Full Press Release Details
DATED AS OF MARCH 25, 2024
| Article 1 DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION | 1 | ||
| 1.1 | Certain Definitions. | 1 | |
| 1.2 | Further Definitions. | 14 | |
| 1.3 | Construction. | 16 | |
| Article 2 TRANSACTIONS; CLOSING | 17 | ||
| 2.1 | Merger. | 17 | |
| 2.2 | Closing; Effective Time. | 17 | |
| 2.3 | Organizational Documents. | 18 | |
| 2.4 | Directors and Officers. | 18 | |
| Article 3 EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES | 18 | ||
| 3.1 | Check-Cap Allocation Schedule. | 18 | |
| 3.2 | Effect of the Merger. | 19 | |
| 3.3 | Exchange of Shares and Certificates. | 21 | |
| 3.4 | Calculation of Net Cash. | 32 | |
| Article 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF NOBUL | 33 | ||
| 4.1 | Due Organization; Subsidiaries. | 33 | |
| 4.2 | Organizational Documents. | 34 | |
| 4.3 | Authority; Binding Nature of Agreement. | 34 | |
| 4.4 | Non-Contravention; Consents. | 34 | |
| 4.5 | Capitalization. | 35 | |
| 4.6 | Financial Statements. | 36 | |
| 4.7 | Absence of Changes. | 37 | |
| 4.8 | Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities. | 37 | |
| 4.9 | Title to Assets. | 37 | |
| 4.10 | Real Property. | 37 | |
| 4.11 | Intellectual Property. | 37 | |
| 4.12 | Privacy and Data Security. | 38 | |
| 4.13 | Agreements, Contracts and Commitments. | 39 | |
| 4.14 | Compliance; Permits; Restrictions. | 39 | |
| 4.15 | Legal Proceedings; Orders. | 39 | |
| 4.16 | Tax Matters. | 40 | |
| 4.17 | Employee and Labor Matters; Benefit Plans. | 40 | |
| 4.18 | Insurance. | 40 | |
| 4.19 | Ownership of Check-Cap Ordinary Shares. | 41 | |
| Article 5 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CHECK-CAP. | 41 | ||
| 5.1 | Due Organization; Subsidiaries. | 41 | |
| 5.2 | Organizational Documents. | 42 | |
| 5.3 | Authority; Fairness; Binding Nature of Agreement. | 42 | |
| 5.4 | Vote Required. | 42 | |
| 5.5 | Non-Contravention; Consents. | 42 | |
| 5.6 | Capitalization. | 43 | |
| 5.7 | SEC Filings; Financial Statements. | 45 | |
| 5.8 | Absence of Changes. | 47 | |
| 5.9 | Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities. | 47 |
| 5.10 | Title to Assets. | 47 | |
| 5.11 | Real Property; Leasehold. | 48 | |
| 5.12 | Intellectual Property. | 48 | |
| 5.13 | Privacy and Data Security. | 48 | |
| 5.14 | Agreements, Contracts and Commitments. | 49 | |
| 5.15 | Compliance; Permits; Restrictions. | 49 | |
| 5.16 | Legal Proceedings; Orders. | 50 | |
| 5.17 | Tax Matters. | 50 | |
| 5.18 | Employee and Labor Matters; Benefit Plans. | 54 | |
| 5.19 | Environmental Matters. | 57 | |
| 5.20 | Insurance. | 58 | |
| 5.21 | Financial Advisors. | 58 | |
| 5.22 | Transactions with Affiliates. | 58 | |
| 5.23 | Shell Status. | 59 | |
| 5.24 | Foreign Private Issuer. | 59 | |
| Article 6 CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES | 59 | ||
| 6.1 | Operation of Check-Cap's Business. | 59 | |
| 6.2 | Operation of Nobul's Business. | 61 | |
| 6.3 | Access and Investigation. | 62 | |
| 6.4 | No Solicitation. | 63 | |
| 6.5 | Notification of Certain Matters. | 64 | |
| 6.6 | Supplement to Check-Cap Disclosure Schedules. | 64 | |
| Article 7 ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES | 64 | ||
| 7.1 | Registration Statement; Proxy Statement; Prospectus. | 64 | |
| 7.2 | Check-Cap Shareholder Meeting. | 66 | |
| 7.3 | Formation of Merger Sub | 69 | |
| 7.4 | Merger Sub Requisite Approval. | 69 | |
| 7.5 | Nobul Shareholder Consent. | 69 | |
| 7.6 | ISA Approval. | 69 | |
| 7.7 | Israeli Merger Proposal and Israeli Merger Certificate. | 69 | |
| 7.8 | Efforts; Regulatory Approvals. | 70 | |
| 7.9 | Indemnification of Directors and Officers. | 71 | |
| 7.10 | Disclosure. | 72 | |
| 7.11 | Listing. | 72 | |
| 7.12 | Tax Matters. | 72 | |
| 7.13 | Termination and Amendment of Certain Agreements and Rights. | 73 | |
| 7.14 | Legends. | 74 | |
| 7.15 | Nasdaq Reverse Split. | 74 | |
| 7.16 | Check-Cap Dividend. | 74 | |
| 7.17 | Termination of Employees and Contractors. | 74 | |
| 7.18 | Interim Period Funding | 75 | |
| Article 8 CONDITIONS | 75 | ||
| 8.1 | Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party. | 75 | |
| 8.2 | Conditions to the Obligations of Check-Cap. | 76 | |
| 8.3 | Conditions to the Obligations of Nobul. | 77 | |
| Article 9 TERMINATION | 78 | ||
| 9.1 | Termination. | 78 |
| 9.2 | Effect of Termination. | 81 | |
| 9.3 | Expenses; Termination Fees. | 81 | |
| Article 10 MISCELLANEOUS | 83 | ||
| 10.1 | Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties. | 83 | |
| 10.2 | Amendment. | 83 | |
| 10.3 | Waiver. | 83 | |
