---

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER AND REORGANIZATION

 

among:

 

GYRE THERAPEUTICS, INC.;

 

HELIX MERGER SUB CORP.;

 

and

 

CULLGEN INC.

Section 1. Definitions and Interpretative Provisions		3
	1.1 Definitions	3
	1.2 Other Definitional and Interpretative Provisions	14
Section 2. Description of Transaction		14
	2.1 The Merger	14
	2.2 Effects of the Merger	15
	2.3 Closing; Effective Time	15
	2.4 Organizational Documents; Directors and Officers	15
	2.5 Conversion of Company; Merger Sub Equity Securities	15
	2.6 Closing of the Company’s Transfer Books	17
	2.7 Surrender of Company Capital Stock	18
	2.8 Reserved	19
	2.9 Further Action	19
	2.10 Intended Tax Treatment	19
	2.11 Withholding	19
	2.12 Appraisal Rights	19
Section 3. Representations and Warranties of the Company		20
	3.1 Due Organization; Subsidiaries	20
	3.2 Organizational Documents	20
	3.3 Authority; Binding Nature of Agreement	20
	3.4 Vote Required	21
	3.5 Non-Contravention; Consents	21
	3.6 Capitalization	22
	3.7 Financial Statements	23
	3.8 Absence of Changes	24
	3.9 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities	24
	3.10 Title to Assets	24
	3.11 Real Property; Leasehold	24
	3.12 Intellectual Property	24
	3.13 Agreements, Contracts and Commitments	27
	3.14 Compliance; Permits; Restrictions	29
	3.15 Legal Proceedings; Orders	31
	3.16 Tax Matters	31
	3.17 Employee and Labor Matters; Benefit Plans	33
	3.18 Environmental Matters	35
	3.19 Insurance	36
	3.20 No Financial Advisors	36
	3.21 Transactions with Affiliates	36
	3.22 Privacy and Data Security	36
	3.23 No Other Representations or Warranties	37
Section 4. Representations and Warranties of Parent and Merger Sub		37
	4.1 Due Organization; Subsidiaries	37
	4.2 Organizational Documents	38
	4.3 Authority; Binding Nature of Agreement	38
	4.4 Vote Required	38
	4.5 Non-Contravention; Consents	38

	4.6 Capitalization	39
	4.7 SEC Filings; Financial Statements	41
	4.8 Absence of Changes	42
	4.9 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities	42
	4.10 Title to Assets	43
	4.11 Real Property; Leasehold	43
	4.12 Intellectual Property	43
	4.13 Agreements, Contracts and Commitments	45
	4.14 Compliance; Permits; Restrictions	47
	4.15 Legal Proceedings; Orders	50
	4.16 Tax Matters	50
	4.17 Employee and Labor Matters; Benefit Plans	52
	4.18 Environmental Matters	54
	4.19 Insurance	54
	4.20 Transactions with Affiliates	55
	4.21 No Financial Advisors	55
	4.22 Valid Issuance	55
	4.23 Privacy and Data Security	55
	4.24 No Other Representations or Warranties	55
Section 5. Certain Covenants of the Parties		56
	5.1 Operation of Parent’s Business	56
	5.2 Operation of the Company’s Business	57
	5.3 Access and Investigation	58
	5.4 No Solicitation	59
	5.5 Notification of Certain Matters	60
Section 6. Additional Agreements of the Parties		60
	6.1 Proxy Statement	60
	6.2 Company Stockholder Written Consent	61
	6.3 Parent Stockholder Meeting	62
	6.4 Efforts; Regulatory Approvals	63
	6.5 Company RSUs; Company Options	64
	6.6 Employee Benefits	65
	6.7 Indemnification of Officers and Directors	66
	6.8 Disclosure	67
	6.9 Listing	67
	6.10 Tax Matters	67
	6.11 Legends	68
	6.12 Officers and Directors..	68
	6.13 Termination of Certain Agreements and Rights	68
	6.14 Section 16 Matters	68
	6.15 Allocation Information	68
	6.16 Parent SEC Documents	68
	6.17 Obligations of Merger Sub	69
	6.18 Operations of the Combined Company	69
	6.19 Reservation of Parent Common Stock; Issuance of Shares of Parent Common Stock	69
Section 7. Conditions Precedent to Obligations of Each Party		69
	7.1 Regulatory Approvals	69
	7.2 Foreign Person Status	69

	7.3 No Restraints	69
	7.4 Lock-Up Agreements	69
	7.5 Certificate of Designation	69
	7.6 Registration Rights Agreement	69
Section 8. Additional Conditions Precedent to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub		70
	8.1 Accuracy of Representations	70
	8.2 Performance of Covenants	70
	8.3 Documents	70
	8.4 No Company Material Adverse Effect	70
	8.5 Company Stockholder Written Consent	71
Section 9. Additional Conditions Precedent to Obligation of the Company.		71
	9.1 Accuracy of Representations	71
	9.2 Performance of Covenants	71
	9.3 Documents	71
	9.4 No Parent Material Adverse Effect	71
Section 10. Termination		71
	10.1 Termination	71
	10.2 Effect of Termination	73
	10.3 Expenses	73
Section 11. Miscellaneous Provisions		73
	11.1 Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties	73
	11.2 Amendment	73
	11.3 Waiver	73
	11.4 Entire Agreement; Counterparts; Exchanges by Electronic Transmission or Facsimile	74
	11.5 Applicable Law; Jurisdiction	74
	11.6 Assignability	74
	11.7 Notices	74
	11.8 Cooperation	75
	11.9 Severability	75
	11.10 Other Remedies; Specific Performance	75
	11.11 No Third-Party Beneficiaries	76

Exhibit A-1:	Form of Parent Stockholder Support Agreement
Exhibit A-2:	Form of Company Stockholder Support Agreement
Exhibit B:	Form of Lock-Up Agreement
Exhibit C:	Registration Rights Agreement
Exhibit D:	Certificate of Merger, incorporated by reference into this Agreement
Exhibit E:	Certificate of Designation

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER AND REORGANIZATION

 

This Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of March 2, 2026, by and among Gyre Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), Helix Merger Sub Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), and Cullgen Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). Certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined Section 1.

 

RECITALS

 

A. Parent and the Company intend to effect a merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company (the “Merger”) in accordance with this Agreement and the DGCL. Upon consummation of the Merger, Merger Sub will cease to exist with the Company being the surviving entity and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent.

 

B. The Parties intend that (i) the Merger qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and (ii) this Agreement will constitute, and is hereby adopted as, a plan of reorganization within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a).

 

C. The Parent Board has established a special committee (the “Special Committee”), consisting solely of members of the Parent Board who are disinterested and independent of Parent and the Company and their respective Affiliates to, among other things, negotiate the terms of certain transactions, including the Contemplated Transactions, and to make a recommendation to the Parent Board as to whether the Company should enter into this Agreement;

 

D. The Special Committee was empowered to approve and recommend to the Parent Board the Contemplated Transactions, and the Parent Board resolved that Parent would not effectuate the Contemplated Transactions unless, among other things, the Contemplated Transactions were first approved or recommended by the Special Committee;

 

E. The Special Committee has unanimously (i) determined that the Contemplated Transactions are fair to, advisable and in the best interests of Parent and its stockholders (including the stockholders who are not affiliated with the Company), (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions, including the issuance of shares of Parent Capital Stock to the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and (iii) determined to recommend, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, that the stockholders of Parent vote to approve the Preferred Stock Conversion Proposal (such recommendation, the “Special Committee Recommendation”);

 

F. All disinterested and independent members of the Parent Board, acting upon the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee at a duly called meeting, have unanimously  (i) determined that the Contemplated Transactions are fair to, advisable and in the best interests of Parent and its stockholders (including the stockholders who are not affiliated with the Company), (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions, including the issuance of shares of Parent Capital Stock to the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and (iii) determined to recommend, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, that the stockholders of Parent vote to approve the Preferred Stock Conversion Proposal.

 

G. The Merger Sub Board has (i) determined that the Contemplated Transactions are fair to, advisable, and in the best interests of Merger Sub and its sole stockholder, (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions and (iii) determined to recommend, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, that the stockholder of Merger Sub votes to adopt this Agreement and thereby approve the Contemplated Transactions.

 

H. The Company Board has (i) determined that the Contemplated Transactions are fair to, advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions and (iii) determined to recommend, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, that the stockholders of the Company vote to adopt this Agreement and thereby approve the Contemplated Transactions.

 

I. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and as a condition and inducement to the Company’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, each of the officers, directors and stockholders of Parent set forth on Section A of the Parent Disclosure Letter (solely in their capacity as stockholders of Parent) are executing support agreements in favor of the Company in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A-1, pursuant to which such Persons have, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, agreed to vote all of their shares of Parent Capital Stock in favor of the approval of the Preferred Stock Conversion Proposal.

 

J. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and as a condition and inducement to Parent’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, each of the officers, directors and stockholders of the Company listed on Schedule A of the Company Disclosure Letter (solely in their capacity as stockholders of the Company), collectively representing the Required Company Stockholder Vote, are executing support agreements in favor of Parent in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A-2 (the “Company Stockholder Support Agreement”), pursuant to which such Persons have, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, agreed to vote all of their shares of Company Capital Stock in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and thereby approve the Company Stockholder Written Consents, including the Contemplated Transactions.

 

K. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and as a condition and inducement to Parent’s and the Company’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, each of the stockholders of the Company or Parent listed on Schedule B of the Company Disclosure Letter are executing lock-up agreements in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Lock-Up Agreement,” and collectively, the “Lock-Up Agreements”).

 

L. It is expected that as promptly as practicable following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the holders of shares of Company Capital Stock sufficient to adopt and approve this Agreement and the Merger as required under the DGCL and the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws will execute and deliver an action by written consent adopting this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Parent, in order to obtain the Required Company Stockholder Vote.

 

M. At the Closing, Parent, the Company and certain of the holders of shares of Company Capital Stock shall enter into the registration rights agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “Registration Rights Agreement”).

 

AGREEMENT

 

The Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

Section 1. Definitions and Interpretative Provisions.

 

1.1 Definitions.

 

(a) For purposes of this Agreement (including this Section 1):

 

“Acquisition Inquiry” means, with respect to a Party, an inquiry, indication of interest or request for non-public information (other than an inquiry, indication of interest or request for information made or submitted by the Company, on the one hand, or Parent, on the other hand, to the other Party) that would reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal.

 

“Acquisition Proposal” means, with respect to a Party, any offer or proposal, whether written or oral (other than an offer or proposal made or submitted by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, or by or on behalf of Parent or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand, to the other Party) contemplating or otherwise relating to any Acquisition Transaction with such Party.

 

“Acquisition Transaction” means any transaction or series of related transactions involving:

 

(a) any merger, consolidation, amalgamation, share exchange, business combination, issuance of securities, acquisition of securities, reorganization, recapitalization, tender offer, exchange offer or other similar transaction: (i) in which a Person or “group” (as defined in the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder) of Persons directly or indirectly acquires beneficial or record ownership of securities representing more than 20% of the outstanding securities of any class of voting securities of a Party or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) in which a Party or any of its Subsidiaries issues securities representing more than 20% of the outstanding securities of any class of voting securities of such Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or issues securities convertible into more than 20% of the outstanding securities of any class of voting securities of such Party or any of its Subsidiaries; or

 

(b) any sale, lease, exchange, transfer, license, acquisition or disposition of any business or businesses or assets that constitute or account for 20% or more of the consolidated book value or the fair market value of the assets of a Party and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

“Affiliate” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 145 under the Securities Act.

 

“Affordable Care Act” means the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

 

“Agreed Business Plan” means the business plan of the combined company delivered to the Special Committee prior to the date hereof and included as Schedule C of the Company Disclosure Letter.

 

“Business Day” means any day other than a day on which banks in the State of New York are authorized or obligated to be closed.

 

“Certificate of Designation” means the Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Parent Series B Convertible Preferred Stock in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E.

 

“COBRA” means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as set forth in Section 4980B of the Code and Section 6 of Title I of ERISA.

 

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

 

“Company Associate” means any current employee, independent contractor, officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

“Company Board” means the board of directors of the Company.

 

“Company Capital Stock” means the Company Common Stock and the Company Preferred Stock.

 

“Company Capitalization Representations” means the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Sections 3.6(a) and 3.6(d).

 

“Company Common Stock” means the common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company.

 

“Company Contract” means any Contract: (a) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a Party, (b) by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound or under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has, or may become subject to, any obligation or (c) under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has or may acquire any right or interest.

 

“Company Employee Plan” means any Employee Plan that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (i) sponsors, maintains, administers, or contributes to, or (ii) provides benefits under or through, or (iii) has any obligation to contribute to or provide benefits under or through, or (iv) may reasonably be expected to have any Liability, or (v) utilizes to provide benefits to or otherwise cover any current or former employee, officer, director or other service provider of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or their spouses, dependents, or beneficiaries).

 

“Company Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Sections 3.1(a), 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5(a)(i) and 3.20.

 

“Company IP Rights” means all Intellectual Property rights that are owned or purported to be owned by, assigned to, exclusively licensed to, or controlled by the Company or its Subsidiaries that are necessary for, or used or held for use in, the operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as presently conducted.

 

“Company IP Rights Agreement” means any Contract governing, related to or pertaining to any Company IP Rights other than any confidential information provided under confidentiality agreements.

 

“Company Key Employee” means any executive officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

“Company Material Adverse Effect” means any Effect that, considered together with all other Effects that have occurred prior to the date of determination of the occurrence of a Company Material Adverse Effect, has or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, assets, liabilities or results of operations of the Company or its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided, however, that Effects arising or resulting from the following shall not be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Company Material Adverse Effect: (a) the announcement of this Agreement or the pendency of the Contemplated Transactions, (b) the taking of any action, or the failure to take any action, by the Company that is required to comply with the terms of this Agreement, (c) any natural disaster, calamity or epidemics, pandemics or other force majeure events, or any act or threat of terrorism or war, any armed hostilities or terrorist activities (including any escalation or general worsening of any of the foregoing) anywhere in the world or any governmental or other response or reaction to any of the foregoing, (d) any change in GAAP or applicable Law or the interpretation thereof, or (e) general economic or political conditions or conditions generally affecting the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate; except in each case with respect to clauses (c), (d) and (e), to the extent disproportionately affecting the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other similarly situated companies in the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate.

 

“Company Options” means options or other rights to purchase shares of Company Capital Stock issued by the Company.

 

“Company Preferred Stock” means the shares of the Company’s capital stock designated as preferred stock, including the Company Series Seed-1 Preferred Stock, Company Series Seed-2 Preferred Stock, Company Series A Preferred Stock, Company Series B Preferred Stock and Company Series C Preferred Stock.

 

“Company Registered IP” means all Company IP Rights that are owned or exclusively licensed by the Company that are registered, filed or issued under the authority of, with or by any Governmental Authority, including all patents, registered copyrights and registered trademarks and all applications and registrations for any of the foregoing.

 

“Company Series A Preferred Stock” means a series of the Company’s preferred stock designated as Series A Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share.

 

“Company Series B Preferred Stock” means a series of the Company’s preferred stock designated as Series B Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share.

 

“Company Series C Preferred Stock” means a series of the Company’s preferred stock designated as Series C Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share.

 

“Company Series Seed-1 Preferred Stock” means a series of the Company’s preferred stock designated as Series Seed-1 Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share.

 

“Company Series Seed-2 Preferred Stock” means a series of the Company’s preferred stock designated as Series Seed-2 Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share.

 

“Company Stock Plan” means the Company’s 2018 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

“Confidentiality Agreement” means the non-disclosure agreement dated as of January 10, 2026, between the Company and Parent.

 

“Consent” means any approval, consent, ratification, permission, waiver or authorization (including any Governmental Authorization).

 

“Contemplated Transactions” means the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

“Continuing Employee” means each employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company as of immediately prior to the Closing who, following the Closing, remains an employee of the Surviving Entity or such Subsidiary or becomes an employee of Parent or any of its Affiliates.

 

“Contract” means, with respect to any Person, any written agreement, contract, subcontract, lease (whether for real or personal property), mortgage, license, or other legally binding commitment or undertaking of any nature to which such Person is a party or by which such Person or any of its assets are bound or affected under applicable Law.

 

“Designated Holder” means each holder of Company Capital Stock listed as a “Designated Holder” on Schedule D of the Company Disclosure Letter.

 

“DGCL” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

“Effect” means any effect, change, event, circumstance, or development.

 

“Employee Plan” means (A) an “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA whether or not subject to ERISA; (B) other plan, program, policy or arrangement providing for stock options, stock purchases, equity-based compensation, bonuses (including any annual bonuses and retention bonuses) or other incentives, severance pay, deferred compensation, employment, compensation, change in control or transaction bonuses, supplemental, vacation, retirement benefits (including post-retirement health and welfare benefits), pension benefits, profit-sharing benefits, fringe benefits, life insurance benefits, perquisites, health benefits, medical benefits, dental benefits, vision benefits, and all other employee benefit plans, agreements, and arrangements, not described in (A) above; and (C) all other plans, programs, policies or arrangements providing compensation to employees, consultants and non-employee directors.

 

“Encumbrance” means any lien, pledge, hypothecation, charge, mortgage, security interest, lease, exclusive license, option, easement, reservation, servitude, adverse title, claim, infringement, interference, option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, community property interest or restriction or encumbrance of any nature (including any restriction on the voting of any security, any restriction on the transfer of any security or other asset, any restriction on the receipt of any income derived from any asset, any restriction on the use of any asset and any restriction on the possession, exercise or transfer of any other attribute of ownership of any asset).

 

“Enforceability Exceptions” means the (a) Laws of general application relating to bankruptcy, insolvency and the relief of debtors and (b) rules of law governing specific performance, injunctive relief and other equitable remedies.

 

“Entity” means any corporation (including any nonprofit corporation), partnership (including any general partnership, limited partnership or limited liability partnership), joint venture, estate, trust, company (including any company limited by shares, limited liability company or joint stock company), firm, society or other enterprise, association, organization or entity, and each of its successors.

 

“Environmental Law” means any federal, state, local or foreign Law relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including ambient air, surface water, ground water, land surface or subsurface strata), including any law or regulation relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of Hazardous Materials, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials.

 

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

 

“ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to any Entity, any other Person that would be treated as a single employer with such Entity or part of the same “controlled group” as such Entity under Sections 414(b),(c),(m) or (o) of the Code.

 

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

 

“Exchange Ratio” means 0.4753.

 

“Governmental Authority” means any: (a) nation, state, commonwealth, province, territory, county, municipality, district or other jurisdiction of any nature, (b) federal, state, local, municipal, foreign, supra-national or other government, (c) governmental or quasi-governmental authority of any nature (including any governmental division, department, agency, commission, bureau, instrumentality, official, ministry, fund, foundation, center, organization, unit, body or Entity and any court or other tribunal, and for the avoidance of doubt, any taxing authority) or (d) self-regulatory organization (including Nasdaq).

 

“Governmental Authorization” means any: (a) permit, license, certificate, franchise, permission, variance, exception, order, approval, clearance, registration, qualification or authorization issued, granted, given or otherwise made available by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority or pursuant to any Law or (b) right under any Contract with any Governmental Authority.

 

“Hazardous Materials” means any pollutant, chemical, substance and any toxic, infectious, carcinogenic, reactive, corrosive, ignitable or flammable chemical, or chemical compound, or hazardous substance, material or waste, whether solid, liquid or gas, that is subject to regulation, control or remediation under any Environmental Law, including without limitation, crude oil or any fraction thereof, and petroleum products or by-products.

 

“HSR Act” means the U.S. Hart Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.

 

“In-the-Money Company Option” shall mean Company Options with an exercise price equal to or less than the quotient of (i) the Company Valuation, divided by (ii) the total number of shares of Company Capital Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, on a fully diluted and as-converted to Company Common Stock basis.

 

“Intellectual Property” means: (a) United States, foreign and international patents, patent applications, including all provisionals, nonprovisionals, substitutions, divisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues, extensions, supplementary protection certificates, reexaminations, term extensions, certificates of invention and the equivalents of any of the foregoing, statutory invention registrations, invention disclosures and inventions (collectively, “Patents”), (b) trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, corporate names, brand names, URLs, trade dress, logos and other source identifiers, including registrations and applications for registration thereof and goodwill associated therewith, (c) copyrights, including registrations and applications for registration thereof, (d) software, including all source code, object code and related documentation, (e) formulae, customer lists, trade secrets, know-how, confidential information and other proprietary rights and intellectual property, whether patentable or not, and (f) all United States and foreign rights arising under or associated with any of the foregoing.

 

“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

“Knowledge” means, (i) with respect to an individual, that such individual is actually aware of the relevant fact or such individual would reasonably be expected to know such fact in the ordinary course of the performance of such individual’s employment responsibilities, (ii) with respect to Parent, the Knowledge of the individuals listed on Section A of the Parent Disclosure Letter as of the date of such knowledge is imputed and (iii) with respect to Company, the Knowledge of the individuals listed on Schedule E of the Company Disclosure Letter as of the date of such knowledge is imputed, and (iv) any Person that is an Entity (other than Parent and the Company) the Knowledge of any executive officer of such Person as of the date such knowledge is imputed. With respect to any matters relating to Intellectual Property, such awareness or reasonable expectation to have knowledge does not require any such individual to conduct or have conducted or obtain or have obtained any freedom to operate opinions of counsel or any Intellectual Property rights clearance searches.

 

“Law” means any federal, state, national, supra-national, foreign, local or municipal or other law, statute, constitution, principle of common law, resolution, ordinance, code, edict, decree, rule, regulation, ruling or requirement issued, enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority (including under the authority of Nasdaq or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority).

 

“Legal Proceeding” means any action, suit, litigation, arbitration, proceeding (including any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or appellate proceeding), hearing, inquiry, audit, examination or investigation commenced, brought, conducted or heard by or before any court or other Governmental Authority or any arbitrator or arbitration panel.

 

“Merger Sub Board” means the board of directors of Merger Sub.

 

“Multiemployer Plan” means a “multiemployer plan,” as defined in Section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

 

“Multiple Employer Plan” means a “multiple employer plan” within the meaning of Section 413(c) of the Code or Section 3(40) of ERISA.

 

“Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement” means a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” within the meaning of Section 3(40) of ERISA.

 

“Nasdaq” means The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC.

 

“Non-Designated Holder” means each holder of Company Capital Stock who is not a Designated Holder.

 

“Order” means any judgment, order, writ, injunction, ruling, decision or decree of (that is binding on a Party), or any plea agreement, corporate integrity agreement, resolution agreement or deferred prosecution agreement with, or any settlement under the jurisdiction of, any court or Governmental Authority.

 

“Ordinary Course of Business” means, in the case of each of the Company and Parent, such actions taken in the ordinary course of its business and consistent with its past practice or, with respect to the Company, the customary practices of a company at a similar stage of development.

 

“Organizational Documents” means, with respect to any Person (other than an individual), (a) the certificate or articles of association or incorporation or organization or limited partnership or limited liability company, and any joint venture, limited liability company, operating or partnership agreement and other similar documents adopted or filed in connection with the creation, formation or organization of such Person and (b) all bylaws, regulations and similar documents or agreements relating to the organization or governance of such Person, in each case, as amended or supplemented.

 

“Parent Associate” means any current employee, independent contractor, officer or director of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

“Parent Balance Sheet” means the audited balance sheet of Parent as of September 30, 2025, included in Parent’s Report on Form 10-Q for the nine-months ended September 30, 2025, as filed with the SEC.

 

“Parent Board” means the board of directors of Parent.

 

“Parent Capital Stock” means the Parent Common Stock and the Parent Preferred Stock.

 

“Parent Capitalization Representations” means the representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub set forth in Sections 4.6(a) and 4.6(d).

 

“Parent Common Stock” means the common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of Parent.

 

“Parent Convertible Preferred Stock” means Parent’s Series B voting convertible preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, with the rights, preferences, powers and privileges specified in the Certificate of Designation.

 

“Parent Contract” means any Contract: (a) to which Parent is a party, (b) by which Parent or any Parent IP Rights or any other asset of Parent is or may become bound or under which Parent has, or may become subject to, any obligation or (c) under which Parent has or may acquire any right or interest.

 

“Parent Employee Plan” means any Employee Plan that Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (i) sponsors, maintains, administers, or contributes to, or (ii) provides benefits under or through, or (iii) has any obligation to contribute to or provide benefits under or through, or (iv) may reasonably be expected to have any Liability, or (v) utilizes to provide benefits to or otherwise cover any current or former employee, officer, director or other service provider of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (or their spouses, dependents, or beneficiaries).

