AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER By and Among Omni Cable, LLC, OCDFH Acquisition Sub Inc. and Houston Wire & Cable Company Dated as of March 24, 2021

Exhibit 2.1

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

By and Among

Omni Cable, LLC,

OCDFH Acquisition Sub Inc.

and

Houston Wire & Cable Company

Dated as of March 24, 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Article I. THE MERGER	1
Section 1.01 The Merger	1
Section 1.02 Closing	2
Section 1.03 Effective Time	2
Section 1.04 Effects of the Merger	2
Section 1.05 Certificate of Incorporation; By-Laws	2
Section 1.06 Directors and Officers	2
Article II. EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON CAPITAL STOCK; PAYMENT FOR SHARES	3
Section 2.01 Effect of the Merger on Capital Stock	3
Section 2.02 Surrender and Payment	3
Section 2.03 Dissenting Shares	5
Section 2.04 Adjustments	6
Section 2.05 Withholding Rights	6
Section 2.06 Lost Certificates	6
Section 2.07 Treatment of Stock Options and Other Stock-Based Compensation	6
Article III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY	8
Section 3.01 Organization; Standing and Power; Charter Documents; Subsidiaries	8
Section 3.02 Capital Structure	9
Section 3.03 Authority; Non-Contravention; Governmental Consents; Board Approval; Anti-Takeover Statutes	11
Section 3.04 SEC Filings; Financial Statements; ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act Compliance; Undisclosed Liabilities; Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements	12
Section 3.05 Absence of Certain Changes or Events	15
Section 3.06 Taxes	15
Section 3.07 Intellectual Property	17
Section 3.08 Compliance; Permits	19
Section 3.09 Litigation	20
Section 3.10 Brokers’ and Finders’ Fees	20
Section 3.11 Related Person Transactions	20
Section 3.12 Employee Matters	20
Section 3.13 Real Property and Personal Property Matters	24
Section 3.14 Environmental Matters	25
Section 3.15 Material Contracts	26
Section 3.16 Insurance	28
Section 3.17 Proxy Statement	28
Section 3.18 Anti-Corruption Matters	28
Section 3.19 Products	28
Section 3.20 PPP Loan.	29
Section 3.21 Fairness Opinion	29
Article IV. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB	29
Section 4.01 Organization	29

Section 4.02 Authority; Non-Contravention; Governmental Consents; Board Approval	29
Section 4.03 Proxy Statement	31
Section 4.04 Financial Capability	31
Section 4.05 Legal Proceedings	31
Section 4.06 Ownership of Company Common Stock	31
Section 4.07 Brokers	31
Article V. COVENANTS	31
Section 5.01 Conduct of Business of the Company	31
Section 5.02 Other Actions	35
Section 5.03 Access to Information; Integration Planning; Confidentiality	35
Section 5.04 Solicitation of Takeover Proposals	36
Section 5.05 Stockholders Meeting; Preparation of Proxy Materials; Approval by Sole Stockholder of Merger Sub	39
Section 5.06 Notices of Certain Events; Stockholder Litigation; No Effect on Disclosure Letter	40
Section 5.07 Employees; Benefit Plans	41
Section 5.08 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance	42
Section 5.09 Reasonable Best Efforts	43
Section 5.10 Public Announcements	45
Section 5.11 Anti-Takeover Statutes	45
Section 5.12 Section 16 Matters	45
Section 5.13 Stock Exchange Delisting; Deregistration	46
Section 5.14 PPP Loan	46
Section 5.15 Obligations of Merger Sub	46
Section 5.16 Treatment of Certain Company Indebtedness.	46
Section 5.17 Financing Cooperation	47
Section 5.18 Further Assurances	48
Article VI. CONDITIONS	48
Section 6.01 Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger	48
Section 6.02 Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub	49
Section 6.03 Conditions to Obligation of the Company	50
Article VII. TERMINATION, AMENDMENT, AND WAIVER	50
Section 7.01 Termination by Mutual Consent	50
Section 7.02 Termination by Either Parent or the Company	51
Section 7.03 Termination by Parent	51
Section 7.04 Termination by the Company	51
Section 7.05 Notice of Termination; Effect of Termination	52
Section 7.06 Fees Following Termination	52
Section 7.07 Amendment	53
Section 7.08 Extension; Waiver	54
Article VIII. MISCELLANEOUS	54
Section 8.01 Interpretation; Construction	54
Section 8.02 Survival	55
Section 8.03 Governing Law	55

Section 8.04 Submission to Jurisdiction	55
Section 8.05 Waiver of Jury Trial	56
Section 8.06 Notices	56
Section 8.07 Entire Agreement	57
Section 8.08 No Third-Party Beneficiaries	57
Section 8.09 Severability	57
Section 8.10 Assignment	57
Section 8.11 Remedies	57
Section 8.12 Specific Performance	57
Section 8.13 Counterparts; Effectiveness; Electronic Transmission of Signatures	58
Section 8.14 Definitions	58

Exhibit A: Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Surviving Company

Exhibit B: Form of Voting Agreement

INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS

Agreement	1	Dissenting Shares	5
Bank Debt	47	Financing	47
Book-Entry Share	3	Maximum Premium	42
Cancelled Shares	3	Merger	2
Certificate	3	Merger Consideration	3
Certificate of Merger	2	Merger Sub	1
Company	1	Other Governmental Approvals	12
Company Board Recommendation	12	Parent	1
Company Debt	50	Paying Agent	3
Company Material Contract	26	Payment Fund	3
Company Securities	10	Payoff Amount	47
Company Subsidiary Securities	11	Payoff Letter	47
Consent	12	Subsidiary NBV	50
Credit Agreement Termination	46	Superior Proposal Notice Period	38
D&O Insurance	42	Surviving Corporation	2

iii

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

This Agreement and Plan of Merger (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of March 24, 2021 by and among Houston Wire & Cable Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Omni Cable, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company (“Parent”), and OCDFH Acquisition Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”). Capitalized terms used herein (including in the immediately preceding sentence) and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in Section 8.14 hereof.

RECITALS

A. The parties intend that Merger Sub be merged with and into the Company, with the Company surviving that merger on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

B. In the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, each share of Company Common Stock will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration except as otherwise provided in this Agreement.

C. The Company Board has unanimously: (i) determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, and declared it advisable, to enter into this Agreement with Parent and Merger Sub; (ii) approved the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger; and (iii) resolved, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to recommend adoption of this Agreement by the stockholders of the Company; in each case, in accordance with the DGCL.

D. The respective Boards of Directors and Managers of Parent and Merger Sub have each unanimously: (i) determined that it is in the best interests of Parent or Merger Sub, as applicable, and their respective stockholders and members, and declared it advisable, to enter into this Agreement; and (ii) approved the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger; in each case, in accordance with the DGCL.

E. Each member of the Company Board of Directors and each officer of the Company has entered into the Voting Agreement pursuant to which they have agreed, among other things, to vote the shares of Company Common Stock they beneficially own for adoption of this Agreement and approval of the Merger.

F. The parties desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements in connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and also to prescribe certain terms and conditions to the Merger.

AGREEMENT

In consideration of the foregoing and of the representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements contained in this Agreement, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

Article I.
THE MERGER

Section 1.01 The Merger. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the DGCL, at the Effective Time: (a) Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”); (b) the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease; and (c) the Company will continue its corporate existence under the DGCL as the surviving corporation in the Merger and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent (sometimes referred to herein as the “Surviving Corporation”).

Section 1.02 Closing. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Closing will take place at 9:00 A.M., St. Louis, Missouri time, as soon as practicable (and, in any event, within three Business Days) after the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted hereunder, waiver of all conditions to the Merger set forth in Article VI (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted hereunder, waiver of all such conditions), unless this Agreement has been terminated pursuant to its terms or unless another time or date is agreed to in writing by the parties hereto. The Closing shall take place remotely by exchange of documents and signatures (or their electronic counterparts), unless another place is agreed to in writing by the parties hereto.

Section 1.03 Effective Time. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, at the Closing, the Company, Parent, and Merger Sub will cause a certificate of merger (the “Certificate of Merger”) to be executed, acknowledged, and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the relevant provisions of the DGCL and shall make all other filings or recordings required under the DGCL. The Merger will become effective at such time as the Certificate of Merger has been duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or at such later date or time as may be agreed by the Company and Parent in writing and specified in the Certificate of Merger in accordance with the DGCL.

Section 1.04 Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set forth in this Agreement and in the applicable provisions of the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, from and after the Effective Time, all property, rights, privileges, immunities, powers, franchises, licenses, and authority of the Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions, and duties of each of the Company and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions, and duties of the Surviving Corporation.

Section 1.05 Certificate of Incorporation; By-Laws. At the Effective Time: (a) the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation shall be amended and restated so as to read in its entirety as set forth in Exhibit A, and, as so amended and restated, shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended in accordance with the terms thereof or as provided by applicable Law; and (b) the by-laws of Merger Sub as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the by-laws of the Surviving Corporation, except that references to Merger Sub’s name shall be replaced with references to the Surviving Corporation’s name, until thereafter amended in accordance with the terms thereof, the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation, or as provided by applicable Law.

Section 1.06 Directors and Officers. The directors and officers of Merger Sub, in each case, immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the directors and officers, respectively, of the Surviving Corporation until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation, or removal in accordance with the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Surviving Corporation.

Article II.
EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON CAPITAL STOCK; PAYMENT FOR SHARES

Section 2.01 Effect of the Merger on Capital Stock. At the Effective Time, as a result of the Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, Merger Sub, or the Company or the holder of any capital stock of Parent, Merger Sub, or the Company:

(a) Cancellation of Certain Company Common Stock. Each share of Company Common Stock that is owned by Parent or the Company (as treasury stock or otherwise) or any of their respective direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (“Cancelled Shares”) will automatically be cancelled and retired and will cease to exist, and no consideration will be delivered in exchange therefor.

(b) Conversion of Company Common Stock. Each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Cancelled Shares and Dissenting Shares) will be converted into the right to receive $5.30 in cash, without interest (the “Merger Consideration”).

(c) Cancellation of Shares. At the Effective Time, all shares of Company Common Stock will no longer be outstanding and all shares of Company Common Stock will be cancelled and retired and will cease to exist, and, subject to Section 2.03, each holder of: (i) a certificate formerly representing any shares of Company Common Stock (each, a “Certificate”); or (ii) any book-entry shares which immediately prior to the Effective Time represented shares of Company Common Stock (each, a “Book-Entry Share”) will, subject to applicable Law in the case of Dissenting Shares, cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the Merger Consideration in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof.

(d) Conversion of Merger Sub Capital Stock. Each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become one newly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation with the same rights, powers, and privileges as the shares so converted and shall constitute the only outstanding shares of capital stock of the Surviving Corporation. From and after the Effective Time, all certificates representing shares of Merger Sub common stock shall be deemed for all purposes to represent the number of shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation into which they were converted in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence.

Section 2.02 Surrender and Payment.

(a) Paying Agent; Payment Fund. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall appoint a paying agent (the “Paying Agent”) to act as the agent for the purpose of paying the Merger Consideration for: (i) the Certificates; and (ii) the Book-Entry Shares. Promptly following the Effective Time, Parent shall deposit, or cause the Surviving Corporation to deposit, with the Paying Agent, sufficient funds to pay the aggregate Merger Consideration that is payable in respect of all of the shares of Company Common Stock represented by the Certificates and the Book-Entry Shares (other than: (A) shares to be cancelled and retired in accordance with Section 2.01(a); and (B) Dissenting Shares) (the “Payment Fund”) in amounts and at the times necessary for such payments. If for any reason (including losses) the Payment Fund is inadequate to pay the amounts to which holders of shares shall be entitled under Section 2.01(b), Parent shall take all steps necessary to enable or cause the Surviving Corporation promptly to deposit in trust additional cash with the Paying Agent sufficient to make all payments required under this Agreement. The Payment Fund shall not be used for any other purpose. The Surviving Corporation shall pay all charges and expenses, including those of the Paying Agent, in connection with the exchange of shares of Company Common Stock for the Merger Consideration. Promptly after the Effective Time, Parent shall send, or shall cause the Paying Agent to send, to each record holder of shares of Company Common Stock at the Effective Time, whose Company Common Stock was converted pursuant to Section 2.01(b) into the right to receive the Merger Consideration, a letter of transmittal and instructions (which shall specify that the delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates or transfer of the Book-Entry Shares to the Paying Agent, and which letter of transmittal will be in customary form and have such other provisions as Parent and the Surviving Corporation may reasonably specify) for use in such exchange.

(b) Procedures for Surrender; No Interest. Each holder of shares of Company Common Stock that have been converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration shall be entitled to receive the Merger Consideration in respect of the Company Common Stock represented by a Certificate or Book-Entry Share upon: (i) surrender to the Paying Agent of a Certificate, together with a duly completed and validly executed letter of transmittal and such other documents as may reasonably be requested by the Paying Agent; or (ii) receipt of an “agent’s message” by the Paying Agent (or such other evidence, if any, of transfer as the Paying Agent may reasonably request) in the case of Book-Entry Shares. Until so surrendered or transferred, as the case may be, and subject to the terms set forth in Section 2.03, each such Certificate or Book-Entry Share, as applicable, shall represent after the Effective Time for all purposes only the right to receive the Merger Consideration payable in respect thereof. No interest shall be paid or accrued on the cash payable upon the surrender or transfer of any Certificate or Book-Entry Share. Upon payment of the Merger Consideration pursuant to the provisions of this Article II, each Certificate or Certificates or Book-Entry Share or Book-Entry Shares so surrendered or transferred, as the case may be, shall immediately be cancelled.

(c) Investment of Payment Fund. Until disbursed in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the cash in the Payment Fund will be invested by the Paying Agent, as directed by Parent or the Surviving Corporation , in: (i) obligations of or fully guaranteed by the United States; (ii) short-term commercial paper rated the highest quality by ▇▇▇▇▇’▇ Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor’s Corporation; (iii) certificates of deposit, bank repurchase agreements, or banker’s acceptances of commercial banks with capital exceeding $10 billion (based on the most recent financial statements of such bank that are then publicly available); or (iv) money market funds having a rating in the highest investment category granted by a recognized credit rating agency at the time of acquisition or a combination of the foregoing. No losses with respect to any investments of the Payment Fund will affect the amounts payable to the holders of Certificates or Book-Entry Shares. Any income from investment of the Payment Fund will be payable to Parent or the Surviving Corporation, as Parent directs.

(d) Payments to Non-Registered Holders. If any portion of the Merger Consideration is to be paid to a Person other than the Person in whose name the surrendered Certificate or the transferred Book-Entry Share, as applicable, is registered, it shall be a condition to such payment that: (i) such Certificate shall be properly endorsed or shall otherwise be in proper form for transfer or such Book-Entry Share shall be properly transferred; and (ii) the Person requesting such payment shall pay to the Paying Agent any transfer or other similar Tax required as a result of such payment to a Person other than the registered holder of such Certificate or Book-Entry Share, as applicable, or establish to the reasonable satisfaction of the Paying Agent that such Tax has been paid or is not payable.

(e) Full Satisfaction. All Merger Consideration paid upon the surrender of Certificates or transfer of Book-Entry Shares in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the shares of Company Common Stock formerly represented by such Certificate or Book-Entry Shares, and from and after the Effective Time, there shall be no further registration of transfers of shares of Company Common Stock on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Corporation. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates or Book-Entry Shares are presented to the Surviving Corporation, they shall be cancelled and exchanged for the Merger Consideration provided for, and in accordance with the procedures set forth, in this Article II.

(f) Termination of Payment Fund. Any portion of the Payment Fund that remains unclaimed by the holders of shares of Company Common Stock six months after the Effective Time shall be returned to Parent, upon demand, and any such holder who has not exchanged shares of Company Common Stock for the Merger Consideration in accordance with this Section 2.02 prior to that time shall thereafter look only to Parent (subject to abandoned property, escheat, or other similar Laws), as general creditors thereof, for payment of the Merger Consideration without any interest. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent shall not be liable to any holder of shares of Company Common Stock for any amounts paid to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat, or similar Laws. Any amounts remaining unclaimed by holders of shares of Company Common Stock one year after the Effective Time, or such earlier date immediately prior to such time when the amounts would otherwise escheat to or become property of any Governmental Entity shall become, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, the property of Parent free and clear of any claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.

(g) Dissenting Shares Merger Consideration. Any portion of the Merger Consideration made available to the Paying Agent in respect of any Dissenting Shares shall be returned to Parent, upon demand.

Section 2.03 Dissenting Shares. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, including Section 2.01, shares of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than shares cancelled in accordance with Section 2.01(a)) and held by a holder who has not voted in favor of adoption of this Agreement or consented thereto in writing and who is entitled to demand and has properly exercised appraisal rights of such shares in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL (such shares of Company Common Stock being referred to collectively as the “Dissenting Shares” until such time as such holder fails to perfect or otherwise waives, withdraws, or loses such holder’s appraisal rights under the DGCL with respect to such shares) shall not be converted into a right to receive the Merger Consideration, but instead shall be entitled to only such rights as are granted by Section 262 of the DGCL; provided, however, that if, after the Effective Time, such holder fails to perfect, waives, withdraws, or loses such holder’s right to appraisal pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL or if a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that such holder is not entitled to the relief provided by Section 262 of the DGCL, such shares of Company Common Stock shall be treated as if they had been converted as of the Effective Time into the right to receive the Merger Consideration in accordance with Section 2.01(b), without interest thereon, upon surrender of such Certificate formerly representing such share or transfer of such Book-Entry Share, as the case may be. The Company shall provide Parent prompt written notice of any demands received by the Company for appraisal of shares of Company Common Stock, any waiver or withdrawal of any such demand, and any other demand, notice, or instrument delivered to the Company prior to the Effective Time that relates to such demand, and Parent shall have the opportunity and right to direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands. Except with the prior written consent of Parent, the Company shall not make any payment with respect to, or settle, or offer to settle, any such demands.

Section 2.04 Adjustments. Without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, if at any time during the period between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, any change in the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company shall occur (other than the issuance of additional shares of capital stock of the Company as permitted by this Agreement), including by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including a reverse stock split), or combination, exchange, readjustment of shares, or similar transaction, or any stock dividend or distribution paid in stock, the Merger Consideration and any other amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect such change; provided, however, that this sentence shall not be construed to permit the Company to take any action with respect to its securities that is prohibited by the terms of this Agreement.

Section 2.05 Withholding Rights. Each of the Paying Agent, Parent, Merger Sub, and the Surviving Corporation shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable to any Person pursuant to this Article II such amounts as may be required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under any Tax Laws. To the extent that amounts are so deducted and withheld and remitted to the applicable Governmental Entity by the Paying Agent, Parent, Merger Sub, or the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which the Paying Agent, Parent, Merger Sub, or the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, made such deduction and withholding.

Section 2.06 Lost Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen, or destroyed and, if required by Parent, the posting by such Person of a bond, in such reasonable amount as Parent may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Paying Agent will issue, in exchange for such lost, stolen, or destroyed Certificate, the Merger Consideration to be paid in respect of the shares of Company Common Stock formerly represented by such Certificate as contemplated under this Article II.

Section 2.07 Treatment of Stock Options and Other Stock-Based Compensation.

(a) Company Stock Options. The Company shall take all requisite action so that, at the Effective Time, each Company Stock Option that is outstanding under any Company Stock Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time, whether or not then vested or exercisable, shall be, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, cancelled and converted into the right to receive from Parent and the Surviving Corporation, as promptly as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, an amount in cash, without interest, equal to the product of: (i) the aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Option; multiplied by (ii) the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the per share exercise price under such Company Stock Option, less any Taxes required to be withheld in accordance with Section 2.05. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event that the per share exercise price under any Company Stock Option is equal to or greater than the Merger Consideration, such Company Stock Option shall be cancelled as of the Effective Time without payment therefor and shall have no further force or effect.

(b) Company Restricted Shares. The Company shall take all requisite action so that, at the Effective Time, each Company Restricted Share that is outstanding under any Company Stock Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, vest in full and become free of restrictions and shall be cancelled and converted automatically, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Agreement, into the right to receive from Parent and the Surviving Corporation, as promptly as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, an amount in cash, without interest, equal to the Merger Consideration, less any Taxes required to be withheld in accordance with Section 2.05.

(c) Company Restricted Stock Units. The Company shall take all requisite action so that, at the Effective Time, each Company RSU that is outstanding under any Company Stock Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time, whether or not then vested, shall be, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, cancelled and converted into the right to receive from Parent and the Surviving Corporation, as promptly as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, an amount in cash, without interest, equal to the product of: (i) the aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company RSU; multiplied by (ii) the Merger Consideration, less any Taxes required to be withheld in accordance with Section 2.05; provided that with respect to any Company RSUs that the Company, in consultation with Parent, has determined constitute nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code and that are not permitted to be paid at the Effective Time without triggering a Tax or penalty under Section 409A of the Code, such payment shall be made at the earliest time permitted under the applicable Stock Plan and award agreement that will not trigger a Tax or penalty under Section 409A of the Code.

(d) Company Performance Stock Units. The Company shall take all requisite action so that, at the Effective Time, each Company PSU that is outstanding under any Company Stock Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time, whether or not then vested, shall be, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, cancelled and converted into the right to receive from Parent and the Surviving Corporation, as promptly as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, an amount in cash, without interest, equal to the product of: (i) the aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company PSU (assuming for these purposes that 100% of the applicable target had been achieved thereunder and the performance period had ended, in each case, immediately prior to the Effective Time); multiplied by (ii) the Merger Consideration, less any Taxes required to be withheld in accordance with Section 2.05; provided that with respect to any Company PSUs that the Company, in consultation with Parent, has determined constitute nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code and that are not permitted to be paid at the Effective Time without triggering a Tax or penalty under Section 409A of the Code, such payment shall be made at the earliest time permitted under the applicable Stock Plan and award agreement that will not trigger a Tax or penalty under Section 409A of the Code.