| 10.4 | Entire Agreement; Counterparts. | 83 | |
| 10.5 | Applicable Law; Jurisdiction. | 84 | |
| 10.6 | Assignability. | 84 | |
| 10.7 | Notices. | 84 | |
| 10.8 | Cooperation. | 85 | |
| 10.9 | Severability. | 85 | |
| 10.10 | Other Remedies; Specific Performance. | 85 | |
| 10.11 | No Third Party Beneficiaries. | 85 |
BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT
THIS BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT (this
"Agreement") is made and entered into as of March 25, 2024 by and among Nobul AI Corp., an Ontario corporation ("Nobul")
and Check-Cap Ltd., an Israeli company ("Check-Cap"). Nobul and Check-Cap are sometimes referred to individually as a
"Party" and, collectively, as "Parties".
WHEREAS, the Parties are entering into
a business combination transaction pursuant to which, among other things, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement, in accordance with the provisions of Sections 314-327 of the ICL (as defined below), Nobul will incorporate an Israeli wholly
owned subsidiary ("Merger Sub"), and Merger Sub will merge with and into Check-Cap (the "Merger"), with
Check-Cap surviving the Merger as a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Nobul;
WHEREAS, the Check-Cap Board has (i) reviewed
an independent valuation report of Nobul and has determined that the Merger and the Transactions (as defined below) to which Check-Cap
is a party, are fair to, advisable, and in the best interests of Check-Cap and its shareholders (the "Check-Cap Shareholders"),
(ii) received a verbal opinion from an independent financial advisor that the Transactions are fair, from a financial standpoint, to the
Check-Cap Shareholders, (iii) approved and declared advisable the Merger, this Agreement and the Transactions to which Check-Cap is a
party, (iv) determined that considering the financial position of the merging entities in the Merger, no reasonable concern exists that,
as a result of the Merger, the Surviving Company (as defined below) will be unable to fulfill the obligations of Check-Cap to its creditors,
and (v) determined to recommend, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, that the Check-Cap Shareholders
vote to approve the Check-Cap Shareholder Transaction Matters (as defined below);
WHEREAS, Nobul has (i) determined that
this Agreement and the Transactions to which Nobul is a party, are fair to, and in the best interests of, Nobul, and has approved and
adopted this Agreement and the Transactions, and (ii) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Transactions;
WHEREAS, for U.S. federal income tax purposes,
(a) it is intended that the Merger will qualify as an "reorganization" under Section 368 of the Code (as defined below), and
(b) this Agreement is intended to constitute and hereby is adopted as a "plan of reorganization" with respect to the Merger
within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a) for purposes of Sections 354, 361 and 368 of the Code and
the Treasury Regulations thereunder (collectively, the "Intended U.S. Tax Treatment").
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the
foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties hereby agree
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
For purposes of this Agreement:
means the trustee appointed from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance, and approved by the
ITA, with respect to the Section 102 Shares and Section 102 Awards.
Confidentiality Agreement" means a confidentiality agreement containing terms not materially less restrictive in the aggregate
to the counterparty thereto than the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement; provided that an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement need
not include any "standstill", non-solicitation, no hire or similar provision that prohibit or impose limitations on the making
of an Acquisition Proposal or Acquisition Inquiry. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Person who has previously entered into a confidentiality
agreement with Check-Cap relating to a potential Acquisition Proposal shall not be required to enter into a new or revised confidentiality
agreement, and such existing confidentiality agreement shall be deemed to be an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement.
Inquiry" means, with respect to a Party, an inquiry, indication of interest or request for information (other than an inquiry,
indication of interest or request for information made or submitted by Nobul or any of its Affiliates) that could reasonably be expected
to lead to an Acquisition Proposal.