 

“Parent Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub set forth in Sections 4.1(a), 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5(a)(i) and 4.21.

 

“Parent IP Rights” means all Intellectual Property owned, licensed or controlled by Parent that is necessary for, or used or held for use in, the operation of the business of Parent.

 

“Parent IP Rights Agreement” means any Contract governing, related or pertaining to any Parent IP Rights.

 

“Parent Key Employee” means (i) an executive officer of Parent; and (ii) any employee of Parent that reports directly to the Parent Board or to an executive officer of Parent.

 

“Parent Material Adverse Effect” means any Effect that, considered together with all other Effects that have occurred prior to the date of determination of the occurrence of the Parent Material Adverse Effect, has or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, assets, liabilities or results of operations of Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided, however, that Effects arising or resulting from the following shall not be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Parent Material Adverse Effect: (a) the announcement of this Agreement or the pendency of the Contemplated Transactions, (b) any change in the stock price or trading volume of Parent Common Stock (it being understood, however, that any Effect causing or contributing to any change in stock price or trading volume of Parent Common Stock may be taken into account in determining whether a Parent Material Adverse Effect has occurred, unless such Effects are otherwise excepted from this definition), (c) the taking of any action, or the failure to take any action, by Parent that is required to comply with the terms of this Agreement, (d) any natural disaster, calamity or epidemics, pandemics or other force majeure events, or any act or threat of terrorism or war, any armed hostilities or terrorist activities (including any escalation or general worsening of any of the foregoing) anywhere in the world, or any governmental or other response or reaction to any of the foregoing, or (e) any change in GAAP or applicable Law or the interpretation thereof; except, in each case with respect to clauses (d), (e) and (f), to the extent materially and disproportionately affecting Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other similarly situated companies in the industries in which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries operates.

 

“Parent Options” means options or other rights to purchase shares of Parent Common Stock granted by Parent, including pursuant to any Parent Stock Plan.

 

“Parent Preferred Stock” means the shares of Parent’s capital stock designated as preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share of Parent, including the Parent Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

“Parent Registered IP” means all Parent IP Rights that are owned or exclusively licensed by Parent that are registered, filed or issued under the authority of, with or by any Governmental Authority, including all patents, registered copyrights and registered trademarks and all applications for any of the foregoing.

 

“Party” or “Parties” means the Company, Merger Sub and Parent.

 

“Permitted Encumbrance” means (a) any statutory liens for current Taxes not yet due and payable or for Taxes that are being contested in good faith by the appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been made on the Company Balance Sheet or the Parent Balance Sheet, as applicable, in accordance with GAAP, (b) minor non-monetary liens that have arisen in the Ordinary Course of Business and that do not (in any case or in the aggregate) materially detract from the value of the assets subject thereto or materially impair the operations of the Company or Parent, as applicable, (c) statutory liens to secure obligations to landlords, lessors or renters under leases or rental agreements, (d) deposits or pledges made in connection with, or to secure payment of, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or similar programs mandated by Law, (e) statutory liens in favor of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics and materialmen, to secure claims for labor, materials or supplies for amounts that are not yet due and payable and (f) liens arising under applicable securities Law.

 

“Person” means any individual, Entity or Governmental Authority.

 

“Personal Information” means any data or information that constitutes “personal information,” “personal data,” “personally identifiable information,” “protected health information,” or any analogous term under applicable Law, including any such information that identifies, relates to, describes, is linked to, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with any identified or identifiable individual or household.

 

“Privacy Laws” mean, collectively, (i) all Laws governing privacy, data protection, data security, trans-border data flow, data loss, data theft, breach notification, data localization, sending solicited or unsolicited electronic mail or text messages, cookies or other tracking technology, or the collection, handling, use, maintenance, storage, disclosure, transfer, or other processing of Personal Information, including any such legally binding requirements set forth in regulations and agreements containing consent orders published by regulatory authorities of competent jurisdiction such as the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Federal Communications Commission, and state data protection authorities, including HIPAA, Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and U.S. state consumer protection and data breach notification Laws, and (ii) any legally binding requirements of any self-regulatory organizations governing data privacy, data protection, data security, trans-border data flow, data loss, data theft, breach notification, data localization, sending solicited or unsolicited electronic mail or text messages, cookies or other tracking technology, or the collection, handling, use, maintenance, storage, disclosure, transfer, or other processing of Personal Information.

 

“Representatives” means with respect to a Person, such Person’s directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, accountants, investment bankers, advisors and other representatives; provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that Representatives of the Company expressly do not include GNI Group Ltd. or any of its Affiliates (including without limitation, GNI USA).

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to an Entity, a Person if such Person directly or indirectly owns or purports to own, beneficially or of record, (a) an amount of voting securities or other interests in such Entity that is sufficient to enable such Person to elect at least a majority of the members of such entity’s board of directors or other governing body or (b) at least 50% of the outstanding equity, voting, beneficial or financial interests in such Entity.

 

“Tax” means any U.S. federal, state, local, foreign or other tax, including any income tax, franchise tax, capital gains tax, gross receipts tax, value-added tax, surtax, estimated tax, employment tax, unemployment tax, national health insurance tax, environmental tax, excise tax, ad valorem tax, transfer tax, conveyance tax, stamp tax, sales tax, use tax, property tax, business tax, withholding tax, payroll tax, social security tax, customs duty, licenses tax, alternative or add-on minimum or other tax or similar charge, duty, levy, fee, tariff, impost, obligation or assessment in the nature of a tax (whether imposed directly or through withholding and whether or not disputed), and including any fine, penalty, addition to tax, interest or additional amount imposed by a Governmental Authority with respect thereto (or attributable to the nonpayment thereof).

 

“Tax Return” means any return (including any information return), report, statement, declaration, claim or refund, estimate, schedule, notice, notification, form, election, certificate or other document or information, and any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, filed or required to be filed with any Governmental Authority (or provided to a payee) in connection with the determination, assessment, collection or payment of any Tax or in connection with the administration, implementation or enforcement of or compliance with any Law relating to any Tax.

 

“Treasury Regulations” means the United States Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code.

 

(c) Each of the following terms is defined in the Section set forth opposite such term:

 

 

1.2 Other Definitional and Interpretative Provisions. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of like import used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The captions herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction or interpretation hereof. References to Sections, Exhibits and Schedules are to Sections, Exhibits and Schedules of this Agreement unless otherwise specified. Any capitalized terms used in any Exhibit or Schedule but not otherwise defined therein shall have the meaning as defined in this Agreement. Any singular term in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular, the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders; the feminine gender shall include the masculine and neuter genders; and the neuter gender shall include masculine and feminine gender. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation,” whether or not they are in fact followed by those words or words of like import. The word “or” is not exclusive. “Writing,” “written” and comparable terms refer to printing, typing and other means of reproducing words (including electronic media) in a visible form. References to any agreement or Contract (except for references to any agreements or Contracts listed on the Parent Disclosure Letter or Company Disclosure Letter) are to that agreement or Contract as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. The Exhibits to this Agreement, the Parent Disclosure Letter and the Company Disclosure Letter are integral parts of the interpretation of this Agreement, but only Exhibit D is incorporated by reference and made a part hereof for purposes of Section 251 of the DGCL. References to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person. References to any statute are to that statute and to the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, in each case as amended, modified, re-enacted thereof, substituted, from time to time. References to “$” and “dollars” are to the currency of the United States. All accounting terms used herein will be interpreted, and all accounting determinations hereunder will be made, in accordance with GAAP unless otherwise expressly specified. References from or through any date shall mean, unless otherwise specified, from and including or through and including, respectively. All references to “days” shall be to calendar days unless otherwise indicated as a “Business Day.” Except as otherwise specifically indicated, for purposes of measuring the beginning and ending of time periods in this Agreement (including for purposes of “Business Day” and for hours in a day or Business Day), the time at which a thing, occurrence or event shall begin or end shall be deemed to occur in the Eastern time zone of the United States. The Parties agree that any rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting Party shall not be applied in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement. The Parties agree that the Company Disclosure Letter and the Parent Disclosure Letter shall be arranged in sections and subsections corresponding to the numbered and lettered sections and subsections contained in Section 3 and Section 4, respectively. The disclosures in any section or subsection of the Company Disclosure Letter or the Parent Disclosure Letter shall qualify other sections and subsections in Section 3 or Section 4, respectively, to the extent it is readily apparent from a reading of the disclosure that such disclosure is applicable to such other sections and subsections. The words “delivered” or “made available” mean, with respect to any documentation, that prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date that is the day prior to the date of this Agreement, a copy of such material has been (a) posted to and continuously made available by a Party to the other Party and its Representatives in the electronic data room maintained by such disclosing Party for the purposes of the Contemplated Transactions or (b) delivered by or on behalf of a Party or its Representatives to the other Party or its Representatives via electronic mail or in hard copy form prior to the execution of this Agreement.

 

Section 2. Description of Transaction

 

2.1 The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Effective Time, Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company, and the separate existence of Merger Sub shall cease. The Company will continue as the surviving entity in the Merger (the “Surviving Entity”).

 

2.2 Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set forth in this Agreement and in the applicable provisions of the DGCL. As a result of the Merger, the Company will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent.

 

2.3 Closing; Effective Time. Unless this Agreement is earlier terminated pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.1, and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Section 6, Section 7 and Section 8, the consummation of the Merger (the “Closing”) shall take place remotely, as promptly as practicable (but in no event later than the second Business Day following the satisfaction or waiver of the last to be satisfied or waived of the conditions set forth in Section 7, Section 8 and Section 9, other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of each of such conditions), or at such other time, date and place as Parent and the Company may mutually agree in writing. The date on which the Closing actually takes place is referred to as the “Closing Date.” Immediately prior to the Closing on the Closing Date, Parent shall file the Certificate of Designation with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. At the Closing, (i) the Parties shall cause the Merger to be consummated by executing and filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware a certificate of merger with respect to the Merger, satisfying the applicable requirements of the DGCL and in form and substance attached hereto as Exhibit D and incorporated herein by reference (the “Certificate of Merger”). The Merger shall become effective at the time of the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or at such later time as may be specified in the Certificate of Merger with the consent of Parent and the Company (the time as of which the Merger becomes effective being referred to as the “Effective Time”).

 

2.4 Organizational Documents; Directors and Officers. At the Effective Time:

 

(a) The certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Entity shall be amended and restated in the Merger to read as set forth on Exhibit A to the Certificate of Merger, until thereafter amended as provided by the DGCL and such certificate of incorporation;

 

(b) The bylaws of the Surviving Entity shall be identical to the bylaws of the Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, until thereafter amended as provided by the DGCL and such bylaws; and

 

(c) the directors and officers of the Surviving Entity, each to hold office in accordance with the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Entity, shall be such persons as shall be mutually agreed upon by Parent and the Company.

 

2.5 Conversion of Company; Merger Sub Equity Securities.

 

(a) At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any further action on the part of Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or any stockholder of the Company or Parent:

 

(i) any shares of Company Capital Stock held as treasury stock immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor; and

 

(ii) subject to Section 2.5(c), with respect to shares of Company Capital Stock held by Designated Holders, (A) each share of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (excluding shares of Company Capital Stock to be cancelled pursuant to Section 2.5(a)(i) and excluding Dissenting Shares) shall be converted solely into the right to receive a number of shares of Parent Convertible Preferred Stock equal to (x) the Exchange Ratio divided by (y) five (the “Designated Holder Common Stock Payment Shares”), and (B) each share of Company Preferred Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (excluding shares of Company Capital Stock to be cancelled pursuant to Section 2.5(a)(i) and excluding Dissenting Shares) shall be converted solely into the right to receive a number of shares of Parent Convertible Preferred Stock equal to (x)(I) the number of shares of Company Common Stock issuable upon conversion of each share of Company Preferred Stock pursuant to the Company’s certificate of incorporation and as set forth on Schedule 2.5(a)(ii) multiplied by (II) the Exchange Ratio, divided by (y) five (the “Designated Holder Preferred Stock Payment Shares”);

 

(iii) subject to Section 2.5(c), with respect to shares of Company Capital Stock held by Non-Designated Holders, (A) each share of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (excluding shares of Company Capital Stock to be cancelled pursuant to Section 2.5(a)(i) and excluding Dissenting Shares) shall be converted solely into the right to receive a number of shares of Parent Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio, and (B) each share of Company Preferred Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (excluding shares of Company Capital Stock to be cancelled pursuant to Section 2.5(a)(i) and excluding Dissenting Shares) shall be converted solely into the right to receive a number of shares of Parent Common Stock equal to (x) the number of shares of Company Common Stock issuable upon conversion of each share of Company Preferred Stock pursuant to the Company’s certificate of incorporation and as set forth on Schedule 2.5(a)(ii) multiplied by (y) the Exchange Ratio; provided, however, that, in the event the aggregate number of shares of Parent Common Stock issuable to any Non-Designated Holder at Closing (including any shares of Parent Common Stock issuable in accordance with Section 6.5(a)) would result in the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock equal to or in excess of 19.9% of the outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock as of immediately before the Effective Time (the “Parent Common Stock Consideration Cap”), Parent shall issue to any such Non-Designated Holders (x) shares of Parent Common Stock up to the Parent Common Stock Consideration Cap (such shares of Parent Common Stock, the “Non-Designated Holder Common Stock Payment Shares”), and (y) in lieu of any shares of Parent Common Stock in excess of the Parent Common Stock Consideration Cap (such excess shares, the “Remaining Entitlement”), shares of Parent Convertible Preferred Stock equal to (I) the Remaining Entitlement, divided by (II) five (the “Non-Designated Holder Preferred Stock Payment Shares,” and together with the Designated Holder Common Stock Payment Shares, the Designated Holder Preferred Stock Payment Shares and the Non-Designated Holder Common Stock Payment Shares, the “Merger Consideration”), in each case of subclauses (ii) and (iii), on a pro rata basis among holders of Company Capital Stock in such manner to provide any such holder of Company Capital Stock with the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b) If any shares of Company Capital Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time are unvested or are subject to a repurchase option or a risk of forfeiture under any applicable restricted stock purchase agreement or other similar agreement with the Company, then the shares of Parent Capital Stock issued in exchange for such shares of Company Capital Stock will to the same extent be unvested and subject to the same repurchase option or risk of forfeiture, and such shares of Parent Capital Stock shall accordingly be marked with appropriate legends. The Company shall take all actions that may be necessary to ensure that, from and after the Effective Time, Parent is entitled to exercise any such repurchase option or other right set forth in any such restricted stock purchase agreement or other agreement.

 

(c) No fractional shares of Parent Capital Stock shall be issued in connection with the Merger, and no certificates or scrip for any such fractional shares shall be issued. Any holder of Company Capital Stock who would otherwise be entitled to receive a fraction of a share of Parent Common Stock (after aggregating all fractional shares of Parent Common Stock issuable to such holder) shall receive from Parent, in lieu of such fractional share and upon surrender by such holder of a letter of transmittal in accordance with Section 2.8 and any accompanying documents as required therein: (i) one share of Parent Common Stock if the aggregate amount of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock such holder of Company Common Stock would otherwise be entitled to is equal to or exceeds 0.50; or (ii) no shares of Parent Common Stock if the aggregate amount of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock such holder of Company Common Stock would otherwise be entitled to is less than 0.50, with no cash being paid for any fractional share eliminated by such rounding. Any fractional shares of Parent Preferred Stock that a holder of Company Capital Stock would otherwise be entitled to receive shall be aggregated with all fractional shares of Parent Preferred Stock issuable to such and any remaining fractional shares shall be, in lieu of such fractional share and upon surrender by such holder of a letter of transmittal in accordance with Section 2.8 and any accompanying documents as required therein, rounded up to the nearest whole share of Parent Preferred Stock.

 

(d) All Company RSUs outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be treated in accordance with Section 6.5(a), and all Company Options outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be treated in accordance with Section 6.5(b).

 

(e) Each share of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and exchanged for one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Surviving Entity. Each book entry share of Merger Sub evidencing ownership of any such shares shall, as of the Effective Time, evidence ownership of such shares of common stock of the Surviving Entity.

 

(f) If, between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, the outstanding Company Capital Stock or Parent Capital Stock shall have been changed into, or exchanged for, a different number of shares or a different class, by reason of any stock dividend, subdivision, reclassification, recapitalization, split, combination or exchange of shares or other like change, the Exchange Ratio shall, to the extent necessary, be equitably adjusted to reflect such change to the extent necessary to provide the holders of Company Capital Stock, Company Options and Parent Capital Stock with the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such stock dividend, subdivision, reclassification, recapitalization, split, combination or exchange of shares or other like change; provided, however, that nothing herein will be construed to permit the Company or Parent to take any action with respect to Company Capital Stock or Parent Capital Stock, respectively, that is prohibited or not expressly permitted by the terms of this Agreement.

 

(g) At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, the Surviving Entity or their respective stockholders, each share of the Surviving Entity issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be cancelled and extinguished without any conversion thereof and no payment or distribution shall be made with respect thereto.

 

2.6 Closing of the Company’s Transfer Books. At the Effective Time: (a) all Company Capital Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be treated in accordance with Section 2.5(a), and all holders of certificates representing Company Capital Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights as stockholders of the Company and (b) the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed with respect to all Company Capital Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. No further transfer of any such Company Capital Stock shall be made on such stock transfer books after the Effective Time.

 

2.7 Surrender of Company Capital Stock.

 

(a) On or prior to the Closing Date, Parent and the Company shall jointly select a reputable bank, transfer agent or trust company to act as exchange agent in the Merger (the “Exchange Agent”). At the Effective Time, Parent shall deposit with the Exchange Agent evidence of book-entry shares representing the shares of Parent Capital Stock issuable pursuant to Section 2.5(a) in exchange for Company Capital Stock.

 

(b) Promptly after the Effective Time, the Parties shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail to the Persons who were record holders of shares of Company Capital Stock that were converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration: (i) a letter of transmittal in customary form and containing such provisions as Parent may reasonably specify (including a provision confirming that delivery of physical stock certificates representing shares of Company Capital Stock, (the “Company Stock Certificates”) shall be effected, and risk of loss and title shall pass, only upon delivery of such Company Stock Certificates to the Exchange Agent) and (ii) instructions for effecting the surrender of Company Stock Certificates, or uncertificated shares of Company Capital Stock, in exchange for book-entry shares of Parent Capital Stock. Upon surrender of a Company Stock Certificate or other reasonable evidence of the ownership of uncertificated Company Capital Stock to the Exchange Agent for exchange, together with a duly executed letter of transmittal and such other documents as may be reasonably required by the Exchange Agent or Parent: (A) the holder of such Company Stock Certificate or uncertificated shares of Company Capital Stock shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor book-entry shares representing the Merger Consideration (in a number of whole shares of Parent Capital Stock) that such holder has the right to receive pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.5(a) and Section 2.5(c) and (B) the Company Stock Certificate or uncertificated shares of Company Capital Stock so surrendered shall be cancelled. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 2.7(b), each Company Stock Certificate or uncertificated shares of Company Capital Stock shall be deemed, from and after the Effective Time, to represent only the right to receive book-entry shares of Parent Capital Stock representing the Merger Consideration. If any Company Stock Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, Parent may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the delivery of any shares of Parent Capital Stock, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed Company Stock Certificate to provide an applicable affidavit with respect to such Company Stock Certificate and post a bond indemnifying Parent against any claim suffered by Parent related to the lost, stolen or destroyed Company Stock Certificate or any Parent Capital Stock issued in exchange therefor as Parent may reasonably request.

 

(c) No dividends or other distributions declared or made with respect to Parent Capital Stock with a record date after the Effective Time shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered Company Stock Certificate with respect to the shares of Parent Capital Stock that such holder has the right to receive in the Merger until such holder surrenders such Company Stock Certificate or uncertificated shares of Company Capital Stock or provides an affidavit of loss or destruction in lieu thereof in accordance with this Section 2.7 (at which time such holder shall be entitled, subject to the effect of applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Laws, to receive all such dividends and distributions, without interest).

 

(d) Any shares of Parent Capital Stock deposited with the Exchange Agent that remain undistributed to holders of Company Stock Certificates as of the date that is 180 days after the Closing Date shall be delivered to Parent upon demand, and any holders of Company Stock Certificates who have not theretofore surrendered their Company Stock Certificates or uncertificated shares of Company Capital Stock in accordance with this Section 2.7 shall thereafter look only to Parent for satisfaction of their claims for Parent Capital Stock and any dividends or distributions with respect to shares of Parent Capital Stock.

 

(e) No Person shall be liable to any holder of any Company Stock Certificate or uncertificated shares of Company Capital Stock or to any other Person with respect to any shares of Parent Capital Stock (or dividends or distributions with respect thereto) or for any cash amounts delivered to any public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property Law, escheat Law or similar Law.

 

2.8 Reserved.

 

2.9 Further Action. If, at any time after the Effective Time, any further action is determined by the Surviving Entity to be necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement or to vest the Surviving Entity with full right, title and possession of and to all rights and property of the Company, then the officers and directors of the Surviving Entity shall be fully authorized, and shall use their and its commercially reasonable efforts (in the name of the Company, in the name of Merger Sub, in the name of the Surviving Entity and otherwise) to take such action.

 

2.10 Intended Tax Treatment. The Parties acknowledge and agree that, for U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) income Tax purposes, the Merger is intended to qualify as a  reorganization pursuant to Section 368(a) of the Code (the “Intended Tax Treatment”). The Parties adopt this Agreement as a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3.

 

2.11 Withholding. Each of the Exchange Agent, Parent and the Surviving Entity shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any consideration deliverable pursuant to this Agreement to any Person such amounts as are required to be deducted or withheld from such consideration under applicable Law; provided that the Exchange Agent, Parent and the Surviving Entity shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly notify such Persons of any intention to withhold any portion of such consideration and cooperate with such Persons to reduce or eliminate any such withholding to the extent permitted by applicable Law. To the extent such amounts are so deducted or withheld and remitted to the appropriate Governmental Authority, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes under this Agreement as having been paid to the Person to whom such amounts would otherwise have been paid. All payments made under this agreement that constitute compensation to employees for services for Tax purposes shall be made through the payroll of the Surviving Entity or Parent, as applicable.

 

2.12 Appraisal Rights.

 

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, shares of Company Capital Stock that are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and which are held by stockholders or owned by beneficial owners who have exercised and perfected appraisal rights for such shares of Company Capital Stock in accordance with the DGCL (collectively, the “Dissenting Shares”) shall not be converted into or represent the right to receive the Merger Consideration described in Section 2.5 attributable to such Dissenting Shares. Such stockholders or beneficial owners shall be entitled to receive payment of the fair value of such shares of Company Capital Stock held by them in accordance with the DGCL, unless and until such stockholders or beneficial owners fail to perfect or effectively withdraw or otherwise lose their appraisal rights under the DGCL. All Dissenting Shares held by stockholders or owned by beneficial owners who shall have failed to perfect or shall have effectively withdrawn or lost their right to appraisal of such shares of Company Capital Stock under the DGCL (whether occurring before, at or after the Effective Time) shall thereupon be deemed to be converted into and to have become exchangeable for, as of the Effective Time, the right to receive the Merger Consideration, without interest, attributable to such Dissenting Shares upon their surrender in the manner provided in Sections 2.5 and 2.7.

 

(b) The Company shall give Parent prompt written notice of any demands by dissenting stockholders or beneficial owners received by the Company, withdrawals of such demands and any other instruments served on the Company and any material correspondence received by the Company in connection with such demands, and Parent shall have the right to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands. The Company shall not, except with Parent’s prior written consent, not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer to settle, any such demands, or approve any withdrawal of any such demands or agree to do any of the foregoing.

 

Section 3. Representations and Warranties of the Company.

 

Except as set forth in the written disclosure document delivered by the Company to Parent (the “Company Disclosure Letter”) concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the Company represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub as follows:

 

3.1 Due Organization; Subsidiaries.

 

(a) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is a corporation or other legal entity duly incorporated or otherwise organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and has all necessary power and authority: (i) to conduct its business in the manner in which its business is currently being conducted, (ii) to own or lease and use its property and assets in the manner in which its property and assets are currently owned or leased and used and (iii) to perform its obligations under all Contracts by which it is bound.