(e) Company Stock Units. The Company shall take all requisite action so that, at the Effective Time, each Company DSU that is outstanding under the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time, whether or not then vested, shall be, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, cancelled and converted into the right to receive from Parent and the Surviving Corporation, as promptly as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, an amount in cash, without interest, equal to the product of: (i) the aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company DSU; multiplied by (ii) the Merger Consideration, less any Taxes required to be withheld in accordance with Section 2.05; provided that with respect to any Company DSUs that the Company, in consultation with Parent, has determined constitute nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code and that are not permitted to be paid at the Effective Time without triggering a Tax or penalty under Section 409A of the Code, such payment shall be made at the earliest time permitted under the applicable Stock Plan and award agreement that will not trigger a Tax or penalty under Section 409A of the Code.

(f) Resolutions and Other Company Actions. At or prior to the Effective Time, the Company, the Company Board, and the compensation committee of such board, as applicable, shall adopt any resolutions and take any actions (including obtaining any employee consents) that may be necessary to effectuate the provisions of this Section 2.07.

Article III.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

Except as set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub as follows:

Section 3.01 Organization; Standing and Power; Charter Documents; Subsidiaries.

(a) Organization; Standing and Power. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is a corporation, limited liability company, or other legal entity duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing (to the extent that the concept of “good standing” is applicable in the case of any jurisdiction outside the United States) under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization, and has the requisite corporate, limited liability company, or other organizational, as applicable, power and authority to own, lease, and operate its assets and to carry on its business as now conducted. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign corporation, limited liability company, or other legal entity and is in good standing (to the extent that the concept of “good standing” is applicable) in each jurisdiction where the character of the assets and properties owned, leased, or operated by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification or license necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or licensed or to be in good standing, would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Charter Documents. The Company has delivered or made available to Parent a true and correct copy of the Charter Documents, of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any of the provisions of its Charter Documents.

(c) Subsidiaries. Section 3.01(c)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists each of the Subsidiaries of the Company as of the date hereof and its place of organization. Section 3.01(c)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth, for each Subsidiary that is not, directly or indirectly, wholly-owned by the Company: (i) the number and type of any capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, such Subsidiary that is outstanding as of the date hereof; and (ii) the number and type of shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, such Subsidiary that, as of the date hereof, are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, each Subsidiary of the Company that is owned directly or indirectly by the Company have been validly issued, were issued free of pre-emptive rights, are fully paid and non-assessable, and are free and clear of all Liens, including any restriction on the right to vote, sell, or otherwise dispose of such capital stock or other equity or voting interests, except for any Liens: (A) imposed by applicable securities Laws; or (B) arising pursuant to the Charter Documents of any non-wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company. Except for the capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, its Subsidiaries, the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, any Person.

Section 3.02 Capital Structure.

(a) Capital Stock. The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of: (i) 100,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock; and (ii) 5,000,000 shares of Company Preferred Stock. As of the date of this Agreement: (A) 16,882,826 shares of Company Common Stock were issued and outstanding (not including shares held in treasury); (B) 4,106,126 shares of Company Common Stock were issued and held by the Company in its treasury; and (C) no shares of Company Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding or held by the Company in its treasury. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are, and all shares of capital stock of the Company which may be issued as contemplated or permitted by this Agreement will be, when issued, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable, and not subject to any pre-emptive rights. No Subsidiary of the Company owns any shares of Company Common Stock.

(b) Stock Awards.

(i) As of the date of this Agreement, an aggregate of 1,631,123 shares of Company Common Stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to Company Equity Awards not yet granted under the Company Stock Plans. As of the date of this Agreement, 85,410 shares of Company Common Stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding Company Stock Options, all of which have an exercise price higher than the Merger Consideration, 441,221 Company Restricted Shares were issued and outstanding (and included in shares issued and outstanding), 178,996 Company RSUs were issued and outstanding, 52,910 Company PSUs were issued and outstanding, and 68,555 Company DSUs were issued and outstanding. Section 3.02(b)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth as of the date of this Agreement a list of each outstanding Company Equity Award granted under the Company Stock Plans and the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan and: (A) the name of the holder of such Company Equity Award; (B) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such outstanding Company Equity Award; (C) if applicable, the exercise price, purchase price, or similar pricing of such Company Equity Award; (D) the date on which such Company Equity Award was granted or issued; (E) the applicable vesting, repurchase, or other lapse of restrictions schedule, and the extent to which such Company Equity Award is vested and exercisable as of the date hereof; and (F) with respect to Company Stock Options, the date on which such Company Stock Option expires. All shares of Company Common Stock subject to issuance under the Company Stock Plans or the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan, upon issuance in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in the instruments pursuant to which they are issuable, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable.

(ii) Except as set forth in Section 3.02(b)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no Contracts to which the Company is a party obligating the Company to accelerate the vesting of any Company Equity Award as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (whether alone or upon the occurrence of any additional or subsequent events). Other than the Company Equity Awards, as of the date hereof, there are no outstanding: (A) securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries convertible into or exchangeable for Voting Debt or shares of capital stock of the Company; (B) options, warrants, or other agreements or commitments to acquire from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, any Voting Debt or shares of capital stock of (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of) the Company; or (C) restricted shares, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance shares, profit participation rights, contingent value rights, “phantom” stock, or similar securities or rights that are derivative of, or provide economic benefits based, directly or indirectly, on the value or price of, any shares of capital stock of the Company, in each case that have been issued by the Company or its Subsidiaries (the items in clauses (A), (B), and (C), together with the capital stock of the Company, being referred to collectively as “Company Securities”). All outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, all outstanding Company Equity Awards, and all outstanding shares of capital stock, voting securities, or other ownership interests in any Subsidiary of the Company, have been issued or granted, as applicable, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable securities Laws.

(iii) There are no outstanding Contracts requiring the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire any Company Securities or Company Subsidiary Securities. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any voting agreement with respect to any Company Securities or Company Subsidiary Securities.

(d) Company Subsidiary Securities. As of the date hereof, there are no outstanding: (i) securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries convertible into or exchangeable for Voting Debt, capital stock, voting securities, or other ownership interests in any Subsidiary of the Company; (ii) options, warrants, or other agreements or commitments to acquire from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, any Voting Debt, capital stock, voting securities, or other ownership interests in (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock, voting securities, or other ownership interests in) any Subsidiary of the Company; or (iii) restricted shares, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance shares, profit participation rights, contingent value rights, “phantom” stock, or similar securities or rights that are derivative of, or provide economic benefits based, directly or indirectly, on the value or price of, any capital stock or voting securities of, or other ownership interests in, any Subsidiary of the Company, in each case that have been issued by a Subsidiary of the Company (the items in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), together with the capital stock, voting securities, or other ownership interests of such Subsidiaries, being referred to collectively as “Company Subsidiary Securities”).

Section 3.03 Authority; Non-Contravention; Governmental Consents; Board Approval; Anti-Takeover Statutes.

(a) Authority. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to perform its obligations under this Agreement and, subject to, in the case of the consummation of the Merger, adoption of this Agreement by the Requisite Company Vote, to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement or to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, subject only, in the case of consummation of the Merger, to the receipt of the Requisite Company Vote. The Requisite Company Vote is the only vote or consent of the holders of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock necessary to approve and adopt this Agreement, approve the Merger, and consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due 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, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, and other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.

(b) Non-Contravention. Except as set forth in Section 3.03(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement by the Company, and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, do not and will not: (i) subject to obtaining the Requisite Company Vote, contravene or conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, the Charter Documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) assuming that all Consents contemplated by clauses (i) through (v) of Section 3.03(c) have been obtained or made and, in the case of the consummation of the Merger, obtaining the Requisite Company Vote, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective properties or assets; (iii) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ loss of any benefit or the imposition of any additional payment or other liability under, or alter the rights or obligations of any third party under, or give to any third party any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration, or cancellation, or require any Consent under, any Contract (including any Lease) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or otherwise bound as of the date hereof; or (iv) result in the creation of a Lien (other than Permitted Liens) on any of the properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except, in the case of each of clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv), for any conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults, loss of benefits, additional payments or other liabilities, alterations, terminations, amendments, accelerations, cancellations, or Liens that, or where the failure to obtain any Consents, in each case, would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Governmental Consents. No consent, approval, order, or authorization of, or registration, declaration, or filing with, or notice to (any of the foregoing being a “Consent”), any Governmental Entity is required to be obtained or made by the Company in connection with the execution, delivery, and performance by the Company of this Agreement or the consummation by the Company of the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby, except for: (i) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; (ii) the filing of the Company Proxy Statement in definitive form with the SEC in accordance with the Exchange Act, and such reports under the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement, the Merger, and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (iii) such Consents as may be required under applicable state securities or “blue sky” Laws and the securities Laws of any foreign country or the rules and regulations of Nasdaq; (iv) the other Consents of Governmental Entities listed in Section 3.03(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter (the “Other Governmental Approvals”); and (v) such other Consents which if not obtained or made would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Board Approval. The Company Board, by resolutions duly adopted by a unanimous vote at a meeting of all directors of the Company duly called and held, and not subsequently rescinded or modified in any way, has: (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and the Company’s stockholders; (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement, including the execution, delivery, and performance thereof, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein; (iii) directed that this Agreement be submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders for adoption at the Company Stockholders Meeting; and (iv) resolved to recommend that Company stockholders vote in favor of adoption of this Agreement in accordance with the DGCL (collectively, the “Company Board Recommendation”).

(e) Anti-Takeover Statutes. No “fair price,” “moratorium,” “control share acquisition,” “supermajority,” “affiliate transactions,” “business combination,” or other similar anti-takeover statute or regulation enacted under any federal, state, local, or foreign laws applicable to the Company is applicable to this Agreement, the Merger, or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 3.04 SEC Filings; Financial Statements; ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act Compliance; Undisclosed Liabilities; Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements.

(a) SEC Filings. The Company has timely filed with or furnished to, as applicable, the SEC all Company SEC Documents through ▇▇▇▇▇. To the extent that any Company SEC Document available on ▇▇▇▇▇ contains redactions pursuant to a request for confidential treatment or otherwise, the Company has made available to Parent the full text of all such Company SEC Documents that it has so filed or furnished with the SEC. As of their respective filing dates or, if amended or superseded by a subsequent filing prior to the date hereof, as of the date of the last such amendment or superseding filing (and, in the case of registration statements and proxy statements, on the dates of effectiveness and the dates of the relevant meetings, respectively), each of the Company SEC Documents complied as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder applicable to such Company SEC Documents. None of the Company SEC Documents, including any financial statements, schedules, or exhibits included or incorporated by reference therein at the time they were filed (or, if amended or superseded by a subsequent filing prior to the date hereof, as of the date of the last such amendment or superseding filing), contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. To the Knowledge of the Company, none of the Company SEC Documents is the subject of ongoing SEC review or outstanding SEC investigation, and there are no outstanding or unresolved comments received from the SEC with respect to any of the Company SEC Documents. None of the Company’s Subsidiaries is required to file or furnish any forms, reports, or other documents with the SEC.

(b) Financial Statements. Each of the consolidated financial statements (including, in each case, any notes and schedules thereto) contained in or incorporated by reference into the Company SEC Documents: (i) complied as to form in all material respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto as of their respective dates; (ii) was prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto and, in the case of unaudited interim financial statements, as may be permitted by the SEC for Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q); and (iii) fairly presented in all material respects the consolidated financial position and the results of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the respective dates of and for the periods referred to in such financial statements, subject, in the case of unaudited interim financial statements, to normal and year-end audit adjustments as permitted by GAAP and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC.

(c) Internal Controls. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has established and maintains a system of “internal controls over financial reporting” (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that is reasonably designed to provide assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP including policies and procedures that: (i) require the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and that receipts and expenditures of the Company and its Subsidiaries are being made only in accordance with appropriate authorizations of the Company’s management and the Company Board; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(d) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) are designed to ensure that all information (both financial and non-financial) required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and that all such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to make the certifications of the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the Company required under the Exchange Act with respect to such reports. Neither the Company nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm has identified or been made aware of: (i) any “significant deficiency” or “material weakness” (each as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act) in the system of internal control over financial reporting utilized by the Company and its Subsidiaries that has not been subsequently remediated; or (ii) any fraud that involves the Company’s management or other employees who have a role in the preparation of financial statements or the internal control over financial reporting utilized by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(e) Undisclosed Liabilities. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any Liabilities other than Liabilities that: (i) are reflected or reserved against in the Company Balance Sheet (including in the notes thereto); (ii) were incurred since the date of the Company Balance Sheet in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (iii) are incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (iv) are incurred under (A) Contracts that either are listed or not required to be listed in Section 3.15 of the Company Disclosure Letter; provided that such Liabilities are not for breach of any such Contract, or (B) the Company Stock Plans or the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan; or (v) individually or in the aggregate, are not material.

(f) Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. Except set forth in Section 3.04(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter or as described in the Company SEC Documents filed as of the date of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, or has any commitment to become a party to: (i) any joint venture, off-balance sheet partnership, or any similar Contract or arrangement (including any Contract or arrangement relating to any transaction or relationship between or among the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any other Person, including any structured finance, special purpose, or limited purpose Person, on the other hand); or (ii) any “off-balance sheet arrangements” (as defined in Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act).

(g) ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ and Nasdaq Compliance. Each of the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer of the Company (or each former principal executive officer and each former principal financial officer of the Company, as applicable) has made all certifications required by Rule 13a-14 or 15d-14 under the Exchange Act and Sections 302 and 906 of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act with respect to the Company SEC Documents, and the statements contained in such certifications are true and accurate in all material respects. For purposes of this Agreement, “principal executive officer” and “principal financial officer” shall have the meanings given to such terms in the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act. The Company is also in compliance with all of the other applicable provisions of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act and the applicable listing and corporate governance rules of Nasdaq, except for any non-compliance that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(h) Accounting, Securities, or Other Related Complaints or Reports. Since January 1, 2018: (i) none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries nor any director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has received any oral or written complaint, allegation, assertion, or claim regarding the financial accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies, or methods of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any oral or written complaint, allegation, assertion, or claim from employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries regarding questionable financial accounting or auditing matters with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and (ii) no attorney representing the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, has reported credible evidence of any material violation of securities Laws, breach of fiduciary duty, or similar material violation by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, or agents to the Company Board or any committee thereof, or to the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, or general counsel of the Company.

Section 3.05 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Since the date of the Company Balance Sheet, except in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the business of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has been conducted in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and there has not been or occurred:

(a) any Company Material Adverse Effect or any event, condition, change, or effect that could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect; or

(b) except in connection with the sale of the Company’s former Southwest Wire Rope division, any event, condition, action, or effect that, if taken during the period from the date of this Agreement through the Effective Time, could constitute a breach of Section 5.01.

Section 3.06 Taxes.

(a) Tax Returns and Payment of Taxes. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have duly and timely filed or caused to be filed (taking into account any valid extensions) all material Tax Returns required to be filed by them. Such Tax Returns are true, complete, and correct in all material respects. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is currently the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return other than extensions of time to file Tax Returns obtained in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice. All material Taxes due and owing by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been timely paid or, where payment is not yet due, the Company has made an adequate provision for such Taxes in the Company’s financial statements included in the Company SEC Documents (in accordance with GAAP). The Company’s most recent financial statements included in the Company SEC Documents reflect an adequate reserve (in accordance with GAAP) for all material Taxes payable by the Company and its Subsidiaries through the date of such financial statements. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any material Liability for Taxes since the date of the Company’s most recent financial statements included in the Company SEC Documents outside of the ordinary course of business or otherwise inconsistent with past practice.

(b) Availability of Tax Returns. The Company has made available to Parent complete and accurate copies of all federal, state, local, and foreign income, franchise, and other material Tax Returns filed by or on behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries for any Tax period ending after January 1, 2016.

(c) Withholding. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have withheld and timely paid each material Tax required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any Company Employee, creditor, customer, stockholder, or other party (including, without limitation, withholding of Taxes pursuant to Sections 1441 and 1442 of the Code or similar provisions under any state, local, and foreign Laws), and materially complied with all information reporting and backup withholding provisions of applicable Law.

(d) Liens. There are no Liens for Taxes upon the assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than for current Taxes not yet due and payable or for Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP has been made in the Company’s most recent financial statements included in the Company SEC Documents.

(e) Tax Deficiencies and Audits. No deficiency for any material amount of Taxes which has been proposed, asserted, or assessed in writing by any taxing authority against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries remains unpaid. There are no waivers or extensions of any statute of limitations currently in effect with respect to Taxes of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. There are no audits, suits, proceedings, investigations, claims, examinations, or other administrative or judicial proceedings ongoing or pending with respect to any Taxes of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(f) Tax Jurisdictions. Since January 1, 2015, no claim has been made in writing by any taxing authority in a jurisdiction where the Company and its Subsidiaries do not file Tax Returns that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may be subject to Tax in that jurisdiction.

(g) Tax Rulings. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has requested or is the subject of or bound by any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum, or similar ruling or memorandum with any taxing authority with respect to any material Taxes, nor is any such request outstanding.

(h) Consolidated Groups, Transferee Liability, and Tax Agreements. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries: (i) has been a member of a group filing Tax Returns on a consolidated, combined, unitary, or similar basis, other than a group of which the Company is a parent; (ii) has any material liability for Taxes of any Person (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any comparable provision of local, state, or foreign Law), as a transferee or successor, by Contract, or otherwise; or (iii) is a party to, bound by or has any material liability under any Tax sharing, allocation, or indemnification agreement or arrangement with any Person other than the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(i) Change in Accounting Method. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has agreed to make, nor is it required to make, any material adjustment under Section 481(a) of the Code or any comparable provision of state, local, or foreign Tax Laws by reason of a change in accounting method or otherwise.

(j) Post-Closing Tax Items. The Company and its Subsidiaries will not be required to include any material item of income in, or exclude any material item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any: (i) “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign income Tax Law) executed prior to the Closing; (ii) installment sale or open transaction disposition made prior to the Closing; (iii) prepaid amount received prior to the Closing; (iv) any income under Section 965(a) of the Code, including as a result of any election under Section 965(h) of the Code with respect thereto; or (v) election under Section 108(i) of the Code.

(k) Section 355. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in connection with a distribution described in Section 355 of the Code within the past five years.

(l) CARES Act. Seller has not (i) deferred the payment of any payroll Taxes pursuant to Section 2302 of the CARES Act, the Payroll Tax Executive Order or any other provision of applicable Law, or (ii) utilized any payroll Tax credits pursuant to any provision of the CARES Act.

(m) Reportable Transactions. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a party to, or a material advisor with respect to, a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Section 6707A(c)(1) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b).

Section 3.07 Intellectual Property.

(a) Scheduled Company-Owned IP. Section 3.07(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a true and complete list, as of the date hereof, of all: (i) Company-Owned IP that is the subject of any issuance, registration, certificate, application, or other filing by, to or with any Governmental Entity or authorized private registrar, including patents, patent applications, trademark registrations and pending applications for registration, copyright registrations and pending applications for registration, and internet domain name registrations, and any Intellectual Property (whether or not abandoned or expired) which provides a direct or indirect priority basis for any of the foregoing; and (ii) material unregistered trademarks included in the Company-Owned IP.

(b) Right to Use; Title. The Company or one of its Subsidiaries is the sole and exclusive legal and beneficial owner of all right, title, and interest in and to the Company-Owned IP, and has the valid and enforceable right to use all Company IP, in each case, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens, except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Validity and Enforceability. The Company and its Subsidiaries’ rights in the Company-Owned IP are valid, subsisting, and enforceable, except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable steps to maintain the Company-Owned IP and to protect and preserve the confidentiality of all trade secrets included in the Company-Owned IP, except where the failure to take such actions would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Non-Infringement. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect: (i) the conduct of the businesses of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries has not infringed, misappropriated, or otherwise violated, and is not infringing, misappropriating, or otherwise violating, any Intellectual Property of any other Person; and (ii) to the Knowledge of the Company, no third party is infringing upon, violating, or misappropriating any Company-Owned IP.

