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Exhibit 2.4
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
by and among
VIREO WH MERGER SUB INC.,
VIREO GROWTH INC.,
WHOLESOMECO, INC.,
And
THE STOCKHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE
Dated as of December 18, 2024
Table of Contents
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EXHIBITS
Exhibit A | Acquisition Multiple Worksheet |
Exhibit B | Adjusted EBITDA Worksheet |
Exhibit C | Closing Merger Consideration Worksheet |
Exhibit D | Form of Lock-Up Letter |
Exhibit E | Form of Investor Rights Agreement |
Exhibit F | Form of Letter of Transmittal |
Exhibit G | Inventory Accounting Principles |
Exhibit H | Historical Accounting Principles Exceptions |
Exhibit I | Form of Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation |
Exhibit J | Specific Accounting Principles |
Exhibit K | Forfeiture Amount Worksheet |
DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES
THIS AGREEMENT IS SUBJECT TO STRICT REQUIREMENTS FOR ONGOING REGULATORY COMPLIANCE BY THE PARTIES HERETO, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, REQUIREMENTS THAT THE PARTIES TAKE NO ACTION IN VIOLATION OF EITHER ANY STATE CANNABIS LAWS (TOGETHER WITH ALL RELATED RULES AND REGULATIONS THEREUNDER, AND ANY AMENDMENT OR REPLACEMENT ACT, RULES OR REGULATIONS, THE “ACT”); THE GUIDANCE OR INSTRUCTION OF ANY APPLICABLE STATE, PROVINCIAL OR OTHER GOVERNING REGULATORY BODY (TOGETHER WITH ANY SUCCESSOR OR REGULATOR WITH OVERLAPPING JURISDICTION, THE “REGULATOR”); OR THE POLICIES OR INSTRUCTION OF ANY APPLICABLE STOCK EXCHANGE. SECTION 11.15 OF THIS AGREEMENT CONTAINS SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS AND COMMITMENTS BY THE PARTIES TO MAINTAIN FULLY THEIR RESPECTIVE COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACT AND THE REGULATOR. THE PARTIES HAVE READ AND FULLY UNDERSTAND THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 11.15.
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
This Agreement and Plan of Merger (this “Agreement”), dated as of December 18, 2024, is entered into by and among Vireo WH Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”), Vireo Growth Inc., a British Columbia corporation (“Parent”), WholesomeCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Shareholder Representative Services LLC, a Colorado limited liability company, solely in its capacity as representative, agent and attorney-in-fact of the Stockholders (the “Stockholder Representative”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Merger Sub is a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent that was formed for the sole purpose of effectuating the Merger (as defined below);
WHEREAS, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement and in accordance with Section 251 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), Parent, the Company and Merger Sub will enter into a business combination transaction pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent;
WHEREAS, the parties intend that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (a) the Merger shall qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and (b) this Agreement shall constitute, and is adopted as, a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3;
WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company (the “Company Board”) has unanimously (a) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its Stockholders, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, and (c) resolved to recommend adoption of this Agreement by the Stockholders;
WHEREAS, the board of directors of Parent has unanimously (a) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, are fair to, and in the best interests of, Parent and its shareholders, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, and (c) resolved to recommend adoption of this Agreement by the shareholders of Parent; and
WHEREAS, the board of directors of Merger Sub has unanimously (a) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, are fair to, and in the best interests of, Merger Sub and its sole stockholder and (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
The following terms have the meanings specified or referred to in this Article I:
“280E” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.09.
“280E Liability” means the amount of the aggregate outstanding consolidated accrued liability of the Company arising under 280E as of Closing, as determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles.
“280E Pre-Closing Tax Refund” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.12.
“280E Tax Reserve” means a tax reserve account, established by the Company Entities in accordance with the Accounting Principles, and funded in Cash for the purpose of paying any outstanding liabilities arising in connection with any 280E Liability.
“280E Tax Reserve Shortfall” means the amount, if any, by which the 280E Liability exceeds the amount of the 280E Tax Reserve.
“Accounting Principles” means (i) the specific terms and definitions in this Agreement and the specific policies, terms and matters set forth on Exhibit J, (ii) to the extent not inconsistent with the foregoing clause (i), the accounting methods, practices, principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and valuation and estimation methodologies of the Company Entities that were used in the preparation of the Financial Statements for the year of 2023, and (iii) to the extent not addressed in the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii), GAAP as of the Closing Date. For the avoidance of doubt, clause (i) shall take precedence over clauses (ii) and (iii), and clause (ii) shall take precedence over clause (iii).
“Acquisition Multiple” means the quotient of (a) the sum of (i) 107,737,558 multiplied by the Closing Share Price, plus (ii) $10,987,018 (imputed for Closing Indebtedness), plus (iii) $2,789,452 (imputed for Pre-Closing Taxes and the 280E Tax Reserve Shortfall), less (iv) $1,000,000 (imputed for Closing Cash), less (v) $2,000,000 (imputed for the Adjusted 280E Reserve), divided by (b) Closing EBITDA. Exhibit A sets forth an illustrative calculation of the Acquisition Multiple based upon assumptions with respect to each of the foregoing values as of the date hereof (the “Acquisition Multiple Worksheet”).
“Acquisition Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.04(a).
“Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.15.
“Action” means any claim, action, cause of action, demand, lawsuit, arbitration, inquiry, audit, notice of violation, proceeding, litigation, citation, summons, subpoena or investigation of any nature, civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory or otherwise, whether at law or in equity.
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“Actual Closing Merger Consideration” means the amount of the Closing Merger Consideration as calculated and finally determined in accordance with Sections 2.17(b) and (c).
“Adjusted 280E Reserve” means an amount equal to the lesser of (x) $2,000,000 and (y) the 280E Tax Reserve, if any, plus any other tax reserve account established by the Company Entities in accordance with the Accounting Principles, and funded in Cash, for the purpose of paying any outstanding liabilities in respect of Taxes arising during any Pre-Closing Tax Period (other than 280E Liability).
“Adjusted EBITDA” means (a) the consolidated net income (or loss) from operations of the Company (or the Surviving Corporation as applicable), plus (b) if and to the extent deducted in the calculation of consolidated net income (or loss) for such period, (i) interest expense, (ii) income tax expense, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense, (iv) any intercompany costs and expenses, corporate overhead allocations and similar items between the Company Entities and Parent and its Affiliates (other than the Company Entities) (other than E-Commerce Platform Fees and Delivery Fees and the Delivery Costs) in excess of, in a particular fiscal year, the lower of (A) $1,000,000, and (B) 1% of the Company Entities’ revenues, (v) losses and expenses related to dispositions of assets not in the Ordinary Course of Business, (vi) non-cash write-downs of assets, (vii) any and all costs, fees or expenses that a Company Entity incurs with respect to the lease, acquisition or maintenance of delivery vehicles, whether a capital or ordinary expense, and the hiring and payment of delivery drivers in connection with mobile deliveries related to its use of the E-Commerce Platform (the “Delivery Costs”), (viii) decrease in work-in-process (WIP) inventory, and (ix) decrease in finished goods inventory for non-third party products, less (c) any cash payments including interest expenses for rent or leases not otherwise expensed in operating expenses, and less (d) if and to the extent included in the calculation of consolidated net income (or loss) for such period, (i) any interest income, (ii) gain relating to any disposed of assets not in the Ordinary Course of Business, (iii) non-cash write-ups of assets, (iv) increase in work-in-process (WIP) inventory, and (v) increase in finished goods inventory for non-third party products; in the case of each of the foregoing in clauses (a) through (d), for such period and as determined in accordance with the Company Earn-Out Accounting Principles. Exhibit B, which is included solely for illustrative purposes, sets forth an illustrative calculation of Adjusted EBITDA (the “Adjusted EBITDA Worksheet”).
“Adjusted EBITDA Worksheet” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Adjusted EBITDA.”
“Affiliate” of a Person means any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. The term “control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Aggregate E-Commerce Earn-Out Amount” means an amount equal to the greater of (a) $37,500,000 or (b) the product of (i) five (5) multiplied by (ii) the E-Commerce Earn-Out Revenue Amount.
“Aggregate Exercise Price” means the product of (a) the Earn-Out Period Option Share Number, multiplied by (b) the aggregate of all exercise price payments required in connection with the exercise of such outstanding Arches Options.
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Ancillary Documents” means: (a) the Lock-Up Letters, (b) the Escrow Agreement, (c) the Letters of Transmittal, (d) the Investor Rights Agreement, (e) the Written Consent, and (f) each other agreement,
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instrument or document entered into or required to be delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
“Arches” means Arches IP, Inc., a Delaware corporation (or any successor thereto).
“Arches Cash Surplus” means the amount, if any, by which the unrestricted Cash held by Arches as of the Closing exceeds the Arches Minimum Cash Amount, up to an amount equal to $300,000.
“Arches Equity” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.18(a).
“Arches Financial Statements” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.06(b).
“Arches Minimum Cash Amount” means, as of the Closing, Cash of Arches in an amount equal to $300,000 (exclusive of any Cash held by Arches in respect of any Intercompany Indebtedness).
“Arches Option” means any option to purchase shares of Arches capital stock awarded pursuant to the Arches 2024 Equity Incentive Plan and outstanding as of the Closing Date.
“Arches Option Value” means an amount equal to (a) the product of (i) the Aggregate E- Commerce Earn-Out Amount, multiplied by (ii) the Earn-Out Option Percentage, minus (b) the Aggregate Exercise Price.
“Arches Retained Executives” means Christopher Jeffery, Jason Kwicien, Phillip Sasser, Alan Clark, and Luke Dauter.
“Arches Value Amount” means an amount equal to $11,860,800.
“Audited Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06(a).
“Available E-Commerce Earn-Out Amount” means an amount equal to (a) the Aggregate E- Commerce Earn-Out Amount minus (b) the Arches Option Value.
“Balance Sheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06(a).
“Balance Sheet Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06(a).
“Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(a).
“Business Day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks located in New York, New York are authorized or required by Law to be closed for business.
“Canadian Securities Regulators” means the applicable securities commission or securities regulatory authority in each of the provinces and territories of Canada.
“Cannabis Consents” means any and all consents, approvals, clearances, orders or authorizations of, or registrations, declarations or filings with, notices to, or other requirements of any Governmental Authority or under any Permit held by the Company Entities in connection with the business of the Company Entities in the cannabis industry.
“Cannabis Licenses” means any and all Permits required to be obtained from any Governmental Authority pursuant to Title 4, Chapter 41a of the Utah Code, Title R66 of the Utah Administrative Code, and any corresponding county, municipal and other local Laws, for the operation of any cannabis
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establishment, including a cannabis cultivation facility, a cannabis production facility, a cannabis distributor, or a cannabis consumption lounge. For avoidance of doubt, Cannabis Licenses shall include the State Licenses.
“Cap” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04(a).
“Cash” means cash and cash equivalents (including marketable securities and short-term investments convertible to cash in no more than ten (10) calendar days) calculated in accordance with the Accounting Principles.
“CERCLA” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 et seq.
“Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11(b).
“Certificate of Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04
“Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02.
“Closing Cash” means the sum of (a) an amount, if any, by which the unrestricted Cash held by the Company Entities as of the Closing exceeds the Adjusted 280E Reserve up to an amount equal to $1,000,000, plus (b) such amount of excess unrestricted Cash reserves held by the Company Entities as of January 1, 2025, which amounts, or any portion thereof, may be contributed by the Company, at the Company’s option, as additional Cash at Closing and which amounts would be as set forth on a “Closing Cash Schedule” delivered by Company to Parent at least three (3) days prior to Closing, plus (b) the Arches Cash Surplus.
“Closing Certificate” means a certificate executed by the Chief Financial Officer of each of the Company Entities certifying on behalf of each of the Company Entities, as of the Closing Date, (a) an itemized list of all outstanding Closing Indebtedness and the Person to whom such outstanding Closing Indebtedness is owed and an aggregate total of such outstanding Closing Indebtedness, (b) the amount of Transaction Expenses remaining unpaid as of the Closing (including an itemized list of each such unpaid Transaction Expense with a description of the nature of such expense and the Person to whom such expense is owed), (c) the Estimated Closing Statement, and that the Estimated Closing Statement was prepared in all material respects in accordance with the Accounting Principles, (d) the Inventory Statement, and that the Inventory Statement was prepared in all material respects in accordance with Section 2.17(a)(ii), and (e) the Consideration Spreadsheet.
“Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02.
“Closing Date Option Share Number” means the total number of shares of Arches capital stock subject to outstanding (and not otherwise forfeited) Arches Options, determined as of the Closing Date.
“Closing EBITDA” means the sum of (i) $15,500,000, plus (ii) $500,000.
“Closing Indebtedness” means, subject to the limitations set forth in the definition of “Indebtedness,” the aggregate amount of any unpaid Indebtedness of the Company Entities remaining as of the Closing (other than, and without duplication of, the amounts included in Current Liabilities that are taken into account in the calculation of the Closing Working Capital).
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“Closing Merger Consideration” means the sum of:
(a)the EBITDA Consideration, plus
(b)the Closing Cash, plus
(c)the Arches Value Amount, plus
(d)provided that the 280E Tax Reserve is not less than the 280E Liability, an amount equal to the Adjusted 280E Reserve, less
(e)the amount of Closing Indebtedness, less
(f)the amount of the 280E Tax Reserve Shortfall, if any, less
(g)the amount of any Pre-Closing Taxes, less
(h)the amount of any unpaid Transaction Expenses, plus
(i)the amount by which Closing Working Capital exceeds the Target Working Capital or minus the amount by which Closing Working Capital is less than the Target Working Capital.
“Closing Merger Consideration Worksheet” means the illustrative calculation of the Closing Merger Consideration set forth on Exhibit C, which is included solely for illustrative purposes.
“Closing Option Percentage” means 33.671%.
“Closing Share Payment” means a number of Parent Shares equal to (a) the quotient of (i) the Estimated Closing Merger Consideration, divided by (ii) the Closing Share Price, less (b) the Escrow Shares.
“Closing Share Price” means $0.52.
“Closing Working Capital” means: (a) the consolidated Current Assets of the Company Entities, less (b) the consolidated Current Liabilities of the Company Entities, determined as of the Closing.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Company Auditor” means Tanner LLC.
“Company Board” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Company Board Recommendation” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(b).
“Company Charter Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03.
“Company Common Stock” means the Series A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.
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“Company Earn-Out Accounting Principles” means (a) the specific terms and definitions (including Adjusted EBITDA) in this Agreement, and (b) to the extent not inconsistent with the foregoing clause (a), GAAP. In applying GAAP, Parent intends to consistently take a view to align Adjusted EBITDA as closely as possible to operating cash flow and minimize balance sheet related adjustments.
“Company Earn-Out Amount” means the sum of the following, to the extent a positive amount, calculated in accordance with the Company Earn-Out Accounting Principles:
(a)the product of four (4) multiplied by the following (which may a positive amount or negative number):
(i)the greater of (A) the trailing twelve (12) month Adjusted EBITDA for the twelve full calendar months ending December 31, 2026 and (B) the trailing nine (9) month Adjusted EBITDA for the last nine (9) months of calendar year 2026, such amount annualized to reflect a full 12-month period,
minus
(ii)the Closing EBITDA,
minus
(b)subject to Section 2.19(d), the aggregate amount of any Post-Closing Debt,
plus
(c)the amount of any Cash remaining in the Stockholder Representative Expense Fund,
plus
(d)any Net Pre-Closing Tax Refund which is required to be applied to this calculation pursuant to Section 6.12 at the time of calculation.
“Company Earn-Out Period Financial Statements” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.19(b)(i).
“Company Earn-Out Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.19(c).
“Company Earn-Out Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.19(b)(i).
“Company Entities” means, collectively, the Company (or, after the Closing, the Surviving Corporation), WC Staffing, LLC, a Utah limited liability company, Wholesome AG, LLC, a Utah limited liability company, Wholesome Goods, LLC, a Utah limited liability company, Wholesome Therapy, LLC, a Utah limited liability company, and Wholesome Direct, LLC, a Utah limited liability company.
“Company Incentive Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.13.
“Company Intellectual Property” means all Intellectual Property that is owned or held for use by any Company Entity.
“Company IP Agreements” means all licenses, sublicenses, consent to use agreements, settlements, coexistence agreements, covenants not to sue, waivers, releases, permissions and other Contracts, whether written or oral, relating to Intellectual Property to which any Company Entity is a party,
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beneficiary or otherwise bound, excluding so-called “off-the-shelf” products and “shrink wrap” software licensed to any Company Entity in the Ordinary Course of Business.
“Company IP Registrations” means all Company Intellectual Property, which is registered or for which an application for registration has been filed by any Company Entity, to or with any Governmental Authority or authorized private registrar in any jurisdiction, including issued patents, registered trademarks, domain names and copyrights, and pending applications for any of the foregoing.
“Company IT Systems” means all software, computer hardware, servers, networks, platforms, peripherals, and similar or related items of automated, computerized, or other information technology (IT) networks and systems (including telecommunications networks and systems for voice, data, and video) owned, leased, licensed, or used (including through cloud-based or other third-party service providers) by the Company Entities.
“Company Percentage” means 84.72%.
“Company Preferred Stock” means the Series B Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company and the Series B2 Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.
“Company Stock” means, collectively, the Company Common Stock and Company Preferred Stock.
“Company Update” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.17(a).
“Consideration Spreadsheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.18(a).
“Contracts” means all contracts, leases, deeds, mortgages, licenses, instruments, notes, commitments, undertakings, indentures, joint ventures and all other agreements, commitments and legally binding arrangements, whether written or oral.
“Counsel” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.16(a).
“Current Assets” means, on a consolidated basis, accounts receivable, Inventory, prepaid expenses and other current assets of the Company Entities, but excluding (a) Cash (including restricted cash), (b) the portion of any prepaid expense of which the Company Entities will not receive the benefit following the Closing, (c) Tax assets and deferred Tax assets, (d) the current portion of any intercompany receivables, and (e) the current portion of any lease assets and rights of use, each determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles. For purposes of this definition, Inventory shall be determined in accordance with the definition of “Inventory” in this Agreement and shall, to the extent conflicting with the Inventory Accounting Principles, supersede the Inventory Accounting Principles. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this definition, Inventory shall include only final packaged products that are no more than 90 days old from the date of production and packaging completion, and from the date of purchase from third- party suppliers.
“Current Liabilities” means, on a consolidated basis, accounts payable, accrued expenses (excluding accrued expenses in the Ordinary Course of Business) and other current liabilities of the Company Entities, but excluding (a) Tax liabilities and deferred Tax liabilities, (b) the current portion of any lease liabilities, (c) the current portion of any intercompany payables, (d) Transaction Expenses, and (e) the current portion of any other Indebtedness of the Company Entities, including the Closing Indebtedness, each determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles.
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“D&O Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.09(a).
“D&O Tail Policy” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.09(c).
“Deductible” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04(a).
“Delivery Costs” has the meaning set forth in definition of “Adjusted EBITDA.”
“DGCL” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Direct Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.05(c).
“Disclosure Schedules” means the Disclosure Schedules delivered by the Company and Parent concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement.
“Disputed Amounts” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(c)(iii).
“Dissenting Shareholder(s)” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.
“Dissenting Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.