 

(b) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is duly licensed and qualified to do business, and is in good standing (to the extent applicable in such jurisdiction), under the Laws of all jurisdictions where the nature of its business in the manner in which its business is currently being conducted requires such licensing or qualification other than in jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified individually or in the aggregate would not be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c) The Company has no Subsidiaries except as set forth on Section 3.1(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter The Company is not and has never otherwise been, directly or indirectly, a party to, member of or participant in any partnership, joint venture or similar business entity. The Company has not agreed or is obligated to make, or is bound by any Contract under which it may become obligated to make, any future investment in or capital contribution to any other Entity. The Company has not, at any time, been a general partner of, or has otherwise been liable for any of the debts or other obligations of, any general partnership, limited partnership or other Entity.

 

3.2 Organizational Documents. The Company has delivered to Parent accurate and complete copies of the Organizational Documents of the Company. The Company is not in breach or violation of its Organizational Documents in any material respect.

 

3.3 Authority; Binding Nature of Agreement. The Company has all necessary corporate power and authority to enter into and to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the Contemplated Transactions. The Company Board has (i) determined that the Contemplated Transactions are fair to, advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions and (iii) determined to recommend, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, that the stockholders of the Company vote to adopt this Agreement and thereby approve the Contemplated Transactions. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by Parent and Merger Sub, constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

3.4 Vote Required. The affirmative vote (or written consent) of (i) the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Series C Preferred Stock, as a class, (ii) the holders of at least sixty-seven percent (67%) of the outstanding shares of Company Series B Preferred Stock, as a class, (iii) the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Series A Preferred Stock, as a class, and (iv) a majority of the outstanding Company Capital Stock entitled to vote thereon, as a class (collectively, the “Required Company Stockholder Vote”) is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of Company Capital Stock necessary to adopt and approve this Agreement and approve the Contemplated Transactions.

 

3.5 Non-Contravention; Consents.

 

(a) Subject to obtaining the Required Company Stockholder Vote, compliance with any applicable requirements of the HSR Act, and the filing of the Certificate of Merger required by the DGCL, neither (x) the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Company, nor (y) the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions, will directly or indirectly (with or without notice or lapse of time):

 

(i) contravene, conflict with or result in a violation of any of the provisions of the Company’s Organizational Documents;

 

(ii) contravene, conflict with or result in a material violation of, or give any Governmental Authority or other Person the right to challenge the Contemplated Transactions or to exercise any remedy or obtain any relief under, any Law or any Order by which the Company, or any of the assets owned or used by the Company, is subject;

 

(iii) contravene, conflict with or result in a material violation of any of the terms or requirements of, or give any Governmental Authority the right to revoke, withdraw, suspend, cancel, terminate or modify, any Governmental Authorization that is held by the Company or that otherwise relates to the business of the Company, or any of the assets owned, leased or used by the Company;

 

(iv) contravene, conflict with or result in a violation or breach of, or result in a default under, any provision of any Company Material Contract, or give any Person the right to: (A) declare a default or exercise any remedy under any Company Material Contract, (B) any material payment, rebate, chargeback, penalty or change in delivery schedule under any Company Material Contract, (C) accelerate the maturity or performance of any Company Material Contract or (D) cancel, terminate or modify any term of any Company Material Contract, except in the case of any nonmaterial breach, default, penalty or modification; or

 

(v) result in the imposition or creation of any Encumbrance upon or with respect to any asset owned or used by the Company (except for Permitted Encumbrances).

 

(b) Except for (i) the Required Company Stockholder Vote, (ii) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to the DGCL, (iii) compliance with any applicable requirements of the HSR Act, and (iv) such consents, waivers, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings as may be required under applicable federal and state securities laws, the Company was not, is not, nor will be required to make any filing with or give any notice to, or to obtain any Consent from, any Person in connection with (x) the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or (y) the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions.

 

(c) No state takeover statute or similar Law applies or purports to apply to the Merger, this Agreement, the Company Stockholder Support Agreements or any of the Contemplated Transactions.

 

3.6 Capitalization.

 

(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (i) 143,329,269 shares of Company Common Stock of which 10,023,615 shares have been issued and are outstanding as of the date hereof and (ii) 57,821,355 shares of Company Preferred Stock, of which, as of the date hereof, 10,000,000 shares have been designated Series Seed-1 Preferred Stock, all of which have been issued and are outstanding, 5,000,000 shares have been designated Series Seed-2 Preferred Stock, all of which have been issued and are outstanding, 9,411,765 shares have been designated Series A Preferred Stock, all of which have been issued and are outstanding, 20,080,321 shares have been designated Series B Preferred Stock, all of which have been issued and are outstanding, and 13,329,269 shares have been designated Series C Preferred Stock, all of which have been issued and are outstanding. The Company does not hold any shares of its capital stock in its treasury. As of the date of this Agreement, the Company’s capital stock is held by the Persons and in the amounts set forth in Section 3.6(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, which further sets forth for each such Person (i) the name of such Person and the number of shares held, (ii) the class and series of such shares, (iii) the number of the applicable book-entry positions representing such shares or the number of the certificate representing such shares, (iv) whether such Person is or has ever been an employee, and (v) the state of residence of such Person. Each share of Company Preferred Stock is convertible into one share of Company Common Stock. There are no declared or accrued but unpaid dividends with respect to any shares of the Company’s capital stock and the Company has never declared or paid any dividend or other distribution.

 

(b) All of the outstanding Company Capital Stock as set out in Section 3.6(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter have been duly authorized and validly issued, and are fully paid and nonassessable and are free of any Encumbrances other than Encumbrances set forth in the Organizational Documents or under applicable securities Laws. None of the outstanding Company Capital Stock is entitled or subject to any preemptive right, right of participation, right of maintenance or any similar right and none of the outstanding Company Capital Stock is subject to any right of first refusal in favor of the Company. Except as contemplated herein, there is no Company Contract relating to the voting or registration of, or restricting any Person from purchasing, selling, pledging or otherwise disposing of (or granting any option or similar right with respect to), any Company Capital Stock. The Company is not under any obligation, nor is it bound by any Contract pursuant to which it may become obligated, to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any outstanding Company Capital Stock or other securities. Section 3.6(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter accurately and completely describes all repurchase rights held by the Company with respect to Company Capital Stock (including shares issued pursuant to the exercise of stock options) and specifies which of those repurchase rights are currently exercisable.

 

(c) Except for the Company Stock Plans and except as set forth on Section 3.6(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company does not have any stock option plan or any other plan, program, agreement or arrangement providing for any equity-based compensation for any Person. Section 3.6(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth the following information with respect to each Company Option outstanding as of the date hereof: (i) the name of the holder, (ii) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Option as of the date hereof, (iii) the exercise price of such Company Option, (iv) the date on which such Company Option was granted, (v) the applicable vesting schedule, including any acceleration provisions, (vi) the date on which such Company Option expires, and (vii) whether such Company Option is intended to be an “incentive stock option” (as defined in the Code) or a nonqualified stock option. The Company has made available to Parent accurate and complete copies of equity incentive plans pursuant to which the Company has equity-based awards, the forms of all award agreements evidencing such equity-based awards and evidence of board and stockholder approval of the Company Stock Plan and any amendments thereto.

 

(d) Except for the outstanding Company Options or Company Options and any other equity awards issued under the Company Stock Plan (including any shares of Company Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Company Options or other equity awards) to directors, employees, consultants or other service providers following the date hereof but prior to the Closing (collectively, the “Service Provider Grants”), there is no: (i) outstanding subscription, option, call, warrant or right (whether or not currently exercisable) to acquire any Company Capital Stock or other securities of the Company, (ii) outstanding security, instrument or obligation that is or may become convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of the capital stock or other securities of the Company, (iii) stockholder rights plan (or similar plan commonly referred to as a “poison pill”) or Contract under which the Company is or may become obligated to sell or otherwise issue any Company Capital Stock or any other securities or (iv) condition or circumstance that may give rise to or provide a basis for the assertion of a claim by any Person to the effect that such Person is entitled to acquire or receive any shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, phantom stock, profit participation or other similar rights with respect to the Company.

 

(e) All outstanding Company Capital Stock, Company Options and other securities of the Company have been issued and granted in compliance in all material respects with (i) all applicable securities laws and other applicable Law and (ii) all requirements set forth in applicable Contracts.

 

(f) The Company Capital Stock are uncertificated.

 

3.7 Financial Statements.

 

(a) Section 3.7(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter includes true and complete copies of the Company’s unaudited balance sheets at December 31, 2024 (the “Company Balance Sheet”), together with related unaudited statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows, and notes thereto, of the Company for the fiscal year then ended (collectively, the “Company Financials”). The Company Financials (i) were prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) (except that the Company Financials may not have notes thereto and other presentation items that may be required by GAAP and are subject to normal and recurring year-end adjustments that are not reasonably expected to be material in amount) applied on a consistent basis unless otherwise noted therein throughout the periods indicated and (ii) fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position and operating results of the Company as of the dates and for the periods indicated therein.

 

(b) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls designed to provide reasonable assurance that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the financial statements of the Company in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability of the Company’s assets, (iii) access to the Company’s assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for the Company’s assets is compared with the existing assets at regular intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Company maintains internal controls consistent with the practices of similarly situated private companies over financial reporting that provides reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes.

 

(c) Section 3.7(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists, and the Company has delivered to Parent accurate and complete copies of the documentation creating or governing, all securitization transactions and “off-balance sheet arrangements” (as defined in Item 303(c) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act) effected by the Company.

 

(d) There have been no formal internal investigations regarding financial reporting or accounting policies and practices discussed with, reviewed by or initiated at the direction of the chief executive officer or chief financial officer of the Company, the Company Board or any committee thereof. Neither the Company nor its independent auditors have identified (i) any significant deficiency or material weakness in the design or operation of the system of internal accounting controls utilized by the Company, (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves the Company, the Company’s management or other employees who have a role in the preparation of financial statements or the internal accounting controls utilized by the Company or (iii) any claim or allegation regarding any of the foregoing.

 

3.8 Absence of Changes. Except as set forth on Section 3.8 of the Company Disclosure Letter, between December 31, 2024 and the date of this Agreement, the Company and its Subsidiaries has conducted its business only in the Ordinary Course of Business (except for the execution and performance of this Agreement and the discussions, negotiations and transactions related thereto) and there has not been any (a) Company Material Adverse Effect or (b) action, event or occurrence that would have required consent of Parent pursuant to Section 5.2(b) of this Agreement had such action, event or occurrence taken place after the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

3.9 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities. Since December 31, 2024, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liability, indebtedness, obligation, expense, claim, deficiency, guaranty or endorsement of any kind, whether accrued, absolute, contingent, matured, unmatured or otherwise (each a “Liability”), except for: (a) Liabilities disclosed, reflected or reserved against in the Company Financials, (b) normal and recurring current Liabilities that have been incurred by the Company since the date of the Company Balance Sheet in the Ordinary Course of Business (none of which relates to any breach of contract, breach of warranty, tort, infringement or violation of Law), (c) Liabilities for performance of obligations of the Company under Company Contracts, (d) Liabilities incurred in connection with the Contemplated Transactions, and (e) those Liabilities that are not material to the Company.

 

3.10 Title to Assets. The Company owns and has good and valid title to, or, in the case of leased properties and assets, valid leasehold interests in, all tangible properties or tangible assets and equipment used or held for use in its business or operations or purported to be owned by it, including: (a) all tangible assets reflected on the Company Balance Sheet and (b) all other tangible assets reflected in the books and records of the Company as being owned by the Company. All of such assets are owned or, in the case of leased assets, leased by the Company free and clear of any Encumbrances, other than Permitted Encumbrances.

 

3.11 Real Property; Leasehold. The Company does not own and has never owned any real property, nor is the Company party to any agreement to purchase or sell any real property. The Company has made available to Parent (a) an accurate and complete list of all real properties with respect to which the Company directly or indirectly holds a valid leasehold interest as well as any other real estate that is in the possession of or leased by the Company and (b) copies of all leases under which any such real property is possessed (the “Company Real Estate Leases”), each of which is in full force and effect, with no existing material default thereunder by the Company or to the Company’s Knowledge, the other party thereto.

 

3.12 Intellectual Property.

 

(a) Section 3.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter is an accurate, true and complete listing of all Company Registered IP.

 

(b) Section 3.12(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter accurately identifies (i) all Company Contracts pursuant to which any Company IP Rights are licensed to the Company (other than (A) any non-customized software that (1) is so licensed solely in executable or object code form pursuant to a nonexclusive, internal use software license and other Intellectual Property associated with such software and (2) is not incorporated into, or material to the development, manufacturing or distribution of, any of the Company’s products or services, (B) any Intellectual Property licensed on a nonexclusive basis ancillary to the purchase or use of services, equipment, reagents or other materials, (C) any confidential information provided under confidentiality agreements and (D) agreements between Company and its employees in Company’s standard form thereof) and (ii) whether the license or licenses granted to the Company are exclusive or nonexclusive.

 

(c) Section 3.12(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter accurately identifies each Company Contract pursuant to which any Person has been granted any license or covenant not to sue under, or otherwise has received or acquired any right (whether or not currently exercisable) or interest in, any Company IP Rights (other than (i) any confidential information provided under confidentiality agreements and (ii) any Company IP Rights nonexclusively licensed to academic collaborators, suppliers or service providers for the sole purpose of enabling such academic collaborator, supplier or service providers to provide services for the Company’s benefit).

 

(d) The Company is not bound by, and no Company IP Rights are subject to, any Contract containing any covenant or other provision that in any way limits or restricts the ability of the Company to use, exploit, assert or enforce any Company IP Rights anywhere in the world.

 

(e) The Company exclusively owns all right, title and interest to and in Company IP Rights (other than (i) Company IP Rights licensed to the Company, or co-owned rights each as identified in Section 3.12(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (ii) any non-customized software that (A) is licensed to the Company solely in executable or object code form pursuant to a nonexclusive, internal use software license and other Intellectual Property associated with such software and (B) is not incorporated into, or material to the development, manufacturing or distribution of, any of the Company’s products or services and (iii) any Intellectual Property licensed on a nonexclusive basis ancillary to the purchase or use of equipment, reagents or other materials), in each case, free and clear of any Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

 

(i) All documents and instruments necessary to register or apply for or renew registration of Company Registered IP have been validly executed, delivered and filed in a timely manner with the appropriate Governmental Authority.

 

(ii) Each Person who is or was an employee or contractor of the Company and who is or was involved in the creation or development of any Intellectual Property for the Company has signed a valid, enforceable agreement containing a present assignment of such Intellectual Property to the Company and confidentiality provisions protecting trade secrets and confidential information of the Company.

 

(iii) To the Knowledge of the Company, no current or former stockholder, officer, director or employee of the Company has any claim, right (whether currently exercisable, or exercisable in the future) or interest to or in any Company IP Rights purported to be owned by the Company. To the Knowledge of the Company, no employee of the Company is (a) bound by or otherwise subject to any Contract restricting him or her from performing his or her duties for the Company or (b) in breach of any Contract with any former employer or other Person concerning Company IP Rights purported to be owned by the Company or confidentiality provisions protecting trade secrets and confidential information comprising Company IP Rights purported to be owned by the Company.

 

(iv) No funding, facilities or personnel of any Governmental Authority or any university, college, research institute or other educational institution were used, directly or indirectly, to develop or create, in whole or in part, any Company IP Rights in which the Company has an ownership interest, except for any such funding or use of facilities or personnel that does not result in such Governmental Authority or institution owning such Company IP Rights or the right to receive royalties or other remuneration for the practice of such Company IP Rights as of the date of this Agreement.

 

(v) The Company has taken reasonable steps to maintain the confidentiality of and otherwise protect and enforce its rights in all proprietary information that the Company holds, or purports to hold, as confidential or a trade secret.

 

(vi) The Company has not assigned or otherwise transferred ownership of, or agreed to assign or otherwise transfer ownership of, any Company IP Rights to any other Person.

 

(f) The Company has delivered or made available to Parent, a complete and accurate copy of all Company IP Rights Agreements. With respect to each of the Company IP Rights Agreements: (i) each such agreement is valid and binding on the Company and in full force and effect, (ii) the Company has not received any written notice of termination or cancellation under such agreement, or received any written notice of breach or default under such agreement, which breach has not been cured or waived and (iii) the Company, and to the Knowledge of the Company, no other party to any such agreement, is not in breach or default thereof in any material respect.

 

(g) The manufacture, marketing, offering for sale, sale, importation, use or intended use or other disposal of any product as currently sold or under development by the Company does not violate any license or agreement between the Company and any other third party, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, does not infringe or misappropriate any valid and issued Patent right or other Intellectual Property of any other Person, which infringement or misappropriation would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. To the Knowledge of the Company, no third party is infringing upon any Patents owned by Company within the Company IP Rights, or otherwise violating any Company IP Rights Agreement.

 

(h) As of the date of this Agreement, Company is not a party to any Legal Proceeding (including, but not limited to, opposition, interference or other proceeding in any patent or other government office) contesting the validity, enforceability, claim construction, ownership or right to use, sell, offer for sale, license or dispose of any Company IP Rights. The Company has not received any written notice asserting that any Company IP Rights or the proposed use, sale, offer for sale, license or disposition of products, methods or processes claimed or covered thereunder infringes or misappropriates or violates the rights of any other Person or that the Company has otherwise infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated any Intellectual Property of any Person. None of the Company IP Rights is subject to any outstanding order of, judgment of, decree of or agreement with any Governmental Authority that limits the ability of the Company to exploit any Company IP Rights.

 

(i)  Each item of Company Registered IP is and at all times has been filed and maintained in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Law and all filings, payments and other actions required to be made or taken to maintain such item of Company Registered IP in full force and effect have been made by the applicable deadline. To the Knowledge of the Company, all Company Registered IP that is issued or granted is valid and enforceable.

 

(j) To the Knowledge of the Company, no trademark (whether registered or unregistered) or trade name owned, used or applied for by the Company conflicts or interferes with any trademark (whether registered or unregistered) or trade name owned, used or applied for by any other Person. None of the goodwill associated with or inherent in any trademark (whether registered or unregistered) in which the Company has or purports to have an ownership interest has been impaired as determined by the Company in accordance with GAAP.

 

(k) Except as set forth in Sections 3.12(b), 3.12(c) or 3.12(k) of the Company Disclosure Letter or as contained in “off-the-shelf” license agreements entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business by the Company, (i) the Company is not bound by any Contract to indemnify, defend, hold harmless or reimburse any other Person with respect to any Intellectual Property infringement, misappropriation, or similar claim which is material to the Company, taken as a whole and (ii) the Company has never assumed, or agreed to discharge or otherwise take responsibility for, any existing or potential liability of another Person for infringement, misappropriation, or violation of any Intellectual Property right, which assumption, agreement or responsibility remains in force as of the date of this Agreement.

 

(l) The Company is not party to any Contract that, as a result of such execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, will cause the grant of any license or other right to any Company IP Rights, result in breach of, default under or termination of such Contract with respect to any Company IP Rights, or impair the right of the Company or the Surviving Entity and its Subsidiaries to use, sell or license or enforce any Company IP Rights or portion thereof, except for the occurrence of any such grant or impairment that would not individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

3.13 Agreements, Contracts and Commitments.

 

(a) Section 3.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists the following Company Contracts in effect as of the date of this Agreement (each, a “Company Material Contract” and collectively, the “Company Material Contracts”):

 

(i) each Company Contract relating to any agreement of indemnification or guaranty not entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

(ii) each Company Contract containing (A) any covenant limiting the freedom of the Company or the Surviving Entity to engage in any line of business or compete with any Person, or limiting the development, manufacture or distribution of the Company’s products or services (B) any most-favored pricing arrangement, (C) any exclusivity provision or (D) any non-solicitation provision;

 

(iii) each Company Contract (A) pursuant to which any Person granted the Company an exclusive license under any Intellectual Property, or (B) pursuant to which the Company granted any Person an exclusive license under any Company IP Rights;

 

(iv) each Company Contract relating to capital expenditures and requiring payments after the date of this Agreement in excess of $100,000 pursuant to its express terms and not cancelable without penalty;

 

(v) each Company Contract containing any royalty, dividend or similar arrangement based on the revenues or profits of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or of a product;

 

(vi) each Company Contract relating to the disposition or acquisition of material assets or any ownership interest in any Entity, in each case, involving payments in excess of $100,000 after the date of this Agreement;

 

(vii) each Company Contract relating to any mortgages, indentures, loans, notes or credit agreements, security agreements or other agreements or instruments relating to the borrowing of money or extension of credit in excess of $100,000 or creating any material Encumbrances with respect to any assets of the Company or any loans or debt obligations with officers or directors of the Company;

 

(viii) each Company Contract requiring payment by or to the Company after the date of this Agreement in excess of $100,000 pursuant to its express terms relating to: (A) any distribution agreement (identifying any that contain exclusivity provisions), (B) any agreement involving provision of services or products with respect to any pre-clinical or clinical development activities of the Company, (C) any dealer, distributor, joint marketing, alliance, joint venture, cooperation, development or other agreement currently in force under which the Company has continuing obligations to develop or market any product, technology or service, or any agreement pursuant to which the Company has continuing obligations to develop any Intellectual Property that will not be owned, in whole or in part, by the Company or (D) any Contract to license any patent, trademark registration, service mark registration, trade name or copyright registration to or from any third party to manufacture or produce any product, service or technology of the Company or any Contract to sell, distribute or commercialize any products or service of the Company, in each case, except for Company Contracts entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

(ix) each Company Contract with any Person, including any financial advisor, broker, finder, investment banker or other Person, providing advisory services to the Company in connection with the Contemplated Transactions and requiring payments by Company after the date in this Agreement in excess of $100,000 pursuant to its express terms;

 

(x) each Company Contract to which the Company is a party or by which any of its assets and properties is currently bound, which involves annual obligations of payment by, or annual payments to, the Company in excess of $100,000;

 

(xi) each Company Contract entered into in settlement of any Legal Proceeding or other dispute pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has outstanding obligations to pay consideration in excess of $100,000;

 

(xii) any other Company Contract that is not terminable at will (with no penalty or payment) by the Company, and (A) which involves payment or receipt by the Company after the date of this Agreement under any such agreement, contract or commitment of more than $100,000 in the aggregate, or obligations after the date of this Agreement in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate or (B) that is material to the business or operations of the Company taken as a whole; or

 

(xiii) Company Real Estate Leases.

 

(b) The Company has delivered or made available to Parent accurate and complete copies of all Company Material Contracts, including all amendments thereto. There are no Company Material Contracts that are not in written form. The Company has not, nor to the Company’s Knowledge, as of the date of this Agreement has any other party to a Company Material Contract, breached, violated or defaulted under, or received notice that it breached, violated or defaulted under, any of the terms or conditions of any Company Material Contract in such a manner, and, if such Company Material Contract provides for a cure period, the Company or such other party fails to have cured such breach, violation or default, so that any other party or the Company, as the case may be, is permitted to modify, cancel or terminate any such Company Material Contract, or would permit any other party to seek damages which would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. As to the Company, as of the date of this Agreement, each Company Material Contract is valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. No Person is renegotiating, or has a right pursuant to the terms of any Company Material Contract to change, any material amount paid or payable to the Company under any Company Material Contract or any other material term or provision of any Company Material Contract.

 

3.14 Compliance; Permits; Restrictions.

 

(a) The Company is, and has been in material compliance with all applicable Laws. No investigation, claim, suit, proceeding, audit, Order or other Legal Proceeding or action by any Governmental Authority is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company. There is no agreement or Order binding upon the Company which (i) has or would reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting or materially impairing any business practice of the Company, any acquisition of material property by the Company or the conduct of business by the Company as currently conducted, (ii) is reasonably likely to have an adverse effect on the Company’s ability to comply with or perform any covenant or obligation under this Agreement or (iii) is reasonably likely to have the effect of preventing, delaying, making illegal or otherwise interfering with the Contemplated Transactions.

 

(b) Except for matters regarding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (or any successor agency thereto) (“FDA”) or other comparable Governmental Authority responsible for regulation of the development, testing, manufacturing, processing, storage, labelling, sale, marketing, advertising, distribution and importation or exportation of drug products (“Drug Regulatory Agency”), the Company holds all required Governmental Authorizations for the operation of the business of the Company as currently conducted (the “Company Permits”). Section 3.14(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter identifies each Company Permit. The Company is in material compliance with the terms of the Company Permits. No Legal Proceeding is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, which seeks to revoke, substantially limit, suspend or materially modify any Company Permit. The rights and benefits of each Company Permit will be available to the Surviving Entity or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, immediately after the Effective Time on terms substantially identical to those enjoyed by the Company as of the date of this Agreement and immediately prior to the  Effective Time.

