83(a) of the Code, such Participant shall be required to deliver a copy of such election to the Company promptly after filing such election with the Internal Revenue Service along with proof of the timely filing thereof.

 

6.3 Restricted Stock Units.

 

(a) Settlement. The Administrator may provide that settlement of Restricted Stock Units will occur upon or as soon as reasonably practicable after the Restricted Stock Units vest or will instead be deferred, on a mandatory basis or at the Participant’s election, in a manner intended to comply with Section 409A.

 

(b) Stockholder Rights. A Participant will have no rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares subject to any Restricted Stock Unit unless and until the Shares are delivered in settlement of the Restricted Stock Unit.

 

(c) Dividend Equivalents. If the Administrator provides, a grant of Restricted Stock Units may provide a Participant with the right to receive Dividend Equivalents. Dividend Equivalents may be paid currently or credited to an account for the Participant, settled in cash or Shares and subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Restricted Stock Units with respect to which the Dividend Equivalents are granted and subject to other terms and conditions as set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

ARTICLE VII.
Other Stock or Cash Based Awards

 

7.1 Other Stock or Cash Based Awards may be granted to Participants, including Awards entitling Participants to receive Shares to be delivered in the future and including annual or other periodic or long-term cash bonus awards (whether based on specified Performance Criteria or otherwise), in each case subject to any conditions and limitations in the Plan. Such Other Stock or Cash Based Awards will also be available as a payment form in the settlement of other Awards, as standalone payments and as payment in lieu of compensation to which a Participant is otherwise entitled. Other Stock or Cash Based Awards may be paid in Shares, cash or other property, as the Administrator determines. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Administrator will determine the terms and conditions of each Other Stock or Cash Based Award, including any purchase price, performance goal (which may be based on the Performance Criteria), transfer restrictions, and vesting conditions, which will be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

ARTICLE VIII.
Adjustments for Changes in Common Stock
and Certain Other Events

 

8.1 Equity Restructuring(a) . In connection with any Equity Restructuring, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article VIII, the Administrator will equitably adjust each outstanding Award as it deems appropriate to reflect the Equity Restructuring, which may include adjusting the number and type of securities subject to each outstanding Award and/or the Award’s exercise price or grant price (if applicable), granting new Awards to Participants, and making a cash payment to Participants. The adjustments provided under this Section 8.1 will be nondiscretionary and final and binding on the affected Participant and the Company; provided that the Administrator will determine whether an adjustment is equitable.

 

 

8.2 Corporate Transactions. In the event of any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock, other securities, or other property), reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, amalgamation, repurchase, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, or sale, transfer, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or sale or exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, Change in Control, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Common Stock or other securities of the Company, other similar corporate transaction or event, other unusual or nonrecurring transaction or event affecting the Company or its financial statements or any change in any Applicable Laws or accounting principles, the Administrator, on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, either by the terms of the Award or by action taken prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event (except that action to give effect to a change in Applicable Law or accounting principles may be made within a reasonable period of time after such change) and either automatically or upon the Participant’s request, is hereby authorized to take any one or more of the following actions whenever the Administrator determines that such action is appropriate in order to (x) prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended by the Company to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any Award granted or issued under the Plan, (y) to facilitate such transaction or event or (z) give effect to such changes in Applicable Laws or accounting principles:

 

(a) To provide for the cancellation of any such Award in exchange for either an amount of cash or other property with a value equal to the amount that could have been obtained upon the exercise or settlement of the vested portion of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights under the vested portion of such Award, as applicable; provided that, if the amount that could have been obtained upon the exercise or settlement of the vested portion of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, in any case, is equal to or less than zero, then the Award may be terminated without payment;

 

(b) To provide that such Award shall vest and, to the extent applicable, be exercisable as to all shares covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the provisions of such Award;

 

(c) To provide that such Award be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and/or applicable exercise or purchase price, in all cases, as determined by the Administrator;

 

(d) To make adjustments in the number and type of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards and/or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Article IV hereof on the maximum number and kind of shares which may be issued) and/or in the terms and conditions of (including the grant or exercise price), and the criteria included in, outstanding Awards;

 

(e) To replace such Award with other rights or property selected by the Administrator; and/or

 

(f) To provide that the Award will terminate and cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after the applicable event.

 

8.3 Administrative Stand Still. In the event of any pending stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other extraordinary transaction or change affecting the Shares or the share price of Common Stock, including any Equity Restructuring or any securities offering or other similar transaction, for administrative convenience, the Administrator may refuse to permit the exercise of any Award for up to sixty days before or after such transaction.

 

8.4 General. Except as expressly provided in the Plan or the Administrator’s action under the Plan, no Participant will have any rights due to any subdivision or consolidation of Shares of any class, dividend payment, increase or decrease in the number of Shares of any class or dissolution, liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or other corporation. Except as expressly provided with respect to an Equity Restructuring under Section 8.1 above or the Administrator’s action under the Plan, no issuance by the Company of Shares of any class, or securities convertible into Shares of any class, will affect, and no adjustment will be made regarding, the number of Shares subject to an Award or the Award’s grant or exercise price. The existence of the Plan, any Award Agreements and the Awards granted hereunder will not affect or restrict in any way the Company’s right or power to make or authorize (i) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, (ii) any merger, consolidation dissolution or liquidation of the Company or sale of Company assets or (iii) any sale or issuance of securities, including securities with rights superior to those of the Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares. The Administrator may treat Participants and Awards (or portions thereof) differently under this Article VIII.

 

 

ARTICLE IX.
General Provisions Applicable to Awards

 

9.1 Transferability. Except as the Administrator may determine or provide in an Award Agreement or otherwise for Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, Awards may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or, subject to the Administrator’s consent, pursuant to a domestic relations order, and, during the life of the Participant, will be exercisable only by the Participant. References to a Participant, to the extent relevant in the context, will include references to a Participant’s authorized transferee that the Administrator specifically approves.

 

9.2 Documentation. Each Award will be evidenced in an Award Agreement, which may be written or electronic, as the Administrator determines. Each Award may contain terms and conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan.

 

9.3 Discretion. Except as the Plan otherwise provides, each Award may be made alone or in addition or in relation to any other Award. The terms of each Award to a Participant need not be identical, and the Administrator need not treat Participants or Awards (or portions thereof) uniformly.

 

9.4 Termination of Service; Change in Status. The Administrator will determine, in its sole discretion, the effect of all matters and questions relating to any Termination of Service, including, without limitation, whether a Termination of Service has occurred, whether a Termination of Service resulted from a discharge for Cause and all questions of whether a particular leave of absence constitutes a Termination of Service or any other change or purported change in a Participant’s Service Provider status affects an Award and the extent to which, and the period during which, the Participant, the Participant’s legal representative, conservator, guardian or Designated Beneficiary may exercise rights under the Award, if applicable.

 

9.5 Withholding. Each Participant must pay the Company, or make provision satisfactory to the Administrator for payment of, any taxes required by law to be withheld in connection with such Participant’s Awards by the date of the event creating the tax liability. The Company may deduct an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations based on the applicable statutory withholding rates (or such other rate as may be determined by the Company after considering any accounting consequences or costs) from any payment of any kind otherwise due to a Participant. Subject to Section 10.8 and any Company insider trading policy (including blackout periods), Participants may satisfy such tax obligations (i) in cash, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, by check made payable to the order of the Company, provided that the Company may limit the use of one of the foregoing payment forms if one or more of the payment forms below is permitted, (ii) to the extent permitted by the Administrator, in whole or in part by delivery of Shares, including Shares retained from the Award creating the tax obligation, valued at their Fair Market Value, (iii) if there is a public market for Shares at the time the tax obligations are satisfied, unless the Company otherwise determines, (A) delivery (including telephonically to the extent permitted by the Company) of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by a broker acceptable to the Company to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to satisfy the tax obligations, or (B) delivery by the Participant to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a broker acceptable to the Company to deliver promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to satisfy the tax withholding; provided that such amount is paid to the Company at such time as may be required by the Administrator, or (iv) to the extent permitted by the Company, any combination of the foregoing payment forms approved by the Administrator. If any tax withholding obligation will be satisfied under clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence by the Company’s retention of Shares from the Award creating the tax obligation and there is a public market for Shares at the time the tax obligation is satisfied, the Company may elect to instruct any brokerage firm determined acceptable to the Company for such purpose to sell on the applicable Participant’s behalf some or all of the Shares retained and to remit the proceeds of the sale to the Company or its designee, and each Participant’s acceptance of an Award under the Plan will constitute the Participant’s authorization to the Company and instruction and authorization to such brokerage firm to complete the transactions described in this sentence.

 

9.6 Amendment of Award; Repricing. The Administrator may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award, including by substituting another Award of the same or a different type, changing the exercise or settlement date, and converting an Incentive Stock Option to a Non-Qualified Stock Option. The Participant’s consent to such action will be required unless (i) the action, taking into account any related action, does not materially and adversely affect the Participant’s rights under the Award, or (ii) the change is permitted under Article VIII or pursuant to Section 10.6.

 

 

9.7 Conditions on Delivery of Stock. The Company will not be obligated to deliver any Shares under the Plan or remove restrictions from Shares previously delivered under the Plan until (i) all Award conditions have been met or removed to the Company’s satisfaction, (ii) as determined by the Company, all other legal matters regarding the issuance and delivery of such Shares have been satisfied, including any applicable securities laws and stock exchange or stock market rules and regulations, and (iii) the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company such representations or agreements as the Administrator deems necessary or appropriate to satisfy any Applicable Laws. The Company’s inability to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which the Administrator determines is necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any securities, will relieve the Company of any liability for failing to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority has not been obtained.

 

9.8 Acceleration. The Administrator may at any time provide that any Award will become immediately vested and fully or partially exercisable, free of some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise fully or partially realizable.

 

9.9 Additional Terms of Incentive Stock Options. The Administrator may grant Incentive Stock Options only to employees of the Company, any of its present or future parent or subsidiary corporations, as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Code, respectively, and any other entities the employees of which are eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options under the Code. If an Incentive Stock Option is granted to a Greater Than 10% Stockholder, the exercise price will not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value on the Option’s grant date, and the term of the Option will not exceed five years. All Incentive Stock Options will be subject to and construed consistently with Section 422 of the Code. By accepting an Incentive Stock Option, the Participant agrees if requested by the Company to give prompt notice to the Company of dispositions or other transfers (other than in connection with a Change in Control) of Shares acquired under the Option made within (i) two years from the grant date of the Option or (ii) one year after the transfer of such Shares to the Participant, specifying the date of the disposition or other transfer and the amount the Participant realized, in cash, other property, assumption of indebtedness or other consideration, in such disposition or other transfer. Neither the Company nor the Administrator will be liable to a Participant, or any other party, if an Incentive Stock Option fails or ceases to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code. Any Incentive Stock Option or portion thereof that fails to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code for any reason, including becoming exercisable with respect to Shares having a fair market value exceeding the $100,000 limitation under Treasury Regulation Section 1.422-4, will be a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

ARTICLE X.
Miscellaneous

 

10.1 No Right to Employment or Other Status. No person will have any claim or right to be granted an Award, and the grant of an Award will not be construed as giving a Participant the right to continued employment or any other relationship with the Company. The Company expressly reserves the right at any time to dismiss or otherwise terminate its relationship with a Participant free from any liability or claim under the Plan or any Award, except as expressly provided in an Award Agreement.

 

10.2 No Rights as Stockholder; Certificates. Subject to the Award Agreement, no Participant or Designated Beneficiary will have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares to be distributed under an Award until becoming the record holder of such Shares. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless the Administrator otherwise determines or Applicable Laws require, the Company will not be required to deliver to any Participant certificates evidencing Shares issued in connection with any Award and instead such Shares may be recorded in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator). The Company may place legends on stock certificates issued under the Plan that the Administrator deems necessary or appropriate to comply with Applicable Laws.

 

10.3 Effective Date and Term of Plan. The Plan will become effective on the Effective Date and, unless earlier terminated by the Board, will remain in effect until the earlier of (i) the earliest date as of which all Awards granted under the Plan have been satisfied in full or terminated and no Shares approved for issuance under the Plan remain available to be granted under new Awards or (ii) the tenth anniversary of [_________], but Awards previously granted may extend beyond that date in accordance with the Plan. If the Plan is not approved by the Company’s stockholders, the Plan will not become effective and no Awards will be granted under the Plan.

 

 

10.4 Amendment of Plan. The Administrator may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time; provided that no amendment, other than an increase to the Overall Share Limit, may materially and adversely affect any Award outstanding at the time of such amendment in a manner disproportionate to other similarly-situated Awards without the affected Participant’s consent. No Awards may be granted under the Plan during any suspension period or after Plan termination. Awards outstanding at the time of any Plan suspension or termination will continue to be governed by the Plan and the Award Agreement, as in effect before such suspension or termination. The Company will obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Laws. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Exchange Programs are expressly permitted hereunder and the Committee may in its sole discretion, and without shareholder approval, institute any such Exchange Program.

 

10.5 Provisions for Foreign Participants. The Administrator may modify Awards granted to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States or establish subplans or procedures under the Plan to address differences in laws, rules, regulations or customs of such foreign jurisdictions with respect to tax, securities, currency, employee benefit or other matters.

 

10.6 Section 409A.

 

(a) General. The Company intends that all Awards be structured to comply with, or be exempt from, Section 409A, such that no adverse tax consequences, interest, or penalties under Section 409A apply. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, the Administrator may, without a Participant’s consent, amend this Plan or Awards, adopt policies and procedures, or take any other actions (including amendments, policies, procedures and retroactive actions) as are necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of Awards, including any such actions intended to (A) exempt this Plan or any Award from Section 409A, or (B) comply with Section 409A, including regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority that may be issued after an Award’s grant date. The Company makes no representations or warranties as to an Award’s tax treatment under Section 409A or otherwise. The Company will have no obligation under this Section 10.6 or otherwise to avoid the taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A with respect to any Award and will have no liability to any Participant or any other person if any Award, compensation or other benefits under the Plan are determined to constitute noncompliant “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A.

 

(b) Separation from Service. If an Award constitutes “nonqualified deferred compensation” under Section 409A, any payment or settlement of such Award upon a termination of a Participant’s Service Provider relationship will, to the extent necessary to avoid taxes under Section 409A, be made only upon the Participant’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A), whether such “separation from service” occurs upon or after the Termination of Service of a Participant. For purposes of this Plan or any Award Agreement relating to any such payments or benefits, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment,” Termination of Service or like terms means a “separation from service.”

 

(c) Payments to Specified Employees. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the Plan or any Award Agreement, any payment(s) of “nonqualified deferred compensation” required to be made under an Award to a “specified employee” (as defined under Section 409A and as the Administrator determines) due to his or her “separation from service” will, to the extent necessary to avoid taxes under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, be delayed for the six-month period immediately following such “separation from service” (or, if earlier, until the specified employee’s death) and will instead be paid (as set forth in the Award Agreement) on the day immediately following such six-month period or as soon as administratively practicable thereafter (without interest). Any payments of “nonqualified deferred compensation” under such Award payable more than six months following the Participant’s “separation from service” will be paid at the time or times the payments are otherwise scheduled to be made.

 

10.7 Limitations on Liability. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, no individual acting as a director, officer, other employee or agent of the Company or any Subsidiary will be liable to any Participant, former Participant, spouse, beneficiary, or any other person for any claim, loss, liability, or expense incurred in connection with the Plan or any Award, and such individual will not be personally liable with respect to the Plan because of any contract or other instrument executed in his or her capacity as an Administrator, director, officer, other employee or agent of the Company or any Subsidiary. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each director, officer, other employee and agent of the Company or any Subsidiary that has been or will be granted or delegated any duty or power relating to the Plan’s administration or interpretation, against any cost or expense (including attorneys’ fees) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the Administrator’s approval) arising from any act or omission concerning this Plan unless arising from such person’s own fraud or bad faith.

 

 

10.8 Lock-Up Period. The Company may, at the request of any underwriter representative or otherwise, in connection with registering the offering of any Company securities under the Securities Act, prohibit Participants from, directly or indirectly, selling or otherwise transferring any Shares or other Company securities during a period of up to one hundred eighty days following the effective date of a Company registration statement filed under the Securities Act, or such longer period as determined by the underwriter.

 

10.9 Data Privacy. As a condition for receiving any Award, each Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of personal data as described in this section by and among the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates exclusively for implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan. The Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates may hold certain personal information about a Participant, including the Participant’s name, address and telephone number; birthdate; social security, insurance number or other identification number; salary; nationality; job title(s); any Shares held in the Company or its Subsidiaries and affiliates; and Award details, to implement, manage and administer the Plan and Awards (the “Data”). The Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates may transfer the Data amongst themselves as necessary to implement, administer and manage a Participant’s participation in the Plan, and the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates may transfer the Data to third parties assisting the Company with Plan implementation, administration and management. These recipients may be located in the Participant’s country, or elsewhere, and the Participant’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections than the recipients’ country. By accepting an Award, each Participant authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, to implement, administer and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan, including any required Data transfer to a broker or other third party with whom the Company or the Participant may elect to deposit any Shares. The Data related to a Participant will be held only as long as necessary to implement, administer, and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan. A Participant may, at any time, view the Data that the Company holds regarding such Participant, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data regarding such Participant, recommend any necessary corrections to the Data regarding the Participant or refuse or withdraw the consents in this Section 10.9 in writing, without cost, by contacting the local human resources representative. The Company may cancel Participant’s ability to participate in the Plan and, in the Administrator’s discretion, the Participant may forfeit any outstanding Awards if the Participant refuses or withdraws the consents in this Section 10.9. For more information on the consequences of refusing or withdrawing consent, Participants may contact their local human resources representative.

 

10.10 Severability. If any portion of the Plan or any action taken under it is held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity will not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan will be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provisions had been excluded, and the illegal or invalid action will be null and void.

 

10.11 Governing Documents. If any contradiction occurs between the Plan and any Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant and the Company (or any Subsidiary) that the Administrator has approved, the Plan will govern, unless it is expressly specified in such Award Agreement or other written document that a specific provision of the Plan will not apply.

 

10.12 Governing Law. The Plan and all Awards will be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, disregarding any state’s choice-of-law principles requiring the application of a jurisdiction’s laws other than the State of Delaware.

 

10.13 Claw-back Provisions. All Awards (including any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit the Participant actually or constructively receives upon receipt or exercise of any Award or the receipt or resale of any Shares underlying the Award) will be subject to any Company claw-back policy as in effect from time to time, including any claw-back policy adopted to comply with Applicable Laws (including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder).

 

10.14 Titles and Headings. The titles and headings in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and, if any conflict, the Plan’s text, rather than such titles or headings, will control.

 

10.15 Conformity to Securities Laws. Participant acknowledges that the Plan is intended to conform to the extent necessary with Applicable Laws. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan and all Awards will be administered only in conformance with Applicable Laws. To the extent Applicable Laws permit, the Plan and all Award Agreements will be deemed amended as necessary to conform to Applicable Laws.

 

10.16 Relationship to Other Benefits. No payment under the Plan will be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary except as expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.

 

 

10.17 Broker-Assisted Sales. In the event of a broker-assisted sale of Shares in connection with the payment of amounts owed by a Participant under or with respect to the Plan or Awards, including amounts to be paid under the final sentence of Section 9.5: (a) any Shares to be sold through the broker-assisted sale will be sold on the day the payment first becomes due, or as soon thereafter as practicable; (b) such Shares may be sold as part of a block trade with other Participants in the Plan in which all participants receive an average price; (c) the applicable Participant will be responsible for all broker’s fees and other costs of sale, and by accepting an Award, each Participant agrees to indemnify and hold the Company harmless from any losses, costs, damages, or expenses relating to any such sale; (d) to the extent the Company or its designee receives proceeds of such sale that exceed the amount owed, the Company will pay such excess in cash to the applicable Participant as soon as reasonably practicable; (e) the Company and its designees are under no obligation to arrange for such sale at any particular price; and (f) in the event the proceeds of such sale are insufficient to satisfy the Participant’s applicable obligation, the Participant may be required to pay immediately upon demand to the Company or its designee an amount in cash sufficient to satisfy any remaining portion of the Participant’s obligation.

 

ARTICLE XI.
Definitions

 

As used in the Plan, the following words and phrases will have the following meanings:

 

11.1 “Administrator” means the Board or a Committee to the extent that the Board’s powers or authority under the Plan have been delegated to such Committee.

 

11.2 “Applicable Laws” means the requirements relating to the administration of equity incentive plans under U.S. federal and state securities, tax and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, the applicable rules of any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws and rules of any foreign country or other jurisdiction where Awards are granted.

 

11.3 “Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Other Stock or Cash Based Awards.

 

11.4 “Award Agreement” means a written agreement evidencing an Award, which may be electronic, that contains such terms and conditions as the Administrator determines, consistent with and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

11.5 “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

11.6 “Cause” means (i) if a Participant is a party to a written employment, severance or consulting agreement with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or an Award Agreement in which the term “cause” is defined (a “Relevant Agreement”), “cause” as defined in the Relevant Agreement, and (ii) if no Relevant Agreement exists, (A) any material breach of the Participant of any material written agreement between the Participant and the Company and the Participant’s failure to cure such breach within 30 days after receiving written notice thereof; (B) any failure by the Participant to comply with the Company’s material written policies or rules as they may be in effect from time to time; (C) the Participant’s repeated and willful failure to follow reasonable and lawful instructions from the Board or Chief Executive Officer and the Participant’s failure to cure such condition within 30 days after receiving written notice thereof; (D) the Participant’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any crime that results in, or is reasonably excepted to result in, material harm to the business or reputation of the Company; (E) the Participant’s commission of or participation in an act of fraud against the Company; (F) the Participant’s intentional material damage to the Company’s business, property or reputation; or (G) the Participant’s unauthorized use or disclosure of any proprietary information or trade secrets of the Company or any other party to whom the Participant owes an obligation of nondisclosure as a result of his or her relationship with the Company. For purposes of clarity, a termination without “Cause” does not include any termination that occurs as a result of the Participant’s death or disability. The determination as to whether a Participant’s service has been termination for Cause shall be made in good faith by the Company and shall be binding and final on the Participant. The foregoing definition does not in any way limit the Company’s ability to terminate a Participant’s employment or consulting relationship at any time, and the term “Company” will be interpreted to include any Subsidiary, parent, affiliate, or any successor thereto, if appropriate.

 

 

11.7 “Change in Control” means and includes each of the following:

 

(a) A transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of Common Stock to the general public through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or a transaction or series of transactions that meets the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii) of subsection (c) below) whereby any “person” or related “group” of “persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (other than the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, an employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, Alex Rodrigues, Brandon Moak (or any group which includes such persons), or a “person” that, prior to such transaction, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company possessing more than 50 % of the total combined voting power of the Company’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition; or

 

(b) During any period of two consecutive years, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new Director(s) (other than a Director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in subsections (a) or (c) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Directors) then still in office who either were Directors at the beginning of the two-year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or

 

(c) The consummation by the Company (whether directly involving the Company or indirectly involving the Company through one or more intermediaries) of (x) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination or (y) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in any single transaction or series of related transactions or (z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity, in each case other than a transaction:

 

(i) which results in the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Company or the person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Company or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company (the Company or such person, the “Successor Entity”)) directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction, and

 

(ii) after which no person or group (other than Alex Rodrigues, Brandon Moak or any group which includes any such persons) beneficially owns voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity; provided, however, that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this clause (ii) as beneficially owning 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in the Company prior to the consummation of the transaction.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award (or portion of any Award) that provides for the deferral of compensation that is subject to Section 409A, to the extent required to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A, the transaction or event described in subsection (a), (b) or (c) with respect to such Award (or portion thereof) shall only constitute a Change in Control for purposes of the payment timing of such Award if such transaction also constitutes a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).

 

The Administrator shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to the above definition, the date of the occurrence of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.

 

 

11.8 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations issued thereunder.

 

11.9 “Committee” means one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board or otherwise consisting of one or more Company directors or executive officers, to the extent Applicable Laws permit. To the extent required to comply with the provisions of Rule 16b-3, it is intended that each member of the Committee will be, at the time the Committee takes any action with respect to an Award that is subject to Rule 16b-3, a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3; however, a Committee member’s failure to qualify as a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 will not invalidate any Award granted by the Committee that is otherwise validly granted under the Plan.

 

11.10 “Common Stock” means the [Class A] common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company.

 

11.11 “Company” means Embark Technology, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor.

 

11.12 “Consultant” means any person, including any adviser, engaged by the Company or its parent or Subsidiary to render services to such entity if the consultant or adviser: (i) renders bona fide services to the Company; (ii) renders services not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and does not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities; and (iii) is a natural person.

 

11.13 “Designated Beneficiary” means the beneficiary or beneficiaries the Participant designates, in a manner the Administrator determines, to receive amounts due or exercise the Participant’s rights if the Participant dies or becomes incapacitated. Without a Participant’s effective designation, “Designated Beneficiary” will mean the Participant’s estate.

 

11.14 “Director” means a Board member.

 

11.15 “Disability” means “disability” within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

 

11.16 “Dividend Equivalents” means a right granted to a Participant under the Plan to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Shares) of dividends paid on Shares.

 

11.17 “Effective Date” means the date on which the transactions contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, by and among Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II, [NG Merger Sub Inc.] and Embark Trucks Inc., dated as of [____], 2021 as amended from time to time, are consummated, provided that the Board has adopted the Plan prior to or on such date, subject to approval of the Plan by the Company’s stockholders.

 

11.18 “Employee” means any employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

11.19 “Equity Restructuring” means a nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and its stockholders, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, that affects the number or kind of Shares (or other Company securities) or the share price of Common Stock (or other Company securities) and causes a change in the per share value of the Common Stock underlying outstanding Awards.

 

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

 

11.21 “Exchange Program” means a program (i) under which (A) outstanding Awards are surrendered or cancelled in exchange for Awards of the same type (which may have higher or lower exercise prices and different terms), Awards of a different type, and/or cash, (B) Participants would have the opportunity to transfer any outstanding Awards to a financial institution or other person or entity selected by the Committee, (C) the exercise price of an outstanding Award is reduced or increased or (ii) which otherwise constitutes a “repricing” for purposes of the shareholder approval rules of the applicable securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation service on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted. The Committee will determine the terms and conditions of any Exchange Program in its sole discretion.

 

 

11.22 “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows: (i) if the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange, its Fair Market Value will be the closing sales price for such Common Stock as quoted on such exchange for such date, or if no sale occurred on such date, the last day preceding such date during which a sale occurred, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or another source the Administrator deems reliable; (ii) if the Common Stock is not traded on a stock exchange but is quoted on a national market or other quotation system, the closing sales price on such date, or if no sales occurred on such date, then on the last date preceding such date during which a sale occurred, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or another source the Administrator deems reliable; or (iii) in any case the Administrator may determine the Fair Market Value in its discretion to the extent such determination does not constitute a “material revision” to the Plan under applicable stock exchange or stock market rules and regulations (or otherwise require stockholder approval).

 

11.23 “Greater Than 10% Stockholder” means an individual then owning (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or its parent or subsidiary corporation, as defined in Section 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively.

 

11.24 “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code.

 

11.25 “Non-Qualified Stock Option” means an Option not intended or not qualifying as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

11.26 “Option” means an option to purchase Shares.

 

11.27 “Other Stock or Cash Based Awards” means cash awards, awards of Shares, and other awards valued wholly or partially by referring to, or are otherwise based on, Shares or other property.

 

11.28 “Overall Share Limit” means the sum of (i) [ ● ] ² Shares; and (ii) an annual increase on the first day of each calendar year beginning January 1, 2022 and ending on and including January 1, 2031, equal to the lesser of (A) 5% of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year and (B) such smaller number of Shares as is determined by the Board.

 

11.29 “Participant” means a Service Provider who has been granted an Award.

 

11.30 “Performance Criteria” mean the criteria (and adjustments) that the Administrator may select for an Award to establish performance goals for a performance period, which may include the following: net earnings or losses (either before or after one or more of interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and non-cash equity-based compensation expense); gross or net sales or revenue or sales or revenue growth; net income (either before or after taxes) or adjusted net income; profits (including but not limited to gross profits, net profits, profit growth, net operation profit or economic profit), profit return ratios or operating margin; budget or operating earnings (either before or after taxes or before or after allocation of corporate overhead and bonus); cash flow (including operating cash flow and free cash flow or cash flow return on capital); return on assets; return on capital or invested capital; cost of capital; return on stockholders’ equity; total stockholder return; return on sales; costs, reductions in costs and cost control measures; expenses; working capital; earnings or loss per share; adjusted earnings or loss per share; price per share or dividends per share (or appreciation in or maintenance of such price or dividends); regulatory achievements or compliance; implementation, completion or attainment of objectives relating to research, development, regulatory, commercial, or strategic milestones or developments; market share; economic value or economic value added models; division, group or corporate financial goals; customer satisfaction/growth; customer service; employee satisfaction; recruitment and maintenance of personnel; human resources management; supervision of litigation and other legal matters; strategic partnerships and transactions; financial ratios (including those measuring liquidity, activity, profitability or leverage); debt levels or reductions; sales-related goals; business development goals; financing and other capital raising transactions; cash on hand; acquisition activity; investment sourcing activity; marketing initiatives^;and other measures of performance selected by the Board or Committee whether or not listed herein, any of which may be measured in absolute terms, as compared to any incremental increase or decrease or qualitatively in the Board or Committee’s sole discretion. Such performance goals also may be based solely by reference to the Company’s performance or the performance of a Subsidiary, division, business segment or business unit of the Company or a Subsidiary, or based upon performance relative to performance of other companies or upon comparisons of any of the indicators of performance relative to performance of other companies. The Committee may provide for exclusion of the impact of an event or occurrence which the Committee determines should appropriately be excluded, including (a) restructurings, discontinued operations, extraordinary items, and other unusual, infrequently occurring or non-recurring charges or events, (b) asset write-downs, (c) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (d) acquisitions or divestitures, (e) reorganization or change in the corporate structure or capital structure of the Company, (f) an event either not directly related to the operations of the Company, Subsidiary, division, business segment or business unit or not within the reasonable control of management, (g) foreign exchange gains and losses, (h) a change in the fiscal year of the Company, (i) the refinancing or repurchase of bank loans or debt securities, (j) unbudgeted capital expenditures, (k) the issuance or repurchase of equity securities and other changes in the number of outstanding shares, (l) conversion of some or all of convertible securities to Common Stock, (m) any business interruption event (n) the cumulative effects of tax or accounting changes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or (o) the effect of changes in other laws or regulatory rules affecting reported results.

 

2

Note to Draft: To be equal to 10% of the fully-diluted outstanding stock immediately after the closing.

 

 

11.31 “Plan” means this 2021 Incentive Award Plan, as may be amended from time to time.

 

11.32 “Restricted Stock” means Shares awarded to a Participant under Article VI subject to certain vesting conditions and other restrictions.

 

11.33 “Restricted Stock Unit” means an unfunded, unsecured right to receive, on the applicable settlement date, one or more Shares or an amount in cash or other consideration determined by the Administrator to be of equal value as of such settlement date, subject to certain vesting conditions and other restrictions.

 

11.34 “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

11.35 “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code and all regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority thereunder.

 

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

 

11.37 “Service Provider” means an Employee, Consultant or Director.

 

11.38 “Shares” means shares of Common Stock.

 

11.39 “Stock Appreciation Right” means a stock appreciation right granted under Article V.

