EX-10.1 6 tm2130666d1_ex10-1.htm EXHIBIT 10.1

Exhibit 10.1 

 

October 14, 2021

 

PepperLime Health Acquisition Corporation

548 Market Street, Suite 97425

San Francisco, California 94104

 

Re:     Initial Public Offering
Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This letter (this “Letter Agreement”) is being delivered to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) entered into by and between PepperLime Health Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (the “Underwriter”) on the date hereof, relating to an underwritten initial public offering (the “Public Offering”), of up to 17,250,000 of the Company’s units (including up to 2,250,000 units that may be purchased to cover over-allotments, if any) (the “Units”), each comprised of one Class A ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (each an “Ordinary Share”), and one-half (1/2) of one redeemable warrant (each whole warrant, a “Warrant”). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Ordinary Share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, as described in the Prospectus (as defined below). The Units will be sold in the Public Offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 and prospectus (the “Prospectus”) filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and the Company has applied to have the Units listed on the Nasdaq Global Market. Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in paragraph 10 hereof.

 

In order to induce the Company and the Underwriter to enter into the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the Public Offering and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, PepperOne LLC, a Cayman Islands limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), and the other undersigned individuals (each, an “Insider” and collectively, the “Insiders”), hereby, severally (and not jointly and severally) agrees, with the Company (but not with the Sponsor or the other Insiders, none of whom shall have any right to enforce any agreement of any other such person or to seek damages or any other remedy from any other such person in connection with any alleged breach of any such agreement) as follows:

 

1.   The Sponsor and each Insider agree that if the Company seeks shareholder approval of a proposed Business Combination (as defined below), then in connection with such proposed Business Combination, it, he or she shall (i) vote any Founder Shares (as defined below) owned by it, him or her in favor of any proposed Business Combination (including any proposals recommended by the Company’s Board of Directors in connection with such Business Combination) and (ii) not redeem any Founder Shares owned by it, him or her in connection with such shareholder approval. If the Company seeks to consummate a proposed Business Combination by engaging in a tender offer, the Sponsor and each Insider agrees that it, he or she will not sell or tender any Founder Shares owned by it, him or her to the Company in connection therewith. The covenants set forth in this paragraph 1 shall also apply to the Sponsor and each Insider that is not an “anchor investor” (each as set forth on Schedule I hereto, the “Anchor Investors”) in respect of any Offering Shares owned by it, him or her.

 

2.   The Sponsor and each Insider hereby agrees that in the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within 18 months from the closing of the Public Offering, or such later period approved by the Company’s shareholders in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as they may be amended from time to time, the Sponsor and each Insider shall take all reasonable steps to cause the Company to (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten (10) business days thereafter, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the Ordinary Shares sold as part of the Units in the Public Offering (the “Offering Shares”), at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account (as defined below) including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account, less amounts withdrawn to pay the Company’s taxes and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses, divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish all Public Shareholders’ (as defined below) rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining shareholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. The Sponsor and each Insider agrees to not propose any amendment to the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within such time set forth in the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, unless the Company provides its Public Shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Offering Shares upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account, less amounts withdrawn to pay the Company’s taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares.

 

 

 

 

The Sponsor and each Insider acknowledges that it, with respect to the Founder Shares held by it, him or her, it, he or she has no right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of any liquidation of the Company with respect to the Founder Shares (as defined below) and Private Placement Warrants held by it, him or her. The Sponsor and each Insider hereby further waive, with respect to any Founder Shares held by it, him or her, if any, any redemption rights it, he or she may have in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, including, without limitation, any such rights available in the context of (i) a shareholder vote to approve such Business Combination, or (ii) a shareholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with an initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if we do not complete the initial Business Combination within 18 months from the closing of the Offering, or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, or (iii) in the context of a tender offer made by the Company to purchase Ordinary Shares (although the Sponsor, the Insiders (other than the Anchor Investors) and their respective affiliates shall be entitled to liquidation rights and the Anchor Investors and their respective affiliates shall be entitled to redemption and liquidation rights with respect to any Offering Shares it or they hold if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity). The acknowledgements and waivers set forth in this paragraph shall also apply to the Sponsor and each Insider that is not an Anchor Investor in respect of any Offering Shares owned by it, him or her.

