false 0001605888 0001605888 2026-01-22 2026-01-22 iso4217:USD xbrli:shares iso4217:USD xbrli:shares

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) January 22, 2026

 

ATLANTIC INTERNATIONAL CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

Delaware   001-40760   46-5319744
(State or other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
  (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

270 Sylvan Avenue, Suite 2230    
Englewood Cliffs, NJ   07632
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (zip code)

 

(201) 899-4470

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

N/A

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Securities registered or to be registered as pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

TITLE OF EACH CLASS   TRADING SYMBOL   NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE ON WHICH REGISTERED
Common stock, $0.00001 par value per share   ATLN   The Nasdaq Global Market

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

 

Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

 

 

 

ITEM 1.01 ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT

 

The information contained in Item 2.01 is incorporated by reference herein.

 

ITEM 2.01 COMPLETION OF ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS

 

On January 23, 2026, (the “Closing Date”), Atlantic International Corp. (“Atlantic” or the “Company”), completed the acquisition (the “Acquisition”) of Circle8 Group B.V. (“Circle8”), a company organized under the laws of the Netherlands, pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition Agreement, dated January 22, 2026 (the “Acquisition Agreement”), by and among the Company, Axiom Partners GmbH (“Axiom”) and Circle8. Capitalized terms used in this Item 2.01, but not otherwise defined, have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Acquisition Agreement, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 2.1.

 

Circle8 is in the business of procuring information technology staffing and recruiting professionals in the subdisciplines of information technology and technology, such as artificial intelligence, security and automation in Europe (the “Business”). Circle8 and its affiliates have been engaged in the Business since 2021. In 2025, Circle8 generated approximately US $780 million (unaudited) in revenues.

 

Circle8 was owned by Axiom, a company organized under the laws of the Swiss Republic, which in turn, is 100% owned by Mr. Guus Franke. Pursuant to the terms and conditions of his Employment and Board Service Agreement described in Item 5.02 below, Atlantic increased the size of the Board of the Company from five members to six members and Mr. Franke became the Executive Chairman of the Board of the Company upon the completion of the Acquisition. Mr. Franke had no prior relationship with the Company prior to the Acquisition.

 

The aggregate consideration delivered to Axiom (the “Purchase Price”) for the Circle8 equity was delivered as follows:

 

(a) Atlantic issued to Guus Franke (or his assignees) 12,516,070 shares of common stock, par value $0.00001 per share (“Common Stock”) equal to 19.99% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock as of 12:01 a.m. on the Closing Date (the “Initial Share Consideration”) in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635; and

 

(b) Atlantic issued a convertible promissory note (the “Convertible Note”) to Axiom in the principal amount of $161,961,751.20 convertible into an aggregate of 53,291,744 shares of Common Stock equal to (i) 65,807,814 shares of Common Stock on a Fully Diluted Basis minus (ii) the 19.99% shares (12,516,070) of Common Stock issued to Mr. Franke as Initial Share Consideration (the “Convertible Note Consideration”).

 

In addition, in the event there is a forced conversion of the Convertible Promissory Note issued on June 18, 2024, as amended, to IDC Technologies, Inc. (as assigned), Atlantic shall increase the number of shares issued to Mr. Franke (or his assignees) as necessary, so that Mr. Franke shall receive the Convertible Note Consideration.

 

The Acquisition Agreement provides that if Circle8 Group records revenue greater than EU €600 million for calendar year 2026, Axiom shall be entitled to an additional bonus of US $2.5 million. In addition to the Purchase Price, Atlantic shall pay to Axiom a one-time Profit Payment equal to the net profit of Circle8 Group Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2025. The Profit Payment shall be paid the earlier of: (i) when there is sufficient funds for Atlantic to pay as determined in good faith by Axiom and Atlantic or (ii) three years from the Closing Date.

 

1

 

The Acquisition Agreement provides that the parties shall prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) within five (5) Business Days of receipt of all required Circle8 Group Financial Statements, a proxy statement for the solicitation of proxies from Atlantic stockholders for the matters to be voted upon at the Atlantic Stockholders Special Meeting in connection with the conversion of the Convertible Note into Convertible Note Consideration in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635 (the “Proxy Statement”). Atlantic has obtained duly executed voting and support agreements (the “Voting Agreements”) concurrently with the execution of the Acquisition Agreement, from members of Atlantic’s Management, directors and certain of its consultants (and assignees) pursuant to which they agreed to, among other things, vote (or cause to be voted) at the Atlantic Stockholders Special Meeting, all of their shares of Atlantic Common Stock in favor of (1) approval of the Convertible Note Consideration and any additional shares acquired; (2) the transactions contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement and any ancillary agreement, and (3) approval of any proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting to a later date. Such Voting Agreements represent a sufficient number of shares to obtain the required quorum for the Special Meeting.

 

After the signing of the Acquisition Agreement, Atlantic obtained duly executed Voting Agreements from stockholders representing (together with the stockholders who previously executed Voting Agreements at least a majority of the issued and outstanding Common Stock as of the Closing Date.

 

The Acquisition Agreement provides for a clawback in the amount equal to up to the lesser of (i) ten percent (10%) of the Conversion Shares, which may be zero, and (ii) three percent (3%) of the issued and outstanding shares of Atlantic Common Stock at the time of the adjustment during the 12 month period from the Closing Date, for a material Breach of certain representations or warranties made by Axiom or Circle8; a Breach of any representation or warranty made by Axiom or Circle8 regarding Circle8 in the Acquisition Agreement which would have a Material Adverse Effect upon the business or financial condition of Atlantic taken as a whole; a Breach of any covenant or obligation of Axiom or Circle8 in the Acquisition Agreement to be performed prior to Closing which would have a Material Adverse Effect upon the business or financial condition of Atlantic taken as a whole, a material Breach of any covenant or obligation of Axiom or Circle8 in the Acquisition Agreement or the Ancillary Documents to be performed at or after Closing, or an act of Fraud that has a Material Adverse Effect upon the business or financial condition of Atlantic taken as a whole and which is confirmed by a final unappealable judgment. Atlantic agreed to indemnify Axiom and Circle8 from any Damages based upon the same conditions stated above for Axiom and Circle8.

 

In connection to the Acquisition, Axiom will cause Atlantic to file with the SEC an initial registration statement on Form S-3 within ten (10) Business Days after the date on which Atlantic has received all required Circle8 Group Financial Statements concerning resale of all shares received under the Initial Shares Agreement; and a Second Tranche Registration Statement concerning the Conversion Shares or Contingent Share Consideration.

 

The foregoing descriptions of the Acquisition Agreement and Convertible Note are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the agreements, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 2.1 and 10.1, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference. Certain schedules and exhibits of the Acquisition Agreement have not been filed and are available upon request of the SEC.

 

ITEM 2.03 CREATION OF A DIRECT FINANCIAL OBLIGATION OR AN OBLIGATION UNDER AN OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENT OF A REGISTRANT

 

The information set forth above in Item 2.01 with respect to the Convertible Note is incorporated by reference herein.

 

ITEM 3.02 UNREGISTERED SALE OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

See Item 2.01 regarding the Initial Share Consideration to Guus Franke and the issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Convertible Note Consideration to Axiom, subject to Atlantic Stockholder Approval. Pursuant to an agreement dated November 12, 2025, by and between Axiom and E.F. Hutton & Co, LLC (“EF Hutton”) concerning financial advisory services provided to Axiom, EF Hutton shall be paid a transaction fee of four million (4,000,000) shares of Common Stock. All of the shares described above were exempt from registration pursuant to the exemption set forth in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as not involving any public offering.

 

2

 

ITEM 5.02 RESIGNATIONS OF DIRECTORS OR CERTAIN OFFCERS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS, APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS;COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS

 

Guus Franke

 

See Item 2.01 regarding the appointment of Guus Franke as Executive Chairman of the Board of Atlantic. Mr. Franke entered into a five-year Employment and Board Service Agreement with the Company dated as of January 23, 2026 (the “Employment and Board Service Agreement”), pursuant to which he was appointed as Executive Chairman on the Closing Date. Capitalized terms used in this Item 5.02, but not otherwise defined, have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Employment and Board Service Agreement, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.2.

 

The Employment and Board Service Agreement shall automatically renew for successive two-year periods, unless cancelled by either party upon written notice of at least 90 days prior to the end of the initial five-year term. The Employment and Board Service Agreement provides for an annual base salary of $800,000 (“Base Salary”) for the term, with five (5%) percent automatic annual increases each year.

 

Commencing in 2027, Mr. Franke will be eligible to receive his annual Base Salary as a bonus (“Annual Bonus”) for every calendar year his Employment and Board Service Agreement is in effect, contingent upon the Company meeting certain revenue targets. The Company shall pay a transaction bonus in the amount of USD $200,000 for any subsequent completed transaction in excess of $8 million gross, in consideration of Mr. Franke’s assistance in closing each such transaction.

 

In the event Mr. Franke’s services are terminated other than for Cause, he shall be entitled to: two years of Base Salary; pro-rated Annual Bonus provided he is on pace to achieve the required performance milestone for such bonus; all Accrued Benefits, and all unvested equity awards shall immediately be vested. In the event of a Change of Control, other than with Circle8, 100% of Mr. Franke’s equity and any unvested equity awards shall be immediately due and payable; performance bonuses (both current and future) shall be immediately due and payable, regardless of whether the milestone has been achieved; and all of the severance benefits set forth above shall be due and payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Contract Benefits to be received upon a Change of Control that would constitute a “parachute payment” shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that no portion shall be subject to Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

The Employment and Board Service Agreement provides for a non-compete provision of one year from the termination if terminated for Cause, or six months if terminated for any other reason; and a non-solicitation provision for two years from the termination date if terminated for Cause, and one year for any other reason. The foregoing description of the Employment and Board Service Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to full text of the agreement which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.3 and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Background

 

Guus Franke, age 50, has been the founder and sole owner of Axiom since 2018. Axion, the founder of Circle8 Group in 2021, is an investment advice boutique. Axiom provides M&A advisory, full services transaction support including corporate finance and private equity strategy. Axiom is an investment platform designed to hold, acquire and scale the next layer of the global digital economy. Through Axiom, Mr. Franke founded Circle8 Group as a pan-European platform for AI talent, compliance-grade consultancy (cloud, IT migration, AI and Cyber) and workforce execution for highly regarded sections.

 

Prior to forming Axiom and Circle8 Group, from 2020 to 2021, Mr. Franke was Managing Director, Riverrock European Capital Partners LLP, where he was responsible for the European AR and Syndicate SSL strategy. From 2018 to 2020, Mr. Franke was co-founder of Pilatus AG, an investment platform where he was responsible for deal sourcing, performance management, syndication and deal coordination. From 2014 to 2018 he was co-founder of Nedfact, an investment structure and debt advisor. From 2011 to 2014 he was a partner at a Tier 1 sponsor firm, responsible for M&A and debt structuring. Prior thereto he was a KPMG Partner, Private Corporate Finance.

 

3

 

Jeffrey Jagid

 

On January 23, 2026, the Company entered into a First Amendment (the “Amendment”) to Executive Employment Agreement with Jeffrey Jagid, as Chief Executive Officer. The Amendment is to the Executive Employment Agreement dated as of June 18, 2024 (the ”Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the Amendment, the Employment Term was extended from June 18, 2029 to January 31, 2031; the Annual Base Salary was increased from $500,000 to $800,000; the Annual Bonus was increased from $500,000 to $800,000, and the Transaction Bonus was increased from $100,000 to $225,000, effective January 1, 2026. In addition, Mr. Jagid shall be entitled to a one-time bonus of $300,000 should the Company complete a registered direct offering or any other type of financing of at least $5,000,000 in 2026. Each of the Company’s enumerated subsidiaries shall be jointly and severally liable for and unconditionally guarantees the payment and performance of all obligations and agreements under the Amendment. Furthermore, upon an Event of Default Mr. Jagid shall be entitled to file an executed Confession of Judgement against the Company and its subsidiaries for severance.

 

Michael Tenore

 

On January 23, 2026, the Company entered into a First Amendment (the “Amendment”) to Executive Employment Agreement with Michael Tenore, as Secretary and General Counsel. The Amendment is to the Executive Employment Agreement dated as of June 18, 2024 (the ”Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the Amendment, the Employment Term was extended from June 18, 2029 to January 31, 2031; the Annual Base Salary was increased from $300,000 to $325,000; the Annual Bonus was increased from $100,000 to $150,000 and the Transaction Bonus was increased from $75,000 to $150,000 effective January 1, 2026. In addition, Mr. Tenore shall be entitled to a one-time bonus of $300,000 should the Company complete a registered direct offering or any other type of financing of at least $5,000,000 in 2026. Upon an Event of Default Mr. Tenore shall be entitled to file an executed Confession of Judgement against the Company and its subsidiaries for severance.

 

ITEM 8.01. OTHER EVENTS

 

On January 23, 2026, Atlantic issued a press release in connection with the Acquisition. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

This report contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this report that address activities, events or developments that Atlantic or Circle8 Group expect, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “create,” “expect,” “future,” “guidance,” “intend,” “plan,” “potential,” “seek,” “synergies,” “target,” “will,” “would,” similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words identify forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about the combined Company’s anticipated continued operations and benefits thereof. All such forward-looking statements are based upon current plans, estimates, expectations and ambitions that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond the control of Atlantic and Circle8 Group, and that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Important risk factors that may cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: Atlantic Stockholder Approval; the anticipated tax treatment, unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, losses, future prospects, business and management strategies for the management, expansion and growth of the combined company’s operations and other conditions to the Acquisition, including the possibility that any of the anticipated benefits of the Acquisition will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period, if at all; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Atlantic, Axiom or Circle8 Group or their respective directors and officers following announcement of the Acquisition; risks that the Acquisition disrupts and/or harms current plans and operations of Atlantic or Circle8 Group, including that management’s time and attention will be diverted on Acquisition-related issues ; the ability of Atlantic and Circle8 Group to successfully integrate their businesses and to achieve anticipated synergies and value creation; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the Acquisition, legislative, regulatory and economic developments and changes in laws, regulations, and policies affecting Atlantic and Circle8 Group; potential business uncertainty, including the outcome of commercial negotiations and changes to existing business relationships that could affect Atlantic’s and/or Circle8 Group’s financial performance and operating results; acts of terrorism or outbreak of war, hostilities, civil unrest, and other political or security disturbances; the impacts of pandemics or other public health crises, including the effects of government responses on people and economies; risks related to the potential impact of general economic, political and market factors on the companies or the Acquisition; those risks described in Item 1A of Atlantic’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2025, and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K; and those risks that will be described in the registration statements on Form S-3 and Proxy Statement/prospectus.

 

4

 

ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

 

(a) Financial Statements of Business Acquired.

 

The Company intends to file the financial statements of Circle8 Group B.V. and its subsidiaries required by Item 9.01(a) as part of an amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K not later than seventy-one (71) calendar days after the date this Current Report on Form 8-K is required to be filed.

 

(b) Pro Forma Financial Information

 

The Company intends to file the pro forma financial information required by Item 9.01(b) as part of an amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K not later than seventy-one (71) calendar days after the date this Current Report on Form 8-K is required to be filed.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.   Description 
2.1   Acquisition Agreement dated January 22, 2026 by and among Atlantic International Corp., Axiom Partners GmbH and Circle8 Group B.V.*
10.1   Convertible Promissory Note dated January 23, 2026, from Atlantic International Corp. to Axiom Partners GmbH.
10.2   Employment and Board Service Agreement, dated as of January 23, 2026, by and between Atlantic International Corp. and Guus Franke
10.3   First Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement dated January 23, 2026 between Atlantic International Corp. and Jeffrey Jagid.*
10.4   First Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement dated January 23, 2026 between Atlantic International Corp. and Michale S. Tenore.*
99.1   Press release dated January 23, 2026
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

*Schedules, exhibits and similar supporting attachments to this exhibit are omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. We agree to furnish a supplemental copy of any omitted schedule or similar attachment to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

 

5

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated: January 28, 2026 ATLANTIC INTERNATIONAL CORP.
     
  By: /s/ Jeffrey Jagid
  Jeffrey Jagid
  Chief Executive Officer

 

 

6

 

Exhibit 2.1

 

Execution Version

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACQUISITION AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

ATLANTIC INTERNATIONAL CORP.,

 

AXIOM PARTNERS GMBH,

 

and

 

CIRCLE8 GROUP B.V.