 

(c) There are no Legal Proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened with respect to an alleged violation by the Company of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (“FDCA”), the Public Health Service Act (“PHSA”), FDA regulations adopted thereunder, the Controlled Substances Act or any other similar Law promulgated by a Drug Regulatory Agency.

 

(d) The Company holds all required Governmental Authorizations issuable by any Drug Regulatory Agency necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company as currently conducted (the “Company Product Candidates”) (collectively, the “Company Regulatory Permits”) and no such Company Regulatory Permit has been (i) revoked, withdrawn, suspended, cancelled or terminated or (ii) modified in any adverse manner, other than immaterial adverse modifications. Section 3.14(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter identifies each material Company Regulatory Permit. The Company has timely maintained and is in compliance in all material respects with the Company Regulatory Permits and has not received any written notice or correspondence or, to the Knowledge of the Company, other communication from any Drug Regulatory Agency regarding (A) any material violation of or failure to comply materially with any term or requirement of any Company Regulatory Permit or (B) any revocation, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation, termination or material modification of any Company Regulatory Permit. The Company has made available to Parent all information requested by Parent in the Company’s possession or control relating to material Company Product Candidates, including but not limited to complete copies of the following (to the extent there are any): (x) adverse event reports; preclinical, clinical and other study reports and material study data; inspection reports, notices of adverse findings, untitled letters, warning letters, filings and letters and other written correspondence to and from any Drug Regulatory Agency; and meeting minutes with any Drug Regulatory Agency and (y) similar reports, material study data, notices, letters, filings, correspondence and meeting minutes with any other Governmental Authority. All such information is accurate and complete in all material respects.

 

(e) All clinical, preclinical and other studies and tests conducted by or on behalf of, or sponsored by, the Company, or in which the Company or its current products or product candidates, including the Company Product Candidates, have participated, were, and, if still pending, are being conducted in accordance in all material respects with standard medical and scientific research procedures, in accordance in all material respects with the applicable protocols and in compliance in all material respects with the applicable regulations of the Drug/Device Regulatory Agencies and other applicable Law, including 21 C.F.R. Parts 11, 50, 54, 56, 58, 312 and 812. The Company has not received any written notices, correspondence or other communications from any Drug Regulatory Agency, Governmental Authority, institutional review board, ethics committee or safety monitoring committee requiring, or to the Knowledge of the Company threatening to initiate, any action to place a clinical hold order on, or otherwise terminate, delay or suspend any clinical studies conducted by or on behalf of, or sponsored by, the Company or in which the Company or its current products or product candidates, including the Company Product Candidates, have participated. Further, no clinical investigator, researcher or clinical staff participating in any clinical study conducted by or, to the Knowledge of the Company, on behalf of the Company has been disqualified from participating in studies involving the Company Product Candidates, and to the Knowledge of the Company, no such administrative action to disqualify such clinical investigators, researchers or clinical staff has been threatened or is pending.

 

(f) The Company is not, and to the Knowledge of the Company, no contract manufacturer with respect to any Company Product Candidate, is the subject of any pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened investigation in respect of its business or products, including Company Product Candidates, by the FDA pursuant to its “Fraud, Untrue Statements of Material Facts, Bribery, and Illegal Gratuities” Final Policy set forth in 56 Fed. Reg. 46191 (September 10, 1991) and any amendments thereto or by any other Drug Regulatory Agency under a comparable policy. Neither the Company, nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents have been debarred or excluded from participation in any federal healthcare programs. The Company has not, and to the Knowledge of the Company, no contract manufacturer, nor their respective officers, employees or agents, with respect to any Company Product Candidate has committed any acts, made any statement or failed to make any statement, in each case in respect of its business or products that would violate the FDA’s “Fraud, Untrue Statements of Material Facts, Bribery, and Illegal Gratuities” Final Policy, and any amendments thereto or a comparable policy of any other Drug Regulatory Agency. None of the Company, and to the Knowledge of the Company, any contract manufacturer with respect to any Company Product Candidate, or any of their respective officers, employees or agents is currently or has been debarred, convicted of any crime or is engaging or has engaged in any conduct that could result in a debarment or exclusion under (i) 21 U.S.C. Section 335a or (ii) any similar applicable Law. To the Knowledge of the Company, no debarment or exclusionary claims, actions, proceedings or investigations in respect of their business or any Company Product Candidates are pending or threatened against the Company, or to the Knowledge of the Company, any contract manufacturer with respect to any Company Product Candidate, or any of their respective officers, employees or agents.

 

(i)  No Parent Employee Plan is subject to any law of a foreign jurisdiction outside of the United States.

 

(j) Each Parent Employee Plan that constitutes in any part a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” (as such term is defined under Section 409A(d)(1) of the Code and the guidance thereunder) (each, a “Parent 409A Plan”) has been operated and maintained in all material respects in operational and documentary compliance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the applicable guidance thereunder. No payment to be made under any Parent 409A Plan is or, when made in accordance with the terms of the Parent 409A Plan, will be subject to the penalties of Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code.

 

(k) Parent is in material compliance with all Employment-Related Laws and in each case, with respect to the employees of Parent: (i) has withheld and reported all material amounts required by law or by agreement to be withheld and reported with respect to wages, salaries and other payments to employees, (ii) is not liable for any material amounts of arrears of wages, severance pay or any Taxes or any penalty for failure to comply with any of the foregoing and (iii) is not liable for any material payment to any trust or other fund governed by or maintained by or on behalf of any Governmental Authority, with respect to unemployment compensation benefits, social security or other benefits or obligations for employees (other than routine payments to be made in the Ordinary Course of Business). There are no material Legal Proceedings, claims, labor disputes or organizing activities, or grievances pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened or reasonably anticipated against or involving Parent or any trustee of Parent relating to any employee, contingent worker, director, employment agreement or Parent Employee Plan (other than routine claims for benefits) or Employment-Related Laws. To the Knowledge of Parent, there are no material pending or threatened or reasonably anticipated claims or actions against Parent, any Parent trustee or any trustee of any Subsidiary of Parent under any workers’ compensation policy or long-term disability policy. Parent is not a party to a conciliation agreement, consent decree or other agreement or Order with any federal, state or local agency or Governmental Authority with respect to employment practices.

 

(l) Parent has no material liability with respect to any misclassification within the past three (3) years of: (i) any Person as an independent contractor rather than as an employee, (ii) any employee leased from another employer or (iii) any employee currently or formerly classified as exempt from overtime wages. Parent has not taken any action which would constitute a “plant closing” or “mass layoff” within the meaning of the WARN Act, issued any notification of a plant closing or mass layoff required by the WARN Act (nor has Parent been under any requirement or obligation to issue any such notification), or incurred any liability or obligation under the WARN Act that remains unsatisfied.

 

(m) To the Knowledge of Parent, there has never been, nor has there been any threat of, any strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout, job action, union, organizing activity, question concerning representation or any similar activity or dispute, with respect to any Parent Associate. No event has occurred within the past six months, and no condition or circumstance exists, that, to the Knowledge of Parent, might directly or indirectly be likely to give rise to or provide a basis for the commencement of any such strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout, job action, union organizing activity, question concerning representation or any similar activity or dispute.

 

(n) Parent is not, nor has Parent been, engaged in any material unfair labor practice within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act. There is no material Legal Proceeding, claim, labor dispute or grievance pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened or reasonably anticipated relating to any employment contract, privacy right, labor dispute, wages and hours, leave of absence, plant closing notification, workers’ compensation policy, long-term disability policy, harassment, retaliation, immigration, employment statute or regulation, safety or discrimination matter involving any current or former employee of Parent, including charges of unfair labor practices or discrimination complaints.

 

(o) There is no contract, agreement, plan or arrangement to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it is bound to compensate any of its employees or other service providers for any income or excise taxes paid pursuant to the Code, including, but not limited to, Section 4999 or Section 409A of the Code.

 

(p) Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any Contract that as a result of the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the stockholder approval of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, could (either alone or in conjunction with any other event) (i) result in the payment of any “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code or (ii) result in, or cause the accelerated vesting, payment, funding or delivery of, or increase the amount or value of, any payment or benefit to any employee, officer, director or other service provider of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

4.18 Environmental Matters. Since January 1, 2023, Parent and each of its Subsidiaries has complied with all applicable Environmental Laws, which compliance includes the possession by Parent of all permits and other Governmental Authorizations required under applicable Environmental Laws and compliance with the terms and conditions thereof, except for any failure to be in compliance that, individually or in the aggregate, would not result in a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has received since January 1, 2023, any written notice or other communication (in writing or otherwise), whether from a Governmental Authority, citizens group, employee or otherwise, that alleges that Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is not in compliance with any Environmental Law, and, to the Knowledge of Parent, there are no circumstances that may prevent or interfere with Parent’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ compliance with any Environmental Law in the future, except where such failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. To the Knowledge of Parent: (i) no current or prior owner of any property leased or controlled by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries has received since January 1, 2023, any written notice or other communication relating to property owned or leased at any time by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, whether from a Governmental Authority, citizens group, employee or otherwise, that alleges that such current or prior owner or Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is not in compliance with or violated any Environmental Law relating to such property and (ii) neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has any material liability under any Environmental Law. Parent has made available all environmental site assessments, environmental audits and other material environmental documents in the Parent’s possession or control relating to the Parent and its Subsidiaries, including the Parent’s and its Subsidiaries’ business and current or former facilities.

 

4.19 Insurance. Parent has delivered to the Company accurate and complete copies of all material insurance policies and all material self-insurance programs and arrangements relating to the business, assets, liabilities and operations of Parent and its Subsidiaries (including Merger Sub). Each of such insurance policies is in full force and effect and Parent and its Subsidiaries (including Merger Sub) are in compliance in all material respects with the terms thereof. Other than customary end of policy notifications from insurance carriers, since January 1, 2023, neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice or other communication regarding any actual or possible: (i) cancellation or invalidation of any insurance policy or (ii) refusal or denial of any coverage, reservation of rights or rejection of any material claim under any insurance policy. Each of Parent and its Subsidiaries (including Merger Sub) has provided timely written notice to the appropriate insurance carrier(s) of each Legal Proceeding pending against Parent or such Subsidiary for which Parent or such Subsidiary has insurance coverage, and no such carrier has issued a denial of coverage or a reservation of rights with respect to any such Legal Proceeding, or informed Parent or any of its Subsidiaries of its intent to do so.

 

4.20 Transactions with Affiliates. Except as set forth in the Parent SEC Documents filed prior to the date of this Agreement, since the date of Parent’s last proxy statement filed with the SEC, no event has occurred that would be required to be reported by Parent pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC. Section 4.20 of the Parent Disclosure Letter identifies each Person who is (or who may be deemed to be) an Affiliate of Parent as of the date of this Agreement.

 

4.21 No Financial Advisors. Except as set forth on Section 4.21 of the Parent Disclosure Letter, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage fee, finder’s fee, opinion fee, success fee, transaction fee or other fee or commission in connection with the Contemplated Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent.

 

4.22 Valid Issuance. The Parent Capital Stock to be issued in the Merger will, when issued in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

4.23 Privacy and Data Security. Parent and its Subsidiaries are and since January 1, 2023, have been in compliance with all applicable Privacy Laws and the applicable terms of any Parent Contracts governing privacy, data protection, data security, trans-border data flow, data loss, data theft, or breach notification, data localization, sending solicited or unsolicited electronic mail or text messages, cookies or other tracking technology, with respect to, or the collection, handling, use, maintenance, storage, disclosure, transfer, or other processing of, Personal Information (including any such information of individuals, clinical trial participants, patients, patient family members, caregivers or advocates, physicians and other health care professionals, clinical trial investigators, researchers, pharmacists that interact with Parent or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the operation of Parent’s and its Subsidiaries’ business), except, in each case, for such noncompliance as has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect. To the Knowledge of Parent, Parent (i) has implemented and maintains reasonable Privacy Policies that materially comply with applicable Privacy Laws and are designed to protect the privacy and security of Personal Information and (ii) has complied with such Privacy Policies, except for such noncompliance as has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect. To the Knowledge of Parent, no Legal Proceeding has been asserted or threatened against Parent by any Person alleging a violation of Privacy Laws, Privacy Policies, or the applicable terms of any Parent Contracts governing privacy, data protection, data security, trans-border data flow, data loss, data theft, or breach notification, data localization, sending solicited or unsolicited electronic mail or text messages, cookies or other tracking technology, with respect to, or the collection, handling, use, maintenance, storage, disclosure, transfer, or other processing of, Personal Information. To the Knowledge of Parent, there have been no data security incidents or data breaches, or other adverse events or incidents that have resulted in any unauthorized access to, or collection, use, disclosure, modification or destruction of, Personal Information or other data in the possession or control of Parent or any service provider acting on behalf of Parent, in each case, where such incident, breach, or event has resulted in a notification obligation to any Person under applicable Law or pursuant to the terms of any Parent Contract.

 

4.24 No Other Representations or Warranties. Parent hereby acknowledges and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any other person on behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries makes any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or with respect to any other information provided to Parent, Merger Sub or stockholders or any of their respective Affiliates in connection with the Contemplated Transactions, and (subject to the express representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 3 (in each case as qualified and limited by the Company Disclosure Letter)) none of Parent, Merger Sub nor any of their respective Representatives or stockholders, has relied on any such information (including the accuracy or completeness thereof).

 

Section 5. Certain Covenants of the Parties.

 

5.1 Operation of Parent’s Business.

 

(a) Except (i) as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, (ii) as set forth in Section 5.1(a) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, (iii) as required by applicable Law, or (iv) unless the Company shall otherwise consent in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), during the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier to occur of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 10 and the Effective Time (the “Pre-Closing Period”), Parent shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, use commercially reasonable efforts to (x) conduct its business and operations in the Ordinary Course of Business and in material compliance with all applicable Law and the requirements of all Contracts that constitute Parent Material Contracts and (y) continue to pay material outstanding accounts payable and other material current Liabilities (including payroll) when due and payable.

 

(b) Except (i) as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, (ii) as set forth in Section 5.1(b) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, (iii) as required by applicable Law, or (iv) with the prior written consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), at all times during the Pre-Closing Period, Parent shall not, nor shall it cause or permit any of Subsidiaries to, do any of the following:

 

(i) declare, accrue, set aside or pay any dividend or make any other distribution in respect of any shares of its capital stock or repurchase, redeem or otherwise reacquire any shares of its capital stock or other securities, (except for shares of Parent Common Stock from terminated employees, directors or consultants of Parent);

 

(ii) except as required to give effect to anything in contemplation of the Closing, amend any of its Organizational Documents, or effect or be a party to any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, reclassification of shares, stock split, reverse stock split or similar transaction except, for the avoidance of doubt, the Contemplated Transactions;

 

(iii) sell, issue, grant or authorize the issuance of: (A) any capital stock or other security (except for Parent Common Stock issued upon the valid exercise or settlement of outstanding Parent Options), (B) any option, warrant or right to acquire any capital stock or any other security or (C) any instrument convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock or other security;

 

(iv) acquire any equity interest or other interest in any other Entity or enter into a joint venture with any other Entity;

 

(v) (A) lend money to any Person, (B) incur or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money, or (C) guarantee any debt securities of others ;

 

(vi) acquire any material asset or sell, lease, license or otherwise irrevocably dispose of any of its assets or properties, or grant any Encumbrance with respect to such assets or properties;

 

(vii) sell, assign, transfer, license, sublicense or otherwise dispose of any material Parent IP Rights (other than pursuant to non-exclusive licenses in the Ordinary Course of Business);

 

(viii) waive, settle or compromise any pending or threatened Legal Proceeding against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, other than waivers, settlements or agreements (A) for an amount not in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate (excluding amounts to be paid under existing insurance policies or renewals thereof) and (B) that do not impose any material restrictions on the operations or businesses of Parent or its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or any equitable relief on, or the admission of wrongdoing by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

(ix) enter into, amend in a manner adverse to Parent or terminate any Parent Material Contract outside of the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

(x) make any capital expenditures, capital additions or capital improvements, or enter into any contract, exceeding $250,000 individually or in the aggregate;

 

(xi) (A) adopt, establish or enter into any Parent Employee Plan, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any equity awards plans, (B) cause or permit any Parent Employee Plan to be amended other than as required by law or in order to make amendments for the purposes of compliance with Section 409A of the Code, (C) pay any bonus or make any profit-sharing or similar payment to (except with respect to obligations in place on the date of this Agreement pursuant to any Parent Employee Plan disclosed to the Company), or increase the amount of the wages, salary, commissions, fringe benefits or other compensation or remuneration payable to, any of its directors, officers, employees or consultants, (D) increase the severance or change of control benefits offered to any current or new employees, directors or consultants, or (E) hire any officer, employee or consultant;

 

(xii) agree, resolve or commit to do any of the foregoing.

 

Nothing contained in this Agreement shall give the Company, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the operations of Parent prior to the Effective Time. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete unilateral control and supervision over its business operations.

 

5.2 Operation of the Company’s Business.

 

(a) Except (i) as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, (ii) as set forth in Section 5.2(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (iii) as required by applicable Law, or (iv) unless Parent shall otherwise consent in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), during the Pre-Closing Period the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, use commercially reasonable efforts to (x) conduct its business and operations in the Ordinary Course of Business and in material compliance with all applicable Law and the requirements of all Contracts that constitute Company Material Contracts and (y) continue to pay material outstanding accounts payable and other material current Liabilities (including payroll) when due and payable.

 

(b) Except (i) as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, (ii) as set forth in Section 5.2(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (iii) as required by applicable Law, or (iv) with the prior written consent of Parent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), at all times during the Pre-Closing Period, the Company shall not, nor shall it cause or permit any of its Subsidiaries to, do any of the following:

 

(i) declare, accrue, set aside or pay any dividend or make any other distribution in respect of any shares of its capital stock; or repurchase, redeem or otherwise reacquire any shares of Company Capital Stock or other securities (except for shares of Company Common Stock from terminated employees, directors or consultants of the Company);

 

(ii) except as required to give effect to anything in contemplation of the Closing, amend any of its or its Subsidiaries’ Organizational Documents, or effect or be a party to any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, reclassification of shares, stock split, reverse stock split or similar transaction except, for the avoidance of doubt, the Contemplated Transactions;

 

(iii) sell, issue grant, or authorize any of the foregoing actions with respect to more than 25% of the shares of Company Capital Stock outstanding as of the date of this Agreement: (A) any capital stock or other security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (except for shares of outstanding Company Common Stock issued upon the valid exercise of Company Options), (B) any option, warrant or right to acquire any capital stock or any other security or (C) any instrument convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock or other security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

(iv) acquire any equity interest or other interest in any other Entity or enter into a joint venture with any other Entity;

 

(v) (A) lend money to any Person, (B) incur or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money, or (C) guarantee any debt securities of others;

 

(vi) acquire any material asset or sell, lease, license or otherwise irrevocably dispose of any of its assets or properties, or grant any Encumbrance with respect to such assets or properties;

 

(vii) sell, assign, transfer, license, sublicense or otherwise dispose of any material Company IP Rights (other than pursuant to non-exclusive licenses in the Ordinary Course of Business);

 

(viii) waive, settle or compromise any pending or threatened Legal Proceeding against the Company, other than waivers, settlements or agreements (A) for an amount not in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate (excluding amounts to be paid under existing insurance policies or renewals thereof) and (B) that do not impose any material restrictions on the operations or businesses of the Company or any equitable relief on, or the admission of wrongdoing by the Company;

 

(ix) enter into, amend in a manner adverse to the Company or terminate any Company Material Contract; or

 

(x) agree, resolve or commit to do any of the foregoing.

 

Nothing contained in this Agreement shall give Parent, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the operations of the Company prior to the Effective Time. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete unilateral control and supervision over its business operations.

 

5.3 Access and Investigation.

(a) Subject to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, which the Parties agree will continue in full force following the date of this Agreement, during the Pre-Closing Period, upon reasonable notice, Parent, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, shall and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Party’s Representatives to: (a) provide the other Party and such other Party’s Representatives with reasonable access during normal business hours to such Party’s Representatives, personnel, property and assets and to all existing books, records, Tax Returns, work papers and other documents and information relating to such Party and its Subsidiaries, (b) provide the other Party and such other Party’s Representatives with such copies of the existing books, records, Tax Returns, work papers, product data, and other documents and information relating to such Party and its Subsidiaries, and with such additional financial, operating and other data and information regarding such Party and its Subsidiaries as the other Party may reasonably request, (c) permit the other Party’s officers and other employees to meet, upon reasonable notice and during normal business hours, with the chief financial officer and other officers and managers of such Party responsible for such Party’s financial statements and the internal controls of such Party to discuss such matters as the other Party may deem necessary, and (d) make available to the other Party copies of any material notice, report or other document filed with or sent to or received from any Governmental Authority in connection with the Contemplated Transactions. Any investigation conducted by either Parent or the Company pursuant to this Section 5.3 shall be conducted in such manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the conduct of the business of the other Party.

 

(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary in this Section 5.3, no access or examination contemplated by this Section 5.3 shall be permitted to the extent that it would require any Party or its Subsidiaries to waive the attorney-client privilege or attorney work product privilege, or violate any applicable Law; provided, that such Party or its Subsidiary (i) shall be entitled to withhold only such information that may not be provided without causing such violation or waiver, (ii) shall provide to the other Party all related information that may be provided without causing such violation or waiver (including, to the extent permitted, redacted versions of any such information) and (iii) shall enter into such effective and appropriate joint-defense agreements or other protective arrangements as may be reasonably requested by the other Party in order that all such information may be provided to the other Party without causing such violation or waiver.

 

5.4 No Solicitation.

 

(a) The Company agrees that, during the Pre-Closing Period, neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, nor shall it or any of its Subsidiaries authorize or permit any of its Representatives to, directly or indirectly: (i) solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage, induce or facilitate the communication, making, submission or announcement of any Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry, (ii) furnish any non-public information regarding such Party to any Person in connection with or in response to an Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry, (iii) engage in discussions or negotiations with any Person with respect to any Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry, (iv) execute or enter into any letter of intent or any Contract contemplating or otherwise relating to any Acquisition Transaction or (v) publicly propose to do any of the foregoing. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company acknowledges and agrees that, in the event any Representative of the Company takes any action that, if taken by the Company, would constitute a breach of this Section 5.4 by the Company, the taking of such action by such Representative shall be deemed to constitute a breach of this Section 5.4 by the Company for purposes of this Agreement.

 

(b) If the Company or any of its Representatives receives an Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry at any time during the Pre-Closing Period, then the Company shall promptly (and in no event later than one (1) Business Day after the Company becomes aware of such Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry) advise Parent in writing of such Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry (including the identity of the Person making or submitting such Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry, and the terms thereof). The Company shall keep Parent reasonably informed with respect to the status and terms of any such Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry and any material modification or material proposed modification thereto.

 

(c) The Company shall immediately cease and cause to be terminated any existing discussions, negotiations and communications with any Person that relate to any Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry as of the date of this Agreement and request the destruction or return of any nonpublic information provided to such Person promptly following the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

5.5 Notification of Certain Matters. During the Pre-Closing Period, each of the Company, on the one hand, and Parent, on the other hand, shall promptly notify the other (and, if in writing, furnish copies of) if any of the following occurs: (a) any notice or other communication is received from any Person alleging that the Consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with any of the Contemplated Transactions, (b) any Legal Proceeding against or involving or otherwise affecting such Party or its Subsidiaries is commenced, or, to the Knowledge of such Party, threatened against such Party or, to the Knowledge of such Party, any director or officer of such Party, (c) such Party becomes aware of any inaccuracy in any representation or warranty made by such Party in this Agreement or (d) the failure of such Party to comply with any covenant or obligation of such Party; in each case that could reasonably be expected to make the timely satisfaction of any of the conditions set forth in Section 7, Section 8 or Section 9, as applicable, impossible or materially less likely. No such notice shall be deemed to supplement or amend the Company Disclosure Letter or the Parent Disclosure Letter for the purpose of (x) determining the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement or (y) determining whether any condition set forth in Section 7, Section 8 or Section 9 has been satisfied. Any failure by either Party to provide notice pursuant to this Section 5.5 shall not be deemed to be a breach for purposes of Section 8.2 or Section 9.2, as applicable, unless such failure to provide such notice was knowing and intentional.

 

Section 6. Additional Agreements of the Parties.