“Dollars” or “$” means the lawful currency of the United States; unless otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement, any amounts referred to herein, or for any calculations hereunder, that rely upon or reference amounts in Canadian dollars shall be converted to United States Dollars for the purposes hereof, based on the exchange rate posted by the Bank of Canada on the trading day preceding the applicable date of such amount or calculation, to ensure that such amounts or calculations are determined or calculated on a consistent basis hereunder.
“Downward Adjustment Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(d)(ii).
“E-Commerce Earn-Out Accounting Principles” means (a) the specific terms and definitions (including E-Commerce Earn-Out Revenue Amount) in this Agreement, and (b) to the extent not inconsistent with the foregoing clause (a), GAAP.
“E-Commerce Earn-Out Amount” means the Company Percentage of the Available E- Commerce Earn-Out Amount.
“E-Commerce Earn-Out Measurement Period” means either (a) January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 or (b) April 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 but with the resulting E-Commerce Earn-Out Revenue Amount annualized to reflect a full 12-month period, determined based upon which of (a) or (b) results in a higher value for determination of the E-Commerce Earn Out Revenue Amount.
“E-Commerce Earn-Out Period Financial Statements” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.20(b)(i).
“E-Commerce Earn-Out Revenue Amount” means the sum of (a) 5% of the aggregate dollar amount of all delivery sales (inclusive or loyalty credits, but net of discounts) processed through the E- Commerce Platform during the E-Commerce Earn-Out Measurement Period, plus (b) 2.5% of the aggregate dollar amount of all online pick-up, curbside, or drive thru sales (inclusive or loyalty credits, but net of discounts) processed through the E-Commerce Platform during the E-Commerce Earn-Out Measurement Period, plus (c) 1% of the aggregate dollar amount of all walk-in sales (inclusive or loyalty credits, but net of discounts) processed through the E-Commerce Platform during the E-Commerce Earn-Out Measurement
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Period, calculated, in each case, without deduction or offset for any expenses incurred for payment processing or other similar third-party expenses.
“E-Commerce Earn-Out Share Cap Amount” means a number of shares equal to (a) the Closing Share Payment minus (b) Company Earn-Out Shares.
“E-Commerce Earn-Out Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.20(c).
“E-Commerce Earn-Out Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.20(b)(i).
“E-Commerce Platform” means the intellectual property, technology, employees, noncompetition agreements, present and future contracts and other assets collectively comprising the Arches operating platform, in each case, used in connection with demand and delivery operations.
“E-Commerce Platform Fees and Delivery Fees” means fees charged to the Company Entities for their use of the E-Commerce Platform, including 1% of walk-in revenues, 2.5% of pick-up revenues and 5% of delivery revenues.
“Earn-Out Amount” means the sum of (a) the Company Earn-Out Amount plus (b) the E- Commerce Earn-Out Amount.
“Earn-Out Option Percentage” means the product, stated as a percentage, of (a) the Closing Option Percentage, multiplied by (b) the Option Adjustment Percentage.
“Earn-Out Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.19(d).
“Earn-Out Period Option Share Number” means the total number of shares of Arches capital stock subject to outstanding (and not otherwise forfeited) Arches Options, determined as of the last day of the E-Commerce Earn-Out Measurement Period.
“Earn-Out Share Price” means the greater of (a) $1.05 (as adjusted for stock splits, reverse stock splits and similar matters) and (b) the 20-day volume weighted average price of the Parent Shares on the Exchange (converted to United States Dollars based on the average exchange rate posted by the Bank of Canada as of the end of each trading day during such 20-day period), as reported by Bloomberg Finance L.P. over the twenty (20) consecutive trading day period ending immediately prior to the end of the Earn- Out Period.
“Earn-Out Shares” means the Company Earn-Out Shares and the E-Commerce Earn-Out Shares.
“Earn-Out Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.19(b)(i).
“EBITDA Consideration” means the product of the Acquisition Multiple multiplied by the Closing EBITDA.
“EBITDA Deficiency” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.19(g).
“EBITDA Margin” means, (a) for the year ending December 31, 2026, the quotient, expressed as a percentage, of (i) Adjusted EBITDA for such period, divided by (ii) gross revenue from sales, less the
cost of sales returns and discounts, for such period, and (b) for the year ending December 31, 2024, the quotient, expressed as a percentage, of (i) Closing EBITDA, divided by (ii) gross revenue from sales, less the cost of sales returns and discounts, for the year ending December 31, 2024.
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“Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04.
“Encumbrance” means any charge, claim, community property interest, pledge, condition, equitable interest, lien (statutory or other), option, security interest, mortgage, easement, encroachment, assignment, option, preemptive purchase right, right of way, right of first refusal, or restriction of any kind, including any restriction on use, voting, transfer, receipt of income or exercise of any other attribute of ownership.
“Environmental Attributes” means any emissions and renewable energy credits, energy conservation credits, benefits, offsets and allowances, emission reduction credits or words of similar import or regulatory effect (including emissions reduction credits or allowances under all applicable emission trading, compliance or budget programs, or any other federal, state or regional emission, renewable energy or energy conservation trading or budget program) that have been held, allocated to or acquired for the development, construction, ownership, lease, operation, use or maintenance of any Company Entity as of: (a) the date of this Agreement; and (b) future years for which allocations have been established and are in effect as of the date of this Agreement.
“Environmental Claim” means any Action, Governmental Order, lien, fine, penalty, or, as to each, any settlement or judgment arising therefrom, by or from any Person alleging liability of whatever kind or nature (including liability or responsibility for the costs of enforcement proceedings, investigations, cleanup, governmental response, removal or remediation, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries, medical monitoring, penalties, contribution, indemnification and injunctive relief) arising out of, based on or resulting from: (a) the presence, Release of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Materials; or (b) any actual or alleged non-compliance with any Environmental Law or term or condition of any Environmental Permit.
“Environmental Law” means any applicable Law, and any Governmental Order or binding agreement with any Governmental Authority: (a) relating to pollution (or the cleanup thereof) or the protection of natural resources, endangered or threatened species, human health or safety, or the environment (including ambient air, soil, surface water or groundwater, or subsurface strata); or (b) concerning the presence of, exposure to, or the management, manufacture, use, containment, storage, recycling, reclamation, reuse, treatment, generation, discharge, transportation, processing, production, disposal or remediation of any Hazardous Materials. The term “Environmental Law” includes the following (including their implementing regulations and any state analogs): the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 et seq.; the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended by the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984, 42 U.S.C. §§ 6901 et seq.; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, as amended by the Clean Water Act of 1977, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, as amended, 15 U.S.C. §§ 2601 et seq.; the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to- Know Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11001 et seq.; the Clean Air Act of 1966, as amended by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, 42 U.S.C. §§ 7401 et seq.; and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, 29 U.S.C. §§ 651 et seq.
“Environmental Notice” means any written directive, notice of violation or infraction, or notice respecting any Environmental Claim relating to actual or alleged non-compliance with any Environmental Law or any term or condition of any Environmental Permit.
“Environmental Permit” means any Permit, letter, clearance, consent, waiver, closure, exemption, decision or other action required under or issued, granted, given, authorized by or made pursuant to Environmental Law.
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“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
“ERISA Affiliate” means all employers (whether or not incorporated) that would be treated together with any Company Entity or any of its Affiliates as a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code.
“Escrow Agent” means Odyssey Transfer and Trust Company (or another escrow agent reasonably agreed upon by Parent and the Company).
“Escrow Agreement” means an Escrow Agreement, to be dated as of the Closing Date, among Parent, Stockholder Representative and the Escrow Agent, in the form reasonably acceptable to such parties, but which, in any event, shall contemplate an escrow term for the Escrow Shares of twenty-four (24) months following Closing (subject to any pending claims).
“Escrow Shares” means 10% of the aggregate number of Parent Shares issued as part of the Estimated Closing Merger Consideration in connection with Closing.
“Estimated Closing Merger Consideration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(a)(i).
“Estimated Closing Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(a)(i).
“Exchange” means the Canadian Securities Exchange (provided, that references herein to trading prices on the Exchange shall, if applicable, be deemed to refer to any successor primary exchange on which Parent chooses to list its Parent Shares, and to the extent such successor exchange is a U.S. exchange, any corresponding references to conversions between Canadian dollars and US dollars will be accordingly ignored for purposes of this Agreement).
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Exchange Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11(a).
“Exchange Approval” means the approval by the Exchange of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
“Excluded Taxes” means any Taxes (a) treated as a liability or otherwise taken into account in the calculation of the Total Merger Consideration, or (b) for which the Company Entities have established a cash reserve specifically designated as being a reserve solely for unpaid Taxes (including, solely for Taxes attributable to 280E, the 280E Tax Reserve).
“Federal Cannabis Laws” means any U.S. federal laws, civil, criminal or otherwise, as such relate, either directly or indirectly, to the cultivation, harvesting, production, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis, marijuana or related substances or products containing or relating to the same, including the prohibition on drug trafficking under 21 U.S.C. § 841(a), et seq., the conspiracy statue under 18 U.S.C. § 846, the bar against aiding and abetting the conduct of an offense under 18 U.S.C. § 2, the bar against misprision of a felony (concealing another’s felonious conduct) under 18 U.S.C. § 4, the bar against being an accessory after the fact to criminal conduct under 18 U.S.C. § 3 and federal money laundering statutes under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956, 1957 and 1960 and the regulations and rules promulgated under any of the foregoing.
“Final Closing Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(b).
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“Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06(a).
“Forfeiture Amount” means, calculated in accordance with the Company Earn-Out Accounting Principles, the sum of (a) the product of the Acquisition Multiple multiplied by the EBITDA Deficiency, plus (b) subject to Section 2.19(d), the aggregate amount of any Post-Closing Debt, minus (c) the amount of any Cash remaining in the Stockholder Representative Expense Fund minus (d) any Net Pre-Closing Tax Refund which is required to be applied to this calculation pursuant to Section 6.12 at the time of calculation. Exhibit K, which is included solely for illustrative purposes, sets forth an illustrative calculation of the Forfeiture Amount (the “Forfeiture Amount Worksheet”).
“Forfeiture Amount Worksheet” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Forfeiture Amount.”
“Fraud” means actual and intentional common law fraud under Delaware law, and does not include equitable fraud, constructive fraud, promissory fraud, unfair dealings fraud, unjust enrichment, or any torts (including fraud) or other claim based on gross negligence, negligence or recklessness (including based on constructive knowledge or negligent misrepresentation) or any other equitable claim.
“Fundamental Representations” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.01.
“GAAP” means the generally accepted accounting standards in the United States.
“Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, commonwealth, provincial, municipal, local or foreign government or political subdivision thereof, or any court, agency or other entity, body, organization or group, exercising any executive, legislative, judicial, quasi-judicial, regulatory or administrative function of government, or any supranational body, arbitrator, court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction, including, for greater certainty the Exchange.
“Governmental Order” means any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, stipulation, determination or award entered by or with any Governmental Authority.
“Hazardous Materials” means: (a) any material, substance, chemical, waste, product, derivative, compound, mixture, solid, liquid, mineral or gas, in each case, whether naturally occurring or manmade, that is hazardous, acutely hazardous, toxic, or words of similar import or regulatory effect under Environmental Laws; and (b) any petroleum or petroleum-derived products, radon, radioactive materials or wastes, asbestos in any form, lead or lead-containing materials, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, and polychlorinated biphenyls and per- and poly fluoroalkyl substances.
“Historical Accounting Principles” means with respect to the Audited Financial Statements, Unaudited Financial Statements and the Interim Financial Statements, GAAP, in all material respects, applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, subject, in the case of the Interim Financial Statements, to normal and recurring year-end adjustments (the effect of which will not be materially adverse) and the absence of notes, and except for the consistently applied deviations from GAAP described on Exhibit H.
“HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.
“Indebtedness” means, without duplication for any obligations which are already reflected in the Transaction Expenses or Current Liabilities, with respect to any Person (without duplication), (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, including all obligations for principal and interest, and for prepayment and other penalties, fees, costs and charges of whatsoever nature with respect thereto
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(excluding any Intercompany Indebtedness up to $500,000), (b) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property purchased by such Person, (c) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than accounts payable to suppliers and similar accrued liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of the Person’s business and paid in a manner consistent with industry practice and other than any such obligations for services to be rendered in the future), (d) except for purposes of the determination of Closing Indebtedness or Closing Merger Consideration, all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any lien or security interest on property owned or acquired by such Person whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, (e) except for purposes of the determination of Closing Indebtedness or Closing Merger Consideration and Section 9.02(g), all capitalized lease obligations of such Person, and any obligations under leases that would be required to be capitalized under GAAP, (f) all obligations (including reimbursement obligations) relating to the issuance of letters of credit for the account of such Person (but, for purposes of the determination of Closing Indebtedness or Closing Merger Consideration, only to the extent drawn), (g) all obligations arising out of interest rate and currency swap agreements, cap, floor and collar agreements, interest rate insurance, currency spot and forward contracts and other agreements or arrangements designed to provide protection against fluctuations in interest or currency exchange rates, (h) any off balance sheet financing (but excluding all leases that would be recorded under GAAP as operating leases), (i) any earnout or other such similar contingent payment liabilities (but, for purposes of the determination of Closing Indebtedness or Closing Merger Consideration, only to the extent no longer contingent or to the extent then due and payable), (j) any liabilities or obligations to current or former holders of equity securities in respect of dividends or other distributions, and (k) obligations in the nature of guarantees of obligations of the type described in clauses (a) through (j) above of any other Person (but, for purposes of the determination of Closing Indebtedness or Closing Merger Consideration, only to the extent any such guarantee has been drawn or funded).
“Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.05.
“Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.05.
“Indemnified Taxes” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.03.
“Independent Accountant” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(c)(iii).
“Insurance Policies” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.16.
“Intellectual Property” means any and all rights in, arising out of, or associated with any of the following in any jurisdiction throughout the world: (a) issued patents and patent applications (whether provisional or non-provisional), including divisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, substitutions, reissues, reexaminations, extensions, or restorations of any of the foregoing, and other Governmental Authority-issued indicia of invention ownership (including certificates of invention, petty patents, and patent utility models) (“Patents”); (b) trademarks, service marks, brands, certification marks, logos, trade dress, trade names, and other similar indicia of source or origin, together with the goodwill connected with the use of and symbolized by, and all registrations, applications for registration, and renewals of, any of the foregoing (“Trademarks”); (c) copyrights and works of authorship, whether or not copyrightable, and all registrations, applications for registration, and renewals of any of the foregoing (“Copyrights”); (d) internet domain names and social media account or user names (including “handles”), whether or not Trademarks, all associated web addresses, URLs, websites and web pages, social media sites and pages, and all content and data thereon or relating thereto, whether or not Copyrights; (e) mask works, and all registrations, applications for registration, and renewals thereof; (f) industrial designs, and all Patents, registrations, applications for registration, and renewals thereof; (g) trade secrets, know-how, inventions (whether or not
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patentable), discoveries, improvements, technology, business and technical information, databases, data compilations and collections, tools, methods, processes, techniques, and other confidential and proprietary information and all rights therein (“Trade Secrets”); (h) computer programs, operating systems, applications, firmware, and other code, including all source code, object code, application programming interfaces, data files, databases, protocols, specifications, and other documentation thereof; (i) rights of publicity; and (j) all other intellectual or industrial property and proprietary rights.
“Intercompany Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness for borrowed money extended by the Company, Parent, or any of their respective Affiliates (excluding Arches), or any third party consented to by Parent in writing, to Arches prior to Closing; provided that (a) the aggregate amount of such Indebtedness may not exceed $500,000 and (b) the interest applicable to such Indebtedness may not exceed the then- current applicable federal rate.
“Intended Tax Treatment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.22.
“Interim Balance Sheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06(a).
“Interim Balance Sheet Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06(a).
“Interim Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06(a).
“Inventory” means all inventory, using the First-in-First-Out method of inventory valuation; provided, that for purposes of the determination of Current Assets, the Estimated Closing Merger Consideration and the Actual Closing Merger Consideration, “Inventory” shall be calculated as follows: inventory, excluding raw materials, flower, trim, “fresh frozen,” seeds, plant genetics (including mother plants), strains, work-in process, and supply and packaging inventory, but including finished goods in final packaged form and no more than 90 days old from the date of production or purchase from third-party suppliers; provided, that any items that are nonconforming or defective (except items that may be remediated or qualified for extraction by a Company Entity), damaged, or obsolete shall be excluded from the definition of Inventory. For the avoidance of doubt, any inventory shall be quantified on a dollar basis, based on the lower of fair value (on an arms-length transaction basis) and cost of production or purchase from third-party products.
“Inventory Accounting Principles” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(a)(ii).
“Inventory Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(a)(ii).
“Investor Rights Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(a)(xiii).
“Knowledge” means, when used with respect to (a) the Company or Company Entities, the actual knowledge of Christopher Jeffery, Nicholas Vasquez and J.D. Lauritzen, after reasonable inquiry, and without imposing any personal liability on such Person, and (b) Parent, the actual knowledge of Amber Shimpa and Joe Duxbury, after reasonable inquiry, and without imposing any personal liability on such Person.
“Law(s)” means any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, order, constitution, treaty, common law, judgment, decree, other requirement or rule of law of any Governmental Authority.
“Letter of Transmittal” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11(b).
“Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.07.
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“Licensed Intellectual Property” means all Intellectual Property in which the Company Entities hold any rights or interests granted by other Persons, including any of their Affiliates.
“Lock-Up Letter” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(a)(vii).
“Losses” means losses, Taxes, damages, liabilities, deficiencies, Actions, judgments, interest, awards, penalties, fines, costs or expenses of whatever kind, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and the cost of enforcing any right to indemnification hereunder and the cost of pursuing any insurance providers; provided, however, that “Losses” shall not include (a) any special, exemplary or punitive damages, except to the extent actually awarded to a Governmental Authority or other third party, (b) any consequential, indirect, remote or speculative damages, any diminution in value of assets, lost profits or opportunity, or any such items calculated based upon a multiple of earnings, book value or similar approach, except to the extent actually awarded to a Governmental Authority or other third party, or (c) any such items to the extent duplicative, contingent or otherwise (in the case of a third party claim) unasserted; provided that attorney’s or other professional’s fees and expenses incurred in connection with the discovery or actual or potential defense of a contingent or otherwise unasserted claim shall not be excluded under this clause (c).
“Majority Holders” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(b).
“Market Share” means
“Material Adverse Effect” means any effect, event, development, occurrence, fact, condition or change that has a material adverse effect, individually or in the aggregate, (a) on the business, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise), Liabilities or assets of the Company Entities, taken as a whole, or (b) on the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the Merger, or on the consummation of (whether by prevention or material delay) the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that “Material Adverse Effect” shall not include any effect, event, development, occurrence, fact, condition or change, directly arising out of or attributable to: (a) changes in general business, economic or political conditions; (b) changes in conditions generally affecting the industries in which the Company Entities operate; (c) any changes in financial or securities markets in general; (d) any national or international political, regulatory or social conditions, including acts of war (whether or not declared), armed hostilities or terrorism, or the escalation or worsening thereof, pandemics, epidemics or states of emergency, whether declared or undeclared; (e) any “act of God,” including weather, natural disasters and earthquakes; (f) any changes in applicable Laws or accounting rules, including GAAP; (g) any action required or permitted by this Agreement; (h) the public announcement or pendency of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or (i) any failure (in and of itself) by the Company Entities to meet, with respect to any period or periods, any projections or forecasts, estimates of earnings or revenues or business plan (provided, that any effect, event, development,
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occurrence, fact, condition or change giving rise to or contributing to such failure may be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Material Adverse Effect)); provided further, however, that any event, occurrence, fact, condition or change referred to in clauses (a) through (f) immediately above shall be taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or could reasonably be expected to occur to the extent that such event, occurrence, fact, condition or change has a disproportionate effect on the Company Entities compared to other participants in the industries in which the Company Entities conduct their businesses.