(e) IP Legal Actions and Orders. Except as set forth in Section 3.09 of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no Legal Actions pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened: (i) alleging any infringement, misappropriation, or violation by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of the Intellectual Property of any Person; (ii) challenging the validity, enforceability, or ownership of any Company-Owned IP or the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ rights with respect to any Company IP; or (iii) asserting any droit moral or similar rights against Company or any Subsidiary, in each case except for such Legal Actions that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its Subsidiaries are not subject to any outstanding Order that restricts or impairs the use of any Company-Owned IP, except where compliance with such Order would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(f) Company IT Systems. Section 3.07(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a correct, current and complete list of all Company IT Systems Contracts, other than for Off-the-Shelf Solutions: (i) under which custom development work has been or is being performed by or for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or where custom developed products or services are being utilized by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a licensee of an IT product or service; or (iii) where licensing or use rights are granted or paid for under a scheme other than number of users or number of systems (for avoidance of doubt, all revenue-based or consumption-based licenses should be listed). Each Company IT Systems Contract is valid and binding on the Company or the applicable Subsidiary(ies) in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect, and no party to any Company IT Systems Contract is, or is alleged to be, in breach of or default under, or has provided or received any notice of breach of, default under, or intention to terminate (for reasons other than non-renewal), any Company IT Systems Contract, with any over-utilization or improperly implementation of any software or service utilized by Company or any of its Subsidiaries being deemed a breach of such agreement, in each case except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. In the past five (5) years, there has been no disruption, malfunction, failure, continued substandard performance, denial-of-service, or other cyber incident, including any cyberattack, or other impairment of the Company IT Systems, in each case except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. To the Knowledge of the Company, none of the Company IT Systems contain any viruses, worms, Trojan horses, bugs, faults or other devices, errors, contaminants or effects that (A) materially disrupt or adversely affect the functionality of any Company IT Systems, except as disclosed in their documentation or terms of use, or (B) enable or assist any Person to access without authorization any Company IT Systems (or portion thereof). The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable efforts to safeguard the confidentiality, availability, security, continuity and integrity of the Company IT Systems, including implementing and maintaining appropriate backup, disaster recovery, and software and hardware support arrangements, in each case except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(g) Privacy and Data Security. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have complied with all applicable Laws, payment card industry data security standards applicable to the Company and each Subsidiary, contractual and/or fiduciary obligations as to the protection and/or security of personal information processed by, or in or under the possession or control of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and all internal or publicly posted policies, notices, and statements pertaining to the collection, use, processing, storage, transfer, disclosure, and security of personal information, data protection and e-commerce in the conduct of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ businesses, in each case except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all Privacy Agreements, and each such Privacy Agreement is valid and binding on the Company or the applicable Subsidiary(ies) in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect, in each case except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. In the past five (5) years, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not: (i) experienced any actual, alleged, or suspected data breach or other security incident involving personal information in their possession, control or otherwise processed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (ii) been subject to or received any notice of any audit, investigation, complaint, or other Legal Action by any Governmental Entity or other Person concerning the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ collection, use, processing, storage, transfer, disclosure or protection of personal information or actual, alleged, or suspected violation of any applicable Law concerning privacy, data security, or data breach notification, and to the Company’s Knowledge, there are no facts or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to give rise to any such Legal Action, in each case except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(h) IP Transfer Agreements. The Company and its Subsidiaries, as applicable, have entered into binding, valid and enforceable written contracts with each current and former employee and independent contractor who is or was involved in or has contributed to the invention, creation, or development of any Company-Owned IP during the course of employment or engagement with Company and/or its Subsidiaries, whereby such employee or independent contractor (i) acknowledges Company’s or its Subsidiary’s exclusive ownership of the Company-Owned IP invented, created or developed by such employee or independent contractor within the scope of his or her employment or engagement with Company or its Subsidiary; and (ii) grants to Company or its Subsidiary a present, irrevocable assignment of any ownership interest such employee or independent contractor may have in or to such Company-Owned IP, in each case except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.08 Compliance; Permits.

(a) Compliance. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are and, since January 1, 2016, have been in compliance in all material respects with all material Laws or Orders applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses or properties is bound. Since January 1, 2016, no Governmental Entity has issued any written notice or notification stating that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses or properties is not in compliance with any Law in any material respect. To the extent that other sections of this Article III relate to compliance with particular laws, this Section 3.08(a) shall be deemed to be subject to any qualifications and exceptions in such other sections.

(b) Permits. The Company and its Subsidiaries hold, to the extent necessary to operate their respective businesses and properties as such businesses and properties are being operated as of the date hereof, all Permits, except for any Permits for which the failure to obtain or hold would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. No suspension, cancellation, non-renewal, or adverse modifications of any Permits of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, except for any such suspension or cancellation which would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is and, since January 1, 2016, has been in compliance with the terms of all Permits, except where the failure to be in such compliance would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.09 Litigation. Except as set forth in Section 3.09 of the Company Disclosure Letter, there is no Legal Action pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in their capacities as such other than any such Legal Action that: (a) does not involve an amount in controversy in excess of $50,000; and (b) does not seek material injunctive or other material non-monetary relief. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets is subject to any Order, which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. To the Knowledge of the Company, there are no SEC inquiries or investigations, other governmental inquiries or investigations, or internal investigations pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, in each case regarding any accounting practices of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any malfeasance by any officer or director of the Company.

Section 3.10 Brokers’ and Finders’ Fees. Except for fees payable to the Company Financial Advisors pursuant to engagement letters listed in Section 3.10 of the Company Disclosure Letter, correct and complete copies of which have been provided to Parent, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred, nor will it incur, directly or indirectly, any liability for investment banker, brokerage, or finders’ fees or agents’ commissions, or any similar charges in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 3.11 Related Person Transactions. There are, and since January 1, 2018, there have been, no Contracts, transactions, arrangements, or understandings between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any Affiliate (including any director, officer, or employee or any of their respective family members) thereof or any holder of 5% or more of the shares of Company Common Stock (or any of their respective family members), but not including any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, on the other hand, that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC in the Company’s Form 10-K or proxy statement pertaining to an annual meeting of stockholders.

Section 3.12 Employee Matters.

(a) Schedule. Section 3.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a true and complete list, as of the date hereof, of each Company Employee Plan.

(b) Documents. The Company has made available to Parent correct and complete copies (or, if a plan or arrangement is not written, a written description) of all Company Employee Plans and amendments thereto, and, to the extent applicable: (i) all related trust agreements, funding arrangements, insurance contracts, and service provider agreements now in effect; (ii) the most recent determination letter received regarding the tax-qualified status of each Company Employee Plan; (iii) the most recent financial statements for each Company Employee Plan; (iv) the Form 5500 Annual Returns/Reports and Schedules for the most recent plan year for each Company Employee Plan; (v) the current summary plan description for each Company Employee Plan; and (vi) all actuarial valuation reports related to any Company Employee Plans.

(c) Employee Plan Compliance. (i) Except as set forth in Section 3.12(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, each Company Employee Plan has been established, administered, and maintained in all material respects in accordance with its terms and in material compliance with applicable Laws, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code; (ii) all the Company Employee Plans that are intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code are so qualified and have received timely determination letters from the IRS and no such determination letter has been revoked nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, has any such revocation been threatened, or with respect to a prototype plan, can rely on an opinion letter from the IRS to the prototype plan sponsor, to the effect that such qualified retirement plan and the related trust are exempt from federal income taxes under Sections 401(a) and 501(a), respectively, of the Code, and to the Knowledge of the Company no circumstance exists that is likely to result in the loss of such qualified status under Section 401(a) of the Code; (iii) the Company and its Subsidiaries, where applicable, have timely made all contributions, benefits, premiums, and other payments required by and due under the terms of each Company Employee Plan and applicable Law and accounting principles, and all benefits accrued under any unfunded Company Employee Plan have been paid, accrued, or otherwise adequately reserved to the extent required by, and in accordance with GAAP; (iv) except to the extent limited by applicable Law, each Company Employee Plan can be amended, terminated, or otherwise discontinued after the Effective Time in accordance with its terms, without material liability to Parent, the Surviving Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries (other than ordinary administration expenses and in respect of accrued benefits thereunder); (v) there are no investigations, audits, inquiries or enforcement actions pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened by the IRS, U.S. Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or any similar Governmental Entity with respect to any Company Employee Plan; (vi) there are no material Legal Actions pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened with respect to any Company Employee Plan (in each case, other than routine claims for benefits); and (vii) to the Knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of its Company ERISA Affiliates has engaged in a transaction that would reasonably be expected to subject the Company or any Company ERISA Affiliate to a material tax or penalty imposed by either Section 4975 of the Code or Section 502(i) of ERISA. No Company Employee Plan provides benefits to employees or other services providers located in a country other than the United States or is subject to the Laws of any country other than the United States.

(d) Plan Liabilities. Neither the Company nor any Company ERISA Affiliate has: (i) incurred or reasonably expects to incur any liability under Title I or Title IV of ERISA, or related provisions of the Code or foreign Law relating to any Company Employee Plan and, to the Knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred that could constitute grounds under Title IV of ERISA to terminate, or appoint a trustee to administer, any Company Employee Plan; (ii) except for payments of premiums to the PBGC which have been timely paid in full, not incurred any liability to the PBGC in connection with any Company Employee Plan covering any active, retired, or former employees or directors of the Company or any Company ERISA Affiliate, including, without limitation, any liability under Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA or any penalty imposed under Section 4071 of ERISA; (iii) failed in any material respect to satisfy the health plan compliance requirements under the Affordable Care Act, including related information reporting requirements; (iv) failed in any material respect to comply with Section 601 et. seq. of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code, regarding the health plan continuation coverage requirements under COBRA; or (v) failed in any material respect to comply with the privacy, security, and breach notification requirements under HIPAA. No complete or partial termination of any Company Employee Plan has occurred.

(e) Certain Company Employee Plans. With respect to each Company Employee Plan:

(i) no such plan is a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA or a “multiple employer plan” within the meaning of Section 413(c) of the Code and since January 1, 2016 neither the Company nor any of its Company ERISA Affiliates has contributed to, sponsored, maintained, or had any liability or obligation in respect of any such multiemployer plan or multiple employer plan;

(ii) no Legal Action has been initiated by the PBGC to terminate any such Company Employee Plan or to appoint a trustee for any such Company Employee Plan;

(iii) no Company Employee Plan is subject to the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of ERISA or Sections 412, 418(b), or 430 of the Code, and none of the assets of the Company or any Company ERISA Affiliate is the subject of any lien arising under Section 303 of ERISA or Sections 430 or 436 of the Code; and

(iv) no “reportable event,” as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA, for which the notice requirement has not been waived has occurred, or is reasonably expected to occur, with respect to any such Company Employee Plan.

(f) No Post-Employment Obligations. Except as may be required by COBRA or other applicable Law, or except as set forth on Section 3.12(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no Company Employee Plan provides post-termination or retiree health, life or other welfare benefits to any person for any reason, and neither the Company nor any Company ERISA Affiliate has any Liability to provide post-termination or retiree health benefits to any person.

(g) Potential Governmental or Lawsuit Liability. Other than routine claims for benefits: (i) there are no pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened claims by or on behalf of any participant in any Company Employee Plan, or otherwise involving any Company Employee Plan or the assets of any Company Employee Plan; and (ii) no Company Employee Plan is presently or has within the three years prior to the date hereof, been the subject of an examination or audit by a Governmental Entity or is the subject of an application or filing under, or is a participant in, an amnesty, voluntary compliance, self-correction, or similar program sponsored by any Governmental Entity.

(h) Effect of Transaction. Except as set forth on Section 3.12(h) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the execution or delivery of this Agreement, the consummation of the Merger, nor any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement will (either alone or in combination with any other event): (i) except as provided in Section 2.07, accelerate the timing of payment, funding, or vesting, or increase the amount, of compensation or any other amounts due or payable to any such individual; (ii) result in any other material obligation pursuant to any Company Employee Plan, or (iii) entitle any current or former employee, officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to severance pay, termination pay, separation pay, retention pay or “change-in-control” or “change-of-control” payments. No amount reasonably expected to be received (whether in cash or property or the vesting of any property) as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by any employee, director, or other service provider of the Company under any Company Employee Plan or otherwise would not be deductible by reason of Section 280G of the Code nor would be subject to an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code.

(i) Employment Law Matters. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries: (i) is in compliance with all applicable Laws and agreements regarding hiring, employment, termination of employment, plant closing and mass layoff, employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and reasonable accommodation, leaves of absence, paid leave and workplace protections relating to COVID-19, terms and conditions of employment, wages and hours of work, employee classification, employee health and safety, use of genetic information, leasing and supply of temporary and contingent staff, engagement of independent contractors, including proper classification of same, payroll taxes, and immigration with respect to Company Employees and contingent workers; and (ii) is in compliance with all applicable Laws relating to the relations between it and any labor organization, trade union, work council, or other body representing Company Employees, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) immediately above, where the failure to be in compliance with the foregoing would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(j) Labor. Except as set forth in Section 3.12(j) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is or ever has been party to, or subject to, any collective bargaining agreement or other agreement with any labor organization, work council, or trade union with respect to any of its or their operations. No work stoppage, slowdown, or labor strike against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to employees who are employed within the United States is pending, threatened, or has occurred in the last two years, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no material work stoppage, slowdown, or labor strike against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to employees who are employed outside the United States is pending, threatened, or has occurred in the last two years. None of the current Company Employees is represented by a labor organization, work council, or trade union and, to the Knowledge of the Company, there is no organizing activity, Legal Action, election petition, union card signing or other union activity, or union corporate campaigns of or by any labor organization, trade union, or work council directed at the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Company Employees. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has experienced any reduction in force during the 90 days before the date of this Agreement, that, individually or in the aggregate, would result in a duty to comply with the notice provisions of the WARN Act. Except as set forth in Section 3.12(j) of the Company Disclosure Letter, all individuals employed by the Company or any Subsidiary are terminable at will without the requirement to pay any severance or other termination payment beyond final wages. Except as set forth in Section 3.09 of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no Legal Actions, government investigations, or labor grievances pending, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened relating to any employment related matter involving any Company Employee or applicant, including, but not limited to, charges of unlawful discrimination, retaliation or harassment, failure to provide reasonable accommodation, denial of a leave of absence, failure to provide compensation or benefits, unfair labor practices, or other alleged violations of Law, except for any of the foregoing which would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.13 Real Property and Personal Property Matters.

(a) Owned Real Estate. The Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries has good and marketable fee simple title to the Owned Real Estate free and clear of any Liens other than the Permitted Liens. Section 3.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a true and complete list by address of the Owned Real Estate as of the date hereof. Other than with respect to the ▇▇▇▇ Circle Property, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries: (i) lease or grant any Person the right to use or occupy all or any part of the Owned Real Estate; (ii) other than to Parent, has granted any Person an option, right of first offer, or right of first refusal to purchase such Owned Real Estate or any portion thereof or interest therein; or (iii) has received written notice of any pending, and to the Knowledge of the Company threatened, condemnation proceeding affecting any Owned Real Estate or any portion thereof or interest therein. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to any agreement or option to purchase any real property or interest therein.

(b) Leased Real Estate. Section 3.13(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a true and complete list of all Leases (including all amendments thereto) as of the date hereof for each such Leased Real Estate (including the dates and names of the parties to such Lease documents, and, as to any oral Lease, a complete description of the material terms of such Lease). The Company has delivered to Parent a true and complete copy of each such Lease (including all amendments, extensions, renewals, guaranties and other agreements with respect thereto). Except as set forth on Section 3.13(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, with respect to each of the Leases: (i) such Lease is legal, valid, binding and enforceable against the Company or its Subsidiary and in full force and effect; (ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any other party to the Lease, is in breach or default under such Lease, and no event has occurred or circumstance exists which, with or without notice, lapse of time, or both, would constitute a breach or default under such Lease; (iii) the Company’s or its Subsidiary’s possession and quiet enjoyment of the Leased Real Estate under such Lease has not been disturbed, and to the Knowledge of the Company, there are no disputes with respect to such Lease; (iv) there are no Liens on the estate created by such Lease other than Permitted Liens; and (v) no Lease has been amended or modified except as listed in Section 3.13(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has assigned, pledged, mortgaged, hypothecated, or otherwise transferred any Lease or any interest therein nor has the Company or any of its Subsidiaries subleased, licensed, or otherwise granted any Person (other than another wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company) a right to use or occupy such Leased Real Estate or any portion thereof. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has been a party to any lease, license or occupancy agreement related to any real property that was assigned by the Company or Subsidiary to a third party (without a release of the Company or such Subsidiary from the obligations thereunder).

(c) Real Estate Used in the Business. The Owned Real Estate identified in Section 3.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter and the Leased Real Estate identified in Section 3.13(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter comprise all of the real property used or intended to be used in, or otherwise related to, the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. All of the Real Estate and the improvements and fixtures thereon, are in operating condition (subject to ordinary wear and tear) without material structural defects, and all mechanical and other building systems located thereon are in operating condition (subject to ordinary wear and tear) and adequate in all material respects for their current use, in each case except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Personal Property. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries are in possession of and have good and marketable title to, or valid leasehold interests in or valid rights under contract to use, the machinery, equipment, furniture, fixtures, and other tangible personal property and assets owned, leased, or used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens. To the Knowledge of the Company, all of the personal property of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in good condition and repair (normal wear and tear excepted), and adequate for the purposes for which such personal property is being used by the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.14 Environmental Matters. Except for such matters as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect:

(a) Compliance with Environmental Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries are, and have been, in compliance with all Environmental Laws, which compliance includes the possession, maintenance of, compliance with, or application for, all Permits required under applicable Environmental Laws for the operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted.

(b) No Disposal, Release, or Discharge of Hazardous Substances. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has disposed of, released, or discharged any Hazardous Substances on, at, under, in, or from any real property currently or, to the Knowledge of the Company, formerly owned, leased, or operated by it or any of its Subsidiaries or at any other location that is: (i) currently subject to any investigation, remediation, or monitoring; or (ii) reasonably likely to result in liability to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in either case of (i) or (ii) under any applicable Environmental Laws.

(c) No Production or Exposure of Hazardous Substances. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has: (i) produced, processed, manufactured, generated, transported, treated, handled, used, or stored any Hazardous Substances, except in compliance with Environmental Laws, at any Real Estate or real property formerly owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (ii) exposed any employee or any third party to any Hazardous Substances under circumstances reasonably expected to give rise to any material Liability or obligation under any Environmental Law.

(d) No Legal Actions or Orders. Except as set forth in Section 3.14(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received written notice of any, and there is no, Legal Action pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, alleging any Liability or responsibility under or non-compliance with any Environmental Law or seeking to impose any financial responsibility for any investigation, cleanup, removal, containment, or any other remediation or compliance under any Environmental Law. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any Order, settlement agreement, or other written agreement by or with any Governmental Entity or third party imposing any material Liability or obligation with respect to any of the foregoing.

(e) Environmental Encumbrance. Neither the Owned Real Estate, the Leased Real Estate not the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ formerly owned or leased real property is subject to any environmental Lien, environmental covenant, engineering or institutional control or use limitation or similar restriction.

(f) No Assumption of Environmental Law Liabilities. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has expressly assumed or retained any Liabilities under any applicable Environmental Laws of any other Person, including in any acquisition or divestiture of any property or business.

Section 3.15 Material Contracts.

(a) Material Contracts. For purposes of this Agreement, “Company Material Contract” shall mean the following to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or any of the respective assets are bound (excluding any Leases):

(i) any “material contract” (as such term is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act), whether or not filed by the Company with the SEC;

(ii) any employment or consulting Contract (in each case with respect to which the Company has continuing obligations as of the date hereof) with any current or former (A) officer of the Company, (B) member of the Company Board, or (c) Company Employee or consultant providing for an annual base salary or payment in excess of $100,000;

(iii) any Contract providing for indemnification or any guaranty by the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, in each case that is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than (A) any guaranty by the Company or a Subsidiary thereof of any of the obligations of (1) the Company or another wholly-owned Subsidiary thereof or (2) any Subsidiary (other than a wholly-owned Subsidiary) of the Company that was entered into in the ordinary course of business pursuant to or in connection with a customer Contract, or (B) any Contract providing for indemnification of customers or other Persons pursuant to Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(iv) any Contract that purports to limit in any material respect the right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or, at any time after the consummation of the Merger, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries) (A) to engage in any line of business, (B) compete with any Person or solicit any client or customer, or (C) operate in any geographical location;

(v) any Contract relating to the disposition or acquisition, directly or indirectly (by merger, sale of stock, sale of assets, or otherwise), by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries after the date of this Agreement of assets or capital stock or other equity interests of any Person, in each case with a fair market value in excess of $250,000;

(vi) any Contract that grants any right of first refusal, right of first offer, or similar right with respect to any material assets, rights, or properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(vii) any Contract that provides for the payment of rebates either to suppliers or customers;

(viii) any Contract that contains any provision that requires the purchase of all or a material portion of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ requirements for a given product or service from a given third party, which product or service is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(ix) any Contract that obligates the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to conduct business on an exclusive or preferential basis or that contains a “most favored nation” or similar covenant with any third party or upon consummation of the Merger will obligate Parent, the Surviving Corporation, or any of their respective Subsidiaries to conduct business on an exclusive or preferential basis or that contains a “most favored nation” or similar covenant with any third party;

(x) any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company agreement, or similar Contract relating to the formation, creation, operation, management, or control of any material joint venture, partnership, or limited liability company, other than any such Contact solely between the Company and its wholly-owned Subsidiaries or among the Company’s wholly-owned Subsidiaries;

(xi) any mortgages, indentures, guarantees, loans, or credit agreements, security agreements, or other Contracts, in each case relating to indebtedness for borrowed money, whether as borrower or lender, in each case in excess of $250,000, other than (A) accounts receivables and payables, and (B) loans to direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Company;

(xii) any employee collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with any labor union;

(xiii) any Company IP Agreement other than Contracts for Off-the-Shelf Solutions;

(xiv) any other Contract under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is obligated to make payment or incur costs in excess of $100,000 in any year and which is not otherwise described in clauses (i)–(xii) above; or

(xv) any Contract which is not otherwise described in clauses (i)-(xiv) above that is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(b) Schedule of Material Contracts; Documents. Section 3.15(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list as of the date hereof of all Company Material Contracts. The Company has made available to Parent correct and complete copies of all Company Material Contracts, including any amendments thereto.