 

6.1 Proxy Statement.

 

(a) As promptly as practicable after the Closing Date and in any event on or before the date that is 45 days after the date hereof, Parent shall prepare and file with the SEC a proxy statement relating to the Parent Stockholder Meeting to be held in connection with the Preferred Stock Conversion Proposal (together with any amendments thereof or supplements thereto, the “Proxy Statement”). Parent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cause the Proxy Statement to comply with applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC and (ii) respond promptly to any comments or requests of the SEC or its staff related to the Proxy Statement.

 

(b) Parent covenants and agrees that the Proxy Statement (and the letters to stockholders, notice of meeting and form of proxy included therewith) will (i) comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of applicable U.S. federal securities Laws and the DGCL, and (ii) will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(c) Parent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to Parent’s stockholders as promptly as practicable after the Proxy Statement has been filed with the SEC and either (i) the SEC has indicated that it does not intend to review the Proxy Statement or that its review of the Proxy Statement has been completed or (ii) at least ten (10) days shall have passed since the Proxy Statement was filed with the SEC without receiving any correspondence from the SEC commenting upon, or indicating that it intends to review, the Proxy Statement, all in compliance with applicable U.S. federal securities laws and the DGCL. If Parent, Merger Sub or the Surviving Entity (A) become aware of any event or information that, pursuant to the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, should be disclosed in an amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement, (B) receives notice of any SEC request for an amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement or for additional information related thereto, or (C) receives SEC comments on the Proxy Statement, as the case may be, then such Party, as the case may be, shall promptly inform the other Parties thereof and shall cooperate with such other Parties in Parent filing such amendment or supplement with the SEC and, if appropriate, in mailing such amendment or supplement to the Parent stockholders.

 

(d) The Company shall reasonably cooperate with Parent and provide, and cause its Representatives to provide, Parent and its Representatives, with all true, correct and complete information regarding the Company that is required by Law to be included in the Proxy Statement or reasonably requested by Parent to be included in the Proxy Statement (collectively, the “Company Required Proxy Information”). The Company and its legal counsel shall be given reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Proxy Statement, including all amendments and supplements thereto, prior to the filing thereof with the SEC, and on the response to any comments of the SEC on the Proxy Statement, prior to the filing thereof with the SEC, and Parent shall give reasonable and good faith consideration to any comments by the Company and its legal counsel. To the extent not prohibited by Law, Parent shall provide the Company and its legal counsel with (A) any comments or other communications, whether written or oral, that Parent or its legal counsel may receive from time to time from the SEC or its staff with respect to the Proxy Statement promptly after receipt of those comments or other communications and (B) a reasonable opportunity to participate in the response of Parent to those comments and to provide comments on that response (to which reasonable and good faith consideration shall be given), including by participating with the Company or its legal counsel in any discussions or meetings with the SEC (to the extent permitted by the SEC). Parent may file the Proxy Statement, or any amendment or supplement thereto, without the prior consent of the Company; provided, that Parent has included the Company Required Proxy Information in the Proxy Statement in substantially the same form as it was provided to Parent by the Company pursuant to this Section 6.1; provided, further, that if the prior consent of the Company is not obtained then, notwithstanding anything else herein, the Company makes no covenant or representation regarding the portion of such information supplied by or on behalf of the Company to Parent for inclusion in such Proxy Statement that the Company reasonably identifies prior to such filing of the Proxy Statement.

 

6.2 Company Stockholder Written Consent.

 

(a) Promptly after the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and in any event no later than ten (10) Business Days thereafter, the Company shall obtain the approval by written consent from Company stockholders sufficient for the Required Company Stockholder Vote in lieu of a meeting pursuant to Section 228 of the DGCL, for purposes of (i) adopting and approving this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions, (ii) acknowledging that the approval given thereby is irrevocable and that such stockholder is aware of its rights to demand appraisal for its shares pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL, and that such stockholder has received and read a copy of Section 262 of the DGCL and (iii) acknowledging that by its approval of the Merger it is not entitled to appraisal rights with respect to its shares in connection with the Merger and thereby waives any rights to receive payment of the fair value of its capital stock under the DGCL (the “Company Stockholder Written Consents”). Under no circumstances shall the Company assert that any other approval or consent is necessary by its stockholders to approve this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions.

 

(b) Reasonably promptly following receipt of the Required Company Stockholder Vote, and in any event no later than ten (10) days thereafter, the Company shall prepare and mail a notice (the “Stockholder Notice”) to every stockholder of the Company that did not execute the Company Stockholder Written Consent. The Stockholder Notice shall (i) be a statement to the effect that the Company Board determined that the Merger is advisable in accordance with Section 251(b) of the DGCL and in the best interests of the stockholders of the Company and approved and adopted this Agreement, the Merger and the other Contemplated Transactions, (ii) provide the stockholders of the Company to whom it is sent with notice of the actions taken in the Company Stockholder Written Consent, including the adoption and approval of this Agreement, the Merger and the other Contemplated Transactions in accordance with Section 228(e) of the DGCL and the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company and (iii) include a description of the appraisal rights of the Company’s stockholders available under the DGCL, along with such other information as is required thereunder and pursuant to applicable Law. All materials (including any amendments thereto) submitted to the stockholders of the Company in accordance with this Section 6.2(b) shall be subject to Parent’s advance review and reasonable approval.

 

(c) The Company agrees that: (i) the Company Board shall recommend that the Company’s stockholders vote to adopt and approve this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to solicit such approval within the time set forth in Section 6.2(a) (the recommendation of the Company Board that the Company’s stockholders vote to adopt and approve this Agreement being referred to as the “Company Board Recommendation”), and (ii) except to the extent the fiduciary duties of the Company Board otherwise require prior to the time the Required Company Stockholder Vote is obtained, the Company Board Recommendation shall not be withdrawn or modified (and the Company Board shall not publicly propose to withdraw or modify the Company Board Recommendation) in a manner adverse to Parent, and no resolution by the Company Board or any committee thereof to withdraw or modify the Company Board Recommendation in a manner adverse to Parent or to adopt, approve or recommend (or publicly propose to adopt, approve or recommend) any Acquisition Proposal shall be adopted or proposed.

 

6.3 Parent Stockholder Meeting.

 

(a) As promptly as practicable following the Closing Date, Parent shall take all action necessary under applicable Law to call, give notice of and hold a meeting of the holders of Parent Common Stock for the purpose of seeking the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of Parent Common Stock present or represented and entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders of Parent to approve, for purposes of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules, the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock to the stockholders of the Company upon conversion of any and all Designated Holder Preferred Stock Payment Shares and the Non-Designated Holder Preferred Stock Payment Shares in accordance with the terms of the Certificates of Designation (the “Preferred Stock Conversion Proposal,” and such meeting, the “Parent Stockholder Meeting”). Parent agrees to use reasonable best efforts to call and hold the Parent Stockholders’ Meeting as soon as practicable after the date hereof. Parent shall take reasonable measures to ensure that all proxies solicited in connection with the Parent Stockholder Meeting are solicited in compliance with all applicable Law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if on the date of the Parent Stockholder Meeting, or a date preceding the date on which the Parent Stockholder Meeting is scheduled, Parent reasonably believes that (i) it will not receive proxies sufficient to obtain approval of the Preferred Stock Conversion Proposal, whether or not a quorum would be present, (ii) it will not have sufficient shares of Parent Common Stock represented (whether in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct the business of the Parent Stockholder Meeting or (iii) in good faith after consultation with outside counsel, that the failure to postpone or adjourn the Parent Stockholder Meeting would reasonably be expected to be inconsistent with its fiduciary obligations under applicable Law, Parent may postpone or adjourn, or make one or more successive postponements or adjournments of, the Parent Stockholder Meeting; provided, however, that Parent shall postpone or adjourn the meeting only in increments of ten (10) Business Days and in no event more than thirty (30) Business Days in the aggregate without the prior written consent of the holders of a majority-in-interest of the Designated Holder Preferred Stock Payment Shares and Non-Designated Holder Preferred Stock Payment Shares. If the Parent Stockholders’ Meeting is not so adjourned, and/or if the approval of the Preferred Stock Conversion Proposal is not then obtained, Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain such approvals as soon as practicable thereafter, and in any event to obtain such approvals at the next occurring annual meeting of the stockholders of Parent or, if such annual meeting is not held within six months after the Parent Stockholders’ Meeting, a special meeting of the stockholders of Parent to be held within six months after the Parent Stockholders’ Meeting. Parent shall hold an annual meeting or special meeting of its stockholders, at which a vote of the stockholders of Parent to approve the Preferred Stock Conversion Proposal will be solicited and taken, at least once every six months until Parent obtains approval of the Preferred Stock Conversion Proposal.

 

(b) Parent agrees that (i) the Parent Board shall recommend that the holders of Parent Common Stock vote to approve the Preferred Stock Conversion Proposal and shall use its reasonable best efforts to solicit and obtain such approval within the time frames set forth in Section 6.3(a) above, and (ii) except to the extent the fiduciary duties of the Parent Board otherwise require (but in no event shall Parent be relieved of the requirement to call and a the Parent Stockholder Meeting as required by Section 6.4(a)): (A) the Proxy Statement shall include a statement to the effect that the Parent Board recommends that Parent’s stockholders vote to approve the Preferred Stock Conversion Proposal (the recommendation of the Parent Board being referred to as the “Parent Board Recommendation”), and (B) such Parent Board Recommendation shall not be modified or withdrawn. Nothing herein shall prohibit the Parent Board from making any disclosure that outside counsel advises is required under applicable Law with respect to any material event or circumstance that was not known to the Parent Board on the date of this Agreement (or, if known, the consequences of which were not known to the Parent Board as of the date of this Agreement).

 

6.4 Efforts; Regulatory Approvals.

 

(a) The Parties shall use reasonable best efforts to consummate the Contemplated Transactions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Party: (i) shall make all filings and other submissions (if any) and give all notices (if any) required to be made and given by such Party in connection with the Contemplated Transactions, (ii) shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain each Consent (if any) reasonably required to be obtained (pursuant to any applicable Law or Contract, or otherwise) by such Party in connection with the Contemplated Transactions or for such Contract to remain in full force and effect, (iii) shall use commercially reasonable efforts to lift any injunction prohibiting, or any other legal bar to, the Contemplated Transactions and (iv) shall use commercially reasonable efforts to satisfy the conditions precedent to the consummation of this Agreement.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, each Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to file or otherwise submit, as soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement, all applications, notices, reports and other documents reasonably required to be filed by such Party with or otherwise submitted by such Party to any Governmental Authority with respect to the Contemplated Transactions, and to submit promptly any additional information requested by any such Governmental Authority. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Parties shall prepare and file, if required, (a) the notification and report forms required to be filed under the HSR Act, and (b) any notification or other document required to be filed in connection with the Merger under any applicable foreign Law relating to antitrust or competition matters, no later than ten (10) Business Days after the later of (x) with respect to the filing required under the HSR Act, the date hereof and (y) with respect to any other filing, date the Company and Parent receive notification (in writing or otherwise) from the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice, any state attorney general, foreign antitrust or competition authority or other Governmental Authority that a filing is required in connection with antitrust or competition matters. Each Party will promptly furnish to the other (i) such necessary information and reasonable assistance as the other may request in connection with its preparation of any required submissions with respect to this Agreement required under the HSR Act or any other applicable Law and (ii) copies of all written communications (and memoranda setting forth the substance of all oral communications) between each of them, any of their Affiliates or any of its or their representatives, on the one hand, and any Governmental Authority, on the other hand, with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby to the extent necessary to make all submissions as are required under the HSR Act or any other applicable Law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each such Party will promptly notify the other of the receipt and content of any inquiries or requests for additional information made by any Governmental Authority in connection with the HSR Act and will use its reasonable best efforts (A) to promptly comply with any such inquiry or reasonable request for additional information, documents or other materials, and (B) to the extent reasonably practicable, consult and permit the other to review in advance, and cooperate with the other Party and consider in good faith the views of the other Party in connection with, any proposed material or substantive oral or written analysis, appearance, presentation, memorandum, brief, argument, opinion, proposal or other communication to be made or submitted in connection with any such inquiry or request.

 

(c) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Parent shall give the Company prompt written notice (email being sufficient) of any litigation against Parent and/or its directors relating to this Agreement or the Contemplated Transactions (“Transaction Litigation”) (including by providing copies of all pleadings with respect thereto) and keep the Company reasonably informed with respect to the status thereof. Parent will (i) give the Company the opportunity to participate in, but not control, the defense, settlement or prosecution of any Transaction Litigation (to the extent that the attorney-client privilege is not undermined or otherwise adversely affected; provided that Parent and the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to find alternative solutions to not undermine or adversely effect the privilege such as entering into common interest agreements, joint defense agreements or similar agreements), (ii) consult with the Company with respect to the defense, settlement and prosecution of any Transaction Litigation and (iii) consider in good faith the Company’s advice with respect to such Transaction Litigation. Parent will obtain the prior written consent of the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) prior to settling or satisfying any such claim.

 

6.5 Company RSUs; Company Options.

 

(a) Company RSUs.  At the Effective Time, each unvested restricted stock unit award of the Company (each such award, a “Company RSU”) set forth on Schedule 6.5(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall vest and be settled for Cullgen Common Stock and shall have the right to receive the Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 2.5(a)(ii).

 

(b) Company Options. At the Effective Time, Parent shall assume each Company Stock Plan and each In-the-Money Company Option, whether vested or unvested, that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, at the Effective Time, cease to represent a right to acquire shares of Company Common Stock and shall be converted, at the Effective Time, into an option to purchase shares of Parent Common Stock (an “Assumed Option”), on the same terms and conditions (including any vesting provisions and any provisions providing for accelerated vesting upon certain events) as were applicable under such Company Option as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, except for administrative or ministerial changes as determined by the Company Board (or, following the Effective Time, the Parent Board or compensation committee). At the Effective Time, each Company Option that is not an In-the-Money Company Option shall be automatically cancelled and extinguished, with no consideration payable in connection with such cancellation and no further rights to the holder thereof.  The number of shares of Parent Common Stock subject to each such Assumed Option shall be equal to (i) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to the respective Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time multiplied by (ii) the Exchange Ratio, rounded down, if necessary, to the nearest whole share of Parent Common Stock, and such Assumed Option shall have an exercise price per share (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) equal to (A) the exercise price per share of the Company Common Stock otherwise purchasable pursuant to the respective Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time divided by (B) the Exchange Ratio; provided, that in the case of any Company Option to which Section 421 of the Code applies as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (taking into account the effect of any accelerated vesting thereof, if applicable) by reason of its qualification under Section 422 of the Code, the exercise price, the number of shares of Parent Common Stock subject to such option and the terms and conditions of exercise of such option shall be determined in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code; provided further, that in the case of any Assumed Option to which Section 409A of the Code applies as of the Effective Time, the exercise price, the number of shares of Parent Common Stock subject to such option and the terms and conditions of exercise of such option shall be determined in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code in order to avoid the imposition of any additional taxes thereunder. The Company Board shall, prior to the Effective Time, take all actions necessary to effect the foregoing.

 

(c) Parent shall file with the SEC, promptly after the Effective Time (and in any event, not later than thirty (30) days thereafter), a registration statement on Form S-8 (or any successor form), if available for use by Parent, relating to the shares of Parent Common Stock issuable with respect to any Assumed RSUs or Assumed Options, as applicable.

 

6.6 Employee Benefits.

 

(a) Parent shall comply with the terms of any employment, severance, retention, change of control, or similar agreement specified on Section 4.17(d) or contemplated by Section 5.1 of the Parent Disclosure Letter, subject to the provisions of such agreements. From and after the Effective Time, with respect to each health or welfare benefit plan maintained by Parent, the Company, the Surviving Entity, or any of their Affiliates for the benefit of each Continuing Employee Parent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to do the following, subject to any required approval of the applicable insurance provider, if any: (i) cause to be waived any eligibility waiting periods, any evidence of insurability requirements and the application of any preexisting condition limitations under such plan (except to the extent such waiting periods, requirements or limitations applied to the Continuing Employee under comparable Company Employee Plans prior to the Closing); (ii) provide that Continuing Employees shall receive credit for purposes of eligibility (including for purposes of any vacation, sick, personal time off plans or programs, to the extent applicable) and vesting for years of service with the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries prior to the Closing in the applicable welfare benefit plans and defined contribution plan of Parent (but excluding any defined benefit pension plan), except to the extent providing such credit would result in any duplication of benefits; and (iii) cause each Continuing Employee to be given credit under such plan for all amounts paid by such Continuing Employee under any similar Company Employee Plan for the plan year that includes the Closing Date for purposes of applying deductibles, co-payments and out-of-pocket maximums as though such amounts had been paid in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plan maintained by Parent, the Company or the Surviving Entity, as applicable, for the plan year in which the Closing occurs (to the extent such credit would have been given under comparable Company Employee Plans prior to the Closing).

 

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the Company, the Surviving Entity, Parent, and their respective Affiliates shall be obligated to continue to employ any Continuing Employee for any specific period of time following the Closing Date, and nothing in this Agreement shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of Parent or any of its Affiliates (including, from and after the Closing, the Surviving Entity and its Subsidiaries), which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or terminate the services of any employee at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause.  In addition, nothing contained in this Agreement shall, or shall be construed so as to (i) constitute an amendment or modification of any Company Benefit Plan or employee benefit plan, (ii) create any third party rights in any such current or former service provider of the Company or its Affiliates (including any beneficiary or dependent thereof); or (iii) obligate Parent to adopt or maintain any particular plan or program or other compensatory or benefits arrangement at any time or prevent Parent from modifying or terminating any such plan, program or other compensatory or benefits arrangement at any time.

 

6.7 Indemnification of Officers and Directors.

 

(a) From the Effective Time through the sixth anniversary of the date on which the Effective Time occurs, each of Parent and the Surviving Entity shall indemnify and hold harmless each person who is now, or has been at any time prior to the date hereof, or who becomes prior to the Effective Time, a director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (the “D&O Indemnified Parties”), against all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, judgments, fines and reasonable fees, costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees and disbursements (collectively, “Costs”), incurred in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, arising out of or pertaining to the fact that the D&O Indemnified Party is or was a director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Effective Time, in each case, to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL. Each D&O Indemnified Party will be entitled to advancement of expenses incurred in the defense of any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation from each of Parent and the Surviving Entity, jointly and severally, upon receipt by Parent or the Surviving Entity from the D&O Indemnified Party of a request therefor; provided that any such person to whom expenses are advanced provides an undertaking to Parent, to the extent then required by the DGCL, to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification.

 

(b) The certificate of formation and limited liability company agreement of the Surviving Entity shall contain, and Parent shall cause the certificate of formation and limited liability company agreement of the Surviving Entity to so contain, provisions no less favorable with respect to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation of present and former directors and officers as those presently set forth in the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Parent.

 

(c) From and after the Effective Time, the Surviving Entity shall fulfill and honor in all respects the obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries to their D&O Indemnified Parties as of immediately prior to the Closing pursuant to any indemnification provisions under the Organizational Documents of the Company or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, and pursuant to any indemnification agreements between the Company and/or its Subsidiaries and such D&O Indemnified Parties, with respect to claims arising out of matters occurring at or prior to the Effective Time.

 

(d) Reserved.

 

(e) From and after the Effective Time, Parent shall pay all expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, that are incurred by the persons referred to in this Section 6.7 in connection with their enforcement of the rights provided to such persons in this Section 6.7.

 

(f) The provisions of this Section 6.7 are intended to be in addition to the rights otherwise available to the current and former officers and directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries by Law, charter, statute, bylaw or agreement, and shall operate for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each of the D&O Indemnified Parties, their heirs and their Representatives.

 

(g) In the event Parent or the Surviving Entity or any of their respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of Parent or the Surviving Entity, as the case may be, shall succeed to the obligations set forth in this Section 6.7. Parent shall cause the Surviving Entity to perform all of the obligations of the Surviving Entity under this Section 6.7.

 

6.8 Disclosure. The Parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to agree to the text of any initial press release and Parent’s Form 8-K announcing the execution and delivery of this Agreement. Without limiting any Party’s obligations under the Confidentiality Agreement, no Party shall, and no Party shall permit any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Representatives to, issue any press release or make any public or private disclosure regarding the Contemplated Transactions unless: (a) the other Party shall have approved such press release or disclosure in writing, such approval not to be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed; or (b) such Party shall have determined in good faith, upon the advice of outside legal counsel, that such disclosure is required by applicable Law and, to the extent practicable, before such press release or disclosure is issued or made, such Party advises the other Party of, and consults with the other Party regarding, the text of such press release or disclosure. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, neither Parent or Company shall, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Representatives to, make any public or private statement to the press, analysts, investors or potential investors, and may not attend, or communicate with anybody attending, industry conferences, during the Pre-Closing Period, without the prior written consent of the other Party.

 

6.9 Listing. Parent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (a) maintain its listing on Nasdaq, and (b) to the extent required by the rules and regulations of Nasdaq, prepare and submit to Nasdaq a notification form for the listing of (I) the Designated Holder Common Stock Payment Shares and the Non-Designated Holder Common Stock Payment Shares, and (II) the Parent Common Stock to be issued upon conversion of the Designated Holder Preferred Stock Payment Shares and the Non-Designated Holder Preferred Stock Payment Shares, in each case, to be issued in connection with the Contemplated Transactions, and to cause such shares to be approved for listing (subject to official notice of issuance).

 

6.10 Tax Matters.

 

(a) The Parties shall use reasonable best efforts (and each shall cause its Affiliates) to cause the Merger to qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment, No Party shall take any actions, or fail to take any action, which action or failure to act would reasonably be expected to prevent or impede the Intended Tax Treatment. The Parties shall report the Contemplated Transactions for all applicable Tax purposes in a manner that is consistent with the Intended Tax Treatment. No Party shall take any position for Tax purposes that is inconsistent with the Intended Tax Treatment, except as otherwise required by a ”determination” as described in Section 1313(a) of the Code. The Parties shall comply with the recordkeeping and information reporting requirements imposed on them with respect to the Contemplated Transactions and the Intended Tax Treatment including, but not limited to, those set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-3.

 

(b) Parent shall promptly notify the Company if, at any time before the Effective Time, Parent becomes aware of any fact or circumstance that would reasonably be expected to prevent, cause a failure of, or impede the Intended Tax Treatment. The Company shall promptly notify Parent if, at any time before the Effective Time, the Company becomes aware of any fact or circumstance that would reasonably be expected to prevent, cause a failure of, or impede the Intended Tax Treatment.

 

(c) Parent and the Company shall reasonably cooperate in the preparation, execution and filing of all Tax Returns, questionnaires, applications or other documents regarding any real property transfer, sales, use, transfer, value added, stock transfer and stamp taxes, and transfer, recording, registration and other fees and similar Taxes which become payable in connection with the Merger that are required or permitted to be filed on or before the Effective Time. Each of Parent and the Company shall pay, without deduction from any consideration or other amounts payable or otherwise deliverable pursuant to this Agreement and without reimbursement from the other party, any such Taxes or fees imposed on it by any Governmental Authority, which becomes payable in connection with the Merger.

 

6.11 Legends. Parent shall be entitled to place appropriate legends on the book entries and/or certificates evidencing any shares of Parent Capital Stock to be received in the Merger by equityholders of the Company who may be considered “affiliates” of Parent for purposes of Rules 144 and 145 under the Securities Act reflecting the restrictions set forth in Rules 144 and 145 and to issue appropriate stop transfer instructions to the transfer agent for any such shares of Parent Capital Stock.

 

6.12 Officers and Directors. Until successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified in accordance with applicable Law, the Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts and take all necessary action so that the Persons listed on Section 6.12 of the Parent Disclosure Letter are elected or appointed, as applicable, to the positions of officers or directors of Parent,  to serve in such positions effective as of the Effective Time. If any Person listed on Section 6.12 of the Parent Disclosure Letter is unable or unwilling to serve as officer or director of Parent, the Party appointing such Person (as set forth on Section 6.12 of the Parent Disclosure Letter) shall designate a successor.

 

6.13 Termination of Certain Agreements and Rights. The Company shall cause any stockholder agreements, voting agreements, registration rights agreements, co-sale agreements and any other similar Contracts between the Company and any holders of Company Capital Stock, including any such Contract granting any Person investor rights, rights of first refusal, registration rights or director registration rights, to be terminated immediately prior to the Effective Time, without any liability being imposed on the part of Parent or the Surviving Entity.