 

as of:

 

Dated January 22, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Title  Page
    
ARTICLE I Definitions  1
    
ARTICLE II The Acquisition  1
    
ARTICLE III Closing  4
    
ARTICLE IV Covenants  13
    
ARTICLE V Representations and Warranties of Atlantic Group  19
    
ARTICLE VI Representations and Warranties Regarding Axiom and Circle8 Group and its Subsidiaries  36
    
ARTICLE VII Indemnification  50
    
ARTICLE VIII Closing Conditions  54
    
ARTICLE IX Termination  56
    
ARTICLE X Registration Rights  58
    
ARTICLE XI Miscellaneous  61

 

i

 

 

ANNEXES AND EXHIBITS

 

Annexes  
   
Annex A Definitions  
   
Appendix  
   
Appendix 1 Circle8 Group Subsidiaries  
   
Exhibits  
   
A – Form of Convertible Note  
   
B – Form of Employment Agreement  
   
C – Organization Chart of Circle8 Group  
   

 

ii

 

 

ACQUISITION AGREEMENT

 

THIS ACQUISITION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made as of January 22, 2026 (the “Agreement Date”), by and among Atlantic International Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Atlantic”), Axiom Partners GmbH, a company organized under the laws of the Swiss Republic (“Axiom”) and Circle8 Group B.V., a company organized under the laws of the Netherlands (“Circle8”). Each of Atlantic, Axiom and Circle8 are hereinafter referred to as a “Party,” and collectively as the “Parties.”

 

RECITALS

 

A. Axiom owns 100% of the outstanding equity of Circle8 (the “Circle8 Equity”) and operates Circle8 and the entities listed on Appendix 1 attached hereto (collectively, the “Circle8 Group”);

 

B. Circle8 Group is engaged in the business of providing IT staffing and recruiting professionals in the subdisciplines of IT/Tech, such as AI, security and automation in Europe (the “Business”);

 

C. On the Closing Date, Axiom wishes to sell to Atlantic, and Atlantic wishes to acquire from Axiom, the Circle8 Equity on the terms and conditions set forth herein (the “Acquisition”);

 

D. On January 12, 2026 the Atlantic Board reviewed and evaluated this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions (including the Ancillary Documents) and has determined that the execution of this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions are in the best interests of Atlantic and its stockholders; and

 

E. Concurrently with entering into this Agreement, Atlantic, Axiom and the other parties thereto are entering into the Initial Voting Agreements.

 

AGREEMENTS

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements set forth herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

Article I
Definitions

 

1.1 Definitions. Unless otherwise defined herein, certain capitalized terms used herein have the meanings set forth in Annex A attached hereto.

 

1.2 Accounting Principles. Unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted and all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made in accordance with U.S. GAAP or, with respect to provisions relating to Circle8 Group, IFRS.

 

Article II
The Acquisition

 

2.1 The Acquisition.

 

(a) The Acquisition. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, at the Closing, Axiom will sell and transfer the Circle8 Equity to Atlantic, and Atlantic shall purchase and acquire from Axiom the Circle8 Equity in exchange for the Purchase Price specified in Section 2.2, through the execution of a notarial deed of transfer on the Closing Date (the “Deed of Transfer”) in a form reasonably satisfactory to Atlantic and Axiom.

 

1

 

 

(b) Pre-Closing Transfer. The Parties hereby acknowledge and agree that, prior to Closing, Axiom will sell, assign and transfer to Circle8 all of the issued and outstanding equity interests in Circle 8 GmbH (“Circle8 Germany”) and Circle8 Switzerland AG (“Circle8 Switzerland”), for an aggregate consideration equal to EU 70,000,000, which consideration shall be satisfied in full by way of set-off against outstanding intra-group receivables or similar indebtedness debt owed by Axiom to Circle8 (or any of its Subsidiaries), with no cash payment required in respect thereof, and upon giving effect thereto, Circle8 Germany and Circle8 Switzerland shall be deemed part of the Circle8 Group as of the Closing for all purposes of this Agreement (the “Pre-Closing Transfer”).

 

2.2 Purchase Price. (a) The aggregate consideration delivered to Axiom (the “Purchase Price”) for the Circle8 Equity shall equal fifty (50%) percent of the shares of Atlantic Common Stock on a Fully Diluted Basis, which shall be delivered at the Closing as follows:

 

(i) Atlantic shall issue to Axiom (or its designated Affiliate), a number of shares equal to 19.99% of the issued and outstanding shares of Atlantic Common Stock as of 12:01 a.m. on the Closing Date (the “Initial Share Consideration”) in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d); and

 

(ii) Atlantic shall issue a convertible loan note to Axiom (or its designated Affiliate) in the form attached as Exhibit A (the “Convertible Note”) in a principal amount equal to (i) the aggregate shares of Atlantic Common Stock on a Fully Diluted Basis multiplied by 0.5, minus (ii) the shares of Atlantic Common Stock issued to Axiom pursuant to Section 2.2(a)(i) (the “Convertible Note Consideration”);

 

(iii) Any shares issuable (including the Initial Share Consideration and the Convertible Note Consideration) by Atlantic to Axiom (or its designees) shall be issued to the account designed by Axiom.

 

(b) Additional Issuance. In the event that the Convertible Promissory Note (the “IDC Promissory Note”), issued on June 18, 2024, as amended, to IDC Technologies, Inc. (as assigned) (the “Note Counterparty”) is converted to shares of Atlantic Common Stock at the election of the Note Counterparty, Atlantic shall, subject to receipt of the Required Company Stockholder Approval, issue additional shares of Atlantic Common Stock to Axiom (or its assignees) such that Axiom receives the same number of shares of Atlantic Common Stock pursuant to Section 2.2(a) that it would have been entitled to if the number of shares issued to the Note Counterparty pursuant to the IDC Promissory Note had been reflected in the calculation of Atlantic Common Stock on a Fully Diluted Basis (the “Contingent Share Consideration”). The Parties agree to treat any additional issuance of shares of Atlantic pursuant to this Section 2.2(b) as an adjustment to the Purchase Price for all applicable Tax purposes and agree to file all applicable Tax Returns consistent with such treatment. Atlantic shall not, without the prior written consent of Axiom, agree to a voluntary conversion of the IDC Promissory Note (or any portion thereof) or any other share issuance to the Note Counterparty or its affiliates or designees.

 

2.3 Earnout Opportunity.

 

(a) Earnout Statement. In addition to the Purchase Price, Atlantic shall pay to Axiom a one time earnout amount equal to USD $2.5 million (the “Earnout Amount”) in the event that Circle8 Group records greater than EU 600,000,000 in revenue in the calendar year 2026 (the “Circle8 2026 Revenue”) calculated in accordance with GAAP or IFRS and determined based on the audited financial statements of Circle8 Group completed by a PCAOB registered independent accounting firm (the “2026 Circle8 Group Audited Financial Statements”). Atlantic shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain the 2026 Circle8 Group Audited Financial Statements prior to March 31, 2027 at its sole cost and expense. No later than March 31, 2027, Atlantic shall, if the 2026 Circle8 Group Audited Financial Statements reflect a Circle8 2026 Revenue of greater than EU 600,000,000, pay to Axiom an amount in cash equal to the Earnout Amount by wire transfer of immediately available funds into an account or accounts designated by Axiom.

 

2

 

 

(b) In no event will Atlantic be entitled to set-off the Earnout Amount against any amounts Atlantic may be owed, or may allege to be owed, by Axiom or its Affiliates under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

(c) Atlantic will, and will cause its Affiliates to, maintain separate books of account and records reasonably sufficient to track and record the Circle8 2026 Revenue separately from the revenue of the other businesses of Atlantic and its Affiliates.

 

(d) Throughout calendar year 2026, (A) Atlantic will cause the Circle8 Group to continue to conduct the Business in a commercially reasonable manner and will use its reasonable best efforts to maximize the Circle8 2026 Revenue; (B) the Business must be transacted through the Circle8 Group, and cannot be transacted through any other Affiliate of Atlantic (unless Atlantic agrees to consolidate the relevant financial results of such Affiliates for purposes of calculating the Circle8 2026 Revenue), and (C) if Atlantic or any of its Affiliates acquires any new business or engages in any new or additional lines of business that are similar or adjacent to, or incorporate Intellectual Property of or associated with, the Business, the relevant financial results associated with such new or additional lines of business will be consolidated with the results of the Circle8 Group for purposes of calculating the Circle8 2026 Revenue.

 

(e) Atlantic will not do or omit to do anything, the intention of which is to hinder or prevent Circle8 Group from generating Circle8 2026 Revenue or to avoid payment of the Earnout Amount. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Atlantic will not take any actions for the purpose of deferring revenue or sales from calendar year 2026 until a later period.

 

(f) If, during calendar year 2026, (i) Atlantic effects a disposition (directly or indirectly, whether by sale, merger, restructuring, transfer, lease, license or otherwise) of all or any material portion of the Circle8 Group or the Business, whether in one transaction or a series of transactions, (ii) an Insolvency Event of Atlantic occurs, or (iii) Mr. Franke is removed without Cause or terminates his employment for Good Reason (each as defined in his Employment Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit B) from any of his positions with Atlantic or Circle8 Group, then, notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.3 to the contrary, the Earnout Amount shall become immediately due and payable.

 

(g) Any amounts paid by Atlantic to Axiom pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall be treated as an adjustment to the Purchase Price for U.S. federal and state and foreign income Tax purposes, and the parties shall file all Tax Returns consistent with this treatment, unless otherwise required by Law.

 

2.4 Profit Payment. In addition to the Purchase Price, Atlantic shall pay to Axiom a one time payment (if greater than $0) equal to the net profit of Circle8 Group as set forth on the Circle8 Group Financial Statements for the year ending December 31, 2025 minus the aggregate Liquidity Payments made to Circle8 Group in calendar year 2026 (the “Profit Payment Amount”). Upon the earlier of (i) sufficient funds of Atlantic to pay the Profit Payment Amount, as determined in good faith by Atlantic and Axiom, and (ii) three years following the Closing Date, Atlantic shall pay to Axiom an amount in cash equal to the Profit Payment Amount by wire transfer of immediately available funds into an account or accounts designated by Axiom. Atlantic shall provide information reasonably requested by Axiom to provide a reasonable basis to calculate Atlantic’s and Circle8 Group’s cash position and availability of sufficient funds to pay the Profit Payment Amount, and will not do or omit to do anything, the intention of which is to avoid payment of the Profit Payment Amount within three years following the Closing Date.

 

3

 

 

2.5 The Share Consideration. The Atlantic Common Stock comprising the Initial Share Consideration, the Atlantic Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Convertible Note (once issued) and the Contingent Share Consideration (if and when issued) (collectively, the “Share Consideration”) will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Atlantic Common Stock, including the right to receive all dividends declared, made, or paid after the Closing Date. The Share Consideration granted to Axiom shall be issued in a private placement pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, subject to the registration rights set forth in ARTICLE X of this Agreement.

 

Article III
Closing

 

3.1 Time and Place of the Closing. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions (the “Closing”) shall take place remotely by the exchange of electronic documents and signatures no later than two (2) Business Days after the conditions set forth in ARTICLE VII have been satisfied or, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, waived (other than conditions which, by their nature, are to be satisfied at Closing but subject to their satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, waiver at such time) unless this Agreement has been terminated pursuant to its terms or unless another time or date is agreed to in writing by each of the Parties hereto. The date on which the Closing occurs is referred to in this Agreement as the “Closing Date.” The Closing may take place in such other manner, or at such location, as may be mutually agreed upon by each of the Parties. The transfers and deliveries described in this ARTICLE III shall be mutually interdependent and shall be regarded as occurring simultaneously, and, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no such transfer or delivery shall become effective or shall be deemed to occur until all of the other transfers and deliveries provided for in this ARTICLE III shall have occurred or, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, been waived on or as of the Closing Date.

 

3.2 Closing Deliveries. At the Closing Date:

 

(a) Atlantic Deliveries: Atlantic shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Axiom the following:

 

(i) The Initial Share Consideration, free and clear of all Encumbrances;

 

(ii) The Convertible Note, duly executed by Atlantic;

 

(iii) The Post-Signing Voting Agreements, duly executed by the stockholders party thereto;

 

(iv) The Employment Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, duly executed by Atlantic;

 

(v) Certificates duly executed by the appropriate officers of Atlantic, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Axiom, certifying as to: (i) Atlantic’s Governing Documents, and (ii) resolutions of the Atlantic Board, authorizing the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement and all documents delivered by Atlantic hereunder and in connection with the Acquisition, including for the authorization and execution of the Convertible Note;

 

4

 

 

(vi) An executed copy of all agreements, documents, instruments, or certificates required to be delivered by Atlantic at or prior to the Closing pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Document; and

 

(vii) To the Notary:

 

(A) a powers of attorney, duly executed on behalf of Atlantic and in a form acceptable to the Notary, authorizing each (deputy) civil law notary and lawyer associated with Jones Day to execute the Deed of Transfer before the Notary on behalf of Atlantic, which power of attorney, as and where required by the Notary;

 

(B) all “know your client” documentation in relation to Atlantic, as required by the Notary in order for the Notary to execute the Deed of Transfer; and

 

(C) a statement to confirm that (1) each of the closing conditions set out in ARTICLE VIII is satisfied (or waived in writing by the Party(ies) entitled to so waive) and (2) the Notary can proceed with the execution of the Deed of Transfer.

 

(b) Axiom Deliveries: Axiom shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Atlantic the following:

 

(i) Certificates duly executed by the appropriate officers of Axiom, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Atlantic, certifying as to: (i) Axiom’s Governing Documents, and (ii) resolutions of Axiom’s board of directors, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and all documents delivered by Axiom hereunder and in connection with the Acquisition;

 

(ii) An executed copy of all agreements, documents, instruments, or certificates required to be delivered by Axiom at or prior to the Closing pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Document;

 

(iii) A duly executed and properly completed IRS Form W-8BEN-E for Axiom; and

 

(iv) To the Notary:

 

(A) the true and correct shareholders register of Circle8;

 

(B) powers of attorney, duly executed on behalf of Axiom and Circle8 and in a form acceptable to the Notary, authorizing each (deputy) civil law notary and lawyer associated with Jones Day to execute the Deed of Transfer before the Notary on behalf of Axiom and Circle8, which powers of attorney, as and where required by the Notary, need to be legalized and apostilled;

 

(C) all “know your client” documentation in relation to Circle8, as required by the Dutch Notary in order for the Dutch Notary to execute the Deed of Transfer; and

 

5

 

 

(D) a statement to confirm that (1) each of the closing conditions set out in ARTICLE VIII is satisfied (or waived in writing by the Party(ies) entitled to so waive) and (2) the Dutch Notary can proceed with the execution of the Deed of Transfer.

 

(c) Circle8 Group Deliveries: Circle8 Group shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Atlantic the following:

 

(i) Certificates duly executed by the appropriate officers of Circle8 Group, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Atlantic, certifying as to: (i) Circle8 Group’s Governing Documents, and (ii) resolutions of Circle8’s board of directors, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and all documents delivered by Circle8 hereunder and in connection with the Acquisition;

 

(ii) An executed copy of all agreements, documents, instruments, or certificates required to be delivered by Circle8 at or prior to the Closing pursuant to this Agreement; and

 

(iii) To the extent required by Law, amended Articles of Association, together with any and all supporting approval documentation.

 

Each Party hereto shall use reasonable best efforts to take such actions as are necessary to expeditiously satisfy the closing conditions set forth above. Following the Closing, each of the Parties hereto shall, and shall cause their respective Representatives and Affiliates to, execute and deliver such additional documents, instruments, conveyances, and assurances and take such further actions as may be reasonably required to carry out the provisions hereof and give effect to the Contemplated Transactions.

 

3.3 Access to Information; Confidentiality.

 

(a) The Parties agree to comply with United States Securities Laws related to material non-public information.

 

(b) Prior to the Closing, except: (i) as otherwise prohibited by applicable Law or the terms of any Contract or (ii) as would be reasonably expected to result in the loss of any attorney-client, attorney work product, or other legal privilege, Circle8 Group will afford Atlantic, and Atlantic will afford Axiom, and their respective financial advisors, accountants, counsel and other representatives reasonable access during normal business hours, upon reasonable notice, to the properties, books, records and personnel to obtain all information concerning the business of the other as may reasonably be requested, including the status of product development efforts, properties, results of operations and personnel of such Party as the other Party may reasonably request.