“Material Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.09(a).
“Material Customers” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(a).
“Material Suppliers” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(b).
“Merger” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Merger Sub” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Merger Sub Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Merger Sub.
“Minimum Cash Amount” means, as of the Closing, Cash in an amount equal to the sum of (a) $1,000,000 (exclusive of any 280E Tax Reserve), and (b) the amount of the Company Entities’ net cash flow from operating activities, on an after Tax basis, during the period from January 1, 2025, through the Closing as determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles. For the avoidance of doubt, the Stockholder Representative Expense Fund shall not be a deduction from the calculation of net cash flow from operating activities.
“Multiemployer Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(c).
“Net Pre-Closing Tax Refund” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.12.
“Non-Privileged Deal Communications” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.16(c).
“Option Adjustment Percentage” means the quotient, stated as a percentage, of (a) the Earn-Out Period Option Share Number, divided by (b) the Closing Date Option Share Number.
“Ordinary Course of Business” means the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice, including with regard to nature, frequency and magnitude.
“Outside Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.01(b)(ii).
“Parent” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Parent Board” means the board of directors of Parent.
“Parent Board Recommendation” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.02.
“Parent Cannabis Laws” means the laws of the States of Minnesota, Maryland, and New York governing the cultivation, manufacture, production, distribution or retail sale of medical and adult-use cannabis, including any applicable ordinances, rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.
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“Parent Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.08.
“Parent Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.02.
“Parent Material Adverse Effect” means any effect, event, development, occurrence, fact, condition or change that has a material adverse effect, individually or in the aggregate, (a) on the business, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise), Liabilities or assets of Parent or its Affiliates, taken as a whole, or (b) on the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the Merger, or on the consummation of (whether by prevention or material delay) the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that “Parent Material Adverse Effect” shall not include any effect, event, development, occurrence, fact, condition or change, directly arising out of or attributable to:(a) changes in general business, economic or political conditions; (b) changes in conditions generally affecting the industries in which Parent or its Affiliates operate; (c) any changes in financial or securities markets in general; (d) any national or international political, regulatory or social conditions, including acts of war (whether or not declared), armed hostilities or terrorism, or the escalation or worsening thereof, pandemics, epidemics or states of emergency, whether declared or undeclared; (e) any “act of God,” including weather, natural disasters and earthquakes; (f) any changes in applicable Laws or accounting rules; (g) any action required or permitted by this Agreement; (h) the public announcement or pendency of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or (i) any failure (in and of itself) by Parent or its Affiliates to meet, with respect to any period or periods, any projections or forecasts, estimates of earnings or revenues or business plan (provided, that any effect, event, development, occurrence, fact, condition or change giving rise to or contributing to such failure may be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Parent Material Adverse Effect)); provided further, however, that any event, occurrence, fact, condition or change referred to in clauses (a) through (f) immediately above shall be taken into account in determining whether a Parent Material Adverse Effect has occurred or could reasonably be expected to occur to the extent that such event, occurrence, fact, condition or change has a disproportionate effect on Parent or its Affiliates compared to other participants in the industries in which Parent or its Affiliates conduct their businesses.
“Parent Multiple Voting Shares” means the multiple voting shares in the authorized share structure of Parent.
“Parent Resolution” means an ordinary resolution approving the business combination transaction with the Company contemplated by this Agreement and/or related change of control of the Parent, as applicable, pursuant to applicable policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange.
“Parent Shareholder Approval” means the approval and adoption of the Parent Resolution (i) in the case of a meeting of shareholders, by at least 50% of the votes cast at a special meeting of shareholders of Parent by the holders of the Parent Shares and the Parent Multiple Voting Shares represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at such meeting or (ii) in the case of action by written consent of the shareholders of Parent by at least 50% of the outstanding voting power.
“Parent Shareholder Meeting” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.14(f).
“Parent Shares” means the subordinate voting shares in the authorized share structure of Parent, or any subsequent securities which Parent Shares are converted into or exchanged for in connection with any reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation, merger or other transaction involving Parent.
“Parent Update” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.17(b).
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“Permits” means all permits, licenses, franchises, approvals, authorizations, registrations, certificates, variances and similar rights obtained, or required to be obtained, from Governmental Authorities.
“Permitted Encumbrances” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(a).
“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, Governmental Authority, unincorporated organization, trust, association or other entity.
“Platform Agreements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(h).
“Post-Closing Debt” means any principal, interest, other fee payments on, and (without duplication) any accrued amounts (including interest and fees) of, indebtedness for borrowed money incurred (a) after Closing by a Company Entity, whether as intercompany indebtedness for amounts borrowed from Parent (or its subsidiaries) or from a third party lender, pursuant to a Company Entity’s request to the Parent to incur such indebtedness for use in the business and operations of the Company Entities, and with Parent’s consent and approval, which consent and approval may be withheld, delayed or conditioned in Parent’s sole and absolute discretion, or (b) after Closing by a Company Entity, without the prior consent and approval of Parent.
“Post-Closing Tax Period” means any taxable period beginning after the Closing Date and the portion of any Straddle Period beginning after the Closing Date.
“Pre-Closing Tax Period” means any taxable period ending on or before the Closing Date and the portion of any Straddle Period ending on and including the Closing Date.
“Pre-Closing Tax Refund” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.12.
“Pre-Closing Taxes” means all unpaid Taxes (excluding the 280E Liability) of the Company Entities as of the Closing for Pre-Closing Tax Periods for which the Company Entities have not established a cash reserve specifically designated as being a reserve solely for unpaid Taxes (excluding the 280E Tax Reserve), calculated in accordance with the Accounting Principles and Section 6.05 with respect to any Straddle Period.
“Privileged Communications” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.16(a).
“Privileged Deal Communications” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.16(b).
“Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to any Stockholder, such Person’s pro rata share of each component of the Total Merger Consideration as set forth on the Consideration Spreadsheet, including the Closing Share Payment, the Escrow Shares, any potential additional Parent Shares issued in connection with the Earn-Out Amount as calculated pursuant to Section 2.19 and Section 2.20, and any potential Parent Shares forfeited in connection with the Forfeiture Amount as calculated pursuant to Section 2.19, each as applicable.
“Pro Rata Share of Closing Share Payment” means the amount of the Closing Share Payment allocated to each Stockholder as set forth in the Consideration Spreadsheet.
“Proxy Statement/Circular” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.14(a).
“Qualified Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(c).
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“Real Property” means the real property owned, leased or subleased by the Company Entities, together with all buildings, structures and facilities located thereon.
“Refund Holding Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.12.
“Regulatory Consents” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03.
“Release” means any actual or threatened release, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, abandonment, disposing or allowing to escape or migrate into or through the environment (including ambient air (indoor or outdoor), surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata or within any building, structure, facility or fixture).
“Representative” means, with respect to any Person, any and all directors, officers, employees, consultants, financial advisors, counsel, accountants and other agents of such Person.
“Representative Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(c).
“Required Consents” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03.
“Requisite Company Vote” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(a).
“Resolution Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(c)(ii).
“Retained Executives” means Christopher Jeffery, Nicholas Vasquez, Alex Iorg, and Taylor Heyland.
“Review Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(c)(i).
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Securities Laws” means the securities legislation, securities regulation and securities rules, and the policies, notices, instruments and blanket orders having the force of Law (including those of the SEC, the Canadian Securities Regulators and the Exchange), in force from time to time in the United States, including any states of the United States, and the provinces or territories of Canada.
“SEDAR+” means the System for Electronic Data Analysis and Retrieval + (SEDAR+) as outlined in National Instrument 13-103.
“Seller Group” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.16(a).
“Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.08(b).
“Single Employer Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(c).
“State Licenses” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12. State Licenses include (i) Utah Cannabis Cultivation License #7001-20179, (ii) Utah Cannabis Tier 1 Processing License #7002-22801, (iii) Utah Cannabis Pharmacy License #7005-8, and (iv) Utah Cannabis Courier/Delivery License #7007- 4.
“Statement of Objections” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(c)(ii).
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“Stockholder Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03.
“Stockholder Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.05(b).
“Stockholder Representative” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Stockholder Representative Expense Fund” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.12.
“Stockholders” means the holders of all of the outstanding capital stock of the Company.
“Stockholders Agreement” means the Voting Agreement, dated as of March 30, 2022, by and among the Company and the Stockholders party thereto.
“Straddle Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.05.
“Surviving Corporation” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01.
“Takeover Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.16.
“Target Working Capital” means $3,200,000.
“Taxes” means all federal, state, local, provincial or foreign taxes, duties, imposts, levies, assessments, tariffs and other charges in the nature of a tax that are imposed, assessed or collected by a Governmental Entity including, any income, gross receipts, sales, use, production, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, registration, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, unemployment, estimated, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property (real or personal), real property gains, windfall profits, customs, duties, import, anti-dumping or countervailing duties or other taxes, fees, assessments or charges in the nature of a tax, of any kind whatsoever, whether computed on a separate or consolidated, unitary, combined or other similar basis, whether disputed or not, together with any interest, additions or penalties with respect thereto and any interest in respect of such additions or penalties.
“Tax Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.06.
“Tax Return” means any return, declaration, election, report, claim for refund, information return or statement or other document relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.
“Termination Fee” means $3,394,217.
“Third Party Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.05(a).
“Third-Party Consents” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03.
“Total Merger Consideration” means the sum of the Actual Closing Merger Consideration, plus, any Earn-Out Amount, less any Forfeiture Amount.
“Transaction Expenses” means, without duplication for any amounts which are already reflected in the Closing Indebtedness, all unpaid fees, costs and expenses (including (a) financial advisory, broker, investment banking or similar advisory fees, costs and expenses and (b) any and all change of control, stay bonus, transaction completion bonus, severance payment or other similar payments made or required to be made to the current or former directors, managers, officers, independent contractors or employees of, or
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consultants or advisors to, the Company Entities as a result of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, together with any employment and similar Taxes payable by the Company Entities in connection with such payments)), incurred by the Company and any Affiliate at or prior to the Closing (including any such fees, costs and expenses that become payable, at any time, as a result of the occurrence of the Closing) arising from or incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, and the performance and consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including any unpaid costs of the D&O Tail Policy referenced in Section 5.09(c) and any costs allocated to the Company in the proviso in Section 11.02.
“Transaction Tax Deduction” means any Tax loss or deduction resulting from or attributable to (a) the payment of bonuses, change in control payments, severance payments, option payments, retention payments or similar payments made by the Company on or before the Closing Date or included in the computation of the Closing Merger Consideration; (b) the payments of fees, expenses and interest incurred by the Company with respect to the payment of Payoff Indebtedness in connection herewith; and (c) Transaction Expenses; provided that, in connection with the foregoing, the Company shall be treated as having made, and shall timely make, an election under Revenue Procedure 2011-29, 2011-18 IRB 746, to treat 70% of any success based fees as deductible in the Pre-Closing Tax Period that includes the Closing Date for U.S. federal and applicable state income Tax purposes.
“UDAF” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12.
“UDAF Consent” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12.
“Unaudited Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06(a).
“Undisputed Amounts” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(c)(iii).
“Union” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.21(b).
“Upward Adjustment Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.17(d)(i).
“Utah Cannabis Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12.
“WARN Act” means the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, and similar state, local and foreign laws related to plant closings, relocations, mass layoffs and employment losses.
“Wholesome Option” means any option or similar award or grant to purchase shares of the Company’s capital stock (including the Company Stock) awarded and outstanding as of the Closing Date, including pursuant to the Company Incentive Plan.
“Withholding Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15.
“Written Consent” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.05(a).
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in Parent’s sole and absolute discretion, any additional proposed capital expenses reasonably requested by the Company Entities for inclusion in the annual budget of the Company Entities;
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is less than
(B) ninety-six and one-half percent (96.5%) of the Closing EBITDA (the absolute value of the amount of the deficiency of Section 2.19(g)(i)(A) to the amount calculated in this Section 2.19(g)(i)(B), if any, the “EBITDA Deficiency”);
and
and
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(ii) Stockholder Representative may object to the E-Commerce Earn-Out Statement by delivering to Parent a written statement setting forth Stockholder Representative’s objections in reasonable detail, indicating each disputed calculation, item or amount and the basis for Stockholder Representative’s disagreement therewith, within 30 days of receipt thereof from Parent. If Stockholder Representative fails to deliver such written statement within such time period, then the E-Commerce Earn- Out Statement (and the calculations, items and amounts contained therein) shall be deemed to have been accepted by Stockholders and Stockholder Representative and shall be final and binding on the Surviving Corporation, Stockholder Representative, the Stockholders, Parent and Merger Sub. If Stockholder Representative delivers a written statement of objections to Parent within such 30-day timeframe, then Parent and Stockholder Representative shall negotiate in good faith to resolve such objections within 30 days after the delivery of Stockholder Representative’s written statement of objections, and, if the same are so resolved within such period, the E-Commerce Earn-Out Statement (and the calculations, items and amounts contained therein) with such changes as may have been agreed in writing by Parent and Stockholder Representative, shall be final and binding. In the event Parent and Stockholder Representative are unable to agree within 30 days after Stockholder Representative’s delivery of such written statement of objections (or such longer period as Stockholder Representative and Parent shall mutually agree), Parent and Stockholder Representative shall engage the Independent Accountant to resolve the dispute in accordance with the guidelines and principles set forth in this Agreement and to make any adjustments to the E-Commerce Earn-Out Statement. In resolving any dispute with respect to the E-Commerce Earn-Out Statement, the Independent Accountant (A) may not assign a value to any calculation, item or amount greater than the highest value claimed for such calculation, item or amount or less than the lowest value for
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such calculation, item or amount claimed by either Parent or Stockholder Representative and (B) shall restrict its decision to such calculations, items and amounts included in the objection(s) which are then in dispute. The fees and expenses of the Independent Accountant shall be paid by Stockholders, on the one hand, and by Parent, on the other hand, based upon the percentage that the amount actually contested but not awarded to Stockholders or Parent, respectively, bears to the aggregate amount actually contested by Stockholder Representative and Parent.
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“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER HEREOF, BY ACQUIRING THESE SECURITIES, AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CORPORATION THAT THESE SECURITIES MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED OR ENCUMBERED, ABSENT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED BY THE CORPORATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, ONLY (A) TO THE CORPORATION, (B) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S (“REGULATION S”) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS, (C) IN ACCORDANCE WITH (1) RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IF AVAILABLE, OR (2) RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IF AVAILABLE, AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR (D) IN ANOTHER TRANSACTION THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, PROVIDED THAT IN THE CASE OF TRANSFERS PURSUANT TO (C)(2) OR (D) ABOVE, OR IN ANY OTHER CASE AS REQUIRED BY THE TRANSFER AGENT, A LEGAL OPINION SATISFACTORY TO THE CORPORATION MUST FIRST BE PROVIDED TO THE CORPORATION AND THE TRANSFER AGENT, IF ANY, OF THE CORPORATION STATING THAT SUCH TRANSACTION DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR SUCH OTHER APPLICABLE LAWS.
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Except as set forth in the correspondingly numbered Section of the Disclosure Schedules or as contemplated by Section 5.17(a), the Company represents and warrants to Parent as follows:
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Except as set forth in the correspondingly numbered Section of the Disclosure Schedules or as contemplated by Section 5.17(b), Parent and Merger Sub represent and warrant to the Company as follows:
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After the Closing, Parent shall be entitled to deal exclusively with Stockholder Representative on all matters relating to this Agreement (including Article VI and Article IX but excluding matters regarding payment of any amounts owed directly by any Stockholder to Parent or any Parent Indemnitee) and shall be entitled to rely conclusively (without further evidence of any kind whatsoever) on any document executed or purported to be executed on behalf of any Stockholder by Stockholder Representative, and on any other action taken or purported to be taken on behalf of any Stockholder by Stockholder Representative, as being fully binding upon such Person. After the Closing, notices or communications to or from Stockholder Representative shall constitute notice to or from each of the Stockholders. Any decision or action by Stockholder Representative hereunder, including any agreement between Stockholder Representative and Parent relating to the defense, payment or settlement of any claims for indemnification hereunder, shall constitute a decision or action of all Stockholders and shall be final, binding and conclusive upon each such Person. No Stockholder shall have the right to object to, dissent from, protest or otherwise contest the same. The provisions of this Section, including the power of attorney granted hereby, are
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independent and severable, are irrevocable and coupled with an interest and shall not be terminated by any act of any one or more of the Stockholders, or by operation of Law, whether by death or other event.
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If to the Company:WholesomeCo, Inc.
580 West 100 North, Suite 1
West Bountiful, Utah 84010
Attention: Christopher Jeffery
Phone: (814) 574-7770
Email: chris@wholesome.co
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Polsinelli PC
2950 N. Harwood St.
Suite 2100
Attention: Adam Hull
Phone: 214-754-5714
Email: ahull@polsinelli.com
If to the Stockholder
Representative:Shareholder Representative Services LLC
950 17th Street, Suite 1400
Denver, CO 80202
Attention: Managing Director
Phone: (303) 648-4085
Email: deals@srsacquiom.com
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Polsinelli PC
2950 N. Harwood St.
Suite 2100
Attention: Adam Hull
Phone: 214-754-5714
Email: ahull@polsinelli.com
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If to Parent or Merger Sub:Vireo Growth Inc.
209 South 9th St.
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
Attention: Amber Shimpa
Phone: (612) 999-1606
Email: ambershimpa@vireohealth.com
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
2325 E. Camelback Road #300
Phoenix, Arizona 85016
Attention: Nicole Stanton
Phone: (602) 735-2700
Email:Stanton.Nicole@dorsey.com
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[Signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.
COMPANY:
WHOLESOMECO. INC.
By: /s/ Christopher Jeffery
Name: Christopher Jeffery
Title: Chief Executive Officer
PARENT:
VIREO GROWTH INC.
By: /s/ John Mazarakis
Name: John Mazarakis
Title: Chief Executive Officer
MERGER SUB:
VIREO WH MERGER SUB, INC.
By: /s/ Amber Shimpa
Name: Amber Shimpa
Title: President
STOCKHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE:
SHAREHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE SERVICES, LLC
By: /s/ Corey Quinlan
Name: Corey Quinlan
Title: Director, Deal Intake
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Acquisition Multiple Worksheet
Acquisition Multiple Worksheet | |
Shares Issued (Excluding Arches Consideration Shares)1 | 107,737,558 |
(x) Closing Share Price | $0.52 |
(‒) Closing Cash | ($1,000,000) |
(+) Closing Indebtedness | $10,987,018 |
(‒) Adjusted 280E Reserve | ($2,000,000) |
(+) 280E Tax Reserve Shortfall 2 | $0 |
(+) Pre-Closing Taxes 2 | $2,789,452 |
(=) | $66,800,000 |
(÷) Closing EBITDA | $16,000,000 |
(=) Acquisition Multiple | 4.175x |
1 Arches consideration shares of 22,809,231 are separately added to the total share consideration for an illustrative total share consideration of 130,546,789.
