The Merger Agreement provides for a 30-day “go-shop” period beginning on the date of the Merger Agreement and continuing until 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on June 28, 2023, during which period the Company and its representatives are permitted to actively initiate, solicit, knowingly facilitate or encourage alternative acquisition proposals from third parties and to provide information to, and participate in discussions and engage in negotiations with, third parties regarding any alternative acquisition proposals. After such 30-day go-shop period and subject to certain exceptions, the Company will be subject to a customary “no-shop” provision whereby it is prohibited from (i) entering into solicitations, discussions or negotiations concerning, or providing confidential information in connection with, any alternative transaction and (ii) withholding, withdrawing, qualifying, amending or modifying the Company Recommendation in a manner adverse to Parent.
The “no shop” provision allows the Company, under certain circumstances and in compliance with certain obligations set forth in the Merger Agreement, to provide non-public information and engage in discussions and negotiations with respect to an unsolicited acquisition proposal that constitutes or is reasonably expected to lead to an alternative transaction that the Board (as defined below) (or an authorized committee thereof, including the Special Committee (as defined below)) determines would be more favorable, from a financial point of view, to the Company’s stockholders than the Merger and in the best interests of those materially affected by the Company’s conduct (a “Superior Proposal”).
Under certain circumstances and in compliance with certain obligations set forth in the Merger Agreement, the Company is permitted to terminate the Merger Agreement prior to the Acceptance Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement) to accept a Superior Proposal, subject to the payment of an expense reimbursement. The Company is also required to pay an expense reimbursement (A) if Parent terminates because (i) the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”), acting on the recommendation of the Special Committee of the Board (the “Special Committee”), shall have effected an Adverse Recommendation Change (as defined in the Merger Agreement); provided, that Parent must provide notice of termination within five (5) business days of the Adverse Recommendation Change, (ii) the Company materially breaches Section 5.3 of the Merger Agreement, (iii) the
Company fails to recommend against a competing tender or exchange offer within ten (10) business days thereof, (iv) the Company fails to publicly affirm the Company Recommendation in favor of the Offer within ten (10) business days of a request from Parent (when permitted to make such a request under the Merger Agreement), or (v) the Acceptance Time has not occurred by February 29, 2024 (or as extended in accordance with the Merger Agreement) if as of such time Parent could have terminated the Merger Agreement pursuant to any of clauses (i) through (iv) immediately above or (B) if, following the date of the Merger Agreement, (i) an alternative acquisition proposal is publicly announced and has not been withdrawn prior to termination of the Merger Agreement, (ii) (x) Parent terminates the Merger Agreement because the Company breaches any of its representations or warranties, or fails to perform any of its covenants or agreements contained in the Merger Agreement, in any such case, which gives rise to the failure of certain offer conditions in the Merger Agreement (and such breach is not cured within 20 business days thereof or is not capable of being cured), or (y) either party terminates the Merger Agreement because the Offer has expired as a result of the non-satisfaction of one or more offer conditions or has been terminated or withdrawn and (iii) within 12 months after termination, the Company consummates any alternative transaction or enters into a definitive agreement providing for an alternative transaction. In no event would the Company be required to pay an expense reimbursement fee on more than one occasion. The Company’s expense reimbursement obligation cannot exceed $1,575,000.
If the Acceptance Time occurs, the Company must reimburse Parent for all of its fees and expenses relating to the Merger Agreement, the Note Purchase Agreement, the Contribution and Exchange Agreements and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Offer and the Merger, without any cap.
If the Merger is effected, the Issuer’s Common Stock will be delisted from the NASDAQ Capital Market and the Issuer’s obligation to file periodic reports under the Act will terminate, and the Issuer will be privately held.
Contribution and Exchange Agreement
In connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, Parent entered into with each of the Rollover Stockholders, including each of Tao Invest III and Tao Invest V, a Contribution and Exchange Agreement pursuant to each Rollover Stockholder agreed to contribute its Rollover Shares to Parent in exchange for shares of Series A-2 Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share of Parent including (i)Tao Invest III which agreed to contribute its 834,817 Rollover Shares to Parent, and (ii) Tao Invest V which agreed to contribute its 1,836,847 Rollover Shares to Parent in exchange for shares of Series A-2 Preferred Stock. The Contribution and Exchange Agreement will terminate upon the first to occur of the consummation of the Merger, the date and time that the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms and the date and time that the Board or the Special Committee make an Adverse Recommendation Change in accordance with the Merger Agreement.
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