 

(c) From and after the Closing until the seventh anniversary of the Closing Date, except: (i) as otherwise prohibited by applicable Law or the terms of any Contract or (ii) as would be reasonably expected to result in the loss of any attorney-client, attorney work product, or other legal privilege, (A) Axiom will afford Atlantic and its financial advisors, accountants, counsel and other representatives reasonable access during normal business hours, upon reasonable notice, to the books, records and personnel to obtain all information concerning the business of Circle8 Group as may reasonably be requested in connection this Agreement, the Contemplated Transactions or with defending or prosecuting any Action by or against Atlantic, this Agreement or the Contemplated Transactions and (B) Atlantic will afford Axiom and its respective financial advisors, accountants, counsel and other representatives reasonable access during normal business hours, upon reasonable notice, to the properties, books, records and personnel to obtain all information concerning the business of Atlantic and its Affiliates (including Circle8 Group) as may reasonably be requested in connection with this Agreement, the Contemplated Transactions or defending or prosecuting any Action by or against Axiom.

 

6

 

 

3.4 Management of Atlantic and Circle8 Group. Following the Closing Date, Atlantic shall cause Circle8 Group’s executive management team’s employment agreements to remain in effect pursuant to their terms. At the Closing or promptly thereafter, Mr. Guus Franke will be Executive Chairman of the Board of Atlantic and be provided with a mutually agreeable long-term employment agreement as set forth in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto, with all executive perks, including stock options that vest over time and other stock incentives for achieving mutually agreed upon revenue or other financial targets. Employees of Circle8 Group shall be offered stock incentives as agreed upon between Axiom and Atlantic.

 

3.5 [RESERVED]

 

3.6 Public Announcements.

 

(a) Exclusive of filings required under this Agreement, none of the Parties or any of their respective Representatives shall prior to the Closing issue any press releases or make any public announcements with respect to this Agreement or the Contemplated Transactions without the prior written consent of each of Axiom, Circle8 Group and Atlantic; provided, however, that Atlantic may make any such announcement or other communication if such announcement or other communication is required by applicable Law, in which case Atlantic will provide such announcement or other communication to Axiom and Circle8 Group in advance to review. Atlantic shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K, including this Agreement, as an exhibit thereto, with the SEC.

 

(b) Immediately following the signing of the Agreement of Closing, the Parties shall issue press releases in form agreed to by each of the Parties.

 

3.7 Exclusive Dealing.

 

(a) Circle8.

 

(i) From the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, Axiom, Circle8 and Atlantic shall not, and shall cause their Representatives not to, directly or indirectly: (i) solicit, initiate, knowingly encourage (including by means of furnishing or disclosing information), knowingly facilitate, discuss or negotiate, directly or indirectly, any inquiry, proposal or offer (written or oral) with respect to a Circle8 Acquisition Proposal; (ii) furnish or disclose any non-public information to any Person (other than to the Parties and their respective Representatives) in connection with, or that would reasonably be expected to lead to, a Circle8 Acquisition Proposal; (iii) enter into any Contract or other arrangement or understanding regarding a Circle8 Acquisition Proposal; (iv) prepare or take any steps in connection with a public offering of any Equity Interests of Circle8 or any member of the Circle8 Group; or (v) otherwise cooperate in any way with, or assist or participate in, or knowingly facilitate or knowingly encourage any effort or attempt by any Person to do or seek to do any of the foregoing. Axiom and Circle8 shall: (i) notify Atlantic promptly upon receipt of any Circle8 Acquisition Proposal, describing the terms and conditions of any such Circle8 Acquisition Proposal in reasonable detail (including the identity of the Persons making such Circle8 Acquisition Proposal), and (ii) keep Atlantic fully informed on a current basis of any modifications to such offer or information.

 

7

 

 

(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall require Axiom or the board of directors, board of managers, or similar governing body of any Circle8 Group (the aforementioned parties collectively as to the Circle8 Parties, “Fiduciaries”), in each case, acting in their capacity as such, to take any action or to refrain from taking any action to the extent such Fiduciary determines, after consulting with counsel, that taking or failing to take such action would be inconsistent with applicable Law or its fiduciary obligations under applicable Law; provided that counsel to the Circle8 Parties shall give notice not later than two (2) Business Days following such determination (with email being sufficient), to counsel to Atlantic following a determination made in accordance with this Section 3.7(a)(ii) to take or not take action, in each case in a manner that would result in a breach of this Agreement. This Section 3.7(a)(ii) shall not be deemed to amend, supplement or otherwise modify, or constitute a waiver of any Party’s rights to terminate this Agreement pursuant to ARTICLE VIII of this Agreement that may arise as a result of any such action or inaction.

 

(b) Atlantic.

 

(i) From the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Conversion Date or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, Atlantic shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates and its and their Representatives not to, directly or indirectly: (i) solicit, initiate, knowingly encourage (including by means of furnishing or disclosing information), knowingly facilitate, discuss or negotiate, directly or indirectly, any inquiry, proposal or offer (written or oral) with respect to an Alternative Proposal; (ii) furnish or disclose any non-public information to any Person (other than to the Parties and their respective Representatives) in connection with, or that would reasonably be expected to lead to, an Alternative Proposal; (iii) enter into any Contract or other arrangement or understanding regarding an Alternative Proposal; (iv) prepare or take any steps in connection with a public offering of any Equity Interests of Atlantic or its Subsidiaries; or (v) otherwise cooperate in any way with, or assist or participate in, or knowingly facilitate or knowingly encourage any effort or attempt by any Person to do or seek to do any of the foregoing. Effective upon the date of this Agreement, Atlantic shall, and shall cause its Affiliates and its and their Representatives, to immediately cease any existing solicitations, discussions or negotiations with any Person conducted with respect to any Alternative Proposal. Atlantic shall promptly inform its Representatives and its Affiliates’ Representatives of Atlantic’s obligations under this Section 3.7(b).

 

(ii) Atlantic shall notify Axiom as promptly as possible (but in no event later than forty-eight (48) hours) after receipt of (i) any Alternative Proposal or any inquiry, offer or proposal that would reasonably be expected to lead to, or result in, an Alternative Proposal or (ii) any request for non-public information relating to Atlantic or any of its Affiliates, or any request for access to the business, properties, assets, personnel, books or records of Atlantic or any of its Affiliates by any third-party, that would reasonably be expected to lead to, or result in, an Alternative Proposal, which notice shall be in writing and shall include the identity of such Person or Persons, the material terms and conditions of such Alternative Proposal, inquiry, offer, proposal or request, as applicable, and, if available, a copy of such Alternative Proposal, inquiry, offer, proposal or request. Atlantic shall keep Axiom reasonably informed on a current and prompt basis of the status and material details of any such Alternative Proposal, inquiry, offer, proposal or request, including the material terms and conditions thereof and any material amendments or proposed amendments.

 

8

 

 

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3.7(b), from the date hereof until the earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, Atlantic (acting upon the recommendation of the Atlantic Board) or the Atlantic Board may, subject to prior written notice to Axiom: (i) engage in discussions or negotiate with, or furnish or disclose any non-public information relating to Atlantic or any of its Affiliates to any Person who has or Persons who have made a bona fide, written and unsolicited Alternative Proposal if the Atlantic Board determines that such Alternative Proposal may result in a Superior Proposal, but only so long as Atlantic has caused such Person or Persons to enter into a confidentiality agreement with Atlantic with terms and conditions customary for transactions of such type (a copy of which shall be promptly (in all events within forty-eight (48) hours) provided to Axiom), and the Atlantic Board has, in good faith, (x) determined, based on the information then available and after consultation with its financial advisor, that such bona fide, written and unsolicited Alternative Proposal either constitutes a Superior Proposal or would reasonably be expected to lead to, or result in, a Superior Proposal, and (y) determined, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that the failure to take such action could be inconsistent with the directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable Law; and (ii) enter into an agreement, arrangement or understanding providing for the implementation of a Superior Proposal (an “Alternative Acquisition Agreement”) and terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(ii) if, and only if, (A) Atlantic and its Affiliates and their respective Representatives have not breached any of their obligations under this Section 3.7(b), (B) the Atlantic Board, in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisor and its outside legal counsel, determines (x) that a bona fide, written and unsolicited Alternative Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal and (y) that failure to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement and terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(ii) would be inconsistent with the directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable Law, and (C) Atlantic notifies Axiom in writing that the Atlantic Board has made the determinations provided in the foregoing clause (x) and (y) seven (7) calendar days (the “Atlantic Notice Period”) prior to terminating this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(ii) or changing its recommendation to stockholders pursuant to Section 3.7(b)(iv), which notice shall (1) state expressly that Atlantic has received an Alternative Proposal that the Atlantic Board intends to declare a Superior Proposal and that the Atlantic Board intends to change its recommendation to stockholders pursuant to Section 3.7(b)(iv) and/or Atlantic intends to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement, and (2) include a copy of the most current version of the proposed agreement relating to such Superior Proposal (which version shall be updated on a prompt basis), and a description of any financing commitments relating thereto.

 

(iv) The Atlantic Board shall not withdraw, modify or amend, or propose to withdraw the Atlantic Board’s recommendation to the Atlantic stockholders that they vote in favor of approval of the Conversion Shares (the “Board Recommendation”) in any manner adverse to Axiom unless Atlantic terminates this Agreement as provided in Section 3.7(b)(iii) pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(ii). Atlantic shall, and shall instruct its Representatives to, during the Atlantic Notice Period (which may be extended by mutual written consent between the Parties), negotiate with Axiom in good faith in respect of adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement such that such Alternative Proposal would cease to constitute a Superior Proposal, if Atlantic, in its sole discretion, proposes to make such adjustments (it being agreed that in the event that, after commencement of the Atlantic Notice Period, there is any revision to the terms of a Superior Proposal, including, any revision in price, the Atlantic Notice Period shall be extended by four (4) Business Days (it being understood that there may be multiple extensions)). If, following the end of such Atlantic Notice Period (as extended pursuant to the preceding sentence), the Atlantic Board determines in good faith, after consulting with outside financial advisor and legal counsel, that such Alternative Proposal continues to constitute a Superior Proposal after taking into account any adjustments made by Axiom during the Atlantic Notice Period upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, provided that Atlantic shall have complied with its obligations under this Section 3.7(b)(iv), and the Atlantic Board shall terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(ii) to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement, Atlantic shall concurrently pay to Axiom the Expense Reimbursement Fee due under Section 9.3.

 

9

 

 

(v) Nothing set forth in this Agreement shall prohibit Atlantic from (i) complying with its disclosure obligations under U.S. federal or state Law with regard to an Alternative Proposal, (ii) taking and disclosing to the stockholders of Atlantic any position contemplated by Rule 14d-9, Rule 14e-2(a) or Item 1012(a) of Regulation M-A promulgated under the Exchange Act, or (iii) making any “stop, look and listen” or similar communication of the type contemplated by Rule 14d-9(f) under the Exchange Act.

 

3.8 Nasdaq Listing. From the date hereof through the Closing Date, the Parties shall take such actions as may be necessary to satisfy any applicable initial and continuing listing requirements of Nasdaq. In particular, Atlantic shall use reasonable best efforts to ensure that the issuance of the Initial Share Consideration at Closing shall comply with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635, (ii) the Contemplated Transactions, including the issuance of the Initial Share Consideration and the Convertible Note, and the Conversion and Contingent Share Consideration following receipt of the Required Company Stockholder Approval, will not trigger Nasdaq Listing Rule 5110(a) or require Atlantic to submit an initial listing application, and (iii) Atlantic shall have timely submitted any required Listing of Additional Shares notices in respect of the shares issuable upon the Conversion and the Contingent Share Consideration and cooperate in good faith with Nasdaq with respect thereto.

 

3.9 Voting Agreements. Atlantic will use reasonable best efforts to cause voting agreements, in substantially the form as the Initial Voting Agreements, to be duly executed by stockholders representing (together with the stockholders who have duly executed Initial Voting Agreements) at least a majority of the issued and outstanding Atlantic Common Stock as of the Closing (the “Post-Signing Voting Agreements”).

 

3.10 Post-Closing Covenants.

 

(a) Board Seat; Chairman. On of before the Closing Date or promptly thereafter, Atlantic agrees to, and shall take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to: (i) establish the size of the Atlantic Board at six (6) directors, and (ii) nominate and appoint, effective as of the Closing, such person as is designated by Axiom (who shall initially be Guus Franke (“Mr. Franke”)) to the Atlantic Board and to cause such person to serve as Executive Chairman of the Atlantic Board from and after the Closing with all rights and privileges including, but not limited to, the right to call a stockholders meeting. If at any time Axiom and its Affiliates hold shares of Atlantic Common Stock representing at least five percent (5%) of Atlantic’s total issued and outstanding Atlantic Common Stock, Atlantic shall nominate the director designated by Axiom (or its designee) and, if such director designated is not Mr. Franke, such director shall be reasonably acceptable to Atlantic, to be a member of the Atlantic Board at any stockholders meeting during which directors of the Atlantic Board are to be elected.

 

(b) Funding. As of the Closing, (i) Axiom and its Affiliates, shall be unconditionally and irrevocably released from any obligations to provide Circle8 Group with funding, liquidity or other similar payments whether arising before, on or after the Closing, including any accrued, outstanding or unpaid obligations existing as of the Closing and (ii) Atlantic shall be responsible for providing, and shall provide, Circle8 Group with all funding, liquidity or similar payments in the Ordinary Course of Business and as reasonably necessary or appropriate (the “Liquidity Payments”). In the event Axiom or any of its Affiliates provides any funding, liquidity or any other similar payment, it shall be at Axiom’s sole discretion and will be deemed a loan between the applicable parties on such terms as mutually agreed between the parties.

 

10

 

 

(c) Circle8 Group Financial Statements. Within 75 days of Closing, Circle8 shall provide to Atlantic consolidated (or condensed, as applicable) financial statements for Circle8 Group’s previous two fiscal years (2024 and 2025) and all subsequent interim quarters (“Circle8 Group Financial Statements”), prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP or IFRS and audited by a PCAOB registered independent accounting firm. Circle8 shall immediately engage RBSM LLC to complete the audit.

 

(d) Post Closing Deliverables. Other completion deliverables to be agreed to by the parties, including, but not limited to, bank mandates amending those persons authorized to operate Circle8 Group’s bank accounts resignation of auditors, and other local jurisdictional requirements.

 

(e) E.F. Hutton Shares. Concurrently with Closing or promptly thereafter, Atlantic will deliver to E.F. Hutton & Co. (“E.F. Hutton”) four million (4,000,000) restricted shares within five business days of Closing in full satisfaction of the Financial Advisory Services Agreement, dated November 12,2025, between Axiom Partners  GmbH Switzerland and E.F. Hutton.

 

3.11 The Proxy Statement.

 

(a) As promptly as practicable after the execution of this Agreement, Atlantic, Axiom and Circle8 shall prepare and mutually agree upon (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), and (i) Atlantic shall file with the SEC within five (5) Business Days of receipt of all required Circle8 Group Financial Statements, a proxy statement for the purpose of soliciting proxies from Atlantic stockholders for the matters to be acted upon at the Atlantic Stockholders Special Meeting in connection with the conversion of the Convertible Note into additional Share Consideration and the issuance of the Contingent Share Consideration, in each case, in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d) (the “Proxy Statement”), and (ii) each of Axiom, Circle8 and Atlantic shall, or shall cause their respective Affiliates to, prepare and file with the SEC all other documents to be filed by it or them with the SEC in connection with the Acquisition and the Contemplated Transactions (the “Other Filings”) as required by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act. Atlantic and the other Parties shall cooperate with each other in connection with the preparation of the Proxy Statement and any Other Filings, and any amendments or supplements thereto.