2 Tax Reserve Shortfall and Pre-Closing Taxes shown in combination under Pre-Closing Taxes for illustrative purposes.
Exhibit B
Form of Adjusted EBITDA Worksheet
Adjusted EBITDA Worksheet | ||
Consolidated Net Income / (Loss)1 | $[●] | (a) |
(+) Interest Expense | $[●] | (b)(i) |
(+) Income Taxes (Excluding Property Taxes, Sales and Excise Taxes) | $[●] | (b)(ii) |
(+) Depreciation and Amortization | $[●] | (b)(iii) |
(+) Excess Intercompany / Corporate Costs2 | $[●] | (b)(iv) |
(+) Loss on Disposal of Assets | $[●] | (b)(v) |
(+) Non-cash Write-down of Assets | $[●] | (b)(vi) |
(+) Delivery Expenses and Fees3 | $[●] | (b)(vii) |
(+) Decrease in WIP inventory | $[●] | (b)(viii) |
(+) Decrease in Finished Goods Inventory (Non-Third-Party Products) | $[●] | (b)(ix) |
(-) Cash Payments Including Interest Expenses for Rent and/or Leases not Otherwise Expensed in Operating Expenses | $[●] | (c) |
(-) Interest Income | $[●] | (d)(i) |
(-) Gain on Disposal of Assets | $[●] | (d)(ii) |
(-) Non-cash Write-up of Assets | $[●] | (d)(iii) |
(-) Increase in WIP inventory | $[●] | (d)(iv) |
(-) Increase in Finished Goods Inventory (Non-Third-Party Products) | $[●] | (d)(vii) |
1 For any period prior to the Closing Date, Adjusted EBITDA will be calculated without including any revenues, costs and expenses relating to any discontinued or divested operations prior to the Closing Date. Adjusted EBITDA shall also exclude any revenues, costs, expenses or related contribution from the operation of Arches.
2 Intercompany costs and expenses, corporate overhead allocations and similar items between the Company Entities and Parent and its Affiliates (other than the Company Entities) (other than Arches Platform Fees and Delivery Fees and the amounts specified in the “Delivery Expenses and Fees line) up to, in a particular fiscal year, the lower of (A)
$1,000,000 and (B) 1% of the Company Entities’ net revenues.
3 Any and all fees and expenses that the Surviving Corporation incurs with respect to delivery vehicles and delivery drivers in connection with mobile deliveries related to its use of the Arches Platform. In addition, capital expenditures for delivery vehicles will not be allocated to the Surviving Corporation for purposes of computing Adjusted EBITDA for any period after the Closing Date.
Form of Closing Merger Consideration Worksheet
Estimated Closing Merger Consideration Worksheet | |
EBITDA Consideration | $66,800,000 |
(+) Closing Cash | $1,000,000 |
(+) Adjusted 280E Reserve | $2,000,000 |
(+) Arches Value Amount | $11,860,800 |
(‒) 280E Tax Reserve Shortfall 1 | $0 |
(‒) Pre-Closing Taxes 1 | ($2,789,452) |
(‒) Closing Indebtedness | ($10,987,018) |
(=) Estimated Closing Merger Consideration | $67,884,330 |
(÷) Closing Share Price | $0.52 |
(=) Estimated Share Issuance | 130,546,789 |
1 Tax Reserve Shortfall and Pre-Closing Taxes shown in combination under Pre-Closing Taxes for illustrative
purposes.
Exhibit D
Form of Lock-Up Letter
See attached.
FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
[●], 2025
Vireo Growth Inc. Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned signatory of this lock-up agreement (this “Lock-Up Agreement”) understands that Vireo Growth Inc., a British Columbia corporation (“Parent”), has entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 18, 2024 (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”) with Vireo WH Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, WholesomeCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Shareholder Representative Services LLC, a Colorado limited liability company, solely in its capacity as representative, agent and attorney-in-fact of the Stockholders (the “Stockholder Representative”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement.
As a condition and inducement to Parent to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby irrevocably agrees that, subject to the exceptions set forth herein, without the prior written consent of Parent, the undersigned will not, (A) for each of the percentages of Parent Shares set forth on Schedule A held or to be held by the undersigned that constitute, or will constitute, Total Merger Consideration (excluding the Earn-Out Amount) (the “Closing Consideration Shares”), during the periods set forth on Schedule A opposite such percentages of Closing Consideration Shares (the “Closing Consideration Restricted Periods”), and (B) for each of the percentages of Parent Shares held or to be held by the undersigned that constitute, or will constitute, the Earn-Out Amount (the “Earn-Out Shares,” and, together with the Closing Consideration Shares, the “Locked-Up Shares”), during the periods set forth on Schedule B opposite such percentages of Earn-Out Shares (the “Earn-Out Restricted Periods,” and, together with the Closing Consideration Restricted Periods, the “Restricted Periods”):
(1)offer, hypothecate, encumber, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option, warrant or contract to purchase, purchase any option, warrant or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, or agree to transfer or dispose of, or lend, directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder with respect to, any Locked-Up Shares that are then subject to a Restricted Period;
(2)enter into any swap, short sale, hedge or other agreement or arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the undersigned’s Locked-Up Shares that are then subject to a Restricted Period, regardless of whether any such transaction described in clause (1) above or this clause (2) is to be settled by delivery of Parent Shares or other securities, in cash or otherwise; or
(3) | publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing. |
The restrictions and obligations contemplated by this Lock-Up Agreement shall not apply to:
(a) | transfers of the undersigned’s Locked-Up Shares that are then subject to a Restricted |
Period:
(1)if the undersigned is a natural person, (A) to any person related to the undersigned by blood or adoption who is an immediate family member of the undersigned, or by marriage or domestic partnership (a “Family Member”), or to a trust formed for the benefit of the undersigned or any of the undersigned’s Family Members, (B) to the undersigned’s estate, following the death of the undersigned, by will, intestacy or other operation of Law, (C) by operation of Law pursuant to a qualified domestic order or in connection with a divorce settlement or (D) to any corporation or limited liability company which is wholly owned and controlled by the undersigned and/or by any such Family Member(s) (for purposes of this paragraph, “immediate family” shall mean a spouse, domestic partner, child, grandchild or other lineal descendant (including by adoption), father, mother, brother or sister of the undersigned);
(2)as a bona fide gift or gifts (including any pledge or similar commitment to donate Parent Shares and/or proceeds from the sale of shares of Parent Shares pursuant to a charitable contribution) or for bona fide estate planning purposes;
(3)if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership or other entity, as a transfer, distribution or dividend to equity holders, current or former general or limited partners, members or managers (or to the estates of any of the foregoing) or to any other entity that is an Affiliate, as applicable, of the undersigned (including upon the liquidation and dissolution of the undersigned pursuant to a plan of liquidation approved by the undersigned’s equity holders);
(4) | if the undersigned is a trust, to any grantors or beneficiaries of the trust; or |
(5)to Parent in connection with the conversion or reclassification of the outstanding equity securities of the Parent into shares of Parent Shares, or any reclassification or conversion of the Parent Shares, provided that any such shares of Parent Shares received upon such conversion or reclassification shall be subject to the terms of this Lock-Up Agreement if not returned to treasury.
provided that, in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to this clause (a), such transfer is not for value and each heir, beneficiary or other transferee or distributee shall sign and deliver to Parent (1) a lock-up agreement in the form of this Lock-Up Agreement with respect to the applicable Locked-Up Shares that are then subject to a Restricted Period and (2) a joinder (each, a “Joinder”) to the Merger Agreement in the form reasonably agreed upon by the Stockholder Representative and Parent (and which will contain the necessary representations and warranties, and other matters substantially equivalent to those in the Letter of Transmittal);
(b)the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of Locked-Up Shares that are then subject to a Restricted Period, which trading plan meets the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Exchange Act; provided that such plan does not provide for, or permit, any sale or transfers of the undersigned’s Locked-Up Shares that are then subject to a Restricted Period during such applicable Restricted Periods;
(c)transfers by the undersigned of Parent Shares purchased by the undersigned on the open market or in a public offering by Parent, in each case following the date of the Merger Agreement;
(d)pursuant to a bona-fide third party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction made to all holders of Parent’s capital stock involving a change of control of Parent, provided
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that in the event that such tender offer, merger, consolidation or other such transaction is not completed, the undersigned’s Locked-Up Shares that are then subject to a Restricted Period shall remain subject to the restrictions contained in this Lock-Up Agreement;
(e) | pursuant to an order of a court or Governmental Authority; or |
(f)transfers of the undersigned’s Locked-Up Shares that are then subject to a Restricted Period as consented to by Parent.
and provided, further, that, with respect to each of (a) and (b), above, no filing by any party (including any transferor, transferee, distributor or distributee) under Section 16 of the Exchange Act or similar insider and/or early warning reporting requirements in Canada, or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer or disposition during the Restricted Periods (other than any exit filings or public announcements that may be required under applicable federal, state, and provincial securities Laws in Canada and the United States).
Any attempted transfer in violation of this Lock-Up Agreement will be of no effect and null and void, regardless of whether the purported transferee has any actual or constructive knowledge of the transfer restrictions set forth in this Lock-Up Agreement, and will not be recorded on the share register of Parent. In furtherance of the foregoing, the undersigned agrees that Parent and any duly appointed transfer agent for the registration or transfer of the securities described herein are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Lock-Up Agreement. Parent may cause the legend set forth below, or a legend substantially equivalent thereto, to be placed upon any certificate(s) or other documents, ledgers or instruments evidencing the undersigned’s ownership of Locked-Up Shares:
“THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO AND MAY ONLY BE TRANSFERRED IN COMPLIANCE WITH A LOCK-UP AGREEMENT, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE COMPANY.”
provided that Parent (or any duly appointed transfer agent) will remove such legend forthwith upon request by the undersigned with respect to any certificate(s) or other documents, ledgers or instruments evidencing the undersigned’s ownership of Locked-Up Shares that are no longer subject to a Restricted Period, and withdraw any stop transfer instructions with respect to such Parent Shares by virtue of this Lock-Up Agreement.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Lock-Up Agreement. All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred to Parent and any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs or personal representatives of the undersigned.
The undersigned understands that if the Merger Agreement is terminated for any reason prior to the Closing thereunder, this Lock-Up Agreement will automatically terminate, and the undersigned shall be released from all of his, her or its obligations under this Lock-Up Agreement. The undersigned understands that Parent is proceeding with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement in reliance upon this Lock-Up Agreement.
Any and all remedies herein expressly conferred upon Parent will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby, or by Law or equity, and the exercise by Parent of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy. The undersigned agrees that irreparable
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damage would occur to Parent in the event that any provision of this Lock-Up Agreement was not performed in accordance with its specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that Parent shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Lock-Up Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of the United States or any state having jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other remedy to which Parent is entitled at Law or in equity, and the undersigned waives any bond, surety or other security that might be required of Parent with respect thereto.
This Lock-Up Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Lock-Up Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the state of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of Laws principles thereof.
This Lock-Up Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. The exchange of a fully executed Lock-Up Agreement (in counterparts or otherwise) by Parent and the undersigned by facsimile or electronic transmission in .pdf format shall be sufficient to bind such parties to the terms and conditions of this Lock- Up Agreement.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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Very truly yours,
Print Name of Stockholder:
Signature (for individuals):
Signature (for entities):
By: Name:
Title:
Accepted and Agreed by Vireo Growth Inc.:
By: Name: Amber Shimpa
Title: Chief Executive Officer
[Signature Page to Lock-Up Agreement]
SCHEDULE A
Closing Consideration Shares
Closing Consideration Shares Lock-Up Release | Closing Consideration Restricted Period |
7.5% of Closing Consideration Shares | Closing to 12 months post-Closing |
10% of Closing Consideration Shares | Closing to 18 months post-Closing |
10% of Closing Consideration Shares | Closing to 21 months post-Closing |
17.5% of Closing Consideration Shares | Closing to 24 months post-Closing |
15% of Closing Consideration Shares | Closing to 27 months post-Closing |
20% of Closing Consideration Shares | Closing to 30 months post-Closing |
20% of Closing Consideration Shares | Closing to 33 months post-Closing |
Any Closing Consideration Shares then held | For period beginning 6 months prior the end of the Earn-Out Period and ending at the end of the Earn-Out Period |
SCHEDULE B
Earn-Out Shares
Earn-Out Shares Lock-Up Release | Earn-Out Restricted Period |
20% of Earn-Out Shares | From the date of issuance to 3 months post-issuance |
20% of Earn-Out Shares | From the date of issuance to 6 months post-issuance |
20% of Earn-Out Shares | From the date of issuance to 9 months post-issuance |
20% of Earn-Out Shares | From the date of issuance to 12 months post-issuance |
20% of Earn-Out Shares | From the date of issuance to 15 months post-issuance |
Exhibit E
Form of Investor Rights Agreement
INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Investor Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of
, among Vireo Growth Inc. (the “Parent”), and the stockholders of WholesomeCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) signatory hereto (each a “Stockholder” and collectively, the “Stockholders”), in connection with the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 18, 2024 (as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms, the “Merger Agreement”) with Vireo WH Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, the Company and Shareholder Representative Services LLC, a Colorado limited liability company, solely in its capacity as representative, agent and attorney-in-fact of the Stockholders (the “Stockholder Representative”).
NOW THEREFORE IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement and the Merger Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parent and each of the Stockholders agree as follows:
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined in the Merger Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in the Merger Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Advice” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.
“Controlling Person” means any holder of Registrable Securities which holder, in its sole and exclusive judgment, might be deemed to be an underwriter or a "controlling person" (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act).
“Effective Date” means the date that the Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 1(a) is first declared effective by the SEC.
“Effectiveness Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 1(b).
“Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. “Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(c). “Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
“Initial Registration Statement” means the initial Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 1(a) of this Agreement.
“Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
“New Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 1(a).
“Parent Shares” means the Subordinate Voting Shares issued to the Stockholders pursuant to the Merger Agreement.
“Person” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.
“Piggyback Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a). “Piggyback Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
“Piggyback Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a). “Piggyback Shelf Takedown” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
“Principal Market” means the Trading Market on which the Subordinate Voting Shares are primarily listed on and quoted for trading, which, as of the Closing Date, shall be the Canadian Securities Exchange.
“Proceeding” means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
“Prospectus” means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430B promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
“Registrable Securities” means all of (i) the Parent Shares issuable to Stockholders pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and (ii) any securities issued or issuable upon any share split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization or similar event with respect to the foregoing; provided that, with respect to a particular Stockholder, such Stockholder’s Parent Shares shall cease to be Registrable Securities upon becoming eligible for resale by the Stockholder under Rule 144 as determined by counsel to the Parent.
“Registration Statements” means any one or more registration statements of the Parent filed under the Securities Act that covers the resale of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation the Initial Registration Statement, the New Registration Statement and any Remainder Registration Statements), amendments and supplements to such Registration Statements, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Registration Statements.
“Remainder Registration Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 1(a).
“Restricted Periods” means the restricted periods set out in the Lock-Up Agreements during which time the Parent Shares will not be transferable by the Stockholder without the prior written consent of the Parent.
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC having substantially the same effect as such Rule.
“Rule 415” means Rule 415 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC having substantially the same effect as such Rule.
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“Rule 424” means Rule 424 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC having substantially the same effect as such Rule.
“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“SEC Guidance” means (i) any publicly available written or oral guidance, comments, requirements or requests of the SEC staff and (ii) the Securities Act.
“Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Selling Stockholder Questionnaire” means a questionnaire related to the registration of the Parent Shares in a form provided by the Parent to the Stockholder.
“Subordinate Voting Shares” means the Subordinate Voting Shares in the authorized share structure of the Parent and any securities into which such Subordinate Voting Shares may hereinafter be reclassified.
“Trading Day” means (i) a day on which the Subordinate Voting Shares are listed or quoted and traded on its Principal Market, or (ii) if the Subordinate Voting Shares are not listed on its Principal Market, a day on which the Subordinate Voting Shares are traded on a Trading Market, or (iii) if the Subordinate Voting Shares are not listed on any Trading Market, a day on which the Subordinate Voting Shares are quoted on the OTCQX, OTCQB or Pink Market over-the-counter markets; provided, that in the event that the Subordinate Voting Shares are not listed or quoted as set forth in (i), (ii) and (iii) hereof, then Trading Day shall mean a Business Day.
“Trading Market” means whichever of the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Toronto Stock Exchange, the TSX Venture Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Global Market, the NASDAQ Capital Market, or other stock exchange on which the Subordinate Voting Shares are listed or quoted for trading on the date in question.
ARTICLE II REGISTRATION RIGHTS
Registration. |
(a)Promptly following the expiration of the first Restricted Period and if Rule 144 is or becomes unavailable for resale of the Parent Shares issuable to Stockholders pursuant to the Merger Agreement (taking into account the required holding period under Rule 144), the Parent shall prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 or, if Rule 415 is not available for offers and sales of the Registrable Securities, by such other means of distribution of Registrable Securities as the Parent may reasonably determine (the “Initial Registration Statement”); provided, however, that (1) in the event that the Parent becomes aware prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period that a Stockholder would not qualify under Rule 144 to be able to sell such Stockholder’s Registrable Securities being released from lock-up as of or immediately following the expiration of the first Restricted Period, the Parent will use commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file an Initial Registration Statement prior to the end of the first Restricted Period and (2) if the Parent has not filed an Initial Registration Statement by within 270 days immediately following the Closing (as defined in the Merger Agreement), then if the Stockholder Representative provides a written demand to the Parent within three (3) months following the end of such 270-day period that is signed by Stockholders holding at least 50% of the Registrable Securities issued as
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of the Closing under the Merger Agreement, then the Parent will use reasonable best efforts to prepare and file an Initial Registration Statement. The Parent’s obligation to file a Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement applies only if and when the Parent Shares issuable to Stockholders pursuant to the Merger Agreement are determined to not be eligible to be resold pursuant to Rule 144 (without volume limitations) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (taking into account the required holding period under Rule 144). The Initial Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3, or such other form the Parent is eligible to use at that time. Notwithstanding the registration obligations set forth in this Section 1, in the event the SEC informs the Parent that all of the Registrable Securities cannot, as a result of the application of Rule 415, be registered for resale as a secondary offering on a single registration statement, the Parent agrees to promptly (i) inform each of the Stockholders thereof via electronic mail at the address noted on the latest Selling Stockholder Questionnaire or supplement thereto (if any) received by the Parent and use its commercially reasonable efforts to file amendments to the Initial Registration Statement as required by the SEC and/or (ii) withdraw the Initial Registration Statement and file a new registration statement (a “New Registration Statement”), in either case covering the maximum number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered by the SEC, on Form S-3 or such other form available to the Parent to register for resale the Registrable Securities as a secondary offering. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any SEC Guidance sets forth a limitation of the number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered on a particular Registration Statement as a secondary offering, the number of Registrable Securities shall be reduced on a pro rata basis, subject to a determination by the SEC that certain Stockholders must be reduced before other Stockholders based on the number of Registrable Securities held by such Stockholders. In the event the Parent amends the Initial Registration Statement or files a New Registration Statement, as the case may be, under clauses (i) or (ii) above, the Parent will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC, as promptly as allowed by SEC or SEC Guidance provided to the Parent or to registrants of securities in general, one or more registration statements on Form S-3 or such other form available to the Parent to register for resale those Registrable Securities that were not registered for resale on the Initial Registration Statement, as amended, or the New Registration Statement (the “Remainder Registration Statements”). No Stockholder shall be named as an “underwriter” in any Registration Statement without such Stockholder’s prior written consent.