 

11.40 “Subsidiary” means any entity (other than the Company), whether domestic or foreign, in an unbroken chain of entities beginning with the Company if each of the entities other than the last entity in the unbroken chain beneficially owns, at the time of the determination, securities or interests representing at least 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities or interests in one of the other entities in such chain.

 

11.41 “Substitute Awards” shall mean Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future awards, in each case by a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines.

 

11.42 “Termination of Service” means the date the Participant ceases to be a Service Provider.

 

* * * * *

 

 

Exhibit E

 

EMBARK TECHNOLOGY, INC.
2021 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

Article I.
PURPOSE

 

The purpose of this Plan is to assist Eligible Employees of the Company and its Designated Subsidiaries in acquiring a stock ownership interest in the Company.

 

The Plan consists of two components: (i) the Section 423 Component and (ii) the Non-Section 423 Component. The Section 423 Component is intended to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code and shall be administered, interpreted and construed in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code. The Non-Section 423 Component authorizes the grant of rights which need not qualify as rights granted pursuant to an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code. Rights granted under the Non-Section 423 Component shall be granted pursuant to separate Offerings containing such sub-plans, appendices, rules or procedures as may be adopted by the Administrator and designed to achieve tax, securities laws or other objectives for Eligible Employees and Designated Subsidiaries but shall not be intended to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code. Except as otherwise determined by the Administrator or provided herein, the Non-Section 423 Component will operate and be administered in the same manner as the Section 423 Component. Offerings intended to be made under the Non-Section 423 Component will be designated as such by the Administrator at or prior to the time of such Offering.

 

For purposes of this Plan, the Administrator may designate separate Offerings under the Plan in which Eligible Employees will participate. The terms of these Offerings need not be identical, even if the dates of the applicable Offering Period(s) in each such Offering are identical, provided that the terms of participation are the same within each separate Offering under the Section 423 Component (as determined under Section 423 of the Code). Solely by way of example and without limiting the foregoing, the Company could, but shall not be required to, provide for simultaneous Offerings under the Section 423 Component and the Non-Section 423 Component of the Plan.

 

Article II.
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION

 

Wherever the following terms are used in the Plan they shall have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

 

2.1 “Administrator” means the entity that conducts the general administration of the Plan as provided in Article .

 

2.2 “Agent” means the brokerage firm, bank or other financial institution, entity or person(s), if any, engaged, retained, appointed or authorized to act as the agent of the Company or an Employee with regard to the Plan.

 

2.3 “Applicable Law” means the requirements relating to the administration of equity incentive plans under U.S. federal and state securities, tax and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, the applicable rules of any stock exchange or quotation system on which Shares are listed or quoted and the applicable laws and rules of any foreign country or other jurisdiction where rights under this Plan are granted.

 

2.4 “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

 

2.5 “Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations issued thereunder.

 

2.6 “Common Stock” means common stock of the Company and such other securities of the Company that may be substituted therefore.

 

2.7 “Company” means Embark Technology, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor.

 

2.8 “Compensation” of an Eligible Employee means, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the gross base compensation or wages received by such Eligible Employee as compensation for services to the Company or any Designated Subsidiary, excluding overtime payments, sales commissions, incentive compensation, bonuses, expense reimbursements, income received in connection with any compensatory equity awards, fringe benefits and other special payments.

 

2.9 “Designated Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary designated by the Administrator in accordance with Section , such designation to specify whether such participation is in the Section 423 Component or Non-Section 423 Component. A Designated Subsidiary may participate in either the Section 423 Component or Non-Section 423 Component, but not both; provided that a Subsidiary that, for U.S. tax purposes, is disregarded from the Company or any Subsidiary that participates in the Section 423 Component shall automatically constitute a Designated Subsidiary that participates in the Section 423 Component.

 

2.10 “Effective Date” means the date on which the transactions contemplated by that certain Transaction Agreement, by and among Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II, [NG Merger Sub Inc.] and Embark Trucks Inc., dated as of [____], 2021 as amended from time to time, are consummated, provided that the Board has adopted the Plan prior to or on such date, subject to approval of the Plan by the Company’s stockholders.

 

2.11 “Eligible Employee” means:

 

(a) an Employee who does not, immediately after any rights under this Plan are granted, own (directly or through attribution) stock possessing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of Shares and other securities of the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary (as determined under Section 423(b)(3) of the Code). For purposes of the foregoing, the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code with regard to the attribution of stock ownership shall apply in determining the stock ownership of an individual, and stock that an Employee may purchase under outstanding options shall be treated as stock owned by the Employee.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may provide in an Offering Document that an Employee shall not be eligible to participate in an Offering Period under the Section 423 Component if: (i) such Employee is a highly compensated employee within the meaning of Section 423(b)(4)(D) of the Code; (ii) such Employee has not met a service requirement designated by the Administrator pursuant to Section 423(b)(4)(A) of the Code (which service requirement may not exceed two years); (iii) such Employee’s customary employment is for twenty hours per week or less; (iv) such Employee’s customary employment is for less than five months in any calendar year; and/or (v) such Employee is a citizen or resident of a foreign jurisdiction and the grant of a right to purchase Shares under the Plan to such Employee would be prohibited under the laws of such foreign jurisdiction or the grant of a right to purchase Shares under the Plan to such Employee in compliance with the laws of such foreign jurisdiction would cause the Plan to violate the requirements of Section 423 of the Code, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion; provided, further, that any exclusion in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) shall be applied in an identical manner under each Offering Period to all Employees, in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.423-2(e).

 

 

(c) Further notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to the Non-Section 423 Component, the first sentence in this definition shall apply in determining who is an “Eligible Employee,” except (i) the Administrator may limit eligibility further within the Company or a Designated Subsidiary so as to only designate some Employees of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary as Eligible Employees, and (ii) to the extent the restrictions in the first sentence in this definition are not consistent with applicable local laws, the applicable local laws shall control.

 

2.12 “Employee” means any individual who renders services to the Company or any Designated Subsidiary in the status of an employee, and, with respect to the Section 423 Component, a person who is an employee within the meaning of Section 3401(c) of the Code. For purposes of an individual’s participation in, or other rights under the Plan, all determinations by the Company shall be final, binding and conclusive, notwithstanding that any court of law or governmental agency subsequently makes a contrary determination. For purposes of the Plan, the employment relationship shall be treated as continuing intact while the individual is on sick leave or other leave of absence approved by the Company or Designated Subsidiary and meeting the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h)(2). Where the period of leave exceeds three (3) months and the individual’s right to reemployment is not guaranteed either by statute or by contract, the employment relationship shall be deemed to have terminated on the first day immediately following such three (3)-month period.

 

2.13 “Enrollment Date” means the first Trading Day of each Offering Period.

 

2.14 “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of Shares determined as follows: (i) if the Shares are listed on any established stock exchange, its Fair Market Value will be the closing sales price for such Shares as quoted on such exchange for such date, or if no sale occurred on such date, the last day preceding such date during which a sale occurred, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or another source the Administrator deems reliable; (ii) if the Shares are not traded on a stock exchange but are quoted on a national market or other quotation system, the closing sales price on such date, or if no sales occurred on such date, then on the last date preceding such date during which a sale occurred, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or another source the Administrator deems reliable; or (iii) without an established market for the Shares, the Administrator will determine the Fair Market Value in its discretion.

 

2.15 “Non-Section 423 Component” means those Offerings under the Plan, together with the sub-plans, appendices, rules or procedures, if any, adopted by the Administrator as a part of this Plan, in each case, pursuant to which rights to purchase Shares during an Offering Period may be granted to Eligible Employees that need not satisfy the requirements for rights to purchase Shares granted pursuant to an “employee stock purchase plan” that are set forth under Section 423 of the Code.

 

2.16 “Offering” means an offer under the Plan of a right to purchase Shares that may be exercised during an Offering Period as further described in Article IV hereof. Unless otherwise specified by the Administrator, each Offering to the Eligible Employees of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary shall be deemed a separate Offering, even if the dates and other terms of the applicable Offering Periods of each such Offering are identical, and the provisions of the Plan will separately apply to each Offering. To the extent permitted by Treas. Reg. § 1.423-2(a)(1), the terms of each separate Offering under the Section 423 Component need not be identical, provided that the terms of the Section 423 Component and an Offering thereunder together satisfy Treas. Reg. § 1.423-2(a)(2) and (a)(3).

 

2.17 “Offering Document” has the meaning given to such term in Section .

 

 

2.18 “Offering Period” has the meaning given to such term in Section .

 

2.19 “Parent” means any corporation, other than the Company, in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company if, at the time of the determination, each of the corporations other than the Company owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

 

2.20 “Participant” means any Eligible Employee who has executed a subscription agreement and been granted rights to purchase Shares pursuant to the Plan.

 

2.21 “Payday” means the regular and recurring established day for payment of Compensation to an Employee of the Company or any Designated Subsidiary.

 

2.22 “Plan” means this 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, including both the Section 423 Component and Non-Section 423 Component and any other sub-plans or appendices hereto, as amended from time to time.

 

2.23 “Purchase Date” means the last Trading Day of each Purchase Period or such other date as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Offering Document.

 

2.24 “Purchase Period” shall refer to one or more periods within an Offering Period, as designated in the applicable Offering Document; provided, however, that, in the event no purchase period is designated by the Administrator in the applicable Offering Document, the purchase period for each Offering Period covered by such Offering Document shall be the same as the applicable Offering Period.

 

2.25 “Purchase Price” means the purchase price designated by the Administrator in the applicable Offering Document (which purchase price, for purposes of the Section 423 Component, shall not be less than 85% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Enrollment Date or on the Purchase Date, whichever is lower); provided, however, that, in the event no purchase price is designated by the Administrator in the applicable Offering Document, the purchase price for the Offering Periods covered by such Offering Document shall be 85% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Enrollment Date or on the Purchase Date, whichever is lower; provided, further, that the Purchase Price may be adjusted by the Administrator pursuant to Article  and shall not be less than the par value of a Share.

 

2.26 “Section 423 Component” means those Offerings under the Plan, together with the sub-plans, appendices, rules or procedures, if any, adopted by the Administrator as a part of this Plan, in each case, pursuant to which rights to purchase Shares during an Offering Period may be granted to Eligible Employees that are intended to satisfy the requirements for rights to purchase Shares granted pursuant to an “employee stock purchase plan” that are set forth under Section 423 of the Code.

 

2.27 “Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

2.28 “Share” means a share of Common Stock.

 

2.29 “Subsidiary” means any corporation, other than the Company, in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if, at the time of the determination, each of the corporations other than the last corporation in an unbroken chain owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain; provided, however, that a limited liability company or partnership may be treated as a Subsidiary to the extent either (a) such entity is treated as a disregarded entity under Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-3(a) by reason of the Company or any other Subsidiary that is a corporation being the sole owner of such entity, or (b) such entity elects to be classified as a corporation under Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-3(a) and such entity would otherwise qualify as a Subsidiary. In addition, with respect to the Non-Section 423 Component, Subsidiary shall include any corporate or non-corporate entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect equity interest or significant business relationship.

 

 

2.30 “Trading Day” means a day on which national stock exchanges in the United States are open for trading.

 

2.31 “Treas. Reg.” means U.S. Department of the Treasury regulations.

 

Article III.
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

 

3.1 Number of Shares. Subject to Article , the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to rights granted under the Plan shall be [ ● ]¹ Shares. In addition to the foregoing, subject to Article VIII, on the first day of each calendar year beginning on January 1, 2022 and ending on and including January 1, 2031, the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be increased by that number of Shares equal to the lesser of (a) one percent (1%) of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock of the Company outstanding on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year and (b) such smaller number of Shares as determined by the Board. If any right granted under the Plan shall for any reason terminate without having been exercised, the Shares not purchased under such right shall again become available for issuance under the Plan. Notwithstanding anything in this Section  to the contrary, the number of Shares that may be issued or transferred pursuant to the rights granted under the Section 423 Component of the Plan shall not exceed an aggregate of [ ● ] Shares, subject to Article .

 

3.2 Shares Distributed. Any Shares distributed pursuant to the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares, treasury shares or Shares purchased on the open market.

 

Article IV.
Offering Periods; Offering Documents; Purchase Dates

 

4.1 Offering Periods. The Administrator may from time to time grant or provide for the grant of rights to purchase Shares under the Plan to Eligible Employees during one or more periods (each, an “Offering Period”) selected by the Administrator. The terms and conditions applicable to each Offering Period shall be set forth in an “Offering Document” adopted by the Administrator, which Offering Document shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall deem appropriate and shall be incorporated by reference into and made part of the Plan and shall be attached hereto as part of the Plan. The provisions of separate Offerings or Offering Periods under the Plan need not be identical.

 

4.2 Offering Documents. Each Offering Document with respect to an Offering Period shall specify (through incorporation of the provisions of this Plan by reference or otherwise):

 

(a) the length of the Offering Period, which period shall not exceed twenty-seven months;

 

1

Note to Draft: To be 2% of the fully-diluted outstanding stock immediately after the closing.

 

 

(b) the maximum number of Shares that may be purchased by any Eligible Employee during such Offering Period, which, in the absence of a contrary designation by the Administrator, shall be [__]Shares; and

 

(c) such other provisions as the Administrator determines are appropriate, subject to the Plan.

 

Article V.
ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

 

5.1 Eligibility. Any Eligible Employee who shall be employed by the Company or a Designated Subsidiary on a given Enrollment Date for an Offering Period shall be eligible to participate in the Plan during such Offering Period, subject to the requirements of this Article  V and, for the Section 423 Component, the limitations imposed by Section 423(b) of the Code.

 

5.2 Enrollment in Plan.

 

(a) Except as otherwise set forth in an Offering Document or determined by the Administrator, an Eligible Employee may become a Participant in the Plan for an Offering Period by delivering a subscription agreement to the Company by such time prior to the Enrollment Date for such Offering Period (or such other date specified in the Offering Document) designated by the Administrator and in such form as the Company provides.

 

(b) Each subscription agreement shall designate either (i) a whole percentage of such Eligible Employee’s Compensation or (ii) a fixed dollar amount, in either case, to be withheld by the Company or the Designated Subsidiary employing such Eligible Employee on each Payday during the Offering Period as payroll deductions under the Plan. In either event, the designated percentage or fixed dollar amount may not be less than one percent (1%) and may not be more than the maximum percentage specified by the Administrator in the applicable Offering Document (which percentage shall be twenty percent (20%) in the absence of any such designation) as payroll deductions. The payroll deductions made for each Participant shall be credited to an account for such Participant under the Plan and shall be deposited with the general funds of the Company.

 

(c) A Participant may increase or decrease the percentage of Compensation or the fixed dollar amount designated in his or her subscription agreement, subject to the limits of this Section , or may suspend his or her payroll deductions, at any time during an Offering Period; provided, however, that the Administrator may limit the number of changes a Participant may make to his or her payroll deduction elections during each Offering Period in the applicable Offering Document (and in the absence of any specific designation by the Administrator, a Participant shall be allowed to decrease (but not increase) his or her payroll deduction elections one time during each Offering Period). Any such change or suspension of payroll deductions shall be effective with the first full payroll period following ten business days after the Company’s receipt of the new subscription agreement (or such shorter or longer period as may be specified by the Administrator in the applicable Offering Document). In the event a Participant suspends his or her payroll deductions, such Participant’s cumulative payroll deductions prior to the suspension shall remain in his or her account and shall be applied to the purchase of Shares on the next occurring Purchase Date and shall not be paid to such Participant unless he or she withdraws from participation in the Plan pursuant to Article .

 

(d) Except as otherwise set forth in an Offering Document or determined by the Administrator, a Participant may participate in the Plan only by means of payroll deduction and may not make contributions by lump sum payment for any Offering Period.

 

 

5.3 Payroll Deductions. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Offering Document, payroll deductions for a Participant shall commence on the first Payday following the Enrollment Date and shall end on the last Payday in the Offering Period to which the Participant’s authorization is applicable, unless sooner terminated by the Participant as provided in Article  or suspended by the Participant or the Administrator as provided in Section and Section , respectively. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan to the contrary, in non-U.S. jurisdictions where participation in the Plan through payroll deductions is prohibited, the Administrator may provide that an Eligible Employee may elect to participate through contributions to the Participant’s account under the Plan in a form acceptable to the Administrator in lieu of or in addition to payroll deductions; provided, however, that, for any Offering under the Section 423 Component, the Administrator shall take into consideration any limitations under Section 423 of the Code when applying an alternative method of contribution.

 

5.4 Effect of Enrollment. A Participant’s completion of a subscription agreement will enroll such Participant in the Plan for each subsequent Offering Period on the terms contained therein until the Participant either submits a new subscription agreement, withdraws from participation under the Plan as provided in Article  or otherwise becomes ineligible to participate in the Plan.

 

5.5 Limitation on Purchase of Shares. An Eligible Employee may be granted rights under the Section 423 Component only if such rights, together with any other rights granted to such Eligible Employee under “employee stock purchase plans” of the Company, any Parent or any Subsidiary, as specified by Section 423(b)(8) of the Code, do not permit such employee’s rights to purchase stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary to accrue at a rate that exceeds the maximum fair market value of such stock (determined as of the first day of the Offering Period during which such rights are granted) for each calendar year in which such rights are outstanding at any time that shall be applied in accordance with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code, as may be amended. As of the Effective Date, the maximum fair market value under Section 423(b)(8) of the Code is $25,000.

 

5.6 Suspension of Payroll Deductions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to comply with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section  (with respect to the Section 423 Component) or the other limitations set forth in this Plan, a Participant’s payroll deductions may be suspended by the Administrator at any time during an Offering Period. The balance of the amount credited to the account of each Participant that has not been applied to the purchase of Shares by reason of Section 423(b)(8) of the Code, Section  or the other limitations set forth in this Plan shall be paid to such Participant in one lump sum in cash as soon as reasonably practicable after the Purchase Date.

 

5.7 Foreign Employees. In order to facilitate participation in the Plan, the Administrator may provide for such special terms applicable to Participants who are citizens or residents a foreign jurisdiction, or who are employed by a Designated Subsidiary outside of the United States, as the Administrator may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom. Except as permitted by Section 423 of the Code, with respect to the Section 423 Component, such special terms may not be more favorable than the terms of rights granted under the Section 423 Component to Eligible Employees who are residents of the United States. Such special terms may be set forth in an addendum to the Plan in the form of an appendix or sub-plan (which appendix or sub-plan may be designed to govern Offerings under the Section 423 Component or the Non-Section 423 Component, as determined by the Administrator). To the extent that the terms and conditions set forth in an appendix or sub-plan conflict with any provisions of the Plan, the provisions of the appendix or sub-plan shall govern. The adoption of any such appendix or sub-plan shall be pursuant to Section 11.2(g). Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrator is specifically authorized to adopt rules and procedures, with respect to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed in non-U.S. jurisdictions, regarding the exclusion of particular Subsidiaries from participation in the Plan, eligibility to participate, the definition of Compensation, handling of payroll deductions or other contributions by Participants, payment of interest, conversion of local currency, data privacy security, payroll tax, withholding procedures, establishment of bank or trust accounts to hold payroll deductions or contributions.

 

 

5.8 Leave of Absence. During leaves of absence approved by the Company meeting the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h)(2) under the Code, a Participant may continue participation in the Plan by making cash payments to the Company on his or her normal Payday equal to the Participant’s authorized payroll deduction.

 

Article VI.
grant and Exercise of rights

 

6.1 Grant of Rights. On the Enrollment Date of each Offering Period, each Eligible Employee participating in such Offering Period shall be granted a right to purchase the maximum number of Shares specified under Section , subject to the limits in Section , and shall have the right to buy, on each Purchase Date during such Offering Period (at the applicable Purchase Price), such number of whole Shares as is determined by dividing (a) such Participant’s payroll deductions accumulated prior to such Purchase Date and retained in the Participant’s account as of the Purchase Date, by (b) the applicable Purchase Price (rounded down to the nearest Share). The right shall expire on the earliest of: (x) the last Purchase Date of the Offering Period, (y) the last day of the Offering Period, and (z) the date on which the Participant withdraws in accordance with Section 7.1 or Section 7.3.

 

6.2 Exercise of Rights. On each Purchase Date, each Participant’s accumulated payroll deductions and any other additional payments specifically provided for in the applicable Offering Document will be applied to the purchase of whole Shares, up to the maximum number of Shares permitted pursuant to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Offering Document, at the Purchase Price. No fractional Shares shall be issued upon the exercise of rights granted under the Plan, unless the Offering Document specifically provides otherwise. Any cash in lieu of fractional Shares remaining after the purchase of whole Shares upon exercise of a purchase right will be credited to a Participant’s account and carried forward and applied toward the purchase of whole Shares for the next following Offering Period. Shares issued pursuant to the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Administrator may determine and may be issued in certificated form or issued pursuant to book-entry procedures.

 

6.3 Pro Rata Allocation of Shares. If the Administrator determines that, on a given Purchase Date, the number of Shares with respect to which rights are to be exercised may exceed (a) the number of Shares that were available for issuance under the Plan on the Enrollment Date of the applicable Offering Period, or (b) the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan on such Purchase Date, the Administrator may in its sole discretion provide that the Company shall make a pro rata allocation of the Shares available for purchase on such Enrollment Date or Purchase Date, as applicable, in as uniform a manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine in its sole discretion to be equitable among all Participants for whom rights to purchase Shares are to be exercised pursuant to this Article on such Purchase Date, and shall either (i) continue all Offering Periods then in effect, or (ii) terminate any or all Offering Periods then in effect pursuant to Article . The Company may make pro rata allocation of the Shares available on the Enrollment Date of any applicable Offering Period pursuant to the preceding sentence, notwithstanding any authorization of additional Shares for issuance under the Plan by the Company’s stockholders subsequent to such Enrollment Date. The balance of the amount credited to the account of each Participant that has not been applied to the purchase of Shares shall be paid to such Participant in one lump sum in cash as soon as reasonably practicable after the Purchase Date or such earlier date as determined by the Administrator.

 

 

6.4 Withholding. At the time a Participant’s rights under the Plan are exercised, in whole or in part, or at the time some or all of the Shares issued under the Plan is disposed of, the Participant must make adequate provision for the Company’s federal, state, or other tax withholding obligations, if any, that arise upon the exercise of the right or the disposition of the Shares. At any time, the Company may, but shall not be obligated to, withhold from the Participant’s Compensation or Shares received pursuant to the Plan the amount necessary for the Company to meet applicable withholding obligations, including any withholding required to make available to the Company any tax deductions or benefits attributable to sale or early disposition of Shares by the Participant.

 

6.5 Conditions to Issuance of Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate or certificates for, or make any book entries evidencing, Shares purchased upon the exercise of rights under the Plan prior to fulfillment of all of the following conditions: (a) the admission of such Shares to listing on all stock exchanges, if any, on which the Shares are then listed; (b) the completion of any registration or other qualification of such Shares under any state or federal law or under the rulings or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental regulatory body, that the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, deem necessary or advisable; (c) the obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any state or federal governmental agency that the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable; (d) the payment to the Company of all amounts that it is required to withhold under federal, state or local law upon exercise of the rights, if any; and (e) the lapse of such reasonable period of time following the exercise of the rights as the Administrator may from time to time establish for reasons of administrative convenience.

 

Article VII.
WITHDRAWAL; CESSATION OF ELIGIBILITY

 

7.1 Withdrawal. A Participant may withdraw all but not less than all of the payroll deductions credited to his or her account and not yet used to exercise his or her rights under the Plan at any time by giving written notice to the Company in a form acceptable to the Company no later than one week prior to the end of the Offering Period (or such shorter or longer period as may be specified by the Administrator in the applicable Offering Document). All of the Participant’s payroll deductions credited to his or her account during an Offering Period shall be paid to such Participant as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt of notice of withdrawal and such Participant’s rights for the Offering Period shall be automatically terminated, and no further payroll deductions for the purchase of Shares shall be made for such Offering Period. If a Participant withdraws from an Offering Period, payroll deductions shall not resume at the beginning of the next Offering Period unless the Participant timely delivers to the Company a new subscription agreement.

 

7.2 Future Participation. A Participant’s withdrawal from an Offering Period shall not have any effect upon his or her eligibility to participate in any similar plan that may hereafter be adopted by the Company or a Designated Subsidiary or in subsequent Offering Periods that commence after the termination of the Offering Period from which the Participant withdraws.

 

 

7.3 Cessation of Eligibility. Upon a Participant’s ceasing to be an Eligible Employee for any reason, he or she shall be deemed to have elected to withdraw from the Plan pursuant to this Article  and the payroll deductions credited to such Participant’s account during the Offering Period shall be paid to such Participant or, in the case of his or her death, to the person or persons entitled thereto under Section , as soon as reasonably practicable, and such Participant’s rights for the Offering Period shall be automatically terminated. If a Participant transfers employment from the Company or any Designated Subsidiary participating in the Section 423 Component to any Designated Subsidiary participating in the Non-Section 423 Component, such transfer shall not be treated as a termination of employment, but the Participant shall immediately cease to participate in the Section 423 Component; however, any contributions made for the Offering Period in which such transfer occurs shall be transferred to the Non-Section 423 Component, and such Participant shall immediately join the then-current Offering under the Non-Section 423 Component upon the same terms and conditions in effect for the Participant’s participation in the Section 423 Component, except for such modifications otherwise applicable for Participants in such Offering. A Participant who transfers employment from any Designated Subsidiary participating in the Non-Section 423 Component to the Company or any Designated Subsidiary participating in the Section 423 Component shall not be treated as terminating the Participant’s employment and shall remain a Participant in the Non-Section 423 Component until the earlier of (i) the end of the current Offering Period under the Non-Section 423 Component or (ii) the Enrollment Date of the first Offering Period in which the Participant is eligible to participate following such transfer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may establish different rules to govern transfers of employment between entities participating in the Section 423 Component and the Non-Section 423 Component, consistent with the applicable requirements of Section 423 of the Code.

 

Article VIII.
Adjustments upon Changes in SHARES

 

8.1 Changes in Capitalization. Subject to Section , in the event that the Administrator determines that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other property), change in control, reorganization, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, combination, repurchase, redemption, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, or sale, transfer, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or sale or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event, as determined by the Administrator, affects the Shares such that an adjustment is determined by the Administrator to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended by the Company to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any outstanding purchase rights under the Plan, the Administrator shall make equitable adjustments, if any, to reflect such change with respect to (a) the aggregate number and type of Shares (or other securities or property) that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Section  and the limitations established in each Offering Document pursuant to Section  on the maximum number of Shares that may be purchased); (b) the class(es) and number of Shares and price per Share subject to outstanding rights; and (c) the Purchase Price with respect to any outstanding rights.

 

8.2 Other Adjustments. Subject to Section , in the event of any transaction or event described in Section  or any unusual or nonrecurring transactions or events affecting the Company, any affiliate of the Company, or the financial statements of the Company or any affiliate (including without limitation, any change in control), or of changes in Applicable Law or accounting principles, the Administrator, in its discretion, and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, is hereby authorized to take any one or more of the following actions whenever the Administrator determines that such action is appropriate in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any right under the Plan, to facilitate such transactions or events or to give effect to such changes in laws, regulations or principles:

 

(a) To provide for either (i) termination of any outstanding right in exchange for an amount of cash, if any, equal to the amount that would have been obtained upon the exercise of such right had such right been currently exercisable or (ii) the replacement of such outstanding right with other rights or property selected by the Administrator in its sole discretion;

 

(b) To provide that the outstanding rights under the Plan shall be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a Parent or Subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by similar rights covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation, or a Parent or Subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices;

 

 

(c) To make adjustments in the number and type of Shares (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding rights under the Plan and/or in the terms and conditions of outstanding rights and rights that may be granted in the future;

 

(d) To provide that Participants’ accumulated payroll deductions may be used to purchase Shares prior to the next occurring Purchase Date on such date as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion and the Participants’ rights under the ongoing Offering Period(s) shall be terminated; and

 

(e) To provide that all outstanding rights shall terminate without being exercised.

 

8.3 No Adjustment Under Certain Circumstances. Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, no adjustment or action described in this Article  or in any other provision of the Plan shall be authorized to the extent that such adjustment or action would cause the Section 423 Component of the Plan to fail to satisfy the requirements of Section 423 of the Code.

 

8.4 No Other Rights. Except as expressly provided in the Plan, no Participant shall have any rights by reason of any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class, the payment of any dividend, any increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class or any dissolution, liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or any other corporation. Except as expressly provided in the Plan or pursuant to action of the Administrator under the Plan, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of Shares subject to outstanding rights under the Plan or the Purchase Price with respect to any outstanding rights.

 

Article IX.
Amendment, modification and termination

 

9.1 Amendment, Modification and Termination. The Administrator may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time and from time to time; provided, however, that approval of the Company’s stockholders shall be required to amend the Plan to: (a) increase the aggregate number, or change the type, of shares that may be sold pursuant to rights under the Plan under Section  (other than an adjustment as provided by Article VIII), (b) change the classes of corporations whose employees may be granted rights under the Plan or (c) to the extent required under Applicable Law, taking into account the terms hereof.

 

9.2 Certain Changes to Plan. Without stockholder consent and without regard to whether any Participant rights may be considered to have been adversely affected (and, with respect to the Section 423 Component of the Plan, after taking into account Section 423 of the Code), the Administrator shall be entitled to change or terminate the Offering Periods, add or revise Offering Period share limits, limit the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld from Compensation during an Offering Period, establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a currency other than U.S. dollars, permit payroll withholding in excess of the amount designated by a Participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in the Company’s processing of payroll withholding elections, establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of Shares for each Participant properly correspond with amounts withheld from the Participant’s Compensation, and establish such other limitations or procedures as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion to be advisable that are consistent with the Plan.

 

 

9.3 Actions In the Event of Unfavorable Financial Accounting Consequences. In the event the Administrator determines that the ongoing operation of the Plan may result in unfavorable financial accounting consequences, the Administrator may, in its discretion and, to the extent necessary or desirable, modify or amend the Plan to reduce or eliminate such accounting consequence including, but not limited to:

 

(a) altering the Purchase Price for any Offering Period including an Offering Period underway at the time of the change in Purchase Price;

 

(b) shortening any Offering Period so that the Offering Period ends on a new Purchase Date, including an Offering Period underway at the time of the Administrator action; and

 

(c) allocating Shares.

 

Such modifications or amendments shall not require stockholder approval or the consent of any Participant.

 

9.4 Payments Upon Termination of Plan. Upon termination of the Plan, the balance in each Participant’s Plan account shall be refunded as soon as practicable after such termination, without any interest thereon, or the Offering Period may be shortened so that the purchase of Shares occurs prior to the termination of the Plan.

 

Article X.
TERM OF PLAN

 

The Plan shall become effective on the Effective Date. The effectiveness of the Section 423 Component of the Plan shall be subject to approval of the Plan by the Company’s stockholders within twelve months following the date the Plan is first approved by the Board. No right may be granted under the Section 423 Component of the Plan prior to such stockholder approval. The Plan shall remain in effect until terminated under Section 9.1. No rights may be granted under the Plan during any period of suspension of the Plan or after termination of the Plan.

 

Article XI.
ADMINISTRATION

 

11.1 Administrator. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Administrator of the Plan shall be the Compensation Committee of the Board (or another committee or a subcommittee of the Board to which the Board delegates administration of the Plan). The Board may at any time vest in the Board any authority or duties for administration of the Plan. The Administrator may delegate administrative tasks under the Plan to the services of an Agent or Employees to assist in the administration of the Plan, including establishing and maintaining an individual securities account under the Plan for each Participant.

 

11.2 Authority of Administrator. The Administrator shall have the power, subject to, and within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:

 

(a) To determine when and how rights to purchase Shares shall be granted and the provisions of each offering of such rights (which need not be identical), including any matching contribution of Shares by the Company or any Designated Subsidiary under any Non-Section 423 Component.