 

(b) Atlantic shall have duly executed and effective Initial Voting Agreements and Post-Signing Voting Agreements representing a sufficient number of shares to obtain the Required Company Stockholder Approval as of the Closing. In connection with the Proxy Statement, Atlantic will file with the SEC financial and other information about the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in accordance with applicable Law and applicable proxy solicitation rules set forth in Atlantic’s Governing Documents, the Delaware Law and the rules and regulations of the SEC and Nasdaq. Axiom and Circle8 shall promptly provide Atlantic with such information concerning their companies and their stockholders officers, directors, employees, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), business and operations that may be required or appropriate for inclusion in the Proxy Statement, or in any amendments or supplements thereto, which information provided by Axiom or Circle8 shall be true and correct in all material respects and not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading.

 

11

 

 

(c) Atlantic shall take any and all reasonable and necessary actions required to satisfy the requirements of the Securities Act and other applicable Laws in connection with filing of the Proxy Statement and any amendments thereto. Axiom and Circle8 shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries, to make their respective directors, officers and employees, upon reasonable advance notice, available to Atlantic in connection with the drafting of the Proxy Statement included therein and responding in a timely manner to comments from the SEC. Each Party shall promptly correct any information provided by it for use in the Proxy Statement (and other related materials) if and to the extent that such information is determined to have become false or misleading in any material respect or as otherwise required by applicable laws.

 

(d) Atlantic, with the assistance of Axiom and Circle8 Group, shall promptly respond to any SEC comments on the Proxy Statements contain therein.

 

3.12 Stockholders’ Meeting. Subject to Section 3.7, Atlantic will take all actions in accordance with applicable Law, Atlantic’s Governing Documents and the rules of Nasdaq to duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a special meeting of Atlantic’s stockholders for the purpose of approving the Convertible Note Consideration (including any adjournment or postponement thereof, the “Atlantic Stockholders Special Meeting”) as soon as reasonably practicable after the SEC confirms that it does not plan to review, or that it has no further comments on, the Proxy Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Atlantic may adjourn or postpone the Atlantic Stockholders Special Meeting (a) to the extent required by Law, or (b) if, after consultation with Axiom, Atlantic determines such adjournment or postponement is necessary to ensure that any required supplement or amendment to the Proxy Statement is provided to the stockholders of Atlantic within a reasonable amount of time in advance of the Atlantic Stockholders Special Meeting if such disclosure is determined by Atlantic in good faith after consultation with outside legal counsel to be required to be provided to the stockholders of Atlantic; provided, however, that, unless otherwise consented to in writing by Axiom and Circle8, in no event shall Atlantic adjourn or postpone the Atlantic Stockholders Special Meeting more than ten (10) Business Days.

 

3.13 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as expressly stated in this ARTICLE III, each of the Parties to this Agreement acknowledges and agrees that all provisions contained in this ARTICLE III are included for the sole benefit of Atlantic, Axiom and Circle8 Group, and that nothing in this Agreement, whether express or implied: (i) shall be construed to establish, amend, or modify any employee benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement, (ii) shall limit the right of Atlantic, Axiom and Circle8 Group or their respective Affiliates to amend, terminate or otherwise modify any Employee Plan or other employee benefit plan, agreement or other arrangement following the Closing Date, or (iii) shall confer upon any Person who is not a party to this Agreement including any equity holder, any current or former director, manager, officer, employee, contingent worker or service provider of Circle8 Group, or any participant in any Employee Plan or other employee benefit plan, agreement or other arrangement (or any dependent or beneficiary thereof), any right to continued or resumed employment or recall, any right to compensation or benefits, or any third-party beneficiary or other right of any kind or nature whatsoever.

 

3.14 Tax Matters.

 

(a) Atlantic, Axiom and Circle8 Group shall cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by any of them, in connection with: (i) the preparation and filing of any Tax Returns of each member of Circle8 Group or Axiom and its Related Parties and (ii) any Action with respect to Taxes and Tax Returns of each member of Circle8 Group or Axiom and its Related Parties, in each case, with respect to any Pre-Closing Tax Period or Straddle Period. Such cooperation shall include the retention, and (upon the other Party’s request) the provision, of records and information which are reasonably relevant to any such Action and making employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional information and explanation of any material provided hereunder. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, after the Closing, Axiom and its Related Parties shall not be required under this Agreement to provide copies of their Tax Returns to any Person.

 

12

 

 

(b) Each of Atlantic and Axiom agrees to bear and be responsible for 50% of any Transfer Taxes incurred as a result of the purchase and sale of the Circle8 Equity pursuant to this Agreement. The Parties shall cooperate on a reasonable basis in connection with the preparation and filing of any Tax Returns with respect to, and the payment of, any such Transfer Taxes, including obtaining, preparing and filing any forms, certifications or other documentation intended to eliminate or reduce any such Transfer Taxes, and the cost of preparing any such Tax Returns shall be borne equally by Axiom and Atlantic.

 

Article IV
Covenants

 

4.1 Certain Covenants. In addition to other obligations contained in this Agreement, the Parties hereto shall perform their respective obligations under the following covenants:

 

(a) Reasonable Efforts. Each of the Parties hereto will use all reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions as are to be taken by each of them, respectively, or cause to be done all things reasonably necessary or advisable to consummate and make effective as promptly as reasonably practicable the Contemplated Transactions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of the Parties shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain, file with, or deliver to, as applicable, any Consents of any Governmental Authorities necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the Contemplated Transactions or the Ancillary Documents. Each Party shall bear its out-of-pocket costs and expenses in connection with the preparation of any such Consents; provided, however, that each Party shall respond as promptly as reasonably practicable to any requests by any Governmental Authority for additional information and documentary material that may be requested. Atlantic shall promptly inform Axiom and Circle8 Group of any communication between Atlantic, on the one hand, and any Governmental Authority, on the other hand, and Axiom and Circle8 Group shall promptly inform Atlantic of any communication between Axiom, and/or Circle8 Group, on the one hand, and any Governmental Authority, on the other hand, in either case, regarding any of the Contemplated Transactions.

 

(b) From and after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Parties shall each give counsel for the other Parties a reasonable opportunity to review in advance, and consider in good faith the views of the others in connection with, any proposed written communication to any Governmental Authority relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents. Each of the Parties agrees not to participate in any substantive meeting or discussion, either in person or by telephone with any Governmental Authority in connection with the Contemplated Transactions unless it consults with the other Parties in advance.

 

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, in the event that this Section 4.1 conflicts with any other covenant or agreement in this ARTICLE IV that is intended to specifically address certain subject matter, then such other covenant or agreement shall govern and control solely to the extent of such conflict.

 

(d) The Parties agree to comply with SEC Securities Laws related to material non-public information.

 

(e) From the date of this Agreement until the earlier of (i) the Atlantic stockholder meeting at which the Conversion and the Contingent Share Consideration is approved (the “Conversion Vote”) and the Conversion Date and (ii) the termination of this Agreement, Atlantic shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, issue, sell, grant or enter into any agreement to issue, sell or grant any shares of equity securities or equity-linked securities (including options, warrants, convertible notes or similar instruments), except for (A) the Initial Share Consideration at Closing in accordance with Section 2.2(a)(i), (B) issuances pursuant to Atlantic’s existing equity incentive plans in the Ordinary Course of Business, limited to grants that, in the aggregate from the date hereof through the Conversion Vote, do not exceed one (1%) percent of the outstanding Atlantic Common Stock as of the date hereof, and (C) issuances required by Law or pursuant to pre-existing, disclosed contractual obligations set forth on Schedule 4.1(e) of the Atlantic Disclosure Schedules.

 

13

 

 

(f) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.1(f) of the Atlantic Disclosure Schedules from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of (i) the Conversion Date and (ii) repayment in full of the Convertible Note, Atlantic shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, incur, create or permit to exist any Indebtedness that is senior in right of payment to the Convertible Note. Atlantic may incur Indebtedness that is pari passu with, or subordinated to, the Convertible Note only with the prior written consent of Axiom.

 

(g) From the date of this Agreement until the earlier of (i) the Atlantic Stockholders Special Meeting and Conversion Date and (ii) the termination of this Agreement, Atlantic shall not amend, supplement, restate or modify its Governing Documents, or otherwise alter its corporate structure through merger, liquidation, reorganization, restructuring or otherwise.

 

(h) From the date of this Agreement until the earlier of (i) the Conversion Vote and Conversion Date and (ii) the termination of this Agreement, Atlantic shall (A) maintain the continued listing of the Atlantic Common Stock on Nasdaq, and shall not take any action intended to, or that would reasonably be expected to, result in a delisting or trading suspension, (B) timely submit any required Listing of Additional Shares notices in respect of the shares issuable upon Conversion and cooperate in good faith with Nasdaq with respect thereto, (C) use reasonable best efforts to maintain any written confirmations from Nasdaq necessary or advisable in connection with the Contemplated Transactions, and (D) maintain its engagement with its transfer agent and the DTC eligibility of the Atlantic Common Stock.

 

4.2 Certain Pre-Closing Covenants of Circle8 Group. From and after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, except as set forth on Schedule 4.2 of the Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules, Circle8 Group shall, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, as set forth in the Organizational Chart attached hereto as Exhibit C, or any Ancillary Document, as required by applicable Law, or as expressly consented to in writing by Atlantic (it being agreed that any request for a consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) operate the Business in the ordinary course in all material respects and (ii) maintain and preserve intact the business organization, assets, properties, and material business relations of Circle8 Group; provided that in no event shall actions taken by or on behalf of, Circle8 Group in compliance with this Section 4.2 or other provisions of this Agreement, constitute a Breach of this Agreement.

 

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, from the date of this Agreement, until the earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, except as set forth on Schedule 4.2 of the Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules, Circle8 Group shall, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, as set forth in the Organizational Chart attached hereto as Exhibit C, or any Ancillary Document, as required by applicable Law, or as expressly consented to in writing by Atlantic, not do any of the following:

 

(a) enter into, amend, modify, waive any material benefit or right under or terminate any material Contract (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any expiration or automatic extension or renewal of any such material Contract pursuant to its terms or entering into additional work orders pursuant to, and in accordance with the terms of, any material Contract) other than Ordinary Course of Business;

 

14

 

 

(b) amend, supplement, restate, or modify its Governing Documents, or otherwise alter its corporate structure through merger, liquidation, reorganization, restructuring or otherwise;

 

(c) sell, transfer, pledge, dispose of or encumber any assets or properties, other than (i) dispositions of inventory and supplies in the Ordinary Course of Business, or (ii) pursuant to an existing Contract;

 

(d) sell, transfer, lease, license, sublicense, mortgage, pledge, dispose of, encumber, grant or otherwise dispose of any material Circle8 Group Intellectual Property, or amend or modify in any material respect any existing agreements with respect to any Circle8 Group Intellectual Property;

 

(e) permit the attachment of any Encumbrance against any of the assets or properties owned or leased by any member of Circle8 Group, except Permitted Encumbrances;

 

(f) issue, sell, transfer, pledge, dispose of or encumber any shares of capital stock or other ownership interest of any class, or any options, warrants, convertible or exchangeable securities or other rights of any kind to acquire any shares of capital stock or any other ownership interest of Circle8 Group, or acquire (by merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or assets or otherwise) any Person or division thereof;

 

(g) incur any Indebtedness in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate for borrowed money, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business, or issue any debt securities or assume, guarantee or endorse or otherwise as an accommodation become responsible for the obligations of any Person, or make any loans, advances or enter into any financial commitments;

 

(h) make or commit to make any capital expenditure in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate other than currently contemplated capital expenditures set forth on Schedule 4.2(g) of the Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules;

 

(i) declare, set aside or pay a dividend on, or make any distributions (whether in cash, stock or other securities or property, or any combination thereof) with respect to any ownership interests in Circle8 Group that are not paid prior to the Closing, or repurchase, redeem or acquire any ownership interests in Circle8 Group;

 

(j) change any accounting policies or procedures (including procedures with respect to reserves, revenue recognition, payments of accounts payable and collection of accounts receivable), unless required by statutory accounting principles or GAAP or IFRS;

 

(k) make any material Tax election or settle or compromise any material federal, state, local or foreign Tax liability, or agree to an extension of a statute of limitations with respect thereto, in each case, except in the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

(l) pay, discharge, satisfy or settle any Action or waive, assign or release any rights or claims with respect thereto, other than settlements in the Ordinary Course of Business that involve (x) the payment of non-material amounts of cash and no admission being made with respect to (i) any criminal wrongdoing, or (ii) the invalidity or unenforceability of, or any infringement with respect to, any Circle8 Intellectual Property or (y) payment for applicable insurance policies, including worker’s compensation policies;

 

15

 

 

(m) except in the Ordinary Course of Business, make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or guarantees for the benefit of, or any investments in, any Person in excess of $100,000, individually or in the aggregate, other than the reimbursement of expenses of employees in the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

(n) except as required pursuant to applicable Law or the terms of any Circle8 Employee Plan, (A) amend, modify, adopt, enter into or terminate any material Circle8 Employee Plan, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business, (B) materially increase the compensation or benefits payable to any current or former director, manager, officer, or employee at the level of senior vice president or above with annual fees of $100,000 or above, other than in each case annual and merit-based raises made in the Ordinary Course of Business, as applicable, (C) take any action to accelerate any material payment or benefit payable to any current or former director, manager, officer, employee, or contingent worker of Circle8 Group, (D) waive or release any non-competition, non-solicitation, no-hire, nondisclosure or other restrictive covenant obligation of any current or former director, manager, officer, or employee at the level of senior vice president or above of Circle8 Group, or (E) terminate (other than for cause) or furlough the employment of any individual set forth on Schedule 4.2 of the Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules;

 

(o) enter into any settlement, conciliation or similar Contract the performance of which would involve the payment by any member of Circle8 Group in excess of $100,000, in the aggregate, or that imposes, or by its terms will impose at any point in the future, any material, non-monetary obligations of any member of Circle8 Group (or Atlantic or any of its Affiliates after the Closing);

 

(p) authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to adopt, or otherwise effect, a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization, reorganization or similar transaction involving any member of Circle8 Group;

 

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

 

(r) make any Change of Control Payment that is not set forth on Schedule 4.2(r) of the Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules;

 

(s) authorize, recommend, propose, announce or enter into any agreement, contract, commitment or arrangement to do any of the foregoing;

 

(t) enter into any Contract with any broker, finder, investment banker or other Person under which such Person is or will be entitled to any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(u) adopt or implement any stockholder rights plan or similar arrangement;

 

(v) provide or agree to provide for any non-contractual benefit to any seller, director, offer, employee or their dependants; or

 

(w) pay any management charge to any of the sellers (or any of their Affiliates).

 

4.3 Certain Pre-Closing Covenants of Atlantic. From and after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, Atlantic shall, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, as required by applicable Law, or as expressly consented to in writing by Axiom (it being agreed that any request for a consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) operate its business in the ordinary course in all material respects and (ii) maintain and preserve intact the business organization, assets, properties, and material business relations of Atlantic and its Affiliates; provided that in no event shall Atlantic’s compliance with this sub-Section constitute a Breach of this Agreement.