(b)The Parent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause each Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable following the filing of such Registration Statement and, with respect to the Initial Registration Statement or the New Registration Statement, as applicable, shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep each Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until two years following the expiration of the last Restricted Period (or, if sooner, the time when the Stockholders have sold or otherwise no longer hold any Registrable Securities) (the “Effectiveness Period”). The Parent shall request effectiveness of a Registration Statement following market close on a Trading Day. The Parent shall promptly notify the Stockholders via electronic mail at the address noted on the latest Selling Stockholder Questionnaire or supplement thereto (if any) received by the Parent of a “.pdf” format data file of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement (or, if none, will notify the Stockholder Representative). If necessary, the Parent shall promptly, following the Effective Date, file a final Prospectus with the SEC, in accordance with Rule 424(b).
(c)Each Stockholder agrees to furnish to the Parent a completed Selling Stockholder Questionnaire. At least ten Trading Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of a Registration Statement for any registration under this Agreement, the Parent will notify the Stockholder Representative (or, if the Parent has been provided the email address of the Stockholder, at that email address) of the information the Parent requires from the applicable Stockholder including the information contained in the Selling Stockholder Questionnaire, which shall be completed and delivered to the Parent promptly upon request and, in any event, within five Trading Days prior to the applicable anticipated filing date. Each Stockholder further agrees that it shall not be entitled to be named as a selling securityholder in the Registration Statement or use the Prospectus for offers and resales of Registrable Securities at any time, unless such
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Stockholder has returned to the Parent a completed and signed Selling Stockholder Questionnaire and a response to any requests for further information as described in the previous sentence. If a Stockholder holding Registrable Securities returns a Selling Stockholder Questionnaire or a request for further information, in either case, after its respective deadline, the Parent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to take such actions as are required to name such Stockholder as a selling security holder in the Registration Statement or any pre-effective or post-effective amendment thereto and to include (to the extent not theretofore included) in the Registration Statement the Registrable Securities identified in such late Selling Stockholder Questionnaire or request for further information. Each Stockholder acknowledges and agrees that the information in the Selling Stockholder Questionnaire or request for further information as described in this Section 1(c) will be used by the Parent in the preparation of the Registration Statement and hereby consents to the inclusion of such information in the Registration Statement.
2. | Piggyback Registration |
(a)Following the expiration of the applicable Restricted Period with respect to the applicable Parent Shares issued to Stockholders pursuant to the Merger Agreement, whenever the Parent proposes to register the offer and sale of any Parent Shares under the Securities Act (other than (i) pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8 (or other registration solely relating to an offering or sale to employees or directors of the Parent pursuant to any employee stock plan or other employee benefit arrangement), (ii) pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 (or similar form that relates to a transaction subject to Rule 145 under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto), or (iii) pursuant to a registration statement filed in connection with any dividend or distribution reinvestment or similar plan), whether for its own account or for the account of one or more stockholders of the Parent and the form of Registration Statement (a “Piggyback Registration Statement”) to be used may be used for any registration of Registrable Securities (a “Piggyback Registration”), the Parent shall give prompt written notice (in any event no later than fifteen days prior to the filing of such registration statement) to the holders of Registrable Securities (by way of written notice to the Stockholder Representative) of its intention to effect such a registration and, subject to Section 2(b) and Section 2(c), shall include in such registration all Registrable Securities that are not then subject to a Restricted Period with respect to which the Parent has received written requests for inclusion from the holders of such Registrable Securities within ten days after the Parent’s notice has been sent to the Stockholder Representative. If any Piggyback Registration Statement pursuant to which holders of Registrable Securities have registered the offer and sale of Registrable Securities is a Registration Statement on Form S-3 or the then appropriate form for an offering to be made on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto (a “Piggyback Shelf Registration Statement”), such holder(s) shall have the right, but not the obligation, to be notified of (through notice to the Stockholder Representative) and to participate in any offering under such Piggyback Shelf Registration Statement (a “Piggyback Shelf Takedown”).
(b)If a Piggyback Registration or Piggyback Shelf Takedown is initiated as a primary underwritten offering on behalf of the Parent and the managing underwriter advises the Parent and the holders of Registrable Securities (if any holders of Registrable Securities that are not then subject to a Restricted Period have elected to include Registrable Securities in such Piggyback Registration or Piggyback Shelf Takedown) in writing that in its reasonable and good faith opinion the number of Parent Shares proposed to be included in such registration or takedown, including all Registrable Securities that are not then subject to a Restricted Period and all other Parent Shares proposed to be included in such underwritten offering, exceeds the number of Parent Shares which can be sold in such offering and/or that the number of Parent Shares proposed to be included in any such registration or takedown would adversely affect the price per share of the Parent Shares to be sold in such offering, the Parent shall include in such registration or takedown (i) first, the Parent Shares that the Parent proposes to sell; and (ii) second, the Parent Shares requested to be included therein by the holders of Registrable Securities that are not then subject to a Restricted Period and holders of Parent Shares other than holders of Registrable Securities that
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are not then subject to a Restricted Period, allocated pro rata among all such holders on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities that are not then subject to a Restricted Period and the number of Parent Shares other than Registrable Securities that are not then subject to a Restricted Period (on a fully diluted, as converted basis), as applicable, owned by all such holders or in such manner as they may otherwise agree.
(c)If a Piggyback Registration or Piggyback Shelf Takedown is initiated as an underwritten offering on behalf of a holder of Parent Shares other than Registrable Securities, and the managing underwriter advises the Parent in writing that in its reasonable and good faith opinion the number of Parent Shares proposed to be included in such registration or takedown, including all Registrable Securities that are not then subject to a Restricted Period and all other Parent Shares proposed to be included in such underwritten offering, exceeds the number of Parent Shares which can be sold in such offering and/or that the number of Parent Shares proposed to be included in any such registration or takedown would adversely affect the price per share of the Parent Shares to be sold in such offering, the Parent shall include in such registration or takedown (i) first, the Parent Shares requested to be included therein by the holder(s) requesting such registration or takedown; and (ii) second, the Registrable Securities that are not then subject to a Restricted Period requested by the holders of Registrable Securities that are not then subject to a Restricted Period and the Parent Shares requested to be included therein by other holders of Parent Shares, allocated pro rata among all such holders on the basis of the number of Parent Shares other than the Registrable Securities that are not then subject to a Restricted Period (on a fully diluted, as converted basis) and the number of Registrable Securities that are not then subject to a Restricted Period, as applicable, owned by all such holders or in such manner as they may otherwise agree.
(d)If any Piggyback Registration or Piggyback Shelf Takedown is initiated as a primary underwritten offering on behalf of the Parent, the Parent shall select the investment banking firm or firms to act as the managing underwriter or underwriters in connection with such offering.
3. | Registration Procedures |
In connection with the Parent’s registration obligations hereunder:
(a)The Parent shall, not less than five Trading Days prior to the filing of each Registration Statement and not less than two Trading Day prior to the filing of any amendment or supplement thereto, (i) furnish to the Stockholder via electronic mail address at the address noted on the latest Selling Stockholder Questionnaire or supplement thereto (if any) received by the Parent (or if none, the contact information of the Stockholder Representative) copies of such Registration Statement or amendment or supplement thereto, as proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the review of such Stockholder with respect to information that pertains to the Stockholders as “Selling Stockholders” or the “Plan of Distribution” (it being acknowledged and agreed that if a Stockholder does not object to the aforementioned documents within such five Trading Day or two Trading Day period, as the case may be, then the Stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to and approved the use of such documents) and
(ii)use commercially reasonable efforts to cause its officers and directors, counsel and independent registered public accountants to respond to such inquiries as shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Parent, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Parent shall consider in good faith a Stockholder’s reasonable objections to the form of any Registration Statement or amendment or supplement thereto, provided that, the Parent is notified of such objection in writing within the five Trading Day or two Trading Day period described above, as applicable.
(b)(i) The Parent shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements, to each Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective as to
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the applicable Registrable Securities for its Effectiveness Period; (ii) the Parent shall cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement (subject to the terms of this Agreement), and, as so supplemented or amended, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; (iii) the Parent shall respond as promptly as reasonably practicable to any comments received from the SEC with respect to each Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and, as promptly as reasonably practicable, provide the Stockholders true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to the SEC relating to such Registration Statement solely to the extent that such correspondence pertains to the Stockholders as “Selling Stockholders” but shall not be required to provide any comments or other correspondence that would result in the disclosure to the Stockholders of material non-public information concerning the Parent; and (iv) the Parent shall comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement until such time as all of such Registrable Securities shall have been disposed of (subject to the terms of this Agreement) in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the Stockholders thereof as set forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented; provided, however, that each Stockholder shall be responsible for the delivery of the Prospectus to the Persons to whom such Stockholder sells any of the Registrable Securities (including in accordance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act), and each Stockholder agrees to dispose of Registrable Securities in compliance with the “Plan of Distribution” described in the Registration Statement and otherwise in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws.
The Parent shall notify the Stockholders (which notice shall, pursuant to clauses |
(iii)through (vi) hereof, be accompanied by an instruction to suspend, subject to the limitations on suspensions set forth in Section 6(c), the use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes have been made) as promptly as reasonably practicable (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than three Trading Days prior to such filing) and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than one Trading Day following the day: (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement is proposed to be filed; (B) when the SEC notifies the Parent whether there will be a “review” of such Registration Statement and whenever the SEC comments in writing on any Registration Statement (in which case the Parent shall provide to each of the Stockholders true and complete copies of all comments that pertain to the Stockholders as a “Selling Stockholder” or to the “Plan of Distribution” and all written responses thereto, but not information that the Parent believes would constitute material non-public information); and (C) with respect to each Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any request by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information that pertains to the Stockholders as “Selling Stockholders” or the “Plan of Distribution”; (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceeding for that purpose; (iv) of the receipt by the Parent of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such purpose; (v) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes the financial statements included in a Registration Statement ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement made in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires any revisions to such Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of such Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus, form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading; and (vi) of the occurrence or existence of any pending corporate development with respect to the Parent that the Parent believes may be material and that, in the determination of the Parent, makes it not in the best interest of the Parent to allow continued availability of a Registration Statement or
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Prospectus, provided that the Parent shall not disclose the content of any of any material non-public information to the Stockholders.
(d)The Parent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued, obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, as soon as practicable.
(e)The Parent shall, if requested by a Stockholder, furnish to such Stockholder, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and each amendment thereto and all exhibits to the extent requested by such Person (including those previously furnished or incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such documents with the SEC; provided, that the Parent shall have no obligation to provide any document pursuant to this clause that is available on the SEC’s EDGAR system.
(f)The Parent shall, prior to any resale of Registrable Securities by a Stockholder, use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Stockholders in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from the registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for the resale by the Stockholder under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any Stockholder reasonably requests in writing, to keep each registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or things reasonably necessary to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement; provided, that the Parent shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, subject the Parent to any material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction.
(g)If requested by a Stockholder, the Parent shall cooperate with the Stockholders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates or other evidence representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee pursuant to the Registration Statement, which certificates or other evidence shall be free, to the extent permitted by the Merger Agreement, the Lock-Up Agreements and under law, of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as any such Stockholders may reasonably request.
(h)The Parent shall, following the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(c), as promptly as reasonably practicable (taking into account the Parent’s good faith assessment of any adverse consequences to the Parent and its shareholders of the premature disclosure of such event), prepare and file a supplement or amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to the affected Registration Statements or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered, no Registration Statement nor any Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus, form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading.
(i)The Parent may require each selling Stockholder to furnish to the Parent a certified statement as to (i) the number of Subordinate Voting Shares beneficially owned by such Stockholder and any Affiliate thereof, (ii) any FINRA affiliations, (iii) any natural persons who have the power to vote or dispose of the Subordinate Voting Shares and (iv) any other information as may be requested by the SEC, FINRA or any state securities commission.
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(j)The Parent agrees to promptly deliver to each Stockholder, without charge, a reasonable number of copies of each Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto. The Parent hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Stockholders in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto. Each Selling Stockholder agrees to sell its shares in the manner described in the applicable Registration Statement under the section “Plan of Distribution.”
(k)If requested by a Stockholder, the Parent shall (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement such material information as the Parent reasonably agrees should be included therein and (ii) make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after the Parent has received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post- effective amendment.
(l)The Parent shall otherwise use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including Rule 172, notify the Stockholders promptly if the Parent no longer satisfies the conditions of Rule 172 and take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to facilitate the registration of the Registrable Securities hereunder.
4.Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the Parent’s performance of or compliance with its obligations under this Agreement (excluding (x) any brokerage fees or commissions and (y) all legal fees and expenses of legal counsel for any Stockholder) shall be borne by the Parent whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to a Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings required to be made with any Trading Market on which the Subordinate Voting Shares are then listed for trading, and (B) with respect to compliance with applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Parent in connection with Blue Sky qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities and determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Securities for investment under the laws of such U.S. jurisdictions as reasonably requested by the Stockholders), (ii) printing expenses, (iii) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Parent, and (iv) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Parent in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In addition, the Parent shall be responsible for all of its internal expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit and the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange as required hereunder. In no event shall the Parent be responsible for any underwriting, broker or similar fees or commissions of any Stockholder or, except to the extent provided for herein, any legal fees or other costs of the Stockholders.
5. | Indemnification. |
(a)Indemnification by the Parent. The Parent shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Stockholder, the officers, directors, agents, partners, members, managers, shareholders, Affiliates and employees of each of them, each Person who controls any such Stockholder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, partners, members, managers, shareholders, agents and employees of each such Controlling Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, reasonable costs of investigation and reasonable attorneys’ fees) and
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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 any Registration Statement, any Prospectus 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 required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, or (ii) any violation or alleged violation by the Parent of the Securities Act, Exchange Act or any state securities law or any rule or regulation thereunder, in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement; and shall reimburse such Persons for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, action, damage, liability, except to the extent, but only to the extent, that (A) such untrue statements, omissions or alleged omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Stockholder furnished in writing to the Parent by such Stockholder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such information relates to such Stockholder or such Stockholder’s proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and approved in writing by such Stockholder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (B) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(c)(iii)-(vi), related to the use by a Stockholder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Parent has notified such Stockholder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Stockholder of the Advice contemplated and defined in Section 6(c) below, but only if and to the extent that following the receipt of the Advice the misstatement or omission giving rise to such Loss would have been corrected or (C) to the extent that any such Losses arise out of the Stockholder’s (or any other indemnified Person’s) failure to send or give a copy of the Prospectus or supplement (as then amended or supplemented), if required, pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule) to the Persons asserting an untrue statement or omission at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of Registrable Securities to such Person if such statement or omission was corrected in such Prospectus or supplement. The indemnification provided for under this Section 5(a) 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 of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Stockholders pursuant to Section 15. The indemnity set forth in this Section 5(a) shall be in addition to any liability the Parent may otherwise have.
(b)Indemnification by Stockholders. Each Stockholder shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Parent, its directors, officers, agents and employees, each Person who controls the Parent (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such Controlling Persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as incurred, arising out of or are based solely upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, 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 required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus, or any form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading
(i) to the extent that such untrue or alleged untrue statements or omissions or alleged omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Stockholder furnished in writing to the Parent by such Stockholder expressly for use therein or (ii) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(c)(iii)-(vi), to the extent related to the use by such Stockholder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Parent has notified such Stockholder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Stockholder of the Advice contemplated in Section 6(c), but only if and to the extent that following the receipt of the Advice the misstatement or omission giving rise to such Loss would have been corrected. In no event shall the liability of any selling Stockholder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such Stockholder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
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(c)Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an “Indemnified Party”), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person from whom indemnity is sought (the “Indemnifying Party”) in writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all reasonable and documented fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof; provided, that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement, except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or further review) that such failure shall have materially and adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.
An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses;
(2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of interest exists if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party); provided, that the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all Indemnified Parties. The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, all fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Section 5) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within 20 Trading Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party; provided, that the Indemnified Party shall promptly reimburse the Indemnifying Party for that portion of such fees and expenses applicable to such actions for which such Indemnified Party is finally judicially determined to not be entitled to indemnification hereunder). The failure to deliver written notice to the Indemnifying Party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not relieve such Indemnifying Party of any liability to the Indemnified Party under this Section 5, except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is materially and adversely prejudiced in its ability to defend such action.
6.Rule 144 Compliance. With a view to making available to the holders of Registrable Securities the benefits of Rule 144 and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit a holder to sell securities of the Parent to the public without registration, the Parent shall:
(a)use reasonably best efforts to make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144, at all times after the date hereof;
(b)use reasonable best efforts to file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Parent under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, at any time after the date hereof; and
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(c)furnish to any holder so long as the holder owns Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, a written statement by the Parent as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 and of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Parent, and such other reports and documents so filed or furnished by the Parent as such holder may reasonably request in connection with the sale of Registrable Securities without registration.
ARTICLE III ADVISORY COMMITTEE
7.Committee Formation and Composition. At the sole option of the Parent’s Chief Executive Officer, the Parent may establish an advisory committee (the “Advisory Committee”) to advise the board of directors of the Parent (the “Parent Board”). The members of such Advisory Committee may be chosen by the Chief Executive Officer or the Parent Board.
8.Purpose of the Committee. The Advisory Committee will have only such duties as the Chief Executive Officer may elect from time to time. However, no such Advisory Committee shall be entitled to any rights or information of any type with respect to the Parent except and only to the extent expressly determined by the Chief Executive Officer. In no event shall any members of the Advisory Committee be entitled to attend any meetings of the Parent Board or any committees thereof.
ARTICLE IV MISCELLANEOUS
9.Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Parent or by a Stockholder of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Stockholder or the Parent, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted under this Agreement, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Parent and each Stockholder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
10.Compliance. Each Stockholder covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to it (unless an exemption therefrom is available) in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement and shall sell the Registrable Securities only in accordance with a method of distribution described in the Registration Statement.
11.Discontinued Disposition. By its acquisition of Registrable Securities, each Stockholder agrees that, upon receipt of a notice from the Parent of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section 3(c)(iii)-(vi), such Stockholder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the Parent that the use of the applicable Prospectus (as it may have been supplemented or amended) may be resumed. The Parent shall be entitled to suspend the availability of a Registration Statement and Prospectus for a period not to exceed 20 consecutive calendar days or 40 calendar days (which need not be consecutive days) in any 12 month period.
12.No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered, as of the date hereof, nor shall the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, on or after the date hereof, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities, that would have the effect of impairing the rights granted to the Stockholders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
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13.Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, or waived unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Parent and Stockholders holding a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities, provided that any party may give a waiver as to itself. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Stockholders and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Stockholders may be given by Stockholders of all of the Registrable Securities to which such waiver or consent relates; provided, however, that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any such amendment, modification or waiver would adversely affect in any material respect any Stockholder or group of Stockholders who have comparable rights under this Agreement disproportionately to the other Stockholders having such comparable rights, such amendment, modification, or waiver shall also require the written consent of the Stockholder(s) so adversely affected.
14.Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be delivered as set forth in the Merger Agreement.