 

(b) To designate from time to time which Subsidiaries of the Company shall be Designated Subsidiaries, which designation may be made without the approval of the stockholders of the Company.

 

 

(c) To impose a mandatory holding period pursuant to which Employees may not dispose of or transfer Shares purchased under the Plan for a period of time determined by the Administrator in its discretion.

 

(d) To construe and interpret the Plan and rights granted under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for its administration. The Administrator, in the exercise of this power, may correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to make the Plan fully effective.

 

(e) To amend, suspend or terminate the Plan as provided in Article .

 

(f)   Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as the Administrator deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of the Company and its Subsidiaries and to carry out the intent that the Plan be treated as an “employee stock purchase plan” within the meaning of Section 423 of the Code for the Section 423 Component.

 

(g) The Administrator may adopt sub-plans applicable to particular Designated Subsidiaries or locations, which sub-plans may be designed to be outside the scope of Section 423 of the Code. The rules of such sub-plans may take precedence over other provisions of this Plan, with the exception of Section hereof, but unless otherwise superseded by the terms of such sub-plan, the provisions of this Plan shall govern the operation of such sub-plan.

 

11.3 Decisions Binding. The Administrator’s interpretation of the Plan, any rights granted pursuant to the Plan, any subscription agreement and all decisions and determinations by the Administrator with respect to the Plan are final, binding, and conclusive on all parties.

 

Article XII.
MISCELLANEOUS

 

12.1 Restriction upon Assignment. A right granted under the Plan shall not be transferable other than by will or the applicable laws of descent and distribution, and is exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant. Except as provided in Section  hereof, a right under the Plan may not be exercised to any extent except by the Participant. The Company shall not recognize and shall be under no duty to recognize any assignment or alienation of the Participant’s interest in the Plan, the Participant’s rights under the Plan or any rights thereunder.

 

12.2 Rights as a Stockholder. With respect to Shares subject to a right granted under the Plan, a Participant shall not be deemed to be a stockholder of the Company, and the Participant shall not have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder, until such Shares have been issued to the Participant or his or her nominee following exercise of the Participant’s rights under the Plan. No adjustments shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash securities, or other property) or distribution or other rights for which the record date occurs prior to the date of such issuance, except as otherwise expressly provided herein or as determined by the Administrator.

 

12.3 Interest. No interest shall accrue on the payroll deductions or contributions of a Participant under the Plan.

 

 

12.4 Designation of Beneficiary.

 

(a) A Participant may, in the manner determined by the Administrator, file a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any Shares and/or cash, if any, from the Participant’s account under the Plan in the event of such Participant’s death subsequent to a Purchase Date on which the Participant’s rights are exercised but prior to delivery to such Participant of such Shares and cash. In addition, a Participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any cash from the Participant’s account under the Plan in the event of such Participant’s death prior to exercise of the Participant’s rights under the Plan. If the Participant is married and resides in a community property state, a designation of a person other than the Participant’s spouse as his or her beneficiary shall not be effective without the prior written consent of the Participant’s spouse.

 

(b) Such designation of beneficiary may be changed by the Participant at any time by written notice to the Company. In the event of the death of a Participant and in the absence of a beneficiary validly designated under the Plan who is living at the time of such Participant’s death, the Company shall deliver such Shares and/or cash to the executor or administrator of the estate of the Participant, or if no such executor or administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge of the Company), the Company, in its discretion, may deliver such Shares and/or cash to the spouse or to any one or more dependents or relatives of the Participant, or if no spouse, dependent or relative is known to the Company, then to such other person as the Company may designate.

 

12.5 Notices. All notices or other communications by a Participant to the Company under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given when received in the form specified by the Company at the location, or by the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.

 

12.6 Equal Rights and Privileges. Subject to Section , all Eligible Employees will have equal rights and privileges under the Section 423 Component so that the Section 423 Component of this Plan qualifies as an “employee stock purchase plan” within the meaning of Section 423 of the Code. Subject to Section , any provision of the Section 423 Component that is inconsistent with Section 423 of the Code will, without further act or amendment by the Company, the Board or the Administrator, be reformed to comply with the equal rights and privileges requirement of Section 423 of the Code. Eligible Employees participating in the Non-Section 423 Component need not have the same rights and privileges as other Eligible Employees participating in the Non-Section 423 Component or as Eligible Employees participating in the Section 423 Component.

 

12.7 Use of Funds. All payroll deductions received or held by the Company under the Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose, and the Company shall not be obligated to segregate such payroll deductions.

 

12.8 No Employment Rights. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to give any person (including any Eligible Employee or Participant) the right to remain in the employ of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary or affect the right of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary to terminate the employment of any person (including any Eligible Employee or Participant) at any time, with or without cause.

 

12.9 Notice of Disposition of Shares. Each Participant shall give prompt notice to the Company of any disposition or other transfer of any Shares purchased upon exercise of a right under the Section 423 Component of the Plan if such disposition or transfer is made: (a) within two years from the Enrollment Date of the Offering Period in which the Shares were purchased or (b) within one year after the Purchase Date on which such Shares were purchased. Such notice shall specify the date of such disposition or other transfer and the amount realized, in cash, other property, assumption of indebtedness or other consideration, by the Participant in such disposition or other transfer.

 

 

12.10 Governing Law. The Plan and any agreements hereunder shall be administered, interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, disregarding any state’s choice of law principles requiring the application of a jurisdiction’s laws other than the State of Delaware.

 

12.11 Electronic Forms. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law and in the discretion of the Administrator, an Eligible Employee may submit any form or notice as set forth herein by means of an electronic form approved by the Administrator. Before the commencement of an Offering Period, the Administrator shall prescribe the time limits within which any such electronic form shall be submitted to the Administrator with respect to such Offering Period in order to be a valid election.

 

* * * * *

 

E-15

Exhibit 10.1

 

SPONSOR SUPPORT AGREEMENT

 

This Sponsor Support Agreement (this “Sponsor Agreement”) is dated as of June 22, 2021 by and among Northern Genesis Sponsor II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor”), Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II, a Delaware corporation (“Acquiror”), and Embark Trucks Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement (as defined below).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, Sponsor is the holder of record and the “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of 10,350,000 shares of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock and 6,686,667 Acquiror Warrants;

 

WHEREAS, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Sponsor Agreement, Acquiror, Merger Sub and the Company have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended or modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of the date hereof, pursuant to which, among other transactions, following completion of the Merger, the Company will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Acquiror, on the terms and conditions set forth therein; and

 

WHEREAS, as an inducement to Acquiror and the Company to enter into the Merger Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated therein, the parties hereto desire to agree to certain matters as set forth herein.

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual agreements contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
SPONSOR SUPPORT AGREEMENT; COVENANTS

 

Section 1.1 Binding Effect of Merger Agreement. Sponsor hereby acknowledges that it has read the Merger Agreement and this Sponsor Agreement and has had the opportunity to consult with its tax and legal advisors. Sponsor shall be bound by and comply with Sections 7.4 (No Solicitation by Acquiror) and 12.12 (Publicity) of the Merger Agreement (and any relevant definitions contained in any such sections) as if Sponsor was an original signatory to the Merger Agreement with respect to such provisions.

 

Section 1.2 No Transfer. During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the earlier of (a) the Closing and (b) the liquidation of Acquiror, each Sponsor shall not (i) sell, assign, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of legal title to, or file (or participate in the filing of) a registration statement with the SEC (other than the Registration Statement or pursuant to the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement attached as Exhibit C to the Merger Agreement) with respect to, any Acquiror Common Stock or Acquiror Warrants owned by Sponsor, which transaction, offer, contract, or agreement provides for settlement or transfer prior to the date on which the Merger Agreement terminates, or (ii) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i) other than any public filings required by applicable Law (collectively, “Transfer”).

 

 

Section 1.3 New Shares. In the event that (a) any shares of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock of Acquiror are issued to Sponsor after the date of this Sponsor Agreement pursuant to any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, reclassification, combination or exchange of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock, (b) Sponsor purchases or otherwise acquires beneficial ownership of any Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock, or (c) a Sponsor acquires the right to vote or share in the voting of any Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock (such Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock, the “New Securities”), then such New Securities acquired or purchased by Sponsor shall be subject to the terms of Section 1.5 of this Sponsor Agreement to the same extent as if they constituted the Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock owned by Sponsor as of the date hereof.

 

Section 1.4 Closing Date Deliverables. On the Closing Date, Sponsor shall deliver to Acquiror and the Company a duly executed copy of that certain Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, by and among Acquiror, the Company, Sponsor and certain of the Company’s stockholders or their respective affiliates, as applicable, in substantially the form attached as Exhibit C to the Merger Agreement.

 

Section 1.5 Sponsor Agreements.

 

(a) At any duly called meeting of the shareholders of Acquiror or at any adjournment thereof, or in any other circumstance in which the vote, consent or other approval of the shareholders of Acquiror is sought, in each case, as contemplated by the Merger Agreement, Sponsor shall (i) appear at each such meeting or otherwise cause all of its Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock to be counted as present thereat for purposes of calculating a quorum and (ii) vote (or cause to be voted), or execute and deliver a written consent (or cause a written consent to be executed and delivered) covering, all of its Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock:

 

(i) in favor of the Transaction Proposals, including the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement;

 

(ii) against any Business Combination Proposal or any proposal relating to a Business Combination Proposal (in each case, other than the Transaction Proposals, including the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement);

 

(iii) against any merger agreement or merger (other than the Merger Agreement and the Merger), consolidation, combination, sale of substantial assets, reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of or by Acquiror;

 

(iv) against any change in the business, management or Board of Directors of Acquiror (in each case, other than the Transaction Proposals, including the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement); and

 

 

(v) against any proposal, action or agreement that would (A) impede, frustrate, prevent or nullify any provision of this Agreement, the Merger Agreement or the Merger, (B) result in a breach in any respect of any covenant, representation, warranty or any other obligation or agreement of Acquiror or Merger Sub under the Merger Agreement, (C) result in any of the conditions set forth in Section 9.1 or 9.3 of the Merger Agreement not being fulfilled or (D) change in any manner the dividend policy or capitalization of, including the voting rights of any class of capital stock of, Acquiror.

 

Sponsor hereby agrees that it shall not commit or agree to take any action inconsistent with the foregoing.

 

(b) Subject to Article II hereof, Sponsor shall comply with, and fully perform all of its obligations, covenants and agreements set forth in, that certain Letter Agreement, dated January 12, 2021, by and between Acquiror and Sponsor (the “Insider Letter”), including the obligations of Sponsor pursuant to Section 2 therein to not redeem any Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock owned by Sponsor in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

 

(c) During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the earlier of the consummation of the Closing and the termination of the Merger Agreement pursuant to Article X thereof, Sponsor shall not terminate or modify or amend, in any way adverse to the Company, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (i) any Contract between Sponsor, on the one hand, and Acquiror or any of Acquiror’s Subsidiaries, on the other hand, or (ii) any provision of any Commitment Letter, dated on or about January 8, 2021 (as amended on or about January 11 and April 21, 2021), between Sponsor and any institutional investor therein (each, a “Commitment Letter” and each such investor, together with its affiliates, an “Investor”), in each case, without the prior consent of the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

 

(d) Sponsor hereby agrees that Sponsor shall waive, and hereby does waive, any and all dissenters’, appraisal or similar rights that may otherwise be available under applicable Law with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and that it shall not take any action in furtherance of exercising any such rights.

 

(e) Sponsor hereby agrees that Sponsor shall waive, and hereby does waive, any and all anti-dilution or similar rights (if any) that may otherwise be available under applicable Law or pursuant to any Contract between or among Sponsor and Acquiror or any of Acquiror’s Subsidiaries with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and that it shall not take any action in furtherance of exercising any such rights.

 

Section 1.6 No Inconsistent Agreement. Sponsor hereby represents and covenants that Sponsor has not entered into, and shall not enter into, any agreement that would restrict, limit or interfere with the performance of Sponsor’s obligations hereunder.

 

 

ARTICLE II
LOCK-UP

 

Section 2.1 Lock-up. Subject to Section 2.2, Sponsor and each person that agrees pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof to be bound by this Article II hereby agrees not to Transfer any Lock-up Securities until the end of the Lock-up Period applicable to such Lock-up Securities (the “Lock-up”).

 

Section 2.2 Permitted Transfers.

 

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in Section 2.1, Sponsor and any of its Permitted Transferees may Transfer any Lock-up Securities during the Lock-up Period:

 

(i) to (A) any Related Holder, (B) any persons who are, or immediately prior to the Effective Time were, officers or directors of Acquiror, or any of their respective Related Holders, (C) any securityholders, members or partners of Sponsor or any of their respective Related Holders, or (D) any entity that is controlled by any combination of any of any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each such transferee must agree in writing for the express benefit of Acquiror and the Company to be bound by this Article II with respect to (and solely with respect to) the Lock-up Securities that are so transferred to such transferee;

 

(ii) in the case of an individual, (A) by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of such individual, or (B), pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; provided, however, that each such transferee must agree in writing for the express benefit of Acquiror and the Company to be bound by this Article II with respect to (and solely with respect to) the Lock-up Securities that are so transferred to such transferee;

 

(iii) in the case of an entity, by virtue of the laws of the jurisdiction of such entity’s organization and its organizational documents upon dissolution of the entity; provided, however, that each such transferee must agree in writing for the express benefit of Acquiror and the Company to be bound by this Article II with respect to (and solely with respect to) the Lock-up Securities that are so transferred to such transferee; or

 

(iv) in connection with any mortgage, encumbrance or pledge in connection with any indebtedness or the secured party’s exercise or enforcement of rights thereunder, including its foreclosure, sale, pledge, rehypothecation, assignment or other use of such collateral; or

 

(v) subsequent to the Closing Date, in the event of Acquiror’s liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of Acquiror’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Acquiror Common Stock for cash, securities or other property.

 

(b) As used herein, the term “Permitted Transferee” means any person or entity to whom Sponsor (or any other Permitted Transferee that is bound hereby) Transfers such Lock-up Securities prior to the expiration of the Lock-up Period pursuant to and in compliance with this Section 2.2.

 

 

Section 2.3 Inconsistent Agreements. The Lock-up in this Article II shall supersede the lock-up provisions contained in Section 4 of the Insider Letter, Section 10 of the Commitment Letters, any subscription agreement referenced in the Insider Letter or any Commitment Letter and any other agreement by and between Acquiror and Sponsor (whether related to shares of Acquiror Common Stock or Acquiror Warrants (or both)), which provisions in Section 4 of the Insider Letter, in Section 10 of the Commitment Letters, in any such subscription agreement referenced therein or in any such other agreement shall be of no further force or effect.

 

Section 2.4 Lock-up Period. As used herein, the term “Lock-up Period” means the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the earlier of:

 

(a) the date that is (i) solely with respect to the Restricted Founder Securities (as defined below), the earlier of (A) the date that is 365 days after the Closing Date, or (B) the date on which the last sales price of the Acquiror Class A Common Stock has equaled or exceeded $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like following the Closing Date) for any 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Closing Date, or (ii) solely with respect to the Restricted Warrant Securities (as defined below), 30 days after the Closing Date; and

 

(b) the completion, following the Closing Date, of any liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all holders of Acquiror Common Stock having the right to exchange their Acquiror Common Stock for cash, securities or other property.

 

Section 2.5 Lock-up Securities.

 

(a) As used herein, the term “Lock-up Securities” means and includes any and all of the following:

 

(i) (A) the 10,350,000 shares of Acquiror Class A Common Stock held by the Sponsor immediately following the Closing into which shares of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock are reclassified that were originally issued by Acquiror to Sponsor prior to or upon Acquiror’s initial public offering (the “Founder Shares”), and (B) any shares or other securities of Acquiror that in any case are issued in respect of or upon any conversion, exercise or exchange of any Founder Shares (or of any other Lock-up Securities resulting therefrom), including pursuant to the Merger or as a result of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or other like change with respect to any such Lock-up Securities (the Founder Shares, together with any and all such resulting securities, the “Restricted Founder Securities”); and

 

(ii) (A) the Acquiror Private Placement Warrants (including the shares of Acquiror Common Stock issuable upon exercise thereof), and any Acquiror Working Capital Warrants (including the shares of Acquiror Common Stock issuable upon exercise thereof) (together with the Acquiror Private Placement Warrants, the “Acquiror Restricted Warrants”), held by Sponsor immediately following the Closing, and (B) any warrants, shares or other securities of Acquiror that in any case are issued in respect of or upon any conversion, exercise, or exchange of, or that result from the assumption of, any Acquiror Restricted Warrants (or of any other Lock-up Securities resulting therefrom), including pursuant to the Merger or as a result of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or other like change with respect to any such Lock-up Securities (the Acquiror Restricted Warrants, together with any and all such resulting securities, the “Restricted Warrant Securities”).

 

 

(b) For clarity, shares of Acquiror Common Stock and Acquiror Warrants acquired (i) in the public market (whether prior to or after the Closing), (ii) pursuant to a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act, pursuant to a subscription agreement where the issuance of Acquiror Common Stock occurs on or after the Closing, or (iii) issued in connection with the FPA Investment or PIPE Investment, shall not constitute Lock-up Securities.

 

ARTICLE III
certain FORFEITURE OF FOUNDER SHARES

 

Section 3.1 Redemption Related Forfeiture. To the extent that holders of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock exercise Acquiror Share Redemptions with respect to more than twenty percent (20%) of the issued and outstanding shares of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock (the “Redemption Threshold”), Sponsor shall forfeit and transfer to Acquiror, immediately prior to the Effective Time and without payment of further consideration, a percentage of the total Founder Shares outstanding on the date hereof (10,350,000 shares) equal to the percentage calculated as (a) the quotient (expressed as a percentage) calculated as (i) the aggregate number of shares of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock that are the subject of Acquiror Share Redemptions (that are not withdrawn) divided by (ii) the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock minus (b) twenty percent (20%). By way of example, if twenty-two percent (22%) of the of the issued and outstanding shares of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock are the subject of Acquiror Share Redemptions, Sponsor shall forfeit two percent (2%) of the aggregate issued and outstanding Founder Shares (207,000 Founder Shares).

 

Section 3.2 FPA Related Forfeiture.

 

(a) Sponsor shall forfeit and transfer to Acquiror, immediately prior to the Effective Time and without payment of further consideration, a number of Founder Shares equal to (i) 187,500 Founder Shares, multiplied by (ii) the percentage obtained by dividing the FPA Investment Amount by $75,000,000.

 

(b) In addition to the foregoing, to the extent that the FPA Investment Amount is less than $75,000,000, Sponsor shall forfeit and transfer to Acquiror, immediately prior to the Effective Time and without payment of further consideration, a number of Founder Shares equal to (i) 627,910 Founder Shares, multiplied by (ii) the percentage obtained by dividing (A) the amount by which the FPA Investment Amount is less than $75,000,000, by (B) $75,000,000.

 

Section 3.3 Forfeiture for Failure to Support Transaction. In the event that, upon the Closing of the Merger, the Investors, in the aggregate, fail to hold at least 9,000,000 public shares of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock (excluding any shares that are the subject of an Acquiror Share Redemption), Sponsor shall forfeit and transfer to Acquiror, immediately prior to the Effective Time and without payment of further consideration, a number of Founder Shares equal to (i) 1,130,239 Founder Shares, multiplied by (ii) the percentage equal to (x) one hundred percent (100%) minus (y) the percentage obtained by dividing (A) the number of public shares of Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock (excluding any shares that are the subject of an Acquiror Share Redemption) then held by the Investors, in the aggregate, by (B) 9,000,000.

 

 

Section 3.4 Effect of Forfeiture . Any Founder Shares that are forfeited pursuant to the terms of this Article III shall be cancelled by Acquiror and cease to exist prior to the Effective Time. For clarity, no Founder Shares are otherwise subject to vesting or forfeiture in favor of Acquiror for any reason or by any agreement or document, other than as specifically agreed in this Article III.

 

ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Section 4.1 Representations and Warranties of Sponsor. Sponsor represents and warrants as of the date hereof to Acquiror and the Company as follows:

 

(a) Organization; Due Authorization. Sponsor is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated, formed, organized or constituted, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Sponsor Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby are within Sponsor’s limited liability company powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company actions on the part of Sponsor. This Sponsor Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Sponsor and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties to this Sponsor Agreement, this Sponsor Agreement constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of Sponsor, enforceable against Sponsor in accordance with the terms hereof (except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy Laws, other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights and general principles of equity affecting the availability of specific performance and other equitable remedies). If this Sponsor Agreement is being executed in a representative or fiduciary capacity, the Person signing this Sponsor Agreement has full power and authority to enter into this Sponsor Agreement on behalf of Sponsor.

 

(b) Ownership. Sponsor is the record and beneficial owner (as defined in the Securities Act) of, and has good title to, all of the Founder Shares and all of the Acquiror Private Placement Warrants set forth opposite such Sponsor’s name on Schedule I, and there exist no Liens or any other limitation or restriction (including any restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of such Founder Shares or Acquiror Private Placement Warrants (other than transfer restrictions under the Securities Act)) affecting any such Founder Shares or Acquiror Private Placement Warrants, other than Liens pursuant to (i) this Sponsor Agreement, or (ii) the Acquiror Governing Documents or the governing documents of Sponsor. Such Founder Shares and Acquiror Private Placement Warrants are the only equity securities in Acquiror owned of record or beneficially by Sponsor on the date of this Sponsor Agreement, and none of Sponsor’s Founder Shares or Acquiror Private Placement Warrants are subject to any proxy, voting trust or other agreement or arrangement with respect to the voting of such Founder Shares or Acquiror Private Placement Warrants, except as provided hereunder. Other than the Acquiror Private Placement Warrants and the Acquiror Working Capital Warrants, Sponsor does not hold or own any rights to acquire (directly or indirectly) any equity securities of Acquiror or any equity securities convertible into, or which can be exchanged for, equity securities of Acquiror.

 

 

(c) No Conflicts. The execution and delivery of this Sponsor Agreement by Sponsor does not, and the performance by Sponsor of its obligations hereunder will not, (i) conflict with or result in a violation of the Governing Documents of Sponsor or (ii) require any consent or approval that has not been given or other action that has not been taken by any Person (including under any Contract binding upon Sponsor or Sponsor’s Acquiror Pre-Transaction Common Stock or Acquiror Warrants), in each case, to the extent such consent, approval or other action would prevent, enjoin or materially delay the performance by Sponsor of its obligations under this Sponsor Agreement.

 

(d) Litigation. There are no Actions pending against Sponsor, or to the knowledge of Sponsor threatened against Sponsor, before (or, in the case of threatened Actions, that would be before) any arbitrator or any Governmental Authority, which in any manner challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin or materially delay the performance by Sponsor of its obligations under this Sponsor Agreement.

 

(e) Brokerage Fees. Except as described on Section 5.13 of the Acquiror Disclosure Letter, no broker, finder, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement based upon arrangements made by Sponsor, for which Acquiror or any of its Affiliates may become liable.

 

(f) Affiliate Arrangements. Except as set forth on Schedule II attached hereto, neither Sponsor nor, to the knowledge of Sponsor, any Person in which Sponsor has a direct or indirect legal, contractual or beneficial ownership of 5% or greater is party to, or has any rights with respect to or arising from, any Contract with Acquiror or its Subsidiaries. Each Commitment Letter between Sponsor and the applicable Investor is, in all substantive respects, in the form previously provided by Sponsor to the Company, and there are no other agreements between Sponsor and any such Investor that modify, amend or terminate any provision thereof in a manner which is materially adverse to the Company, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

 

(g) Acknowledgment. Sponsor understands and acknowledges that each of Acquiror and the Company is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon Sponsor’s execution and delivery of this Sponsor Agreement.

 

ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 5.1 Termination. This Sponsor Agreement and all of its provisions shall terminate and be of no further force or effect upon the earliest of (a) the Closing, (b) any termination of the Merger Agreement and (c) the written agreement of Sponsor, Acquiror, and the Company. Upon such termination of this Sponsor Agreement, all obligations of the parties under this Sponsor Agreement will terminate, without any liability or other obligation on the part of any party hereto to any Person in respect hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby, and no party hereto shall have any claim against another (and no person shall have any rights against such party), whether under contract, tort or otherwise, with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that the termination of this Sponsor Agreement shall not relieve any party hereto from liability arising in respect of any breach of this Sponsor Agreement prior to such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, ARTICLE III and this ARTICLE V shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

 

Section 5.2 Governing Law. This Sponsor Agreement, and all claims or causes of action (whether in contract or tort) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Sponsor Agreement or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Sponsor Agreement (including any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of or related to any representation or warranty made in or in connection with this Sponsor Agreement), will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal Laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements executed and performed entirely within such State.

 

Section 5.3 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

 

(a) THE PARTIES TO THIS SPONSOR AGREEMENT SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE COURTS LOCATED IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE OR THE COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES LOCATED IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE IN RESPECT OF THE INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SPONSOR AGREEMENT AND ANY RELATED AGREEMENT, CERTIFICATE OR OTHER DOCUMENT DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH AND BY THIS SPONSOR AGREEMENT WAIVE, AND AGREE NOT TO ASSERT, ANY DEFENSE IN ANY ACTION FOR THE INTERPRETATION OR ENFORCEMENT OF THIS SPONSOR AGREEMENT AND ANY RELATED AGREEMENT, CERTIFICATE OR OTHER DOCUMENT DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH, THAT THEY ARE NOT SUBJECT THERETO OR THAT SUCH ACTION MAY NOT BE BROUGHT OR IS NOT MAINTAINABLE IN SUCH COURTS OR THAT THIS SPONSOR AGREEMENT MAY NOT BE ENFORCED IN OR BY SUCH COURTS OR THAT THEIR PROPERTY IS EXEMPT OR IMMUNE FROM EXECUTION, THAT THE ACTION IS BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM, OR THAT THE VENUE OF THE ACTION IS IMPROPER. SERVICE OF PROCESS WITH RESPECT THERETO MAY BE MADE UPON ANY PARTY TO THIS SPONSOR AGREEMENT BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO SUCH PARTY AT ITS ADDRESS AS PROVIDED IN Section 5.8.

 

(b) WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS SPONSOR AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SPONSOR AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS SPONSOR AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) 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, (II) EACH SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (III) EACH SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (IV) EACH SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS SPONSOR AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS Section 5.3.

 

 

Section 5.4 Assignment. This Sponsor Agreement and all of the provisions hereof will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, successors and permitted assigns. Neither this Sponsor Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder will be assigned (including by operation of law) without the prior written consent of the parties hereto.

 

Section 5.5 Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage may occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Sponsor Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties hereto shall be entitled to seek an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Sponsor Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Sponsor Agreement in the chancery court or any other state or federal court within the State of Delaware, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law or in equity.

 

Section 5.6 Amendment. This Sponsor Agreement may not be amended, changed, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified or terminated, except upon the execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by Acquiror, the Company and Sponsor.

 

Section 5.7 Severability. If any provision of this Sponsor Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Sponsor Agreement will remain in full force and effect. Any provision of this Sponsor Agreement held invalid or unenforceable only in part or degree will remain in full force and effect to the extent not held invalid or unenforceable.

 

Section 5.8 Notices. All notices and other communications among the parties hereto shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) when delivered in person, (b) when delivered after posting in the United States mail having been sent registered or certified mail return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (c) when delivered by FedEx or other nationally recognized overnight delivery service or (d) when e-mailed during normal business hours (and otherwise as of the immediately following Business Day), addressed as follows:

 

If to Acquiror:

 

Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II
4801 Main Street, Suite 1000
Kansas City, MO 64112

Attn: Ian Robertson
E-mail: Ian.Robertson@northerngenesis.com

 

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

 

Husch Blackwell LLP
4801 Main Street, Suite 1000
Kansas City, MO 64112
Attn: James G. Goettsch and Rebecca Taylor
E-mail: jim.goettsch@huschblackwell.com and
rebecca.taylor@huschblackwell.com

 

 

If to the Company:

 

Embark Trucks Inc.
424 Townsend Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
Attention: Alex Rodrigues

Siddhartha Venkatesan

Email:          alex@embarktrucks.com

sid@embarktrucks.com

 

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

Latham & Watkins LLP

885 Third Ave

New York, NY 10022
Attention: Justin G. Hamill and Marc A. Granger

Email:         justin.hamill@lw.com and marc.granger@lw.com

 

If to Sponsor:

 

Northern Genesis Sponsor II LLC

4801 Main Street, Suite 1000

Kansas City, MO 64112

Attn: Ian Robertson

E-mail: Ian.Robertson@northerngenesis.com

 

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

Husch Blackwell LLP
4801 Main Street, Suite 1000
Kansas City, MO 64112
Attn: James G. Goettsch and Rebecca Taylor
E-mail: jim.goettsch@huschblackwell.com and
rebecca.taylor@huschblackwell.com

 

Section 5.9 Counterparts. This Sponsor Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts (any of which may be delivered by electronic transmission), each of which shall constitute an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

Section 5.10 Entire Agreement. This Sponsor Agreement and the agreements referenced herein constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties hereto to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof.

 

[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY BLANK]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Sponsor, Acquiror, and the Company have each caused this Sponsor Support Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

	SPONSOR:
	NORTHERN GENESIS SPONSOR II LLC
	By:	/s/ Ian Robertson
		Name:	Ian Robertson
		Title:	Managing Member
	ACQUIROR:
	NORTHERN GENESIS ACQUISITION CORP. II
	By:	/s/ Ian Robertson
		Name:	Ian Robertson
		Title:	Chief Executive Officer
	COMPANY:
	embark trucks inc.
	By:	/s/ Alex Rodrigues
		Name:	Alex Rodrigues
		Title:	Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Sponsor Support Agreement]

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

Execution Version

 

company holders SUPPORT AGREEMENT

 

This Company Holders Support Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of June 22, 2021, is entered into by and among Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II, a Delaware corporation (“Acquiror”), Embark Trucks Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and certain of the stockholders of the Company, whose names appear on the signature pages of this Agreement (such stockholders, the “Stockholders”, and Acquiror, the Company and the Stockholders, each a “Party”, and collectively, the “Parties”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, concurrently herewith, Acquiror, the Company and NGAB Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Acquiror (“Merger Sub”) are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”; capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement), pursuant to which (and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein), Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company being the surviving corporation of the Merger;

 

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, each Stockholder is the record and “beneficial owner” (as such term is used herein, within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the “Exchange Act”)) of, and has the power to dispose of and vote (or direct the voting of), the number, class and series of shares of Company Capital Stock set forth opposite such Stockholder’s name on Schedule 1 attached hereto (collectively, with respect to each Stockholder, such Stockholder’s “Owned Shares”, and such Owned Shares, together with (1) any additional shares of Company Capital Stock (or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Company Capital Stock) in which such Stockholder acquires record and beneficial ownership after the date hereof, including by purchase, as a result of a stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, combination, reclassification, exchange or change of such shares, or upon exercise or conversion of any securities and (2) any additional shares of Company Capital Stock with respect to which such Stockholder has the right to vote through a proxy, the “Covered Shares”);

 

WHEREAS, upon the consummation of the Merger, each of the following agreements will terminate: (i) that certain Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement, dated as of August 2, 2019, by and among the Company and the Investors (as such term is defined therein) (the “Investors’ Rights Agreement”), (ii) that certain Amended and Restated Voting Agreement, dated as of August 2, 2019, by and among the Company, the Investors and the Key Holders (as such terms are defined therein) (the “Voting Agreement”), and (iii) that certain Amended and Restated Right of First Refusal and Co-Sale Agreement, dated as of August 2, 2019, by and among the Company, the Investors and the Common Holders (as such terms are defined therein) (the “ROFR Agreement” and, together with the Investors’ Rights Agreement and the Voting Agreement, the “Investment Agreements”); and

 

 

WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to the willingness of Acquiror to enter into the Merger Agreement, the Company and the Stockholders are entering into this Agreement.