 

16

 

 

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, from the date of this Agreement, until the earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, except as set forth on Schedule 4.3 of the Atlantic Disclosure Schedules, Atlantic shall, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document, as required by applicable Law, or as expressly consented to in writing by Axiom, not do any of the following and shall cause its Affiliates not to do any of the following:

 

(a) enter into, amend, modify, waive any material benefit or right under or terminate any Material Contract (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any expiration or automatic extension or renewal of any such material Contract pursuant to its terms or entering into additional work orders pursuant to, and in accordance with the terms of, any material Contract) other than Ordinary Course of Business;

 

(b) amend, supplement, restate, or modify its Governing Documents, or otherwise alter its corporate structure through merger, liquidation, reorganization, restructuring or otherwise;

 

(c) sell, transfer, pledge, dispose of or encumber any assets or properties, other than (i) dispositions of inventory and supplies in the Ordinary Course of Business, or (ii) pursuant to an existing Contract;

 

(d) sell, transfer, lease, license, sublicense, mortgage, pledge, dispose of, encumber, grant or otherwise dispose of any material Intellectual Property, or amend or modify in any material respect any existing agreements with respect to any Intellectual Property;

 

(e) except as set forth on Schedule 4.3(e) issue, sell, transfer, pledge, dispose of or encumber any shares of capital stock or other ownership interest of any class, or any options, warrants, convertible or exchangeable securities or other rights of any kind to acquire any shares of capital stock or any other ownership interest of Atlantic, or acquire (by merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or assets or otherwise) any Person or division thereof;

 

(f) incur any Indebtedness in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate for borrowed money, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business, or issue any debt securities or assume, guarantee or endorse or otherwise as an accommodation become responsible for the obligations of any Person, or make any loans, advances or enter into any financial commitments;

 

(g) make or commit to make any capital expenditure in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate other than currently contemplated capital expenditures set forth on Schedule 4.3(g) of the Atlantic Disclosure Schedules;

 

(h) declare, set aside or pay a dividend on, or make any distributions (whether in cash, stock or other securities or property, or any combination thereof) with respect to any ownership interests in Atlantic or its Affiliates, or repurchase, redeem or acquire any ownership interests in Atlantic or its Affiliates;

 

17

 

 

(i) change any accounting policies or procedures (including procedures with respect to reserves, revenue recognition, payments of accounts payable and collection of accounts receivable), unless required by statutory accounting principles or GAAP;

 

(j) make any material Tax election or settle or compromise any material federal, state, local or foreign Tax liability, or agree to an extension of a statute of limitations with respect thereto, in each case, except in the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

(k) pay, discharge, satisfy or settle any Action or waive, assign or release any rights or claims with respect thereto, other than settlements in the Ordinary Course of Business that involve (x) the payment of non-material amounts of cash and no admission being made with respect to (i) any criminal wrongdoing, or (ii) the invalidity or unenforceability of, or any infringement with respect to, any Intellectual Property or (y) payment for applicable insurance policies, including worker’s compensation policies;

 

(l) except in the Ordinary Course of Business, make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or guarantees for the benefit of, or any investments in, any Person in excess of $100,000, individually or in the aggregate, other than the reimbursement of expenses of employees in the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

(m) except as required pursuant to applicable Law or the terms of any Atlantic Employee Plan, (A) amend, modify, adopt, enter into or terminate any material Atlantic Employee Plan, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business, (B) materially increase the compensation or benefits payable to any current or former director, manager, officer, or employee at the level of senior vice president or above with annual fees of $100,000 or above, other than in each case annual and merit-based raises made in the Ordinary Course of Business, as applicable, (C) take any action to accelerate any material payment or benefit payable to any current or former director, manager, officer, employee, or contingent worker of Atlantic and its Affiliates, (D) waive or release any non-competition, non-solicitation, no-hire, nondisclosure or other restrictive covenant obligation of any current or former director, manager, officer, or employee at the level of senior vice president or above of Atlantic and its Affiliates, or (E) terminate (other than for cause) or furlough the employment of any individual set forth on Schedule 4.3 of the Atlantic Disclosure Schedules;

 

(n) enter into any settlement, conciliation or similar Contract the performance of which would involve the payment by any member of Atlantic Group in excess of $100,000, in the aggregate, or that imposes, or by its terms will impose at any point in the future, any material, non-monetary obligations of any member of Atlantic Group (or Circle8 Group or any of its Affiliates after the Closing);

 

(o) authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to adopt, or otherwise effect, a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization, reorganization or similar transaction involving Atlantic or any of its Affiliates;

 

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

 

(q) make any Change of Control Payment that is not set forth on Schedule 4.3(q) of the Atlantic Disclosure Schedules;

 

(r) authorize, recommend, propose, announce or enter into any agreement, contract, commitment or arrangement to do any of the foregoing;

 

18

 

 

(s) enter into any Contract with any broker, finder, investment banker or other Person under which such Person is or will be entitled to any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(t) adopt or implement any stockholder rights plan or similar arrangement;

 

(u) provide or agree to provide for any non-contractual benefit to any seller, director, offer, employee or their dependants; or

 

(v) pay any management charge to any of the sellers (or any of their Affiliates).

 

Atlantic agrees and covenants that it will comply with SEC Securities Laws related to material non-public information.

 

4.4 No Control of the Other Party’s Business. The Parties acknowledge and agree that the restrictions set forth in this Agreement are not intended to give Atlantic, Axiom or Circle8 Group, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the business or operations of the other at any time prior to the Closing. Prior to the Closing, each of Atlantic, Axiom and Circle8 Group Atlantic will exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions and restrictions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision over its own business and operations.

 

Article V
Representations and Warranties of Atlantic Group

 

Atlantic represents and warrants to Axiom and Circle8 Group that the following statements in this ARTICLE V are true and correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date except as set forth in the Atlantic SEC Reports filed on or after March 28, 2025 and publicly available prior to the close of business on the Business Day preceding the date of this Agreement (other than any information in the “Risk Factors” or “Forward-Looking Statements” sections of such Atlantic SEC Reports or other general cautionary, predictive or forward-looking statements in any other sections of such Atlantic SEC Reports):

 

5.1 Organization; Standing and Power. Atlantic and its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Atlantic Group”) are each duly organized, validly existing and in good standing, under the Laws of their respective jurisdictions. Each member of the Atlantic Group has the requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement and all Ancillary Documents to which Atlantic Group is or will be a party have been duly authorized by Atlantic Group, respectively, has all requisite power and authority to own and lease the properties and assets it currently owns and leases and to conduct its activities as currently conducted and as presently contemplated to be conducted. Each member of Atlantic Group is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing (with respect to jurisdictions that recognize the concept of good standing) in all jurisdictions in which the ownership or leasing of the properties and assets owned or leased by them or the nature of their activities makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or licensed would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. Schedule 5.1 of the Atlantic Disclosure Schedules is a true and complete list of: (i) each jurisdiction in which Atlantic is qualified to do business, (ii) every foreign jurisdiction in which Atlantic has employees or facilities and (iii) the directors and officers of Atlantic Group.

 

5.2 Books and Records. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.2 of the Atlantic Disclosure Schedules, Atlantic Group has made available to Axiom true, correct and complete copies of their Governing Documents and their minute books. Such Governing Documents are in full force and effect.

 

19

 

 

5.3 Enforceability. Atlantic has the requisite corporate power and authority and has taken all corporate action necessary in order to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and to consummate the Contemplated Transactions, subject to, the receipt of the Required Company Stockholder Approval. This Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which Atlantic Group and Affiliates are a party have been duly executed and delivered by Atlantic Group and its Affiliates and are enforceable against Atlantic Group and its Affiliates, in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that such enforceability may be limited by the General Enforceability Exceptions.

 

5.4 Capitalization.

 

(a) The authorized capital stock of Atlantic consists only of (i) 300,000,000 shares of Atlantic Common Stock, $.00001 par value, of which 62,611,656 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement; (ii) 483,870 of which are issuable upon the vesting of RSUs; 2,225,000 of which are issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options; (iii) 487,288 of which are issuable upon exercise of warrants held by a lender to Atlantic; (iv) 92,036 shares of Atlantic Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants at $181.33 per share; and (v) 487,288 shares of Atlantic Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants at $0.01 per share. All outstanding shares of Atlantic Common Stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable and were issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws. No shares of preferred stock are outstanding.

 

(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 5.4(b), no person has, and at Closing no person shall have, any right of first refusal, preemptive right, right of participation, or any similar right to acquire securities of Atlantic Group or any Affiliate. There are no outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other Indebtedness of any member of Atlantic Group having a right to vote on any matters on which the stockholders of the Atlantic Group have a right to vote. There is no Contract relating to the voting or registration of, or restricting any Person from purchasing, selling, pledging or otherwise disposing of (or from granting any option or similar right with respect to), any shares of capital stock of Atlantic Group other than the Initial Voting Agreements and Post-Signing Voting Agreements. Atlantic Group is not under any obligation, or bound by any Contract pursuant to which it may become obligated, to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any outstanding shares of capital stock of Atlantic Group. The shares of Atlantic Common Stock constitute the only outstanding class of securities of Atlantic registered under the Securities Act.

 

(c) Schedule 5.4(c) of the Atlantic Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of all RSUs and options currently outstanding (collectively, the “Company Stock Awards”), specifying, on a holder-by-holder basis, (i) the name of each holder, (ii) the number of shares of Atlantic Common Stock subject to each such Company Stock Award, (iii) the grant date of each such Company Stock Award, (iv) the vesting terms of each such Company Stock Award and the number of exercisable and unexercisable options underlying such Company Stock Award, in either case, to the extent applicable, and (v) the exercise price for each such Company Stock Award, to the extent applicable.

 

(d) Schedule 5.4(d) of the Atlantic Disclosure Schedule sets forth, except (y) as set forth in the Atlantic SEC Reports, and (z) for RSUs and Atlantic Warrants outstanding as of the Agreement Date, any (i) outstanding shares of capital stock of or other securities of any member of the Atlantic Group, (ii) outstanding subscriptions, options, calls, equity or equity-based compensation awards, phantom socks, stock appreciations, profit participations or other equity or equity based interests, warrants or rights (whether or not currently exercisable) to acquire, or the value of which is measured by reference to, any shares of the capital stock, restricted stock unit, stock-based performance unit or any other right that is linked to, or the value of which is in any way based on or derived from the value of any shares of capital stock or other securities of any member of the Atlantic Group, in each case other than derivative securities not issued by a member of the Atlantic Group, (iii) outstanding securities, instruments, bonds, debentures, notes or obligations that are or may become convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of the capital stock or other securities of any member of the Atlantic Group, and (iv) stockholder rights plans (or similar plans commonly referred to as a “poison pill”) or Contracts under which any member of the Atlantic Group is or may become obligated to sell or otherwise issue any shares of its capital stock or any other securities.

 

20

 

 

(e) The transfer of Atlantic Common Stock will not obligate Atlantic Group to issue shares of Atlantic Group and any Affiliate, or other securities to any Person and will not result in a right of any holder of Atlantic Group’s equity securities to adjust the exercise, conversion, exchange or reset price under such securities. There are no voting trusts, proxies or other Contracts with respect to the voting or transfer of Atlantic Group equity securities.

 

(f) No shares of Atlantic Common Stock are owned by any Subsidiary of Atlantic.

 

(g) Atlantic has reserved from its duly authorized capital stock the maximum number of shares of Atlantic Common Stock issuable upon the Conversion (after giving effect to any applicable conversion caps pending the Required Company Stockholder Approval) and the Contingent Share Consideration. Following receipt of the Required Company Stockholder Approval, the authorized and unissued shares of Atlantic Common Stock will be sufficient to permit full Conversion and issuance of the Contingent Share Consideration (if any) in accordance with its term.

 

5.5 SEC Filings; Nasdaq Listing; No Delsing Proceedings.

 

(a) Atlantic has timely filed or furnished all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed or furnished by it with the SEC prior to the date of this Agreement (collectively, together with any exhibits and schedules thereto and other information incorporated therein, and as they have been supplemented, modified or amended since the time of filing, the “Atlantic SEC Reports”). As of the respective dates of their filing, the Atlantic SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder. As of the respective dates of their filing (or, if amended or supplemented, as of the date of the most recent amendment or supplement), none of the Atlantic SEC Reports contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. From and after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, Atlantic will timely file or furnish all statements, forms, reports and other documents required to be filed or furnished with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Laws, and each such filing, when made, will comply in all material respects with applicable requirements of the Securities Laws and will not, at the time filed (or, if amended or supplemented, as of the date of the most recent amendment or supplement), contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no outstanding or unresolved comments in comment letters received from the SEC with respect to the Atlantic SEC Reports.

 

(b) The classes of securities representing issued and outstanding Atlantic Common Stock are approved for listing on Nasdaq and registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act. Atlantic has not received any written notice from Nasdaq of non-compliance with Nasdaq continued listing standards that remains unresolved, and there is no pending or, to Atlantic’s Knowledge, threatened action by Nasdaq to delist or suspend trading of the Atlantic Common Stock. Atlantic is not in violation of any Nasdaq Law or listing requirement.

 

21

 

 

5.6 Litigation. Except as set forth on the Atlantic Disclosure Schedules or in the Atlantic SEC Reports, there is no Action pending or, to Atlantic’s Knowledge, threatened against Atlantic Group that, if adversely decided or resolved, would have a Material Adverse Effect on Atlantic Group. Atlantic Group nor any of its respective properties or assets is subject to any material Order. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no material Actions by Atlantic Group pending against any other Person.

 

5.7 Compliance with Applicable Legal Requirements.

 

(a) Atlantic Group has complied and is in compliance in all material respects with all material Legal Requirements applicable to it and to its assets, properties, operations and business. Atlantic Group has not received any written notice from any Governmental Authority to the effect, or otherwise been advised, that it is not in compliance with any such Legal Requirements, and Atlantic Group has no Knowledge that any existing circumstances are likely to result in an Action for a violation of any such Legal Requirement. To Atlantic Group’s Knowledge, no investigation or review by any Governmental Authority with respect to Atlantic Group, or its promoters, stockholders, affiliates, directors, officers, consultants, employees, agents or other representatives is pending or, to Atlantic Group’s Knowledge, threatened, nor has any Governmental Authority given Atlantic Group or its Affiliates written notice of its intention to conduct the same.

 

(b) No event has occurred or circumstance exists that (with or without notice or lapse of time) (i) may constitute or result in a material violation by any member of Atlantic Group of, or a material failure on the part of such member of Atlantic Group to comply with, any Legal Requirement or (ii) may give rise to any obligation on the part of such member of Atlantic Group to undertake, or to bear all or any portion of the cost of, any remedial action of any nature.

 

(c) Without limiting any provision of this Agreement: (i) neither Atlantic Group nor, to Atlantic Group’s Knowledge, any officer, manager, agent, employee or other Person associated with or acting on behalf of Atlantic Group has, directly or indirectly: (a) paid or delivered or agreed to pay or deliver any fee, commission or other sum of money or item of property, however characterized, to any Person, government official or other party that is illegal or improper under any applicable Legal Requirement, (b) used any funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity, (c) made any unlawful payment or offered anything of value to any foreign or domestic government official or employee or to any foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns, (d) violated or is in violation of any provision of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (15 United States Code Section 78dd-1, et seq.), as amended, or any applicable Legal Requirement of similar effect, (e) made any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or transfer of value to any other Person, or (f) established or maintained any fund that has not been recorded in the books and records of Atlantic Group; and (ii) each member of Atlantic Group has complied in all material respects and is in material compliance with applicable provisions of the United States export and sanctions laws, and regulations implemented thereunder, including the Arms Export Control Act (22 United States Code Section 2751 et seq.), as amended, the Export Administration Act (50 United States Code Section 2401 et seq.), as amended, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 United States Code Section 17091 et seq.), as amended, and the various sanctions regulations administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury of the United States, as amended. Without limiting the foregoing, no member of Atlantic Group has made any investments or performed any Contracts in, or involving a Person from, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Burma (Myanmar) or the Crimea, “Donetsk People’s Republic” and “Luhansk People’s Republic” regions of Ukraine.

 

(d) No member of Atlantic Group is in violation of any applicable Legal Requirements relating to terrorism or money laundering, including Executive Order No. 13224, the USA PATRIOT Act, applicable Legal Requirements comprising or implementing the Bank Secrecy Act and applicable Legal Requirements administered by the United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (as any of the foregoing Legal Requirements may from time to time be amended, renewed, extended, or replaced) (collectively, “Anti-Terrorism Law”) and has not engaged in or conspired to engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate, any of the prohibitions set forth in any Anti-Terrorism Law.

 

22

 

 

(e) To Atlantic Group’s Knowledge, neither Atlantic Group nor any Affiliates, agents acting or benefiting in any capacity in connection with this Agreement, or the transactions contemplated hereby is a Blocked Person.

 

(f) To Atlantic Group’s Knowledge, neither Atlantic Group nor its Affiliates, any of its agents acting in any capacity in connection with this Agreement, or the Contemplated Transactions: (i) conducts any business or engages in making or receiving any contribution of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of any Blocked Person or (ii) deals in, or otherwise engages in any transaction relating to, any property or interests in property blocked pursuant to the Executive Order No. 13224.

 

(g) To the Knowledge of Atlantic, neither Atlantic nor any of its agents acting in any capacity in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (i) conducts any business or engages in making or receiving any contribution of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of any Blocked Person or (ii) deals in, or otherwise engages in any transaction relating to, any property or interests in property blocked pursuant to the Executive Order No. 13224.