 

3.   In the event of the liquidation of the Trust Account, the Sponsor (which for purposes of clarification shall not extend to any other shareholders, members or managers of the Sponsor or any other Insider) agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, whether pending or threatened, or any claim whatsoever) to which the Company may become subject as a result of any claim by (i) any third party (other than the Company’s independent accountants) for services rendered or products sold to the Company or (ii) a prospective target business with which the Company has entered into a letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement for a Business Combination (a “Target”); provided, however, that such indemnification of the Company by the Sponsor (x) shall apply only to the extent necessary to ensure that such claims by a third party (other than the Company’s independent accountants) for services rendered or products sold to the Company or a Target do not reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.10 per Offering Share or (ii) the actual amount per Offering Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.10 per Offering Share is then held in the Trust Account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets less amounts withdrawn to pay the Company’s taxes, (y) shall not apply to any claims by a third party (including a Target) that executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) and (z) shall not apply to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the Underwriter against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Sponsor shall have the right to defend against any such claim with counsel of its choice reasonably satisfactory to the Company if, within 15 days following written receipt of notice of the claim to the Sponsor, the Sponsor notifies the Company in writing that it shall undertake such defense. For the avoidance of doubt, none of the Company’s officers or directors will indemnify the Company for claims by third parties, including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.

 

4.   (a) Subject to the exceptions set forth herein, the Sponsor and each Insider agrees that it, he or she shall not Transfer (as defined below) any Founder Shares (or Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion thereof) until the earlier of (A) one year after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination or (B) subsequent to the initial Business Combination, (x) if the last reported sale price of the Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Company’s initial Business Combination or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property (the “Founder Shares Lock-up Period”).

 

 

 

 

(b) Subject to the exceptions set forth herein, the Sponsor and each Insider agrees that it, he or she shall not Transfer any Private Placement Warrants (as defined below) or Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants, until 30 days after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination (the “Private Placement Warrants Lock-up Period”, together with the Founder Shares Lock-up Period, the “Lockup Periods”).

 

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in paragraphs 4(a) and (b) and paragraph 5, Transfers of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and Ordinary Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise or conversion of the Private Placement Warrants or the Founder Shares and that are held by the Sponsor, any Insider or any of their permitted transferees (that have complied with this paragraph 4(c)) (collectively, the “Permitted Transferees”), are permitted: (a) to the Company’s officers or directors, any affiliates or family members of any of the Company’s officers or directors, any member of the Sponsor, or any affiliates of the Sponsor, (b) in the case of an individual, transfers by gift to a member of the individual’s immediate family, to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of one of the individual’s immediate family or an affiliate of such person, or to a charitable organization; (c) in the case of an individual, transfers by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of such person; (d) in the case of an individual, transfers pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) transfers by virtue of the laws of the Cayman Islands or the Sponsor’s operating agreement upon dissolution of the Sponsor; (f) transfers by private sales or transfers made in connection with the consummation of the Company’s Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the securities were originally purchased; (g) transfers in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination; (h) in the event of the Company’s completion of a liquidation, merger, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination; (i) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clauses (a) through (h) above; (j) to any third-party pledgee in a bona fide transaction as collateral to secure obligations pursuant to lending or other arrangements between such third parties (or their affiliates or designees) and the Sponsor, any other Insider and/or their affiliates or any similar arrangement relating to a financing arrangement for the benefit of the Sponsor, any other Insider and/or their affiliates; (k) in the case of an investment fund, transfers to one or more of such investment fund’s affiliated investment funds; and (l) pursuant to a bona fide loan or pledge or as a grant or maintenance of a bona fide lien, security interest, pledge or other similar encumbrance (each, a “Pledge”) of any such securities owned by the Sponsor, any other Insider and/or their affiliates to a nationally or internationally recognized financial institution (an “Institution”) in connection with a loan to the Sponsor, such Insider and/or their affiliates; provided, however, that (A) the Sponsor, such Insider and/or their affiliates shall not Pledge such securities resulting in a loan to value in excess of 50%; and (B) the Sponsor, such Insider or the Company, as the case may be, shall provide Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. prior written notice informing them of any public filing, report or announcement made by or on behalf of the Sponsor, such Insider or the Company with respect thereto; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (d), (f), (i) and (k), these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement with the Company agreeing to be bound by the transfer restrictions herein and the other restrictions contained in this Agreement (including provisions relating to voting, the Trust Account and liquidating distributions).