 

6.14 Section 16 Matters. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall take all such steps as may be required to cause any acquisitions of Parent Common Stock and any options to purchase Parent Common Stock in connection with the Contemplated Transactions, by each individual who is reasonably expected to become subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to Parent, to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

6.15 Allocation Information. The Company will prepare and deliver to Parent prior to the Closing a spreadsheet setting forth (as of immediately prior to the Effective Time) (a) each holder of (i) Company Capital Stock, and (ii) Company Options, (b) such holder’s name and address, (c) with respect to holders of Company Capital Stock, the number or percentage and type of Company Capital Stock held as of the Closing Date for each such holder and (d) the number of shares of Parent Capital Stock and Assumed Options to be issued to such holder, or to underlie any Assumed Option to be issued to such holder, in each case pursuant to this Agreement in respect of the Company Capital Stock and Company Options, respectively, held by such holder as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (the “Allocation Certificate”).

 

6.16 Parent SEC Documents. From the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, Parent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to timely file with the SEC all registrations, proxy statements, Certifications, reports, schedules, exhibits, forms and other documents required to be filed by Parent with the SEC under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act (“SEC Documents”). As of its filing date, or if amended after the date of this Agreement, as of the date of the last such amendment, each SEC Document filed by Parent with SEC (a) shall comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, and (b) except for information in such SEC Documents that is “furnished” instead of “filed” under Items 2.02 or 7.01 in the Parent’s Current Reports on Form 8-K, shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

6.17 Obligations of Merger Sub. Parent will take all action necessary to cause Merger Sub to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the Merger on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

6.18 Operations of the Combined Company. Parent agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to operate in accordance with, and pursuant to, the Agreed Business Plan.

 

6.19 Reservation of Parent Common Stock; Issuance of Shares of Parent Common Stock. For as long as any Designated Holder Preferred Stock Payment Shares or Non-Designated Holder Preferred Stock Payment Shares remain outstanding, Parent shall at all times reserve and keep available, free from preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued Parent Common Stock or shares of Parent Common Stock held in treasury by Parent, for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Designated Holder Preferred Stock Payment Shares and Non-Designated Holder Preferred Stock Payment Shares, the full number of shares of Parent Common Stock then issuable upon the conversion of all Designated Holder Preferred Stock Payment Shares and Non-Designated Holder Preferred Stock Payment Shares then outstanding.  All shares of Parent Common Stock delivered upon conversion of the Designated Holder Preferred Stock Payment Shares and the Non-Designated Holder Preferred Stock Payment Shares shall be newly issued shares or shares held in treasury by Parent, shall have been duly authorized and validly issued and shall be fully paid and nonassessable, and shall be free from preemptive rights and free of any Encumbrance.

 

Section 7. Conditions Precedent to Obligations of Each Party. The obligations of each Party to effect the Merger and otherwise consummate the Contemplated Transactions to be consummated at the Closing are subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the written waiver by each of the Parties, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

7.1 Regulatory Approvals. Any applicable waiting periods (or any extensions thereof) under the HSR Act (if applicable) shall have expired or otherwise been terminated.

 

7.2 Foreign Person Status. Neither the Parent nor any of the Merger Sub is a “foreign person” or a “foreign entity,” as defined in Section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended, including all implementing regulations thereof.

 

7.3 No Restraints. No Order preventing the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions shall have been issued by any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction and remain in effect and there shall not be any Law which has the effect of making the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions illegal.

 

7.4 Lock-Up Agreements. The Lock-Up Agreements shall be in full force and effect.

 

7.5 Certificate of Designation. Parent shall have filed the Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

 

7.6 Registration Rights Agreement. The Registration Rights Agreement shall have been duly executed by Parent, the Company and certain of the holders of Company Capital Stock.

 

Section 8. Additional Conditions Precedent to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub. The obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to effect the Merger and otherwise consummate the transactions to be consummated at the Closing are subject to the satisfaction or the written waiver by Parent, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

8.1 Accuracy of Representations. The Company Fundamental Representations shall have been true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on and as of such date (except to the extent such representations and warranties are specifically made as of a particular date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such date). The Company Capitalization Representations shall have been true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on and as of such date, except, in each case, (x) for such inaccuracies which are de minimis, individually or in the aggregate, (y) for those representations and warranties which address matters only as of a particular date (which representations and warranties shall have been true and correct, subject to the qualifications as set forth in the preceding clause (x), as of such particular date). The representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement (other than the Company Fundamental Representations and the Company Capitalization Representations) shall have been true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on the Closing Date except (a) in each case, or in the aggregate, where the failure to be so true and correct would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect (without giving effect to any references therein to any Company Material Adverse Effect or other materiality qualifications) or (b) for those representations and warranties which address matters only as of a particular date (which representations shall have been true and correct, subject to the qualifications as set forth in the preceding clause (a), as of such particular date) (it being understood that, for purposes of determining the accuracy of such representations and warranties, any update of or modification to the Company Disclosure Letter made or purported to have been made after the date of this Agreement shall be disregarded).

 

8.2 Performance of Covenants. The Company shall have performed or complied with in all material respects all agreements and covenants required to be performed or complied with by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Effective Time.

 

8.3 Documents. Parent shall have received the following documents, each of which shall be in full force and effect:

 

(a) a certificate executed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company certifying (i) that the conditions set forth in Sections 8.1, 8.2, 8.4 and 8.5 have been duly satisfied and (ii) that the information (other than emails and addresses) set forth in the Allocation Certificate delivered by the company in accordance with Section 6.15 is true and accurate in all respects as of the Closing Date;

 

(b) a certificate pursuant to Treasury Regulations Sections 1.1445-2(c) and 1.897-2(h), together with a form of notice to the IRS in accordance with the requirements of Treasury Regulations Section 1.897-2(h), in each case, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Parent; and

 

(c) the Allocation Certificate.

 

8.4 No Company Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any Company Material Adverse Effect that is continuing.

 

8.5 Company Stockholder Written Consent. The Company Stockholder Written Consent executed by the stockholders of the Company shall be in full force and effect.

 

Section 9. Additional Conditions Precedent to Obligation of the Company.

 

 The obligations of the Company to effect the Merger and otherwise consummate the transactions to be consummated at the Closing are subject to the satisfaction or the written waiver by the Company, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

9.1 Accuracy of Representations. The Parent Fundamental Representations shall have been true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on and as of such date (except to the extent such representations and warranties are specifically made as of a particular date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such date). The Parent Capitalization Representations shall have been true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on and as of such date, except, in each case, (x) for such inaccuracies which are de minimis, individually or in the aggregate, (y) for those representations and warranties which address matters only as of a particular date (which representations and warranties shall have been true and correct, subject to the qualifications as set forth in the preceding clause (x), as of such particular date). The representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement (other than the Parent Fundamental Representations and the Parent Capitalization Representations) shall have been true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on the Closing Date except (a) in each case, or in the aggregate, where the failure to be so true and correct would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect (without giving effect to any references therein to any Parent Material Adverse Effect or other materiality qualifications) or (b) for those representations and warranties which address matters only as of a particular date (which representations shall have been true and correct, subject to the qualifications as set forth in the preceding clause (a), as of such particular date) (it being understood that, for purposes of determining the accuracy of such representations and warranties, any update of or modification to the Parent Disclosure Letter made or purported to have been made after the date of this Agreement shall be disregarded).

 

9.2 Performance of Covenants. Parent and Merger Sub shall have performed or complied with in all material respects all of their agreements and covenants required to be performed or complied with by each of them under this Agreement at or prior to the Effective Time.

 

9.3 Documents. The Company shall have received a certificate executed by an executive officer of Parent certifying that the conditions set forth in Sections 9.1, 9.2 and 9.4 have been duly satisfied.

 

9.4 No Parent Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any Parent Material Adverse Effect that is continuing.

 

Section 10. Termination.

 

10.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated prior to the Effective Time (whether before or after adoption of this Agreement by the Company’s stockholders, unless otherwise specified below):

 

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

 

(b) by either Parent or the Company if the Merger shall not have been consummated by the date that is the six (6) month anniversary of the date hereof (subject to possible extension as provided in this Section 10.1(b), the “End Date”); provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 10.1(b) shall not be available to the Company or Parent if such Party’s (or in the case of Parent, Merger Sub’s) action or failure to act has been a principal cause of the failure of the Merger to occur on or before the End Date and such action or failure to act constitutes a breach of this Agreement;

 

(c) by either Parent or the Company if a court of competent jurisdiction or other Governmental Authority shall have issued a final and non-appealable Order having the effect of permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Contemplated Transactions;

 

(d) by Parent if the Required Company Stockholder Vote shall not have been obtained within ten (10) Business Days following the execution and delivery of this Agreement; provided, however, that once the Required Company Stockholder Vote has been obtained, Parent may not terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.1(d);

 

(e) by the Company, upon a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement by Parent or Merger Sub or if any representation or warranty of Parent or Merger Sub shall have become inaccurate, in either case, such that the conditions set forth in Section 9.1 or Section 9.2 would not be satisfied as of the time of such breach or as of the time such representation or warranty shall have become inaccurate; provided, that the Company is not then in material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement under this Agreement; provided further, that if such inaccuracy in Parent’s or Merger Sub’s representations and warranties or breach by Parent or Merger Sub is curable by Parent or Merger Sub, then the Company shall not be permitted to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.1(e) as a result of such particular breach or inaccuracy until the earlier of (i) the expiration of a thirty (30) day period commencing upon delivery of written notice from the Company to Parent or Merger Sub of such breach or inaccuracy and its intention to terminate pursuant to this Section 10.1(e) and (ii) Parent or Merger Sub (as applicable) ceasing to exercise commercially reasonable efforts to cure such breach following delivery of written notice from the Company to Parent or Merger Sub of such breach or inaccuracy and its intention to terminate pursuant to this Section 10.1(e) (it being understood that the Company shall not be permitted to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.1(e) as a result of such particular breach or inaccuracy if such breach by Parent or Merger Sub is cured prior to such termination becoming effective); or

 

(f)  by Parent, upon a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement by the Company or if any representation or warranty of the Company shall have become inaccurate, in either case, such that the conditions set forth in Section 8.1 or Section 8.2 would not be satisfied as of the time of such breach or as of the time such representation or warranty shall have become inaccurate; provided that Parent is not then in material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement under this Agreement; provided, further, that if such inaccuracy in the Company’s representations and warranties or breach by the Company is curable by the Company then Parent shall not be permitted to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.1(f) as a result of such particular breach or inaccuracy until the earlier of (i) the expiration of a thirty (30) day period commencing upon delivery of written notice from Parent to the Company of such breach or inaccuracy and its intention to terminate pursuant to this Section 10.1(f) and (ii) the Company ceasing to exercise commercially reasonable efforts to cure such breach following delivery of written notice from Parent to the Company of such breach or inaccuracy and its intention to terminate pursuant to this Section 10.1(f) (it being understood that Parent shall not be permitted to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.1(f) as a result of such particular breach or inaccuracy if such breach by the Company is cured prior to such termination becoming effective).

 

The Party desiring to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.1 (other than pursuant to Section 10.1(a)) shall give a notice of such termination to the other Party specifying the provisions hereof pursuant to which such termination is made and the basis therefor described in reasonable detail.

 

10.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 10.1, this Agreement shall be of no further force or effect; provided, however, that (a) this Section 10.2, Section 10.3 and Section 11 (other than Section 11.8) and the related definitions of the defined terms in such sections shall survive the termination of this Agreement and shall remain in full force and effect and (b) the termination of this Agreement and the provisions of Section 10.3 shall not relieve any Party of any liability for fraud or for any willful and material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, obligation or other provision contained in this Agreement.

 

10.3 Expenses.

 

(a) Except as set forth in this Section 10.3 and Section 6.9 all fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions shall be paid by the Party incurring such expenses, whether or not the Merger is consummated. For the avoidance of doubt, each Party shall pay the respective filing fees required under the HSR Act and for any other similar filings required in any other jurisdiction.

 

Section 11. Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

11.1 Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement or any certificate or instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall terminate at the Effective Time, and only the covenants that by their terms survive the Effective Time and this Section 11 shall survive the Effective Time.

 

11.2 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended with the approval of the respective boards of directors of the Company, Merger Sub and Parent at any time (whether before or after the adoption and approval of this Agreement by the Company’s stockholders); provided, however, that after any such approval of this Agreement by a Party’s stockholders, no amendment shall be made which by Law requires further approval of such stockholders without the further approval of such stockholders. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the Company, Merger Sub and Parent.

 

11.3 Waiver.

 

(a) Any provision hereof may be waived by the waiving Party solely on such Party’s own behalf, without the consent of any other Party. No failure on the part of any Party to exercise any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, and no delay on the part of any Party in exercising any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, shall operate as a waiver of such power, right, privilege or remedy; and no single or partial exercise of any such power, right, privilege or remedy shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or of any other power, right, privilege or remedy.

 

(b) No Party shall be deemed to have waived any claim arising out of this Agreement, or any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, unless the waiver of such claim, power, right, privilege or remedy is expressly set forth in a written instrument duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Party and any such waiver shall not be applicable or have any effect except in the specific instance in which it is given.

 

11.4 Entire Agreement; Counterparts; Exchanges by Electronic Transmission or Facsimile. This Agreement and the other schedules, exhibits, certificates, instruments and agreements referred to in this Agreement constitute the entire agreement and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among or between any of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof; provided, however, that the Confidentiality Agreement shall not be superseded and shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms; provided, further, that only Exhibit D is incorporated by reference and made a part hereof for purposes of Section 251 of the DGCL. This 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 Agreement (in counterparts or otherwise) by all Parties by facsimile or electronic transmission in PDF format shall be sufficient to bind the Parties to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

11.5 Applicable Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws. In any action or proceeding between any of the Parties arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the Contemplated Transactions, each of the Parties: (a) irrevocably and unconditionally consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, to the extent such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, (b) agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding shall be heard and determined exclusively in accordance with clause (a) of this Section 11.5, (c) waives any objection to laying venue in any such action or proceeding in such courts, (d) waives any objection that such courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over any Party, (e) agrees that service of process upon such Party in any such action or proceeding shall be effective if notice is given in accordance with Section 11.7 of this Agreement and (f) irrevocably and unconditionally waives the right to trial by jury.

 

11.6 Assignability. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall be enforceable by and inure solely to the benefit of, the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns; provided, however, that neither this Agreement nor any of a Party’s rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned or delegated by such Party without the prior written consent of the other Party, and any attempted assignment or delegation of this Agreement or any of such rights or obligations by such Party without the other Party’s prior written consent shall be void and of no effect.

 

11.7 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly delivered and received hereunder (a) one (1) Business Day after being sent for next Business Day delivery, fees prepaid, via a reputable international overnight courier service, (b) upon delivery in the case of delivery by hand or (c) on the date delivered in the place of delivery if sent by email or facsimile (with a written or electronic confirmation of delivery) prior to 6:00 p.m. (New York City time), otherwise on the next succeeding Business Day, in each case to the intended recipient as set forth below:

 

if to Parent or Merger Sub:

 

Gyre Therapeutics, Inc.

12770 High Bluff Drive Suite 150

San Diego, California

Attention: David Epstein, Chair of Special Committee

 

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

 

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

One Embarcadero Center, Suite 2600

San Francisco, CA 94111

Attention: Ryan Murr, Branden Berns, Evan Shepherd

 

if to the Company:

 

Cullgen Inc.

12730 High Bluff Drive, Suite 250

San Diego, CA 92130

Attention: Thomas Eastling

 

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

 

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo, P.C.

3580 Carmel Mountain Road

Suite 300

San Diego, CA 92130

Attention: Scott Stanton, Jason McCaffrey

11.8 Cooperation. Each Party agrees to cooperate fully with the other Party and to execute and deliver such further documents, certificates, agreements and instruments and to take such other actions as may be reasonably requested by the other Party to evidence or reflect the Contemplated Transactions and to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.

 

11.9 Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction. If a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, the Parties agree that the court making such determination shall have the power to limit such term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases or to replace such term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable as so modified. In the event such court does not exercise the power granted to it in the prior sentence, the Parties agree to replace such invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a valid and enforceable term or provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such invalid or unenforceable term or provision.

 

11.10 Other Remedies; Specific Performance. Except as otherwise provided herein, any and all remedies herein expressly conferred upon a Party will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby, or by law or equity upon such Party, and the exercise by a Party of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy. The Parties agree that irreparable damage for which monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy, would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms (including failing to take such actions as are required of it hereunder to consummate this Agreement) or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, to the extent such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity, and each of the Parties waives any bond, surety or other security that might be required of any other Party with respect thereto. Each of the Parties further agrees that it will not oppose the granting of an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief on the basis that any other Party has an adequate remedy at law or that any award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or in equity.

 

11.11 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any Person (other than the Parties and the D&O Indemnified Parties to the extent of their respective rights pursuant to Section 6.7) any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

In Witness Whereof, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.

 

In Witness Whereof, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.

 

	Name:
	Title:

---

Exhibit 10.1

FORM OF COMPANY STOCKHOLDER SUPPORT AGREEMENT

 

This Support Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of March 2, 2026, by and among Cullgen Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Gyre Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), and the undersigned stockholder (the “Stockholder”) of the Company. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement (as defined below).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery hereof, Parent, the Company, and Helix Merger Sub Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated of even date herewith (as such agreement may be amended or supplemented from time to time pursuant to the terms thereof, the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as the surviving corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the Stockholder is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) and has sole or shared voting power with respect to such number of shares of Company Capital Stock, and holds Company Options to acquire the number of Shares, as indicated in Appendix A.

 

WHEREAS, as an inducement and a condition to the willingness of Parent to enter into the Merger Agreement, each Stockholder has agreed to enter into and perform this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, intending to be legally bound, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.   Certain Definitions. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Merger Agreement. For all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:

 

(a)    “Constructive Sale” means, with respect to any security, a short sale with respect to such security, entering into or acquiring a derivative contract with respect to such security, entering into or acquiring a futures or forward contract to deliver such security or entering into any other hedging or other derivative transaction that has the effect of either directly or indirectly materially changing the economic benefits or risks of ownership of such security.

 

(b)    “Shares” means (i) all shares of Company Capital Stock owned, beneficially or of record, by the Stockholder as of the date hereof, (ii) all additional shares of  Company Capital Stock acquired by the Stockholder, beneficially or of record, during the period commencing with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and expiring on the Expiration Date (as defined below) and (iii) any shares of capital stock or other equity securities of the Company that such Stockholder acquires or with respect to which such Stockholder otherwise acquires sole or shared voting power (including any proxy), whether beneficial or of record, or otherwise owned by such Stockholder after the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Third Amended and Restated Voting Agreement of the Company, dated as of April 13, 2023 (the “Voting Agreement”), and expiring on the Expiration Date, whether by exercise of any Company Options or otherwise, including, without limitation, by gift, succession, in the event of a stock split or as a dividend or distribution of any Shares.

 

(c)    “Transfer” or “Transferred” means, with respect to any security, the direct or indirect assignment, sale, transfer, tender, exchange, pledge or hypothecation, or the grant, creation or suffrage of an Encumbrance, lien, security interest or encumbrance in or upon, or the gift, grant or placement in trust, or the Constructive Sale or other disposition of such security (including transfers by testamentary or intestate succession, by domestic relations order or other court order, or otherwise by operation of law) or any right, title or interest therein (including any right or power to vote to which the holder thereof may be entitled, whether such right or power is granted by proxy or otherwise), or the record or beneficial ownership thereof, the offer to make such a sale, transfer, Constructive Sale or other disposition, and each agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing, to effect any of the foregoing.

 

2.     Transfer and Voting Restrictions. The Stockholder covenants to the Company and Parent as follows:

 

(a)    Except as otherwise permitted by Section 2(c), during the period commencing with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and expiring on the Expiration Date (as defined below), the Stockholder shall not Transfer any of the Stockholder’s Shares, publicly announce its intention to Transfer any of its Shares, or enter into any contract with respect to any Transfer of, its Shares or any interest therein.

 

(b)    Except as otherwise permitted by this Agreement or otherwise permitted or required or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction or a Governmental Authority, the Stockholder will not commit any act that would restrict the Stockholder’s legal power, authority and right to vote all of the Shares held by the Stockholder or otherwise prevent or disable the Stockholder from performing any of his, her or its obligations under this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except for this Agreement, and as otherwise permitted by this Agreement, the Stockholder shall not enter into any voting agreement with any person or entity with respect to any of the Stockholder’s Shares, grant any person or entity any proxy (revocable or irrevocable) or power of attorney with respect to any of the Shares, deposit any Shares in a voting trust or otherwise enter into any agreement or arrangement with any person or entity in each case, which has the effect of limiting or affecting the Stockholder’s legal power, authority or right to execute and deliver the Company Stockholder Written Consents.

 

(c)    Except as otherwise permitted by this Agreement or otherwise permitted or required by order of a court of competent jurisdiction or a Governmental Authority, the Stockholder will not enter into any Contract, option, commitment or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the direct or indirect Transfer of any right, title or interest (including any right or power to vote to which the holder thereof may be entitled whether such right or power is granted by proxy or otherwise) to any Shares or take any action that would reasonably be expected to make any representation or warranty of such Stockholder contained herein untrue or incorrect or have the effect of restricting the Stockholder’s legal power, authority and right to vote all of the Shares or would otherwise prevent or disable such Stockholder from performing any of such Stockholder’s obligations under this Agreement.

 

(d)    Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, the Stockholder may, at any time, Transfer Shares (i) by will or other testamentary document or by intestacy, (ii) to such Stockholder’s Affiliates (in each case, directly or indirectly), (iii) to any member of the Stockholder’s immediate family (or, if the Stockholder is a corporation, partnership or other entity, to an immediate family member of a beneficial owner of the Shares held by the Stockholder), (iv) to any trust or other entity for the direct or indirect benefit of the Stockholder or the immediate family of the Stockholder (or, if the Stockholder is a corporation, partnership or other entity, for the direct or indirect benefit of an immediate family member of a beneficial owner of the Shares held by the Stockholder) or otherwise for estate tax or estate planning purposes, (v) in the case of a Stockholder who is not a natural person, by pro rata distributions from the Stockholder to its members, partners, or shareholders pursuant to the Stockholder’s organizational documents, (vi) with respect to such Stockholder’s Company Options (and any Shares underlying such Company Options) which expire on or prior to the Expiration Date, Transfers of Shares to the Company (or effecting a “net exercise” of a Company Option) as payment for the (a) exercise price of such Stockholder’s Company Options and (b) taxes applicable to the exercise of such Stockholder’s Company Options, (vii) transfers to another holder of capital stock of the Company that has signed a support agreement that is reasonably acceptable to Parent, and (viii) transfers, sales or other dispositions as Parent may otherwise agree in writing in its sole discretion; provided, that in the cases of clauses (i)-(viii), (1) such Transferred Shares shall continue to be bound by this Agreement and (2) the applicable direct transferee (if any) of such Transferred Shares shall have executed and delivered to Parent and the Company a support agreement substantially identical to this Agreement upon consummation of the Transfer if not already a party thereto, or (ix) to the extent required by applicable Law. Any action taken in violation of Section 2(a) through 2(d) shall be null and void ab initio.

 

(e)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, nothing in this Agreement shall obligate the Stockholder to exercise any option or any other right to acquire any shares of Company Capital Stock.

 

3.    Agreement to Vote Shares. The Stockholder covenants to the Company and Parent as follows:

 

(a)   Promptly after the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and in any event no later than ten (10) Business Days thereafter, the Stockholder shall deliver in accordance with Section 228 of the DGCL a written consent (i) adopting and approving this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions, (ii) acknowledging that the approval given thereby is irrevocable and that such stockholder is aware of its rights to demand appraisal for its shares pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL, and that such stockholder has received and read a copy of Section 262 of the DGCL and (iii) acknowledging that by its approval of the Merger it is not entitled to appraisal rights with respect to its shares in connection with the Merger and thereby waives any rights to receive payment of the fair value of its capital stock under the DGCL.

 

(b)  Until the Expiration Date (as defined below), at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company, however called, and at every adjournment or postponement thereof, and on every action or approval by written consent of the stockholders of the Company, the Stockholder shall be present (in person or by proxy) and vote (including by submitting the proxy solicited by the Company with respect to such meeting), or exercise its right to consent with respect to, all Shares held by the Stockholder (A) in favor of the adoption and approval of the Merger Agreement, (B) in favor of approval of the Contemplated Transactions, including any matter that could reasonably be expected to facilitate the Contemplated Transactions, and (C) against any Acquisition Proposal.