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, Acquiror, the Company and each Stockholder hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Agreement to Vote. Subject to the earlier termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 3 and the last paragraph of this Section 1, each Stockholder, solely in his, her or its capacity as a stockholder or proxy holder of the Company, irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to validly execute and deliver to the Company in respect of all of the Stockholder’s Covered Shares, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act and delivered or otherwise made available to the stockholders of Acquiror and the Company, and in any event within forty-eight (48) hours after the Registration Statement is declared effective and delivered or otherwise made available to the stockholders of Acquiror and the Company, a written consent in respect of all of such Stockholder’s Covered Shares approving the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby and, to the extent applicable, the conversion of each share of Company Founders Preferred Stock or Company Preferred Stock, in each case, held by such Stockholder into shares of Company Common Stock immediately prior to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. In addition, prior to the Termination Date (as defined herein), each Stockholder, in his, her or its capacity as a stockholder or proxy holder of the Company, irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that, at any other meeting of the stockholders of the Company (whether annual or special and whether or not an adjourned or postponed meeting, however called and including any adjournment or postponement thereof) and in connection with any written consent of stockholders of the Company, such Stockholder shall, and shall cause any other holder of record of any of such Stockholder’s Covered Shares to:

 

(a) when such meeting is held, appear at such meeting or otherwise cause such Stockholder’s Covered Shares to be counted as present thereat for the purpose of establishing a quorum;

 

(b) vote (or execute and return an action by written consent), or cause to be voted at such meeting (or validly execute and return and cause such consent to be granted with respect to), all of such Stockholder’s Covered Shares owned as of the record date for such meeting (or the date that any written consent is executed by such Stockholder) in favor of the Merger and the adoption of the Merger Agreement and any other matters necessary or reasonably requested by the Company for consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby;

 

(c) in any other circumstances upon which a consent or other approval is required under the Company’s Governing Documents or the Investment Agreements or otherwise sought with respect to the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby, vote, consent or approve (or cause to be voted, consented or approved) all of such Stockholder’s Covered Shares held at such time in favor thereof;

 

(d) vote (or execute and return an action by written consent), or cause to be voted at such meeting (or validly execute and return and cause such consent to be granted with respect to), all of such Stockholder’s Covered Shares against (i) any Acquisition Proposal or any proposal relating to an Acquisition Proposal (in each case, other than the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement); (ii) any merger agreement or merger (other than the Merger Agreement and the Merger), consolidation, combination, sale of substantial assets, reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of or by the Company; and (iii) against any proposal, action or agreement that would (A) impede, frustrate, prevent or nullify any provision of this Agreement, the Merger Agreement or the Merger, (B) result in a breach in any respect of any covenant, representation, warranty or any other obligation or agreement of the Company under the Merger Agreement or (C) result in any of the conditions set forth in Section 9.2 of the Merger Agreement not being fulfilled.

 

 

Each Stockholder hereby agrees that he, she or it shall not commit or agree to take any action inconsistent with the foregoing.

 

The obligations of each Stockholder specified in this Section 1 shall apply whether or not the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement are recommended by the Board of Directors of the Company or the Board of Directors of the Company has previously recommended the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement but changed such recommendation.

 

2. No Inconsistent Agreements. Each Stockholder hereby covenants and agrees that such Stockholder shall not (i) enter into any voting agreement or voting trust with respect to any of such Stockholder’s Covered Shares that is inconsistent with such Stockholder’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement, (ii) grant a proxy or power of attorney with respect to any of such Stockholder’s Covered Shares that is inconsistent with such Stockholder’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement, or (iii) enter into any agreement or undertaking that is otherwise inconsistent with, or would interfere with, or prohibit or prevent it from satisfying, its obligations pursuant to this Agreement.

 

3. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earliest of (i) the Effective Time, (ii) the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms, and (iii) the time this Agreement is terminated upon the mutual written agreement of the Company, Acquiror and the Stockholders (the earliest such date under clause (i), (ii) and (iii) being referred to herein as the “Termination Date”) and the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement and in any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto shall not survive the Closing or the termination of this Agreement; provided, that the provisions set forth in Sections 10 through 21 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

4. Representations and Warranties of the Stockholders. Each Stockholder hereby represents and warrants (severally and not jointly as to itself only) to Acquiror as follows:

 

(a) Such Stockholder is the record owner and beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of, and has good, valid and marketable title to or has a valid proxy to vote, such Stockholder’s Covered Shares, free and clear of any Liens (other than restrictions on transfer under applicable securities Laws and Liens as created by this Agreement or the organizational documents of the Company (including, for the purposes hereof, any agreements between or among stockholders of the Company)). As of the date hereof, other than the Owned Shares set forth opposite such Stockholder’s name on Schedule 1, such Stockholder does not own beneficially or of record any shares of Company Capital Stock (or any securities convertible into shares of Company Capital Stock) or any interest therein.

 

 

(b) Such Stockholder, (i) has full voting power, full power of disposition and full power to issue instructions with respect to the matters set forth herein whether by ownership or by proxy, in each case, with respect to such Stockholder’s Covered Shares, (ii) except as provided in this Agreement, the Investment Agreements or the Company’s Governing Documents (including, for the purposes hereof, any agreements between or among stockholders of the Company), has not entered into any voting agreement or voting trust, and has no knowledge and is not aware of any such voting agreement or voting trust in effect with respect to any of such Stockholder’s Covered Shares that is inconsistent with such Stockholder’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement, (iii)

 

(c) has not granted a proxy or power of attorney with respect to any of such Stockholder’s Covered Shares that is inconsistent with such Stockholder’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement, and has no knowledge and is not aware of any such proxy or power of attorney in effect, and (iv) has not entered into any agreement or undertaking that is otherwise inconsistent with, or would interfere with, or prohibit or prevent it from satisfying, its obligations pursuant to this Agreement, and has no knowledge and is not aware of any such agreement or undertaking.

 

(d) Such Stockholder affirms that (i) if such Stockholder is a natural person, he or she has all the requisite power and authority and has taken all action necessary in order to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform his or her obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and (ii) if such Stockholder is not a natural person, (A) is a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and, to the extent such concept is applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, and (B) has all requisite corporate or other power and authority and has taken all corporate or other action necessary in order to, execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Stockholder and, subject to the due execution and delivery of this Agreement by each other Party, constitutes a legally valid and binding agreement of such Stockholder enforceable against such Stockholder in accordance with the terms hereof (except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy Laws or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights and general principles of equity affecting the availability of specific performance and other equitable remedies).

 

(e) No filings, notices, reports, consents, registrations, approvals, permits, waivers, expirations of waiting periods or authorizations are required to be obtained by such Stockholder from, or to be given by such Stockholder to, or be made by such Stockholder with, any Governmental Authority in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Stockholder of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or (other than the filings, notices and reports pursuant to, in compliance with or required to be made under the Exchange Act), the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

 

(f) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such Stockholder does not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement will not, constitute or result in (i) a breach or violation of, or a default under, the Governing Documents of such Stockholder (if such Stockholder is not a natural person), (ii) with or without notice, lapse of time or both, a breach or violation of, a termination (or right of termination) of or a default under, the loss of any benefit under, the creation, modification or acceleration of any obligations under or the creation of a Lien on any of the properties, rights or assets of such Stockholder pursuant to any Contract binding upon such Stockholder or, assuming (solely with respect to performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby), compliance with the matters referred to in Section 4(d), under any applicable Law to which such Stockholder is subject or (iii) any change in the rights or obligations of any party under any Contract legally binding upon such Stockholder, except, in the case of clause (ii) or (iii) directly above, for any such breach, violation, termination, default, creation, acceleration or change that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay or impair such Stockholder’s ability to perform its obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

 

 

(g) As of the date of this Agreement, there is no Action pending against such Stockholder or, to the knowledge of such Stockholder, threatened against such Stockholder that, in any manner, questions the beneficial or record ownership of the Stockholder’s Covered Shares or the validity of this Agreement, or challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin or materially delay the performance by such Stockholder of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(h) Such Stockholder is a sophisticated stockholder and has adequate information concerning the business and financial condition of Acquiror and the Company to make an informed decision regarding this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and has independently and based on such information as such Stockholder has deemed appropriate, made its own analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Such Stockholder acknowledges that Acquiror and the Company have not made and do not make any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, of any kind or character except as expressly set forth in this Agreement. Such Stockholder acknowledges that the agreements contained herein with respect to the Covered Shares held by such Stockholder are irrevocable.

 

(i) Such Stockholder understands and acknowledges that Acquiror is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon such Stockholder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement and the representations, warranties, covenants and other agreements of such Stockholder contained herein.

 

(j) No investment banker, broker, finder or other intermediary is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission for which Acquiror or the Company is or could be liable in connection with the Merger Agreement or this Agreement or any of the respective transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, in each case based upon arrangements made by such Stockholder in his, her or its capacity as a stockholder or, to the knowledge of such Stockholder, on behalf of such Stockholder in his, her or its capacity as a stockholder.

 

5. Certain Covenants of the Stockholders. Except in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, each Stockholder hereby covenants and agrees as follows:

 

(a) No Solicitation. Subject to Section 6 hereof, prior to the Termination Date, each Stockholder shall not take, and, to the extent applicable, shall direct its Affiliates and representatives not to take, whether directly or indirectly, any action to (i) solicit, initiate, continue or engage in discussions or negotiations with, or enter into any agreement with, or knowingly encourage, respond to, or provide information to, any Person (other than Acquiror, the Company and/or any of their respective Affiliates or representatives) concerning any Acquisition Proposal, (ii) commence, continue or renew any due diligence investigation regarding, or that is reasonably likely to give rise to or result in, any offer, inquiry, proposal or indication of interest, written or oral, with respect to, or which is reasonably likely to give rise to or result in, an Acquisition Proposal, (iii) solicit, initiate, continue or engage in discussions or negotiations with, or enter into any agreement with, or encourage, respond to, provide information to or commence due diligence with respect to, any Person (other than Acquiror, the Company and/or any of their respective Affiliates or representatives) concerning, relating to or which is intended or is reasonably likely to give rise to or result in, any Business Combination Proposal other than with Acquiror, the Company and their respective Affiliates and representatives; provided, that, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall not be deemed a violation of this Section 5(a). Such Stockholder shall, and shall direct its representatives to, immediately cease any and all existing discussions or negotiations with any Person conducted prior to the date hereof with respect to, or which is reasonably likely to give rise to or result in, an Acquisition Proposal or a Business Combination Proposal (other than the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement).

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, (i) such Stockholder shall not be responsible for the actions of the Company or the Board of Directors of the Company (or any committee thereof), any subsidiary of the Company, or any officers, directors (in their capacity as such), employees and professional advisors of any of the foregoing (collectively, the “Company Related Parties”), (ii) such Stockholder makes no representations or warranties with respect to the actions of any of the Company Related Parties, and (iii) any breach by the Company of its obligations under Section 6.5 of the Merger Agreement shall not be considered a breach of this Section 5(a) (it being understood that, for the avoidance of doubt, such Stockholder or his, her or its representatives (other than any such representative that is a Company Related Party) shall remain responsible for any breach by such Stockholder or his, her or its representatives of this Section 5(a)).

 

 

(b) Each Stockholder hereby agrees, prior to the Termination Date, not to (except in each case pursuant to the Merger Agreement), (i) (x) sell, assign, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of legal title to, or file (or participate in the filing of) a registration statement with the SEC (other than the Registration Statement) with respect to, any Covered Shares, which transaction, offer, contract, or agreement provides for settlement or transfer prior to Termination Date, or (y) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (x) other than any public filings required by applicable Law (collectively, “Transfer”), or (b) enter into any Contract or option with respect to the Transfer of, any of such Stockholder’s Covered Shares, or (ii) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in clauses (a) or (b), or (iii) take any action that would make any representation or warranty of such Stockholder contained herein untrue or incorrect or have the effect of preventing or disabling such Stockholder from performing its obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit a Transfer to an Affiliate of such Stockholder or to another Stockholder of the Company that is a party to this Agreement and bound by the terms and obligations hereof (a “Permitted Transfer”); provided, further, that any Permitted Transfer shall be permitted only if, as a precondition to such Transfer, the transferee agrees in a writing, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Acquiror, to assume all of the obligations of such Stockholder under, and be bound by all of the terms of, this Agreement; provided, further, that any Transfer permitted under this Section 5(b) shall not relieve such Stockholder of its obligations under this Agreement. Any Transfer in violation of this Section 5(b) with respect to the Stockholder’s Covered Shares shall be null and void.

 

(c) Each Stockholder hereby authorizes the Company to maintain a copy of this Agreement at either the executive office or the registered office of the Company.

 

(d) Binding Effect of Merger Agreement. Each Stockholder hereby acknowledges that it has read the Merger Agreement and this Agreement and has had the opportunity to consult with its tax and legal advisors. Each Stockholder shall be bound by and comply with Section 11.12 (Publicity) of the Merger Agreement (and any relevant definitions contained in any such sections) as if such Stockholder was an original signatory to the Merger Agreement with respect to such provisions.

 

(e) Closing Date Deliverables. On the Closing Date, each Stockholder that is requested by the Company to execute the Registration Rights Agreement shall deliver to Acquiror and the Company a duly executed copy of the Registration Rights Agreement, in substantially the form attached as Exhibit C to the Merger Agreement.

 

(f) Drag-Along Rights. Each Stockholder shall take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and cooperate with other parties, to exercise the drag-along rights set forth in Section 2.8 of the Voting Agreement with respect to the Merger.

 

(g) No Challenges. Each Stockholder agrees not to commence, join in, facilitate, assist or encourage, and agrees to take all actions necessary to opt out of any class in any class action with respect to, any claim, derivative or otherwise, against Acquiror, Merger Sub, the Company or any of their respective successors or directors, challenging the validity of, or seeking to enjoin the operation of, any provision of this Agreement or alleging a breach of any fiduciary duty of any Person in connection with the evaluation, negotiation or entry into the Merger Agreement. Each Stockholder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to assert, exercise or perfect (or attempt to exercise, assert or perfect) any rights of appraisal or rights to dissent from the Merger or any similar rights or quasi-appraisal rights that it may at any time have under applicable Laws, including Section 262 of the DGCL.

 

(h) Termination of Stockholder Agreements. Each Stockholder, by this Agreement with respect to its Covered Shares, severally and not jointly, hereby agrees to terminate, subject to and effective immediately prior to the Closing, (a) all Contracts to which such Stockholder is party that are set forth on Section 6.4 of the Company Disclosure Letter, including the Investment Agreements (collectively, the “Stockholder Agreements”); and (b) any rights under any letter or agreement providing for redemption rights, put rights, purchase rights or other similar rights not generally available to stockholders of the Company (clauses (a) and (b), collectively, the “Terminating Rights”) between such Stockholder and the Company, but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, (i) any rights such Stockholder may have that relate to any commercial or employment agreements or arrangements between such Stockholder and the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, which shall survive the Closing in accordance with their terms, and (ii) any indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation rights of any Stockholder or any of its Affiliates set forth in the foregoing documents, which shall survive the Closing in accordance with their terms.

 

 

6. Further Assurances. From time to time, at Acquiror’s request and without further consideration, each Stockholder shall execute and deliver such additional documents and take all such further action as may be reasonably necessary or reasonably requested to effect the actions and consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Each Stockholder further agrees not to commence or participate in, and to take all actions necessary to opt out of any class in any class action with respect to, any action or claim, derivative or otherwise, against Acquiror, Acquiror’s Affiliates, the Sponsor, the Company or any of their respective successors and assigns relating to the negotiation, execution or delivery of this Agreement, the Merger Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

7. Disclosure. Such Stockholder hereby authorizes the Company and Acquiror to publish and disclose in any announcement or disclosure required by the SEC (or as otherwise required by any applicable securities Laws or any other securities authorities) such Stockholder’s identity and ownership of the Covered Shares and the nature of such Stockholder’s obligations under this Agreement and, if deemed appropriate by Acquiror or the Company, a copy of this Agreement. Each Stockholder will promptly provide any information reasonably requested by Acquiror or the Company for any regulatory application or filing made or approval sought in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (including filings with the SEC).

 

8. Changes in Company Capital Stock. In the event (i) of a stock split, stock dividend or distribution, or any change in Company Capital Stock by reason of any split-up, reverse stock split, recapitalization, combination, reclassification, exchange of shares or the like, (ii) a Stockholder purchases or otherwise acquires beneficial ownership of any Company Capital Stock or (iii) a Stockholder acquires the right to vote or share in the voting of any Company Capital Stock (such Company Capital Stock, the “New Securities”), the terms “Owned Shares” and “Covered Shares” shall be deemed to refer to and include such New Securities as well as all such stock dividends and distributions and any securities into which or for which any or all of such New Securities may be changed or exchanged or which are received in such transaction.

 

9. Amendment and Modification. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented in any manner, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, except by an instrument in writing signed by Acquiror, the Company and the applicable Stockholder.

 

10. Waiver. No failure or delay by any Party exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies of the Parties hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies which they would otherwise have hereunder. Any agreement on the part of a Party to any such waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument executed and delivered by such Party.

 

11. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, by email (with confirmation of receipt) or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, such as Federal Express, to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice made pursuant to this Section 11):

 

if to a Stockholder, to the address or email address set forth opposite such Stockholder’s name on Schedule 1, or in the absence of such address or email address being set forth on Schedule 1, the address (including email) set forth in the Company’s books and records,

 

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

 

Latham & Watkins LLP

885 Third Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Attn: Justin G. Hamill and Marc A. Granger

Email: justin.Hamill@lw.com and marc.granger@lw.com

 

 

if to the Company, to it at:

 

Embark Trucks Inc.

424 Townsend Street

San Francisco, CA 94107

Attn Alex Rodrigues

Siddhartha Venkatesan

Email: alex@embarktrucks.com

sid@embarktrucks.com

 

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

 

Latham & Watkins LLP

885 Third Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Attn: Justin G. Hamill and Marc A. Granger

Email: justin.Hamill@lw.com and marc.granger@lw.com

 

if to Acquiror, to it at:

 

Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II

4801 Main Street, Suite 1000

Kansas City, MO 64112

Attn: Ian Robertson

Ken Manget

Email: Ian.Robertson@northerngenesis.com

Ken.Manget@northerngenesis.com

 

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

 

Husch Blackwell LLP

4801 Main Street, Suite 1000

Kansas City, MO 64112

Attn: James G. Goettsch and Rebecca Taylor

Email: jim.goettsch@huschblackwell.com and

rebecca.taylor@huschblackwell.com

 

12. No Ownership Interest. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to vest in Acquiror any direct or indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of or with respect to the Covered Shares of a Stockholder. All rights, ownership and economic benefits of and relating to the Covered Shares of each Stockholder shall remain vested in and belong to such Stockholder, and Acquiror shall have no authority to direct such Stockholder in the voting or disposition of any of the Stockholder’s Covered Shares, except as otherwise provided herein.

 

13. Entire Agreement; Time of Effectiveness. This Agreement and the Merger Agreement constitute the entire agreement and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. This Agreement shall not be effective or binding upon any Stockholder until after such time as the Merger Agreement is executed and delivered by the Company, Acquiror and Merger Sub.

 

14. No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Each Stockholder hereby agrees that its representations, warranties and covenants set forth herein are solely for the benefit of Acquiror in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement, and this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, confer upon any Person other than the Parties any rights or remedies hereunder, including the right to rely upon the representations and warranties set forth herein, and the Parties hereby further agree that this Agreement may only be enforced against, and any Action that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement may only be made against, the Persons expressly named as Parties.

 

15. Governing Law and Venue; Service of Process; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a) This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles or rules of conflicts of laws to the extent such principles or rules are not mandatorily applicable and would require or permit the application of the Laws of another jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

 

 

(b) In addition, each of the Parties (i) consents to submit itself, and hereby submits itself, to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, any state or federal court located in the State of Delaware having subject matter jurisdiction, in the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court, and agrees not to plead or claim any objection to the laying of venue in any such court or that any judicial proceeding in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum, (iii) agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby in any court other than the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, any state or federal court located in the State of Delaware having subject matter jurisdiction, and (iv) consents to service of process being made through the notice procedures set forth in Section 11.

 

(c) EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY KNOWINGLY, INTENTIONALLY, VOLUNTARILY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

16. Assignment; Successors. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall (a) be assigned by any of the Stockholders in whole or in part (whether by operation of Law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of Acquiror and the Company or (b) be assigned by Acquiror or the Company in whole or in part (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of (i) the Company or Acquiror, respectively, and (ii) the applicable Stockholder. Any such assignment without such consent shall be null and void. This Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

17. Enforcement. The rights and remedies of the Parties shall be cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby. The Parties agree that irreparable damage would occur and that the Parties would not have any adequate remedy at law in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, including each Stockholder’s obligations to vote its Covered Shares as provided in this Agreement, in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if under applicable law exclusive jurisdiction over such matter is vested in the federal courts, any state or federal court located in the State of Delaware, without proof of actual damages or otherwise (and each Party hereby waives any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with such remedy), this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

 

18. Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void, unenforceable or against its regulatory policy, the remainder of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, so long as the economic and legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby, taken as a whole, are not affected in a manner materially adverse to any Party. Upon such a determination, 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 be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

 

19. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, it being understood that each Party need not sign the same counterpart. This Agreement shall become effective when each Party shall have received a counterpart hereof signed by all of the other Parties. Signatures delivered electronically or by facsimile shall be deemed to be original signatures.

 

 

20. Interpretation and Construction. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of like import used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The descriptive headings used herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. References to Sections are to Sections of this Agreement unless otherwise specified. Any singular term in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular. The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of such term. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation,” whether or not they are in fact followed by those words or words of like import. “Writing,” “written” and comparable terms refer to printing, typing and other means of reproducing words (including electronic media) in a visible form. References to any statute shall be deemed to refer to such statute and to any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder. References to any person include the successors and permitted assigns of that person. References from or through any date mean, unless otherwise specified, from and including such date or through and including such date, respectively. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties, and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

21. Capacity as a Stockholder or Proxy holder. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each Stockholder or proxy holder signs this Agreement solely in such Stockholder’s or proxy holder’s capacity as a stockholder or proxy holder of the Company, and not in any other capacity and this Agreement shall not limit, prevent or otherwise affect the actions of such Stockholder, proxy holder or any Affiliate or Representative of such Stockholder or proxyholder, or any of their respective Affiliates in his or her capacity, if applicable, as an officer or director of the Company (or any Subsidiary of the Company) or any other Person, including in the exercise of his or her fiduciary duties as a director or officer of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company. No Stockholder shall be liable or responsible for any breach, default, or violation of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement hereunder by any other Stockholder that is also a Party and each Stockholder shall solely be required to perform its obligations hereunder in its individual capacity.

 

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

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed (where applicable, by their respective officers or other authorized Persons thereunto duly authorized) as of the date first written above.

 

	NORTHERN GENESIS ACQUISITION CORP. II
	By:	/s/ Ian Robertson
	Name:	Ian Robertson
	Title:	Chief Executive Officer
	EMBARK TRUCKS INC.
	By:	/s/ Alex Rodrigues
	Name:	Alex Rodrigues
	Title:	Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Company Holders Support Agreement]

 

 

	STOCKHOLDER:
	[_____]
	By:
	Name:	[●]
	Title:	[●]

 

[Signature Page to Company Holders Support Agreement]

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

Execution Version

 

FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

 

This SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this “Subscription Agreement”) is entered into this 22nd day of June, 2021, by and between Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II, a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), and the undersigned (“Subscriber”).

 

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Subscription Agreement, the Issuer, NGAB Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Issuer (“Merger Sub”) and Embark Trucks Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), have entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date of this Subscription Agreement (as may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company with the Company surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Issuer (the “Merger”);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with but prior to the Merger, Issuer shall amend and restate, effective immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger, its certificate of incorporation, including to reclassify its currently existing common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, as its Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Shares”), as more particularly described in the Merger Agreement and in the form of the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Issuer attached thereto as Exhibit A;

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Merger, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Subscription Agreement, Subscriber desires to subscribe for and purchase from the Issuer that number of Common Shares set forth on the signature page hereto (the “Acquired Shares”) for a purchase price of $10.00 per share (the “Share Purchase Price”), resulting in an aggregate purchase price set forth on the signature page hereto (the “Purchase Price”), and the Issuer desires upon the Closing hereunder to issue and sell to Subscriber the Acquired Shares in consideration of the payment of the Purchase Price by or on behalf of Subscriber to the Issuer at or prior to the Closing (as defined below);

 

WHEREAS, the Issuer has entered into, or substantially concurrently herewith is entering into, separate subscription agreements (the “Other Subscription Agreements”), pursuant to which certain other “qualified institutional buyers” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)) or “accredited investors” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) (each, an “Other Subscriber”) have agreed, severally and not jointly, to subscribe for and purchase, and the Issuer has agreed to issue and sell to such Other Subscribers, on the Closing Date, at the Share Purchase Price, Common Shares that, together with the Acquired Shares, total 16,000,000 Common Shares (collectively, the “Offering”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Issuer has previously entered into certain Forward Purchase Agreements, each substantially in the form filed by the Issuer with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) as exhibits to a current report on Form 8-K filed on April 27, 2021 (the “Forward Purchase Agreements”), pursuant to which certain other “qualified institutional buyers” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) or institutional “accredited investors” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) (each, a “Forward Purchase Subscriber”) have agreed, severally and not jointly, to subscribe for and purchase, and the Issuer has agreed to issue and sell to such Forward Purchase Subscribers, on the Closing Date, an aggregate of 4,000,000 units, for a purchase price of $10.00 per unit, each such unit consisting of one Common Share and one-sixth of a warrant (for an aggregate of 4,000,000 Common Shares and 666,667 warrants), with each such full warrant exercisable to purchase one Common Share at the price of $11.50 per Common Share (each, a “Warrant”).

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations, warranties and covenants, and subject to the conditions, herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Subscription.

 

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, Subscriber hereby agrees to subscribe for and purchase, and the Issuer hereby agrees to issue and sell to Subscriber, upon the payment of the Purchase Price, the Acquired Shares (such subscription and issuance, the “Subscription”).

 

(b) If any change in the Common Shares shall occur between the date hereof and immediately prior to the Closing by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including reverse stock split) or combination, exchange or readjustment of shares, or any stock dividend, the number and type of Common Shares issued to the Subscriber and the number of Acquired Shares shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect such change.

 

2. Closing.

 

(a) Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Sections 2(c) and 2(d), the closing of the Subscription contemplated hereby (the “Closing”) shall occur on the date of, and at a time immediately prior to, the closing of the Merger (such date, the “Closing Date”) and shall be contingent upon the subsequent occurrence of the closing of the Merger. Not less than five (5) business days prior to the scheduled Closing Date (the “Scheduled Closing Date”), the Issuer shall provide written notice to Subscriber (the “Closing Notice”) of the Scheduled Closing Date. For purposes of this Subscription Agreement, “business day” means any day on which the principal offices of the Commission in Washington, D.C. is open to accept filings, or, in the case of determining a date when any payment is due, any day on which banks are not authorized or obligated to be closed in New York, New York; provided that banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or obligated to be closed due to a “shelter-in-place,” “non-essential employee” or similar closure of physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority if such banks’ electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) are open for use by customers on such day.

 

(b) Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Sections 2(c) and 2(d) (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at Closing, but without affecting the requirement that such conditions be satisfied or waived at Closing):

 

(i) Subscriber shall deliver to the Issuer the Purchase Price for the Acquired Shares at least one business day in advance of the Scheduled Closing Date (unless otherwise agreed by the Subscriber and the Issuer) by wire transfer of U.S. dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Issuer in the Closing Notice; provided, however, that if the Merger does not occur within four (4) business days of the Closing, the Issuer shall promptly (but not later than two (2) business days thereafter) return the Purchase Price to Subscriber, and any book entries or share certificates shall be deemed cancelled and any share certificates shall be promptly (but not later than two (2) business days thereafter) returned to the Issuer.

 

(ii) On the Closing Date, the Issuer shall deliver to Subscriber the Acquired Shares in book-entry form, free and clear of any liens or other restrictions whatsoever (other than those arising under state or federal securities laws), in the name of Subscriber (or its nominee in accordance with its delivery instructions) or to a custodian designated by Subscriber, as applicable, and a copy of the records of the Issuer’s transfer agent showing Subscriber (or such nominee or custodian, as applicable) as the owner of the Acquired Shares on and as of the Closing Date. Each book entry for the Acquired Shares shall contain a notation, and each certificate (if any) evidencing the Acquired Shares shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend, in substantially the following form:

 

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM.

 

(iii) At the Closing, the parties hereto shall execute and deliver such additional documents and take such additional actions as the parties reasonably may deem to be practical and necessary to consummate the Subscription as contemplated by this Subscription Agreement.

 

 

(c) The Issuer’s obligation to effect the Closing shall be subject to the satisfaction on the Closing Date, or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the waiver by the Issuer, of each of the following conditions:

 

(i) all representations and warranties of Subscriber contained in this Subscription Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or Subscriber Material Adverse Effect (as defined herein), which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) at and as of the Closing Date, and consummation of the Closing shall constitute a reaffirmation by Subscriber of each of the representations, warranties and agreements of such party contained in this Subscription Agreement as of the Closing Date (other than those representations and warranties expressly made as of an earlier date, which shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date);

 

(ii) Subscriber shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Subscription Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing, except where the failure of such performance, satisfaction or non-compliance would not reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Subscriber to consummate the Closing; provided that for purposes of this Section 2(c)(ii), a covenant, agreement or condition of the Subscriber shall only be deemed to have not been performed, satisfied or complied with by the Subscriber if the Subscriber has materially breached such covenant, agreement or condition and failed to cure prior to Closing;

 

(iii) no governmental authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any judgment or order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) which is then in effect and has the effect of making consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby illegal or otherwise preventing or prohibiting consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; and

 

(iv) all conditions precedent to the closing of the Merger set forth in the Merger Agreement shall have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that (x) may only be satisfied at the closing of the Merger, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions as of the closing of the Merger or (y) will be satisfied by the Closing and the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Other Subscription Agreements and the Forward Purchase Agreements), and the consummation of the Merger shall be scheduled to occur concurrently with or on the same date as the Closing.