(c) No Breach. (i) All the Company Material Contracts are legal, valid, and binding, enforceable against the Company or one of its Subsidiaries in accordance with its terms, and is in full force and effect; (ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any third party has violated in any material respect any provision of, or failed to perform any obligation required under the provisions of, any Company Material Contract, which violation or failure has not been cured; and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any third party is in breach, or since January 1, 2018 has received written notice of breach, of any Company Material Contract.

Section 3.16 Insurance. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, all insurance policies of the Company and its Subsidiaries are in full force and effect and provide insurance in such amounts and against such risks as the Company reasonably has determined to be prudent, taking into account the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate, and as is sufficient to comply with applicable Law. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in breach or default, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action or failed to take any action which, with notice or the lapse of time, would constitute such a breach or default, or permit termination or modification of, any of such insurance policies. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect and to the Knowledge of the Company: (i) no insurer of any such policy has been declared insolvent or placed in receivership, conservatorship, or liquidation; and (ii) no notice of cancellation or termination, other than pursuant to the expiration of a term in accordance with the terms thereof, has been received with respect to any such policy.

Section 3.17 Proxy Statement. None of the information included or incorporated by reference in the Company Proxy Statement will, at the date it is first mailed to the Company’s stockholders or at the time of the Company Stockholders Meeting or at the time of any amendment or supplement thereof, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no representation or warranty is made by the Company with respect to statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied by Parent or Merger Sub expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Company Proxy Statement.

Section 3.18 Anti-Corruption Matters. Since January 1, 2016, none of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any director, officer or, to the Knowledge of the Company, employee or agent of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has: (i) used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment, or other unlawful payments relating to an act by any Governmental Entity; (ii) made any unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee or to any foreign or domestic political party or campaign or violated any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; or (iii) made any other unlawful payment under any applicable Law relating to anti-corruption, bribery, or similar matters. Since January 1, 2016, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has disclosed to any Governmental Entity that it violated or may have violated any Law relating to anti-corruption, bribery, or similar matters. To the Knowledge of the Company, no Governmental Entity is investigating, examining, or reviewing the Company’s compliance with any applicable provisions of any Law relating to anti-corruption, bribery, or similar matters.

Section 3.19 Products.

(a) Recalls. Since January 1, 2018, there has not been any recall, and there is no pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened recall or investigation, with respect to any of the products and services sold from time to time by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(b) Notices. Since January 1, 2018, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have received any written notice or, to the Company’s Knowledge, other communication from any Governmental Entity, of any actual or alleged violation of any applicable Law governing product recalls, product safety, product defects, or the content of product materials or packaging and labeling of products.

Section 3.20 PPP Loan. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has complied in all material respects with all Applicable PPP Laws, in applying for, calculating the permitted amount of, receiving and using the funds borrowed under the PPP Loans. All funds borrowed under the PPP Loans have been used solely for approved purposes in accordance with the Applicable PPP Laws. Other than the PPP Loans, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not incurred any indebtedness pursuant to the Applicable PPP Laws. The Company’s Subsidiary submitted to the PPP Lender a PPP Loan Forgiveness Application (SBA Form 3508) with respect to the PPP Loan on March 11, 2021.

Section 3.21 Fairness Opinion. The Company has received the opinion of a Company Financial Advisor (and, if it is in writing, has provided a copy of such opinion to Parent) to the effect that, as of the date of this Agreement and based upon and subject to the qualifications and assumptions set forth therein, the Merger Consideration is fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of shares of Company Common Stock, and, as of the date of this Agreement, such opinion has not been withdrawn, revoked, or modified.

Article IV.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB

Parent and Merger Sub hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Company as follows:

Section 4.01 Organization. Each of Parent and Merger Sub is a limited liability company and, respectively, corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation.

Section 4.02 Authority; Non-Contravention; Governmental Consents; Board Approval.

(a) Authority. Each of Parent and Merger Sub has all requisite limited liability company or corporate power and authority to enter into and to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, subject to, in the case of the consummation of the Merger, the adoption of this Agreement by Parent as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company or corporate action on the part of Parent and Merger Sub and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Parent or Merger Sub are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement or to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, subject only, in the case of the consummation of the Merger, to the adoption of this Agreement by Parent as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Parent and Merger Sub and, assuming due execution and delivery by the Company, constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation of Parent and Merger Sub, enforceable against Parent and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, and other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.

(b) Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, do not and will not: (i) contravene or conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of Parent or Merger Sub; (ii) assuming that all of the Consents contemplated by clauses (i) through (v) of Section 4.02(c) have been obtained or made, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to Parent or Merger Sub or any of their respective properties or assets; (iii) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in Parent’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ loss of any benefit or the imposition of any additional payment or other liability under, or alter the rights or obligations of any third party under, or give to any third party any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration, or cancellation, or require any Consent under, any Contract to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or otherwise bound as of the date hereof; or (iv) result in the creation of a Lien (other than Permitted Liens) on any of the properties or assets of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, except, in the case of each of clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv), for any conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults, loss of benefits, additional payments or other liabilities, alterations, terminations, amendments, accelerations, cancellations, or Liens that, or where the failure to obtain any Consents, in each case, would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on Parent’s and Merger Sub’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(c) Governmental Consents. No Consent of any Governmental Entity is required to be obtained or made by Parent or Merger Sub in connection with the execution, delivery, and performance by Parent and Merger Sub of this Agreement or the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby, except for: (i) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; (ii) the filing with the SEC of such reports under the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement, the Merger, and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (iii) such Consents as may be required under applicable state securities or “blue sky” Laws and the securities Laws of any foreign country or the rules and regulations of Nasdaq; (iv) the Other Governmental Approvals; and (v) such other Consents which if not obtained or made would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on Parent’s and Merger Sub’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(d) Board Approval.

(i) The managers of Parent by resolutions duly adopted by a unanimous vote at a meeting of all managers of Parent duly called and held and, not subsequently rescinded or modified in any way, has (A) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, are fair to, and in the best interests of, Parent and Parent’s member, and (B) approved and declared advisable this Agreement, including the execution, delivery, and performance thereof, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

(ii) The board of directors of Merger Sub by resolutions duly adopted by a unanimous vote at a meeting of all directors of Merger Sub duly called and held and, not subsequently rescinded or modified in any way, has (A) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, are fair to, and in the best interests of, Merger Sub and Parent, as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub, (B) approved and declared advisable this Agreement, including the execution, delivery, and performance thereof, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, and (C) resolved to recommend that Parent, as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub, approve the adoption of this Agreement in accordance with the DGCL.

Section 4.03 Proxy Statement. None of the information with respect to Parent or Merger Sub that Parent or any of its Representatives furnishes in writing to the Company expressly for use or incorporation in the Company Proxy Statement, will, at the date such Proxy Statement is first mailed to the Company’s stockholders or at the time of the Company Stockholders Meeting or at the time of any amendment or supplement thereof, 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no representation or warranty is made by Parent or Merger Sub with respect to statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied by the Company or its Representatives.

Section 4.04 Financial Capability. Parent has or will have, and will cause Merger Sub to have, prior to the Effective Time, sufficient funds to pay the aggregate Merger Consideration contemplated by this Agreement and to perform the other obligations of Parent and Merger Sub contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 4.05 Legal Proceedings. As of the date hereof, there is no pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened, Legal Action against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, including Merger Sub, nor is there any Order imposed upon Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, including Merger Sub, in each case, by or before any Governmental Entity, that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Parent’s and Merger Sub’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 4.06 Ownership of Company Common Stock. Neither Parent nor any of its Affiliates “owns” (as defined in Section 203(c)(9) of the DGCL) any shares of Company Common Stock.

Section 4.07 Brokers. Neither Parent, Merger Sub, nor any of their respective Affiliates has incurred, nor will it incur, directly or indirectly, any liability for investment banker, brokerage, or finders’ fees or agents’ commissions, or any similar charges in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated by this Agreement for which the Company would be liable in connection with the Merger.

Article V.
COVENANTS

Section 5.01 Conduct of Business of the Company. During the period from the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or as required by applicable Law or with the prior written consent of Parent, conduct its business in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, and, to the extent consistent therewith, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, use its reasonable best efforts to maintain and preserve intact its and its Subsidiaries’ business organizations, to keep available the services of its and its Subsidiaries’ current officers and employees, to maintain and preserve intact its and its Subsidiaries’ present relationships and goodwill with customers, suppliers, distributors, licensors, licensees, and other Persons having business relationships with it. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, except as otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement, as set forth in Section 5.01 of the Company Disclosure Letter, or as required by applicable Law, the Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, without the prior written consent of Parent:

(a) amend or propose to amend its Charter Documents;

(b) (i) split, combine, or reclassify any Company Securities or Company Subsidiary Securities, (ii) repurchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire, or offer to repurchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire, any Company Securities or Company Subsidiary Securities, or (iii) declare, set aside, set a record date for or pay any dividend or distribution (whether in cash, stock, property, or otherwise) in respect of, or enter into any Contract with respect to the voting of, any shares of its capital stock (other than dividends from its direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries);

(c) issue, sell, pledge, dispose of, or encumber any Company Securities or Company Subsidiary Securities, other than the issuance of shares of Company Common Stock upon the exercise of any Company Equity Award outstanding as of the date of this Agreement in accordance with its terms;

(d) except as required by applicable Law or by any Company Employee Plan or Contract in effect as of the date of this Agreement (i) grant or increase the severance or termination pay to any current or former director, employee, agent or consultant of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) execute any employment, consultancy, deferred compensation or other similar agreement (or any amendment to any such existing agreement) with any such director, employee, agent or consultant of the Company or its Subsidiaries; (iii) increase the compensation, bonus or benefits payable or that could become payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to directors, officers, or employees, other than increases in compensation made to non-officer employees in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (iv) lend or advance any money or other property to any present or former director or employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries; (v) promote any officers or employees, except in connection with the Company’s annual or quarterly compensation review cycle or as the result of the termination or resignation of any officer or employee, or (vi) enter into any collective bargaining agreement or other labor agreement; (vii) establish, adopt, enter into, amend, terminate, exercise any discretion (except in the ordinary course of business) under, or take any action to accelerate rights under any Company Employee Plans or any plan, agreement, program, policy, trust, fund, or other arrangement that would be a Company Employee Plan if it were in existence as of the date of this Agreement, or make any contribution to any Company Employee Plan, other than contributions required by Law, the terms of such Company Employee Plans as in effect on the date hereof, or that are made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

(e) (A) other than any termination by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for cause, terminate the employment of any officer or employee with the title of vice president or above, or (B) undertake (1) any material reduction in force, (2) any reduction in force that would result in any liability by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for noncompliance with the notice provisions of the WARN Act, or (C) any reduction in force that is subject to the WARN Act, in each case, in respect of employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(f) acquire, by merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or assets, or otherwise, any business or Person or division thereof or make any loans, advances, or capital contributions to or investments in any Person;

(g) (i) transfer, license, sublicense, sell, lease, sublease or otherwise dispose of (whether by way of merger, consolidation, sale of stock or assets, or otherwise) or pledge, encumber, or otherwise subject to any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien), any assets, including the capital stock or other equity interests in any Subsidiary of the Company; provided, that the foregoing shall not prohibit the Company and its Subsidiaries from transferring, selling, leasing, or disposing of obsolete equipment or assets being replaced, or granting non-exclusive licenses under the Company IP or the Company-Owned IP, in each case in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, or (ii) adopt or effect a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization, or other reorganization;

(h) repurchase, prepay, or incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any such indebtedness of another Person, issue or sell any debt securities or options, warrants, calls, or other rights to acquire any debt securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, guarantee any debt securities of another Person, enter into any “keep well” or other Contract to maintain any financial statement condition of any other Person (other than any wholly-owned Subsidiary of it) or enter into any arrangement having the economic effect of any of the foregoing, other than in connection with the financing of ordinary course trade payables consistent with past practice and except for up to $5.0 million of additional indebtedness under the Credit Agreement than what is outstanding as of the date of this Agreement (it being understood that such $5.0 million shall be in addition to indebtedness incurred in connection with the financing of ordinary course trade payables);

(i) enter into or amend or modify in any material respect, or consent to the termination of (other than at its stated expiry date), any Company Material Contract or any Lease with respect to Real Estate or any other Contract or Lease that, if in effect as of the date hereof would constitute a Company Material Contract or Lease with respect to Real Estate hereunder;

(j) institute, settle, compromise or otherwise resolve in whole or in part any Legal Action involving the payment of monetary damages by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any amount exceeding $100,000 for any individual Legal Action, other than (i) any Legal Action brought against Parent or Merger Sub arising out of a breach or alleged breach of this Agreement by Parent or Merger Sub, and (ii) the settlement of claims, liabilities, or obligations reserved against on the Company Balance Sheet; provided, that neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall settle or agree to settle any Legal Action which settlement involves a conduct remedy or injunctive or similar relief or has a restrictive impact on the Company’s business;

(k) make any material change in any method of financial accounting principles or practices, in each case except for any such change required by a change in GAAP or applicable Law;

(l) (i) settle or compromise any material Tax claim, audit, or assessment for an amount materially in excess of the amount reserved or accrued on the Company Balance Sheet (or most recent consolidated balance sheet included in the Company SEC Documents), (ii) make, change or rescind any material Tax election, change any annual Tax accounting period, or adopt or change any method of Tax accounting, (iii) amend any material Tax Returns or file claims for material Tax refunds, or (iv) enter into any material closing agreement, surrender any right to claim a material Tax refund, offset or other reduction in Tax liability or consent to any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any material Tax claim or assessment relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries;

(m) enter into any material agreement, agreement in principle, letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, or similar Contract with respect to any joint venture, strategic partnership, or alliance;

(n) waive, release, assign or fail to exercise or pursue any material right, claim or benefit of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any restrictive covenant with any officer or employee;

(o) engage in any transaction or series of transactions with any Affiliate that would be required to be disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act, without regard to any monetary thresholds therein;

(p) except in connection with actions permitted by Section 5.04 hereof, take any action to exempt any Person from, or make any acquisition of securities of the Company by any Person not subject to, any state takeover statute or similar statute or regulation that applies to the Company with respect to a Takeover Proposal or otherwise, including the restrictions on “business combinations” set forth in Section 203 of the DGCL, except for Parent, Merger Sub, or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates, or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(q) abandon, allow to lapse, sell, assign, transfer, grant any security interest in, otherwise encumber or dispose of any Company IP, or grant any right, license or sublicense to any Company IP other than pursuant to non-exclusive licenses or sublicenses entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, or divulge, furnish to or make accessible any trade secrets within Company IP to any third party, except under appropriate protections for the confidentiality thereof;

(r) terminate or modify in any material respect, or fail to exercise renewal rights with respect to, any material insurance policy;

(s) make or commit to make any capital expenditures, other than for the repair or replacement of property and equipment in the ordinary course of business; or

(t) agree or commit to do any of the foregoing.

Without in any way limiting any party’s rights or obligations under this Agreement, the parties understand and agree that (a) nothing contained in this Agreement shall give Parent or the Company, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the other party’s operations prior to the Effective Time and (b) prior to the Effective Time, each of the Company and Parent shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision over its respective operations.

Section 5.02 Other Actions. From the date of this Agreement until the earlier to occur of the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with the terms set forth in Article VII, the Company and Parent shall not, and shall not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, take, or agree or commit to take, any action (except as otherwise expressly permitted by Section 5.04 of this Agreement) that would reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, prevent, materially delay, or materially impede the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 5.03 Access to Information; Integration Planning; Confidentiality.

(a) Access to Information. From the date of this Agreement until the earlier to occur of the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with the terms set forth in Article VII, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, afford to Parent and Parent’s Representatives reasonable access, at reasonable times and in a manner as shall not unreasonably interfere with the business or operations of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, to the officers, employees, accountants, agents, properties, offices, and other facilities, and to all books, records, contracts, and other assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, furnish promptly to Parent such other information concerning the business and properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries as Parent may reasonably request from time to time. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to provide access to or disclose information where such access or disclosure would jeopardize the protection of attorney-client privilege or contravene any Law (it being agreed that the parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause such information to be provided in a manner that would not result in such jeopardy or contravention). No investigation shall affect the Company’s representations, warranties, covenants, or agreements contained herein, or limit or otherwise affect the remedies available to Parent or Merger Sub pursuant to this Agreement.

(b) Integration Planning. From and after the date hereof until the Effective Time, the Company and Parent shall, and shall cause their Subsidiaries and Representatives to, use their reasonable best efforts, subject to applicable Law, to cooperate with the other party in connection with planning the integration of the business operations of the Surviving Corporation and Parent and their respective Subsidiaries following the Closing by, among other matters, the Company facilitating meetings between Parent and the employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries. In furtherance of the foregoing, promptly following the date hereof, each of Parent and the Company shall designate at least one individual to serve on an integration committee, with such committee meeting at least weekly and as otherwise reasonably requested by Parent, to conduct transition and integration planning.

(c) Confidentiality. Parent and the Company shall comply with, and shall cause their respective Representatives to comply with, all of their respective obligations under the Confidentiality Agreement, which shall survive the termination of this Agreement in accordance with the terms set forth therein.

Section 5.04 Solicitation of Takeover Proposals.

(a) Go-Shop Period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, during the period commencing with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and continuing until 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on the No-Shop Period Start Date, the Company and its Representatives will have the right to, directly or indirectly, (i) initiate, solicit, propose, induce or encourage the making, submission or announcement of one or more Takeover Proposals from any Person or its Representatives, or knowingly encourage, facilitate or assist, any proposal, inquiry or offer that would constitute, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, a Takeover Proposal, including by furnishing to any Person or its Representatives any non-public information relating to the Company or by affording to any Person or its Representatives access to the business, properties, assets, books, records or other non-public information, or to the personnel, of the Company, in each case pursuant to one or more Acceptable Confidentiality Agreements; (ii) continue, enter into, participate in or engage in any discussions or negotiations with any Person or its Representatives with respect to one or more Takeover Proposals or any other proposals that could lead to a Takeover Proposal; (iii) otherwise cooperate with, assist or take any action to facilitate any Takeover Proposal or any other proposals that could lead to any Takeover Proposal; provided that the Company shall promptly (and in any event within 24 hours) make available to Parent any non-public information concerning the Company or its Subsidiaries that is provided to any Person given such access that was not previously made available to the Parent, and (iv) engage in, enter into or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations with any Persons or group of Persons with respect to any Takeover Proposals and cooperate with or assist or participate in or facilitate any such inquiries, proposals, discussions or negotiations or any effort or attempt to make any Takeover Proposals. No later than one (1) Business Day after the No-Shop Period Start Date, the Company shall (x) notify Parent in writing of the receipt of any Takeover Proposal after the execution of this Agreement and prior to the No-Shop Period Start Date, or any inquiry or request with respect to, or that would reasonably be expected to lead to, a Takeover Proposal (including the identity of the Person or group making such Takeover Proposal, the price per share, structure, closing conditions, and regulatory and financing provisions) and (y) deliver to Parent copies of all written proposals, letters of interest, term sheets, commitment letters, proposed definitive documents or similar documents relating to any Takeover Proposal received by the Company or its Representatives from any such Person or group or its or their Representatives. The Company shall keep Parent informed in all material respects of any material developments with respect to any such Takeover Proposal (and any subsequent amendments or modifications thereto) and deliver to Parent copies of revised or newly received documents received by the Company or its Representatives from any such Person or group or its or their Representatives, in each case, as soon as is reasonably practicable and in any event within 24 hours of receipt, provision or occurrence thereof.

(b) No Solicitation or Negotiation after No-Shop Period Start Date. Except as expressly permitted by this Section 5.04, from and after the No-Shop Period Start Date, the Company shall and shall cause its Subsidiaries and each of its and their Representatives to cease immediately and cause to be terminated, and shall not authorize or knowingly permit any of its or their Representatives to continue, any and all existing activities, discussions, or negotiations, if any, with any third party conducted prior to the No-Shop Period Start Date with respect to any Takeover Proposal and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause any such third party (or its agents or advisors) in possession of non-public information in respect of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that was furnished by or on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries to return or destroy (and confirm destruction of) all such information.

(c) Takeover Proposal. Except as may relate to any Excluded Party (for so long as such Person or group is an Excluded Party) or as expressly permitted by this Section 5.04, subject to the terms of Section 5.04(d), from and after the No-Shop Period Start Date, the Company shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, and shall not authorize or permit its and its Subsidiaries’ Representatives to, directly or indirectly, solicit, initiate, or knowingly take any action to facilitate or encourage the submission of any Takeover Proposal or the making of any proposal that could reasonably be expected to lead to any Takeover Proposal, or, subject to Section 5.04(d): (i) conduct or engage in any discussions or negotiations with, disclose any non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to, afford access to the business, properties, assets, books, or records of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to, or knowingly assist, participate in, facilitate, or encourage any effort by, any third party (or its potential sources of financing) that is seeking to make, or has made, any Takeover Proposal; (ii) (A) amend or grant any waiver or release under any standstill or similar agreement with respect to any class of equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (B) approve any transaction under, or any third party becoming an “interested stockholder” under, Section 203 of the DGCL; or (iii) enter into any Company Acquisition Agreement. Except as expressly permitted by this Section 5.04, the Company Board shall not effect a Company Adverse Recommendation Change.