15.Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Stockholder; provided, however, the rights under this Agreement shall not be assignable if the Registrable Securities are transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement. The Parent may not assign its rights (except by merger or in connection with another entity acquiring all or substantially all of the Parent’s assets) or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of all the Stockholders of the then outstanding Registrable Securities. Each Stockholder may assign its respective rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted under the Merger Agreement; provided in each case that (i) the Stockholder agrees in writing with the transferee or assignee to assign such rights and related obligations under this Agreement, and for the transferee or assignee to assume such obligations, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Parent within a reasonable time (not to exceed ten calendar days) after such assignment, (ii) the Parent is, within a reasonable time (not to exceed ten calendar days) after such transfer or assignment, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee or assignee and the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned, (iii) at or before the time the Parent received the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this sentence, the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Parent to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein and (iv) the transferee is an “accredited investor,” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act, and executes and delivers any certificates or other documentation evidencing this fact to the Parent.
16.Execution and Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed electronically (including by Docusign or similar service) and in two or more counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by e-mail, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature were the original thereof.
17.Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
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18.Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their good faith reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
19.Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
20.Independent Nature of Stockholders’ Obligations and Rights. The obligations of each Stockholder under this Agreement are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Stockholder hereunder, and no Stockholder shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Stockholder hereunder. The decision of each Stockholder to purchase the Securities has been made independently of any other Stockholder. Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Stockholder pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Stockholders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Stockholders are in any way acting in concert with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Stockholder acknowledges that no other Stockholder has acted as agent for such Stockholder in connection with making its investment hereunder and that no Stockholder will be acting as agent of such Stockholder in connection with monitoring its investment in the Parent’s securities or enforcing its rights hereunder. Each Stockholder shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights, including, without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Stockholder to be joined as an additional party in any Proceeding for such purpose. The Parent acknowledges that each of the Stockholders has been provided with the same investor rights agreement for the purpose of closing a transaction with multiple Stockholders and not because it was required or requested to do so by any Stockholder.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Investor Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
VIREO GROWTH INC.
By: Name:
Title:
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Investor Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
NAME OF STOCKHOLDER |
AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY By: Name: Title: |
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Exhibit F
Form of Letter of Transmittal
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
Please read this Letter of Transmittal carefully. This Letter of Transmittal should be completed and signed and returned electronically to the Company, attention: [●] at [email]. For assistance, please contact [●] by telephone [phone] or email [email].
To complete the Letter of Transmittal, you must do the following:
● Complete Form 1, identifying the registered holder of each security listed on Form 3.
● Complete the enclosed IRS Form W-9 if you are a U.S. Person (as defined below) or an appropriate IRS Form W-8, each available at www.irs.gov, if you are a non-U.S. Person (as defined below). Your IRS Form W-9 will not be accepted unless it has been properly signed, dated, has a complete address, and the appropriate box is completed reflecting your appropriate classification for U.S. federal income tax purposes (i.e. individual, partnership, corporation etc.), and the exemptions, if applicable, are completed. Similarly, any applicable IRS Form W-8 will not be accepted unless it has been properly signed, dated and completed. (Please see Instruction 6 on page 9. See also Important Tax Information below.)
● Complete Form 4, to elect the manner in which the portion of the Upward Adjustment Amount to be paid in cash, if any, you are entitled to (the “Cash Amount”) will be paid.
● Complete Form 5A or 5B, as applicable, depending on the payment election made on Form 4.
● Complete, sign and date the signature page to this Letter of Transmittal, to be signed by the registered holder(s) of Company Stock of the Company listed on Form 3.
● Complete and sign the Stockholder Confirmation.
In completing the Letter of Transmittal, you may be required to also do the following:
● If you are married and (i) either you or your spouse is a resident of Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or (ii) you are a party to a community property agreement or arrangement with your spouse, complete and have your spouse sign and date the Consent of Spouse.
Please see the Instructions on page 12 of this Letter of Transmittal.
TRANSMITTAL LETTER
Read the Instructions Section of this Letter of Transmittal Carefully
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is hereby made to the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of December 18, 2024, by and among (i) Vireo WH Merger Sub Inc, a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”), (ii) Vireo Growth Inc., a British Columbia corporation (“Parent”),
(iii) WholesomeCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and (iv) Shareholder Representative Services LLC, a Colorado limited liability company, solely in its capacity as the agent, proxy, representative and attorney-in-fact of the Stockholders (the “Stockholder Representative”), pursuant to which, upon the terms and subject to the conditions therein, at the Effective Time, Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving company as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Parent (the “Merger”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.
In connection with the consummation of the Merger and the distribution of the Total Merger Consideration resulting therefrom, this Letter of Transmittal provides for the undersigned to surrender herewith the shares of the Company (collectively the “Securities”), listed on Form 3 of this Letter of Transmittal, in exchange for the Pro Rata Share of Closing Share Payment (and Pro Rata Share of other applicable amounts, if any, under the Merger Agreement including the Adjusted Closing Share Payment and the Earn-Out Shares, if any) payable in respect of such Securities, minus any required tax deductions or withholdings, to which the undersigned is entitled under the Merger Agreement, at the times specified therein (the other documentation (if any) submitted or surrendered pursuant to this Letter of Transmittal, collectively, the “Securities Documents”). Form 3 has been completed based on the records of the Company.
Surrender of any Securities requires that the undersigned duly execute and deliver this Letter of Transmittal and a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-9 or applicable IRS Form W-8.
Payments in Respect of the Securities
In exchange for the surrender of the above mentioned Securities, (i) Parent, through the Exchange Agent, will pay, in accordance with the Merger Agreement, the Pro Rata Share of Closing Share Payment, minus any required tax deductions or withholdings, to which the undersigned is entitled under the Merger Agreement, at the times and subject to the conditions specified therein and (ii) at the times and subject to the conditions specified therein, Parent will thereafter pay, or cause to be paid, in accordance with the Merger Agreement, the undersigned’s Pro Rata Share of any other amounts to which the undersigned is entitled (if any) under the Merger Agreement including the Adjusted Closing Share Payment and the Earn-Out Shares, if any.
By submitting this Letter of Transmittal, the undersigned acknowledges that the Pro Rata Share of Closing Share Payment and any additional portion of any Total Merger Consideration, including the Adjusted Closing Share Payment and the Earn-Out Shares, if any, payable in respect of the Securities to which the undersigned is entitled under the Merger Agreement represents all
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the undersigned is entitled to receive in respect of the undersigned’s Securities upon consummation of the Merger, and that the undersigned has no further rights with respect to such Securities. The undersigned hereby waives on behalf of, himself, herself, or itself and each of his, her, or its affiliates, (a) any and all notices required to be given in respect of any Securities held by the undersigned in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement prior to the date hereof, whether pursuant to the Merger Agreement, any of the other documents contemplated thereby or any other agreement to which the undersigned is a party or the certificate of organization or operating agreement of the Company, and (b) any and all of his, her, or its rights under each of the agreements to which he, she or it is a party with the Company or its affiliates relating to the undersigned’s direct ownership of equity securities issued by the Company, whether or not written, including each of the agreements pursuant to which the undersigned acquired the Securities and any equityholders or investors rights agreement relating to the undersigned’s ownership of equity securities issued by the Company (it being understood and agreed that the foregoing waivers shall not in any way limit the right of the undersigned to receive the Pro Rata Share of Closing Share Payment and any additional portion of any Total Merger Consideration including the Adjusted Closing Share Payment and the Earn-Out Shares, if any, to which the undersigned is entitled under the Merger Agreement).
The undersigned understands and agrees that the method of delivery of this Letter of Transmittal is at the election and risk of the undersigned. The undersigned hereby acknowledges that the undersigned has read the Instructions section of this Letter of Transmittal.
Representations and Acknowledgements
By signing this Letter of Transmittal, the undersigned hereby represents and warrants to Merger Sub and Parent as of the date this Letter of Transmittal is executed and as of the Closing (except where a particular date or time is otherwise specified) that:
(a) | the undersigned has the full right, power and authority or capacity, as applicable, to execute and deliver the Ancillary Documents to which the undersigned is a party and to perform the undersigned’s obligations thereunder; |
(b) | the Ancillary Documents to which the undersigned is a party have been, or will be at Closing, as applicable, duly executed and delivered by the undersigned and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto, constitute, or will constitute at Closing, as applicable, the legal, valid and binding obligations of the undersigned, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms and conditions (except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles); |
(c) | there is no action pending, or to the undersigned’s knowledge, threatened against the undersigned, which, if adversely determined, would have, individually or in the aggregate with all other such actions, a material adverse effect on the ability of the undersigned to perform the undersigned’s obligations under the Ancillary Documents; |
(d) | immediately prior to Closing, the undersigned owns, beneficially and of record all of the Company Stock listed on Form 3 of this Letter of Transmittal (and the Securities represented thereby specified in such section), free and clear of all Encumbrances and |
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with no restrictions on the voting or transfer thereof, other than as set forth in the Company Charter Documents of the Company or imposed by federal or state securities Law;
(e) | except as disclosed in disclosure schedules to the Merger Agreement, the undersigned is not a party to any option, warrant, purchase right, or other contract or commitment that could require any person to sell, contribute, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of the Company Stock, other than the Company Charter Documents, Merger Agreement and this Letter of Transmittal; |
(f) | the undersigned is not a party to any voting trust, proxy or other contract with respect to the voting of any of the Company Stock, other than the Company Charter Documents; |
(g) | the undersigned hereby confirms that the Parent Shares to be acquired by the undersigned will be acquired for investment for the undersigned’s own account or its beneficial owners, not otherwise as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to the resale or distribution of any part thereof in violation of the Securities Act, and that the undersigned has no present intention of selling, contributing, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same in violation of the Securities Act; |
(h) | the undersigned is a person or entity resident outside of Canada and the acquisition of Parent Shares is not part of a plan or scheme to avoid the prospectus requirements in connection with a distribution of such securities to a person or company in Canada; |
(i) | the undersigned is either (i) a “sophisticated purchaser”, as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act and has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating independently the merits and risks of its investment in the Parent Shares and is able to bear the economic risk of loss of its investment in the Parent Shares or (ii) an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act and satisfies one or more of the categories indicated below (please place an “X” and initial on the appropriate line or lines): |
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Category 1. [Rule 501(a)(1)] | A bank, as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act, whether acting in its individual or fiduciary capacity; or |
Category 2. [Rule 501(a)(1)] | 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; or |
Category 3. [Rule 501(a)(1)] | A broker or dealer registered pursuant to Section 15 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; or |
Category 4. [Rule 501(a)(1)] | An investment adviser registered pursuant to Section 203 of the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or registered pursuant to the laws of a state; or |
Category 5. [Rule 501(a)(1)] | An investment adviser relying on the exemption from registering with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 203(l) or (m) of the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended; or |
Category 6. [Rule 501(a)(1)] | An insurance company as defined in Section 2(a)(13) of the Securities Act; or |
Category 7. [Rule 501(a)(1)] | An investment company registered under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; or |
Category 8. [Rule 501(a)(1)] | A business development company as defined in Section 2(a)(48) of the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; or |
Category 9. [Rule 501(a)(1)] | A Small Business Investment Company licensed by the U.S. Small Business Administration under Section 301(c) or (d) of the U.S. Small Business Investment Act of 1958, as amended; or |
Category 10. [Rule 501(a)(1)] | A Rural Business Investment Company as defined in Section 384A of the U.S. Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act of 1972, as amended; or |
Category 11. [Rule 501(a)(1)] | A plan established and maintained by a state, its political subdivision or any agency or instrumentality of a state or its political subdivisions, for the benefit of its employees, with assets in excess of U.S. $5,000,000; or |
Category 12. [Rule 501(a)(1)] | An employee benefit plan within the meaning of the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, in which the investment decision is made by a plan fiduciary, as defined in Section 3(21) of such act, which is either a bank, savings and loan association, insurance company or registered investment advisor, or an employee benefit plan with total assets in excess of U.S. $5,000,000 or, if a self-directed plan, the investment decisions are made solely by persons who are accredited investors; or |
Category 13. [Rule 501(a)(2)] | A private business development company as defined in Section 202(a)(22) of the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended; or |
Category 14. [Rule 501(a)(3)] | An organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, a corporation, a Massachusetts or similar business trust, a partnership, or a limited liability company, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered, with total assets in excess of U.S. $5,000,000; or |
Category 15. [Rule 501(a)(4)] | A director, executive officer or general partner of the issuer of the securities being offered or sold, or any director, executive officer, or general partner of a general partner of that issuer; or |
Category 16. | A natural person whose individual net worth, or joint net worth with that |
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| [Rule 501(a)(5)] | person’s spouse or spousal equivalent, exceeds U.S. $1,000,000; or (Note: For the purposes of calculating “net worth” (i)the person’s primary residence shall not be included as an asset; |
| (ii) 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 closing of the Offering, shall not be included as a liability (except that if the amount of such indebtedness outstanding at the time of the closing of the Offering exceeds the amount outstanding 60 days before such time, other than as a result of the acquisition of the primary residence, the amount of such excess shall be included as a liability); and | |
| (iii) indebtedness that is secured by the person’s primary residence in excess of the estimated fair market value of the primary residence shall be included as a liability.) | |
| (Note: For the purposes of calculating “joint net worth”, joint net worth can be the aggregate net worth of the investor and spouse or spousal equivalent, and assets need not be held jointly to be included in the calculation. Reliance on the joint net worth standard does not require that the securities be purchased jointly.) (Note: The term “spousal equivalent” means a cohabitant occupying a relationship generally equivalent to that of a spouse.) | |
| Category 17. [Rule 501(a)(6)] | A natural person who had an individual income in excess of U.S. $200,000 in each year of the two most recent years or joint income with that person’s spouse or spousal equivalent in excess of U.S. $300,000 in each of those years and has a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year; or |
| | (Note: The term “spousal equivalent” means a cohabitant occupying a relationship generally equivalent to that of a spouse.) |
| Category 18. [Rule 501(a)(7)] | A trust, with total assets in excess of U.S. $5,000,000, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered, whose purchase is directed by a sophisticated person as described in Rule 506(b)(2)(ii) under Regulation D under the Securities Act; or |
| Category 19. | An entity in which each of the equity owners are accredited investors; or |
| [Rule 501(a)(8)] | (Note: It is permissible to look through various forms of equity ownership to natural persons in determining the accredited investor status of entities under this category. If those natural persons are themselves accredited investors, and if all other equity owners of the entity seeking accredited investor status are accredited investors, then this category may be available.) |
| Category 20. [Rule 501(a)(9)] | An entity, of a type not listed in Categories 1 through 14, 18 or 19 above, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered, owning “investments” (as defined in Rule 2a51-1(b) under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) in excess of U.S. $5,000,000; or |
| Category 21. [Rule 501(a)(10)] | A natural person holding in good standing one or more of the following professional licenses: |
(i) | General Securities Representative license (Series 7); |
(ii)Private Securities Offerings Representative license (Series 82), and
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(iii) | Investment Adviser Representative license (Series 65); or |
Category 22.
[Rule 501(a)(11)]
Category 23.
[Rule 501(a)(12)]
A natural person who is a “knowledgeable employee” (as defined in Rule 3c- 5(a)(4) under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) of the issuer of the securities being offered or sold where the issuer would be an “investment company” (as defined in Section 3 of U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended), but for the exclusion provided by either Section 3(c)(1) or section 3(c)(7) of U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; or
A “family office” (as defined in Rule 202(a)(11)(G)-1 under the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended):
(i) | with assets under management in excess of U.S. $5,000,000, |
(ii) | that is not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the securities offered, and |
(iii) | whose prospective investment is directed by a person who has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that such family office is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment; or |
Category 24.
[Rule 501(a)(13)]
A “family client” (as defined in Rule 202(a)(11)(G)-1 under the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended) of a family office meeting the requirements in Category 23 above and whose prospective investment in the issuer is directed by such family office pursuant to clause (iii) of Category 23;]
(j) | the undersigned has not acquired the Parent Shares as a result of any form of “general solicitation” or “general advertising” (as such terms are defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act) including advertisements, articles, notices or other communications published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or the Internet, or broadcast over the Internet, radio, or television, or any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by general solicitation or general advertising; |
(k) | the undersigned understands that (i) the Parent Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, by reason of a specific exemptions therefrom which depend upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of the investment intent and the accuracy of the undersigned’s representations as expressed herein, (ii) the Parent Shares are, or will, when issued, be “restricted securities” under applicable U.S. federal and state securities Laws and that, pursuant to these Laws, the undersigned may not resell the Parent Shares unless they are registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and qualified by state authorities, or an exemption or exclusion from such registration and qualification requirements is available, (iii) except as may be set forth in that certain Investor Rights Agreement that would be entered into at the closing of the Closing among Parent and the stockholders of the Company, none of Parent or Merger Sub have any obligation to register or qualify Parent Shares for resale in the United States, (iv) if an exemption from registration or qualification is available, it may be conditioned on various requirements including, but not limited to, the time and manner of sale requirements, the holding period for the Parent Shares, and on requirements relating to Parent which are outside of the undersigned’s control, and which Parent is under no obligation and may not be able to satisfy and (v) no public market may continue to exist |
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for the Parent Shares in the U.S. or elsewhere, and that Parent has made no assurances that a public market will continue to exist for the Parent Shares in the U.S. or elsewhere;
(l) | the undersigned acknowledges that the Parent Shares to be issued pursuant to the Merger Agreement shall be characterized as “restricted securities” for purposes of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and such shares shall, until such time as the shares are not so restricted under the Securities Act, bear a legend identical or similar in effect to the following legend (together with any legend required by applicable Securities Laws to the extent such Laws are applicable to the Parent Shares issued pursuant to the Merger Agreement): |
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER HEREOF, BY ACQUIRING THESE SECURITIES, AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CORPORATION THAT THESE SECURITIES MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED OR ENCUMBERED, ABSENT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED BY THE CORPORATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, ONLY (A) TO THE CORPORATION,
(B) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S (“REGULATION S”) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS, (C) IN ACCORDANCE WITH (1) RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IF AVAILABLE, OR (2) RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IF AVAILABLE, AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR (D) IN ANOTHER TRANSACTION THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, PROVIDED THAT IN THE CASE OF TRANSFERS PURSUANT TO (C)(2) OR (D) ABOVE, OR IN ANY OTHER CASE AS REQUIRED BY THE TRANSFER AGENT, A LEGAL OPINION SATISFACTORY TO THE CORPORATION MUST FIRST BE PROVIDED TO THE CORPORATION AND THE TRANSFER AGENT, IF ANY, OF THE CORPORATION STATING THAT SUCH TRANSACTION DOES NOT REQUIRE REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR SUCH OTHER APPLICABLE LAWS.”