 

5.8 Internal Controls; Listing; Financial Statements.

 

(a) Except as disclosed in Atlantic SEC Reports and as not required in reliance on exemptions from various reporting requirements by virtue of Atlantic’s status as a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act, (i) Atlantic has established and maintained a system of internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of Atlantic’s financial reporting and the preparation of Atlantic’s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and (ii) Atlantic has established and maintained disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) designed to ensure that information relating to Atlantic is made known to Atlantic’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within Atlantic. Such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting Atlantic’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer to material information required to be included in Atlantic’s periodic reports required under the Exchange Act.

 

(b) Each director and executive officer of Atlantic has filed with the SEC on a timely basis all statements required by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(c) The classes of securities representing issued and outstanding Atlantic Common Stock are registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act. There is no Action pending or, to the Knowledge of Atlantic, threatened against Atlantic by the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister the Atlantic Common Stock. Atlantic has not taken any action that is designed to terminate the registration of Atlantic Common Stock under the Exchange Act.

 

(d) The Atlantic SEC Reports contain true and complete copies of the audited consolidated balance sheet of Atlantic as of December 31, 2023 and 2024, and the related audited consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, shareholders equity (deficit) and cash flows of Atlantic for the years then ended, together with the auditor’s reports thereon (collectively, the “Atlantic Financial Statements”). The Atlantic Financial Statements (i) fairly present in all material respects the financial position of Atlantic as at the respective dates thereof, and the results of its operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the respective periods then ended, (ii) were prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except, in the case of any audited financial statements, as may be indicated in the notes thereto), (iii) in the case of the audited Atlantic Financial Statements, were audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and (iv) comply in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements and with the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act in effect as of the respective dates thereof (including Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, as applicable).

 

23

 

 

(e) Atlantic has established and maintains systems of internal accounting controls that are designed to provide, in all material respects, reasonable assurance that: (i) all transactions are executed in accordance with management’s authorization, and (ii) all transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of proper and accurate financial statements in accordance with GAAP and to maintain accountability for Atlantic’s and its Subsidiaries’ assets. Atlantic maintains and, for all periods covered by the Atlantic Financial Statements, has maintained, in all material respects in accordance with GAAP and applicable Law, books and records of Atlantic in the Ordinary Course of Business that are accurate and complete and reflect the revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities of Atlantic.

 

(f) There are no outstanding loans or other extensions of credit made by Atlantic to any executive officer (as defined in Rule 3b-7 under the Exchange Act) or director of Atlantic. Atlantic has not taken any action prohibited by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

(g) Except as set forth in the Atlantic SEC Reports, for the past three (3) years, neither Atlantic (including any employee thereof) nor, to the Knowledge of Atlantic, Atlantic’s independent auditors, has received any written complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that there is, or there has been, (i) a “significant deficiency” in the internal controls over financial reporting of Atlantic, (ii) “material weakness” in the internal controls over financial reporting of Atlantic or (iii) fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees of Atlantic who have a role in the internal controls over financial reporting of Atlantic.

 

5.9 No Undisclosed Liabilities. Atlantic has no material liabilities except for the liabilities (a) set forth or disclosed in the Atlantic Financial Statements, (b) that have arisen since the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Atlantic SEC Reports in the Ordinary Course of Business, or (c) either permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 5.10 or incurred in accordance with Section 5.10.

 

5.10 Consents; Conflicts.

 

(a) Except as set forth on the Atlantic Disclosure Schedules or as set forth in Contracts made available to Axiom, or as would not have a Material Adverse Effect on any member of Atlantic Group, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Ancillary Document, nor the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions will (with or without notice or lapse of time):

 

(i) breach any provision of any of the Governing Documents of any member of Atlantic Group;

 

(ii) violate any material Law applicable to, binding upon, or enforceable against Atlantic Group;

 

(iii) result in a material breach of, constitute a material default under, give rise to any right of termination, modification, foreclosure, cancellation or acceleration under, or cause any loss of benefit under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Atlantic Group Material Contract to which any member of Atlantic Group is a party or by which such member or the assets or properties owned or leased by any of them are bound or affected or give to others any rights (including rights of termination, modification, foreclosure, cancellation or acceleration) in or with regard to the members of Atlantic Group or any of its respective material assets, taken as a whole, or result in, or require or permit the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance of any nature upon or with regard to any member of Atlantic Group, its respective material assets, taken as a whole, or the business of the Atlantic Group as currently conducted (the “Atlantic Business”); or

 

24

 

 

(iv) cause to be enforced any existing right of first refusal, right of first offer, right of exclusivity or other like or similar right granted by any member of Atlantic Group to the Atlantic Business or any assets of Atlantic Group.

 

(b) Except as set forth in the Atlantic Disclosure Schedules or as set forth in Contracts made available to Axiom, the execution and delivery by Atlantic Group of this Agreement and any Ancillary Documents do not, and the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions will not: (a) conflict with or violate any provision of the Governing Documents of any member of Atlantic Group; (b) violate any provision of any Legal Requirements; (c) violate, or constitute a breach under, any Order or applicable Law to which Atlantic Group or any of its properties or assets are bound, or (d) result in the creation of any Encumbrance upon any of the assets or properties (other than any Permitted Encumbrances), except in the case of any of clauses (a) through (d) above, as would not have a Material Adverse Effect on any member of Atlantic Group. Except as described on the Atlantic Disclosure Schedules or as may be required by the Exchange Act, the execution and delivery by Atlantic Group of this Agreement and any Ancillary Documents does not, and the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions will not require any Consent of, or designation declaration or filing of any certificate, notice, application, report or other document with, any Governmental Authority or other Person, or any other consents, approvals, authorizations, designations, declarations, waivers or filings, the absence of which would not have any Material Adverse Effect on any member of Atlantic Group.

 

5.11 Change of Control Payments. Schedule 5.11 of the Atlantic Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of all bonuses and other payments by Atlantic Group to any Persons that become due and payable as a result of the Contemplated Transactions (each, a “Change of Control Payment”), identifying for each such Change of Control Payment (i) the Person eligible to receive such Change of Control Payment, (ii) the total potential amount of such Change of Control Payment, and (iii) the Contract or other arrangement pursuant to which such Change of Control Payment is payable or required to be made.

 

5.12 Title to Assets. Atlantic Group has good and marketable title to, or a valid leasehold interest in or a valid right to use, the assets used in its business (tangible and intangible), free and clear of any and all Encumbrances, other than Permitted Encumbrances. On the Closing Date, except as set forth in the Atlantic Disclosure Schedules, no unreleased mortgage, trust deed, chattel mortgage, security agreement, financing statement or other instrument encumbering any assets has been recorded, filed, executed or delivered. All tangible personal property located on the Atlantic Leased Real Property (as defined herein below) is owned by Atlantic Group. The Atlantic Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of all holders of Indebtedness that have an Encumbrance (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) in any of the assets of Atlantic Group used in its business (tangible and intangible).

 

5.13 Insurance. Atlantic has made available a true and correct list and description of all insurance policies which are held by any member of Atlantic Group or which names a member of Atlantic Group as an insured (or loss payee). During the preceding three (3) years, no member of Atlantic Group has received any notice from or on behalf of any insurance carrier issuing such insurance policies to the effect that that there will thereafter be no renewal of an existing policy. Except as set forth on the Atlantic Disclosure Schedules, there are no pending claims that have been denied insurance coverage. Atlantic Group has made available to Axiom copies of all loss runs with respect to claims asserted against any member of Atlantic Group for all periods commencing on or after January 1, 2023.

 

25

 

 

5.14 Tax Matters.

 

(a) Each member of Atlantic Group has properly filed on a timely basis (taking into account validly obtained extensions of time to file) all material Tax Returns that it was required to file, and all such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects and were prepared in compliance with all applicable Laws, and each member of Atlantic Group has timely paid or remitted all material Taxes (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) required to be paid or remitted by such member.

 

(b) All material Taxes that any member of Atlantic Group is or was required by Law to withhold or collect from amounts paid to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, stockholder, equity holder or other Person have been duly withheld or collected and, to the extent required, have been properly and timely remitted or paid to the appropriate Taxing Authority. No member of Atlantic Group has ever been a member of a group with which it has filed (or been required to file) consolidated, combined, unitary or similar Tax Returns (other than a group of which Atlantic is the common parent). No member of Atlantic Group has liability for Taxes of any other Person (i) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any comparable or similar provision of federal, state, local or non-U.S. Law) (other than with respect to a consolidated group of which Atlantic is the common parent), (ii) as a transferee or successor, or (iii) pursuant to any contractual obligation (other than with respect to a commercial agreement entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business and not primarily related to Taxes).

 

(c) No member of Atlantic Group has received written notice of any examination or audit, tax nexus inquiry or other action of or relating to Taxes or Tax Returns by any Taxing Authority that is currently in progress and no such examination, audit, inquiry or action has been threatened in writing. Since January 1, 2023, no member of Atlantic Group has received from any Taxing Authority (including jurisdictions where any such member has not filed Tax Returns) any: (i) notice indicating an intent to open an audit or other review; (ii) request for information related to Tax matters; or (iii) notice of deficiency or proposed adjustment for any amount of Tax proposed, asserted, or assessed by any Taxing Authority against such member. Atlantic has made available to Axiom correct and complete copies of all U.S. federal and state, local and non-U.S. income and other material Tax Returns, examination reports, and statements of deficiencies assessed against or agreed to by any member of Atlantic Group in connection with any taxable periods since January 1, 2022. There are no Encumbrances with respect to Taxes upon any of the assets or properties of any member of Atlantic Group, other than Permitted Encumbrances.

 

(d) In the past three (3) years, no claim has been made by a Taxing Authority in a jurisdiction where any member of Atlantic Group does not file a particular type of Tax Return or pay a particular type of Tax that such member is or may be required to file such Tax Return or is or may be subject to such Tax by that jurisdiction.

 

(e) No member of Atlantic Group has waived any statute of limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency that will be effective after the Closing.

 

(f) For U.S. federal and applicable state and local income Tax purposes, each member of Atlantic Group is and has always been treated as a domestic corporation.

 

26

 

 

(g) No member of Atlantic Group has distributed equity interests of another Person, and has not had its equity interests distributed by another Person, in a transaction that was purported or intended to be governed in whole or in part by Section 355 or Section 361 of the Code within the preceding two (2) years.

 

(h) No member of Atlantic Group is or has ever been a party to any “reportable transaction,” as defined in Section 6707A(c)(2) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b). Each member of Atlantic Group has disclosed on its Tax Returns all positions taken therein that would give rise to a substantial understatement of Tax within the meaning of Section 6662 of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law).

 

(i) No member of Atlantic Group is subject to Tax in any jurisdiction other than the United States and political subdivisions thereof.

 

(j) No member of Atlantic Group will be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any: (i) change in method of accounting made on or prior to the Closing Date; (ii) use of an improper method of accounting for a Pre-Closing Tax Period, (iii) “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of U.S. state, local or non-U.S. Law) executed on or prior to the Closing Date, (iv) installment sale or open transaction disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date, (v) prepaid amount or any other income eligible for deferral under the Code or Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (including pursuant to Sections 455 or 456 of the Code and Treasury Regulations issued thereunder) received on or prior to the Closing Date, (vi) the application of Sections 951 or 951A of the Code, or (vii) an ownership interest in any “passive foreign investment company” within the meaning of section 1297 the Code.

 

(k) No member of Atlantic Group has any obligation to pay Taxes pursuant to Section 965(h) of the Code.

 

(l) No private letter rulings, technical advice memoranda or similar agreement or rulings have been requested, entered into or issued by any Taxing Authority with respect to any member of Atlantic Group, and no power of attorney with respect to Taxes with respect to any member of Atlantic Group is in effect that will remain in effect after the Closing.

 

(m) No member of Atlantic Group is a party to any joint venture, partnership or other arrangement or contract treated as a partnership for income Tax purposes (other than with respect to the entities identified in Schedule 5.14(m) of the Atlantic Disclosure Schedule).

 

(n) The taxable year of each member of Atlantic Group is and has always been the calendar year ending on December 31 for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income Tax purposes. Each member of Atlantic Group is, and has always been, accrual method taxpayers for U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) income Tax purposes.

 

(o) No member of Atlantic Group has made an election to defer any Tax payments under Section 2302 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020 (as amended by section 206 of the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020, enacted as Division EE of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021) (the “CARES Act”) or IRS Notice 2020-65, as modified by IRS Notice 2021-11 (or any similar election under federal, state or local Law). Atlantic and each of its Subsidiaries have complied with all applicable Laws and satisfied all of the requirements to claim any available Tax credits under Sections 7001 through 7005 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (or any similar election under federal, state or local Law) and Section 2301 of the CARES Act (or any similar election under federal, state or local Law) which each of them claimed.

 

27

 

 

(p) No member of Atlantic Group possesses or holds any property or obligation, including uncashed checks to customers, patients, or employees, non-refunded overpayments, credits or unclaimed amounts or intangibles, that is, or may become, escheatable or reportable as unclaimed property to any Governmental Authority under any applicable escheatment, unclaimed property or similar Laws.

 

(q) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the representations and warranties set forth in this Section 5.14 constitute the sole representations and warranties made with respect to Tax matters relating to Atlantic Group.

 

5.15 Conduct of Business. Except as set forth on the Atlantic Disclosure Schedules, since December 31, 2024, no member of Atlantic Group has taken any action that, if taken from and after the date of this Agreement and the Closing, would have required Axiom’s consent pursuant to Section 4.3.

 

5.16 Contracts.

 

(a) Atlantic has made available to Axiom the following Contracts (other than purchase orders entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business or Employee Plans) to which Atlantic Group is a party or by which Atlantic Group is bound:

 

(i) Each Contract with an Atlantic Significant Customer (as defined herein below), Atlantic Significant Supplier (as defined herein below), and each other Contract that involves performance of services or delivery of goods or materials by or to Atlantic Group of an amount or value in excess of $750,000 over the course of one year;

 

(ii) Each Contract that was not entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business and that involves expenditures or receipts of Atlantic Group in excess of $100,000 in one year;

 

(iii) Each Contract affecting the ownership of, leasing of, title to, use of or any leasehold or other interest in any real or personal property (excepting personal property leases and installment and conditional sales agreements having a value per item or aggregate payments of less than $100,000 and with a term of less than one (1) year);

 

(iv) Each Contract with any labor union or other employee representative of a group of employees relating to wages, hours and other conditions of employment;

 

(v) Each partnership, joint venture or other similar Contract involving a sharing of profits, losses, costs or liabilities by Atlantic Group with any other Person;

 

(vi) Each Contract containing covenants that (A) prohibit any member Atlantic Group from freely engaging in any line of business or competing with any Person, including any Contracts requiring any member of Atlantic Group to maintain an exclusive relationship or requiring any member of Atlantic Group to not compete or to not solicit in any manner, (B) grants a most-favored nation status, favored pricing, right of first refusal or first negotiation to any Person, or (C) imposes any minimum purchase obligations on any member of Atlantic Group;

 

28

 

 

(vii) Each Contract for capital expenditures in excess of $100,000 for any item or $250,000 in the aggregate in one year;

 

(viii) Each executive employment Contract that provides for employment of senior executives or management personnel by any member of Atlantic Group on a full-time, part-time or other basis;

 

(ix) Any Contract relating to the acquisition or disposition in the past three (3) years, directly or indirectly, of any business, Real Property or other assets, or the Equity Interests of any other Person;

 

(x) Any Contract for Indebtedness, including all notes, mortgages, indentures and other obligations, guarantees of performance, letters of credit, advances, and agreements and instruments for or relating to any lending or borrowing;

 

(xi) Any Contract involving the settlement, release, compromise or waiver of any material rights, claims, obligations, duties or liabilities with outstanding obligations or that were entered into in the past three (3) years;

 

(xii) Any management service, consulting, financial advisory or any other similar type of Contract and all Contracts with investment or commercial banks;

 

(xiii) Any Contract regarding the licensing, ownership, development, granting of immunity or use of any material Intellectual Property by any member of Atlantic Group or to a member of Atlantic Group (except for “shrink-wrap” or “click-through” license agreements pertaining to software that is available in consumer retail stores or otherwise commercially available where the aggregate value of all licenses of the same or substantially identical software is less than $250,000);

 

(xiv) Any other material Contract of any member of Atlantic Group, whether or not entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business, which shall include any Contract that requires payment by any member of Atlantic Group in excess of $500,000 in any twelve (12) month period that cannot be terminated on less than ninety (90) days’ notice without the payment of any termination fee, premium or penalty; and

 

(xv) Any Contract not already required to be listed pursuant to clause (ix) above under which Atlantic Group has continuing material indemnification, contribution or subrogation obligations to any Person, other than those entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business.