(d) Superior Proposal. Notwithstanding Section 5.04(c), prior to the receipt of the Requisite Company Vote, the Company Board, directly or indirectly through any Representative, may, subject to Section 5.04(e): (i) participate in negotiations or discussions with any third party that has made (and not withdrawn) a bona fide, unsolicited Takeover Proposal in writing that the Company Board believes in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel and the Company Financial Advisor, constitutes a Superior Proposal; (ii) thereafter furnish to such third party non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to an executed confidentiality agreement that constitutes an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement (a copy of which confidentiality agreement shall be promptly (in all events within 24 hours) provided for informational purposes only to Parent); (iii) following receipt of and on account of a Superior Proposal, make a Company Adverse Recommendation Change; and/or (iv) take any action that any court of competent jurisdiction orders the Company to take (which order remains unstayed), but in each case referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv), only if the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that the failure to take such action would cause the Company Board to be in breach of its fiduciary duties under applicable Law. Nothing contained herein shall prevent the Company Board from disclosing to the Company’s stockholders a position contemplated by Rule 14d-9 and Rule 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act with regard to a Takeover Proposal, if the Company determines, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that failure to disclose such position would constitute a violation of applicable Law.

(e) Notification to Parent. The Company Board shall not take any of the actions referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) of Section 5.04(d) unless the Company shall have delivered to Parent a prior written notice advising Parent that it intends to take such action. The Company shall notify Parent promptly (but in no event later than 24 hours) after it obtains Knowledge of the receipt by the Company (or any of its Representatives) of any Takeover Proposal, any inquiry that could reasonably be expected to lead to a Takeover Proposal, any request for non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or for access to the business, properties, assets, books, or records of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by any third party. In such notice, the Company shall identify the third party making, and details of the material terms and conditions of, any such Takeover Proposal, indication or request, including any proposed financing. The Company shall keep Parent fully informed, on a current basis, of the status and material terms of any such Takeover Proposal, indication or request, including any material amendments or proposed amendments as to price, proposed financing, and other material terms thereof. The Company shall provide Parent with at least 48 hours’ prior notice of any meeting of the Company Board (or such lesser notice as is provided to the members of the Company Board) at which the Company Board is reasonably expected to consider any Takeover Proposal. The Company shall promptly provide Parent with a list of any non-public information concerning the Company’s and any of its Subsidiary’s business, present or future performance, financial condition, or results of operations, provided to any third party, and, to the extent such information has not been previously provided to Parent, copies of such information. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 5.04(e) shall not apply to a Takeover Proposal that relates to any Excluded Party (for so long as such Person or group is an Excluded Party).

(f) Company Adverse Recommendation Change or Company Acquisition Agreement. Except as expressly permitted by this Section 5.04, the Company Board shall not effect a Company Adverse Recommendation Change or enter into (or permit any Subsidiary to enter into) a Company Acquisition Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time prior to the receipt of the Requisite Company Vote, the Company Board may effect a Company Adverse Recommendation Change or enter into (or permit any Subsidiary to enter into) a Company Acquisition Agreement, if: (i) the Company promptly notifies Parent, in writing, at least five Business Days (the “Superior Proposal Notice Period”) before making a Company Adverse Recommendation Change or entering into (or causing a Subsidiary to enter into) a Company Acquisition Agreement, of its intention to take such action with respect to a Superior Proposal, which notice shall state expressly that the Company has received a Takeover Proposal that the Company Board intends to declare a Superior Proposal and that the Company Board intends to effect a Company Adverse Recommendation Change and/or the Company intends to enter into a Company Acquisition Agreement; (ii) the Company specifies the identity of the party making the Superior Proposal and the material terms and conditions thereof in such notice and includes an unredacted copy of the Takeover Proposal and attaches to such notice the most current version of any proposed agreement (which version shall be updated on a prompt basis) for such Superior Proposal and any related documents, including financing documents, to the extent provided by the relevant party in connection with the Superior Proposal; (iii) the Company and its Representatives, during the Superior Proposal Notice Period, negotiate with Parent in good faith to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement so that such Takeover Proposal ceases to constitute a Superior Proposal, if Parent, in its discretion, proposes to make such adjustments (it being agreed that in the event that, after commencement of the Superior Proposal Notice Period, there is any material revision to the terms of a Superior Proposal, including, any revision in price or financing, the Superior Proposal Notice Period shall be extended, if applicable, to ensure that at least five Business Days remains in the Superior Proposal Notice Period subsequent to the time the Company notifies Parent of any such material revision (it being understood that there may be multiple extensions)); and (iv) the Company Board determines in good faith, after consulting with outside legal counsel and its Company Financial Advisor, that such Takeover Proposal continues to constitute a Superior Proposal after taking into account any adjustments made by Parent during the Superior Proposal Notice Period in the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

Section 5.05 Stockholders Meeting; Preparation of Proxy Materials; Approval by Sole Stockholder of Merger Sub.

(a) Company Stockholders Meeting. The Company shall take all action necessary to duly call, give notice of, convene, and hold the Company Stockholders Meeting as soon as reasonably practicable after the date of this Agreement, and, in connection therewith, the Company shall mail the Company Proxy Statement to the holders of Company Common Stock in advance of such meeting. Except to the extent that the Company Board shall have effected a Company Adverse Recommendation Change as permitted by Section 5.04 hereof, the Company Proxy Statement shall include the Company Board Recommendation. Subject to Section 5.04 hereof, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to: (i) solicit from the holders of Company Common Stock proxies in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and approval of the Merger; and (ii) take all other actions necessary or advisable to secure the vote or consent of the holders of Company Common Stock required by applicable Law to obtain such approval. Except for the election of directors, approval of the Company’s executive compensation and ratification of the selection of the Company’s independent accountant, the Company shall not submit any other proposals for approval at the Company Stockholders Meeting without the prior written consent of Parent. The Company shall keep Parent and Merger Sub updated with respect to proxy solicitation results as requested Parent or Merger Sub. Once the Company Stockholders Meeting has been called and noticed, the Company shall not postpone or adjourn the Company Stockholders Meeting without the consent of Parent (other than: (A) in order to obtain a quorum of its stockholders; or (B) to allow reasonable additional time after the filing and mailing of any supplemental or amended disclosures to the Company Proxy Statement for compliance with applicable legal requirements). If the Company Board makes a Company Adverse Recommendation Change, it will not alter the obligation of the Company to submit the adoption of this Agreement and the approval of the Merger to the holders of Company Common Stock at the Company Stockholders Meeting to consider and vote upon, unless this Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with its terms prior to the Company Stockholders Meeting.

(b) Preparation of Company Proxy Statement. In connection with the Company Stockholders Meeting, as soon as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement the Company shall prepare and file the Company Proxy Statement with the SEC. Parent, Merger Sub, and the Company will cooperate and consult with each other in the preparation of the Company Proxy Statement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of Parent and Merger Sub will furnish the Company the information relating to it required by the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder to be set forth in the Company Proxy Statement. The Company shall not file the Company Proxy Statement, or any amendment or supplement thereto, without providing Parent a reasonable opportunity to review and comment thereon (which comments shall be reasonably considered by the Company). The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Company Proxy Statement at the date that it (and any amendment or supplement thereto) is first published, sent, or given to the stockholders of the Company and at the time of the Company Stockholders Meeting, to comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to resolve, and each party agrees to consult and cooperate with the other party in resolving, all SEC comments with respect to the Company Proxy Statement as promptly as practicable after receipt thereof and to cause the Company Proxy Statement in definitive form to be cleared by the SEC and mailed to the Company’s stockholders as promptly as reasonably practicable following filing with the SEC. The Company agrees to consult with Parent prior to responding to SEC comments with respect to the preliminary Company Proxy Statement. Each of Parent, Merger Sub, and the Company agree to correct any information provided by it for use in the Company Proxy Statement which shall have become false or misleading in any material respect, and the Company shall promptly prepare and mail to its stockholders an amendment or supplement setting forth such correction. The Company shall as soon as reasonably practicable: (i) notify Parent of the receipt of any comments from the SEC with respect to the Company Proxy Statement and any request by the SEC for any amendment to the Company Proxy Statement or for additional information; and (ii) provide Parent with copies of all written correspondence between the Company and its Representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC, on the other hand, with respect to the Company Proxy Statement.

(c) Approval by Sole Stockholder of Merger Sub. Immediately following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Parent, as sole stockholder of Merger Sub, shall adopt this Agreement and approve the Merger, in accordance with the DGCL.

Section 5.06 Notices of Certain Events; Stockholder Litigation; No Effect on Disclosure Letter.

(a) Notice of Certain Events. The Company shall notify Parent and Merger Sub, and Parent and Merger Sub shall notify the Company, promptly of: (i) any notice or other communication from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (ii) any notice or other communication from any Governmental Entity in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and (iii) any event, change, or effect between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time which causes or is reasonably likely to cause the failure of the conditions set forth in Section 6.02(a), Section 6.02(b), or Section 6.02(c) of this Agreement (in the case of the Company and its Subsidiaries) or Section 6.03(a) or Section 6.03(b) of this Agreement (in the case of Parent and Merger Sub), to be satisfied.

(b) Stockholder Litigation. The Company shall promptly advise Parent in writing after becoming aware of any Legal Action commenced, or to the Company’s Knowledge threatened, after the date hereof against the Company or any of its directors by any stockholder of the Company (on their own behalf or on behalf of the Company) relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (including the Merger) and shall keep Parent reasonably informed regarding any such Legal Action. The Company shall give Parent the opportunity to consult with the Company regarding the defense or settlement of any such stockholder litigation and shall consider Parent’s views with respect to such stockholder litigation and shall not settle any such stockholder litigation without the prior written consent of Parent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed).

(c) No Effect on Disclosure Letter. In no event shall: (i) the delivery of any notice by a party pursuant to this Section 5.06 limit or otherwise affect the respective rights, obligations, representations, warranties, covenants, or agreements of the parties or the conditions to the obligations of the parties under this Agreement; or (ii) disclosure by the Company or Parent be deemed to amend or supplement the Company Disclosure Letter or constitute an exception to any representation or warranty.

Section 5.07 Employees; Benefit Plans.

(a) Comparable Salary and Benefits. During the period commencing at the Effective Time and ending December 31, 2021 (or if earlier, the date of the employee’s termination of employment with Parent and its Subsidiaries), and to the extent consistent with the terms of the governing plan documents, Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation and each of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, to provide the Company Continuing Employees with (i) the same annual base salary or wage level, and the same annual target bonus opportunities (excluding equity-based compensation) as provided by the Company and its Subsidiaries as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, and (ii) employee benefits (excluding any retiree health or defined benefit retirement benefits) that are, in the aggregate, no less favorable than the employee benefits (excluding any retiree health or defined benefit retirement benefits) provided by the Company and its Subsidiaries on the date of this Agreement.

(b) Crediting Service. With respect to any Parent Benefit Plans in which any Company Continuing Employees will participate effective as of the Effective Time, and subject to the terms of the governing plan documents, Parent shall, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, credit all service of the Company Continuing Employees with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, as if such service were with Parent, for purposes of eligibility to participate (but not for purposes of benefit accrual, except for vacation, if applicable), for full or partial years of service in any Parent Benefit Plan in which such Company Continuing Employees may be eligible to participate after the Effective Time; provided, that such service shall not be credited to the extent that: (i) such crediting would result in a duplication of benefits; or (ii) such service was not credited under the corresponding Company Employee Plan. For purposes of determining satisfaction of any co-payments, annual deductible limitation and out-of-pocket maximum that may apply under a Parent Benefit Plan, Parent shall, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, use reasonable best efforts to cause each Parent Benefit Plan to ensure that each Company Continuing Employee will be credited for covered expenses paid by the Company Continuing Employee under the corresponding Company Employee Plan during the then current annual period of coverage.

(c) Termination and/or Amendment of Benefit Plans. Effective no later than the day immediately preceding the Closing Date, the Company shall terminate or amend any Company Employee Plans (other than any Company Employee Plan that is a tax-qualified defined benefit retirement plan subject to the funding requirements of Title IV of ERISA, except for amendments with respect to covered participants, eligible employees and participating employers) maintained by the Company or its Subsidiaries that Parent has requested to be terminated or amended by providing a written notice to the Company at least 15 days prior to the Closing Date; provided, that such Company Employee Plans can be terminated and/or amended in accordance with their terms and applicable Law without any adverse consequences with respect to any Company ERISA Affiliate. No later than the day immediately preceding the Closing Date, the Company shall provide Parent with evidence that such Company Employee Plans have been terminated and/or amended in a manner requested by and acceptable to Parent.

(d) Employees Not Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Section 5.07 shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each of the parties to this Agreement, and nothing in this Section 5.07, express or implied, shall confer upon any Company Employee, any beneficiary, or any other Person any rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Section 5.07. Nothing contained herein, express or implied: (i) shall be construed to establish, amend, or modify any benefit plan, program, agreement, or arrangement; (ii) shall alter or limit the ability of the Surviving Corporation, Parent, or any of their respective Affiliates to amend, modify, or terminate any benefit plan, program, agreement, or arrangement at any time assumed, established, sponsored, or maintained by any of them; or (iii) shall prevent the Surviving Corporation, Parent, or any of their respective Affiliates from terminating the employment of any Company Continuing Employee following the Effective Time. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the terms set forth in this Section 5.07 shall not create any right in any Company Employee or any other Person to any continued employment with the Surviving Corporation, Parent, or any of their respective Subsidiaries or compensation or benefits of any nature or kind whatsoever, or otherwise alter any existing at-will employment relationship between any Company Employee and the Surviving Corporation.

(e) Prior Written Consent. With respect to matters described in this Section 5.07, the Company will not send any written notices or other written communication materials to Company Employees without the prior written consent of Parent.

Section 5.08 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance.

(a) Indemnification. Parent and Merger Sub agree that all rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses, and exculpation by the Company now existing in favor of each Indemnified Party as provided in the Charter Documents of the Company, in each case as in effect on the date of this Agreement, or pursuant to any other Contracts in effect on the date hereof and disclosed in Section 5.08(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, shall be assumed by the Surviving Corporation in the Merger, without further action, at the Effective Time and shall survive the Merger and shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms. For a period of six years from the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall, and Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, maintain in effect rights to exculpation, indemnification, and advancement of expenses equivalent to the provisions of the Charter Documents of the Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time with respect to acts or omissions by any Indemnified Party occurring prior to the Effective Time, and shall not amend, repeal, or otherwise modify any such provisions in any manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of any Indemnified Party; provided that all rights to indemnification in respect of any claim made for indemnification within such period shall continue until the disposition of such action or resolution of such claim.

(b) Insurance. Prior to the Effective Time the Company shall, or if the Company is unable to, Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation as of the Effective Time to, obtain and fully pay the premium for the non-cancellable extension of the directors’ and officers’ liability coverage of the Company’s existing directors’ and officers’ insurance policies and the Company’s existing fiduciary liability insurance policies (collectively, “D&O Insurance”), in each case for a claims reporting or discovery period of at least six years from and after the Effective Time with respect to any claim related to any period of time at or prior to the Effective Time); provided that the Company shall give Parent a reasonable opportunity to participate in the selection of such tail policy and the Company shall give reasonable and good faith consideration to any comments made by Parent with respect thereto. If the Company or the Surviving Corporation for any reason fails to obtain such “tail” insurance policies as of the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall, and Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, continue to maintain in effect, for a period of at least six years from and after the Effective Time, the D&O Insurance in place as of the date hereof with the Company’s current insurance carrier or with an insurance carrier with the same or better credit rating as the Company’s current insurance carrier with respect to D&O Insurance with terms, conditions, retentions and limits of liability that are no less favorable than the coverage provided under the Company’s existing policies as of the date hereof, or the Surviving Corporation shall purchase from the Company’s current insurance carrier or from an insurance carrier with the same or better credit rating as the Company’s current insurance carrier with respect to D&O Insurance comparable D&O Insurance for such six-year period; provided that in no event shall Parent or the Surviving Corporation be required to expend for such policies pursuant to this sentence an annual premium amount in excess of $250,000 (the “Maximum Premium”). If such insurance coverage cannot be obtained at an annual premium equal to or less than the Maximum Premium, the Surviving Corporation will obtain, and Parent will cause the Surviving Corporation to obtain, the greatest coverage available for a cost not exceeding an annual premium equal to the Maximum Premium.

(c) Survival. The obligations of Parent, Merger Sub, and the Surviving Corporation under this Section 5.08 shall survive the consummation of the Merger and shall not be terminated or modified in such a manner as to adversely affect any Indemnified Party to whom this Section 5.08 applies without the consent of such affected Indemnified Party (it being expressly agreed that the Indemnified Parties to whom this Section 5.08 applies shall be third-party beneficiaries of this Section 5.08, each of whom may enforce the provisions of this Section 5.08).

(d) Assumptions by Successors and Assigns; No Release or Waiver. In the event Parent, the Surviving Corporation 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 in such consolidation or merger; or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in either such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of Parent or the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, shall assume all of the obligations set forth in this Section 5.08. The agreements and covenants contained herein shall not be deemed to be exclusive of any other rights to which any Indemnified Party is entitled, whether pursuant to Law, Contract, or otherwise. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, shall be construed to, or shall release, waive, or impair any rights to directors’ and officers’ insurance claims under any policy that is or has been in existence with respect to the Company or its officers, directors, and employees, it being understood and agreed that the indemnification provided for in this Section 5.08 is not prior to, or in substitution for, any such claims under any such policies.

Section 5.09 Reasonable Best Efforts.

(a) Governmental and Other Third-Party Approvals; Notification. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement (including those contained in this Section 5.09), each of the parties hereto shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper, or advisable to consummate and make effective, and to satisfy all conditions to, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including: (i) the obtaining of all necessary Permits, waivers, and actions or nonactions from Governmental Entities and the making of all necessary registrations and filings (including filings with Governmental Entities) and the taking of all steps as may be necessary to obtain an approval or waiver from, or to avoid an action or proceeding by, any Governmental Entities; (ii) the obtaining of all necessary consents or waivers from third parties; and (iii) the execution and delivery of any additional instruments necessary to consummate the Merger and to fully carry out the purposes of this Agreement. The Company and Parent shall, subject to applicable Law, promptly: (A) cooperate and coordinate with the other in the taking of the actions contemplated by clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) immediately above; and (B) supply the other with any information that may be reasonably required in order to effectuate the taking of such actions. Each party hereto shall promptly inform the other party or parties hereto, as the case may be, of any communication from any Governmental Entity regarding any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. If the Company, on the one hand, or Parent or Merger Sub, on the other hand, receives a request for additional information or documentary material, or request for a telephone call or meeting, from any Governmental Entity with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, then it shall use reasonable best efforts to make, or cause to be made, as soon as reasonably practicable and after consultation with the other party, an appropriate response in compliance with such request, and, if permitted by applicable Law and by any applicable Governmental Entity, provide the other party’s counsel with advance notice and the opportunity to attend and participate in any meeting with any Governmental Entity in respect of any filing made thereto in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Neither Company, on the one hand, nor Parent or Merger Sub, on the other hand, will independently participate in any meeting with any Governmental Entity in respect of any inquiry or findings with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement without giving the other prior notice of the meeting and the opportunity to attend, participate, or both, in each case unless prohibited by the Governmental Entity.

(b) Governmental Antitrust Authorities. Without limiting the generality of the undertakings pursuant to Section 5.09(a) hereof, the parties hereto shall: (i) provide or cause to be provided as promptly as reasonably practicable to any Governmental Antitrust Authority any information and documents requested by any Governmental Antitrust Authority as necessary, proper, or advisable to permit consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and thereafter to respond as promptly as practicable to any request for additional information or documentary material that may be made under any applicable Antitrust Laws; and (ii) subject to the terms set forth in Section 5.09(c) hereof, use their reasonable best efforts to take such actions as are necessary or advisable to obtain prompt approval of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by any Governmental Entity or expiration of applicable waiting periods.

(c) Actions or Proceedings. In the event that any administrative or judicial action or proceeding is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) by a Governmental Entity or private party challenging the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement, or any other agreement contemplated hereby, the Company, Parent and Merger Sub shall cooperate in all respects and shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to contest and resist any such action or proceeding and to have vacated, lifted, reversed, or overturned any Order, whether temporary, preliminary, or permanent, that is in effect and that prohibits, prevents, or restricts consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, none of Parent, Merger Sub, or any of their respective Affiliates shall be required to defend, contest, or resist any action or proceeding, whether judicial or administrative, or to take any action to have vacated, lifted, reversed, or overturned any Order, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(d) No Divestitures; Other Limitations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, none of Parent, Merger Sub, or any of their respective Subsidiaries shall be required to, and the Company may not, without the prior written consent of Parent, consent to, or offer or agree to, or otherwise take any action with respect to, any requirement, condition, limitation, understanding, agreement, or Order to: (i) sell, license, assign, transfer, divest, hold separate, or otherwise dispose of any assets, business, or any portion of the business of the Company, the Surviving Corporation, Parent, Merger Sub, or any of their respective Subsidiaries; (ii) conduct, restrict, operate, invest, or otherwise change the assets, business, or portion of business of the Company, the Surviving Corporation, Parent, Merger Sub, or any of their respective Subsidiaries in any manner; or (iii) impose any restriction, requirement, or limitation on the operation of the business or portion of the business of the Company, the Surviving Corporation, Parent, Merger Sub, or any of their respective Subsidiaries; provided, that if requested by Parent, the Company will become subject to, consent to, or offer or agree to, or otherwise take any action with respect to, any such requirement, condition, limitation, understanding, agreement, or Order so long as such requirement, condition, limitation, understanding, agreement, or Order is only binding on the Company in the event the Closing occurs.