Proposal" means, with respect to Check-Cap, any offer or proposal, whether written or oral (other than an offer or proposal made
or submitted by or on behalf of Nobul or any of its Affiliates) contemplating or otherwise relating to any Acquisition Transaction with
Transaction" means any transaction or series of related transactions involving (a) any merger, consolidation, amalgamation, share
exchange, business combination, issuance of securities, acquisition of securities, reorganization, recapitalization, tender offer, exchange
offer or other similar transaction: (i) in which Check-Cap is a constituent Entity, (ii) in which a Person or "group" (as defined
in the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder) of Persons directly or indirectly acquires beneficial or record ownership of
securities representing more than 25% of the outstanding securities of any class of voting securities of Check-Cap or any of its Subsidiaries
or (iii) in which Check-Cap or any of its Subsidiaries issues securities representing more than 25% of the outstanding securities of any
class of voting securities of Check-Cap or any of its Subsidiaries; or (b) any sale, lease, exchange, transfer, license, acquisition or
disposition of any business or businesses or assets that constitute or account for 25% or more of the consolidated book value or the fair
market value of the assets of Check-Cap and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall a Check-Cap
Legacy Transaction be deemed an Acquisition Transaction.
means, as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with,
such Person. For this purpose, "control" (including, with its correlative meanings, "controlled by" and "under
common control with") shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management
or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by Contract or otherwise.
Closing Date" means the anticipated Closing Date, as agreed upon by Check-Cap and Nobul, no later than the Net Cash Determination
Law" means any Law that is designed or intended to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization,
restraint of trade or lessening of competition through merger or acquisition, including the Israeli Economic Competition Law, 1988.
Day" means any day other than a day on which banks in the Province of Ontario or in Israel are authorized or obligated to be
means the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Pub. L. 116-136) and any administrative or other guidance published with
respect thereto by any Governmental Authority, including any presidential memoranda or executive orders, relating to the COVID-19 Pandemic,
as well as any applicable guidance issued thereunder or relating thereto (including IRS Notice 2020-65, 2020-38 IRB) and any similar non-U.S.
or state and local law.
Control Payments" means, with respect to any Person, the sum of, the amount of any change of control, sale, retention or similar
payments, and any severance, termination and/or similar payments that are or become due to any individual service provider of such Person
and its Subsidiaries in connection with the consummation of the Transactions (including the termination of such individual service provider's
employment or service, if any, as a result of the Transactions) and that are unpaid as of the Closing, in each case, plus the amount of
any employer portion of any payroll taxes that are imposed on any such payments.
Associate" means any current employee, independent contractor, officer or director of Check-Cap or its Subsidiary.
Board" means the board of directors of Check-Cap.
Capitalization Representations" means the representations and warranties of Check-Cap set forth in Section 5.6(a) and Section
CLA Warrants" means the warrants issued to certain lenders and existing Check-Cap Shareholders to purchase Check-Cap Ordinary
Shares, pursuant to a Credit Line Agreement dated as of August 20, 2014.
Contract" means any Contract: (a) to which Check-Cap is a party, (b) by which Check-Cap is or may become bound or under which
Check-Cap has, or may become subject to, any obligation or (c) under which Check-Cap has or may acquire any right or interest.
Employee Plan" means any Employee Plan that Check-Cap or its Subsidiary sponsors, contributes to, or provides benefits under
or through, or has any obligation to contribute to or provide benefits under or through, which covers any current or former employee,
officer, director or other service provider of Check-Cap or its Subsidiary (or their spouses, dependents, or beneficiaries) or with respect
to which Check-Cap or its Subsidiary have or may have any liability (contingent or otherwise, including by reason of being an ERISA Affiliate).
Fundamental Representations" means the representations and warranties of Check-Cap set forth in Sections 5.1(a) and 5.1(b) (Due
Organization; Subsidiaries), Section 5.2 (Organizational Documents), Section 5.3 (Authority; Fairness; Binding Nature of
Agreement), and Section 5.21 (Financial Advisors).
IP Rights" means all Intellectual Property owned, licensed to or controlled by Check-Cap that is necessary for the operation
of the business of Check-Cap as presently conducted.
IP Rights Agreement" means any instrument or agreement governing, related or pertaining to any Check-Cap IP Rights.
Legacy Assets" means the assets, technology and Intellectual Property of Check-Cap as they existed at any time prior to the date
of this Agreement set forth on Section 1.1 of the Check-Cap Disclosure Schedule.
Legacy Business" means the business of Check-Cap as conducted at any time prior to the date of this Agreement.
Material Adverse Effect" means any Effect that, considered together with all other Effects that have occurred prior to the date
of determination of the occurrence of the Check-Cap Material Adverse Effect, has or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse
effect on the business, financial condition, assets, liabilities or results of operations of Check-Cap; provided, however, that
Effects arising or resulting from the following shall not be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Check-Cap Material
Adverse Effect: (i) the announcement of this Agreement or the pendency of the Transactions, (ii) any change in the stock price or trading