(m) | the undersigned consents to Parent making a notation on its records or giving instructions to its registrar and transfer agent in order to implement the restrictions on transfer set forth and described in this Letter of Transmittal; |
(n) | the undersigned understands and acknowledges that (i) if Parent is ever deemed to be, or to have been at any time previously, an issuer with no or nominal operations and no or nominal assets other than cash and cash equivalents, Rule 144 under the Securities Act may not be available for resales of the Parent Shares, and (ii) Parent is not obligated to take, and has no present intention of taking, any action to make Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any other exemption) available for resales of the Parent Shares; |
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(o) | the undersigned alone, or with the assistance of his, her or its professional advisors, has such knowledge and experience in financial, tax and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Parent Shares and is able, without impairing its financial condition, to hold such Parent Shares for an indefinite period of time and to bear the economic risks, and withstand a complete loss, of such investment; |
(p) | the undersigned understands and acknowledges that no agency, governmental authority, regulatory body, stock exchange or other entity (including, without limitation, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any state securities commission) has made any finding or determination as to the merit of investment in, nor have any such agencies or governmental authorities made any recommendation or endorsement with respect to, the Merger or the Parent Shares; |
(q) | if required by applicable securities legislation, regulatory policy or order or by any securities commission, stock exchange or other regulatory authority, the undersigned will execute, deliver and file and otherwise assist Parent in filing reports, questionnaires, undertakings and other documents with respect to the issuance of the Parent Shares; |
(r) | the undersigned is a United States person (as defined by Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), or, if the undersigned is not a United States person (as defined by Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), the undersigned hereby represents that it has satisfied itself as to the full observance of the Laws of its jurisdiction in connection with the undersigned’s acquisition of the Parent Shares, or any use of the Merger Agreement or this Letter of Transmittal, including (i) the legal requirements within its jurisdiction for the acquisition of the Parent Shares, (ii) any foreign exchange restrictions applicable to such acquisition, |
(iii) any governmental or other consents that may need to be obtained, and (iv) the income tax and other tax consequences, if any, that may be relevant to the undersigned as a result of the Merger and the acquisition, holding, redemption, sale, or transfer of the Parent Shares;
(s) | the undersigned’s receipt of and continued beneficial ownership of the Parent Shares will not violate any applicable securities or other Laws of the undersigned’s jurisdiction; and |
(t) | the undersigned has been advised to seek legal, financial and tax advice prior to signing this Letter of Transmittal and has had an opportunity to review with the undersigned’s tax, financial and legal advisors the consequences of the Merger and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and this Letter of Transmittal. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that none of Parent, Merger Sub or the Company has provided the undersigned with legal, financial or tax advice and the undesigned is relying solely on the advice of its own tax, financial and legal advisors in executing this Letter of Transmittal. None of Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or any party to the Merger Agreement makes any representation, warranty or covenant regarding the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Merger including, without limitation, whether the Merger will qualify as a tax-deferred reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code. The undersigned executes this Letter of Transmittal freely and voluntarily. The undersigned hereby acknowledges that Parent, Merger Sub, and the Stockholder Representative shall each be a third party beneficiary of this Letter of Transmittal and shall be entitled to rely upon and enforce the terms hereof. |
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Recourse
By signing this Letter of Transmittal, the undersigned hereby accepts and agrees that the undersigned (a) is a Stockholder as such term used in the Merger Agreement and (b) is bound by (and entitled to the benefits of) all of the terms, conditions, duties, and obligations of a Stockholder under the Merger Agreement as if the undersigned were a direct party to the Merger Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 2.08 (Effect of Merger on Capital Stock); Section 2.11 (Surrender and Payment); Section 2.15 (Withholding Rights); Section 2.17 (Closing Merger Consideration and Closing Share Payment Adjustment); Section 2.19 (Earn-Out; Forfeiture); Section 2.20 (Arches Earn-Out); Section 2.21 (Parent Shares); Section 5.04 (No Solicitation of Other Bids); Article VIII (Conditions to Closing); Article IX (Indemnification), Article X (Termination), and Article XI (Miscellaneous).
In addition to any indemnification obligations under the Merger Agreement, but subject to the terms and conditions thereof (including, without limitation, the limitations contained in Article IX thereof), the undersigned further acknowledges and agrees that the undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless the Parent Indemnitees from Losses arising from or relating to (a) any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties of the undersigned contained in this Letter of Transmittal or any document to be delivered by the undersigned under the Merger Agreement and (b) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation to be performed by the undersigned pursuant to this Letter of Transmittal, the Merger Agreement or any document to be delivered thereunder.
Release
By signing this Letter of Transmittal, for and in consideration of the amounts payable to the undersigned Stockholder under the Merger Agreement, the undersigned, on behalf of itself and its immediate family members, heirs, Affiliates, beneficiaries, successors and assigns (collectively, the “Releasors”), as of the Effective Time of the Merger (and subject to the undersigned’s receipt of the Pro Rata Share of the Closing Share Payment payable at Closing), hereby releases, acquits and forever discharges Merger Sub, Parent, the Company, their respective Affiliates and each of their present and former managers, directors, officers and employees and each of their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns (“Releasees”), of and from any and all manner of action or actions, cause or causes of action, demands, rights, Losses, debts, dues, sums of money, accounts, reckonings, costs, expenses, responsibilities, covenants, contracts, controversies, agreements and claims whatsoever, whether known or unknown, of every name and nature, both in Law and in equity, which such Releasors ever had, now has, or which they may have or shall have against the Company or any other Releasees referred to above arising out of any matters, causes, acts, conduct, claims, circumstances or events occurring or failing to occur or conditions existing at or prior to the Closing relating to the Company, the other Company Entities, or the Company Stock (“Stockholder Claims”); provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else contained herein to the contrary, the undersigned is not releasing, acquitting or discharging any Stockholder Claims arising under this Letter of Transmittal, the Merger Agreement or any other Ancillary Documents. The undersigned Stockholder acknowledges and agrees that: (i) subject to the undersigned’s receipt of the Pro Rata Share of the Total Merger Consideration, the undersigned has been paid all sums to which the undersigned was entitled in respect of his/her/its affiliation with the Company (whether in the form of salary, deferred compensation, commissions, bonuses, severance pay, or any other form of compensation,
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other than any amount that is included in the Closing Working Capital of the Company) as of the Closing, and (ii) except as set forth in this this Letter of Transmittal, the Merger Agreement, or any other Ancillary Documents, and except for any accrued and unpaid salaries, wages and benefits owing to the undersigned, if an employee of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, no further sums or benefits are due to the undersigned from the Company, arising from his/her/its affiliation with the Company or otherwise.
Subject to the reservation of rights and the limitation of the scope of the claims released herein, the undersigned expressly acknowledges that with respect to the release of known or unknown Stockholder Claims being released herein, the undersigned is aware that it may hereafter discover facts in addition to or different from those which the undersigned now knows or believes to be true with respect to the subject matter herein, and the releases herein are binding and effective notwithstanding the discovery or existence of any such additional or different facts.
Stockholder Representative
By signing this Letter of Transmittal, the undersigned for itself, himself or herself and for its, his or her successors and assigns, hereby irrevocably acknowledges and accepts the appointment of the Stockholder Representative and all of the provisions relating thereto as set forth in Section 11.01 of the Merger Agreement, and agrees to be bound by and to comply with the terms and conditions applicable to the undersigned in the undersigned’s capacity as a Stockholder in Section 11.01 of the Merger Agreement, including without limitation the indemnification provisions in favor of the Stockholder Representative.
Waiver of Appraisal and Dissenters’ Rights
By delivery of this Letter of Transmittal, the undersigned hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (a) consents to, and approves, the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger; and (b) FOREVER WAIVES ANY AND ALL NOTICE REQUIREMENTS, APPRAISER’S, DISSENTER’S AND SIMILAR RIGHTS UNDER SECTION 262 OF THE DELAWARE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW ARISING FROM OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE MERGER.
Confidentiality; Use of Information
By signing this Letter of Transmittal, the undersigned hereby irrevocably and unconditionally: (a) agrees to keep confidential any and all information related to the Company, Parent, or the Merger and not disclose or otherwise use such information, unless the undersigned is an employee of the Company or Parent and the use or disclosure of such information is required in connection with such employment; (b) consents to the disclosure of certain information regarding them and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement to the Exchange, the Canadian Securities Regulators and the SEC, including as required to be included in applicable Exchange issuance forms and as required by applicable Securities Laws, including pursuant to the filing of an exempt distribution report, and as may be required by the Securities Laws in any filing with the SEC, the Exchange, the Canadian Securities Regulators or other applicable securities regulators; and (c) consents to the collection, use and disclosure of their information by the Exchange, the SEC, the Canadian Securities Regulators or other applicable securities regulators or as otherwise
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identified by the Exchange, the SEC, the Canadian Securities Regulators or other applicable securities regulators, from time to time.
Consent of Spouse
If the undersigned is (a) an individual, (b) married and (c) either the undersigned or the undersigned’s spouse is a resident of Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the undersigned’s spouse is required to execute and return a Consent of Spouse.
Irrevocable Surrender; Termination of Merger Agreement
The undersigned’s surrender of the Securities is irrevocable, but will not be effective until the Effective Time of the Merger. If the Merger Agreement is terminated for any reason, this Letter of Transmittal and the Securities transmitted by the undersigned hereby, as applicable (together with any Security Documents (as defined below), if applicable), will be returned to the undersigned.
Public Announcement
For so long as the Merger Agreement is in effect, unless otherwise required by applicable Law (based upon the reasonable advice of counsel) or otherwise permitted by the Merger Agreement, the undersigned shall not make any public announcements in respect of the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby without the prior written consent of the Parent and the Company.
Binding Effect
This Letter of Transmittal and the authority herein conferred shall be binding upon the heirs, legal representatives, beneficiaries, successors and assigns of the undersigned, and any references in the Merger Agreement to the undersigned shall mean and include the successors to the rights of the undersigned under the Merger Agreement or any other document or agreement delivered pursuant to the Merger Agreement, as applicable, whether pursuant to testamentary disposition, the laws of descent and distribution, assignment or otherwise.
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INSTRUCTIONS
A Stockholder will not receive the portion of its Pro Rata Share of the Closing Share Payment (or, if applicable, any additional portion of the Total Merger Consideration including the Adjusted Closing Share Payment and the Earn-Out Shares, if any) to which such Stockholder is entitled until any documents that Merger Sub or Parent may reasonably require in accordance with provisions of this Letter of Transmittal or otherwise (collectively, the “Security Documents”), are received by them and processed for payment. No interest will accrue on any amounts due.
Surrender of any Securities requires that the undersigned duly execute and deliver this Letter of Transmittal and a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-9 or applicable IRS Form W-8.
1.Guarantee of Signatures. A signature guarantee in this Letter of Transmittal is NOT required unless this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder of the Securities and such holder has directed payment to an account in the name of an individual or entity other than the registered holder.
2.Incomplete Documentation. If Merger Sub or Parent reasonably determines that any Letter of Transmittal has not been properly completed or executed, or that a Security Document is not in proper form for surrender, or if any other irregularity in connection with the surrender exists, either of them, acting reasonably, shall be entitled to reject such Security Document(s). Stockholders entitled to payment shall be contacted directly by Merger Sub or Parent and requested to provide any missing or incomplete information. If there are any discrepancies between (a) the number of Securities that any Letter of Transmittal, Security Document or other supporting document may indicate are owned by a Stockholder and (b) the number of Securities that the list of Stockholders provided by the Company to Merger Sub or Parent (“Stockholders List”) indicates such holder owns of record, Merger Sub and Parent shall consult with the Company for instructions as to the number of Securities, if any, it is authorized to accept for payment, and shall, except as thereafter directed in writing by the Company, continue to hold any Security Documents and other documents surrendered in connection therewith. If any certificates in respect of the Securities shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, the undersigned shall be required to submit an affidavit of that fact and, if required by Parent, post a bond, in such reasonable amount as Parent may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such certificate.
3.Endorsements. If any Securities are owned of record by two or more joint owners, all such owners must sign this Letter of Transmittal. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by or on behalf of a Person other than the registered holder(s) of the Securities listed in the Stockholders List, this Letter of Transmittal must be accompanied by appropriate assignment documentation provided in all cases, signed exactly as the name(s) of the registered holder(s) as it appear(s) on the Company’s books and records. In case this Letter of Transmittal is executed by an attorney, executor, administrator, guardian or other fiduciary, or by an officer of a corporation, the person executing this Letter of Transmittal must give his or her full title in such capacity and appropriate evidence of authority in such capacity must be forwarded with this Letter of Transmittal and applicable Security Documents. If any surrendered Securities are registered in different
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names (e.g. John Doe, J.A. Doe), it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate Letters of Transmittal as there are different registrations.
4.Transfer Taxes. In the event that any transfer taxes become payable by reason of the payment of the applicable portion of the Closing Share Payment (or, if applicable, any additional Total Merger Consideration) in any name other than that of the registered holder, such transferee or assignee must pay such transfer taxes or establish that such taxes have been paid or are not applicable. Merger Sub and Parent will have no responsibility with respect to any such transfer taxes and shall only be liable for its portion of transfer Tax pursuant to the Merger Agreement.
5.IRS Form W-9 and W-8. Under U.S. federal income tax law, if you are a U.S. Person (as defined below) you generally must report and certify your correct taxpayer identification number (“TIN”) and further certify that you are not subject to backup withholding on IRS Form W-9. This Letter of Transmittal includes an IRS Form W-9, which, if you are a U.S. Person, you should complete and return with this Letter of Transmittal. If you are a U.S. Person, the failure to provide the information requested on the IRS Form W-9 could result in certain penalties as well as backup withholding on certain payments due to you. If you have been notified by the IRS that you are subject to backup withholding and the IRS has not subsequently notified you that backup withholding has terminated, you must strike out the language in clause (2) of Part II on the IRS Form W-9. Stockholders who are not U.S. Persons should complete an appropriate IRS Form W-8, which can be found on the IRS website (www.irs.gov), to avoid backup withholding. For further information concerning backup withholding and FATCA withholding and instructions for completing the IRS Form W-9, see Important Tax Information below.
6.Information and Additional Copies. For additional information regarding this Letter of Transmittal or the Merger, or to obtain additional copies of this Letter of Transmittal, please contact the Company at the contact information above.
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IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION
Under U.S. federal income tax law, a holder who surrenders Securities for its Pro Rata Share of the Closing Share Payment is required to provide the Exchange Agent (as the payor) with the holder’s correct taxpayer identification number (“TIN”) on the enclosed IRS Form W-9 or otherwise establish a basis for exemption from backup withholding. Generally, if the holder is an individual that is a U.S. Person (as defined below), the TIN is the holder’s social security number. If the Exchange Agent is not provided with the correct TIN, the holder may be subject to a $50 penalty imposed by the IRS. In addition, payments made to the holder with respect to the Securities may be subject to backup withholding.
For purposes of this Letter of Transmittal, a “U.S. Person” is a beneficial owner of Securities that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is (a) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the U.S., (b) a corporation, partnership, or other entity classified as a corporation or partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, that is created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (c) an estate if the income of such estate is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of the source of such income, (d) a trust if (i) such trust has validly elected to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or (ii) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of such trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of such trust, or (e) a corporation, or other entity classified as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, that is created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.
Certain holders (including, corporations and non-U.S. Persons) are not subject to these backup withholding and reporting requirements. An individual holder that is not a U.S. Person must provide the Exchange Agent with a properly completed IRS Form W-8 BEN, Certificate of Foreign Status (Individuals), signed under penalty of perjury, attesting to such holder’s exempt status. Non-individual holders that are not U.S. Persons should use the appropriate IRS Form W- 8 for this purpose.
If backup withholding applies, the Exchange Agent will be required to withhold backup withholding tax (currently at the rate of 24%) of certain payments made to the holder or other payee. Backup withholding is not an additional U.S. federal income tax. Rather, the amount withheld will be credited against the U.S. federal income tax liability of persons subject to backup withholding. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained from the IRS by filing a timely U.S. federal income tax return, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
In addition, to the extent a portion of any payment made to a holder following the Effective Time of the Merger is treated as imputed interest, such holder may be subject to a 30% withholding tax on such imputed interest payments under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) unless such holder submits to Merger Sub and Parent a properly completed IRS Form W-9 or a properly completed applicable IRS Form W-8 documenting their FATCA-compliant status.
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Purpose of IRS Forms. To prevent backup withholding and FATCA withholding on certain payments (including any imputed interest payments) that are made to a holder with respect to the Securities, the holder is required to provide Merger Sub and Parent with a properly completed IRS Form W-9 (enclosed herein) or applicable IRS Form W-8 (available at www.irs.gov). A holder that completes IRS Form W-9 should list the holder’s current TIN and certify that the TIN provided is correct (or that such holder is awaiting a TIN), that the holder is a U.S. Person, and that (a) the holder is exempt from backup withholding, (b) the holder has not been notified by the IRS that the holder is subject to backup withholding as a result of failure to report all interest or dividends or (c) the IRS has notified the holder that the holder is no longer subject to backup withholding. However, if a holder has been notified by the IRS that the holder is subject to backup withholding and the IRS has not subsequently notified the holder that backup withholding has terminated, the holder must strike out the language in clause (2) of Part II on the IRS Form W-9. Holders which are not U.S. Persons should consult with their own tax advisors regarding the appropriate IRS Form (or IRS Forms) to provide.
What Number to Give to Merger Sub and Parent. The holder is required to give Merger Sub and Parent the TIN (e.g., social security number, individual taxpayer identification number or employer identification number) of the record owner of the Securities. If the Securities are held in more than one name or are not held in the name of the actual owner, consult the “What Name and Number To Give the Requester” section in the attached IRS Form W-9 or your tax advisor for additional guidance on which number to report.
If a holder which is a U.S. Person does not have a TIN, such holder should: (a) consult with its own U.S. tax adviser on applying for a TIN; (b) write “Applied For” in the space for the TIN in Part I of the Form W-9; and (c) sign and date the Form W-9 set out in this Letter of Transmittal. In such case, the Exchange Agent may withhold 24% of the gross proceeds of certain payments made to such holder prior to the time a properly certified TIN is provided, and if a TIN is not provided within sixty (60) days, such amounts will be paid over to the IRS.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT YOUR TAX ADVISOR OR THE IRS.
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STOCKHOLDER CONFIRMATION
I (the holder of record) affirm that I am a married individual AND either my spouse or I am a resident of one of the following community property states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
I (the holder of record) affirm that I am an individual and I am either not married OR I am married and neither my spouse nor I am a resident of one of the community property states listed above.
I (an authorized signer on behalf of the holder of record) affirm that the holder of record is an entity and not an individual.
Spouse’s Email (if applicable):
[Please note: by indicating that you are a married individual and resident of a community property state, please have your spouse sign below.]
Signature:
Name (Printed):
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CONSENT OF SPOUSE
(Spouse’s Name)
I, , of the County of , State of , spouse of , an equityholder [●], under that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of December 18, 2024, by and among (i) Vireo WH Merger Sub Inc, a Delaware corporation, (ii) Vireo Growth Inc., a British Columbia corporation (“Parent”), (iii) WholesomeCo, Inc. (the “Company”), and (iv) Shareholder Representative Services LLC, a Colorado limited liability company, solely in its capacity as the agent, proxy, representative and attorney-in-fact of the Stockholders (the “Stockholder Representative”), hereby consent to the transactions contemplated by the Total Merger Agreement, including, without limitation, the conversion of all of the equity securities of the Company (the “Securities”) held by my spouse in exchange for the right to receive the consideration contemplated by the Merger Agreement. I hereby waive and relinquish all right, claim and interest, however arising, that I may have in the Securities, including without limitation those arising under any laws governing community property and marital and non-marital property ownership and disposition thereof or otherwise, or otherwise with respect to the Company. I agree that I will take no action at any time to challenge the validity of the Merger Agreement or the conversion of the Securities pursuant to the Merger Agreement. I hereby consent and agree to be bound by the terms of the Merger Agreement applicable to the equityholders of the Company.
Vireo WH Merger Sub Inc, a Delaware corporation
Spouse’s SignatureDate
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Registered Holder Information
A separate Letter of Transmittal is required for each unique Registered Holder.