Section 5.10 Public Announcements. The initial press release with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be a release mutually agreed to by the Company and Parent. Thereafter, each of the Company, Parent, and Merger Sub agrees that no public release or announcement concerning the transactions contemplated hereby shall be issued by any party without the prior written consent of the Company and Parent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed), except as may be required by applicable Law or the rules or regulations of any applicable United States securities exchange or other Governmental Entity to which the relevant party is subject or submits, in which case the party required to make the release or announcement shall use its reasonable best efforts to allow the other party reasonable time to comment on such release or announcement in advance of such issuance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the restrictions set forth in this Section 5.10 shall not apply to any release or announcement made or proposed to be made in connection with and related to a Company Adverse Recommendation Change or in compliance with Section 5.04.

Section 5.11 Anti-Takeover Statutes. If any “control share acquisition,” “fair price,” “moratorium,” or other anti-takeover Law becomes or is deemed to be applicable to the Company, the Merger, or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement, then each of the Company and the Company Board shall grant such approvals and take such actions as are necessary so that the transactions contemplated hereby may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated hereby and otherwise act to render such anti-takeover Law inapplicable to the foregoing.

Section 5.12 Section 16 Matters. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall take all such steps as may be required to cause to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act any dispositions of shares of Company Common Stock (including derivative securities with respect to such shares) that are treated as dispositions under such rule and result from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by each director or officer of the Company who is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time.

Section 5.13 Stock Exchange Delisting; Deregistration. To the extent requested by Parent, prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall cooperate with Parent and use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do or cause to be done all things, reasonably necessary, proper or advisable on its part under applicable Laws and the rules and policies of Nasdaq to enable the delisting by the Surviving Corporation of the shares of Company Common Stock from Nasdaq and the deregistration of the shares of Company Common Stock under the Exchange Act as promptly as practicable after the Effective Time, and in any event no more than ten days after the Effective Time.

Section 5.14 PPP Loan. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the amounts borrowed under the PPP Loan to be forgiven under Applicable PPP Laws (including taking all necessary or appropriate steps to obtain lender approval and to resolve any requests or concerns raised by Governmental Entities in connection with any audit regarding the forgiveness application submitted by the Company and its Subsidiaries in respect of the PPP Loan), and shall keep Parent reasonably informed on a current basis with respect thereto. Prior to the Closing, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall provide Parent and Merger Sub with all information reasonably requested by Parent in connection with seeking forgiveness under the PPP Loans, including employee records, corporate governance documents related to the PPP Loans and all receipts, account records and invoices applicable to the PPP Loans. Prior to the Effective Time, to the extent required by the SBA Procedural Notice and Applicable PPP Laws or any similar guidance, the Company shall establish an interest-bearing escrow account controlled by the PPP Lender with the funds contributed to equal the outstanding balance of the PPP Loans at such time. Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, Parent and Merger Sub shall cooperate with the Company and its Subsidiaries to the extent reasonably requested by the Company and its Subsidiaries to secure (i) all approvals of the Merger required or requested by the PPP Lender, any applicable Governmental Entity, and any Applicable PPP Laws, and (ii) forgiveness of the PPP Loan.

Section 5.15 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.

Section 5.16 Treatment of Certain Company Indebtedness.

(a) If requested by Parent, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries, as applicable, to deliver all notices and take all other reasonable actions required to facilitate (i) the termination of commitments under the Credit Agreement, (ii) the repayment in full (or in the case of letters of credit, cash collateralization, to the extent Parent shall not have entered into an alternative arrangement with the issuing bank) of all obligations then outstanding thereunder and (iii) the release of all liens and guarantees in connection therewith, in each case, on the Closing Date in connection with such repayment (such termination, repayment and release, the “Credit Agreement Termination”); provided, that (A) in no event shall this Section 5.16 require the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to cause such Credit Agreement Termination unless the Closing shall have occurred and (B) Parent shall provide, or cause to be provided, all funds required to effect all such repayments and cash collateralization of letters of credit.

(b) On the Business Day prior to the anticipated Closing Date, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Parent a copy of a payoff letter (each, a “Payoff Letter”) with respect to the Credit Agreement and/or any other indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to a financial or comparable institution ( “Bank Debt”), in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Parent, each of which Payoff Letters shall (i) indicate the total amount required to be paid to fully satisfy all principal, interest, prepayment premiums, penalties, breakage costs and any other monetary obligations then due and payable under the Credit Agreement or agreement(s) governing such other Bank Debt, as applicable, as of the anticipated Closing Date (such amount payable with respect to the Payoff Letter and Credit Agreement or agreement(s) governing such other Bank Debt, as applicable, the “Payoff Amount”), (ii) state that upon receipt of the Payoff Amount under each such Payoff Letter, the Credit Agreement and all related loan documents, or the agreement(s) governing such other Bank Debt, as applicable, shall be terminated (but excluding any contingent obligations, including indemnification obligations, that in any such case are not then due and payable and that by their terms are to survive the termination of the Credit Agreement and the related loan documents or the agreement(s) governing such other Bank Debt, as applicable), and (iii) provide that all Liens and all guarantees in connection therewith relating to the assets and properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries securing such obligations shall be, released and terminated upon the payment of each Payoff Amount on the Closing Date (subject to delivery of funds as arranged by Parent and the filing of appropriate UCC 3 termination statements and other termination filings and excluding any cash collateral provided with respect to letters of credit).

Section 5.17 Financing Cooperation.

(a) The Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to (and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its and their respective Representatives to), use its and their respective reasonable best efforts to provide all cooperation as may be reasonably requested by Parent in arranging, obtaining and syndicating any third party indebtedness for borrowed money to be raised by Parent or its Subsidiaries for the purpose of financing the aggregate Merger Consideration and any other amounts required to be paid in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and all related fees and expenses of Parent and Merger Sub (any such debt financing, the “Financing”). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to (and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its and their respective Representatives to), use its and their respective reasonable best efforts to (i) upon reasonable advance notice and during normal business hours, make senior management, external auditors and advisors of the Company and its Subsidiaries available to participate in a reasonable number of meetings, presentations, road shows, drafting sessions and due diligence sessions with proposed lenders, lead arrangers and/or other agents or lenders for the Financing, and in sessions with rating agencies, (ii) provide reasonable assistance with the preparation of customary materials (to the extent relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries) for lender presentations, rating agency presentations, confidential information memoranda and similar documents customary or reasonably required in connection with the Financing, including the marketing and syndication thereof, in each case as may be reasonably requested by Parent, (iii) on an ongoing basis, and in any event prior to the Effective Time, furnish Parent and its Financing Sources with such customary financial statements, schedules or other financial data or information reasonably requested by Parent regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries, (iv) promptly furnish Parent and its Financing Sources with such other financial, due diligence and other information relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries as reasonably requested by the Parent or its Financing Sources from time to time or which is customary and reasonably necessary for the completion of the Financing, (v) use reasonable best efforts to cause the Company’s independent accountants to provide reasonable assistance to Parent consistent with their customary practice, (vi) furnish to such Financing Sources at least five Business Days prior to Closing all information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries that is required in connection with, and in accordance with the terms of, the Financing by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act, to the extent requested by any Financing Source in writing at least 10 Business Days prior to Closing and (vii) provide customary authorization letters authorizing the distribution of information to prospective lenders, subject to customary terms and conditions, and containing a customary representation to the Financing Sources which are arranging or providing the portion of the Financing constituting syndicated credit facilities that such information does not contain a material misstatement or omission and containing a customary representation to such Financing Sources that the public side versions of such documents, if any, do not include material non-public information about the Company and its Subsidiaries or its or their securities.

(b) Parent shall promptly, upon written request by the Company, reimburse (or cause to be reimbursed) the Company and its Subsidiaries for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (but, for the sake of clarity, excluding the costs of the Company’s preparation of its annual and quarterly financial statements) incurred by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective Representatives in connection with the Financing, including the cooperation of the Company and its Subsidiaries and Representatives contemplated by Section 5.17(a), and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives from and against any and all losses, damages, claims, interest, awards, judgments, penalties, costs or expenses suffered or incurred by any of them in connection with the arrangement of the Financing and any information used in connection therewith, except with respect to (i) any information provided in writing by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to Parent or any Financing Source for use in connection with the Financing or (ii) any fraud or willful breach by any such persons, as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Section 5.18 Further Assurances. At and after the Effective Time, the officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of the Company or Merger Sub, any deeds, bills of sale, assignments, or assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of the Company or Merger Sub, any other actions and things to vest, perfect, or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Corporation any and all right, title, and interest in, to and under any of the rights, properties, or assets of the Company acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Corporation as a result of, or in connection with, the Merger.

Article VI.
CONDITIONS

Section 6.01 Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger. The respective obligations of each party to this Agreement to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where permissible pursuant to applicable Law) on or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions:

(a) Company Stockholder Approval. This Agreement will have been duly adopted by the Requisite Company Vote.

(b) Regulatory Approvals. All required filings have been made and all required approvals obtained (or waiting periods expired or terminated) under any applicable Antitrust Laws.

(c) No Injunctions, Restraints, or Illegality. No Governmental Entity having jurisdiction over any party hereto shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced, or entered any Laws or Orders, whether temporary, preliminary, or permanent, that make illegal, enjoin, or otherwise prohibit consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and to the Knowledge of Parent or the Company there shall be no ongoing investigation by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice, or any other Governmental Entity seeking information related to, or otherwise seeking to prohibit, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement under any applicable Laws relating to antitrust, competition or trade regulation matters.

Section 6.02 Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub. The obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to effect the Merger are also subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where permissible pursuant to applicable Law) by Parent and Merger Sub on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

(a) Representations and Warranties. (i) The representations and warranties of the Company (other than in Section 3.01(a), Section 3.02, Section 3.03(a), Section 3.03(b), Section 3.03(d), Section 3.03(e), Section 3.10 and Section 3.22) set forth in Article III of this Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects (except with respect to Section 3.05(a), without giving effect to any limitation indicated by the words “Company Material Adverse Effect,” “in all material respects,” “in any material respect,” “material,” or “materially”) when made and as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, as if made at and as of such time (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date, which shall be true and correct in all respects as of that date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect; and; (ii) the representations and warranties contained in Section 3.01(a), Section 3.02, Section 3.03(a), Section 3.03(b), Section 3.03(d), Section 3.03(e), Section 3.10 and Section 3.22 shall be true and correct in all respects when made and as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, as if made at and as of such time (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date, which shall be true and correct in all respects as of that date).

(b) Performance of Covenants. The Company shall have performed in all material respects all obligations, and complied in all material respects with the agreements and covenants, in this Agreement required to be performed by or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing.

(c) Company Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have been any Company Material Adverse Effect or any event, change, or effect that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Officers Certificate. Parent will have received a certificate, signed by the chief executive officer or chief financial officer of the Company, certifying as to the matters set forth in Section 6.02(a), Section 6.02(b), Section 6.02(c) and Section 6.02(f) hereof.

(e) Indebtedness at Closing. Immediately prior to the Closing, the Company’s aggregate indebtedness under the Credit Agreement including any outstanding letters of credit and other Bank Debt, excluding $5,800,000 as that portion of the PPP Loan expected to be forgiven and borrowings incurred to pay Taxes (collectively, the “Company Debt”), shall not exceed $18,247,000, as evidenced by, among other things, the Payoff Letters delivered by Company to Parent pursuant to Section 5.16.

(f) Net Book Value. Immediately prior to the Closing, the difference of “A” less “B” being at least $80,829,000, where “A” equals the sum of (i) the Net Tangible Book Value of Company’s electrical division, plus (ii) the Net Tangible Book Value of Target’s PFI, LLC subsidiary (the “Subsidiary NBV”), and where “B” equals the Company Debt; provided that for purposes of this calculation the Subsidiary NBV will be capped at $19,380,000 regardless of the actual Subsidiary NBV.

(g) ▇▇▇▇ Circle. The Company shall have (i) disposed of the ▇▇▇▇ Circle Property, either pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of January 13, 2021 between HWC Wire & Cable Company and Southern Rigging Companies, LLC or on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to Parent, and (ii) purchased and paid for a premises pollution liability policy on the ▇▇▇▇ Circle Property having terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to Parent.

Section 6.03 Conditions to Obligation of the Company. The obligation of the Company to effect the Merger is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the Company on or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions:

(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub set forth in Article IV of this Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects (without giving effect to any limitation indicated by the words “material adverse effect,” “in all material respects,” “in any material respect,” “material,” or “materially”) when made and as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, as if made at and as of such time (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date, which shall be true and correct in all respects as of that date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on Parent’s and Merger Sub’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(b) Performance of Covenants. Parent and Merger Sub shall have performed in all material respects all obligations, and complied in all material respects with the agreements and covenants, in this Agreement required to be performed by or complied with by them at or prior to the Closing.

(c) Officers Certificate. The Company will have received a certificate, signed by an officer of Parent, certifying as to the matters set forth in Section 6.03(a) and Section 6.03(b).

Article VII.
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT, AND WAIVER

Section 7.01 Termination by Mutual Consent. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time (whether before or after the receipt of the Requisite Company Vote) by the mutual written consent of Parent, Merger Sub, and the Company.

Section 7.02 Termination by Either Parent or the Company. This Agreement may be terminated by either Parent or the Company at any time prior to the Effective Time (whether before or after the receipt of the Requisite Company Vote):

(a) if the Merger has not been consummated on or before the End Date; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.02(a) shall not be available to any party whose breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, or agreement set forth in this Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Merger to be consummated on or before the End Date;

(b) if any Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced, or entered any Law or Order making illegal, permanently enjoining, or otherwise permanently prohibiting the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and such Law or Order shall have become final and nonappealable; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.02(b) shall not be available to any party whose breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, or agreement set forth in this Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in, the issuance, promulgation, enforcement, or entry of any such Law or Order; or

(c) if this Agreement has been submitted to the stockholders of the Company for adoption at a duly convened Company Stockholders Meeting and the Requisite Company Vote shall not have been obtained at such meeting (unless such Company Stockholders Meeting has been adjourned or postponed, in which case at the final adjournment or postponement thereof).

Section 7.03 Termination by Parent. This Agreement may be terminated by Parent at any time prior to the Effective Time:

(a) If: (i) a Company Adverse Recommendation Change shall have occurred; or (ii) the Company shall have breached or failed to perform in any material respect any of its covenants and agreements set forth in Section 5.04 or Section 5.05(a); or

(b) if there shall have been a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, or agreement on the part of the Company set forth in this Agreement such that the conditions to the Closing of the Merger set forth in Section 6.02(a) or Section 6.02(b), as applicable, would not be satisfied and, in either such case, such breach is incapable of being cured by the End Date; provided that Parent shall have given the Company at least 20 days’ written notice prior to such termination stating Parent’s intention to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.03(b); provided further, that Parent shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.03(b) if Parent or Merger Sub is then in material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, or obligation hereunder, which breach has not been cured.

Section 7.04 Termination by the Company. This Agreement may be terminated by the Company at any time prior to the Effective Time:

(a) if prior to the receipt of the Requisite Company Vote at the Company Stockholders Meeting, the Company Board authorizes the Company, to the extent permitted by and subject to full compliance with the applicable terms and conditions of this Agreement, including Section 5.04 hereof, to enter into a Company Acquisition Agreement (other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement) in respect of a Superior Proposal; provided, that the Company shall have paid any amounts due pursuant to Section 7.06(b) hereof in accordance with the terms, and at the times, specified therein; and provided further, that in the event of such termination, the Company substantially concurrently enters into such Company Acquisition Agreement; or

(b) if there shall have been a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of Parent or Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement such that the conditions to the Closing of the Merger set forth in Section 6.03(a) or Section 6.03(b) as applicable, would not be satisfied and, in either such case, such breach is incapable of being cured by the End Date; provided, that the Company shall have given Parent at least 20 days’ written notice prior to such termination stating the Company’s intention to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.04(b); provided further, that the Company shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.04(b) if the Company is then in material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, or obligation hereunder, which breach has not been cured.

Section 7.05 Notice of Termination; Effect of Termination. The party desiring to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Article VII (other than pursuant to Section 7.01) shall deliver written notice of such termination to each other party hereto specifying with particularity the reason for such termination, and any such termination in accordance with this Section 7.05 shall be effective immediately upon delivery of such written notice to the other party. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Article VII, it will become void and of no further force and effect, with no liability on the part of any party to this Agreement (or any stockholder, director, officer, employee, agent, or Representative of such party) to any other party hereto, except: (a) with respect to Section 5.03(c), this Section 7.05, Section 7.06, and Article VIII (and any related definitions contained in any such Sections or Article), which shall remain in full force and effect; and (b) with respect to any liabilities or damages incurred or suffered by a party, to the extent such liabilities or damages were the result of fraud or the willful breach by another party of any of its representations, warranties, covenants, or other agreements set forth in this Agreement.

Section 7.06 Fees Following Termination.

(a) If this Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to Section 7.03(a), then the Company shall pay to Parent (by wire transfer of immediately available funds), within two (2) Business Days after such termination, a fee in an amount equal to the Termination Fee.

(b) If this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 7.04(a), then the Company shall pay to Parent (by wire transfer of immediately available funds), at or prior to such termination, the Termination Fee.

(c) If this Agreement is terminated: (i) by Parent pursuant to Section 7.03(b), provided, that the Requisite Company Vote shall not have been obtained at the Company Stockholders Meeting (including any adjournment or postponement thereof); or (ii) by the Company or Parent pursuant to (A) Section 7.02(a) hereof and provided, that the Requisite Company Vote shall not have been obtained at the Company Stockholders Meeting (including any adjournment or postponement thereof), or (B) Section 7.02(c) hereof, and, in any such case:

(1) prior to such termination (in the case of termination pursuant to Section 7.02(a) or Section 7.03(b)) or the Company Stockholders Meeting (in the case of termination pursuant to Section 7.02(c)), a Takeover Proposal shall (x) in the case of a termination pursuant to Section 7.02(a) or Section 7.02(c) have been publicly disclosed and not withdrawn, or (y) in the case of a termination pursuant to Section 7.03(b) have been publicly disclosed or otherwise made or communicated to the Company or the Company Board and not withdrawn; and

(2) within 12 months following the date of such termination of this Agreement the Company shall have entered into a preliminary agreement (such as a term sheet or letter of intent) or a definitive agreement with respect to any Takeover Proposal, or any Takeover Proposal shall have been consummated (in each case whether or not such Takeover Proposal is the same as the original Takeover Proposal made, communicated, or publicly disclosed);

then in any such event the Company shall pay to Parent (by wire transfer of immediately available funds), immediately prior to and as a condition to consummating such transaction, the Termination Fee (it being understood for all purposes of this Section 7.06(c), all references in the definition of Takeover Proposal to 15% shall be deemed to be references to “more than 25%” instead).

For purposes of this Section 7.06(c), if a Person (other than Parent) makes a Takeover Proposal that has been publicly disclosed and subsequently withdrawn prior to such termination or the Company Stockholder Meeting, as applicable, and, within 18 months following the date of the termination of this Agreement, such Person or any of its controlled Affiliates makes a Takeover Proposal that is publicly disclosed, such initial Takeover Proposal shall be deemed to have been “not withdrawn” for purposes of clauses (x) and (y) of this Section 7.06(c).

(d) The Company acknowledges and hereby agrees that the provisions of this Section 7.06 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the Merger), and that, without such provisions, Parent and Merger Sub would not have entered into this Agreement. If the Company shall fail to pay in a timely manner the amounts due pursuant to this Section 7.06, and, in order to obtain such payment, Parent makes a claim against the Company that results in a judgment against the Company, the Company shall pay to Parent the reasonable costs and expenses of Parent (including its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred or accrued in connection with such suit, together with interest on the amounts set forth in this Section 7.06 at the prime rate as published in The Wall Street Journal in effect on the date such payment was required to be made through the date such payment was actually received, or a lesser rate that is the maximum permitted by applicable Law. The parties acknowledge and agree that: (i) the right to receive the Termination Fee and/or any expense reimbursement under this Agreement shall not limit or otherwise affect Parent’s or Merger Sub’s right to specific performance as provided in Section 8.12; and (ii) in no event shall the Company be obligated to pay the Termination Fee on more than one occasion.

(e) Except as expressly set forth in this Section 7.06, all Expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby will be paid by the party incurring such Expenses.

Section 7.07 Amendment. At any time prior to the Effective Time, this Agreement may be amended or supplemented in any and all respects, whether before or after receipt of the Requisite Company Vote, by written agreement signed by each of the parties hereto; provided, however, that following the receipt of the Requisite Company Vote, there shall be no amendment or supplement to the provisions of this Agreement which by Law would require further approval by the holders of Company Common Stock without such approval.

Section 7.08 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, Parent or Merger Sub, on the one hand, or the Company, on the other hand, may: (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations of the other party(ies); (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the other party(ies) contained in this Agreement or in any document delivered under this Agreement; or (c) unless prohibited by applicable Law, waive compliance with any of the covenants, agreements, or conditions contained in this Agreement. Any agreement on the part of a party to any extension or waiver will be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by such party. The failure of any party to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise will not constitute a waiver of such rights.

Article VIII.
MISCELLANEOUS

Section 8.01 Interpretation; Construction.

(a) The table of contents and headings herein are for convenience of reference only, do not constitute part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions hereof. Where a reference in this Agreement is made to a Section, Exhibit, Article, or Schedule, such reference shall be to a Section of, Exhibit to, Article of, or Schedule of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein: (i) to an agreement, instrument, or other document means such agreement, instrument, or other document as amended, supplemented, and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof; and (ii) to a statute means such statute as amended from time to time and includes any successor legislation thereto and any regulations promulgated thereunder. Whenever the words “include,” “includes,” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation,” and the word “or” is not exclusive. The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” means the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and does not simply mean “if.” A reference in this Agreement to $ or dollars is to U.S. dollars. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereto,” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. References to “this Agreement” shall include the Company Disclosure Letter. The words “made available to Parent,” “provided to Parent” and words of similar import refer to information either posted to the electronic data room hosted by Ansarada and maintained by the Company for purposes of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or available on ▇▇▇▇▇ no later than 4:00 p.m. Central Time, on March 23, 2021.