 

(d) Subscriber’s obligation to effect the Closing shall be subject to the satisfaction on the Closing Date, or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the written waiver by Subscriber, of each of the following conditions:

 

(i) all representations and warranties of the Issuer contained in this Subscription Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties that are qualified as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect (as defined herein), which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) at and as of the Closing Date, and consummation of the Closing shall constitute affirmation by Issuer of the foregoing (other than with respect to those representations and warranties expressly made as of an earlier date, which shall be true and correct in all respects as of such earlier date except for, in each case, inaccuracies or omissions that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect);

 

(ii) the Issuer shall have performed, satisfied and complied with, in all material respects, all covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Subscription Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing, except where the failure of such performance, satisfaction or non-compliance would not or would not reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Issuer to consummate the Closing; provided that for purposes of this Section 2(d)(ii), a covenant, agreement or condition of the Issuer shall only be deemed to have not been performed, satisfied or complied with by the Issuer if the Issuer has materially breached such covenant, agreement or condition and failed to cure such breach prior to Closing;

 

 

(iii) no governmental authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any judgment or order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) which is then in effect and has the effect of making consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby illegal or otherwise preventing or prohibiting consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby;

 

(iv) the Issuer shall have obtained approval of the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) or the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) to list the Common Shares, subject to official notice of issuance, and no suspension of the qualification of the Common Shares for offering or sale or trading in any jurisdiction, or initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes, shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(v) all conditions precedent to the closing of the Merger, including all necessary approvals of Issuer’s stockholders and regulatory approvals, if any, shall have been satisfied or waived, subject to the Subscriber’s consent where required pursuant to Section 2(d)(vii) below, (other than those conditions that (x) may only be satisfied at the closing of the Merger, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions as of the closing of the Merger or (y) will be satisfied by the Closing and the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Other Subscription Agreements and the Forward Purchase Agreements), and the consummation of the Merger shall be scheduled to occur concurrently with or on the same date as the Closing;

 

(vi) there shall have been no amendment, waiver, or modification to any Other Subscription Agreements that materially benefits any Other Subscribers unless Subscriber has been offered substantially similar benefits in writing; and

 

(vii) no amendment or modification of the Merger Agreement or waiver by the Issuer of any condition to the Merger thereunder shall have occurred that would materially and adversely affect the economic benefits that Subscriber would reasonably expect to receive under this Subscription Agreement without having received Subscriber’s prior written consent.

 

(e) In the event the Merger does not occur within two (2) business days of the Closing, the Issuer shall promptly (but not later than one (1) business day thereafter) return the Purchase Price to Subscriber, and any book entries or share certificates shall be deemed cancelled and any share certificates shall be promptly (but not later than one (1) business day thereafter) returned to the Issuer.

 

3. Representations and Warranties of the Issuer. The Issuer represents and warrants that:

 

(a) The Issuer has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as presently conducted and as currently contemplated by the Issuer to be conducted following the Merger, and to enter into, deliver and perform its obligations under this Subscription Agreement.

 

(b) When issued and delivered to Subscriber against full payment for the Acquired Shares in accordance with the terms of this Subscription Agreement, the Acquired Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will not have been issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive or similar rights created under the Issuer’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws or under the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

(c) This Subscription Agreement, the Other Subscription Agreements, the Forward Purchase Agreements and the Merger Agreement (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”) have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuer. The Transaction Documents constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Issuer and are enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their respective terms, except as may be limited or otherwise affected by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally, and (ii) principles of equity, whether considered at law or equity.

 

 

(d) The execution and delivery by the Issuer of the Transaction Documents, and the performance by the Issuer of its obligations under the Transaction Documents, including the issuance and sale of the Acquired Shares and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated herein and therein, do not and will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of the Issuer pursuant to the terms of (i) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Issuer is a party or by which the Issuer is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Issuer is subject, which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the business, properties, prospects, financial condition, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Issuer (a “Material Adverse Effect”) or materially affect the validity of the Acquired Shares or the legal authority of the Issuer to comply in all material respects with the terms of this Subscription Agreement; (ii) the organizational documents of the Issuer; or (iii) any statute applicable to the Issuer or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Issuer or any of its properties that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or affect the validity of the Acquired Shares or the legal authority of the Issuer to comply in all material respects with the terms of this Subscription Agreement.

 

(e) There are no securities or instruments issued by or to which the Issuer is a party containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by the Merger, or by the issuance of the Acquired Shares, the Common Shares to be issued pursuant to any Other Subscription Agreement, or the Common Shares and Warrants to be issued pursuant to any Forward Purchase Agreement.

 

(f) The Issuer is not in default or violation (and no event has occurred which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a default or violation) of any term, condition or provision of (i) the organizational documents of the Issuer, (ii) any loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement, permit, franchise or license to which the Issuer is now a party or by which the Issuer’s properties or assets are bound or (iii) any statute applicable to the Issuer or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Issuer or any of its properties, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), for defaults or violations that have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(g) The Issuer is not required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority, self-regulatory organization or other person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Issuer of this Subscription Agreement (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Acquired Shares), other than (i) pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement as a condition to the closing of the Merger, (ii) the filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement (as defined below), (iii) as required by applicable state or federal securities laws, (iv) as required by Nasdaq or the NYSE, to the extent any Common Shares are, or are intended upon Closing to be, listed thereon (an “Applicable Exchange”), or (v) the failure of which to obtain would not be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or have a material adverse effect on the Issuer’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, including the issuance and sale of the Acquired Shares.

 

(h) As of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of the Issuer consists of 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Preferred Stock”) and 100,000,000 Common Shares. As of the date hereof and as of immediately prior to the Closing, no shares of Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding, and 51,750,000 Common Shares are issued and outstanding. As of the date hereof, 20,486,667 Warrants are issued outstanding and, immediately prior to Closing (and prior to the issuance of Warrants pursuant to the Forward Purchase Agreements), no more than 22,486,667 Warrants shall be issued and outstanding (including up to 2,000,000 Warrants that may be issued by the Issuer to Northern Genesis Sponsor II LLC in satisfaction of certain loans that may be made thereby to the Issuer prior to Closing). All issued and outstanding Common Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and are non-assessable and are not subject to preemptive rights. All outstanding Warrants have been duly authorized and constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Issuer, enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors generally and by the availability of equitable remedies. Except as set forth above and pursuant to the Other Subscription Agreements, the Forward Purchase Agreements, and the Merger Agreement, there are no outstanding options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for, purchase or acquire from the Issuer any Common Shares or shares of Preferred Stock, or any other equity interests in the Issuer, or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such equity interests.

 

 

(i) The Issuer is in compliance with all applicable laws, except where such noncompliance would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. The Issuer has not received any written communication from a governmental entity that alleges that the Issuer is not in compliance with or is in default or violation of any applicable law, except where such non-compliance, default or violation would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(j) Assuming the accuracy of Subscriber’s representations and warranties set forth in Section 4, no registration under the Securities Act is required for the offer and sale of the Acquired Shares by the Issuer to Subscriber in the manner contemplated by this Subscription Agreement.

 

(k) Neither the Issuer nor any person acting on its behalf has engaged or will engage in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D of the Securities Act) in connection with any offer or sale of the Acquired Shares.

 

(l) Except as provided in the Forward Purchase Agreements (and any subscription agreement implementing the terms thereof), (i) each Other Subscription Agreement reflects the same Share Purchase Price and other economic terms as, and other terms that are not materially more favorable to any Other Subscriber thereunder than, the terms of this Subscription Agreement, and (ii) the Issuer has not entered into any side letter, amendment to any Other Subscription Agreement, or any other agreement or understanding with any Other Subscriber or any affiliate thereof in connection with or in relation to any Other Subscription Agreement that renders the economic terms of the issuance and sale of Common Shares to such Other Subscriber pursuant to such Other Subscription Agreement more favorable (on a per Common Share basis) to such Other Subscriber (considered with any such affiliate) than the terms of this Subscription Agreement, in each case, other than terms particular to the regulatory requirements of any Other Subscriber or its affiliates or related funds that are mutual funds or are otherwise subject to regulations related to the timing of funding and the issuance of the related Common Shares. Each Forward Purchase Agreement reflects a per-unit price of $10.00 per unit, with each such unit consisting of one Common Share and one-sixth of a Warrant. The Issuer has not entered into any Forward Purchase Agreement, any amendment to any Forward Purchase Agreement, any side letter or any other agreement or understanding with any Forward Purchase Subscriber or any affiliate thereof in connection with or in relation to any Forward Purchase Agreement that renders the economic terms of the issuance and sale of Common Shares and Warrants to such Forward Purchase Subscriber pursuant to such Forward Purchase Agreement more beneficial (on a per Common Share and per Warrant basis) to such Forward Purchase Subscriber (considered with any such affiliate) than the terms set forth in the form of Forward Purchase Agreement filed by the Issuer with the Commission on April 27, 2021.

 

(m) The issued and outstanding Common Shares are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and there is no suit, action, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Issuer threatened against the Issuer by the Commission to deregister the Common Shares. As of the date hereof, the issued and outstanding Common Shares are listed for trading on the NYSE and there is no suit, action, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Issuer threatened against the Issuer by the NYSE to terminate such listing. As of the Closing, the issued and outstanding Common Shares are listed for trading on the NYSE or Nasdaq, as applicable, and there is no suit, action, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Issuer threatened against the Issuer by such entity to terminate such listing (other than, if the Common Shares are listed on Nasdaq at Closing, any procedure initiated to terminate the listing of the Common Shares on the NYSE).

 

(n) A copy of each form, report, statement, schedule, prospectus, proxy, registration statement and other document, if any, filed by the Issuer with the Commission since its initial registration of the Common Shares under the Exchange Act (the “SEC Documents”) is available to the undersigned via the Commission’s EDGAR system. Each of the SEC Documents, when filed or, if amended, as of the date of such amendment, (a) complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, and (b) did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Issuer has timely filed each report, statement, schedule, prospectus, and registration statement that the Issuer was required to file with the Commission since its initial registration of the Common Shares under the Exchange Act. There are no material outstanding or unresolved comments in comment letters from the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance (the “Staff”) of the Commission with respect to any of the SEC Documents. The financial statements of the Issuer included in the SEC Documents (or, if amended, in such amendment) comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Issuer as of and for the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, year-end audit adjustments.

 

 

(o) Except for such matters as have not had a Material Adverse Effect, the Issuer is, and has been since its inception, in compliance with all state, provincial, and federal laws applicable to the conduct of its business. The Issuer has not received any written, or to its knowledge, other communication from a governmental entity that alleges that the Issuer is not in compliance with or is in default or violation of any applicable law, except where such non-compliance, default or violation would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Except for such matters as have not had and would not be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, there is no (i) proceeding pending, or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, threatened against the Issuer or (ii) judgment, decree, injunction, ruling or order of any governmental entity or arbitrator outstanding against the Issuer.

 

(p) Except for placement fees payable to Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and BMO Capital Markets Corp., in their capacity as placement agents for the offer and sale of the Acquired Shares (in such capacity, the “Placement Agents”), the Issuer has not paid, and is not obligated to pay, any brokerage, finder’s or other commission or similar fee in connection with its issuance and sale of the Acquired Shares, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any fee or commission payable to any stockholder or affiliate of the Issuer. No broker, finder or other financial consultant has acted on behalf of Issuer in connection with this Subscription Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in such a way as to create any liability on Subscriber.

 

(q) The Issuer is not (i) a person or entity named on the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons, the Executive Order 13599 List, the Foreign Sanctions Evaders List, or the Sectoral Sanctions Identification List, each of which is administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) (collectively “OFAC Lists”), (ii) owned or controlled by, or acting on behalf of, a person, that is named on an OFAC List, (iii) organized, incorporated, established, located, resident or born in, or a citizen, national, or the government, including any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, of, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, the Crimea region of Ukraine, or any other country or territory embargoed or subject to substantial trade restrictions by the United States, (iv) a Designated National as defined in the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 515 or (v) a non-U.S. shell bank or providing banking services indirectly to a non-U.S. shell bank. The Issuer also represents that, to the extent required, it maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with OFAC administered sanctions programs, including for the screening of its investors against the OFAC Lists.

 

4. Subscriber Representations and Warranties. Subscriber represents and warrants to, and covenants with, the Issuer and the Placement Agents as follows:

 

(a) Subscriber acknowledges that no disclosure or offering document has been prepared in connection with the offer and sale of the Acquired Shares by the Placement Agents or their respective affiliates.

 

(b) Subscriber (i) acknowledges that the Issuer and the Placement Agents may currently have, and may later come into possession of, information regarding the Issuer that is not known to Subscriber and that may be material to a decision to enter into this transaction to purchase the Acquired Shares, which, subject to applicable law, need not be provided to Subscriber (“Excluded Information”), (ii) has determined to enter into this transaction to purchase the Acquired Shares notwithstanding its lack of knowledge of the Excluded Information, and (iii) acknowledges that neither the Issuer nor the Placement Agents shall have liability to the Subscriber, and, to the extent permitted by law, waives and releases any claims that Subscriber may have against the Issuer and the Placement Agents, with respect to the nondisclosure of the Excluded Information.

 

(c) Subscriber acknowledges that certain information provided to it was based on projections, and such projections were prepared based on assumptions and estimates that are inherently uncertain and are subject to a wide variety of significant business, economic and competitive risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in such projections. Subscriber acknowledges that such information and projections were prepared without the participation of the Placement Agents and that the Placement Agents do not assume responsibility for the independent verification of, or the accuracy or completeness of, such information or projections.

 

 

(d) Subscriber agrees that none of the Placement Agents shall be liable to the Subscriber (including in contract, tort, under federal or state securities laws or otherwise) for any action heretofore or hereafter taken or omitted to be taken by any of them in connection with the sale of the Acquired Shares. On behalf of Subscriber and its affiliates, Subscriber releases the Placement Agents in respect of any losses, claims, damages, obligations, penalties, judgments, awards, liabilities, costs, expenses or disbursements related to the sale of the Acquired Shares. Subscriber agrees not to commence any litigation or bring any claim against any of the Placement Agents in any court or any other forum which relates to, may arise out of, or is in connection with, the sale of the Acquired Shares. This undertaking is given freely and after obtaining independent legal advice.

 

(e) Subscriber acknowledges that in connection with the issuance and purchase of the Acquired Shares, the Placement Agents have not acted as its financial advisors or fiduciaries.

 

(f) Subscriber is aware that the sale of the Acquired Shares is being made in reliance on a private placement exemption from registration under the Securities Act and it is acquiring the Acquired Shares for its own account or for an account over which it exercises sole discretion for another qualified institutional buyer or accredited investor.

 

(g) Subscriber is aware that (i) Citigroup Global Markets Inc. is acting as one of the Issuer’s placement agents and is acting as financial advisor to the Company in connection with the Business Combination (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and (ii) J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is acting as one of the Issuer’s placement agents and is acting as financial advisor to the Issuer in connection with the Business Combination (as defined in the Merger Agreement).

 

(h) Subscriber has been duly formed or incorporated and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, with the requisite entity power and authority to enter into, deliver and perform its obligations under this Subscription Agreement.

 

(i) Subscriber (i) is an institutional account as defined in FINRA Rule 4512(c), (ii) is a sophisticated investor, experienced in investing in private equity transactions and capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to all transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities and (iii) has exercised independent judgment in evaluating its participation in the purchase of the Acquired Shares. Accordingly, Subscriber understands that the sale of the Acquired Shares meets (y) the exemptions from filing under FINRA Rule 5123(b)(1)(A) and (z) the institutional customer exemption under FINRA Rule 2111(b).

 

(j) This Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Subscriber. This Subscription Agreement is enforceable against Subscriber in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited or otherwise affected by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally and (ii) principles of equity, whether considered at law or equity.

 

(k) The execution and delivery by Subscriber of this Subscription Agreement, and the performance by Subscriber of its obligations under this Subscription Agreement, including the purchase of the Acquired Shares and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated herein, will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of Subscriber pursuant to the terms of (i) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which Subscriber is a party or by which Subscriber is bound or to which any of the property or assets of Subscriber is subject, which would reasonably be expected to materially affect the legal authority or financial ability of Subscriber to comply in all material respects with the terms of this Subscription Agreement (a “Subscriber Material Adverse Effect”); (ii) the organizational documents of Subscriber; or (iii) any statute applicable to the Subscriber or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over Subscriber or any of Subscriber’s properties that would reasonably be expected to have a Subscriber Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(l) If Subscriber is, or is subscribing for the account or benefit of, a person in the United States or a U.S. Person (as defined in Rule 902(k) of Regulation S), Subscriber (i) is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) or an institutional “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act), in each case, satisfying the applicable requirements set forth on Schedule A, (ii) is acquiring the Acquired Shares only for its own account and not for the account of others, or if Subscriber is subscribing for the Acquired Shares as a fiduciary or agent for one or more investor accounts, each owner of such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined above) and Subscriber has full investment discretion with respect to each such account, and the full power and authority to make the acknowledgements, representations and agreements herein on behalf of each owner of each such account, (iii) is not acquiring the Acquired Shares with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act, (iv) has completed Schedule A following the signature page hereto and the information contained therein is accurate and complete, and (v) is not an entity formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Acquired Shares.

 

(m) Subscriber understands that the Acquired Shares are being offered in a transaction not involving any public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act and that the Acquired Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act (without limiting Section 7 hereof). Subscriber understands that the Acquired Shares may not be resold, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of by Subscriber absent an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, except (i) to the Issuer or a subsidiary thereof, (ii) to non-U.S. persons pursuant to offers and sales that occur outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as amended (“Rule 144”), provided that all of the applicable conditions thereof have been met or (iv) pursuant to another applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and that any certificates or book-entry records representing the Acquired Shares shall contain a legend to such effect. Subscriber acknowledges that the Acquired Shares will not be eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act. Subscriber understands and agrees that the Acquired Shares will be subject to the foregoing transfer restrictions and, as a result of these transfer restrictions, Subscriber may not be able to readily resell the Acquired Shares and may be required to bear the financial risk of an investment in the Acquired Shares for an indefinite period of time. Subscriber understands that it has been advised to consult legal counsel prior to making any offer, resale, pledge or transfer of any of the Acquired Shares.

 

(n) Subscriber understands and agrees that Subscriber is purchasing the Acquired Shares directly from the Issuer. Subscriber further acknowledges that there have been no representations, warranties, covenants and agreements made to Subscriber by the Issuer or any of its officers or directors, or any other person, expressly or by implication, other than those representations, warranties, covenants and agreements included in this Subscription Agreement.

 

(o) Subscriber’s acquisition and holding of the Acquired Shares will not constitute or result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under section 406 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or any applicable similar law.

 

(p) In making its decision to subscribe for and purchase the Acquired Shares, Subscriber has relied solely upon its own independent investigation and the representations and warranties of the Issuer contained in this Subscription Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Subscriber has not relied on any statements or other information provided by the Placement Agents or any of their respective affiliates, or any of their respective officers, directors, employees or representatives, concerning the Issuer or the Acquired Shares or the offer and sale of the Acquired Shares. Subscriber has received such information as Subscriber deems necessary in order to make an investment decision with respect to the Acquired Shares, including with respect to the Issuer and the Merger, and Subscriber and Subscriber’s professional advisor(s), if any, have had the full opportunity to ask such questions, receive such answers and obtain such information as Subscriber and such Subscriber’s professional advisor(s), if any, have deemed necessary to make an investment decision with respect to the Acquired Shares. Subscriber has made its own assessment of the relevant tax and other economic considerations relevant to its investment in the Acquired Shares.

 

(q) Subscriber acknowledges that no person has made any written or oral representations (i) that any person will resell or repurchase the Acquired Shares; (ii) that any person will refund the purchase price of the Acquired Shares (other than as provided in Section 2(e) and Section 8 hereof); or (iii) as to the future price or value of the Acquired Shares.

 

 

(r) Subscriber became aware of this offering of the Acquired Shares solely by means of direct contact between Subscriber and the Issuer or the Placement Agents, and the Acquired Shares were offered to Subscriber solely by direct contact between Subscriber and the Issuer or the Placement Agents. Subscriber did not become aware of this offering of the Acquired Shares, nor were the Acquired Shares offered to Subscriber, by any other means, including any form of general solicitation or general advertising (including in any printed media of general and regular paid circulation, radio, television or telecommunications, including electronic display) or, to the knowledge of Subscriber, in a manner involving a public offering under, or in a distribution in violation of, the Securities Act or any state securities laws.

 

(s) Subscriber acknowledges that it is aware that there are substantial risks incident to the purchase and ownership of the Acquired Shares. Subscriber has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Acquired Shares, and Subscriber has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as Subscriber has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision.

 

(t) Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that neither the Placement Agents nor any affiliate of the Placement Agents (nor any officer, director, employee or representative of any of the Placement Agents or any affiliate thereof) has provided Subscriber with any information or advice with respect to the Acquired Shares nor is such information or advice necessary or desired. Subscriber acknowledges that the Placement Agents, any affiliate of any of the Placement Agents or any of their respective officers, directors, employees or representatives (i) have not made any representation as to the Issuer or the quality of the Acquired Shares, (ii) may have acquired non-public information with respect to the Issuer which Subscriber agrees need not be provided to it, (iii) have made no independent investigation with respect to the Issuer or the Acquired Shares or the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of any information supplied to Subscriber by the Issuer, (iv) have not acted as Subscriber’s financial advisor or fiduciary in connection with the issue and purchase of the Acquired Shares and (v) have not prepared a disclosure or offering document in connection with the offer and sale of the Acquired Shares.

 

(u) Subscriber has adequately analyzed and fully considered the risks of an investment in the Acquired Shares and has determined that the Acquired Shares are a suitable investment for Subscriber and that Subscriber is able at this time and in the foreseeable future to bear the economic risk of a total loss of Subscriber’s investment in the Issuer. Subscriber acknowledges specifically that a possibility of total loss exists.

 

(v) Subscriber understands and agrees that no federal or state agency, securities commission or similar authority has reviewed, passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Acquired Shares or made any findings or determination as to the fairness of an investment in the Acquired Shares, and that any representation to the contrary is an offense.

 

(w) Subscriber is not (i) a person or entity named on the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons, the Executive Order 13599 List, the Foreign Sanctions Evaders List, or the Sectoral Sanctions Identification List, each of which is administered by OFAC, (ii) owned or controlled by, or acting on behalf of, a person, that is named on an OFAC List, (iii) organized, incorporated, established, located, resident or born in, or a citizen, national, or the government, including any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, of, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, the Crimea region of Ukraine, or any other country or territory embargoed or subject to substantial trade restrictions by the United States, (iv) a Designated National as defined in the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 515 or (v) a non-U.S. shell bank or providing banking services indirectly to a non-U.S. shell bank. Subscriber represents that if it is a financial institution subject to the Bank Secrecy Act (31 U.S.C. section 5311 et seq.) (the “BSA”), as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (the “PATRIOT Act”), and its implementing regulations (collectively, the “BSA/PATRIOT Act”), that Subscriber, directly or indirectly through a third-party administrator, maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to comply with applicable obligations under the BSA/PATRIOT Act. Subscriber also represents that, to the extent required, it, directly or indirectly through a third-party administrator, maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with OFAC-administered sanctions programs, including for the screening of its investors against the OFAC Lists. Subscriber further represents and warrants that, to the extent required, it, directly or indirectly through a third-party administrator, maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the funds held by Subscriber and used to purchase the Acquired Shares were legally derived.

 

 

(x) If Subscriber is or is acting on behalf of (i) an employee benefit plan that is subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), (ii) a plan, an individual retirement account or other arrangement that is subject to section 4975 of the Code, (iii) an entity whose underlying assets are considered to include “plan assets” of any such plan, account or arrangement described in clauses (i) and (ii) (each, and “ERISA Plan”), or (iv) an employee benefit plan that is a governmental plan (as defined in section 3(32) of ERISA), a church plan (as defined in section 3(33) of ERISA), a non-U.S. plan (as described in section 4(b)(4) of ERISA) or other plan that is not subject to the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) but may be subject to provisions under any other federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that are similar to such provisions of ERISA or the Code (collectively, “Similar Laws,” and together with the ERISA Plans, “Plans”) Subscriber represents and warrants that (i) neither the Issuer, nor any of its respective affiliates (the “Transaction Parties”) has provided investment advice or has otherwise acted as the Plan’s fiduciary, with respect to its decision to acquire and hold the Acquired Shares, and none of the Transaction Parties is or shall at any time be the Plan’s fiduciary with respect to any decision to acquire and hold the Acquired Shares, and none of the Transaction Parties is or shall at any time be the Plan’s fiduciary with respect to any decision in connection with Subscriber’s investment in the Acquired Shares; and (ii) its purchase of the Acquired Shares will not result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under section 406 of ERISA or section 4975 of the Code, or any applicable Similar Law.

 

(y) Other than the Placement Agents, to the knowledge of Subscriber, there is no person acting or purporting to act on Subscriber’s behalf in connection with the transactions contemplated herein who is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other commission or similar fee.

 

(z) At the Closing, Subscriber will have sufficient funds to pay the Purchase Price pursuant to Section 2.b(i).

 

(aa) Subscriber acknowledges that this Subscription Agreement requires Subscriber to provide certain personal information relating to Subscriber to the Issuer and the Placement Agents. Such information is being collected and will be used by the Issuer and the Placement Agents for the purposes of completing the offering, which includes, without limitation, determining the Subscriber’s eligibility to purchase the Acquired Shares under applicable securities laws, preparing and registering certificates representing securities or arranging for non-certificated, electronic delivery of same, and completing filings required by any securities regulatory authority or stock exchange. Such personal information may be disclosed to the extent necessary to carry out the foregoing purposes by the Issuer or the Placement Agents to (a) securities regulatory authorities and stock exchanges, (b) the Issuer’s registrar and transfer agent, (c) any government agency, board or other governmental entity and (d) any of the other parties involved in the offering, including the legal counsel of the Issuer, and may be included in record books in connection with the offering. By executing this Subscription Agreement, subject to Section 5(b) below, Subscriber consents to the foregoing collection, use and disclosure of such personal information.

 

(bb) The Subscriber acknowledges that (i) the Staff of the Commission issued the Staff Statement on Accounting and Reporting Considerations for Warrants Issued by Special Purpose Acquisition Companies on April 12, 2021 (the “Statement”), (ii) the Issuer continues to review the Statement and its implications, including on the financial statements and other information included in its SEC Documents and (iii) any restatement, revision or other modification of the SEC Documents in connection with such a review of the Statement or any subsequent related agreements or other guidance from the Staff of the Commission shall be deemed not material for purposes of this Agreement.

 

5. Disclosure.

 

(a) The Issuer shall, by 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the first (1st) business day immediately following the date of this Subscription Agreement, issue one or more press releases or file with the Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K (collectively, the “Disclosure Document”) disclosing all material terms of the transactions contemplated hereby and the Merger. From and after the issuance of the Disclosure Document, to the Issuer’s knowledge, Subscriber shall not be in possession of any material, nonpublic information received from the Issuer or any of its officers, directors or employees in connection with the Offering.

 

(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Subscription Agreement to the contrary, the Issuer shall not publicly disclose the name of Subscriber or any of its affiliates, or include the name of Subscriber or any of its affiliates in any press release or in any filing with the Commission or any regulatory agency or trading market, without the prior written consent of Subscriber, except (i) as required by the federal securities law in connection with the Registration Statement, (ii) in a press release or marketing materials of the Issuer in connection with the Merger to the extent any such disclosure is substantially equivalent to the information that has previously been made public without breach of the obligation under this Section 5(b) and (iii) to the extent such disclosure is required by law, at the request of the Staff of the Commission or regulatory agency or under the regulations of any Applicable Exchange, in which case the Issuer shall provide Subscriber with prior written notice of such disclosure, and shall reasonably consult with the Subscriber regarding such disclosure.

 

 

6. No Short Sales. Subscriber hereby agrees that, from the date of this Subscription Agreement until the Closing or termination of this Subscription Agreement, none of Subscriber nor any person or entity acting on behalf of Subscriber or pursuant to any understanding with Subscriber will engage in any Short Sales with respect to securities of the Issuer prior to the Closing or termination of this Subscription Agreement. For purposes of this Section 6, “Short Sales” shall include, without limitation, all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 promulgated under Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act, and all types of direct and indirect stock pledges (other than pledges in the ordinary course of business as part of prime brokerage arrangements), forward sale contracts, options, puts, calls, swaps and similar arrangements (including on a total return basis), and any transactions having like effect through non-U.S. broker dealers or foreign regulated brokers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (a) nothing herein shall apply to an ordinary course, non-speculative hedging transaction, (b) nothing herein shall prohibit any entities under common management or that share an investment advisor with Subscriber that have no knowledge of this Subscription Agreement or of Subscriber’s participation in the transactions contemplated in this Subscription Agreement (including Subscriber’s controlled affiliates and/or other affiliates) from entering into any Short Sales and (c) if Subscriber is a multi-managed investment vehicle whereby separate portfolio managers or departments or groups manage separate portions or separate allocations of Subscriber’s assets and such other portfolio managers or departments or groups that have not received confidential information regarding the transactions contemplated hereby or by the Merger Agreement that Subscriber has agreed to keep confidential, then, in the case of section (b) and (c), this Section 6 shall only apply with respect to the portion or allocation of assets managed by the portfolio manager or department or group that made the investment decision to purchase shares covered by this Subscription Agreement.

 

7. Registration Rights.

 

(a) The Issuer agrees that, within fifteen (15) business days after the consummation of the Merger (the “Filing Date”), the Issuer will file with the Commission (at the Issuer’s sole cost and expense) a registration statement registering the resale of the Acquired Shares (the “Registration Statement”), which Registration Statement may include Common Shares of the Issuer held by the Issuer’s current equityholders, holders of convertible debt instruments of the Issuer and Common Shares issuable upon exercise of any Warrants, and the Issuer shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, but no later than the earlier of (i) the 60th calendar day (or 120th calendar day if the Commission notifies the Issuer that it will “review” the Registration Statement) following the Closing and (ii) the 10th business day after the date the Issuer is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that the Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review (such earlier date, the “Effectiveness Date”); provided, however, that the Issuer’s obligations to include the Acquired Shares in the Registration Statement are contingent upon Subscriber furnishing in writing to the Issuer such information regarding Subscriber, the securities of the Issuer held by Subscriber and the intended method of disposition of the Acquired Shares as shall be reasonably requested by the Issuer to effect the registration of the Acquired Shares, and Subscriber shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Issuer may reasonably request that are customary of a selling stockholder in similar situations, including providing that the Issuer shall be entitled to postpone and suspend the effectiveness or use of the Registration Statement during any customary blackout or similar period or as permitted hereunder; provided further, that Subscriber shall not in connection with the foregoing be required to execute any lock-up or similar agreement or otherwise be subject to any contractual restriction on the ability to transfer the Acquired Shares. For purposes of clarification, any failure by the Issuer to file the Registration Statement by the Filing Date or to effect such Registration Statement by the Effectiveness Date shall not otherwise relieve the Issuer of its obligations to file or effect the Registration Statement as set forth above in this Section 7. In no event shall the undersigned be identified as a statutory underwriter in the Registration Statement unless requested by the Commission; provided that if the Commission requests that the undersigned be identified as a statutory underwriter in the Registration Statement, the undersigned will have an opportunity to withdraw from the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Commission prevents the Issuer from including any or all of the shares proposed to be registered under the Registration Statement due to limitations on the use of Rule 415 of the Securities Act for the resale of the Acquired Shares by the applicable stockholders or otherwise, such Registration Statement shall register for resale such number of Acquired Shares which is equal to the maximum number of Acquired Shares as is permitted by the Commission. In such event, the number of Acquired Shares to be registered for each selling stockholder named in the Registration Statement shall be reduced pro rata among all such selling stockholders.

 

 

(b) In the case of the registration, qualification, exemption or compliance effected by the Issuer pursuant to this Subscription Agreement, the Issuer shall, upon reasonable request, inform Subscriber as to the status of such registration, qualification, exemption or compliance. At its expense the Issuer shall:

 

(i) except for such times as the Issuer is permitted hereunder to suspend the use of the prospectus forming part of a Registration Statement, use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep such registration continuously effective with respect to Subscriber, and to keep the applicable Registration Statement supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that such Registration Statement is available or, if not available, that another registration statement is available for the resale of the Acquired Shares and ensure that the applicable Registration Statement or any subsequent shelf registration statement is free of any material misstatements or omissions, until the earliest of the following: (A) Subscriber ceases to hold any Acquired Shares or (B) the date all Acquired Shares held by Subscriber may be sold without restriction under Rule 144, including without limitation, any volume and manner of sale restrictions which may be applicable to affiliates under Rule 144 and without the requirement for the Issuer to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144(c)(1) or Rule 144(i)(2), as applicable, (C) the date all Acquired Shares held by Subscriber may be sold without restriction pursuant to an exemption from registration and (D) two years from the effective date of the Registration Statement.