 

5. Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in paragraph 4 above, during the period commencing on the effective date of the Underwriting Agreement and ending 180 days after such date, the Sponsor and each Insider (but excluding any Insider who is an Anchor Investor) shall not, without the prior written consent of the Underwriter, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction that is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise)), directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 (“Section 16”) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, with respect to, any units, shares, warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, ordinary shares, or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction; provided, however, that the foregoing does not apply to the forfeiture of any founder shares pursuant to their terms or any transfer of founder shares to any current or future independent director of the company (as long as such current or future independent director transferee is subject to this Letter Agreement or executes an agreement substantially identical to the terms of this Letter Agreement, as applicable to directors and officers at the time of such transfer; and as long as, to the extent any Section 16 reporting obligation is triggered as a result of such transfer, any related Section 16 filing includes a practical explanation as to the nature of the transfer). Each of the Insiders and the Sponsor acknowledges and agrees that, prior to the effective date of any release or waiver, of the restrictions set forth in paragraph 4 above or in this paragraph 5, the Company shall announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this Letter Agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.

 

 

 

 

6. To the extent that the Underwriter does not exercise its over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 2,250,000 Units within 45 days from the date of the Prospectus (and as further described in the Prospectus), the Sponsor agrees that it shall forfeit, at no cost, an aggregate number of the Founder Shares equal to the product of 562,500 multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 2,250,000 minus the number of Units purchased by the Underwriter upon the exercise of their over-allotment option, and (ii) the denominator of which is 2,250,000. The forfeiture will be adjusted to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the Underwriter so that the Initial Shareholders (as defined below) will own an aggregate of 20.0% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Shares after the Public Offering. To the extent that the size of the Public Offering is increased or decreased, the Company will effect a capitalization or share repurchase, redemption or share split or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, immediately prior to the consummation of the Public Offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of the Shares of the Initial Shareholders prior to the Public Offering at 20.0% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Shares upon the consummation of the Public Offering. In connection with such increase or decrease in the size of the Public Offering, then (A) the references to 2,250,000 in the numerator and denominator of the formula in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be changed to a number equal to 15% of the number of shares included in the Units issued in the Public Offering and (B) the reference to 562,500 in the formula set forth in the immediately preceding sentence shall be adjusted to such number of Founder Shares that the Sponsor would have to return to the Company in order to hold (with all of the Initial Shareholders) an aggregate of 20.0% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Shares after the Public Offering.

 

7. The Sponsor and each Insider represent and warrant that it, he or she has never been suspended or expelled from membership in any securities or commodities exchange or association or had a securities or commodities license or registration denied, suspended or revoked. Each Insider’s biographical information furnished to the Company (including any such information included in the Prospectus), is true and accurate in all respects and does not omit any material information with respect to such Insider’s background. Each Insider’s questionnaire furnished to the Company is true and accurate in all respects. The Sponsor and each Insider represent and warrant that: it is not subject to or a respondent in any legal action for, any injunction, cease-and-desist order or order or stipulation to desist or refrain from any act or practice relating to the offering of securities in any jurisdiction; it has never been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, any crime (i) involving fraud, (ii) relating to any financial transaction or handling of funds of another person, or (iii) pertaining to any dealings in any securities and it is not currently a defendant in any such criminal proceeding.

 

8. Except as disclosed in, or as expressly contemplated by, the Prospectus, neither the Sponsor nor any Insider nor any affiliate of the Sponsor or any Insider, nor any director or officer of the Company, shall receive from the Company any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee, monies in respect of any repayment of a loan or other compensation prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is).