(b) The parties have participated jointly in negotiating and drafting this Agreement. In the event that an ambiguity or a question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.

(c) The mere inclusion of an item in the Company Disclosure Letter as an exception to a representation or warranty in Article III shall not be deemed an admission by the Company that such item represents a material exception or fact, event or circumstance or that such item is reasonably likely to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect. Any disclosures made in a section of the Company Disclosure Letter shall be deemed to be made with respect to the correspondingly numbered section of Article III and other sections of Article III to the extent it is reasonably apparent on its face (notwithstanding the absence of a specific cross reference) from a reading of the disclosure that such disclosure applies to such other sections.

(d) No summary of this Agreement or any Exhibit attached hereto or Section of the Company Disclosure Letter delivered herewith prepared by or on behalf of any party shall affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or any such Exhibit or Section of the Company Disclosure Letter.

Section 8.02 Survival. None of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or in any instrument delivered under this Agreement will survive the Effective Time. This Section 8.02 does not limit any covenant or agreement of the parties contained in this Agreement which, by its terms, contemplates performance after the Effective Time. The Confidentiality Agreement will survive termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.

Section 8.03 Governing Law. This Agreement, and all Legal Actions (whether based on contract, tort, or statute) arising out of, relating to, or in connection with this Agreement or the actions of any of the parties hereto in the negotiation, administration, performance, or enforcement hereof, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of Laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the State of Delaware.

Section 8.04 Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably agrees that any Legal Action with respect to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder brought by any other party hereto or its successors or assigns shall be brought and determined exclusively in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware, or in the event (but only in the event) that such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction over such Legal Action, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. Each of the parties hereto agrees that sending of process or other papers in connection with any such Legal Action in the manner provided in Section 8.06 or in such other manner as may be permitted by applicable Laws, will be valid and sufficient service thereof. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submits with regard to any such Legal Action for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, to the personal jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and agrees that it will not bring any Legal Action relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court or tribunal other than the aforesaid courts. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, counterclaim, or otherwise, in any Legal Action with respect to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder: (a) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the above named courts for any reason other than the failure to serve process in accordance with this Section 8.04; (b) any claim that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise); and (c) to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable Law, any claim that (i) the suit, action, or proceeding in such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (ii) the venue of such suit, action, or proceeding is improper, or (iii) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.

Section 8.05 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LEGAL ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT: (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER IN THE EVENT OF A LEGAL ACTION; (B) SUCH PARTY HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER; (C) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY; AND (D) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS Section 8.05.

Section 8.06 Notices. All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given upon the earlier of actual receipt or (a) when delivered by hand (providing proof of delivery); (b) when received by the addressee if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier (receipt requested); or (c) on the date sent by email if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and on the next Business Day if sent after normal business hours of the recipient. Such communications must be sent to the respective parties at the following addresses (or to such other Persons or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a written notice given in accordance with this Section 8.06):

If to Parent or Merger Sub, to:

Dot Holdings Co.

▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇

▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Email: ▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇

with a copy (which will not constitute notice to Parent or Merger Sub) to:

▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ LLC

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇., ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇

▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇

Email: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇

If to the Company, to:

Houston Wire & Cable Company

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Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ III, President & CEO

Email: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇

with a copy (which will not constitute notice to the Company) to:

▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP

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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇

Email: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇

Section 8.07 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the Exhibits to this Agreement), the Company Disclosure Letter and the Confidentiality Agreement constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersede all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties to this Agreement with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. In the event of any inconsistency between the statements in the body of this Agreement, the Confidentiality Agreement, and the Company Disclosure Letter (other than an exception expressly set forth as such in the Company Disclosure Letter), the statements in the body of this Agreement will control.

Section 8.08 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Section 5.08 hereof (which shall be to the benefit of the Persons referred to in such section), this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted assigns and respective successors and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person or entity any legal or equitable right, benefit, or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

Section 8.09 Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

Section 8.10 Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Neither Parent or Merger Sub, on the one hand, nor the Company on the other hand, may assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other party (Parent in the case of Parent and Merger Sub), which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed; provided, however, that prior to the Effective Time, Merger Sub may, without the prior written consent of the Company, assign all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to Parent or to one or more of Parent’s direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries. No assignment shall relieve the assigning party of any of its obligations hereunder.

Section 8.11 Remedies. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any and all remedies expressly conferred upon a party to this Agreement will be cumulative with, and not exclusive of, any other remedy contained in this Agreement, at Law, or in equity. The exercise by a party to this Agreement of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise by it of any other remedy.

Section 8.12 Specific Performance.

(a) The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of this Agreement or to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions hereof in any federal court located in the State of Delaware or any Delaware state court, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at Law or in equity. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement, in no event shall specific performance of Parent’s or Merger Sub’s obligation to consummate the Merger survive any termination of this Agreement.

(b) Each party further agrees that: (i) no such party will oppose the granting of an injunction or specific performance as provided herein on the basis that the other party has an adequate remedy at law or that an award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or equity; (ii) no such party will oppose the specific performance of the terms and provisions of this Agreement; and (iii) no other party or any other Person shall be required to obtain, furnish, or post any bond or similar instrument in connection with or as a condition to obtaining any remedy referred to in this Section 8.12, and each party irrevocably waives any right it may have to require the obtaining, furnishing, or posting of any such bond or similar instrument.

Section 8.13 Counterparts; Effectiveness; Electronic Transmission of Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which will be one and the same agreement. This Agreement will become effective when each party to this Agreement will have received counterparts signed by all of the other parties. Receipt of a party’s executed signature page to this Agreement by e-mail or other electronic transmission with permission to release such signature page shall constitute effective execution and delivery to this Agreement by such party.

Section 8.14 Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms will have the following meanings when used herein with initial capital letters:

“Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement” means a confidentiality agreement that contains confidentiality provisions that are no less favorable to the Company than those contained in the Confidentiality Agreement.

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such first Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by,” and “under common control with”), as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of that Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by Contract, or otherwise.

“Affordable Care Act” means the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (HCERA).

“Antitrust Laws” means Laws that are designed or intended to prohibit, restrict, or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade or significant impediments or lessening of competition or creation or strengthening of a dominant position through merger or acquisition.

“Applicable PPP Laws” means all applicable requirements under the CARES Act and all applicable requirements under the Small Business Act, including the legal requirements thereunder applicable to the PPP Loan.

“Business Day” means any day, other than Saturday, Sunday, or any day on which banking institutions located in St. Louis, Missouri are authorized or required by Law or other governmental action to close.

“▇▇▇▇ Circle Property” means the adjoining parcels of real estate located at ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.

“CARES Act” means the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

“Charter Documents” means the certificate of incorporation (including any certificate of designations), by-laws, or like organizational documents, collectively, each as amended to date.

“Closing” means the closing of the Merger.

“Closing Date” means the actual date of the Closing.

“COBRA” means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended, and as codified in Section 4980B of the Code and Section 601 et. seq. of ERISA.

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

“Company Acquisition Agreement” means any agreement in principle, letter of intent, term sheet, acquisition agreement, merger agreement, option agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement, or other Contract relating to any Takeover Proposal.

“Company Adverse Recommendation Change” means the Company Board: (i) failing to make, or withdrawing, amending, modifying, or materially qualifying, in a manner adverse to Parent, the Company Board Recommendation; (ii) failing to include the Company Board Recommendation in the Company Proxy Statement that is mailed to the Company’s stockholders; (iii) recommending a Takeover Proposal; (iv) failing to recommend against acceptance of any tender offer or exchange offer for the shares of Company Common Stock within ten Business Days after the commencement of such offer; (v) failing to reaffirm (publicly, if so requested by Parent) the Company Board Recommendation within ten Business Days after the date any Takeover Proposal (or material modification thereto) is first publicly disclosed by the Company or the Person making such Takeover Proposal; (vi) making any public statement inconsistent with the Company Board Recommendation; or (vii) resolving or agreeing to take any of the foregoing actions.

“Company Balance Sheet” means the audited balance sheet of the Company dated as of December 31, 2020 contained in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof.

“Company Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

“Company Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Company.

“Company Continuing Employees” means the employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries who remain employed immediately after the Effective Time.

“Company Disclosure Letter” means the disclosure letter, dated as of the date of this Agreement and delivered by the Company to Parent concurrently with the execution of this Agreement.

“Company DSU” means a stock unit issued under the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan.

“Company Employee” means any current or former employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Company Employee Plan” means any plan, program, policy, agreement, collective bargaining agreement, or other arrangement providing for compensation, severance, deferred compensation, performance awards, stock or stock-based awards, fringe, retirement, death, disability, medical, or wellness benefits, or other employee benefits or remuneration of any kind, including each employment, termination, severance, retention, change in control, or consulting or independent contractor plan, program, arrangement, or agreement, in each case whether written or unwritten or otherwise, funded or unfunded, insured or self-insured, including each “employee benefit plan,” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not subject to ERISA, which is or has been sponsored, maintained, contributed to, or required to be contributed to, by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of any Company Employee, or with respect to which the Company or any Company ERISA Affiliate has or would reasonably be expected to have any Liability.

“Company Equity Award” means a Company Stock Option, a Company Restricted Share, a Company RSU or a Company PSU granted under one of the Company Stock Plans or a Company DSU issued under the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan, as the case may be.

“Company ERISA Affiliate” means all employers, trades, or businesses (whether or not incorporated) that would be treated together with the Company or any of its Affiliates as a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code.

“Company Financial Advisors” means ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & Company and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Rice & Company.

“Company IP” means all Intellectual Property, other than the Company-Owned IP, used in or necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted and as proposed to be conducted.

“Company IP Agreements” means all licenses, sublicenses, consent to use agreements, settlements, coexistence agreements, covenants not to ▇▇▇, waivers, releases, permissions, and other Contracts, whether written or oral, relating to Intellectual Property and to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, beneficiary, or otherwise bound.

“Company IT Systems” means all software, software-as-a-service, computer hardware (whether general or special purpose), servers, networks, infrastructure-as-a-service, platforms, platform-as-a-service, peripherals, telecommunications capabilities (including all voice, data and video networks and equipment) and similar or related items of automated, computerized, or other information technology networks and systems (including telecommunications networks and systems for voice, data, and video) owned, leased, licensed, or used (including through cloud-based or other third-party service providers) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Company Material Adverse Effect” means any event, occurrence, fact, condition, or change that is, or would reasonably be expected to become, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to: (a) the business, results of operations, financial condition, or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or (b) the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby on a timely basis; provided, however, that, for the purposes of clause (a), a Company Material Adverse Effect shall not be deemed to include events, occurrences, facts, conditions or changes arising out of, relating to, or resulting from: (i) changes generally affecting the economy, financial or securities markets, or political conditions; (ii) the announcement or pendency of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (it being understood and agreed that this clause shall not apply with respect to any representation or warranty that is intended to address the consequences of the announcement or the pendency of this Agreement); (iii) any changes in applicable Law or GAAP or other applicable accounting standards; (iv) acts of war or terrorism or the escalation thereof; (v) natural disasters, pandemics and acts of God; (vi) general conditions in the industry in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate; (vii) any failure, in and of itself, by the Company to meet any internal or published projections, forecasts, estimates, or predictions in respect of revenues, earnings, or other financial or operating metrics for any period (it being understood that the facts or occurrences giving rise to or contributing to such failure may be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been or would reasonably be expected to become, a Company Material Adverse Effect, to the extent permitted by this definition and not otherwise excepted by another clause of this proviso); (viii) any change, in and of itself, in the market price or trading volume of the Company’s securities (it being understood that the facts or occurrences giving rise to or contributing to such change may be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been or would reasonably be expected to become, a Company Material Adverse Effect, to the extent permitted by this definition and not otherwise excepted by another clause of this proviso); or (ix) actions taken as required or specifically permitted by the Agreement or actions or omissions taken with Parent’s consent; provided further, however, that any event, change, and effect referred to in clauses (i), (iii), (iv), (v), or (vi) immediately above shall be taken into account in determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur to the extent that such event, change, or effect has a disproportionate effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, compared to other participants in the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct their businesses.

“Company-Owned IP” means all Intellectual Property owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Company Preferred Stock” means the shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.

“Company Proxy Statement” means, collectively, the letter to the stockholders, notice of meeting, proxy statement, and forms of proxy, to be filed with the SEC in connection with the Merger.

“Company PSU” means a Company performance stock unit.

“Company Restricted Share” means a share of Company Common Stock subject to vesting, repurchase, or other lapse of restrictions.

“Company RSU” means a Company restricted stock unit.

“Company SEC Documents” means the registration statements, prospectuses, reports, schedules, forms, statements, and other documents (including exhibits and schedules thereto and all other information incorporated by reference) required to be filed or furnished by the Company with the SEC since January 1, 2018.

“Company Stock Option” means an option to acquire shares of Company Common Stock.

“Company Stock Plans” means the following plans: (i) the Houston Wire & Cable Company 2017 Stock Plan, as amended, and (ii) the Houston Wire & Cable Company 2006 Stock Plan, as amended and restated effective March 1, 2015, as amended.

“Company Stockholders Meeting” means the meeting of the stockholders of the Company to be held to consider the adoption of this Agreement.

“Confidentiality Agreement” means the Confidentiality Agreement dated as of October 14, 2020 between the Company and Dot Family Holdings, LLC.

“Contracts” means any contracts, agreements, licenses, notes, bonds, mortgages, indentures, leases, or other binding instruments or binding commitments, whether written or oral.

“Credit Agreement” means the Fourth Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of October 1, 2015, as amended, among HWC Wire & Cable Company, as borrower, the Company, as Guarantor, certain financial institutions, as lenders, and Bank of America, N.A., as agent..

“DGCL” means the Delaware General Corporation Law.

“Directors Deferred Compensation Plan” means the Houston Wire & Cable Company Nonemployee Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan effective December 11, 2017.

“▇▇▇▇▇” means the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval database of the SEC.

“Effective Time” means the effective time of the Merger.

“End Date” means September 30, 2021.

“Environmental Laws” means any applicable Law, and any Order or binding agreement with any Governmental Entity: (a) relating to pollution (or the cleanup thereof) or the protection of natural resources, endangered or threatened species, human health or safety, or the environment (including ambient air, soil, surface water or groundwater, or subsurface strata); or (b) concerning the presence of, exposure to, or the management, manufacture, use, containment, storage, recycling, reclamation, reuse, treatment, generation, discharge, transportation, processing, production, disposal or remediation of any Hazardous Materials. The term “Environmental Law” includes, without limitation, the following (including their implementing regulations and any state analogs): the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 et. seq.; the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended by the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984, 42 U.S.C. §§ 6901 et. seq.; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, as amended by the Clean Water Act of 1977, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et. seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, as amended, 15 U.S.C. §§ 2601 et seq.; the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11001 et. seq.; the Clean Air Act of 1966, as amended by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, 42 U.S.C. §§ 7401 et. seq.; and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, 29 U.S.C. §§ 651 et. seq.

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

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

“Excluded Party” shall mean any Person, group of Persons or group of Persons that includes any Person or group of Persons, from whom the Company or any of its Representatives has received prior to the No-Shop Period Start Date a written Takeover Proposal that the Company Board determines in good faith (such determination to be made no later than one (1) Business Day after the No-Shop Period Start Date), after consultation with outside counsel and its financial advisors, is or would reasonably be expected to result in a Superior Proposal; provided that any such Person or group of Persons shall cease to be an Excluded Party when the ultimate equityholder(s) of such Person and the other Persons who were members of such group, if any, as of the No Shop Period Start Date, cease to provide (directly or indirectly) in the aggregate at least 25% of the equity financing (measured by value) of such Person or group at any time following the No-Shop Period Start Date.

“Expenses” means, with respect to any Person, all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including all fees and expenses of counsel, accountants, financial advisors, and investment bankers of such Person and its Affiliates), incurred by such Person or on its behalf in connection with or related to the authorization, preparation, negotiation, execution, and performance of this Agreement and any transactions related thereto, any litigation with respect thereto, the preparation, printing, filing, and mailing of the Company Proxy Statement, the filing of any required notices under the Antitrust Laws, or in connection with other regulatory approvals, and all other matters related to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

“Financing Sources” means any entity (other than Parent or any of its Affiliates) that has committed to provide or arrange or act as an administrative or facility agent in respect of all or any part of the Financing in connection with the Merger or other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the parties to any joinder agreements or credit agreements entered pursuant thereto or relating thereto, together with their respective Affiliates, and their respective Affiliates’ Representatives, members, managers, general or limited partners or their respective Affiliates, successors and assigns.

“GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles.

“Governmental Antitrust Authority” means any Governmental Entity with jurisdiction over the Antitrust Laws.

“Governmental Entity” means any supranational, national, state, municipal, local, or foreign government, any instrumentality, subdivision, court, administrative agency or commission, or other governmental authority, or any quasi-governmental or private body exercising any regulatory or other governmental or quasi-governmental authority.

“Hazardous Substance” means: (a) any material, substance, chemical, waste, product, derivative, compound, mixture, solid, liquid, mineral, or gas, in each case, whether naturally occurring or man-made, that is hazardous, acutely hazardous, toxic, or words of similar import or regulatory effect under Environmental Laws; and (b) any petroleum or petroleum-derived products, radon, radioactive materials or wastes, asbestos in any form, lead or lead-containing materials, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and polychlorinated biphenyls.

“HIPAA” means the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended.

“Indemnified Party” means each Person who is now, or has been at any time prior to the date hereof or who becomes prior to the Effective Time an officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Intellectual Property” means any and all of the following arising pursuant to the Laws of any jurisdiction throughout the world: (a) trademarks, service marks, trade names, and similar indicia of source or origin, all registrations and applications for registration thereof, and the goodwill connected with the use of and symbolized by the foregoing; (b) copyrights and all registrations and applications for registration thereof; (c) all inventions (whether or not the subject of a patent or patent application), invention disclosures and improvements, trade secrets and know-how; (d) patents, patent applications, and/or statutory invention registrations, including any counterparts, reissues, divisions/divisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, extensions, renewals, and reexaminations thereof, ; (e) internet domain name registrations; and (f) other intellectual property and related proprietary rights.

“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

“Knowledge” means: (a) with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, the actual knowledge of each of the individuals listed in Section 8.14A of the Company’s Disclosure Letter, in each case after due inquiry of those employees who would reasonably be expected to have actual knowledge of the matter in question; and (b) with respect to Parent and its Subsidiaries, the actual knowledge of each of the individuals listed in Section 8.14 of Parent’s Disclosure Letter, after due inquiry.

“Laws” means any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign, multi-national or other laws, common law, statutes, constitutions, ordinances, rules, regulations, codes, Orders, or legally enforceable requirements enacted, issued, adopted, promulgated, enforced, ordered, or applied by any Governmental Entity.

“Lease” means all leases, subleases, licenses, concessions, and other agreements (written or oral) under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries holds any Leased Real Estate, including the right to all security deposits and other amounts and instruments deposited by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries thereunder.

“Leased Real Estate” means all leasehold or subleasehold estates and other rights to use or occupy any land, buildings, structures, improvements, fixtures, or other interest in real property held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Legal Action” means any legal, administrative, arbitral, or other proceedings, suits, actions, investigations, examinations, claims, audits, hearings, charges, complaints, indictments, or litigations.

“Liability” means any liability, indebtedness, or obligation of any kind (whether accrued, absolute, contingent, matured, unmatured, determined, determinable, or otherwise, and whether or not required to be recorded or reflected on a balance sheet under GAAP).

“Liens” means, with respect to any property or asset, all pledges, liens, mortgages, charges, encumbrances, hypothecations, easements, rights of way, options, rights of first refusal, rights of first offer, and security interests of any kind or nature whatsoever.

“Nasdaq” means the Nasdaq Global Market.

“Net Tangible Book Value” means total assets, excluding intangibles (other than software development costs), less total liabilities, and excluding intercompany items, Tax accruals and debt, calculated on a basis consistent with the exhibit set forth in Section 8.14B of the Company Disclosure Letter.

“No-Shop Period Start Date” means April 24, 2021.

“Off-the-Shelf Solutions” means commercially available software, software-as-a-service or other IT products or services that are non-exclusively licensed by the Company other than by a written agreement executed by the licensee, including by shrink wrap, click through or similar licenses.

“Order” means any order, writ, assessment, decision, injunction, decree, ruling, or judgment of a Governmental Entity or arbitrator, whether temporary, preliminary, or permanent.

“Owned Real Estate” means all land, together with all buildings, structures, fixtures, and improvements located thereon and all easements, rights of way, and appurtenances relating thereto, owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Parent Benefit Plans” means any “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA maintained by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, excluding any retiree health plans or programs maintained by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, any defined benefit retirement plans or programs maintained by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, and any equity compensation arrangements maintained by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Parent’s Disclosure Letter” means the disclosure letter, dated as of the date of this Agreement and delivered by Parent to the Company concurrently with the execution of this Agreement.

“Payroll Tax Executive Order” means the Presidential Memorandum on Deferring Payroll Tax Obligations in Light of the Ongoing COVID-19 Disaster, as issued on August 8, 2020, and including any administrative or other guidance published with respect thereto by any Governmental Entity (including IRS Notice 2020-65).