 

(c)    If the Stockholder is the beneficial owner, but not the record holder, of Shares, the Stockholder agrees to take all actions necessary to cause the record holder and any nominees to be present (in person or by proxy) and vote all the Stockholder’s Shares in accordance with this Section 3.

 

(d)    In the event of a stock split, stock dividend or distribution, or any change in the capital stock of the Company by reason of any split-up, reverse stock split, recapitalization, combination, reclassification, reincorporation, exchange of shares or the like, the term “Shares” shall be deemed to refer to and include such shares as well as all such stock dividends and distributions and any securities into which or for which any or all of such shares may be changed or exchanged or which are received in such transaction.

 

4.    Action in Stockholder Capacity Only. The Stockholder is entering into this Agreement solely in the Stockholder’s capacity as a record holder and/or beneficial owner, as applicable, of its Shares and not in the Stockholder’s capacity as a director or officer of the Company. Nothing herein shall limit or affect the Stockholder’s ability to act as an officer or director of the Company.

 

5.    Irrevocable Proxy. The Stockholder hereby revokes (or agrees to cause to be revoked) any proxies that the Stockholder has heretofore granted with respect to its Shares. The Stockholder hereby irrevocably grants to, and appoints, the president of the Company, and any individual designated in writing by the Company, and each of them individually, as his, her or its proxy and attorney-in-fact (with full power of substitution), for and in its name, place and stead, to vote his, her or its Shares in any action by written consent of Company stockholders or at any meeting of the Company’s stockholders called with respect to any of the matters specified in, and in accordance and consistent with, Section 3 of this Agreement, if and only the Stockholder fails to vote the Shares in accordance with Section 3 at any applicable meeting of the stockholders of the Company or pursuant to any applicable written consent of the stockholders of the Company. The Company agrees not to exercise the proxy granted herein for any purpose other than the purposes described in this Agreement and the Stockholder affirms that the proxy set forth in this Section 5 is given in connection with, and granted in consideration of, and as an inducement to the Company, Parent and Merger Subs to enter into the Merger Agreement and that such proxy is given to secure the obligations of the Stockholder under Section 3. Except as otherwise provided for herein, the Stockholder hereby affirms that the irrevocable proxy is coupled with an interest and may under no circumstances be revoked and that such irrevocable proxy is executed and intended to be irrevocable. The irrevocable proxy and power of attorney granted herein shall survive and not be affected by the death or incapacity of such Stockholder. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, the irrevocable proxy granted hereunder shall automatically terminate on the Expiration Date.

 

6.    No Solicitation. Subject to Section 4, the Stockholder agrees not to, directly or indirectly, including through any of its officers, directors or agents, take any action that the Company is prohibited from taking pursuant to Section 5.4 of the Merger Agreement and Section 5.4 of the Merger Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference mutatis mutandis.

 

7.    Documentation and Information. The Stockholder shall permit and hereby authorizes Parent and the Company to publish and disclose in all documents and schedules filed with the SEC, and any press release or other disclosure document that Parent or the Company reasonably determines to be necessary in connection with the Merger and any of the Contemplated Transactions, a copy of this Agreement, the Stockholder’s identity and ownership of the Shares and the nature of the Stockholder’s commitments and obligations under this Agreement; provided, that, Parent and the Company provide such documents, schedules, press release or other disclosure document to the Stockholder in advance for its review and comment. Each of Parent and the Company is an intended third-party beneficiary of this Section 7.

 

8.   No Exercise of Appraisal Rights; Waivers. The Stockholder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (a) waives, and agrees to cause to be waived and to prevent the exercise of, any rights of appraisal, any dissenters’ rights and any similar rights (including any notice requirements related thereto) relating to the Merger that Stockholder may have by virtue of, or with respect to, any Shares (including all rights under Section 262 of the DGCL or any right to assert a claim for quasi-appraisal or similar equitable remedy) and (b) agrees that the Stockholder will not bring, commence, institute, maintain, prosecute or voluntarily aid or participate in any action, claim, suit or cause of action, in law or in equity, in any court or before any Governmental Authority, which (i) challenges the validity of or seeks to enjoin the operation of any provision of this Agreement or (ii) alleges that (A) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder breaches any duty such Stockholder has (or may be alleged to have) to the Company or to the other Company stockholders or (B) the approval of the Merger Agreement by the Company Board breaches any fiduciary duty of the Company Board or any member thereof; provided, that (1) the Stockholder may defend against, contest or settle any such action, claim, suit or cause of action brought against the Stockholder that relates solely to the Stockholder’s capacity as a director, officer or securityholder of the Company and (2) the foregoing shall not limit or restrict in any manner the Stockholder from enforcing the Stockholder’s rights under this Agreement and the other agreements entered into by the Stockholder in connection herewith, or otherwise in connection with the Merger, including the Stockholder’s right to receive the Merger Consideration pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement.

 

9.    Representations and Warranties of the Stockholder. The Stockholder hereby represents and warrants to Parent and the Company as follows:

 

(a)    (i) The Stockholder is the beneficial or record owner of the shares of Company Capital Stock, and/or Company Options indicated in Appendix A (each of which shall be deemed to be “held” by the Stockholder for purposes of Section 3 unless otherwise expressly stated with respect to any shares in Appendix A), free and clear of any and all Encumbrances (except for any Encumbrance that may be imposed pursuant to this Agreement, the Voting Agreement, the Investors’ Rights Agreement of the Company, dated as of April 13, 2023 (the “Investors’ Rights Agreement”), the Right of First Refusal and Co-Sale Agreement of the Company, dated as of April 13, 2023 (the “ROFR”), any lock-up agreement entered into by and between the Stockholder, the Company and Parent, and Encumbrances arising under applicable securities or community property laws); and (ii) the Stockholder does not beneficially own any securities of the Company other than the shares of Company Capital Stock and rights to purchase shares of Company Capital Stock set forth in Appendix A.

 

(b)    With respect to any Stockholder that is an entity, the Stockholder is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation and is qualified to conduct its business in those jurisdictions necessary to perform this Agreement.

 

(c)    Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Stockholder has full power, legal capacity and authority to (i) make, enter into and carry out the terms of this Agreement and (ii) vote all of its Shares in the manner set forth in this Agreement without the consent or approval of, or any other action on the part of, any other person or entity (including any Governmental Authority). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except for the Voting Agreement, the Stockholder has not entered into any voting agreement (other than this Agreement) with any person with respect to any of the Stockholder’s Shares, granted any person any proxy (revocable or irrevocable) or power of attorney with respect to any of the Stockholder’s Shares, deposited any of the Stockholder’s Shares in a voting trust or entered into any arrangement or agreement with any person limiting or affecting the Stockholder’s legal power, authority or right to vote the Stockholder’s Shares on any matter.

 

(d)    This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Stockholder and (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto) constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Stockholder enforceable against the Stockholder in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder and the performance by the Stockholder of the agreements and obligations hereunder will not result in any breach or violation of or be in conflict with or constitute a default under any term of any Contract or if applicable any provision of an organizational document (including a certificate of incorporation) to or by which the Stockholder is a party or bound, or any applicable law to which the Stockholder (or any of the Stockholder’s assets) is subject or bound, except for any such breach, violation, conflict or default which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to materially impair or adversely affect the Stockholder’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(e)   The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Stockholder do not and will not require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, action by, filing with or notification to, any Governmental Authority, except for any such consent, approval, authorization, permit, action, filing or notification the failure of which to make or obtain, individually or in the aggregate, has not and would not materially impair the Stockholder’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(f)    The Stockholder has had the opportunity to review the Merger Agreement and this Agreement with counsel of the Stockholder’s own choosing. The Stockholder has had an opportunity to review with its own tax advisors the tax consequences of the Merger and the Contemplated Transactions. The Stockholder understands that it must rely solely on its advisors and not on any statements or representations made by Parent, the Company or any of their respective agents or representatives with respect to the tax consequences of the Merger and the Contemplated Transactions. The Stockholder understands that such Stockholder (and not Parent, the Company, or the Surviving Entity) shall be responsible for such Stockholder’s tax liability that may arise as a result of the Merger or the other Contemplated Transactions. The Stockholder understands and acknowledges that the Company, Parent and Merger Sub are entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon the Stockholder’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.

 

(g)    With respect to the Stockholder, as of the date hereof, there is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending against, or, to the knowledge of the Stockholder, threatened against, the Stockholder or any of the Stockholder’s properties or assets (including the Shares) that would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay or impair the ability of the Stockholder to perform its obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

10.  Certain Agreements. Each Stockholder, by this Agreement, and with respect to such Stockholder’s Shares, severally and not jointly, hereby agrees to terminate, subject to the occurrence of, and effective immediately prior to, the Effective Time each of (a) the Voting Agreement, the Investors’ Rights Agreement and the ROFR and (b) any rights under any letter agreement providing for redemption rights, put rights, purchase rights, information rights, rights to consult with and advise management, inspection rights, preemptive rights, board of directors observer rights or rights to receive information delivered to the board of directors or other similar rights not generally available to stockholders of the Company between the Stockholder and the Company, but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any rights the Stockholder may have that relate to any indemnification, commercial, development or employment agreements or arrangements between such Stockholder and the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, which shall survive in accordance with their terms. Each Stockholder hereby terminates and waives all rights of first refusal, redemption rights and rights of notice of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, effective as of immediately prior to, and contingent upon, the Effective Time.

 

11.  Termination. This Agreement shall terminate and shall cease to be of any further force or effect as of the earliest of (a) such date and time as the Merger Agreement shall have been terminated pursuant to the terms thereof, (b) the Effective Time or (c) the time this Agreement is terminated upon mutual written agreement of the parties to this Agreement (clauses (a)-(c), the “Expiration Date”); provided, however, that (i) Section 12 shall survive the termination of this Agreement, and (ii) the termination of this Agreement shall not relieve any party hereto from any liability for any material and willful breach of this Agreement prior to the Expiration Date.

 

12.  Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

(a)          Amendments. No amendment of this Agreement shall be effective against any party unless it shall be in writing and signed by each of the parties hereto.

 

(b)          Entire Agreement; Counterparts; Exchanges by Electronic Transmission or Facsimile. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all other prior agreements, arrangements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This 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 Agreement (in counterparts or otherwise) by all parties by facsimile or electronic transmission in PDF format shall be sufficient to bind the parties to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

(c)          Applicable Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws. In any action or proceeding between any of the parties arising out of or relating to this Agreement, each of the parties: (i) irrevocably and unconditionally consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, to the extent such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, (ii) agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding shall be heard and determined exclusively in accordance with clause (i) of this Section 12(c), (iii) waives any objection to laying venue in any such action or proceeding in such courts, (iv) waives any objection that such courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over any party, (v) agrees that service of process upon such party in any such action or proceeding shall be effective if notice is given in accordance with Section 12h) of this Agreement and (vi) irrevocably and unconditionally waives the right to trial by jury.

 

(d)         Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall be enforceable by and inure solely to the benefit of, the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns; provided, however, that neither this Agreement nor any of a party’s rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned or delegated (except by Merger) by such party without the prior written consent of the other party, and any attempted assignment or delegation of this Agreement or any of such rights or obligations by such party without the other party’s prior written consent shall be void and of no effect.

 

(e)          No Third Party Rights. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any Person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(f)          Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction. If a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, the parties agree that the court making such determination shall have the power to limit such term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases or to replace such term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable as so modified. In the event such court does not exercise the power granted to it in the prior sentence, the parties agree to replace such invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a valid and enforceable term or provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such invalid or unenforceable term or provision.

 

(g)          Specific Performance. Except as otherwise provided herein, any and all remedies herein expressly conferred upon a party will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby, or by law or equity upon such party, and the exercise by a party of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy. The parties agree that irreparable damage for which monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy, would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms (including failing to take such actions as are required of it hereunder to consummate this Agreement) or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, to the extent such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity, and each of the parties waives any bond, surety or other security that might be required of any other party with respect thereto. Each of the parties further agrees that it will not oppose the granting of an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief on the basis that any other party has an adequate remedy at law or that any award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or in equity.

 

(h)          Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly delivered (i) one (1) Business Day after being sent for next Business Day delivery, fees prepaid, via a reputable international overnight courier service, (ii) upon delivery in the case of delivery by hand or (iii) on the date delivered in the place of delivery if sent by email or facsimile (with a written or electronic confirmation of delivery) prior to 6:00 p.m. (New York City time), otherwise on the next succeeding Business Day, (A) if to the Company or Parent, to the address, electronic mail address or facsimile provided in Section 11.7 of the Merger Agreement, including to the persons designated therein to receive copies; and/or (B) if to the Stockholder, to the Stockholder’s address, electronic mail address or facsimile shown below Stockholder’s signature to this Agreement.

 

(i)          Confidentiality.  Except to the extent required by applicable Law or regulation, the Stockholder shall hold any non-public information regarding the Company, this Agreement, the Merger Agreement and the Merger in strict confidence and shall not divulge any such information to any third person until the Company and Parent have publicly disclosed their entry into the Merger Agreement and this Agreement; provided, however, that the Stockholder may disclose such information to its Affiliates, attorneys, accountants, consultants, and other advisors (provided that such Persons are subject to confidentiality obligations at least as restrictive as those contained herein).  Neither the Stockholder nor any of its Affiliates (other than the Company, whose actions shall be governed by the Merger Agreement), shall issue or cause the publication of any press release or other public announcement with respect to the Company, this Agreement, the Merger, the Merger Agreement or the other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby without the prior written consent of the Company and Parent, except as may be required by applicable Law in which circumstance such announcing party shall make reasonable efforts to consult with the Company and Parent to the extent practicable.

 

(j)          Interpretation. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of like import used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The captions herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction or interpretation hereof. References to Sections and Appendixes are to Sections and Appendixes of this Agreement unless otherwise specified. Any capitalized terms used in any Appendix but not otherwise defined therein shall have the meaning as defined in this Agreement. Any singular term in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular, the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders; the feminine gender shall include the masculine and neuter genders; and the neuter gender shall include masculine and feminine gender. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation,” whether or not they are in fact followed by those words or words of like import. The word “or” is not exclusive. “Writing,” “written” and comparable terms refer to printing, typing and other means of reproducing words (including electronic media) in a visible form. References to any agreement or Contract are to that agreement or Contract as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. References to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person. References to any statute are to that statute and to the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, in each case as amended, modified, re-enacted thereof, substituted, from time to time. References to “$” and “dollars” are to the currency of the United States. All accounting terms used herein will be interpreted, and all accounting determinations hereunder will be made, in accordance with GAAP unless otherwise expressly specified. References from or through any date shall mean, unless otherwise specified, from and including or through and including, respectively. All references to “days” shall be to calendar days unless otherwise indicated as a “Business Day.” Except as otherwise specifically indicated, for purposes of measuring the beginning and ending of time periods in this Agreement (including for purposes of “Business Day” and for hours in a day or Business Day), the time at which a thing, occurrence or event shall begin or end shall be deemed to occur in the Eastern time zone of the United States. The parties agree that any rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be applied in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

[Remainder of Page Left Intentionally Blank]

 

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

 

COMPANY:

Cullgen Inc.

 

 

---

Exhibit 10.2

FORM OF PARENT STOCKHOLDER SUPPORT AGREEMENT

 

This Support Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of March 2, 2026, by and among Cullgen Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Gyre Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), and the undersigned stockholder (the “Stockholder”) of Parent. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement (as defined below).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery hereof, Parent, the Company, and Helix Merger Sub Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated of even date herewith (as such agreement may be amended or supplemented from time to time pursuant to the terms thereof, the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as the surviving corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the Stockholder is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) and has sole or shared voting power with respect to such number of shares of Parent Capital Stock, as indicated in Appendix A.

 

WHEREAS, as an inducement and a condition to the willingness of the Company to enter into the Merger Agreement, each Stockholder has agreed to enter into and perform this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, intending to be legally bound, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.          Certain Definitions. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Merger Agreement. For all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:

 

(a)          “Constructive Sale” means, with respect to any security, a short sale with respect to such security, entering into or acquiring a derivative contract with respect to such security, entering into or acquiring a futures or forward contract to deliver such security or entering into any other hedging or other derivative transaction that has the effect of either directly or indirectly materially changing the economic benefits or risks of ownership of such security.

 

(b)          “Parent Stockholder Matters” means the approval of the Preferred Stock Conversion Proposal.

 

(c)         “Shares” means (i) all shares of Parent Capital Stock owned, beneficially or of record, by the Stockholder as of the date hereof, (ii) all additional shares of Parent Capital Stock acquired by the Stockholder, beneficially or of record, during the period commencing with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and expiring on the Expiration Date (as defined below) and (iii) any shares of capital stock or other equity securities of Parent that such Stockholder acquires or with respect to which such Stockholder otherwise acquires sole or shared voting power (including any proxy), whether beneficial or of record, or otherwise owned by such Stockholder after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and expiring on the Expiration Date, whether by exercise of any Parent Options or otherwise, including, without limitation, by gift, succession, in the event of a stock split or as a dividend or distribution of any Shares.

 

(d)        “Transfer” or “Transferred” means, with respect to any security, the direct or indirect assignment, sale, transfer, tender, exchange, pledge or hypothecation, or the grant, creation or suffrage of an Encumbrance, lien, security interest or encumbrance in or upon, or the gift, grant or placement in trust, or the Constructive Sale or other disposition of such security (including transfers by testamentary or intestate succession, by domestic relations order or other court order, or otherwise by operation of law) or any right, title or interest therein (including any right or power to vote to which the holder thereof may be entitled, whether such right or power is granted by proxy or otherwise), or the record or beneficial ownership thereof, the offer to make such a sale, transfer, Constructive Sale or other disposition, and each agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing, to effect any of the foregoing.

 

2.          Transfer and Voting Restrictions. The Stockholder covenants to the Company and Parent as follows:

 

(a)       Except as otherwise permitted by Section 2(c), during the period commencing with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and expiring on the Expiration Date (as defined below), the Stockholder shall not Transfer any of the Stockholder’s Shares, publicly announce its intention to Transfer any of its Shares or enter into any contract with respect to any Transfer of, its Shares or any interest therein.

 

(b)       Except as otherwise permitted by this Agreement or otherwise permitted or required by order of a court of competent jurisdiction or a Governmental Authority, the Stockholder will not commit any act that would restrict the Stockholder’s legal power, authority and right to vote all of the Shares held by the Stockholder or otherwise prevent or disable the Stockholder from performing any of his, her or its obligations under this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except for this Agreement, and as otherwise permitted by this Agreement, the Stockholder shall not enter into any voting agreement with any person or entity with respect to any of the Stockholder’s Shares, grant any person or entity any proxy (revocable or irrevocable) or power of attorney with respect to any of the Shares, deposit any Shares in a voting trust or otherwise enter into any agreement or arrangement with any person or entity in each case, which has the effect of limiting or affecting the Stockholder’s legal power, authority or right to vote the Stockholder’s Shares in favor of the Parent Stockholder Matters and against any competing proposals.

 

(c)       Except as otherwise permitted by this Agreement or otherwise permitted or required by order of a court of competent jurisdiction or a Governmental Authority, the Stockholder will not enter into any Contract, option, commitment or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the direct or indirect Transfer of any right, title or interest (including any right or power to vote to which the holder thereof may be entitled whether such right or power is granted by proxy or otherwise) to any Shares or take any action that would reasonably be expected to make any representation or warranty of such Stockholder contained herein untrue or incorrect or have the effect of restricting the Stockholder’s legal power, authority and right to vote all of the Shares or would otherwise prevent or disable such Stockholder from performing any of such Stockholder’s obligations under this Agreement.

 

(d)         Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, the Stockholder may, at any time, Transfer Shares (i) by will or other testamentary document or by intestacy, (ii) to such Stockholder’s Affiliates (in each case, directly or indirectly), (iii) to any member of the Stockholder’s immediate family (or, if the Stockholder is a corporation, partnership or other entity, to an immediate family member of a beneficial owner of the Shares held by the Stockholder), (iv) to any trust or other entity for the direct or indirect benefit of the Stockholder or the immediate family of the Stockholder (or, if the Stockholder is a corporation, partnership or other entity, for the direct or indirect benefit of an immediate family member of a beneficial owner of the Shares held by the Stockholder) or otherwise for estate tax or estate planning purposes, (v) in the case of a Stockholder who is not a natural person, by pro rata distributions from the Stockholder to its members, partners, or shareholders pursuant to the Stockholder’s organizational documents, (vi) with respect to such Stockholder’s Parent Options (and any Shares underlying such Parent Options) which expire on or prior to the Expiration Date, Transfers of Shares to Parent (or effecting a “net exercise” of a Parent Option) as payment for the (a) exercise price of such Stockholder’s Parent Options and (b) taxes applicable to the exercise of such Stockholder’s Parent Options, (vii) transfers to another holder of capital stock of Parent that has signed a support agreement that is reasonably acceptable to the Company, and (viii) transfers, sales or other dispositions as the Company may otherwise agree in writing in its sole discretion; provided, that in the cases of clauses (i)-(viii), (1) such Transferred Shares shall continue to be bound by this Agreement and (2) the applicable direct transferee (if any) of such Transferred Shares shall have executed and delivered to Parent and the Company a support agreement substantially identical to this Agreement upon consummation of the Transfer if not already a party thereto, or (ix) to the extent required by applicable Law. Any action taken in violation of Section 2(a) through Section 2(d) shall be null and void ab initio.

 

(e)         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, nothing in this Agreement shall obligate the Stockholder to exercise any option or any other right to acquire any shares of Parent Capital Stock.

 

3.          Agreement to Vote Shares. The Stockholder covenants to the Company and Parent as follows:

 

(a)         Until the Expiration Date (as defined below), at any meeting of the stockholders of Parent called to vote upon the Parent Stockholder Matters, however called, and at every adjournment or postponement thereof, and on every action or approval by written consent of the stockholders of Parent, the Stockholder shall be present (in person or by proxy) and vote (including by submitting the proxy solicited by Parent with respect to such meeting), or exercise its right to consent with respect to, all Shares held by the Stockholder (A) in favor of the Parent Stockholder Matters, and (B) against any Acquisition Proposal. 

 

(b)        If the Stockholder is the beneficial owner, but not the record holder, of Shares, the Stockholder agrees to take all actions necessary to cause the record holder and any nominees to be present (in person or by proxy) and vote all the Stockholder’s Shares in accordance with this Section 3.

 

(c)        In the event of a stock split, stock dividend or distribution, or any change in the capital stock of Parent by reason of any split-up, reverse stock split, recapitalization, combination, reclassification, reincorporation, exchange of shares or the like, the term “Shares” shall be deemed to refer to and include such shares as well as all such stock dividends and distributions and any securities into which or for which any or all of such shares may be changed or exchanged or which are received in such transaction.

 

4.          Action in Stockholder Capacity Only. The Stockholder is entering into this Agreement solely in the Stockholder’s capacity as a record holder and/or beneficial owner, as applicable, of its Shares and not in the Stockholder’s capacity as a director or officer of Parent. Nothing herein shall limit or affect the Stockholder’s ability to act as an officer or director of Parent.

 

5.          Irrevocable Proxy. The Stockholder hereby revokes (or agrees to cause to be revoked) any proxies that the Stockholder has heretofore granted with respect to its Shares. The Stockholder hereby irrevocably grants to, and appoints, the chairman of the Board of Directors of Parent, and any individual designated in writing by Parent, and each of them individually, as his, her or its proxy and attorney-in-fact (with full power of substitution), for and in its name, place and stead, to vote his, her or its Shares in any action by written consent of Parent stockholders or at any meeting of Parent’s stockholders called with respect to any of the matters specified in, and in accordance and consistent with, Section 3 of this Agreement, if and only the Stockholder fails to vote the Shares in accordance with Section 3 at any applicable meeting of the stockholders of Parent or pursuant to any applicable written consent of the stockholders of Parent. Parent agrees not to exercise the proxy granted herein for any purpose other than the purposes described in this Agreement and the Stockholder affirms that the proxy set forth in this Section 5 is given in connection with, and granted in consideration of, and as an inducement to the Company, Parent and Merger Sub to enter into the Merger Agreement and that such proxy is given to secure the obligations of the Stockholder under Section 3. Except as otherwise provided for herein, the Stockholder hereby affirms that the irrevocable proxy is coupled with an interest and may under no circumstances be revoked and that such irrevocable proxy is executed and intended to be irrevocable. The irrevocable proxy and power of attorney granted herein shall survive and not be affected by the death or incapacity of such Stockholder. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, the irrevocable proxy granted hereunder shall automatically terminate on the Expiration Date.