FORM 1
Name of Registered Holder exactly as it appears for each Security listed on Form 3:
☐ | Check this box if you would like payment to be remitted to another name. You must also complete Form 2 (W-9) with tax information for the new payee and complete Form 6. |
A1) Mail To The Attention Of:
A2) Address 1:A3) Address 2:
A4) City:A5) State/Province/Region:
A6) Postal Code:A7) Country:
A8) Email Address:A9) Telephone Number:
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Securities
Securities you are exchanging for payment.
FORM 3
ST1) Security Type: | | SN1) Security Number: | | SH1) Quantity of Securities: |
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ST2) Security Type: | | SN2) Security Number: | | SH2) Quantity of Securities: |
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ST3) Security Type: | | SN3) Security Number: | | SH3) Quantity of Securities: |
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ST4) Security Type: | | SN4) Security Number: | | SH4) Quantity of Securities: |
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ST5) Security Type: | | SN5) Security Number: | | SH5) Quantity of Securities: |
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![]() ST6) Security Type: | | ![]() SN6) Security Number: | | ![]() SH6) Quantity of Securities: |
The Undersigned affirms and agrees, as it pertains to any Security listed on Form 3 (to the extent certificated) that is not currently in the Undersigned’s possession, that (A) such Security was not endorsed and has not, in whole or part, been assigned, transferred, hypothecated, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any manner whatsoever, and no person or entity other than the Undersigned has any right, title, claim, or interest in the same, and (B) the Undersigned will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Exchange Agent and the parties to the definitive transaction agreement, together with their respective employees, officers, directors, agents, successors and assigns, from and against any and all losses, liabilities, damages, judgments, costs, charges, expenses (including the fees and expenses of counsel), claims, actions and suits, arising out of or in connection with such Security.
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Payment Method
Select how you would like to receive your payment
FORM 4
Wire Transfer Election (Complete Form 5A)
You wish to receive payments via wire transfer. A fee of up to $50 will be charged for each payment made to your financial institution. You understand that if either such fee applies, it will be deducted from your payment. In the event of a duplicate payment, overpayment, fraudulent payment, or payment made in error, you agree to return such erroneous payment, including through a single ACH electronic debit in the amount of such erroneous payment, if available.
☐Wire Transfer payment method (fees apply) Check (Complete Form 5B)
You wish to receive payments in the form of a check, which will be sent to you via U.S. mail at the address provided in Form 1 (unless indicated otherwise in Form 5B). You understand that a fee of up to $40 will be charged for each such payment paid by check. The check payment fee will be deducted from your payment. If you are electing to receive payment via check and you would like the check payable in accordance with information provided in Form 1 you may skip Form 5B and Form 6.
☐ | Check, default payment method (fees apply) |
By completion of the payment details on Form 5A or Form 5B and/or by executing this Letter of Transmittal the Undersigned hereby agrees that such payment instructions (or, if applicable, the address on Form 1) are true and that the Undersigned is representing that it is authorized to act on behalf of account designated on Form 5A, if applicable, and is hereby directing the Payments Administrator to cause payments to be made to the account listed (or, if payment is being made by check to the address specified herein). Further, the Payments Administrator shall have no liability to the Undersigned for any damages whatsoever that such person may incur as a result of the Payments Administrator following the instructions provided herein.
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Payment Instructions: Wire Transfer Information
Complete Form 5A if you selected Wire Transfer as your payment method on Form 4.
FORM 5A
If the Name(s) on the Account listed below is different than the Registered Holder, a Medallion Guarantee must be completed (Form 6) before any payment can be issued.
If payment is returned, you may incur additional fees. Please confirm your wire instructions with your financial institution.
* Indicates required field
Name of Registered Holder exactly how it appears listed for each Security on Form 3:*
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El} Name(s) on Account: * |
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E2} U.S. Bank Account Number OR Non-U.S. IBAN Number: *
E3} U.S. Bank Routing Number OR Non-
U.S. SWIFT Number: *
E4} Financial Institution Name: *E5} Financial Institution Address: *
E6} Financial Institution City: *E7} Financial Institution State/Province: * E8} Financial Institution Postal Code: *E9} Financial Institution Country: *
E10} Financial Institution Contact Name:
*
Ell} Financial Institution Contact Phone Number:*
E12} For Further Credit Account Number
(If applicable):
E13} For Further Credit Account Name (If applicable):
A10} Additional Instructions
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IMPORTANT NOTE: Please confirm the information on Form 5A with your financial institution. If your account is with a non-bank financial institution such as a brokerage or mutual fund, please contact the financial institution to confirm that wire transfer is possible for your account and to obtain the correct payment information for this form. Failure to provide accurate and complete electronic payment instructions may cause delays in processing or payments to be returned. If no electronic payment instructions are provided, payments will be automatically disbursed by check to the address provided in Form 1 or Form 5B of this document. Subsequent payments will be made using the same method as the initial payment, at the discretion of the Payments Administrator. Please note that your financial institution may charge a fee for processing incoming wire transfers. Any such fees would be in addition to the fees described herein.
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Payment Instructions: Check Payment Information
Complete Form 5B ONLY if: {A} the check is being paid to someone other than the name(s) provided in Form 1 or {B} you would like your check to be mailed to an address that is different than the one provided in Form 1.
FORM 5B
If the Name(s) on “Make Check Payable To” listed below are different than the Registered Holder, a Medallion Guarantee must be completed before any payment can be issued.
* Indicates required field
Name of Registered Holder exactly how it appears listed for each Security on Form 3:*
C1} Make Check Payable To:
C2}Mail To The Attention Of:
C3}Address 1:C4} Address 2:
C5} City:C6} State/Province:
C7}Postal Code:C8} Country:
23
Medallion Guarantee
You have requested that you would like payment to be made to someone other than the Registered Holder(s) listed on Form 1.
If you have requested that the payment for the Security listed in Form 3 be made to any payee other than the Registered Holder(s) in Form 1, and you’ve completed Form 5A or Form 5B with payment information for that payee, you must also complete this form in order to receive payment.
You can obtain the required Medallion Signature Guarantee from an eligible Guarantor Institution (Banks, Stockbrokers, Savings and Loan Associations and Credit Unions) with membership in an approved Signature Guarantee Medallion Program, pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 17Ad-15. You may wish to contact your primary bank as most banks provide this service to its customers.
M1} Signature of Registered Holder or Authorized Signer:M2} Date: M3} Name (Printed):M4} Title (If signing on behalf of entity):
M5} Additional Signature (if applicable):M6} Date:
M7} Name (Printed):M8} Title (If signing on behalf of entity):
Medallion Guarantee StampGuarantor Institution:
Guarantor Contact:
Guarantor Phone:
24
Signature Page to Letter of Transmittal
Signature is required for each Registered Holder.
By entering in my name and then signing, I represent that I am the authorized signer or I have authority to apply the signature of the authorized signer, with the intention of providing a signature that is binding on the registered holder, and such signature is provided on behalf of all owners for joint accounts. By signing, you acknowledge that you have read and understand this entire Letter of Transmittal and agree to all of its terms. Please carefully read this entire Letter of Transmittal, which includes the accompanying forms and instructions.
S1} Signature:S2) Date:
Email:
S3} Name (Printed):S4} Title (If signing on behalf of entity):
x
S5} Additional Signature (if applicable):S6} Date:
S7} Name (Printed):S8} Title(If signing on behalf of entity):
Any modifications or additions to this Letter of Transmittal unilaterally made by the Undersigned (other than to the extent providing the information expressly solicited hereby) shall be deemed ineffective unless expressly approved and agreed to in writing by buyer. Receipt of payment does not constitute approval or acceptance of any such modifications or additions.
25
Exhibit G
Inventory Accounting Principles
Inventory is comprised of cannabis work-in-process, cannabis finished goods and other inventory. Work-in-process inventory includes cannabis plants, bulk harvested material, and various bulk oils and extracts. Finished goods include packaged flower and extracts. Other inventory includes product packaging, hemp derived CBD, apparel, and paraphernalia.
Inventory cost includes pre-harvest, post-harvest and shipment and fulfillment, as well as related accessories. Pre-harvest costs include labor and direct materials to grow cannabis, which includes water, electricity, nutrients, integrated pest management, growing supplies and allocated overhead. Post-harvest costs include costs associated with drying, trimming, blending, extraction, purification, quality testing and allocated overhead. Shipment and fulfillment costs include the costs of packaging, labelling, courier services and allocated overhead.
Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, determined using either the weighted average cost inventory valuation methodology or the First-In-First-Out inventory valuation methodology. Net realizable value is defined as the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. At the end of each reporting period, the Company performs an assessment of inventory and record write-downs for excess and obsolete inventories based on the Company’s estimated forecast of product demand, production requirements, market conditions, regulatory environment, and spoilage.
Exhibit H
Historical Accounting Principles Exceptions
1. Consistent with the preparation of 2022 and 2023 Audited Financial Statements, the Company plans to review and book similar postings and adjustments during the audit process, with the advice of the Company’s auditors related to the following accounting items: Right of use assets/Lease Liability, tax provision, stock-based compensation, debt discounts, and warrant expense/derivative liability.
Exhibit I
Form of Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF
WHOLESOMECO, INC.
ARTICLE 1
NAME OF THE CORPORATION
The name of this corporation is WholesomeCo, Inc. (the “Corporation”).
ARTICLE 2 REGISTERED AGENT
The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street Corporation Trust Center, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.
ARTICLE 3 BUSINESS PURPOSE
The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).
ARTICLE 4 CAPITAL STOCK
The total number of shares of capital stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is One Thousand (1,000), all of which are shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”).
ARTICLE 5 BYLAWS
5.1Subject to any additional vote required by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”), in furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, repeal, alter, amend and rescind any or all of the Bylaws of the Corporation.
5.2The Corporation shall have the right, subject to any express provisions or restrictions contained in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, from time to time, to amend, alter or repeal any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in any manner now or hereafter provided by the DGCL or any other applicable law, and all rights and powers of any kind conferred upon a director or stockholder of the Corporation by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any amendment thereof are conferred subject to such right.
ARTICLE 6 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws of the Corporation shall so provide.
ARTICLE 7 STOCKHOLDER MEETINGS
Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the Bylaws of the Corporation may provide. The books of the Corporation may be kept outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or in the Bylaws of the Corporation.
ARTICLE 8 DIRECTOR LIABILITY
To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL and any other applicable law, a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or to its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director prior to the time this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is accepted for filing by or with the Delaware Secretary of State (the “Effective Time”). No amendment to, modification of or repeal of this ARTICLE 8 shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment.
ARTICLE 9 INDEMNIFICATION
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the indemnification provided by the Corporation pursuant to this Article 9 (or any similar provision of the Bylaws) shall only apply to a Covered Person to the extent such indemnifiable matters arose prior to the Effective Time. Subject in all respects to the foregoing sentence, the Corporation shall indemnify, advance expenses, and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL and any other applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person (a “Covered Person”) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (to the extent relating to matters prior to the Effective Time, each, a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a Person for whom he or she is the legal representative, 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 or of a partnership joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred by such Covered Person. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, except for claims for indemnification (following the final disposition of such Proceeding) or advancement of expenses not paid in full, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a Covered Person in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such Covered Person only if the commencement of such
Proceeding (or part thereof) by the Covered Person was authorized in the specific case by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. Any amendment, repeal or modification of this ARTICLE 9 shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
*******
The undersigned [●] of this Corporation certifies that the foregoing text correctly sets forth the text of the Articles of Incorporation of this Corporation as amended and restated to the date of this Certificate.
Dated: December [●], 2024
Name: [●]
Title: [●]
Exhibit J
Specific Accounting Principles
1.Consistent with the preparation of 2022 and 2023 Audited Financial Statements, the Company plans to review and book similar postings and adjustments during the audit process, with the advice of the Company’s auditors related to the following accounting items: Right of use assets/Lease Liability, tax provision, stock-based compensation, debt discounts, and warrant expense/derivative liability.
2. | Attached to this Exhibit J is an illustrative calculation of Closing Working Capital. |
Company | L1 | L2 | L3 | Account | 1/31/2024 | 2/29/2024 | 3/31/2024 | 4/30/2024 | 5/31/2024 | 6/30/2024 | 7/31/2024 | 8/31/2024 | 9/30/2024 | 10/31/2024 |
| | | Totals | | 8,325,300 | 9,976,412 | 11,180,214 | 10,739,105 | 10,881,415 | 11,885,071 | 11,095,261 | 11,322,321 | 12,773,860 | 19,974,577 |
| | | Cash and Cash Equivalents | Total | 3,362,191 | 4,018,502 | 4,104,913 | 3,306,638 | 3,205,777 | 3,473,025 | 3,066,239 | 3,794,355 | 5,009,310 | 6,031,823 |
| | Current Assets | Accounts Receivable Intercompany Receivable Deposits | Total Total Total | 788,396 23,273 12,283 | 733,774 49,049 26,457 | 658,505 99,341 42,405 | 720,196 136,829 60,929 | 787,157 215,703 70,197 | 1,035,896 270,568 217,389 | 1,117,361 314,551 275,154 | 958,632 353,310 282,837 | 1,120,426 443,399 249,971 | 931,065 6,338,280 223,159 |
| | | Inventory | Total | 3,781,325 | 4,762,846 | 5,897,085 | 6,228,016 | 6,313,818 | 6,583,178 | 5,784,132 | 5,430,802 | 5,479,864 | 5,965,187 |
| Assets | | Prepaid Expenses | Total | 357,833 | 385,784 | 377,964 | 286,498 | 288,762 | 305,015 | 537,824 | 502,384 | 470,890 | 485,063 |
| | | Totals | | (6,114,575) | (6,477,536) | (7,152,097) | (6,698,158) | (6,886,000) | (7,201,765) | (6,684,426) | (6,389,447) | (6,927,016) | (13,177,313) |
| | | Credit Card | Total | (2,084) | (3,841) | (3,525) | (523) | (843) | (8,301) | (1,354) | (7,318) | (4,340) | (5,049) |
| | | Accounts Payable | Total | (1,507,934) | (1,453,621) | (1,617,715) | (1,774,705) | (1,514,504) | (1,739,862) | (1,427,606) | (947,293) | (1,418,846) | (1,217,069) |
| | Current Liabilities | Other Current Liabilities Accrued Expenses Intercompany Payables | Total Total Total | (235,874) 0 0 | (485,031) (125) 0 | (691,694) 0 0 | (671,712) (5,157) 0 | (659,852) (132,442) 0 | (725,776) (116,698) 0 | (789,790) (119,159) 0 | (767,860) (137,946) 0 | (640,346) (120,836) 0 | (1,051,947) (131,957) (5,851,680) |
| | | Accrued Payroll | Total | (1,067,460) | (1,184,133) | (1,131,010) | (427,811) | (701,386) | (699,818) | (406,853) | (560,882) | (745,989) | (897,824) |
| | | Loan Payable | Total | (2,591,367) | (2,635,158) | (2,986,759) | (3,009,455) | (3,031,997) | (3,054,671) | (3,077,265) | (3,099,994) | (3,122,752) | (3,142,127) |
Wholesome | Liabilities | | Lease Liability | Total | (709,856) | (715,627) | (721,394) | (808,794) | (844,976) | (856,641) | (862,399) | (868,154) | (873,907) | (879,658) |
Exhibit K
Forfeiture Amount Worksheet
Illustrative Exhibit -- Merger Consideration Shares and Forfeited Share Calculations
All Figures are Shown in US$ Except for Shares Issued | Estimated | Confirmed | Forfeited Shares Calculated as per Definitions in the Agreement and Plan of Merger | ||||||||||
| At Signing | Post Closing (1) | Merger Consideration Recalculated Using Closing EBITDA for EBITDA Shortfall | ||||||||||
Base EBITDA | $15,500,000 | $15,500,000 | | | | | | | | | | | |
Additional EBITDA | $500,000 | $500,000 | | | | | | | | | | | |
EBITDA Deficiency | N/A | N/A | | ($500,000) | ($1,000,000) | ($1,500,000) | ($2,000,000) | ($2,500,000) | ($3,000,000) | ($3,500,000) | ($4,000,000) | ($4,500,000) | ($5,000,000) |
Closing EBITDA | $16,000,000 | $16,000,000 | | $15,500,000 | $15,000,000 | $14,500,000 | $14,000,000 | $13,500,000 | $13,000,000 | $12,500,000 | $12,000,000 | $11,500,000 | $11,000,000 |
(+) Acquisition Multiple (2) | 4.175x | 4.175x | | 4.175x | 4.175x | 4.175x | 4.175x | 4.175x | 4.175x | 4.175x | 4.175x | 4.175x | 4.175x |
EBITDA Consideration | ![]() $66,800,000 | $66,800,000 | | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() $64,712,500 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() $62,625,000 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() $60,537,500 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() $58,450,000 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() $56,362,500 | ![]() ![]() ![]() $54,275,000 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() $52,187,500 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() $50,100,000 | $48,012,500 | $45,925,000 |
(+) Closing Cash | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
(-) Assumed Indebtedness and Closing/Post-Closing Indebtedness (3) | ($10,987,018) | ($10,987,018) | | ($10,987,018) | ($10,987,018) | ($10,987,018) | ($10,987,018) | ($10,987,018) | ($10,987,018) | ($10,987,018) | ($10,987,018) | ($10,987,018) | ($10,987,018) |
(+) Adjusted 280E Reserve | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
(-) 280E Tax Reserve Shortfall Plus Pre-Closing Taxes (Excluding the 280E Liability) | ($2,789,452) | ($2,789,452) | | ($2,789,452) | ($2,789,452) | ($2,789,452) | ($2,789,452) | ($2,789,452) | ($2,789,452) | ($2,789,452) | ($2,789,452) | ($2,789,452) | ($2,789,452) |
(-) Closing Indebtedness or Transaction Expenses that Remain Unpaid at Closing | -- | -- | | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
(+) Post-Closing Working Capital Less Target Working Capital | -- | -- | | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Closing Merger Consideration | $56,023,530 | $56,023,530 | | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() $53,936,030 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() $51,848,530 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() $49,761,030 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() $47,673,530 | ![]() $45,586,030 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() $43,498,530 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() $41,411,030 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() $39,323,530 | ![]() ![]() ![]() $37,236,030 | $35,148,530 |
Closing Share Price | $0.52 | $0.52 | | $0.52 | $0.52 | $0.52 | $0.52 | $0.52 | $0.52 | $0.52 | $0.52 | $0.52 | $0.52 |
Aggregate Number of Parent Shares Issued | 107,737,558 | 107,737,558 | | 103,723,135 | 99,708,712 | 95,694,289 | 91,679,866 | 87,665,443 | 83,651,020 | 79,636,597 | 75,622,174 | 71,607,751 | 67,593,328 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Forfeited Shares | -- | -- | | 4,014,423 | 8,028,846 | 12,043,269 | 16,057,692 | 20,072,115 | 24,086,538 | 28,100,962 | 32,115,385 | 36,129,808 | 40,144,231 |
Note: Forfeited share calculations for EBITDA Deficiency amounts not shown above should be calculated in the same manner and extrapolated from the table above.
1. | All figures to reflect any Post-Closing Adjustments. |
2. | If Closing Share Price is any different than $0.52, then the Acquisition Multiple has to be adjusted from 4.175x in order to achieve the same number of shares. |
3.To include impact from the aggregate amount of any Post-Closing Debt, as defined in the Agreement and Plan of Merger.