 

(ii) advise Subscriber within two (2) business days:

 

(1) when a Registration or amendment thereto has been filed with the Commission and when such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;

 

(2) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to any Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or for additional information;

 

(3) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for such purpose;

 

(4) of the receipt by the Issuer of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Acquired Shares included therein for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and

 

(5) subject to the provisions in this Subscription Agreement, of the occurrence of any event that requires the making of any changes in any Registration Statement or prospectus so that, as of such date, any Registration Statement does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or does not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any prospectus does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or does not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

provided, however, that the Issuer shall not, when so advising Subscriber of such events, provide Subscriber with any material, nonpublic information regarding the Issuer other than to the extent that providing notice to Subscriber of the occurrence of the events listed in (1) through (5) above constitutes material, nonpublic information regarding the Issuer;

 

(iii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement as soon as reasonably practicable;

 

(iv) upon the occurrence of any event contemplated above, except for such times as the Issuer is permitted hereunder to suspend, and has suspended, the use of a prospectus forming part of a Registration Statement, use its commercially reasonable efforts to as soon as reasonably practicable prepare a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Acquired Shares included therein, such prospectus will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

(v) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Acquired Shares to be listed on each securities exchange or market, if any, on which the Common Shares issued by the Issuer have been listed; and

 

(vi) use its commercially reasonable efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect the registration of the Acquired Shares contemplated hereby and to enable Subscriber to sell the Acquired Shares under Rule 144 or another exemption from registration.

 

 

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Subscription Agreement, the Issuer shall be entitled to delay or postpone the filing or effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and from time to time to require Subscriber not to sell under the Registration Statement or to suspend the effectiveness thereof, if the negotiation or consummation of a transaction by the Issuer or its subsidiaries is pending or an event has occurred, which negotiation, consummation or event the Issuer’s board of directors reasonably believes, upon the advice of external legal counsel, would require additional disclosure by the Issuer in the Registration Statement of material information that the Issuer has a bona fide business purpose for keeping confidential and the non-disclosure of which in the Registration Statement would be expected, in the reasonable determination of the Issuer’s board of directors, upon the advice of external legal counsel, to cause the Registration Statement to fail to comply with applicable disclosure requirements (each such circumstance, a “Suspension Event”); provided, however, that the Issuer may not delay or suspend the Registration Statement on more than three occasions or for more than sixty (60) consecutive calendar days, or more than ninety (90) total calendar days, in each case during any twelve-month period. Upon receipt of any written notice from the Issuer of the happening of any Suspension Event (which notice shall not contain any material non-public information) during the period that the Registration Statement is effective or if as a result of a Suspension Event the Registration Statement contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any related prospectus includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, Subscriber agrees that (i) it will immediately discontinue offers and sales of the Acquired Shares under the Registration Statement until Subscriber receives copies of a supplemental or amended prospectus (which the Issuer agrees to promptly prepare) that corrects the misstatement(s) or omission(s) referred to above and receives notice that any post-effective amendment has become effective or unless otherwise notified by the Issuer that it may resume such offers and sales, and (ii) it will maintain the confidentiality of any information included in such written notice delivered by the Issuer unless otherwise required by law or subpoena. If so directed by the Issuer, Subscriber will deliver to the Issuer or, in Subscriber’s sole discretion destroy, all copies of the prospectus covering the Acquired Shares in Subscriber’s possession; provided, however, that this obligation to deliver or destroy all copies of the prospectus covering the Acquired Shares shall not apply (i) to the extent Subscriber is required to retain a copy of such prospectus (a) in order to comply with applicable legal, regulatory, self-regulatory or professional requirements or (b) in accordance with a bona fide pre-existing document retention policy or (ii) to copies stored electronically on archival servers as a result of automatic data back-up.

 

(d) Subscriber may deliver written notice (an “Opt-Out Notice”) to the Issuer requesting that Subscriber not receive notices from the Issuer otherwise required by this Section 7; provided, however, that Subscriber may later revoke any such Opt-Out Notice in writing. Following receipt of an Opt-Out Notice from Subscriber (unless subsequently revoked), (i) the Issuer shall not deliver any such notices to Subscriber and Subscriber shall no longer be entitled to the rights associated with any such notice and (ii) each time prior to Subscriber’s intended use of an effective Registration Statement, Subscriber will notify the Issuer in writing at least two (2) business days in advance of such intended use, and if a notice of a Suspension Event was previously delivered (or would have been delivered but for the provisions of this Section 6(d)) and the related suspension period remains in effect, the Issuer will so notify Subscriber, within one (1) business day of Subscriber’s notification to the Issuer, by delivering to Subscriber a copy of such previous notice of Suspension Event, and thereafter will provide Subscriber with the related notice of the conclusion of such Suspension Event immediately upon its availability.

 

(e) The Issuer shall, notwithstanding any termination of this Subscription Agreement, indemnify, defend and hold harmless Subscriber (to the extent a seller under the Registration Statement) its directors, officers, agents and employees, and each person who controls Subscriber (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all out-of-pocket losses, claims, damages (excluding indirect or consequential damages, including without limitation loss of profits), liabilities, costs (including reasonable and documented external attorneys’ fees) and expenses (collectively, “Losses”), as incurred, that arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or in any amendment or supplement thereto, required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (ii) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any prospectus included in the Registration Statement or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statements, alleged untrue statements, omissions or alleged omissions are based upon information regarding Subscriber furnished in writing to the Issuer by Subscriber expressly for use therein or Subscriber has omitted a material fact from such information or otherwise violated the Securities Act, Exchange Act or any state securities law or any rule or regulation thereunder; provided, however, that the indemnification contained in this Section 7 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Losses if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Issuer (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), nor shall the Issuer be liable for any Losses to the extent they arise out of or are based upon a violation which occurs (A) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by Subscriber, (B) in connection with any failure of such person to deliver or cause to be delivered a prospectus made available by the Issuer in a timely manner or (C) in connection with any offers or sales effected by or on behalf of Subscriber in violation of Section 7(c) hereof. The Issuer shall notify Subscriber reasonably promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Section 7 of which the Issuer receives notice in writing. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of an indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of the Acquired Shares by Subscriber.

 

 

(f) Subscriber shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Issuer, its directors, officers, agents and employees, and each person who controls the Issuer (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as incurred, (i) arising out of or based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or in any amendment or supplement thereto or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (ii) arising out of or based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any prospectus included in the Registration Statement or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, with respect to (i) and/or (ii), to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue or alleged untrue statements or omissions or alleged omissions are based upon information regarding Subscriber furnished in writing to the Issuer by Subscriber expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the indemnification contained in this Section 7(e) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Losses if such settlement is effected without the consent of Subscriber (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). In no event shall the liability of Subscriber be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by Subscriber upon the sale of the Acquired Shares giving rise to such indemnification obligation. Subscriber shall notify the Issuer promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Section 7(e) of which Subscriber is aware. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of an indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of the Acquired Shares by Subscriber.

 

8. Termination. This Subscription Agreement shall terminate and be void and of no further force and effect, and all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall terminate without any further liability on the part of any party in respect thereof, upon the earliest to occur of (a) such date and time as the Merger Agreement is validly terminated in accordance with the terms therein, (b) upon the mutual written agreement of each of the parties hereto and the Company to terminate this Subscription Agreement, (c) if any of the conditions to Closing set forth in Section 2(c) or 2(d) are not satisfied on or prior to the Closing Date and, as a result thereof, the transactions contemplated by this Subscription Agreement are not consummated at the Closing or (d) at the election of Subscriber, on or after the date 180 days following the date of this Subscription Agreement (the “End Date”), if the Closing has not occurred on or before such date; provided that nothing herein will relieve any party from liability for any fraud or willful material breach hereof prior to the time of termination, and each party will be entitled to any remedies at law or in equity to recover reasonable and documented out-of-pocket losses, liabilities or damages arising from such fraud or willful material breach. The Issuer shall promptly notify Subscriber of the termination of the Merger Agreement promptly after the termination of such agreement. Upon the termination hereof in accordance with this Section 8, any monies paid by Subscriber to the Issuer in connection herewith shall promptly (and in any event within one (1) Business Day) be returned in full to Subscriber by wire transfer of U.S. dollars in immediately available funds to the account specified by Subscriber.

 

9. Trust Account Waiver. Subscriber acknowledges that the Issuer is a blank check, special purpose acquisition company with the powers and privileges to effect a merger, asset acquisition, reorganization or similar business combination involving the Issuer and one or more businesses or assets. Subscriber further acknowledges that, as described in the Issuer’s prospectus relating to its initial public offering (the “Prospectus”), available at www.sec.gov, substantially all of the Issuer’s assets consist of the cash proceeds of the Issuer’s initial public offering and private placements of its securities, substantially all of those proceeds have been deposited in a trust account (the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of the Issuer, its public stockholders and the underwriters of the Issuer’s initial public offering. Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account that may be released to the Issuer to pay its tax obligations, if any, the funds and other assets in the Trust Account may be disbursed only for the purposes set forth in the Prospectus. For and in consideration of the Issuer entering into this Subscription Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Subscriber hereby irrevocably waives any and all right, title and interest, and any claims of any kind any of them has or may in the future have, in any case arising out of this Subscription Agreement, in or to any funds or other assets held in the Trust Account, and agrees not to seek recourse against the Trust Account or the funds or assets held therein as a result of, or arising out of, this Subscription Agreement; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 9 shall (x) serve to limit or prohibit the Subscriber’s right to pursue a claim against Issuer for legal relief against assets held outside the Trust Account, for specific performance or other equitable relief, (y) serve to limit or prohibit any claims that the Subscriber may have in the future against Issuer’s assets or funds that are not held in the Trust Account (including any funds that have been released from the Trust Account and any assets that have been purchased or acquired with any such funds), or (z) be deemed to limit any right, title, interest or claim of Subscriber to funds or other assets in the Trust Account by virtue of such Subscriber’s record or beneficial ownership of securities of the Issuer acquired by any means other than pursuant to this Subscription Agreement, including but not limited to any redemption right with respect to any such securities of the Issuer.

 

 

10. Miscellaneous.

 

(a) The parties to this Subscription Agreement hereby acknowledge and agree that the Issuer, the Placement Agents and others will rely on the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties contained in this Subscription Agreement. Prior to the Closing, each party hereto agrees to promptly notify the other party hereto if any of the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties made by such party as set forth herein are no longer accurate in any material respect. The parties to this Subscription Agreement hereby further acknowledge and agree that (i) the Placement Agents are third-party beneficiaries of the representations and warranties of the Issuer and Subscriber contained in this Subscription Agreement and (ii) the Company is a third-party beneficiary of Sections 8(b), 10(c)(ii) and 10(f)(ii).

 

(b) The Issuer and Subscriber are entitled to rely upon this Subscription Agreement and are each irrevocably authorized to produce this Subscription Agreement or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby to the extent required by law or by regulatory bodies.

 

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Subscription Agreement, prior to the Closing, Subscriber may not transfer or assign all or any portion of its rights under this Subscription Agreement, other than (i) an assignment of all or any portion of such rights to its affiliates, equity holders, or a fund or account managed by the Subscriber or the same investment manager as Subscriber or its affiliate, or (ii) with the prior consent of the Issuer and the Company; provided that no such assignment shall relieve Subscriber of any of its obligations hereunder; provided, further, that no such assignment shall be valid unless and until Subscriber and each assignee executes and delivers to the Issuer an assignment and joinder agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Schedule B, by which such assignee agrees to be bound by and subject to the terms and conditions of this Subscription Agreement, makes the representations and warranties in Section 4 and delivers to the Issuer Schedule A. Issuer may not transfer or assign all or a portion of its rights under this Subscription Agreement without the prior consent of the Subscriber.

 

(d) All the agreements, representations and warranties made by each party hereto in this Subscription Agreement shall survive the Closing for a period of three years. For the avoidance of doubt, if for any reason the Closing does not occur prior to the consummation of the Merger, all representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the parties hereunder shall survive the consummation of the Merger and remain in full force and effect until the expiration of any applicable statute of limitations.

 

(e) The Issuer may request from Subscriber such additional information as the Issuer may reasonably deem necessary to evaluate the eligibility of Subscriber to acquire the Acquired Shares, and Subscriber shall promptly provide such information as may be reasonably requested, to the extent readily available and to the extent consistent with its internal policies and procedures and within Subscriber’s possession and control or otherwise readily available to Subscriber; provided that the Issuer agrees to keep any such information provided by Subscriber confidential.

 

(f) This Subscription Agreement may not be amended, modified, waived or supplemented (i) except by an instrument in writing, signed by the party against whom enforcement of such amendment, modification, waiver, or supplement is sought and (ii) without the prior written consent of Issuer and the Company; provided that any rights (but not obligations) of a party under this Subscription Agreement may be waived, in whole or in part, by such party on its own behalf without the prior consent of any other party.

 

(g) This Subscription Agreement constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all other prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties, both written and oral, among the parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

 

(h) Except as otherwise provided herein, this Subscription Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives, and permitted assigns, and the agreements, representations, warranties, covenants and acknowledgments contained herein shall be deemed to be made by, and be binding upon, such heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

 

(i) If any provision of this Subscription Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Subscription Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall continue in full force and effect.

 

(j) This Subscription Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts (including by electronic means), all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart.

 

(k) Each party shall pay all of its own expenses in connection with this Subscription Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein.

 

(l) Any notice or communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and either delivered personally, emailed, sent by overnight mail via a reputable overnight carrier, or sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, and shall be deemed to be given and received (a) when so delivered personally, (b) if sent by email, when sent, provided that such transmission does not result in an “undeliverable” or “out of office” response, (c) one (1) business day after the date sent by reputable overnight carrier, or (d) five (5) business days after the date of mailing by certified or registered mail, in each case to the address below or to such other address or addresses as such person may hereafter designate by notice given hereunder:

 

(i) if to Subscriber, to such address or addresses set forth on the signature page hereto;

 

(ii) if to the Issuer, to:

 

Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II

4801 Main Street, Suite 1000

Kansas City, MO 64112

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

Email: ian.robertson@northerngenesis.com

 

with required copies to (which copies shall not constitute notice):

 

Husch Blackwell LLP

4801 Main Street, Suite 1000

Kansas City, MO 64112

Attention: James G. Goettsch

Email: jim.goettsch@huschblackwell.com

 

Embark Trucks Inc.

424 Townsend Street

San Francisco, CA 94107

Attention: Alex Rodrigues

Siddhartha Venkatesan

Email: alex@embarktrucks.com

sid@embarktrucks.com

 

Latham & Watkins LLP

885 Third Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attention: Justin G. Hamill

Marc A. Granger

Email: justin.hamill@lw.com

marc.granger@lw.com

 

 

(iii) if to the Placement Agents, to:

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, NY 10013

Attention: Joshua Li, Managing Director

Email: Joshua.Li@citi.com

 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

383 Madison Ave

New York, New York 10179

Attention: Troy Wagner, Managing Director

Email: troy.wagner@jpmorgan.com

 

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

3 Times Square

New York, New York 10036

Attention: Eric Benedict, Managing Director

Email: eric.benedict@bmo.com

 

with required copies to (which copies shall not constitute notice):

 

Winston & Strawn LLP

800 Capitol Street

Suite 2400

Houston, TX 77002

Attention: Michael Blankenship, Partner

Email: mblankenship@winston.com

 

(m) This Subscription Agreement, and any claim or cause of action hereunder based upon, arising out of or related to this Subscription Agreement (whether based on law, in equity, in contract, in tort or any other theory) or the negotiation, execution, performance or enforcement of this Subscription Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.

 

THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LOCATED IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK SOLELY IN RESPECT OF THE INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT AND THE DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO IN THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT AND IN RESPECT OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AND HEREBY WAIVE, AND AGREE NOT TO ASSERT, AS A DEFENSE IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING FOR INTERPRETATION OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF OR ANY SUCH DOCUMENT THAT IS NOT SUBJECT THERETO OR THAT SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING MAY NOT BE BROUGHT OR IS NOT MAINTAINABLE IN SAID COURTS OR THAT VENUE THEREOF MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE OR THAT THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT OR ANY SUCH DOCUMENT MAY NOT BE ENFORCED IN OR BY SUCH COURTS, AND THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AGREE THAT ALL CLAIMS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE HEARD AND DETERMINED BY SUCH A NEW YORK STATE OR FEDERAL COURT. THE PARTIES HEREBY CONSENT TO AND GRANT ANY SUCH COURT JURISDICTION OVER THE PERSON OF SUCH PARTIES AND OVER THE SUBJECT MATTER OF SUCH DISPUTE AND AGREE THAT MAILING OF PROCESS OR OTHER PAPERS IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING IN THE MANNER PROVIDED IN SECTION 10(l) OR IN SUCH OTHER MANNER AS MAY BE PERMITTED BY LAW SHALL BE VALID AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE THEREOF.

 

 

EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) 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; (II) SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (III) SUCH PARTY MAKES THE FOREGOING WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (IV) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVER AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10(m).

 

(n) The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Subscription Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof, and accordingly, that the parties hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Subscription Agreement or to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions of this Subscription Agreement in an appropriate court of competent jurisdiction as set forth in Section 10(m), in addition to any other remedy to which any party is entitled at law or in equity.

 

11. Other Subscribers. The obligations of Subscriber and each Other Subscriber in connection with the Offering are several and not joint, and Subscriber shall not be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any Other Subscriber in connection with the Offering. Nothing contained herein or in any Other Subscription Agreement, and no action taken by Subscriber or any Other Subscriber pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Subscriber and Other Subscribers as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Subscribers and Other Subscribers are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby. Subscriber and each Other Subscriber shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, and it shall not be necessary for any Other Subscriber to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.

 

[Signature pages follow.]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this Subscription Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of the date first set forth above.

 

	NORTHERN GENESIS ACQUISITION CORP. II
	By:
		Name:	Ian Robertson
		Title:	Chief Executive Officer

 

Signature Page to Subscription Agreement – Issuer

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Subscriber has executed or caused this Subscription Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of the date first set forth above.

 

Name of Subscriber:			Name of Joint Subscriber, if applicable:
(Please print. Please indicate name and capacity of person signing above.)			(Please print. Please indicate name and capacity of person signing above.)
Signature of Subscriber:			Signature of Joint Subscriber, if applicable:
By:			By:
Name:			Name:
Title:			Title:
☐ Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship ☐ Tenants-in-Common ☐ Community Property

 

State/Country of Formation or Domicile (if applicable):
Email Address:
Mailing Address for Notice to Subscriber:
	Attention:
Business Address (if different):
	Attention:
Telephone No.:
Facsimile No.:
Purchase Price*:	$
Acquired Shares:

 

*

You must pay the Purchase Price by wire transfer of U.S. $ in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Issuer in the Closing Notice.

 

Signature Page to Subscription Agreement – Subscriber

 

 

SCHEDULE A
ELIGIBILITY REPRESENTATIONS OF U.S. SUBSCRIBER

 

This Schedule must be completed by Subscriber and forms a part of the Subscription Agreement to which it is attached. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined in this Schedule have the meanings given to them in the Subscription Agreement. Subscriber must check the applicable box in either Part A, Part B or Part C below and the applicable box in Part D below.

 

A. QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER STATUS

 

(Please check the applicable subparagraphs):

 

☐	Subscriber is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act (a “QIB”)).
☐	Subscriber is subscribing for the Acquired Shares as a fiduciary or agent for one or more investor accounts, and each owner of such accounts is a QIB.

 

*** OR ***

 

B. INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR STATUS

 

(Please check the applicable subparagraphs):

 

Subscriber is an institutional “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act) and has checked below the box(es) for the applicable provision under which Subscriber qualifies as such:

 

☐	Subscriber is an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, a corporation, Massachusetts or similar business trust, partnership, or limited liability company that was not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities of the Issuer being offered in this offering, with total assets in excess of $5,000,000.
☐	Subscriber is a “private business development company” as defined in Section 202(a)(22) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
☐	Subscriber is a “bank” as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
☐	Subscriber is a “savings and loan association” or other institution as defined in Section 3(a)(5)(A) of the Securities Act, whether acting in its individual or fiduciary capacity.
☐	Subscriber is a broker or dealer registered pursuant to Section 15 of the Exchange Act.
☐	Subscriber is an “insurance company” as defined in Section 2(a)(13) of the Securities Act.
☐	Subscriber is an investment adviser relying on the exemption from registering with the Commission under Section 203(l) or (m) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
☐	Subscriber is an investment adviser registered pursuant to Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or registered pursuant to the laws of a state.
☐	Subscriber is an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
☐	Subscriber is a “business development company” as defined in Section 2(a)(48) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
☐	Subscriber is a “Small Business Investment Company” licensed by the U.S. Small Business Administration under either Section 301(c) or (d) of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958.
☐	Subscriber is a plan established and maintained by a state, its political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of a state or its political subdivisions, for the benefit of its employees, and such plan has total assets in excess of $5,000,000.

 

 

☐	Subscriber is a Rural Business Investment Company as defined in Section 384A of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act.
☐	Subscriber is an employee benefit plan within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 if the investment decision is made by a plan fiduciary, as defined in Section 3(21) of such act, which is one of the following.
	☐	A bank;
	☐	A savings and loan association;
	☐	An insurance company; or
	☐	A registered investment adviser.
☐	Subscriber is an employee benefit plan within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 with total assets in excess of $5,000,000.
☐	Subscriber is an employee benefit plan within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 that is a self-directed plan with investment decisions made solely by persons that are accredited investors.
☐	Subscriber is a trust with total assets in excess of $5,000,000, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered by the Issuer in this offering, whose purchase is directed by a sophisticated person as described in Rule 506(b)(2)(ii) under the Securities Act.
☐	Subscriber is an entity in which each of its equity owners (whether entities themselves or natural persons) are an “accredited investor” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act).
☐	Subscriber is an entity that is not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered by the Issuer in this offering and owns “investments” (as defined in Rule 2a51-1(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) in excess of $5,000,000.
☐	Subscriber is a natural person whose individual net worth, or joint net worth with that person’s spouse, exceeds $1,000,000. For purposes of calculating a natural person’s net worth: (a) the person’s primary residence shall not be included as an asset; (b) indebtedness that is secured by the person’s primary residence, up to the estimated fair market value of the primary residence at the time of the sale of securities, shall not be included as a liability (except that if the amount of such indebtedness outstanding at the time of sale of securities exceeds the amount outstanding sixty (60) days before such time, other than as a result of the acquisition of the primary residence, the amount of such excess shall be included as a liability); and (c) indebtedness that is secured by the person’s primary residence in excess of the estimated fair market value of the primary residence at the time of the sale of securities shall be included as a liability.
☐	Subscriber is a natural person who had an individual income in excess of $200,000 in each of the two most recent years or joint income with that person’s spouse in excess of $300,000 in each of those years and has a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year.
☐	Subscriber is a “family office” as defined under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, (i) with assets under management in excess of $5,000,000, (ii) that was not formed for the specific purpose of investing in the securities offered by the Issuer in this offering, and (iii) whose prospective investment in the securities offered by the Issuer in this offering is directed by a person who has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that such family office is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such prospective investment.
☐	Subscriber is a “family client,” as defined under the Investment Advisers Act, of a family office, whose prospective investment in the securities offered by the Issuer in this offering is directed by such family office, and such family office is one (i) with assets under management in excess of $5,000,000, (ii) that was not formed for the specific purpose of investing in the securities offered by the Issuer in this offering, and (iii) whose prospective investment in the securities offered by the Issuer in this offering is directed by a person who has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that such family office is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such prospective investment.

 

*** AND ***

 

C. AFFILIATE STATUS

 

(Please check the applicable box)

 

Subscriber:

 

☐	is
☐	is not

 

an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of the Issuer or acting on behalf of an affiliate of the Issuer.

 

 

SCHEDULE B

 

FORM OF

SUBSCRIPTION ASSIGNMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT

 

This Subscription Assignment and Joinder Agreement (this “Assignment Agreement”), dated ___________, 2021, is made and entered into by and between ______________________________ (“Subscriber”) and ___________________________ (“Assignee”), and acknowledged and accepted by Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II, a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”).

 

WHEREAS, the Issuer and Subscriber entered into that certain Subscription Agreement (the “Subscription Agreement”), dated June 22, 2021, pursuant to which Subscriber agreed to subscribe for and purchase Common Shares of the Issuer (the “Acquired Shares”);

 

WHEREAS, Subscriber desires to transfer and assign, to Assignee, Subscriber’s rights to subscribe for and purchase of the Acquired Shares (the “Assigned Shares”), together with all rights and obligations of Subscriber under the Subscription Agreement with respect to such Assigned Shares.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to Section 10(c) of the Subscription Agreement, and subject to acceptance by the Issuer by countersignature hereof:

 

1. Subscriber hereby assigns its rights to subscribe for and purchase the Assigned Shares to Assignee.

 

2. Assignee hereby (a) accepts and assumes the rights and obligations of Subscriber to subscribe for and purchase the Assigned Shares, and agrees to be bound by and subject to the terms and conditions of the Subscription Agreement with respect thereto, (b) makes the representations and warranties in Section 4 of the Subscription Agreement with respect to the Assigned Shares, and (c) delivers to the Issuer a completed Schedule A to the Subscription Agreement attached hereto.

 

3. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Assignment Agreement shall not relieve Subscriber of any of its obligations under the Subscription Agreement.

 

4. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Subscription Agreement.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Subscription Assignment and Joinder Agreement has been executed by Subscriber and Assignee, each by its duly authorized representative as of the date set forth above.

 

Name of Subscriber:
By:
	Name:
	Title:

 

Name of Assignee:
By:
	Name:
	Title:

 

Acknowledged and agreed:
NORTHERN GENESIS ACQUISITION CORP. II
By:
	Name:
	Title:

 

Signature Page to Subscription Assignment and Joinder Agreement

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

Embark Trucks, Inc., America’s Longest-Running Self-Driving Truck Program, to Go Public Through Merger with Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II

 

●	Embark Trucks, Inc. is an autonomous vehicle (AV) software-as-a-service company focused exclusively on the US trucking market.

 

●

Embark’s technology, built to address the $700 billion a year trucking market in the U.S., combined with its partner-oriented business model, is validated by leading partnerships with shippers and carriers including Anheuser-Busch InBev, HP Inc., Werner Enterprises, Mesilla Valley Transportation, and Bison Transport, which Embark expects to scale rapidly and efficiently by integrating into the existing freight logistics ecosystem.

 

●	Former Secretary of Transportation and Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao joins Embark’s Board of Directors, providing extensive public and private sector leadership experience that will further strengthen Embark’s position in the AV industry.

 

●

Transaction provides approximately $614 million in gross cash proceeds to the Company, including $414 million of cash held by Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II in trust assuming no redemptions and a $200 million fully committed common stock PIPE supported by top-tier anchor investors including CPP Investments, Knight-Swift Transportation, Mubadala Capital, Sequoia Capital, and Tiger Global Management, together with the Northern Genesis management team and its associated institutional investors.

 

●	Transaction proceeds will go to the Company, with no existing shareholders selling their position, and proceeds are expected to fully fund the business through commercialization in 2024.

 

●	Pro forma implied enterprise value of approximately $4.55 billion and market capitalization of approximately $5.16 billion.

 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA and KANSAS CITY, MO – JUNE 23, 2021 – Embark Trucks, Inc., (“Embark” or the “Company”), a leading developer of autonomous software technology for the trucking industry and Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II (NYSE: NGAB) (“Northern Genesis 2”), a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company, jointly announced today that they have entered into a definitive business combination agreement that will result in Embark becoming a publicly listed company.

 

Founded in San Francisco by CEO Alex Rodrigues and CTO Brandon Moak, Embark is a leading developer of software for self-driving trucks. Over the last five years, Embark has operated America’s longest running road-testing program for self-driving trucks to refine the company’s sophisticated self-driving software - purpose-built to navigate Class 8 trucks on long-distance freight trips. Embark partners with leading carriers, who pay a per-mile subscription cost for Embark’s Driver software to deploy and enable self-driving trucks within their fleets.

 

 

 

Embark, through its Partner Development Program, is currently working with shippers and carriers including Anheuser-Busch InBev, HP Inc., Werner Enterprises, Mesilla Valley Transportation, and Bison Transport, to help prepare their fleets to integrate self-driving technology and scale with Embark’s technology. Embark has an industry-leading safety track-record, with more than one million real world miles driven without a DOT-reportable incident.

 

“We have been solely focused on solving the problem of self-driving software for trucking since Embark’s CTO, Brandon Moak, and I founded the company in 2016,” said Alex Rodrigues, Co-Founder and CEO of Embark. “This singular and disciplined focus on the trucking market in the United States has allowed Embark to achieve many industry-first technology milestones – including the first self-driving truck to drive coast-to-coast – and positions Embark to be a leader in autonomous trucking software. The recent accomplishment of key technical milestones – including handling highway workzones on the fly – and the announcement of our Partner Development Program mark the start of Embark’s transition from research to commercialization. After many years of R&D on the world’s most mature self-driving truck software stack, we plan to enable carrier operation of self-driving trucks in the U.S. sunbelt beginning in 2024. Following the transaction with Northern Genesis we expect to have a war chest that fully funds this commercialization plan, and then some.”

 

“The Northern Genesis team is enthused to partner with Embark as it continues to execute on its focused mission, a mission that began more than five years ago. Our respective teams share a conviction that success today demands alignment with the ongoing secular shifts towards sustainability and social responsibility; Embark’s commitment to autonomous trucking delivers that alignment through enhanced fuel efficiency, improved driver working conditions, and safer roads for everyone,” said Ian Robertson, Director and CEO of Northern Genesis 2. “We are committed to leveraging our deep owner-operator business building experience to assist Embark on its transition from great private company to great public company.”

 

Transaction Overview

 

The transaction reflects an implied pro forma equity value of $5.16 billion and enterprise value of $4.55 billion. Upon closing, the combined company is expected to receive approximately $614 million of gross cash proceeds, comprised of approximately $414 million of cash held in the trust account of Northern Genesis 2, assuming no redemptions by NGAB stockholders, and a $200 million fully committed PIPE at $10 per share. The PIPE is supported by top-tier anchor investors including Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), Knight-Swift Transportation, Mubadala Capital, Sequoia Capital, and Tiger Global Management, together with the Northern Genesis management team and its associated institutional investors.

 

The Boards of Directors for both Embark and Northern Genesis 2 have unanimously approved the proposed business combination, which is expected to be completed in the second half of 2021, subject to, among other things, the approval by Northern Genesis 2’s stockholders, satisfaction of the typical conditions stated in the definitive agreement and other customary closing conditions, including that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission completes its review of the proxy statement, the receipt of certain regulatory approvals, and required approvals to publicly list the securities of the combined company.

 

 

 

Elaine Chao, former Secretary of Transportation and Labor, has joined Embark’s Board of Directors

 

Embark also announced that former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao has been appointed to its Board of Directors. Secretary Chao’s extensive public and private sector leadership experience will further strengthen Embark’s position in the AV industry. Prior to serving as Secretary of Transportation, Secretary Chao established a distinguished career both in and out of government, serving for eight years as the U.S. Secretary of Labor and as President and CEO of United Way of America.