 

9. (a) The Sponsor and each Insider have full right and power, without violating any agreement to which it is bound (including, without limitation, any non-competition or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or former employer), to enter into this Letter Agreement. (b) Each Insider that will serve as an officer and/or director of the Company has full right and power, without violating any agreement to which it is bound (including, without limitation, any non-competition or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or former employer) to serve as an officer and/or a director on the board of directors of the Company and hereby consents to being named in the Prospectus as an officer and/or a director of the Company.

 

 

 

 

10. As used herein, (i) “Business Combination” shall mean a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses; (ii) “Shares” shall mean, collectively, the Ordinary Shares and the Founder Shares; (iii) “Founder Shares” shall mean the 4,312,500 Class B Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0001 per share (up to 562,500 of which are subject to complete or partial forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the Underwriter) initially held by the Sponsor and the Anchor Investors; (iv) “Initial Shareholders” shall mean the Sponsor and any other holder of Founder Shares immediately prior to the Public Offering; (v) “Private Placement Warrants” shall mean the warrants to purchase 7,500,000 Ordinary Shares of the Company (or up to 8,175,000 Ordinary Shares if the Underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) that the Sponsor has agreed to purchase for an aggregate purchase price of $7,500,000 in the aggregate (or $8,175,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), or $1.00 per warrant, in a private placement that shall occur simultaneously with the consummation of the Public Offering; (vi) “Public Shareholders” shall mean the holders of securities issued in the Public Offering; (vii) “Trust Account” shall mean the trust fund into which a portion of the net proceeds of the Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants shall be deposited; and (viii) “Transfer” shall mean, with respect to the Founder Shares or Private Placement Warrants, the (a) sale or assignment of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder with respect to, any security, (b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b).

 

11. This Letter Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Letter Agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.

 

12. Except as otherwise provided herein, no party hereto may assign either this Letter Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other parties. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee. This Letter Agreement shall be binding on the Sponsor and each Insider and their respective successors, heirs and assigns and permitted transferees.

 

13. Nothing in this Letter Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or entity other than the parties hereto any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Letter Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements contained in this Letter Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns and permitted transferees.

 

14. This Letter Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

15. This Letter Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Letter Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Letter Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.

 

16. This Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The parties hereto (i) all agree that any action, proceeding, claim or dispute arising out of, or relating in any way to, this Letter Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of New York City, in the State of New York, and irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction and venue, which jurisdiction and venue shall be exclusive and (ii) waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and venue or that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.

 

 

 

 

17. Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Letter Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery or facsimile transmission.

 

18. This Letter Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Lock-Up Periods or (ii) the liquidation of the Company; provided, however, that this Letter Agreement shall earlier terminate in the event that the Public Offering is not consummated and closed by October 31, 2021; provided further that paragraph 3 of this Letter Agreement shall survive such liquidation for a period of two (2) years.

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE I

 

 

 

 

  Sincerely
     
  PepperOne LLC
   
  By: /s/ Ramzi Haidamus
    Name: Ramzi Haidamus
    Title: Authorized Signatory 
     
     
    /s/ Ramzi Haidamus
    Name: Ramzi Haidamus
    Title: Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer
     
    /s/ Eran Pilovsky
    Name: Eran Pilovsky
    Title: Chief Financial Officer
     
    /s/ Maurice Op de Beek
    Name: Maurice Op de Beek
    Title: Executive Vice President
     
    /s/ Frank Ferrari
    Name: Frank Ferrari
    Title: President and Director
     
    /s/ Britney Blair
    Name: Britney Blair
    Title: Director
     
    /s/ Michelle Fang
    Name: Michelle Fang
    Title: Director

 

Acknowledged and Agreed:  
     
PepperLime Health Acquisition Corporation  
     
By: /s/ Ramzi Haidamus  
  Name: Ramzi Haidamus  
  Title: Chief Executive Officer  
     
Acknowledged and Agreed solely with respect to Section 5 hereof:  
     
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.  
     
By: /s/ Peter Bennett  
  Name: Peter Bennett  
  Title: Managing Director, Head of ECM  

 

[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]

 

 

 

 

INVESTOR:

 

By:    
  Name:    
  Title:    

Number of Shares:    
Price:    

 

[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]