 

(b) Except as otherwise disclosed made available to Axiom or set forth in the Atlantic Disclosure Schedules each Contract identified or required to be identified under Section 5.16(a) above (the “Atlantic Group Material Contracts”) is in full force and effect and is valid and enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that such enforceability may be limited by the General Enforceability Exceptions; (ii) members of Atlantic Group are in material compliance with all applicable terms and requirements of each Atlantic Group Material Contract; (iii) to the Knowledge of Atlantic Group, no other party to any Atlantic Group Material Contract is in default thereunder; (iv) no event has occurred or circumstance exists that (with or without notice or lapse of time) may contravene, conflict with or result in a Breach of, or give Atlantic Group or any other party thereto the right to declare a default or exercise any remedy under, or to accelerate the maturity or performance of, or payment under, or to cancel, terminate or modify, any Atlantic Group Material Contract; and (v) no member of Atlantic Group has waived any material right under any of the Atlantic Group Material Contracts or modified any material terms thereof. Other than in the Ordinary Course of Business, there are no renegotiations of, attempts to renegotiate, or outstanding rights to renegotiate any material amounts paid or payable to any member of Atlantic Group under current or completed Atlantic Group Material Contracts with any Person having the contractual or statutory right to demand or require such renegotiation and no such Person has made written demand for such renegotiation. No party to any Atlantic Group Material Contract has exercised any acceleration, cancellation, termination or modification rights with respect thereto, and no party to any Atlantic Group Material Contract or other Person has notified Atlantic Group of its intention to do so.

 

29

 

 

5.17 Customers and Suppliers. Atlantic has made available to Axiom a list of the top twenty (20) customers by revenue for the period January 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025 (the “Atlantic Significant Customers”) and a list of the top twenty (20) suppliers by payables for the period January 1, 2025 through September 30, 2025(collectively, the “Atlantic Significant Suppliers”). The relationships of the members of Atlantic Group with the Atlantic Significant Customers and Atlantic Significant Suppliers are good commercial working relationships and no Atlantic Significant Customer or Atlantic Significant Supplier has given Atlantic Group or any Affiliate any written notice, or otherwise indicated any intention, and to Atlantic Group’s Knowledge there is no intention by any Atlantic Significant Customer or Atlantic Significant Supplier, to terminate its business relationship or to materially limit or materially alter its business relationship (including stopping, decreasing the rate of, or changing the terms (whether related to payment, price or otherwise) with respect to, buying products and/or services from Atlantic Group or supplying materials, products or services to Atlantic Group (whether as a result of the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions or otherwise)).

 

5.18 Employee Benefit Plans.

 

(a) Atlantic Employee has made available a list of each material Employee Plan.

 

(b) Atlantic has made available to Circle8 Group true, correct and complete copies of each material Atlantic Employee Plan (or if not written, a written summary of its material terms), including to the extent applicable: (A) all plan documents and amendments thereto, (B) any determination, opinion, notification and advisory letters, (C) trust agreements, insurance Contracts, and other funding arrangements, (D) most recent summary plan descriptions, together with the summaries of material modifications thereto, (E) the most recent annual reports (Form Series 5500), (F) non-discrimination testing results for the last three (3) plan years, and (G) any material correspondence to and from governmental agencies, during the most recent three years.

 

(c) Atlantic Group has previously paid any amounts payable to, or on behalf of, current and/or former managers, employees, officers and agents of Atlantic Group pursuant to any Atlantic Employee Plan or other arrangement (including any sale bonus, incentive, retention, employment, retirement, compensation, separation, severance or similar plan or agreement) in connection with or as a result of any sale or acquisition transaction (not including the Contemplated Transactions) completed prior to the Closing Date.

 

(d) Each Atlantic Employee Plan (and each related trust, insurance Contract or fund) has been established, funded, maintained, operated and administered in accordance with its terms, any related documents or agreements, and applicable Law in all material respects.

 

(e) No Atlantic Employee Plan is maintained outside of the United States

 

(f) There have been no prohibited transactions or breaches of any of the duties imposed on “fiduciaries” (within the meaning of Section 3(21) of ERISA) by ERISA with respect to the Atlantic Employee Plans by Atlantic Group or, to Atlantic’s Knowledge, any third party that could result in any liability or excise Tax under ERISA or the Code being imposed on Atlantic Group.

 

30

 

 

(g) Each Atlantic Employee Plan intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and has been determined by the IRS to be so qualified, and each trust created thereunder has been determined by the IRS to be exempt from Tax under the provisions of Section 501(a) of the Code, and nothing has occurred since the date of any such determination that could reasonably be expected to give the IRS grounds to revoke such determination.

 

(h) Neither Atlantic nor any of its ERISA Affiliates maintain, sponsor, contribute to, have any obligation to contribute to, or have any liability under or with respect to (i) a “defined benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA) or any other plan that is or was subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, (ii) a “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA), (iii) a “multiple employer plan” (within the meaning of Section 210 of ERISA or Section 413(c) of the Code), or (iv) a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” (as such term is defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA)

 

(i) All (i) insurance premiums required to be paid with respect to, (ii) benefits, expenses, and other amounts due and payable under, and (iii) contributions, transfers, or payments required to be made to, any Atlantic Employee Plan prior to the Closing Date will have been paid, made or accrued on or before the Closing Date.

 

(j) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents nor the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions will: (i) result in any material payment (including severance, unemployment compensation, golden parachute or otherwise) becoming due to any director, officer or any employee of Atlantic Group under any Atlantic Employee Plan or otherwise, (ii) materially increase any benefits otherwise payable under any Atlantic Employee Plan, (iii) result in any acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such benefits to any material extent or, (iv) result in any “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code.

 

5.19 Employees.

 

(a) Atlantic has made available a list of all employees, consultants and individual independent contractors of Atlantic Group, including any employees who provide services directly and only to Atlantic Group through a professional employment organization (collectively, the “Atlantic Internal Employees”), as well as any Atlantic Temporary Employees (as defined herein below) that also provide services directly and only to Atlantic Group, together with (i) their respective job titles, (ii) hire date, (iii) office location, (iv) current base salaries or hourly wage rates, (v) commission, bonus or other incentive-based compensation, (vi) any other form of compensation paid or payable to such individuals for the most recent fiscal year, (vii) a summary description of the fringe benefits currently provided to such individual, (viii) vacation entitlement and accrual, and (ix) such individual’s classification as exempt or non-exempt for wage and hour purposes, as applicable.

 

(b) No member of Atlantic Group is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with a labor union or labor organization, and no Atlantic Internal Employee or any temporary employee of Atlantic Group, including any temporary employees who provide services directly and only to Atlantic Group through a professional employment organization (each, a “Atlantic Temporary Employee”) is represented by any labor organization with respect to such employee’s employment with Atlantic Group. Since January 1, 2023, there have not been, nor are there presently pending or, to Atlantic’s Knowledge, has there been any threat of, any (i) work stoppages, strikes, work slowdowns, lockouts, labor disputes or other material controversies between Atlantic Group and any of its Atlantic Internal Employees or Atlantic Temporary Employees, (ii) labor union grievances or organizational efforts, or (iii) unfair labor practice or labor arbitration proceedings.

 

31

 

 

(c) Except as set forth in Section 5.19(c) of the Atlantic Disclosure Schedule, since January 1, 2023, there have not been any Actions pending or, to Atlantic’s Knowledge, threatened to be brought or filed, by or with any Governmental Authority or arbitrator in connection with the employment of any current or former applicant, employee, consultant or independent contractor of Atlantic Group (including any Atlantic Internal Employee or Atlantic Temporary Employee), including any claim relating to Atlantic Employee Plans, unfair labor practices, employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, equal pay, wages and hours or any other employment-related matter arising under applicable laws or regulations. There are no currently-pending internal complaints or investigations regarding any of the foregoing.

 

(d) Except as set forth in Section 5.19(d) of the Atlantic Disclosure Schedule, no member of Atlantic Group is a party to any Contract, and no member of Atlantic Group have established any policy or practice, requiring it to make a payment or provide any other form of compensation or benefit to any Person performing services for Atlantic Group upon termination of such services.

 

(e) Atlantic Group (i) is and has been in compliance in all respects with applicable Legal Requirements with respect to employment, employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, worker classification, prohibited discrimination (including employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, reasonable accommodation, disability rights or benefits, hiring, promotion and termination of employees), equal employment, fair employment practices, meal and rest periods, immigration status, employee safety and health, working conditions, workers’ compensation, leaves of absence, paid family leave, mandatory short-term disability insurance, unemployment insurance, privacy, wages (including overtime wages), compensation and hours of work, hiring, promotion and termination of employees; (ii) has withheld and reported all amounts required by Legal Requirements or by Contract to be withheld and reported with respect to wages, salaries and other payments to the Atlantic Internal Employees and Atlantic Temporary Employees, including any severance payments to former employees; (iii) is not liable for any arrears of wages or any Taxes or any penalty for failure to comply with the Legal Requirements applicable to the foregoing; (iv) is not liable for any payment to any trust or other fund governed or maintained by or on behalf of any Governmental Authority with respect to unemployment compensation benefits, social security or other benefits or obligations for the Atlantic Internal Employees and Atlantic Temporary Employees (other than routine payments to be made in the normal course of business and consistent with past practices); (v) has no leased employees; and (vi) has no independent contractors who have provided services for a period of six (6) consecutive months or longer. To Atlantic’s Knowledge, Atlantic Group is in compliance in all respects with all applicable Legal Requirements with respect to Tax withholding for all Atlantic Internal Employees and Atlantic Temporary Employees.

 

(f) Atlantic Group has properly classified all individuals who perform services for Atlantic Group as an employee or independent contractor and as exempt or non-exempt, and there is no Action pending or, to Atlantic’s Knowledge, threatened that challenges such classifications.

 

(g) Except as set forth in Section 5.19(g) of the Atlantic Disclosure Schedule, Atlantic Group is employing individuals who are lawfully permitted to work in the jurisdiction in which it is located. Atlantic Group is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Legal Requirements regarding immigration and/or employment of non- citizen workers. Since January 1, 2023, no member of the Atlantic Group has been notified of any pending or threatened investigation by any branch or department of any Governmental Authority charged with administration and enforcement of immigration laws concerning it, and Atlantic Group have not received any notices within the preceding twelve (12) months regarding immigration issues.

 

32

 

 

(h) To Atlantic’s Knowledge, no current Atlantic Internal Employee or Atlantic Temporary Employee is bound by any Contract with a Person other than Atlantic Group that purports to limit the ability of such employee to engage in or continue or perform any conduct, activity, duties or practice relating to the Atlantic Business.

 

(i) Atlantic Group has paid or properly accrued in the Ordinary Course of Business all wages, overtime pay, bonuses, and other compensation due to the Atlantic Internal Employees and the Atlantic Temporary Employees, including all vacations or vacation pay, holidays or holiday pay and sick days or sick pay.

 

5.20 Permits.

 

(a) Atlantic has made available a true and correct list of, and Atlantic Group possesses, all material Permits which are required in order for the members of Atlantic Group to conduct it’s the Atlantic Business as presently conducted, including all material Permits required pursuant to the Contracts to which any member of Atlantic Group is a party.

 

(b) Regarding such material Permits:

 

(i) each Permit is valid and in full force and effect;

 

(ii) Atlantic Group is, and at all times has been, in compliance in all material respects with all of the terms and requirements of each Permit;

 

(iii) no Action to modify, suspend, revoke, withdraw, terminate or otherwise limit any such Permit is pending, or, to Atlantic Group’s Knowledge, threatened, including in connection with the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions;

 

(iv) to Atlantic Group’s Knowledge, no event has occurred or circumstance exists that may (with or without notice or lapse of time) (A) constitute or result directly or indirectly in a violation of or a failure to comply with any term or requirement of any Permit or (B) result directly or indirectly in the revocation, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation or termination of, or any modification to, any Permit;

 

(v) no member of Atlantic Group has received any written notice, Order or other communication (whether oral or written) from any Governmental Authority regarding (A) any actual, alleged, possible or potential violation of or failure to comply with any term or requirement of any Permit or (B) any actual, proposed, possible or potential revocation, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation, termination of or modification to any Permit;

 

(vi) all applications required to have been filed for the renewal of the material Permits have been duly filed on a timely basis with the appropriate Governmental Authority, and all other filings required to have been made with respect to such Permits have been duly made on a timely basis with the appropriate Governmental Authority;

 

(vii) the Permits collectively constitute all of the Permits necessary to permit Atlantic Group to lawfully conduct and operate its business in the manner in which Atlantic Group currently conducts and operates its business and to permit Atlantic Group to own and use its respective assets in the manner in which they currently own and use such assets; and

 

(viii) there are no circumstances that could reasonably be expected to result in a failure of, or material delay in, the issuance of any Permit for which an application of any member of Circle8 Group is pending.

 

33

 

 

5.21 Environmental Matters. Each member of Atlantic Group is, and has been, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws. Atlantic Group and its Affiliates possess, and are in compliance in all material respects with, all Environmental Permits which are required under applicable Environmental Laws for the operation of the Atlantic Business. There are no, and there have not been, any Environmental Claims pending or, to Atlantic Group’s Knowledge, threatened against any member of Atlantic Group. To Atlantic Group’s Knowledge, no Atlantic Internal Employee has been exposed to Hazardous Materials which exposure could be the basis of any Environmental Claim or other claim against or liability of Atlantic Group. No member of Atlantic Group has received any written communication alleging that it is not (or was not) in compliance with, or has liability or potential liability under, any applicable Environmental Laws or Environmental Permits. To Atlantic Group’s Knowledge, there are no and have not been any Hazardous Materials used, generated, treated, stored, transported, disposed of, handled or otherwise existing on, under or about the Atlantic Leased Real Property or personal property owned, leased, operated or used by any member of Atlantic Group or at which any member of Atlantic Group has performed services, nor, to Atlantic Group’s Knowledge, has there been any Release of any Hazardous Materials therefrom, in each case, in violation of, or which could be the basis of liability or obligation under, Environmental Laws. No member of Atlantic Group has received any written notice or request for information from any Person (a) of potential or actual liability for cleanup or environmental remediation thereof or (b) under or relating to any local law.

 

5.22 Real Estate.

 

(a) Atlantic Group does not own any Real Property.

 

(b) Atlantic has made available a complete and correct list of all Real Property in which any member of Atlantic Group has a leasehold or subleasehold interest, or other right to use or occupy (such Real Property is herein referred to as the “Atlantic Leased Real Property”), including the address of all the Atlantic Leased Real Property and the owner(s) of the Atlantic Leased Real Property. Atlantic Group has made available to Axiom a complete and correct copy of each Lease or other Contract (or, in the case of any oral Lease or Contract, a written description thereof) pertaining to any of the Atlantic Leased Real Property, together with all amendments, extensions, renewals, modifications, alterations, guaranties and other changes thereto (collectively, the “Atlantic Leases”). Each of the Atlantic Leases is legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect in accordance with the terms thereof, except to the extent that such enforceability may be limited by the General Enforceability Exceptions.

 

5.23 Intellectual Property; IT Assets; Data Privacy.

 

(a) Atlantic has made available to Axiom an overview of (i) all Registered Intellectual Property and (ii) other material Atlantic Intellectual Property. Other than as made available to Axiom or Atlantic Disclosure Schedules, constitutes all of the Intellectual Property necessary for the operation of the Atlantic Business as it is currently conducted. Atlantic is the owner or licensee of all right, title and interest in and to each of the Atlantic Group Intellectual Property items listed for it therein, free and clear of all Encumbrances, and has the right to use all of the Atlantic Intellectual Property without payment to a Third Party. Atlantic Group has taken all actions reasonably necessary to maintain and protect all of the Registered Intellectual Property held by them, including payment of applicable maintenance fees and filing of applicable required filings as and when required with the appropriate Governmental Authority.

 

34

 

 

(b) No Person, other than Atlantic Group, possesses any ownership or other interest with respect to any Atlantic Group Intellectual Property or any current or contingent rights to sublicense, sell or otherwise distribute products or services utilizing any Atlantic Group Intellectual Property.