 

Advisors

 

Citi is serving as financial advisor and capital markets advisor to Embark. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is serving as financial advisor and capital markets advisor to Northern Genesis 2. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Citi, and BMO Capital Markets are serving as joint placement agents for the PIPE. Latham & Watkins LLP is lead legal counsel for Embark. Husch Blackwell LLP is lead legal counsel for Northern Genesis 2. Winston & Strawn LLP is lead legal counsel to the placement agents on the PIPE transaction.

 

Additional information about the proposed transaction, including a copy of the merger agreement and investor presentation, will be provided in a Current Report on Form 8-K that will contain an investor presentation to be filed by Northern Genesis 2 with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov.

 

Conference Call and Webcast Information

 

Embark and Northern Genesis 2 will host a joint investor conference call to discuss the proposed transaction today at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

 

A live webcast of the call will be available here, and can also be accessed on the investor relations section of Embark’s website at www.embark.com/investors. Interested parties who wish to listen by telephone may dial 1-877-407-9208 (domestic callers) or +1-201-493-6784 (international callers), and ask the operator to join the “Northern Genesis 2 and Embark Trucks, Inc. Business Combination Announcement Conference Call.”

 

A replay of the call will also be available until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 7, 2021. To access the replay, dial 1-844-512-2921 (domestic callers) or +1-412-317-6671 (international callers) and enter the conference ID 13720734.

 

About Embark

 

Embark Trucks, Inc. is a United States-based autonomous vehicle software-as-a-service provider focused exclusively on improving the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of the nearly $700 billion a year trucking market. Embark’s customers are carriers, who deploy Embark’s Driver software to enable self-driving trucks within their fleets. Embark also partners with shippers and carriers as part of its Partner Development Program to provide an end-customer voice and advise on the integration and scaling of autonomous trucks within their supply chain and fulfillment networks.

 

Embark’s platform-agnostic approach is underpinned by the Embark Universal Interface, a set of standardized self-driving components and flexible interfaces to allow major truck OEMs to easily integrate Embark self-driving technology onto their multiple vehicle platforms.

 

Embark’s mission is to build a world where consumers pay less for the things they need, drivers stay close to the homes they cherish, and roads are safer for the people we love.

 

 

 

About Northern Genesis 2

 

Northern Genesis 2 is a special purpose acquisition company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, stock exchange, acquisition, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. The management team overseeing the Northern Genesis investment platform brings a unique entrepreneurial owner-operator mindset and a proven history of creating shareholder value across the sustainable power and energy value chain. The team is committed to helping the next great public company find its path to success; a path which will most certainly recognize the growing sensitivity of customers, employees and investors to alignment with the principles underlying sustainability.

 

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Embark’s and Northern Genesis 2’s actual results may differ from their expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, Embark’s and Northern Genesis 2’s expectations with respect to future performance. These forward-looking statements also involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted in connection with any proposed business combination; (2) the inability to complete any proposed business combination in a timely manner or at all; (3) delays in obtaining, adverse conditions contained in, or the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals or complete regulatory reviews required to complete any proposed business combination; (4) the risk that the business combination may not be completed by Northern Genesis 2 business combination deadline and the potential failure to obtain an extension of the business combination deadline if sought; (5) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the transaction, including the adoption of the agreement and plan of merger by the stockholders of Northern Genesis 2 and Embark and the satisfaction of the minimum trust account amount following redemptions by Northern Genesis 2’s public stockholders; (6) the lack of a third party valuation in determining whether or not to pursue the proposed business combination; (7) the risk that any proposed business combination disrupts current plans and operations and/or the impact that the announcement of the proposed business combination may have on Embark’s business relationships; (8) the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of any proposed business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain key employees; (9) costs related to the any proposed business combination; (10) changes in the applicable laws or regulations; (11) volatility in the price of Northern Genesis 2’s securities due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which Embark plans to operate, variations in performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting Embark’s business and changes in the combined capital structure; (12) the possibility that Embark or Northern Genesis 2 may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (13) the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic; and (14) other risks and uncertainties separately provided to you and indicated from time to time described in filings and potential filings by Embark and Northern Genesis 2 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including those discussed in Northern Genesis 2’s Annual Report Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 (“Form 10-K”) and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 and those that are expected to be included in the registration statement on Form S-4 and proxy statement/prospectus discussed below and other documents filed by Northern Genesis 2 from time to time. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Embark and Northern Genesis 2 caution that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive and not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, including projections, which speak only as of the date made. Embark and Northern Genesis 2 undertake no obligation to and accepts no obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

 

  

 

Additional Information About the Proposed Transactions and Where to Find It

 

The proposed transactions will be submitted to stockholders of Northern Genesis 2 for their consideration. Northern Genesis 2 intends to file a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) with the SEC which will include preliminary and definitive proxy statements to be distributed to Northern Genesis 2’s stockholders in connection with Northern Genesis 2’s solicitation for proxies for the vote by Northern Genesis 2’s stockholders in connection with the proposed transactions and other matters as described in the Registration Statement, as well as the prospectus relating to the offer of the securities to be issued to Embark’s shareholders in connection with the completion of the proposed merger. After the Registration Statement has been filed and declared effective, Northern Genesis 2 will mail a definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents to its stockholders as of the record date established for voting on the proposed transactions. Northern Genesis 2’s stockholders and other interested persons are advised to read, once available, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and any amendments thereto and, once available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus, in connection with Northern Genesis 2’s solicitation of proxies for its special meeting of stockholders to be held to approve, among other things, the proposed business combination, because these documents will contain important information about Northern Genesis 2, Embark and the proposed business combination. Stockholders may also obtain a copy of the preliminary or definitive proxy statement, once available, as well as other documents filed with the SEC regarding the proposed transactions and other documents filed with the SEC by Northern Genesis 2, without charge, at the SEC’s website located at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to Northern Genesis 2.

 

INVESTMENT IN ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SEC OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY NOR HAS ANY AUTHORITY PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THE OFFERING OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

 

Participants in the Solicitation

 

Northern Genesis 2, Embark and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees may, under SEC rules, be deemed to be participants in the solicitations of proxies from Northern Genesis 2’s stockholders in connection with the proposed transactions. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of Northern Genesis 2’s stockholders in connection with the proposed transactions will be set forth in Northern Genesis 2’s proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. You can find more information about Northern Genesis 2’s directors and executive officers in Northern Genesis 2’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available. Stockholders, potential investors and other interested persons should read the proxy statement/prospectus carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free copies of these documents from the sources indicated above.

 

No Offer or Solicitation

 

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

 

Contacts

 

Embark Trucks, Inc.

Investor Relations:

investorrelations@embarktrucks.com

 

Media:

press@embarktrucks.com

 

Northern Genesis 2 Investor Relations

816-514-0324

investors@northerngenesis.com

 

 

 4

 

Exhibit 99.2 

 

Embark Trucks, Inc. and Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II Business Combination June 23, 2021

 

Operator

 

Welcome to today’s conference call announcing the business combination of Embark Trucks, Inc. and Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II. Joining us on the call are Embark’s Co-Founder and CEO Alex Rodrigues, Director and CEO of Northern Genesis II Ian Robertson, and Embark CFO Richard Hawwa.

 

We would first like to remind everyone that this call contains forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, Embark’s and Northern Genesis’s expectations or predictions of financial and business performance and conditions, competitive and industry outlook; the cash resources, plans, and prospects of the combined entity; expected valuations of the combined entity; and the timing and completion of the transaction. Commentary on these topics constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections, and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. We encourage you to read the press release issued today, the accompanying presentation, and Northern Genesis’s public filings with the SEC, including a proxy statement/prospectus that will be filed in the coming days and available on the SEC’s website, and, in particular, to the section or sections titled Risk Factors and Forward-Looking Statements, for a discussion of the risks that can affect the transaction, Embark’s and Northern Genesis’s businesses, and the outlook of the combined company.

 

Embark and Northern Genesis are under no obligation and expressly disclaim any obligation to update, alter or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

 

This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to and shall not constitute an offer sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for any securities or a solicitation of any vote of approval, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

 

And now, I would like to introduce Ian Robertson, Director and CEO of Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II.

 

Ian Robertson, Director and CEO of Northern Genesis II

 

Thanks everyone for joining us today. Before I hand it to Alex and Richard to tell you more about the Embark Story, let me provide some background on Northern Genesis II and how we evaluated the proposed combination with Embark.

 

 

Embark Trucks, Inc. and Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II Business Combination June 23, 2021

 

Northern Genesis II is a $414 million operator-backed special purpose acquisition company. We believe that the Northern Genesis team is highly differentiated, consisting of proven entrepreneurial business builders that have a long history of creating shareholder value. Prior to creating the Northern Genesis platform, my long-term business collaborator Chris Jarratt, and I founded and built Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp into a $12 billion NYSE listed renewable energy and sustainable utility company that is a member of the TSX 60 index. We believe that our team’s collective years of industrial owner/operator experience are a distinguishing factor in this merger, and we believe we can leverage this experience and our deep sector knowledge and industry connections to increase shareholder value post-transaction as board members and senior advisors.

 

Most recently, Northern Genesis was the SPAC sponsor in the Lion Electric mobility transformation story. We are proud to be associated with the Lion story, which has delivered compelling returns to SPAC shareholders and PIPE investors.

 

Working with Lion cemented our belief in the opportunities arising from the on-going transformation of mobility, including the Embark story. The trucking industry is intensely competitive, and the savings from operating a long-haul truck without a driver are even more significant than the total cost of ownership advantages of electric over diesel which we saw with Lion. By eliminating cost of labor significantly, the operating cost savings of up to 43% realized by an autonomous trucking carrier should make competition almost impossible for conventionally driven trucking operations.

 

There are three elements of the Embark story that stood out to us in selecting to partner with Embark.

 

First, Embark presents an easily understood, compelling and tangible business proposition. The industry-disrupting cost savings implications of autonomous trucking, coupled with Embark’s differentiated and advanced technology stack, one which is proven by a fleet that has driven more than a million safe miles, brings an inevitable tangibility to the Embark story. In our view, Autonomous trucking is going to happen.

 

Second, as we looked at multiple autonomous vehicle stories, Embark’s industry collaborative, rather than competitive business model made the most sense to us. Their plan does not involve them building, owning, or operating trucks in competition with the current trucking carrier industry. Rather, Embark provides software and logistics support to established carriers as customers, allowing them to deliver better, cheaper, and faster freight service. Under Embark’s model, carriers continue to own and autonomously operate trucks purchased from their chosen OEM which are factory equipped by the OEM with the required hardware. This asset-light business model is expeditiously scalable without significant industry upheaval or requiring unreasonable investment by Embark.

 

 

Embark Trucks, Inc. and Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II Business Combination June 23, 2021

 

Third and lastly, consistent with our conviction that success today demands organizational alignment with the ongoing secular shift towards sustainability, we saw that autonomous trucking demonstrates that orientation through the material environmental benefits from enhanced fuel efficiency and the social implications of improved driver working conditions, and safer roads for everyone.

 

Before choosing Embark, we conducted diligence on many mobility-focused companies and concluded Embark met all of our specified criteria for a successful transaction and the creation of long-term shareholder value. It’s a business association that Chris and I are proud to have as a follow-on to our success at Algonquin and, most recently, with Lion.

 

And lastly, a few words about the transaction:

 

In addition to the $414M in Northern Genesis 2’s trust account, we successfully raised a $200 million PIPE, which includes marquee institutional investors including Sequoia Capital, Tiger Global Management, Mubadala and CPP Investments. And proud to join these marquee investors, my partners and I are personally participating in the PIPE with a $10M commitment.

 

As you would expect, Embark’s existing shareholders and management are rolling over 100% of their equity, confirming their commitment and belief in the company’s long-term growth potential.

 

Based on more than $600M in total proceeds remaining on the combined company balance sheet, assuming no redemptions, the transaction implies a post-merger enterprise value of $4.5 billion. This was negotiated to provide an incredibly compelling entry point into the Embark story relative to other public autonomous trucking comparables. In comparison to these other stories, Embark’s highly advanced technology stack and a business model embraced by the industry including some of the nation’s largest carriers make this a must-own stock for mobility transformation investors. We are confident that the cadence of technological and commercial milestones forecast to be achieved over the coming 24 months will deliver capital appreciation on the path to broad commercialization in 2024.

 

And with that, I will turn the call over to Alex to tell you about Embark and its amazing technology.

 

Alex Rodrigues, CEO and Co-Founder of Embark

 

Thank you, Ian. Good morning, everyone. I am excited to tell you more about the company I have been building for the last five years.

 

I came to the AV trucking space with a background in robotics. I have deep experience in robotics, and it has been my lifelong passion. I developed 11 different robotics platforms, won a Robotics World Championship, and built the first self-driving vehicle to operate on public roads in Canada.

 

 

Embark Trucks, Inc. and Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II Business Combination June 23, 2021

 

My early work developing a self-driving vehicle led to my interest in the trucking industry and ultimately to the founding of Embark. When we started Embark in 2016, we sought to build software solutions to address driver shortages, environmental and safety issues facing the trucking industry and to create a world where consumers pay less for the things they need, where drivers stay closer to the homes they cherish, and where roads are safer for the people we love.

 

Embark is fundamentally an autonomous vehicle software-as-a-service company focused on trucking. Our primary offering is Embark Driver, our highly differentiated and advanced software stack. We deliver this software as a subscription, partnering with leading carriers who pay a per-mile license fee and providing them with Embark’s Driver software as well as a suite of supporting services. These include Guardian, Embark’s cloud-based dispatch and monitoring solution, which delivers 24/7 monitoring and remote assist capabilities.

 

Embark has developed Embark Universal Interface, a standard sensor module and compute module designed to interface with most major steering and braking actuators. This modular integration approach is designed to enable our carrier partners to purchase an Embark Driver-compatible option from their preferred manufacturers.

 

Building direct relationships with carriers and offering modular integration across OEM platforms is a proven approach in the trucking industry - pioneered by companies like Cummins Engine - and positions Embark to be the partner of choice for multi-OEM fleets. By focusing on offering best-in-class software and partnering with leading carriers who own and operate self-driving fleets, Embark will be able to rapidly scale its business and efficiently bring its self-driving truck technology to market.

 

Today I want to discuss the two key things that distinguish Embark as a leader in the AV trucking market:

 

1.

World-class self-driving software

2.

Business model based on partnering with carriers

 

Embark’s engineering team stands out for having deep experience with the self-driving truck technology, for having a pragmatic balance of expertise across both academia and industry and for truly believing in the mission - spending years working on self-driving trucks long before it was fashionable to do so.

 

Embark’s engineering team has been commercially testing self-driving trucks on US highways longer than anyone else - which we believe shows our world-class expertise in this particular technology. Over the last five years this experience has honed our disciplined, focused approach and allowed us to deliver a steady drumbeat of industry-first capabilities - including the first self-driving truck to drive from coast to coast. We believe that anyone that has had the opportunity to sit in both Embark trucks and competitor’s trucks will conclude Embark has the most advanced self-driving truck you can sit in today.

 

 

Embark Trucks, Inc. and Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II Business Combination June 23, 2021

 

By focusing our efforts on the well-defined problem of autonomously driving trucks to and along highways we have been able to develop proprietary cutting-edge techniques across the stack - in perception, fusion and planning - that allow our trucks to drive smoothly and reliably like a human.

 

In perception, Embark has been a pioneer in cutting edge active learning techniques that learn from real-world experience to rapidly and continuously improve our perception performance. Embark’s perception team lives by the mantra “it’s about how much data you have AND how you use it”. We have used the million plus miles driven by our trucks to build a machine learning system that identifies the most relevant detections and provides the most useful insights into critical edge cases. With the most valuable data automatically identified, we can focus our labeling and training efforts to provide the quickest, most effective feedback loop for Embark Driver, resulting in constantly improving performance.

 

Every second as the truck drives, its perception data is then fed into Embark’s proprietary Vision-Map Fusion System. Vision-Map Fusion builds on top of the HD mapping approach generally used in the market. While HD mapping is a useful starting point, it treats maps as static and unchanging, resulting in poor performance on interstate highways - which are almost always undergoing construction - and maps which are highly resource intensive to create and maintain.

 

Embark’s focus and experience dealing with highway construction has allowed us to flip this paradigm on its head. Vision-Map Fusion layers on top of a traditional mapping stack, but instead of treating the map as static it treats the map as a dynamic changing environment. VMF leverages Embark’s cutting-edge non-linear-optimization techniques to update the map in real-time using detailed road geometry data from Embark’s LiDAR and Camera sensors. This allows Embark’s driver software to detect and respond to new situations where the map may be outdated on-the-fly. For example, earlier this year, Embark released the first public demonstration of a self-driving truck detecting and responding to lane closures in a construction zone - without mapping them ahead of time.

 

Finally, our Prediction and Planning Stack is what enables Embark Driver to deliver smooth driving in traffic and other challenging driving conditions that our safety drivers have described as human-like—a key to superior performance.

 

We believe our integration of planning and prediction maintains this critical feedback loop between actions the self-driving vehicle takes and how those actions cascade and affect the likely actions of other road users over time, and has contributed to our technical firsts. This feedback loop is particularly critical in highway driving situations where maneuvers like lane changes in heavy traffic often need to be planned far in advance.

 

 

Embark Trucks, Inc. and Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II Business Combination June 23, 2021

 

Based on our experience with unique challenges of highway driving, Embark’s engineering team has developed a proprietary integrated prediction and planning stack that is able to simulate up to 1200 different potential scenarios per second. Each of these 1200 simulations explore up to 60 seconds into the future and together they cover a wide variety of possibilities about how the actions of our truck would impact the predicted actions of other vehicles. By having a broad understanding of all the possibilities, the truck can make smart decisions about where exactly the best spot to be is at any given time.

 

This technology can unlock immense value for our customer, the carrier. In a purely economic sense, Embark’s system should allow the carrier to get almost three times as many miles out of the same investment. Where a human driver is limited to 60 hours of driving time per week by the federal hours of service, a driverless truck can operate 24/7. On top of that fairly significant increase in revenue from almost 3x more usage, driverless trucks should be able to nearly double the profit margin for the carrier, even after accounting for Embark’s subscription cost. This change in the business model for the carriers is transformative.

 

In addition to the economic benefits, we provide customers with a superior product that fulfills their sustainability and safety goals. Further, Embark addresses a critical strategic barrier for customers by helping them solve the growing driver shortage, while also improving the quality of life for drivers by allowing them to drive locally and go home to their families every night.

 

By partnering with carriers, we are able to leverage their existing infrastructure and operational expertise. Large carriers invest hundreds of millions of dollars a year into purchasing trucks and real estate and have significant employee and customer infrastructure. Working with carriers so we may leverage their existing footprint will allow Embark to focus on building great software. Partnering with carriers allows Embark to scale its business and generate high incremental margins consistent with other SaaS businesses.

 

Both our technology and customer value proposition have been validated by industry leaders. Over the last five years, Embark has completed hundreds of hauls with more than a dozen major shippers and carriers. We are working directly with leading shippers and carriers to deploy our technology, including, AB InBev, the manufacturer of Budweiser and the world’s largest brewer, and Mesilla Valley Transportation, one of the most innovative carriers in the U.S. Sunbelt, which is our first area of deployment.

 

 

Embark Trucks, Inc. and Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II Business Combination June 23, 2021

 

Embark has also established relationships with truck stop and depot players, which we are leveraging to rapidly roll out our coverage map. We see transfer points as a critical piece of the enabling infrastructure for driverless trucking. Embark is moving freight through transfer points today, including locations owned by real estate partners such as truck stop operators and industrial REITs. These transfer point locations provide immediate access to an entire region. Carriers drop the trailer at a transfer point, and a human driver does the first and last mile into the city in our model. This allows a whole city to be serviced by a handful of transfer points on the way into and out of the metro area.

 

In addition to building a great technology program, I’m most proud of the Embark team. We’ve built a really incredible leadership team with deep experience across software, hardware, artificial intelligence, machine learning, trucking, and logistics. We are also excited to be welcoming former Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao to our board of directors. After spending four years overseeing the highest transportation regulatory body in the U.S., Secretary Chao will help Embark in its dialogue to establish the regulatory framework to further our AV policy leadership through the next stage of deployment.

 

Finally, and most importantly, Embark has driven more miles without a DOT reportable incident than any other self-driving truck player. We have over a million real-world miles with no significant accidents, a sterling safety record that we are incredibly proud of. We believe that our safety record is a critical differentiator when it comes time to win the long-term government support to successfully deploy AV trucking technology.

 

With that, I would now like to turn the call to Embark’s CFO, Richard Hawwa to discuss financials.

 

Richard Hawwa, CFO of Embark Trucks

 

Thank you, Alex.

 

We believe the industry tailwinds to support our business plan are very compelling, but one important point worth highlighting is we do not view this to be a winner take-all industry, and accordingly, we do not model it as such.

 

The way we’ve modeled our financial projections is based on how we ultimately see the AV trucking market commercializing.

 

First, we are planning a two-phase rollout based on geography. We expect a phase 1 rollout in 2024 based in the sunbelt states, with a phase 2 rollout for the remainder of the lower 48 commencing in 2026.

 

Secondly, we believe the economics to be slightly different depending on whether the haul is a transfer point haul or a direct to customer haul, which I’ll describe in a bit more detail shortly.

 

 

Embark Trucks, Inc. and Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II Business Combination June 23, 2021

 

At its root, Embark is a Software-as-a-Service business, which means customers subscribe to our service and we receive a payment per mile. This actually makes the modelling relatively straight forward, in that the basis of our financial projections are grounded on identifying two primary items: (1) the number of autonomous miles within Embark’s operational design domain, or ODD, and (2) the associated per mile pricing.

 

We calculate there to be a total addressable market in the US of approximately 300 billion miles today. We believe transfer point hauls are only economical to carriers at greater than 300 miles and direct-to-customer hauls greater than 100 miles. Given this, we believe approximately 86% of these lanes are therefore economical for autonomous trucking. We then adjust this down further to capture Embark’s ODD, which we initially calculate to be about 80% of these lanes, growing to about 90% over time as Embark’s technology continues to develop. This is our serviceable market.

 

I would highlight that when you then look at our financial projections and the number of miles required to achieve our 2024 targets, we expect to capture only just over 1% of those miles in our serviceable market in 2024.

 

On the pricing side, we work with our partners to identify the cost of a human driven truck versus an autonomously driven truck.

 

Based on publicly available research, as well as ongoing dialogue with our partners, we calculate the cost of a human-driven truck to be $1.76 per mile.

 

The way this works in practice is we are having an active dialogue with our carrier partners about these costs and, importantly, the savings our technology unlocks. It is worth noting this is not simply the cost of the human driver, which is obviously a significant portion of cost, but all the components, such as additional savings from fuel efficiency, but also additional costs we would expect with an autonomous truck, such as the increased cost associated with the truck itself.

 

When factoring all these components, this net savings is 80 cents per mile.

 

Embark will share a portion of these net savings with our partners, and we calculate a gross revenue rate of 44 cents per mile. Separately, for transfer point hauls, we provide a fixed rebate for a portion of the drayage, or last mile delivery, cost. As such, the actual cost per autonomous mile varies depending on the length of the haul.

 

The last component is our COGS, which is comprised of Guardian. Think of this as the network support that is required for our SaaS business model. We calculate this to be 12 cents per mile, and is comprised primarily of two components: one—bandwidth, and two—staffing.

 

We believe this business model supports a very attractive margin profile to scale once the network is implemented.

 

 

Embark Trucks, Inc. and Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II Business Combination June 23, 2021

 

As we look to our financial projections, I would reiterate we expect to penetrate only a very small percentage of our serviceable market. We do not build trucks and we do not intend to build our own carrier network. As such, as we look at 2026 and beyond, we believe this to be the best business model to scale rapidly.

 

The team has been very much focused on developing the technology, and purposely focused on the depth of our relationships versus simply the breadth of them. Once the tech is ready, we believe that the carriers will desire our “plug and play” technology, not only because it does double their own margin profile, but because it will make them more competitively advantaged as well.

 

With that, I’ll pass it back to Alex for some concluding remarks.

 

Alex Rodrigues, CEO and Co-Founder of Embark

 

Thank you, Richard

 

With that, I would like to offer some closing remarks:

 

Embark is America’s longest-running self driving truck program, and with that experience, we believe we have the leading technology in the industry. We have also evaluated and landed on the best go-to-market strategy by partnering with the existing players within the freight logistics ecosystem. We don’t want to compete with the current ecosystem, but rather partner with and enhance all the constituents within that ecosystem. Lastly, we believe it is important to be an American built and based Company to help transform a key part of the United States freight logistics infrastructure.

 

We have been supported by leading technology investors, and have well-established partnerships with the leading shippers and carriers.

 

We believe our technology will help Embark’s mission to build a world where consumers pay less for the things they need, drivers stay close to the homes they cherish, and roads are safer for the people we love.

 

Thank you again for joining us. We look forward to updating you on our progress.

 

 

9

 

Exhibit 99.3

 

 

INVESTOR PRESENTATION June 2021

Disclaimer This confidential presentation (the “presentation”) is being delivered to you by Embark Trucks, Inc . (“Embark”) and Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp . II (“SPAC” or “Northern Genesis II”) in connection with its potential business combination of Embark and SPAC and the offering of the securities of the post - business combination company (“Combined Co”) in a private placement (the “Transaction”) . This presentation is for information purposes only and is being provided to you solely in your capacity as a potential investor in considering an investment in Embark or Combined Co . Any reproduction or distribution of this presentation, in whole or in part, or the disclosure of its contents, without the prior consent of Embark is prohibited . By accepting this presentation, each recipient and its directors, partners, officers, employees, attorney(s), agents and representatives (collectively, the “recipient”) agrees : (i) to maintain the confidentiality of all information that is contained in this presentation and not already in the public domain ; and (ii) to return or destroy all copies of this presentation or portions thereof in its possession following the request for the return or destruction of such copies . This presentation and any oral statements made in connection with this presentation shall neither constitute an offer to sell nor the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or the solicitation of any proxy, vote, consent or approval in any jurisdiction in connection with the proposed business combination, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction . This communication is restricted by law ; it is not intended for distribution to, or use by any person in, any jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation . No Representations and Warranties This presentation is for informational purposes only and does not purport to contain all of the information that may be required to evaluate a possible investment decision with respect to Embark or Combined Co . The recipient agrees and acknowledges that this presentation is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision by the recipient and does not constitute financial investment, tax or legal advice . No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be given by Embark, SPAC or any of their respective affiliates, directors, officers, employees or advisers or any other person as to the accuracy or completeness of the information (including as to the accuracy, completeness or reasonableness of statements, estimates, targets, projections, assumptions or judgments) in this presentation or in any other written, oral or other communications transmitted or otherwise made available to any party in the course of its evaluation of a possible transaction and no responsibility or liability whatsoever is accepted for the accuracy or sufficiency thereof or for any errors, omissions or misstatements, negligent or otherwise, relating thereto . The recipient also acknowledges and agrees that the information contained in this presentation is preliminary in nature and is subject to change, and any such changes may be material . Embark and SPAC disclaim any duty to update the information contained in this presentation . Forward - Looking Statements This presentation includes “forward - looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 . Embark’s and Combined Co’s actual results may differ from their expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you should not rely on these forward - looking statements as predictions of future events . Words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward - looking statements . These forward - looking statements include, without limitation, Embark’s and SPAC’s expectations with respect to future performance . These forward - looking statements also involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results . Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to : ( 1 ) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted in connection with any proposed business combination ; ( 2 ) the inability to complete any proposed business combination ; ( 3 ) delays in obtaining, adverse conditions contained in, or the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals or complete regulatory reviews required to complete any business combination ; ( 4 ) the risk that any proposed business combination disrupts current plans and operations ; ( 5 ) the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of any proposed business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain key employees ; ( 6 ) costs related to the any proposed business combination ; ( 7 ) changes in the applicable laws or regulations ; ( 8 ) the possibility that Embark or Combined Co may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors ; ( 9 ) the impact of the global COVID - 19 pandemic ; and ( 10 ) other risks and uncertainties separately provided to you and indicated from time to time described in filings and potential filings by Embark, SPAC and Combined Co with the U . S . Securities and Exchange Commission . Embark and SPAC caution that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive and not to place undue reliance upon any forward - looking statements, including projections, which speak only as of the date made . Embark and SPAC undertake no obligation to and accepts no obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward - looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based . Industry, Market Data and Partnerships In this presentation, Embark and SPAC rely on and refers to certain information and statistics regarding the markets and industries in which Embark competes . Such information and statistics are based on management’s estimates and/or obtained from third - party sources, including reports by market research firms and company filings . While Embark and SPAC believe such third - party information is reliable, there can be no assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of the indicated information . Embark and SPAC have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information provided by the third - party sources . This Presentation contains descriptions of certain key business partnerships with Embark . These descriptions are based on the Embark management team’s discussion with such counterparties, certain non - binding written agreements and the latest available information and estimates as of the date of this Presentation . These descriptions are subject to negotiation and execution of definitive agreements with certain of such counterparties which have not been completed as of the date of this Presentation . Trademarks This presentation may contain trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights of other companies, which are the property of their respective owners, and Embark’s and SPAC’s use thereof does not imply an affiliation with, or endorsement by, the owners of such trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights . Solely for convenience, some of the trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights referred to in this presentation may be listed without the TM, © or ® symbols, but Embark, SPAC and their affiliates will assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, the rights of the applicable owners, if any, to these trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights . Projections The presentation contains projected financial information with respect to the combined business of Embark and SPAC, including revenue and gross profit for 2024 - 2027 . Such projected financial information constitutes forward - looking information, is for illustrative purposes only and should not be relied upon as being necessarily indicative of future results . The assumptions and estimates underlying such projected financial information are inherently uncertain and are subject to a wide variety of significant business, economic and competitive risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the projected financial information . See “Forward Looking Statements” paragraph above . Actual results may differ materially from the results contemplated by the projected financial information contained in the presentation, and the inclusion of such information in the presentation should not be regarded as a representation by Embark or SPAC that the results reflected in such projections will be achieved . The auditors of Embark have not audited, reviewed, compiled, or performed any procedures with respect to the projections for the purpose of their inclusion in the presentation, and, accordingly, have not expressed an opinion or provided any other form of assurance with respect thereto for the purpose of the presentation . Private Placement The securities to which this presentation relates have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 , as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction . This presentation relates to securities that Embark would intend to offer in reliance on exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and other applicable laws . These exemptions apply to offers and sales of securities that do not involve a public offering . The securities have not been approved or recommended by any federal, state or foreign securities authorities, nor have any of these authorities passed upon the merits of this offering or determined that this presentation is accurate or complete . Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense . 2

Founder and CEO With Extensive Robotics Experience… … And a Powerful Vision for the Future Robotics World C h am p i o n Built first self - driving vehicle in Canada YC o mb i n a tor W16 Thiel Fellow Built 11 Robotics Pl a t f orms To build a world where consumers pay less for the things they need, drivers stay closer to the homes they cherish, and roads are safer for the people we love. 3

Today’s Presenters Alex Rodrigues Co - Founder and CEO of Embark 4 Richard Hawwa CFO of Embark Ian Robertson Director and CEO of NG II

Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II • Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. II (“NGII”) is an NYSE listed SPAC that priced its $414M IPO on 1/12/2021 • An “operator - backed” SPAC whose management team founded and built Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp to a $12B NYSE listed renewable energy and utility company included in the TSX60 index • NGII’s management team has significant experience in relevant areas: • Energy industry disruption through renewable power generation • Deep understanding of infrastructure and logistics • Participation in the mobility evolution through Lion Electric electric vehicles Equipped to Help Accelerate Embark’s Growth Northern Genesis II Overview Northern Genesis II – Embark Transaction The Lion Electric Transaction was Well Received x Center of truck and bus fleet electrification movement x Six million miles driven by 300 all - electric fleet x Proprietary technology created from 10 years of R&D NGA +86 (2) “It’s not just a question of price or speed to market, the people you will partner with are essential… When Ian called I already knew who he was because of what he had done [with Algonquin]. I was speaking with another entrepreneur who had previously gone public with his company and brought it to a market value of over $1 0 b illi on .” Marc Bedard (Lion Electric CEO) S our c e : Bloomb erg (1) Across equity, debt and preferred share transactions over period of management tenure at AQN and Riverstone (2) Over 05/06/2021 (Lion Electric closing date) from 8/17/2020 (pricing date) and includes a ½ warrant 50% 110% 170% 230% 290% 350% (10%) Aug - 20 Oct - 20 Nov - 20 Jan - 21 Mar - 21 Apr - 21 5 • Industry disrupting cost savings and proven technology combine to make Embark a tangible, executable business proposition • Embark story brings strong ESG alignment with: • Environmental benefits from improved fuel economy • Social benefits of safer roads for the travelling public and Improved driver working conditions • $414M in trust to be augmented by $200M PIPE supported by: • Follow - on investments from Sequoia Capital and Tiger Global • Participation by Northern Genesis management group • Significant commitment from KnightSwift – nation’s largest trucking carrier

Overview

Embark’s Business Model Offers Meaningful Operational Savings and Collaborates Rather than Competes with Carriers is an AV SaaS Company Focused on Trucking Embark partners with carriers (and private fleets), who pay a per - mile subscription fee for Embark’s software Guardian - Embark’s cloud - based dispatch and monitoring solution - provides seamless oversight and integration for carriers Carriers purchase trucks equipped with compatible hardware directly from truck manufacturers Platform - agnostic Embark Universal Interface (EUI) technology makes it easy for OEMs to provide compatible hardware as a factory option Self - driving between highway - adjacent points on Embark coverage map Moving freight today on proof of concept fleet (with safety drivers). Targeting driver - out in 2023 and commercial scale in 2024 7

is the Longest - Running Self Driving Truck Program (1) 2016 Founded 2017 Coast - to - Coast Industry First Completed the first autonomous truck coast - to - coast drive Execution First to bring shipper and carrier together to execute transfer point operation 2018 100,000 Miles Industry First Crossed 100,000 miles L.A. to Phoenix Completed first fully autonomous run from L.A. to Phoenix with 0 interventions 2019 Transfer Point Industry First Opened the world’s first transfer point in Los Angeles & Phoenix Fortune 500 Moving freight for Fortune 500 companies 2020 Embark Guardian Built Embark Guardian as an important step towards commercialization Today Embark Partner Development Program Launched Partner Program with HP, AB InBev, Werner + 2 more top 25 truckload carriers Carrier Network Assessments Conducted network assessment for 8 Fortune 500 companies to plan the conversion of billions in existing freight to autonomous 8 (1) Based on regular road - testing of self - driving truck technology on public roads in America

’s Deep Team Has Industry Leading Experience Elaine Chao Former Secretary of Transportation Former Secretary of Labor Ma tt hew Ocko Co - Managing Partner Patrick Grady Partner, Head of U.S. Growth Investing Alex Rodrigues Richard Hawwa Mike Reid Brandon Moak Somudro Gupta Ajith Dasari Gilbran Al v arez Mark Liu Co - Founder & CEO CFO COO Co - Founder & CTO Head of Autonomous Vehicle Engineering Head of Hardware Platform Engineering Machine Learning and Perception Behavior Planning Guided by World - Class Team of Directors People P red i c tion Sid Venkatesan Payal Jonny Morris Grady Williams Erik Ward Kamil Saigol David Devore Hing Wong CLO Maheshwari Public Policy Vision Map Fusion Motion Planning and Trajectory Generation Mechanical Engineering Systems Engineering Business Leaders Engineering Leaders 9

is Focused on Building the Best Self - Driving Software Hig h - Level Arc h itectu r e Cameras Deep Le ar ning Segmentation Object Fusion Pr ediction and Planning Trajectory Gene r ation Throttle LiDARs Radars Deep Learning Bounding Boxes Map Localization Vision Map Fusion Trajectory Planning Control Steering Wheel Brakes S e ns ors Detec tion Fusion P re diction/ Be ha v ior Planning C o n t rol Truck Interface Active Learning 10

Proprietary Active Learning System Drives Rapid Improvements Edge Cases Irre gula r Ob j ects Irregular Conditions • Finding and solving edge cases is critical to the deployment of safe self - driving • Our Active Learning pipeline is fed by uploading fleet data to our cloud - based selection engine • The selection engine identifies edge cases by uniformly sampling and analyzing detection uncertainty for object existence, class and position across multiple permutations of the deployed model, culminating with a rank order of relative data value • With the most valuable data automatically identified, we can focus our labeling and training efforts to provide the quickest, most effective feedback loop for the Embark Driver – resulting in constantly improving performance Model Training Selection Engine Using Real World Situations To Rapidly Improve Performance Active Learning Deployed Model / Data Gathering Valuable Data 11

Vision Map Fusion & Scene Understanding Enable Robustness • Using proprietary techniques, Vision Map Fusion uses a non - linear optimization approach to fuse local vehicle poses with global map geometry in real - time, enabling on - the - fly map corrections • Making map corrections in real - time allows for dramatically improved accuracy and robustness of near - field lane geometry estimation, while also unifying the corrected near - field topology with the far - field map to create a static scene used in downstream operations • Our approach is designed to be less map reliant and more capable of handling the constantly changing road environment • By correcting map errors on the fly, Vision Map Fusion can facilitate safer, more scalable, and more efficient operations compared to alternative map - centric approaches 12 Grady Williams • PhD Robotics from Georgia Tech • Creator of MPPI (Model Predictive Path Integral) algorithm • Widely cited in vehicle control, robotics and other research Mov i ng Be y ond Brit t le, Map - Cent r ic Appro a c h es Vision Map Fusion

Erik Ward • PhD Research on Interaction Aware Planning for Self - Driving • KTH Royal Institute of Technology • Scania Self - Driving Truck Research • • • Each scenario simulates the actions and interactions of the truck and other relevant vehicles in the environment Based on the observed and predicted actions of the other road users The Embark Driver generates a 60 second planning horizon, analyzing relevant actors and available trajectories The plan best fitting multiple criteria including safety, comfort, and route preference is selected and is intended to match a human driver under challenging circumstances Interactive Planning with Data Driven Predictions 13 95 M eters Simulating Up To 1200 Scenarios Each Second 13 • Data driven modeling enables the Embark Driver to predict the actions of other road users • Each new observation of a road user improves the system’s ability to predict that road user’s intent • Allowing the Embark Driver to understand if a vehicle intends to yield the right - of - way or close an identified gap 60 Second, Interaction - Aware Prediction Horizon Unlocks Optimal Behavior in Challenging Driving Scenarios Intelligent Adaptive Prediction

Our Emphasis on Safety Embark Has Driven More Miles Without a DOT Reportable Incident Than Any Other Self - Driving Truck Player (1) Over 1 million real - world miles driven without a DOT reportable safety incident Hardware • Truck - centric hazard analysis • Exhaustive benchtop and integrated on - road testing Software • ODD driven re q u i re m e n ts d e v e l o p m e n t • Co m prehe n s i v e test i ng • Unit tests • Scenario - based simulation • Closed - course • Monitored on - road Operational • Highly trained team performing all testing • Continuous fleet monitoring • Strict field safety incident response protocols (1) Based on the latest data reported to FMCSA. 14

’s Technology is Expected to Drive Significant Value for Carriers Thr e e Fa c tors D r i v ing Ca r rier Adoption • Expected to improve quality of life for drivers by being home every night Expected to Improve Competitiveness for Shippers • Improved Sustainability: Up to a 10% increase in fuel efficiency per mile, driving a reduction in carbon emissions due to better speed management, supporting Carrier and Shipper sustainability objectives • Increased Delivery Speed: Doubling of daily range from 500 to 1,000 miles, reducing delivery time by 40% (2) • Improved Safety: Autonomous driving directly addresses the 5K deaths, 151K injuries and the enormous value of damaged cargo attributable to human error (3) Expected to Alleviate Driver Shortage • Current driver shortage is 60K and expected to rise to 160K by 2028, leaving 1,000s of trucks “against the fences” at large carriers Expected to Provide Compelling Economics for Carriers (1) Illu s t ra ti v e A V Adoption R e v e n ue Op e rati n g M ar g i n 0% 20% 50% $179M $285M $442M 10% 14% 19% Op e rati n g P ro f i t 375% $18 M $39 M $85M 117% Source: ATA. (1) Calculations assume a 1000 truck fleet converts a percentage of manual trucks to Embark autonomous trucks, capturing the improved utilization and margins provided by Embark trucks. Calculations also assume direct to customer operating model using ATRI per - mile economics (2) Calculation based on assumption of 22 hour driving day vs. 10 hour human driver day (3) Estimates based on data from May 2006 Presentation by US DOT FMCSA from its Large Truck Causation Study Up to 2x Carr i e r Profit Ma rgin on A V m i l e s ~3x Annual Revenue Per Truck via 24/7 operation Increase Truck Utilization, Decrease Payback Period 1 2 3 15

Top Shippers and Carriers are Partnering with Embark Partners are investing to prepare their businesses to scale Embark autonomous trucks Embark is working with shippers and carriers to analyze their nationwide freight networks at a lane level and develop detailed rollout plans for converting portions of these networks to autonomous Embark is hauling with carriers and shippers to refine operations today , paving the way for partners to quickly, safely and effectively scale autonomous trucking Embark is working closely with carriers today to define business model details such as dispatching, monitoring, maintenance, liability and transfer hub availability, resulting in a clear path to scale 16

• Aligned with the reality that most major carriers run mixed fleets — Nearly 90% of top 25 carriers run 2+ OEMs and ~50% run 3+ OEMs • Carriers are the ultimate decision makers on component selection Market Dynamics Supplier 1 Supplier 2 S uppli e r 3 S uppli e r 4 Component OEM 1 OEM 2 Carrier OEMs multi - source parts from several suppliers to provide a menu to Carrier Carrier selects components from each OEM menu Carrier multi - sources from several OEMs Carrier is the ultimate decision maker We currently purchase trucks from multiple OEMs and plan to continue this strategy to optimize the experience for our drivers and meet our Total Cost of Ownership objectives. Embark's investment to integrate its autonomous driving system with the major OEMs will allow us to test and deploy autonomous trucking capabilities without introducing a new OEM into our fleet for that sole purpose. - Trevor Fridfinnson Chief Operating Officer at Bison Transport 17 Why We Think Being Platform - Agnostic is Important

Specs / Module Designs Component Package APIs Interf a c e Package Embark Universal Interface (EUI) • Standardized sensor and compute systems determined through thousands of hours of design, testing and analysis • Custom flexible physical, electrical and software interfaces enable platform - agnostic integration to any drive - by - wire actuators, chassis, power and HVAC EUI Production Plan Near Future • We anticipate OEMs will ship their first production trucks with redundant drive - by - wire in the near future. • Embark is in active dialogue with OEMs as they plan which sensor and compute options to offer to carriers on top of redundant drive - by - wire. • Truck OEMs expected to offer multiple AV options to carriers • Multiple non - exclusive integrations • In line with how OEMs currently provide factory options for multiple major engine, brake and telematics solutions today • Carriers make the ultimate decision on which AV system to spec based on price, coverage map and ability to be used across their fleet Expected Equilibrium State 2018 - 2021 • Embark has engaged with all 4 major US OEMs for many years - tracking as they each progress towards offering proprietary redundant drive - by - wire platforms. • In parallel, Embark has developed our Embark Universal Interface with flexible interfaces are easily configured to integrate with any drive - by - wire. 18

19

Additional demand for autonomous - related components Improved economics, alleviate driver shortage Increased efficiency, improved reliability, sustainability and safety Enhances the Freight Ecosystem and Benefits all Participants Carriers Ship p ers Embark Universal Interface, new revenue streams O EMs Leverage existing real estate to expand the transfer points Truck Stops and Depots Tier 1 Suppliers Brings Compelling Benefits Across The Entire Network 20

Recent Public Transactions Choosing the Right Strategy in AV Trucking 21 (1) Embark and TuSimple select investors represent investors with 5%+ ownership. Plus.ai includes Board Investors due to lack publicly available shareholder ownership information (2) Traton and Navistar are in the process of completing a merger. Navistar's International is the brand of the two that operates in the US and has 11% of market based on public data (3) Based on testing and commercial deployment (trucks in fleet) (4) Based on 2025E revenue breakdown * PIPE commitment Source: Company filings, Transport Topics, Top 100 For - Hire carrier data from Transport Topics Software - as - a - Service Fleet Retrofit Company Major In v estor s (1) * * * * SUN Dream Inc. HS In v est m e n ts III Limited U.S. Shipper P artner s h i ps -- U.S. Carrier P artner s h i ps * * -- OEM Strategy Embark Universal Interface Custom Navistar Truck (Navistar is 11% of Market) (2) Retrofit In i t i al Go - to - Market Driver Out Partner with Carriers Driver Out Carrier owned Trucks TuSimple owned Trucks Driver In Market 100% USA ~70% USA / ~28% China / ~3% Europe (3) 15% USA / 85% China (4) Offices Exclusively USA USA • San Francisco • Los Angeles China • Beijing • Shanghai USA • San Diego • Tucson • Forth Worth China • Beijing • Shanghai • Suzhou USA • Cupertino

Financial

Trucking Market Represents Significant Opportunity $700 billion truck freight market represents a significant opportunity (1) Delivers potential value to not only carriers, but the entire ecosystem Fragmentation of various constituents unique to the trucking industry Clear and present problem with driver shortage Demand for freight continues to grow Infrastructure is in place today to enable rapid commercialization and scale within the freight ecosystem (1) American Trucking Associations, U.S. Freight Transportation Forecast: 2020 to 2031. 23

How Expects to Commercialize Its Business Two Route Models ~90 Billion Semi - Truck Miles ~210 Billion Incremental Semi - Truck Miles Hu m a n Dr i ve r Autonomous Driving • Embark shares a percentage of the savings with a carrier as a result of utilizing Embark’s software solution • Implies a $ / mile subscription fee, which will be variable depending on the distance of the load • Embark offers a drayage rebate for last - mile transfers to align incentives on the total cost of the load • Transfer Point only economical for carriers on lanes >300 miles • Direct to Customer economical on lanes >100 miles, when shipper facility within Embark coverage map Guardian, and Embark • The software is supported by bears the cost Transfer Point T ran sf e r Point Drayage “first m i l e ” Drayage “last mile” A u t ono m ou s H ig h w a y Segment TRANSFER POINT Cu st o m e r Facilities DIRECT TO CUSTOMER Cu st o m e r Facilities Phase 1: Sunbelt 2024+ Phase 2: Lower 48 2026+ Two Phase Rollout intends to partner throughout the ecosystem and participate with existing players, not compete against them 24

Embark / Northern Genesis II Financial Model Framework Autonomous Truck Miles Driven (1) Human Driver vs. Embark Driver Total Driver Cost Per Mile Total Vehicle Cost Per Mile $0.94 $0.96 $0.82 Human Driver Embark Driver Net Savings $0.80/Mile $1.76 (2) $0 . 9 6 Expected Embark Penetration as a % of Serviceable Miles 2024E 2025E 1.1% 3.3% (1) Analysis based on the Freight Analysis Framework, produced in partnership with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and the Federal Highway Administration and additional data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (2) Based on data from the American Transportation Research Institute Transfer Point >300 Miles Direct to Customer >100 Miles 86% of Miles are in Autonomous Economic Freight Lanes Embark ODD ~80 - 90% of Economic Freight Lanes Total Addressable Market of ~300 Billion Miles Annually Today 25

Compelling Unit Economics for Both the Carrier and 500 Miles: Net Revenue $0.31/Mile 1000 Miles: Net Revenue $0.38/Mile Guardian System Cost of Goods Sold (1) $0.12/Mile Guardian Employee Includes: • Monitor Bandwidth Cost • Update Bandwidth Cost • Update Subscription Cost Includes: • Salaries • Benefits • Overhead Costs Gross Profit (1) Gross Margin (1) $0.26/Mile ~69% Source: Embark / Northern Genesis II Management Embark Autonomous Revenue Per Mile Gross Revenue $0.44/Mile Last Mile Reimbursement Embark COGS Per Mile (1) Represents 2025E. Gross profit includes drayage rebates. 26

Financial Proje c tions Autonomous Miles Driven (miles in millions) Revenue ($ in millions) 8 6 7 2, 7 71 2 0 2 4 E 2 0 2 5 E Gross Profit ($ in millions) 5 8 4 1, 9 15 2 0 2 4 E 2 0 2 5 E Margin 67% Source: Embark / Northern Genesis II Management 69% 1.1% 3.3% Phase 2 ~174 Billion+ Miles Phase 1 ~62 Billion+ Miles Long - Term Gross Margin Target ~74% Long - Term EBITDA Margin Target 30%+ 2026+ Serviceable Mile Opportunity ~236 Billion+ Miles Dr i v en % of Total 2, 3 74 27 7, 4 32 2 0 2 4 E 2 0 2 5 E

V a l u a ti o n

Source: Company Presentations, Pitchbook, Bank of America, Piper Sandler, Cowen, RBC Capital Markets, Baird and Morgan Stanley Equity Research Reports (3) Represents post - money equity value (4) TuSimple market capitalization based on offer price at IPO of $40 per share and shares outstanding of 212,263,328 per company filing (5) In February 2021, Uber sold it’s self - driving unit to Aurora in exchange for a 26% interest in the combined entity at a $10B valuation 29 Embark Leads the Industry in Key Milestones (1) Date of C o mpl e tion 201 7 201 8 201 9 202 0 2021 Technical Milestones On - Road Op e ration Long Run – DE Free S urfa c e S treet Navigation Work Z o ne Handling (2) Business Milestones Freight D el i v ery Transfer Point or Terminal Partner P rogram (1) Milestone data is based on publicly available information; Logo exclusion indicates no publicly available data Note: All dates based on the first public record of the respective company achieving the milestone on a US Class 8 Truck (2) Work Zone handling refers to an AV truck detecting and responding to a previously unmapped Work Zone Emba r k W a y mo T uSimple Plus.ai Aurora K odi a k Attractively Priced Relative to Broader AV Ecosystem 3,301 5,000 7,250 1 0 ,0 0 0 3 0 ,0 0 0 3 0 ,7 5 0 8,491 5,158 (4) (5) May 2021 May 2020 Jan 2021 Feb 2021 Jun 2020 Nov 2020 (3) (3) May 2021 Self - Driving Truck Industry Public Milestone Attractively Priced Relative to TuSimple Public Comp $5.2bn (3) Market Capitalization (Basic market capitalization, in $US billions) $8.5bn (4) 1.6x 3.3x 7.1x 1 9 .0x FV / 2025E EBITDA (Median consensus estimates) FV / 2025E Revenue (Median consensus estimates) ($U S m illi on s )

Appendix – Technology Roadmap

Our Technology Achievements and Roadmap to Driver Out Bought First Truck Lane K ee p i n g Lane Ch a ng es Cut - Ins M er g es Ve h icle o n Shoulder Night Driving S u rface Streets Stop and Go Remote M on i t o r in g Inclement Weather (excl. s no w ) Construction Past Technology Milestones and Accomplishments 2021 2018 2017 2020 2019 2016 2022 2023 • Pull Over to Safety • Emergency Vehicle Interactions • Evasive & Emergency Maneuvers • Inspections • Blown Tires & Other Mechanical Failures Driver Out Future Technology Milestones to Accomplish 32

Major Initiatives Expected To Be Announced Over the Next 12 Months Embark is in advanced discussions that will further support the technology advancement and commercial i zati on timeline Manufacturing Partners to enable Embark Universal Interface (EUI) as an Option Partner Development Program Reservations Coverage Map Expansion Enable shippers and carriers to order EUI - compatible trucks Volume commitments from carrier partners for their fleets upon commercialization Technology Milestones Continue to execute and publicly demonstrate industry - first capabilities from Embark’s technology roadmap Formalize relationships with leading real estate holders to provide established transfer point footprint for carrier partners coast - to - coast 33

Appendix – Regulations

Regulatory Tailwinds Legislation Permits: Autonomous Commercial Operations Autonomous Testing In Progress Current State Regulatory Environment • Current regulatory environment is favorable for autonomous trucking • Today, 43 states allow autonomous truck testing, and 24 states allow autonomous truck commercial deployment • No vehicle design changes and FMCSA pre - emption clear regulatory path US DOT 4.0 AV Regulations have been released to further support a future cohesive 50 - state AV operations framework US NHTSA regulations have been amended to clarify Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for automated vehicles not equipped with manual driver controls (i.e. steering wheels and seating positions) – AVs not designed to carry humans are exempt from the cras h w or t h i n e ss sta n d a rds th a t conventional vehicles need in order to deploy Source: Department of Transportation, NHTSA, SEC Filings. 35

• Co - chair of US Chamber AV Working Group (along with Intel) • Co - chair of SVLG AV Working Group (along with General Motors) • Founding member of Trucking group @ Self - Driving Coalition (leading AV industry group) • Only truck - specific board member on the Self - Driving Coalition for Safer Streets Early on at Embark, we knew we had to lead on autonomous trucking policy. Helping shape the regulatory framework is the right thing for our company and will ensure the safety and efficiency benefits of Embark’s technology are not delayed. — Jonny Morris • Joined Embark in June 2017 • 8 - year veteran of autonomous vehicle policy issues in automotive, trucking, and insurance industries • Served as technology and policy adviser in the Obama White House, U.S. Department of Defense, and U.S. Department of State is Leading the Way on Policy Longest Tenured AV Truck Member on Critical Industry Groups Active Leadership Roles in the Industry Industry Lobbying Results • U.S. Chamber (leading US business lobby) • SVLG (leading CA business lobby) • American Trucking Association (leading US trucking industry group) • Successfully advocated for USDOT to clarify the ability for L4 trucks to operate under existing regulation and without constraint from human - centric regulations (hours of service, drug testing), codified in USDOT’s “AV 3.0” guidance issued in Oct 2018. • Won inclusion and exclusion of autonomous trucks in various federal and state legislation to benefit Embark’s deployment model as well balance what we believe to be the right regulatory framework for all constituents Elaine Chao • U.S. Secretary of Transportation (2017 - 2021) • Oversaw development of first - ever regulatory guidance on autonomous trucking • U.S. Secretary of Labor (2001 - 2009) • Past board positions at Dole Foods, Wells Fargo Bank, Harvard Kennedy School Trucking is the backbone of the American economy. I believe Embark’s technology will strengthen U.S. economic competitiveness by making trucks safer, dramatically improving productivity, and solving the real and growing driver shortage. — Elaine Chao Jonny Morris 36

Appendix – Coverage Map

Carriers operate self - driving trucks between highway - adjacent locations on Embark coverage map Coverage Map Supercharges Scale - Up Number of start/stop locations expands rapidly by adding ecosystem real - estate to the coverage map: • Current truck stops act as ideal transfer points that can be used by all carriers • Highway - adjacent shipper locations can be added directly to coverage map, boosting efficiency and stickiness Highways are the ideal first application for self - driving Vision Map Fusion simplifies adding locations to coverage map Hu m a n Dr i ve r Autonomous Driving Transfer Point Drayage “first mile” Drayage “last mile” Autonomous Highway Segment TRANSFER POINT Cu st o m e r Facilities Transfer Point 38

Real Estate Partners Accelerate Expansion 39 Leveraging the Strengths of Potential Real Estate and Retail Players, including PFJ, will Dramatically Decrease Time to Market Example: PFJ’s Network • 800+ highway adjacent sites located near freight areas • Purpose built for class - 8 truck traffic • On site fuel and ancillary services including tire, maintenance, and dispatch support Pilot Flying J

Appendix – Financial Model (Continued)

41 Mile Detail (1) Pricing Detail (miles in millions) Total Cost Per Mile Human Driver Embark Driver Driver - Based Driver Wages $0.56 Driver Benefits 0.17 Driver Overhead Costs 0.09 Total Driver Costs 0.82 Vehicle - Based Total Vehicle Costs 0.94 0.96 Total Costs $1.76 (3) $0.96 Detail P&L ($ in millions) 2024E 2025E Revenue $867 $2,771 Gross Profit 584 1,915 EBITDA (4) 640 CapEx 8 10 EBITDA - Capex (11) 629 Supplemental Financial Projections Detail Phase 1 2024E 2025E Total Freight Miles 96,677 98,224 Total Serviceable Miles 56,970 59,455 300+ Mile Routes 52,421 53,425 100 – 300 Mile Routes (2) 4,550 6,029 Embark Miles Driven 2,374 7,432 Phase 2 2024E 2025E Total Freight Miles 218,008 221,496 Total Serviceable Miles 164,064 169,081 300+ Mile Routes 157,603 160,519 100 – 300 Mile Routes (2) 6,461 8,562 Embark Miles Driven -- -- Service Miles Driven 1.1% 3.3% (1) Analysis based on the Freight Analysis Framework, produced in partnership with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and the Federal Highway Administration and additional data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (2) 100 - 300 mile trips only economical in Direct to Customer model (i.e. origin/destination within operating domain) (3) Based on data from the American Transportation Research Institute

~32,000 Trucks Purchases ~ 8k trucks annually ~3 Billion hu m a n - dr i v en freight miles annually Supported By Existing Partners and Pipeline 42 Existing Partners ~4,600 Average Fleet Size (4) ~30 Billion Human Driven Freight Miles (5) Top 100 (~10% of market) Embark is Currently Partnered With High Quality Carriers But Has a Robust Customer / Carrier Pipeline to Rapidly Grow Embark is in discussions with carriers who represent 40% of Top 100 truck count (4) Partners 9% Co mm er c i a l i z at i on Discussions 33% Targeted 59% (1) Assumes our partner routes are the same distribution as all routes, as determined by the Freight Analysis Framework, or ~18% of our partner trucks are in phase 1 addressable lanes in 2024 (2) Assumes each autonomous truck can run 360K miles per year (3) Forecast requires ~6,500 autonomous trucks to meet 2024 mileage targets and estimates that the 5 existing partners have ~5,900 trucks on lanes deployed in 2024 (4) Based on Top 100 For - Hire carrier data from Transport Topics (5) Calculated based on top 100 total tractor count of ~342K(Transport Topics) and ~94K annual miles per truck (Trucking Research) Our partners currently run ~89% of the trucks required to meet our 2024 target (1)(2)(3)

’s Business Model is Validated by Partners 43 Mesilla Valley Transportation has a demonstrated history of identifying, testing and deploying new and innovative technology to maintain an edge in our competitive industry. With the Embark Partner Development Program, we see an opportunity to utilize this expertise to deploy and scale autonomous trucks within our network, unlocking top - line growth through improved utilization and bottom - line growth through superior economics. has completed hundreds of hauls with many major companies and has incorporated that expertise into its partnerships with carriers and shippers At AB InBev, we have a longstanding history of working with our carrier network to introduce new innovations that better their business, our business and enhance workers lives and careers. By partnering with Embark, we will enable our carrier partners to adopt and quickly scale autonomous trucking technology throughout the truck freight logistics ecosystem resulting in a more sustainable and safer supply chain network for AB InBev. - Royal Jones CEO at Mesilla Valley Transportation - Angie Slaughter VP, Sustainability, Logistics & Capabilities Procurement at Anheuser - Busch InBev

SaaS Business Model Carrier/Shipper Partners Enable Embark to Scale Efficiently by Integrating Into the Current Freight Ecosystem • High margins • Recurring revenue • Economies of Scale Compelling software - as - a - service economics • Embark can focus on what we do best: making state - of - the art software Carriers bring expertise in running a complex operations intensive business Source: Transport Topics, ATRI (1) Carrier spend calculated based on average fleet size of top 100 carriers. Assumes 25% annual fleet turnover and average cost of $125K per truck. • Carrier investment massively outpaces the resour c es of any single A V pla y er • Top 100 carriers average more than $100M each on new trucks annually (1) Scale up rapidly by leveraging significant investments by carriers in trucks and real estate Selling to carriers and shippers allows to focus on software development 44

Proceeds From the Proposed Transaction Are Expected to Fund the Business Plan Through Commercialization in 2024 45 Expected Use of Proceeds Expanding Coverage Map 5% Headcount 70% On - Road Testing 13% OEM Co - Development 12% Source: Embark / Northern Genesis II Management

8% 4% 2% 86% NGAB Shareholders PIPE Investors Founder Shares (4) Existing Embark SH (5)(6)(7) Pro Forma Valuation 46 • After giving effect to the transaction (1) , Combined Co. will have $613mm of cash (3) to pursue its go - to - market strategy and consolidate its market leadership position • $4.25bn pre - money valuation supporting $5.2bn pro forma equity value • 1.6x of 2025E Revenue • Proceeds raised are expected to fully fund capital expenditures through 2024 and are 100% primary • The transaction is expected to close Q3 2021 Transaction Overview Illustrative Transaction Sources and Uses Pro Forma Ownership (1)(5) @ $10.00 per Share Pro Forma Ownership Shares (mm) % O/S 41.4 20.0 10.0 444.5 8 . 0 % 3.9 1.9 86.2 Total Shares 515.8 100.0% NG A B Sha r PIPE Invest Founder Sh Existing Embark SH (5)(6)(7) eho l de r s ors (2) ares (4) Pro Forma Shares Outstanding 515.8 Illustrative Share Price $10.00 Pro Forma Equity Value $5,158 ( - ) Pro Forma Cash (3) (613) Pro Forma Enterprise Value $4,545 Total Sources ( $mm ) $414 200 100 4,250 Total Sources $4,964 T o tal Uses ( $mm ) $531 100 4,250 83 Total Uses $4,964 ($mm) 2025E Revenue EV / 2025E Revenue $2,771 1.6x Nor ther n Genes i s II Cash i n T r us t (1) P I P E (2) Northern Genesis II Founder Shares (4) Stock Consideration to Existing Embark SH Cash to Balance Sheet Northern Genesis II Founder Shares (4) Stock Consideration to Existing Embark SH Estimated Fees and Expenses (1) Assumes no redemptions by SPAC shareholders. (2) Includes $40mm of FPA subscriptions. (3) Includes $82mm of existing balance sheet cash, including proceeds from a convertible note. (4) Excludes 0.4mm Founder Shares forfeited due to FPA subscription to PIPE. (5) Excludes PSU awards to Alex Rodrigues and Brandon Moak that will collectively represent an aggregate amount of up to 10% of the fully - diluted shares outstanding immediately following closing and that are anticipated to vest at escalating thresholds starting at approximately $20/share up to a maximum of approximately $100/share. Excludes the impact of up to 2.9mm existing Embark shares underlying equity awards that can be issued prior to closing. Excludes the new, to be established, equity incentive plan (10% of FD shares outstanding immediately following closing + 5% evergreen) and ESPP (2% of FD shares outstanding immediately following closing + 1% evergreen). (6) Embark currently has 149.1mm diluted shares outstanding that will be fully converted into NG shares at close, of which 141.2mm are fully vested. This Includes 5.9mm existing Embark shares underlying options and warrants, 3.9mm existing Embark shares underlying granted options, 2.8mm existing Embark shares promised but not yet granted shares to new employees and 1.2mm Embark shares issuable upon conversion of an outstanding convertible note immediately prior to close. (7) Founders Alex Rodrigues and Brandon Moak, who collectively own approximately 25% of the Company on an as - converted basis pre - closing, will receive shares of Class B Common Stock of NGAB in the transaction, which shares of Class B Common Stock carry 10 votes per share (relative to one vote per share of Class A Common Stock of NGAB).