 

6.        No Solicitation. Subject to Section 4, the Stockholder agrees not to, directly or indirectly, including through any of its officers, directors or agents, take any action that Parent is prohibited from taking pursuant to Section 5.4 of the Merger Agreement and Section 5.4 of the Merger Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference mutatis mutandis.

 

7.          Documentation and Information. The Stockholder shall permit and hereby authorizes Parent and the Company to publish and disclose in all documents and schedules filed with the SEC, and any press release or other disclosure document that Parent or the Company reasonably determines to be necessary in connection with the Merger and any of the Contemplated Transactions, a copy of this Agreement, the Stockholder’s identity and ownership of the Shares and the nature of the Stockholder’s commitments and obligations under this Agreement. Each of Parent and the Company is an intended third-party beneficiary of this Section 7.

 

8.         Representations and Warranties of the Stockholder. The Stockholder hereby represents and warrants to Parent and the Company as follows:

 

(a)          (i) The Stockholder is the beneficial or record owner of the shares of Parent Capital Stock indicated in Appendix A (each of which shall be deemed to be “held” by the Stockholder for purposes of Section 3 unless otherwise expressly stated with respect to any shares in Appendix A), free and clear of any and all Encumbrances (except for any Encumbrance that may be imposed pursuant to this Agreement, and Encumbrances arising under applicable securities or community property laws); and (ii) the Stockholder does not beneficially own any securities of Parent other than the shares of Parent Capital Stock and rights to purchase shares of Parent Capital Stock set forth in Appendix A.

 

(b)         With respect to any Stockholder that is an entity, the Stockholder is duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation and is qualified to conduct its business in those jurisdictions necessary to perform this Agreement.

 

(c)         Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Stockholder has full power, legal capacity and authority to (i) make, enter into and carry out the terms of this Agreement and (ii) vote all of its Shares in the manner set forth in this Agreement without the consent or approval of, or any other action on the part of, any other person or entity (including any Governmental Authority). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Stockholder has not entered into any voting agreement (other than this Agreement) with any person with respect to any of the Stockholder’s Shares, granted any person any proxy (revocable or irrevocable) or power of attorney with respect to any of the Stockholder’s Shares, deposited any of the Stockholder’s Shares in a voting trust or entered into any arrangement or agreement with any person limiting or affecting the Stockholder’s legal power, authority or right to vote the Stockholder’s Shares on any matter.

 

(d)         This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Stockholder and (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto) constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Stockholder enforceable against the Stockholder in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder and the performance by the Stockholder of the agreements and obligations hereunder will not result in any breach or violation of or be in conflict with or constitute a default under any term of any Contract or if applicable any provision of an organizational document (including a certificate of incorporation) to or by which the Stockholder is a party or bound, or any applicable law to which the Stockholder (or any of the Stockholder’s assets) is subject or bound, except for any such breach, violation, conflict or default which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to materially impair or adversely affect the Stockholder’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(e)        The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Stockholder do not and will not require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, action by, filing with or notification to, any Governmental Authority, except for any such consent, approval, authorization, permit, action, filing or notification the failure of which to make or obtain, individually or in the aggregate, has not and would not materially impair the Stockholder’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(f)       The Stockholder has had the opportunity to review the Merger Agreement and this Agreement with counsel of the Stockholder’s own choosing. The Stockholder has had an opportunity to review with its own tax advisors the tax consequences of the Merger and the other Contemplated Transactions. The Stockholder understands that it must rely solely on its advisors and not on any statements or representations made by Parent, the Company or any of their respective agents or representatives with respect to the tax consequences of the Merger and the other Contemplated Transactions. The Stockholder understands that such Stockholder (and not Parent, the Company, or the Surviving Entity) shall be responsible for such Stockholder’s tax liability that may arise as a result of the Merger or the other Contemplated Transactions. The Stockholder understands and acknowledges that the Company, Parent and Merger Sub are entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon the Stockholder’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.

 

(g)         With respect to the Stockholder, as of the date hereof, there is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending against, or, to the knowledge of the Stockholder, threatened against, the Stockholder or any of the Stockholder’s properties or assets (including the Shares) that would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay or impair the ability of the Stockholder to perform its obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

9.          Termination. This Agreement shall terminate and shall cease to be of any further force or effect as of the earliest of (a) such date and time as the Preferred Stock Conversion Proposal shall have been approved by the stockholders of Parent, (b) twelve (12) months following the date hereof, or (c) the time this Agreement is terminated upon mutual written agreement of the Stockholder, the Company and Parent (clauses (a)-(c), the “Expiration Date”); provided, however, that (i) Section 10 shall survive the termination of this Agreement, and (ii) the termination of this Agreement shall not relieve any party hereto from any liability for any material and willful breach of this Agreement prior to the Expiration Date.

 

10.          Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

(a)          Amendments. No amendment of this Agreement shall be effective against any party unless it shall be in writing and signed by each of the parties hereto.

 

(b)          Entire Agreement; Counterparts; Exchanges by Electronic Transmission or Facsimile. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all other prior agreements, arrangements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This 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 Agreement (in counterparts or otherwise) by all parties by facsimile or electronic transmission in PDF format shall be sufficient to bind the parties to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

(c)          Applicable Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws. In any action or proceeding between any of the parties arising out of or relating to this Agreement, each of the parties: (i) irrevocably and unconditionally consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, to the extent such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, (ii) agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding shall be heard and determined exclusively in accordance with clause (i) of this Section 10(c), (iii) waives any objection to laying venue in any such action or proceeding in such courts, (iv) waives any objection that such courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over any party, (v) agrees that service of process upon such party in any such action or proceeding shall be effective if notice is given in accordance with Section 10(h) of this Agreement and (vi) irrevocably and unconditionally waives the right to trial by jury.

 

(d)         Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall be enforceable by and inure solely to the benefit of, the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns; provided, however, that neither this Agreement nor any of a party’s rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned or delegated (except by the Merger) by such party without the prior written consent of the other party, and any attempted assignment or delegation of this Agreement or any of such rights or obligations by such party without the other party’s prior written consent shall be void and of no effect.

 

(e)          No Third Party Rights. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any Person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(f)         Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction. If a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, the parties agree that the court making such determination shall have the power to limit such term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases or to replace such term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable as so modified. In the event such court does not exercise the power granted to it in the prior sentence, the parties agree to replace such invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a valid and enforceable term or provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such invalid or unenforceable term or provision.

 

(g)         Specific Performance. Except as otherwise provided herein, any and all remedies herein expressly conferred upon a party will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby, or by law or equity upon such party, and the exercise by a party of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy. The parties agree that irreparable damage for which monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy, would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms (including failing to take such actions as are required of it hereunder to consummate this Agreement) or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, to the extent such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity, and each of the parties waives any bond, surety or other security that might be required of any other party with respect thereto. Each of the parties further agrees that it will not oppose the granting of an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief on the basis that any other party has an adequate remedy at law or that any award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or in equity.

 

(h)         Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly delivered (i) one (1) Business Day after being sent for next Business Day delivery, fees prepaid, via a reputable international overnight courier service, (ii) upon delivery in the case of delivery by hand or (iii) on the date delivered in the place of delivery if sent by email or facsimile (with a written or electronic confirmation of delivery) prior to 6:00 p.m. (New York City time), otherwise on the next succeeding Business Day, (A) if to the Company or Parent, to the address, electronic mail address or facsimile provided in Section 11.7 of the Merger Agreement, including to the persons designated therein to receive copies; and/or (B) if to the Stockholder, to the Stockholder’s address, electronic mail address or facsimile shown below Stockholder’s signature to this Agreement.

 

(i)          Confidentiality.  Except to the extent required by applicable Law or regulation, the Stockholder shall hold any non-public information regarding the Company, this Agreement, the Merger Agreement and the Merger in strict confidence and shall not divulge any such information to any third person until the Company and Parent have publicly disclosed their entry into the Merger Agreement and this Agreement; provided, however, that the Stockholder may disclose such information to its Affiliates, attorneys, accountants, consultants, and other advisors (provided that such Persons are subject to confidentiality obligations at least as restrictive as those contained herein).  Neither the Stockholder nor any of its Affiliates (other than Parent, whose actions shall be governed by the Merger Agreement), shall issue or cause the publication of any press release or other public announcement with respect to Parent, this Agreement, the Merger, the Merger Agreement or the other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby without the prior written consent of the Company and Parent, except as may be required by applicable Law in which circumstance such announcing party shall make reasonable efforts to consult with the Company and Parent to the extent practicable.

 

(j)          Interpretation. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of like import used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The captions herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction or interpretation hereof. References to Sections and Appendixes are to Sections and Appendixes of this Agreement unless otherwise specified. Any capitalized terms used in any Appendix but not otherwise defined therein shall have the meaning as defined in this Agreement. Any singular term in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular, the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders; the feminine gender shall include the masculine and neuter genders; and the neuter gender shall include masculine and feminine gender. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation,” whether or not they are in fact followed by those words or words of like import. The word “or” is not exclusive. “Writing,” “written” and comparable terms refer to printing, typing and other means of reproducing words (including electronic media) in a visible form. References to any agreement or Contract are to that agreement or Contract as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. References to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person. References to any statute are to that statute and to the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, in each case as amended, modified, re-enacted thereof, substituted, from time to time. References to “$” and “dollars” are to the currency of the United States. All accounting terms used herein will be interpreted, and all accounting determinations hereunder will be made, in accordance with GAAP unless otherwise expressly specified. References from or through any date shall mean, unless otherwise specified, from and including or through and including, respectively. All references to “days” shall be to calendar days unless otherwise indicated as a “Business Day.” Except as otherwise specifically indicated, for purposes of measuring the beginning and ending of time periods in this Agreement (including for purposes of “Business Day” and for hours in a day or Business Day), the time at which a thing, occurrence or event shall begin or end shall be deemed to occur in the Eastern time zone of the United States. The parties agree that any rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be applied in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

[Remainder of Page Left Intentionally Blank]

 

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

 

[STOCKHOLDER],
in his/her capacity as the Stockholder:

 

 

---

Address:

[______]

Email:

[______]

Attention:

[______]

Confidential

FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

 

March 2, 2026

 

Cullgen Inc.

12730 High Bluff Drive, Suite 250

San Diego, CA 92130

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned signatory of this lock-up agreement (this “Lock-Up Agreement’’) understands that Gyre Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), is entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated as of March 2, 2026 (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement’’) with Helix Merger Sub Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, and Cullgen Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). 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 each of the parties to enter into the Merger Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is 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, during the period commencing upon the Closing and (w) with respect to one-third of the Undersigned’s Shares, ending on the date that is 180 days after the Closing Date, (x) with respect to one-third of the Undersigned’s Shares, ending on the date that is twelve (12) months after the Closing Date, and (y) with respect to one-third  of the Undersigned’s Shares, ending on the date that is eighteen (18) months after the Closing Date (each such period the “Restricted Period”):

 

(1)  offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Parent Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Parent Common Stock (including without limitation, shares of Parent Common Stock or such other securities of Parent which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and securities of Parent which may be issued upon exercise or vesting, as applicable, of a stock option or warrant or settlement of a restricted stock unit or restricted stock award and Parent Common Stock or such other securities to be issued to the undersigned in connection with the Merger, in each case, that are currently or hereafter owned of record or beneficially (collectively, the “Undersigned’s Shares”);

 

(2)   enter into any swap, short sale, hedge or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Undersigned’s Shares regardless of whether any such transaction described in clause (1) above or this clause (2) is to be settled by delivery of shares of Parent Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise;

 

(3)   make any demand for, or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of Parent Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Parent Common Stock (other than such rights set forth in the Merger Agreement or Registration Rights Agreement);

 

(4)  except for any support agreement entered into as of the date hereof by the undersigned with Parent and the Company, grant any proxies or powers of attorney with respect to any Parent Common Stock, deposit any Parent Common Stock into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement or similar arrangement or commitment with respect to any Parent Common Stock; or

(5)  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 Shares:

 

(i)          (A) to any person related to the undersigned (or to an ultimate beneficial owner of the undersigned) by blood or adoption who is an immediate family member of the undersigned, or by marriage or domestic partnership (each, 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) as a bona fide gift or a charitable contribution, as such term is described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code, or otherwise to a trust or other entity for the direct or indirect benefit of an immediate family member of a beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of the Undersigned’s Shares (D) by operation of Law, such as pursuant to a qualified domestic order or in connection with a divorce settlement or (E) to any partnership, corporation, limited liability company or other entity, in each case, the beneficial ownership interests of all of which are held by or otherwise under common control (via beneficial ownership, contract or otherwise) with the undersigned or a Family Member of the undersigned;

 

(ii)      if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity, (A) to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity that is a direct or indirect affiliate (as defined under Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act) of the undersigned, including investment funds or other entities that controls or manages, is under common control or management with, or is controlled or managed by, the undersigned (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where the undersigned is a partnership, to its general partner or a successor partnership or fund, or any other funds managed by such partnership), (B) as a distribution or dividend to equity holders, current or former partners, members, stockholders or managers (or to the estates of any of the foregoing), 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), (C) as a bona fide gift or a charitable contribution, as such term is described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code, or otherwise to a trust or other entity for the direct or indirect benefit of an immediate family member of a beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of the Undersigned’s Shares, (D) transfers or dispositions not involving a change in beneficial ownership or (E) with prior written consent of Parent (as constituted following the Closing); or

 

(iii)        if the undersigned is a trust, to any grantors or beneficiaries of the trust;

 

provided that, in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to this clause (a), such transfer is not for value (other than transfers pursuant to clauses (a)(i)(A), (a)(i)(E) or (a)(ii)(A) hereto) and each donee, heir, beneficiary or other transferee or distributee shall sign and deliver to Parent a lock-up agreement in the form of this Lock-Up Agreement with respect to the shares of Parent Common Stock or such other securities that have been so transferred or distributed and if a filing pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act is required, such filing shall describe the nature of the transfer or distribution;

 

(b)         the exercise of an option to purchase shares of Parent Common Stock (including a net or cashless exercise of an option to purchase shares of Parent Common Stock ), and any related transfer of shares of Parent Common Stock to Parent or open market sale of Parent Common Stock for the purpose of paying the exercise price of such options or for paying taxes (including estimated taxes) due as a result of the exercise of such options, and open market sale for the purpose of paying taxes (including estimated taxes) due as a result of the receipt of Parent Common Stock (or in the case of the vesting of restricted stock units pursuant to terms of the Merger Agreement converted into shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement); provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, any underlying shares of Parent Common Stock not transferred to sold pursuant to this clause shall continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Lock-Up Agreement;

 

(c)         transfers to Parent in connection with the net settlement of any other equity award that represents the right to receive in the future shares of Parent Common Stock, settled in shares of Parent Common Stock, to pay any tax withholding obligations; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the underlying shares of Parent Common Stock shall continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Lock-Up Agreement;

 

(d)        the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-l under the Exchange Act for the transfer of shares of Parent Common Stock; provided that such plan does not provide for any transfers of shares of Parent Common Stock during the Restricted Period;

 

(e)         the disposition (including a forfeiture or repurchase) to Parent of any shares of restricted stock granted pursuant to the terms of any employee benefit plan or restricted stock purchase agreement;

 

(f)       transfers, distributions, sales or other transactions by the undersigned of shares of Parent Common Stock purchased by the undersigned on the open market or in a public offering by Parent, in each case following the date of the Closing;

 

(g)        transfers 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 that in the event that such tender offer, merger, consolidation or other such transaction is not completed, the Undersigned’s Shares shall remain subject to the restrictions contained in this Lock-Up Agreement;

 

(h)          transfers pursuant to an order of a court or regulatory agency; or

 

(i)          transfers, distributions, sales or other transactions with the prior written consent of Parent (as constituted following the Closing);

 

and provided further, that, with respect to each of (b), (c), and (d) above, no filing by any party (including any donor, donee, transferor, transferee, distributor or distributee) under Section 16 of the Exchange Act or other public announcement shall be made voluntarily reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Parent Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Parent Common Stock in connection with such transfer or disposition during the Restricted Period (other than any exit filings) and if any filings under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, or other public filing, report or announcement reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Parent Common Stock in connection with such transfer or distribution, shall be legally required during the Restricted Period, such filing, report or announcement shall clearly indicate in the footnotes therein, in reasonable detail, a description of the circumstances of the transfer and that the shares remain subject to this Lock-Up Agreement.

 

For purposes of this Lock-Up Agreement, “change of control” shall mean the transfer (whether by tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction), in one transaction or a series of related transactions to a person or group of affiliated persons, of Parent’s voting securities if, after such transfer, Parent’s stockholders as of immediately prior to such transfer do not hold a majority of the outstanding voting securities of Parent (or the surviving entity).

 

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 Parent Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Parent Common Stock:

 

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.

 

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 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, the undersigned shall be released from all obligations under this Lock-Up Agreement. The undersigned understands that the Board of Directors of Parent may waive any term of this Lock-Up Agreement at any time and for any reason. 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 or the Company will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby, or by Law or equity, and the exercise by Parent or the Company of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy. The undersigned agrees that irreparable damage for which monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy, would occur to Parent and/or the Company in the event that any of the provisions of this Lock-Up Agreement were not performed in accordance with its specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that Parent and the Company 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 or the Company is entitled at Law or in equity, and the undersigned waives any bond, surety or other security that might be required of Parent or the Company with respect thereto. Each of the parties further agrees that it will not oppose the granting of an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief on the basis that any other party has an adequate remedy at Law or that any award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at Law or in equity.

 

In the event that any holder of Parent’s securities that are subject to a substantially similar agreement entered into by such holder, other than the undersigned, is permitted by Parent to sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of shares of Parent Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Parent Common Stock for value other than as permitted by this or a substantially similar agreement entered into by such holder (whether in one or multiple releases or waivers), the same percentage of shares of Parent Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Parent Common Stock held by the undersigned on the date of such release or waiver as the percentage of the total number of outstanding shares of such securities held by such holder on the date of such release or waiver that are the subject of such release or waiver shall be immediately and fully released on the same terms from any remaining restrictions set forth herein (the “Pro-Rata Release”); provided, however, that such Pro-Rata Release shall not be applied unless and until permission has been granted by Parent to an equity holder or equity holders to sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of all or a portion of such equity holders shares of Parent Common Stock in an aggregate amount in excess of 1% of the number of shares of Parent Common Stock subject to a substantially similar agreement.  In the event of any Pro-Rata Release, the Company shall promptly (and in any event within two (2) Business Days of such release) inform each relevant holder of Parent Common Stock of the terms of such Pro-Rata Release.

 

Upon the release of any of the Undersigned’s Shares from this Lock-Up Agreement, Parent will promptly facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates or the establishment of book-entry positions at Parent’s transfer agent representing the Undersigned’s Shares without the restrictive legend above or the withdrawal of any stop transfer instructions by virtue of this Lock-Up Agreement.

 

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, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws. In any action or proceeding between any of the parties arising out of or relating to this Lock-Up Agreement, each of the parties: (i) irrevocably and unconditionally consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, to the extent such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, (ii) agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding shall be heard and determined exclusively in accordance with foregoing clause (i) of this paragraph, (iii) waives any objection to laying venue in any such action or proceeding in such courts, (iv) waives any objection that such courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over any party and (v) irrevocably and unconditionally waives the right to trial by jury. This Lock-Up Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties to this Lock-Up Agreement and supersedes all other prior agreements, arrangements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION OR LEGAL PROCEEDING RELATED TO OR ARISING OUT OF THIS LOCK-UP AGREEMENT, ANY DOCUMENT EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH AND THE MATTERS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY.

 

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, the Company and the undersigned by 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]

 

The undersigned understands that this Lock-Up Agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned and the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned.

 

Accepted and Agreed

by Gyre Therapeutics, Inc.:

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

San Diego, CA, March 2, 2026 – Gyre Therapeutics, Inc. (Gyre or the Company) (Nasdaq: GYRE), an innovative, commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to advancing fibrosis-first therapies across organ systems affected by chronic diseases, today announced its agreement to acquire Cullgen Inc. (Cullgen), a privately-held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of targeted protein degrader (TPD) and degrader antibody conjugate (DAC) therapies, in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $300 million. Following the closure of the acquisition, the new combined entity will be a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company with U.S.- and China-based capabilities spanning from discovery to manufacturing and commercialization and covering multiple therapeutic areas including inflammatory diseases, cancers, and pain.

 

Under the terms of the definitive agreement, Cullgen will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Gyre. Upon the completion of the acquisition, the interim Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman of Gyre, Ping Zhang, will remain as the Executive Chairman.  The current Chief Executive Officer of Cullgen, Dr. Ying Luo, is expected to become the President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Gyre.

 

Dr. Luo, the expected President and Chief Executive Officer of Gyre, commented, “We are thrilled about the synergistic coalescing of our companies. Cullgen brings strong drug discovery capabilities and a solid preclinical and clinical pipeline to complement Gyre’s existing and highly efficient China-based manufacturing capabilities and sales team. Gyre is already a commercial-stage company with ETUARY^® on the market in China for the treatment of lung fibrosis and a second product for liver fibrosis, Hydronidone (F351), nearing New Drug Application (NDA), submission in China. Gyre is also exploring the expansion of F351’s development in ex-China territories. Following the acquisition, we will have a fully-integrated biopharmaceutical company that will be capable of leveraging emerging drug discovery capabilities in China and strong clinical development in the United States to address unmet medical needs worldwide. I am excited for the potential of TPDs and DACs to drive this Company’s future growth globally.”

 

Mr. Zhang, Chairman of Gyre, commented, “Recently, Gyre, through its majority owned subsidiary, Gyre Pharmaceuticals, had a pre-NDA meeting with the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) which supported a conditional approval and priority review eligibility filing for Gyre Pharmaceuticals’ first-in-class anti-liver fibrosis candidate, Hydronidone, subject to formal approval. As a result, Gyre Pharmaceuticals plans to submit an NDA for Hydronidone for conditional approval in the first half of 2026 and conduct a Phase 3c confirmatory trial to support full approval in China. The addition of Cullgen’s TPD/DAC platform and pipeline is expected to enhance our long-term growth prospects. We are excited to have Cullgen colleagues join our team in both the United States and China.”

 

The transaction is expected to close early in the second quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including necessary regulatory approvals in the United States.

 

Prior to entering into this transaction, Cullgen’s proposed merger with Pulmatrix was terminated.

 

Updated Corporate Presentation

 

In connection with this announcement, a new presentation has been posted on each company’s respective website. Visit http://www.cullgen.com or http://www.gyretx.com.

 

 

About Cullgen Inc.

 

Cullgen is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of targeted protein degrader and DAC therapies designed to improve the lives of patients suffering from critical conditions such as pain, cancer and inflammatory diseases. Cullgen has created a portfolio of highly selective targeted protein degrader product candidates designed to potently and efficiently eliminate therapeutically relevant proteins in patients. By leveraging its expertise in targeted protein degraders, Cullgen believes its product candidates have many distinct advantages over other therapeutic modalities, including higher selectivity, improved therapeutic profile and avoidance of known toxicities.

 

Cullgen’s lead product candidate, CG001419, is an oral pan-tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) degrader that previously completed a Phase 1 trial for the treatment of acute post-operative pain and Cullgen released positive top-line results from the study in late 2025.  Cullgen recently submitted an IND for the molecule, and pending FDA allowance, expects to initiate a Phase 2 trial in acute pain in bunionectomy patients in the United States. The molecule is also being studied in a Phase 1 trial for the treatment of solid tumors. Cullgen’s second product candidate, CG009301, is a GSPT1 degrader being studied in a Phase 1 trial for the treatment of blood cancers, including relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia, higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In addition to CG001419 and CG009301, Cullgen is also progressing a number of preclinical programs including next-generation degrader-antibody conjugates.

 

For more information, please visit www.cullgen.com.

 

About Gyre Pharmaceuticals

 

About Gyre Therapeutics

 

Advisory and Legal Counsel

 

Moelis & Company LLC is acting as financial advisor to the special committee to Gyre’s Board of Directors, and Gyre’s legal counsel is Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.

 

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo, P.C. is serving as legal counsel to Cullgen.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

CONTACTS:

 

Gyre Therapeutics, Inc.

 

 

Cullgen Inc.

 

Thomas Eastling, CFO

 

 

Investors

 

chuck@lifesciadvisors.com

 

---