“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

“Permits” means permits, licenses, registrations, variances, clearances, consents, commissions, franchises, exemptions, authorizations, and approvals from Governmental Entities.

“Permitted Liens” means: (a) statutory Liens for current Taxes or other governmental charges not yet due and payable or the amount or validity of which is being contested in good faith (provided appropriate reserves required pursuant to GAAP have been made in respect thereof); (b) mechanics’, carriers’, workers’, repairers’, and similar statutory Liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business for amounts which are not delinquent or which are being contested by appropriate proceedings (provided appropriate reserves required pursuant to GAAP have been made in respect thereof); (c) covenants, conditions, restrictions, easements, public rights of way and other similar non-monetary matters of record affecting title to such Person’s owned or leased real property, which do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the occupancy or use of such real property for the purposes for which it is currently used in connection with such Person’s businesses; and (d) Liens arising under workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, social security, retirement, and similar legislation.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, limited or general partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, trust, association, joint venture, Governmental Entity, or other entity or group (which term will include a “group” as such term is defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act).

“PPP Lender” means Bank of America, N.A.

“PPP Loan” means that certain promissory note dated May 4, 2020 in the original principal amount of $6.2 million by and between HWC Wire & Cable Company and the PPP Lender.

“Privacy Agreement” means any Contracts (or portions thereof) to which the Company and/or one or more of its Subsidiaries is a party involving the processing of personal information.

“Real Estate” means the Owned Real Estate and the Leased Real Estate.

“Representatives” means, with respect to any Person, its directors, officers, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants, consultants, or other agents or advisors.

“Requisite Company Vote” means the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock.

“▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act” means the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act of 2002 (including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“SBA Procedural Notice” means Procedural Notice 5000-20057, “Paycheck Protection Program Loans and Changes of Ownership,” effective October 2, 2020, promulgated by the Small Business Administration.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

“Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of voting securities is at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person.

“Superior Proposal” means a bona fide written Takeover Proposal (except that, for purposes of this definition, each reference in the definition of “Takeover Proposal” to “15%” shall be “50.1%”) that the Company Board determines in good faith (after consultation with outside legal counsel and the Company Financial Advisor) is more favorable from a financial point of view to the holders of Company Common Stock than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, taking into account: (a) all financial considerations; (b) the identity of the third party making such Takeover Proposal; (c) the anticipated timing, conditions (including any financing condition or the reliability of any debt or equity funding commitments) and prospects for completion of such Takeover Proposal; (d) the other terms and conditions of such Takeover Proposal and the implications thereof on the Company, including relevant legal, regulatory, and other aspects of such Takeover Proposal deemed relevant by the Company Board (including any conditions relating to financing, stockholder approval, regulatory approvals, or other events or circumstances beyond the control of the party invoking the condition); and (e) any revisions to the terms of this Agreement and the Merger proposed by Parent during the Superior Proposal Notice Period set forth in Section 5.04(f).

“Takeover Proposal” means an inquiry, proposal, or offer from, or indication of interest in making a proposal or offer by, any Person or group (other than Parent and its Subsidiaries, including Merger Sub), relating to any transaction or series of related transactions (other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement), involving any: (a) direct or indirect acquisition of assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries (including any voting equity interests of Subsidiaries, but excluding sales of assets in the ordinary course of business) equal to 15% or more of the fair market value of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ consolidated assets or to which 15% or more of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ net revenues or net income on a consolidated basis are attributable; (b) direct or indirect acquisition of 15% or more of the voting equity interests of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries whose business constitutes 15% or more of the consolidated net revenues, net income, or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (c) tender offer or exchange offer that if consummated would result in any Person or group (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) beneficially owning (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) 15% or more of the voting power of the Company; (d) merger, consolidation, other business combination, or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, pursuant to which such Person or group (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) would own 15% or more of the consolidated net revenues, net income, or assets of the Company, and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (e) liquidation, dissolution (or the adoption of a plan of liquidation or dissolution), or recapitalization or other significant corporate reorganization of the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries which, individually or in the aggregate, generate or constitute 15% or more of the consolidated net revenues, net income, or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or (f) any combination of the foregoing.

“Taxes” means all federal, state, local, foreign, and other income, gross receipts, sales, use, production, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, registration, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, unemployment, estimated, excise, severance, environmental, stamp, occupation, premium, property (real or personal), real property gains, windfall profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments, or charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest, additions, or penalties with respect thereto and any interest in respect of such additions or penalties.

“Tax Returns” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, information return or statement, or other document relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.

“Termination Fee” means $4,000,000.00.

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

“Voting Agreement” means that certain Voting Agreement by and among each of the directors and officers of the Company and their respective Affiliates dated as of the date hereof the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B.

“Voting Debt” means any bonds, debentures, notes, or other indebtedness issued by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries: (i) having the right to vote on any matters on which stockholders or equityholders of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may vote (or which is convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having such right); or (ii) the value of which is directly based upon or derived from the capital stock, voting securities, or other ownership interests of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

“WARN Act” means the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988.

[signature page follows]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.


	COMPANY

	Houston Wire & Cable Company

	By:
	Name:
	Title:


	PARENT

	Omni Cable, LLC

	By:
	Name:
	Title:


	MERGER SUB

	OCDFH Acquisition Sub Inc,

	By:
	Name:
	Title:

[Signature Page to Merger Agreement]

EXHIBIT A

Certificate of Incorporation & Surviving Corporation

A-1

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF
Houston Wire & Cable Company

1. The name of the corporation is Houston Wire & Cable Company (the “Corporation”).

2. The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇. The name of the registered agent of the Corporation at such address is Corporation Service Company.

3. The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).

4. The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation is authorized to issue is [●]. All shares shall be Common Stock, having a par value of $0.001 per share.

5. Unless and except to the extent that the by-laws of the Corporation (the “By-Laws”) shall so require, the election of directors of the Corporation need not be by written ballot.

6. To the fullest extent permitted by law, a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or to its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director. No amendment to, modification of, or repeal of this Paragraph 6 shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment.

7. The Corporation shall indemnify, advance expenses, and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person (a “Covered Person”) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise, or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred by such Covered Person. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except for claims for indemnification (following the final disposition of such Proceeding) or advancement of expenses not paid in full, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a Covered Person in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such Covered Person only if the commencement of such Proceeding (or part thereof) by the Covered Person was authorized in the specific case by the board of directors of the Corporation. Any amendment, repeal, or modification of this Paragraph 7 shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.

8. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, or repeal the By-Laws or adopt new By-Laws without any action on the part of the stockholders; provided that any By-law adopted or amended by the board of directors, and any powers thereby conferred, may be amended, altered, or repealed by the stockholders.

9. The Corporation shall have the right, subject to any express provisions or restrictions contained in the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) or the By-Laws, from time to time, to amend, alter, or repeal any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation in any manner now or hereafter provided by law, and all rights and powers of any kind conferred upon a director or stockholder of the Corporation by the Certificate of Incorporation or any amendment thereof are conferred subject to such right.

10. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for: (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim for breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation, or the By-Laws or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each case subject to said Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein.

EXHIBIT B

Voting Agreement

B-1

Voting Agreement

This Voting Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of March [24], 2021, is made and entered into by and between the undersigned stockholder (“Stockholder”) of Houston Wire & Cable Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Omni Cable, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company (“Parent”). Parent and Stockholder are each sometimes referred to herein individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.”

RECITALS

A. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the Company, Parent, and OCDFH Acquisition Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), providing for, among other things, the merger (the “Merger”) of Merger Sub and the Company pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement.

B. In order to induce Parent to enter into the Merger Agreement, Stockholder is willing to make certain representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements as set forth in this Agreement with respect to the shares of common stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Company (“Company Common Stock”) Beneficially Owned by Stockholder and set forth below Stockholder’s signature on the signature page hereto (the “Original Shares” and, together with any additional shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to Section 7 hereof, the “Shares”); and

C. As a condition to its willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement, Parent has required that Stockholder, and Stockholder has agreed to, execute and deliver this Agreement.

AGREEMENT

In consideration of the foregoing and of the representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt, sufficiency, and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement. When used in this Agreement, the following terms in all of their tenses, cases, and correlative forms shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.

(a) “Beneficially Own” or “Beneficial Ownership” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, and a Person’s beneficial ownership of securities shall be calculated in accordance with the provisions of such rule (in each case, irrespective of whether or not such rule is actually applicable in such circumstance). For the avoidance of doubt, “Beneficially Own” and “Beneficial Ownership” shall also include record ownership of securities.

(b) “Beneficial Owner” shall mean the Person who Beneficially Owns the referenced securities.

2. Representations of Stockholder.

Stockholder represents and warrants to Parent that:

(a) Ownership of Shares. Stockholder: (i) is the Beneficial Owner of all of the Original Shares free and clear of any proxy, voting restriction, adverse claim, or other Liens, other than those created by this Agreement or under applicable federal or state securities Laws; and (ii) has the sole voting power over all of the Original Shares. Except pursuant to this Agreement, there are no options, warrants, or other rights, agreements, arrangements, or commitments of any character to which Stockholder is a party relating to the pledge, disposition, or voting of any of the Original Shares and there are no voting trusts or voting agreements with respect to the Original Shares.

(b) Disclosure of All Shares Owned. Stockholder does not Beneficially Own any shares of Company Common Stock other than: (i) the Original Shares; and (ii) any options, warrants, or other rights to acquire any additional shares of Company Common Stock or any security exercisable for or convertible into shares of Company Common Stock, set forth on the signature page of this Agreement (collectively, “Options”).

(c) Power and Authority; Binding Agreement. Stockholder has full [corporate] power and authority [and legal capacity] to enter into, execute, and deliver this Agreement and to perform fully Stockholder’s obligations hereunder. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Stockholder and constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation of Stockholder, enforceable against Stockholder in accordance with its terms except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally.

(d) No Conflict. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Stockholder does not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the compliance with the provisions hereof will not, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to Stockholder or result in any breach of or violation of, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration, or cancellation of, or result in the creation of any Lien on any of the Shares pursuant to, any agreement or other instrument or obligation [including organizational documents] binding upon Stockholder or any of the Shares.

(e) No Consents. No consent, approval, Order, or authorization of, or registration, declaration, or filing with, any Governmental Entity or any other Person on the part of Stockholder is required in connection with the valid execution and delivery of this Agreement. [No consent of Stockholder’s spouse is necessary under any “community property” or other laws in order for Stockholder to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.]

(f) No Litigation. There is no action, suit, investigation, or proceeding (whether judicial, arbitral, administrative, or other) (each an “Action”) pending against, or, to the knowledge of Stockholder, threatened against or affecting, Stockholder that could reasonably be expected to materially impair or materially adversely affect the ability of Stockholder to perform Stockholder’s obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement on a timely basis.

3. Representations and Warranties of Parent.

Parent has full corporate power and authority and legal capacity to enter into, execute and deliver this Agreement and to fully perform Parent’s obligations hereunder. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Parent and constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation of Parent, enforceable against Parent in accordance with its terms except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally.

4. Agreement to Vote Shares.

Stockholder irrevocably and unconditionally agrees during the term of this Agreement, at any annual or special meeting of the Company called with respect to the following matters, and at every adjournment or postponement thereof, and on every action or approval by written consent or consents of the Company stockholders with respect to any of the following matters, to vote or cause the holder of record to vote the Shares: (i) in favor of (1) the Merger Agreement and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and (2) any proposal to adjourn or postpone such meeting of stockholders of the Company to a later date if there are not sufficient votes to approve the Merger; and (ii) against (1) any Takeover Proposal, Company Acquisition Agreement, or any of the transactions contemplated thereby, (2) any action, proposal, transaction, or agreement which could reasonably be expected to result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty, or any other obligation or agreement of the Company under the Merger Agreement or of Stockholder under this Agreement, and (3) any action, proposal, transaction, or agreement that could reasonably be expected to impede, interfere with, delay, discourage, adversely affect, or inhibit the timely consummation of the Merger or the fulfillment of Parent’s, the Company’s, or Merger Sub’s conditions under the Merger Agreement or change in any manner the voting rights of any class of shares of the Company (including any amendments to the Company Charter Documents).

5. No Voting Trusts or Other Arrangement.

Stockholder agrees that during the term of this Agreement Stockholder will not, and will not permit any entity under Stockholder’s control to, deposit any of the Shares in a voting trust or subject any of the Shares to any arrangement with respect to the voting of the Shares other than agreements entered into with Parent.

6. Transfer and Encumbrance.

Stockholder agrees that during the term of this Agreement, Stockholder will not, directly or indirectly, transfer, sell, offer, exchange, assign, pledge, convey any legal or Beneficial Ownership interest in or otherwise dispose of (by merger (including by conversion into securities or other consideration), by tendering into any tender or exchange offer, [by testamentary disposition,] by operation of Law] or otherwise), or encumber (“Transfer”) any of the Shares or enter into any contract, option, or other agreement with respect to, or consent to, a Transfer of, any of the Shares or Stockholder’s voting or economic interest therein. Any attempted Transfer of Shares or any interest therein in violation of this Section 6 shall be null and void. This Section 6 shall not prohibit a Transfer of the Shares by Stockholder [to any member of Stockholder’s immediate family, or to a trust for the benefit of Stockholder or any member of Stockholder’s immediate family, or upon the death of Stockholder]/[to an [Affiliate] of Stockholder]; provided, that a Transfer referred to in this sentence shall be permitted only if, as a precondition to such Transfer, the transferee agrees in a writing, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Parent, to be bound by all of the terms of this Agreement.

7. Additional Shares.

Stockholder agrees that all shares of Company Common Stock that Stockholder purchases, acquires the right to vote, or otherwise acquires Beneficial Ownership of, after the execution of this Agreement and prior to the Expiration Time shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and shall constitute Shares for all purposes of this Agreement. In the event of any stock split, stock dividend, merger, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares, or the like of the capital stock of the Company affecting the Shares, the terms of this Agreement shall apply to the resulting securities and such resulting securities shall be deemed to be “Shares” for all purposes of this Agreement.

8. Waiver of Appraisal and Dissenters’ Rights and Certain Other Actions.

(a) Waiver of Appraisal and Dissenters’ Rights. To the extent permitted by Law, Stockholder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to assert or perfect, any rights of appraisal or rights to dissent in connection with the Merger that Stockholder may have by virtue of ownership of the Shares.

(b) Waiver of Certain Other Actions. Stockholder hereby agrees not to commence or participate in, and to take all actions necessary to opt out of any class in any class action with respect to, any Action, derivative or otherwise, against the Parent, the Company, or any of their respective Subsidiaries or successors: (a) challenging the validity of, or seeking to enjoin or delay the operation of, any provision of this Agreement or the Merger Agreement (including any claim seeking to enjoin or delay the Closing); or (b) to the fullest extent permitted under Law, alleging a breach of any duty of the Board of Directors of the Company, Parent or Merger Sub in connection with the Merger Agreement, this Agreement, or the transactions contemplated thereby or hereby.

9. Termination.

This Agreement shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of (the “Expiration Time”): (a) the Effective Time; (b) the date on which the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms; and (c) the termination of this Agreement by mutual written consent of the Parties. Nothing in this Section 9 shall relieve or otherwise limit the liability of any Party for any intentional breach of this Agreement prior to such termination.

10. No Solicitation.

Subject to Section 11, Stockholder shall not and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its Affiliates and Representatives not to: (a) directly or indirectly solicit, seek, initiate, knowingly encourage, or knowingly facilitate any inquiries regarding, or the making of, any submission or announcement of a proposal or offer that constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, any Takeover Proposal; (b) directly or indirectly engage in, continue, or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish or afford access to any other Person any information in connection with or for the purpose of encouraging or facilitating, any proposal or offer that constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, any Takeover Proposal; (c) enter into any agreement, agreement in principle, letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, or similar arrangement with respect to a Takeover Proposal; (d) solicit proxies with respect to a Takeover Proposal (other than the Merger and the Merger Agreement) or otherwise encourage or assist any Person in taking or planning any action that could reasonably be expected to compete with, restrain, or otherwise serve to interfere with or inhibit the timely consummation of the Merger in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement; or (e) initiate a stockholders’ vote or action by written consent of the Company’s stockholders with respect to a Takeover Proposal.

11. No Agreement as Director or Officer.

Stockholder makes no agreement or understanding in this Agreement in Stockholder’s capacity as a director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (if Stockholder holds such office), and nothing in this Agreement: (a) will limit or affect any actions or omissions taken by Stockholder in stockholder’s capacity as such a director or officer, including in exercising rights under the Merger Agreement, and no such actions or omissions shall be deemed a breach of this Agreement; or (b) will be construed to prohibit, limit, or restrict Stockholder from exercising Stockholder’s fiduciary duties as an officer or director to the Company or its stockholders.

12. Further Assurances.

Stockholder agrees, from time to time, and without additional consideration, to execute and deliver such additional proxies, documents, and other instruments and to take all such further action as Parent may reasonably request to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

13. Stop Transfer Instructions.

At all times commencing with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and continuing until the Expiration Time, in furtherance of this Agreement, Stockholder hereby authorizes the Company or its counsel to notify the Company’s transfer agent that there is a stop transfer order with respect to all of the Shares (and that this Agreement places limits on the voting and transfer of the Shares), subject to the provisions hereof and provided that any such stop transfer order and notice will immediately be withdrawn and terminated by the Company following the Expiration Time.

14. Specific Performance.

Each Party hereto acknowledges that it will be impossible to measure in money the damage to the other Party if a Party hereto fails to comply with any of the obligations imposed by this Agreement, that every such obligation is material and that, in the event of any such failure, the other Party will not have an adequate remedy at Law or damages. Accordingly, each Party hereto agrees that injunctive relief or other equitable remedy, in addition to remedies at Law or damages, is the appropriate remedy for any such failure and will not oppose the seeking of such relief on the basis that the other Party has an adequate remedy at Law. Each Party hereto agrees that it will not seek, and agrees to waive any requirement for, the securing or posting of a bond in connection with the other Party’s seeking or obtaining such equitable relief.

15. Entire Agreement.

This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, between the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and contains the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may not be amended or supplemented, and no provisions hereof may be modified or waived, except by an instrument in writing signed by both of the Parties hereto. No waiver of any provisions hereof by either Party shall be deemed a waiver of any other provisions hereof by such Party, nor shall any such waiver be deemed a continuing waiver of any provision hereof by such Party.

16. Notices.

All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given: (a) when delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt); (b) when received by the addressee if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier (receipt requested); (c) on the date sent by email of a PDF document (with confirmation of transmission) if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and on the next Business Day if sent after normal business hours of the recipient; or (d) on the third day after the date mailed, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Such communications must be sent to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 16):

If to Parent:

[NAME]

[MAILING ADDRESS]

Attention: [OFFICER NAME]

Email: [EMAIL ADDRESS]

Copy to:

[PARENT’S COUNSEL’S NAME]

[MAILING ADDRESS]

Attention: [COUNSEL’S NAME]

Email: [EMAIL ADDRESS]

If to Stockholder, to the address or email address set forth for Stockholder on the signature page hereof.

Copy to:

▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP

▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇

Email: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇

17. Miscellaneous.

(a) Governing Law. This Agreement, and all Legal Actions (whether based on contract, tort, or statute) arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the actions of any of the Parties in the negotiation, administration, performance, or enforcement hereof, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of Laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the State of Delaware.

(b) Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the Parties hereto irrevocably agrees that any Legal Action with respect to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder brought by the other Party hereto or its successors or assigns shall be brought and determined exclusively in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware, or in the event (but only in the event) that such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction over such Legal Action, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. Each of the Parties hereto agrees that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such Legal Action in the manner provided in Section 16 or in such other manner as may be permitted by applicable Laws, will be valid and sufficient service thereof. Each of the Parties hereto hereby irrevocably submits with regard to any such Legal Action for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, to the personal jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court or tribunal other than the aforesaid courts. Each of the Parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, counterclaim, or otherwise, in any Legal Action with respect to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder: (i) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the above named courts for any reason other than the failure to serve process in accordance with this Section 17(b); (ii) any claim that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment, or otherwise); and (iii) to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable Law, any claim that (x) the suit, action, or proceeding in such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (y) the venue of such suit, action, or proceeding is improper, or (z) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.

(c) Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LEGAL ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT: (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER IN THE EVENT OF A LEGAL ACTION; (B) SUCH PARTY HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER; (C) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY; AND (D) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 17(c).

(d) Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be paid by the Party incurring such cost or expense, whether or not the Merger is consummated.

(e) Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the Parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

(f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

(g) Section Headings. All section headings herein are for convenience of reference only and are not part of this Agreement, and no construction or reference shall be derived therefrom.

(h) Assignment. Neither Party to this Agreement may assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Party hereto, except that Parent may assign, in its sole discretion, all or any of its rights, interests and obligations hereunder to any of its Affiliates. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Parties and their respective permitted successors and assigns. Any assignment contrary to the provisions of this Section 17(h) shall be null and void.

(i) 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 their respective successors and permitted assigns any legal or equitable right, benefit, or remedy of any nature under or by reason of this Agreement.

[signature page follows]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

	Omni Cable, LLC

	By:
	Name:
	Title:

	[STOCKHOLDER]

	By:
	Name:
	Number of Shares of Company Common Stock Beneficially Owned as of the date of this Agreement:
	Number of Options Beneficially Owned as of the date of this Agreement:
	Street Address:
	City/State/Zip Code:
	Email:

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER By and Among Omni Cable, LLC, OCDFH Acquisition Sub Inc. and Houston Wire & Cable Company Dated as of March 24, 2021

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