 

(c) To Atlantic Group’s Knowledge, Atlantic Group, nor its conduct of the Atlantic Business, has materially interfered with, infringed upon, misappropriated, or otherwise come into conflict with any Intellectual Property rights of any Third Party, and Atlantic Group has not received any written charge, complaint, claim, demand, or notice alleging any such interference, infringement, misappropriation, or violation. To Atlantic Group’s Knowledge, no Third Party has interfered with, infringed upon, misappropriated, or otherwise come into conflict with any Atlantic Group Intellectual Property. No Action is pending or, to Atlantic Group’s Knowledge, threatened (i) alleging infringement, misappropriation or any other violation of any Intellectual Property rights of any Person by Atlantic Group or by any product or service made, used, sold or otherwise provided by any of them, or (ii) challenging the scope, ownership, validity, or enforceability of any Intellectual Property owned or used by Atlantic Group.

 

(d) Except as set forth in the Atlantic Disclosure Schedules, Atlantic Group has obtained from all Persons (including employees and current or former consultants and subcontractors) who have created or developed any portion of, or otherwise who would have any rights in or to, any Atlantic Group Intellectual Property purported to be owned by them, valid and enforceable written assignments of any such work, invention, improvement or other rights to Atlantic Group, or other agreements or written documentation which assign to and vest in Atlantic Group the exclusive ownership of such work, invention, improvement or other rights.

 

(e) The IT assets of Atlantic Group operate and perform in all material respects in a manner that permits Atlantic Group to conduct the Atlantic Business as currently conducted and, to Atlantic Group’s Knowledge, no Person has gained unauthorized access to or otherwise interfered with the operation of any IT asset. In all matters related to the Atlantic Business, Atlantic Group has implemented and followed reasonable security measures including, data backup and disaster recovery processes that are appropriate for businesses that collect, maintain and transfer sensitive health and other personal information.

 

(f) Atlantic Group is in compliance in all material respects with: (i) all applicable Laws and Legal Requirements pertaining to (A) data security, cybersecurity, privacy, and (B) the collection, storage, use, access, disclosure, processing, security, and transfer of Personal Data (referred to collectively in this Agreement as “Data Activities”)) ((A) and (B) together “Privacy Laws”); (ii) the Payment Card Industry Security Standards set by the PCI Security Standards Council, to the extent that it is subject to same, pursuant to contract or otherwise, and it has validated its compliance with such standards to the extent required by the applicable rules and guidelines issued by card associations; and (iii) all obligations imposed upon Atlantic Group in Contracts (or portions thereof) to which it is a Party that are applicable to Data Activities (such obligations collectively, “Privacy Agreements”). Atlantic Group has implemented and distributed written privacy and data security policies, including a publicly posted website privacy policy (“Privacy and Data Security Policies”), which are all of the privacy and data security policies that Atlantic Group is required to maintain. Atlantic Group has made available to Axiom a true, correct, and complete copy of each of said Privacy and Data Security Policies. At all times, Atlantic Group has been and it is in compliance in all material respects with all such Privacy and Data Security Policies. None of the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement, nor the consummation of any of the Contemplated Transactions, will violate any of the Privacy Agreements, Privacy and Data Security Policies or any applicable Privacy Laws.

 

(g) There is no pending, nor has there been since January 1, 2023 any material Actions against Atlantic Group initiated by: (x) any Person; (y) any other Governmental Authority, foreign or domestic; or (z) any regulatory or self-regulatory entity alleging any violation by or on behalf of any member of Atlantic Group of Privacy and Data Security Policies.

 

35

 

 

(h) Since January 1, 2023, there has been no material breach of security resulting in unauthorized access, use or disclosure of Personal Data in the possession or control of any member of Atlantic Group or, to Atlantic Group’s Knowledge, any of its contractors with regard to any Personal Data obtained from or on behalf of Atlantic Group, or any material unauthorized intrusions or breaches of security into Atlantic Group’s systems.

 

5.24 Brokers. Except as set forth in the Atlantic Disclosure Schedules, Atlantic Group has no liability to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder or agent with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

5.25 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Atlantic Group has conducted its business only in the ordinary and usual course and in a manner consistent with past practice and there has not been any change, event, loss, development, damage or circumstance affecting Atlantic which, individually or in the aggregate, has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Atlantic Group.

 

5.26 No Other Representations.

 

(a) In entering into this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is or will be a party, Atlantic Group has relied solely on its own investigation and analysis and the representations and warranties expressly set forth in ARTICLE VI and in the Ancillary Documents to which it is or will be a party and no other representations or warranties of Axiom, Circle8 Group or any other Person, either express or implied, and Atlantic Group, on its own behalf and on behalf of its Representatives, acknowledges, represents, warrants and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth in ARTICLE VI and in the Ancillary Documents to which it is or will be a party, none of Axiom, Circle8 Group or any other Person makes or has made any representation or warranty, either express or implied, in connection with or related to Axiom, Circle8 Group or any other Person in this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents or the Contemplated Transactions.

 

(b) The representations and warranties expressly set forth in this ARTICLE V by Atlantic Group constitute the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of Atlantic Group in connection with this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents or the Contemplated Transactions and Axiom and Circle8 Group understands, acknowledges and agrees that all other representations and warranties of any kind or nature whether express, implied or statutory are specifically disclaimed by Atlantic Group.

 

Article VI
Representations and Warranties Regarding Axiom and Circle8 Group and its Subsidiaries

 

Each of Axiom and Circle8 Group represents and warrants to Atlantic that the following statements in this ARTICLE VI are true and correct as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date except as set forth in the disclosures and documents in the online data room hosted on behalf of Axiom and Circle8 Group by Ideals (the “Data Room”) and made available to Atlantic prior to the close of business on the Business Day preceding the date of this Agreement:

 

6.1 Organization; Standing and Power. Axiom and Circle8 Group are each duly organized, validly existing and in good standing, under the Laws of their respective jurisdictions. Axiom and Circle8 Group each have requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement and all Ancillary Documents to which Axiom and Circle8 Group is or will be a party have been duly authorized by Axiom and Circle8 Group, respectively, has all requisite power and authority to own and lease the properties and assets it currently owns and leases and to conduct its activities as currently conducted and as presently contemplated to be conducted. Each of Axiom and Circle8 Group is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing (with respect to jurisdictions that recognize the concept of good standing) in all jurisdictions in which the ownership or leasing of the properties and assets owned or leased by them or the nature of their activities makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or licensed would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. Schedule 6.1 of the Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules is a true and complete list of: (i) each jurisdiction in which Circle8 is qualified to do business, (ii) every foreign jurisdiction in which Circle8 has employees or facilities and (iii) the directors and officers of Circle8 Group.

 

36

 

 

6.2 Books and Records. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.2 of the Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules, Axiom or Circle8 Group has made available to Atlantic true, correct and complete copies of their Governing Documents and their minute books. Such Governing Documents are in full force and effect.

 

6.3 Enforceability. This Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which Circle8 Group and Affiliates are a party have been duly executed and delivered by Circle8 Group and its Affiliates and are enforceable against Circle8 Group and its Affiliates, in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that such enforceability may be limited by the General Enforceability Exceptions.

 

6.4 Capitalization. Except for Circle8 Equity, there are no other Equity Interests of Circle8, and there are not, and shall be no, outstanding or authorized subscriptions, options, or warrants, calls, rights, commitments or any other agreements or arrangements of any character obligating Circle8 Group or any of its Affiliates to issue any capital stock or other Equity Interests, or evidencing the right to subscribe for any capital stock or other Equity Interests. At Closing, all issued and/or outstanding shares of capital stock or other securities of Circle8 and the Affiliates shall be delivered to Atlantic. No person has, and at Closing no person shall have, any right of first refusal, preemptive right, right of participation, or any similar right to acquire securities of Circle8 Group or any Affiliate. The transfer of Circle8 Equity will not obligate Circle8 Group to issue shares of any member of the Circle8 Group and any Affiliate, or other securities to any Person and will not result in a right of any holder of Circle8 Group’s and Equity Interests to adjust the exercise, conversion, exchange or reset price under such securities. There are no voting trusts, proxies or other Contracts with respect to the voting or transfer of Equity Interests of Circle8 Group.

 

6.5 Litigation. Except as set forth on the Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules, there is no Action pending or, to Axiom and Circle8 Group’s Knowledge, threatened against Axiom and Circle8 Group, and/or its Affiliates that, if adversely decided or resolved, would have a Material Adverse Effect on Circle8 Group or its Affiliates. Neither Circle8 Group, the Affiliates, nor any of their respective properties or assets is subject to any material Order. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no material Actions by Circle8 Group or Circle8 Group Affiliates pending against any other Person.

 

6.6 Compliance with Applicable Legal Requirements.

 

(a) Circle8 Group has complied and is in compliance in all material respects with all material Legal Requirements applicable to it and to its assets, properties, operations and business. Circle8 Group has not received any written notice from any Governmental Authority to the effect, or otherwise been advised, that it is not in compliance with any such Legal Requirements, and Circle8 Group has no Knowledge that any existing circumstances are likely to result in an Action for a violation of any such Legal Requirement. To Circle8 Group’s Knowledge, no investigation or review by any Governmental Authority with respect to Circle8 Group, or its promoters, stockholders, affiliates, directors, officers, consultants, employees, agents or other representatives is pending or, to Circle8 Group’s Knowledge, threatened, nor has any Governmental Authority given Circle8 Group or its Affiliates written notice of its intention to conduct the same.

 

37

 

 

(b) No event has occurred or circumstance exists that (with or without notice or lapse of time) (i) may constitute or result in a material violation by any member of Circle8 Group of, or a material failure on the part of such member of Circle8 Group to comply with, any Legal Requirement or (ii) may give rise to any obligation on the part of such member of Circle8 Group to undertake, or to bear all or any portion of the cost of, any remedial action of any nature.

 

(c) Without limiting any provision of this Agreement: (i) neither Circle8 Group nor, to Circle8 Group’s Knowledge, any officer, manager, agent, employee or other Person associated with or acting on behalf of Circle8 Group has, directly or indirectly: (a) paid or delivered or agreed to pay or deliver any fee, commission or other sum of money or item of property, however characterized, to any Person, government official or other party that is illegal or improper under any applicable Legal Requirement, (b) used any funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity, (c) made any unlawful payment or offered anything of value to any foreign or domestic government official or employee or to any foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns, (d) violated or is in violation of any provision of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (15 United States Code Section 78dd-1, et seq.), as amended, or any applicable Legal Requirement of similar effect, (e) made any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or transfer of value to any other Person, or (f) established or maintained any fund that has not been recorded in the books and records of Circle8 Group; and (ii) each member of Circle8 Group has complied in all material respects and is in material compliance with applicable provisions of the United States export and sanctions laws, and regulations implemented thereunder, including the Arms Export Control Act (22 United States Code Section 2751 et seq.), as amended, the Export Administration Act (50 United States Code Section 2401 et seq.), as amended, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 United States Code Section 17091 et seq.), as amended, and the various sanctions regulations administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury of the United States, as amended. Without limiting the foregoing, no member of Circle8 Group has made any investments or performed any Contracts in, or involving a Person from, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Burma (Myanmar) or the Crimea, “Donetsk People’s Republic” and “Luhansk People’s Republic” regions of Ukraine.

 

(d) No member of Circle8 Group is in violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law and has not engaged in or conspired to engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate, any of the prohibitions set forth in any Anti-Terrorism Law.

 

(e) To Circle8 Group’s Knowledge, neither Circle8 Group nor any Affiliates, agents acting or benefiting in any capacity in connection with this Agreement, or the transactions contemplated hereby is any Blocked Person.

 

(f) To Circle8 Group’s Knowledge, neither Circle8 Group nor its Affiliates, any of its agents acting in any capacity in connection with this Agreement, or the Contemplated Transactions: (i) conducts any business or engages in making or receiving any contribution of funds, goods, or services to or for the benefit of any Blocked Person or (ii) deals in, or otherwise engages in any transaction relating to, any property or interests in property blocked pursuant to the Executive Order No. 13224.

 

6.7 Financial Statements.

 

(a) There are no outstanding loans or other extensions of credit made by any member of Circle8 Group to any executive officer or director of any member of Circle8 Group.

 

38

 

 

(b) Other than as disclosed in the Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules or in the Data Room, Schedule 6.7(b) of the Circle8 Disclosure Schedules sets forth certain pro forma profit and loss financial information for certain members of the Circle8 Group prepared by Circle8 Groups’ management as of September 30, 2025 (the “Circle8 Group Pro Forma Financial Statements”), which financial information is consistent with, in all material respects, the books and records of the applicable members of the Circle8 Group for the period of time from January 1, 2025 through September 30, 2025; provided that none of Axiom, Circle8 Group or any of their respective Affiliates makes any representations or warranties with respect to EBITDA set forth on the Circle8 Group Pro Forma Financial Statements.

 

6.8 No Undisclosed Liabilities. Circle8 Group has no material liabilities except for the liabilities (a) set forth in the Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules, (b) incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation or execution of this Agreement or any Ancillary Documents, the performance of its covenants or agreements in this Agreement or any Ancillary Document or the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions hereby or thereby, (c) set forth or disclosed in the Circle8 Group Pro Forma Financial Statements, or (d) that have arisen since the date of the most recent balance sheet.

 

6.9 Consents; Conflicts.

 

(a) Except as set forth on the Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules, in Contracts made available or as would not have a Material Adverse Effect on any member of Circle8 Group, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Ancillary Document, nor the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions will (with or without notice or lapse of time):

 

(i) breach any provision of any of the Governing Documents of any member of Circle8 Group;

 

(ii) violate any material Law applicable to, binding upon, or enforceable against Circle8 Group;

 

(iii) result in a material breach of, constitute a material default under, give rise to any right of termination, modification, foreclosure, cancellation or acceleration under, or cause any loss of benefit under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Circle8 Material Contract to which any member of Circle8 Group is a party or by which such member or the assets or properties owned or leased by any of them are bound or affected or give to others any rights (including rights of termination, modification, foreclosure, cancellation or acceleration) in or with regard to the members of Circle8 Group or any of its respective material assets, taken as a whole, or result in, or require or permit the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance of any nature upon or with regard to any member of Circle8 Group, its respective material assets, taken as a whole, or the Business; or

 

(iv) cause to be enforced any existing right of first refusal, right of first offer, right of exclusivity or other like or similar right granted by any member of Circle8 Group to the Business or any assets of Circle8 Group.

 

(b) Except as set forth in the Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules or as set forth in Contracts made available, the execution and delivery by Circle8 Group of this Agreement and any Ancillary Documents do not, and the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions will not: (a) conflict with or violate any provision of the Governing Documents of any member of Circle8 Group; (b) violate any provision of any Legal Requirements; (c) violate, or constitute a breach under, any Order or applicable Law to which Circle8 Group or any of its properties or assets are bound, or (d) result in the creation of any Encumbrance upon any of the assets or properties (other than any Permitted Encumbrances), except in the case of any of clauses (a) through (d) above, as would not have a Material Adverse Effect on any member of Circle8 Group. Except as described on the Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules or as may be required by the Exchange Act, the execution and delivery by Circle8 Group of this Agreement and any Ancillary Documents does not, and the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions will not require any Consent of, or designation declaration or filing of any certificate, notice, application, report or other document with, any Governmental Authority or other Person, or any other consents, approvals, authorizations, designations, declarations, waivers or filings, the absence of which would not have any Material Adverse Effect on any member of Circle8 Group.

 

39

 

 

6.10 Change of Control Payments. Schedule 6.10 of the Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of all bonuses payments and succession fees to any Persons by Circle8 Group that become due and payable as a result of the Contemplated Transactions (each, a “Change of Control Payment”), identifying for each such Change of Control Payment (i) the Persons eligible to receive such Change of Control Payment and (ii) the Contract or other arrangement pursuant to which such Change of Control Payment is payable or required to be made.

 

6.11 Title to Assets. Circle8 Group has good and marketable title to, or a valid leasehold interest in or a valid right to use, the assets used in the Business (tangible and intangible), free and clear of any and all Encumbrances, other than Permitted Encumbrances. On the Closing Date, except as set forth in the Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules, no unreleased mortgage, trust deed, chattel mortgage, security agreement, financing statement or other instrument encumbering any assets has been recorded, filed, executed or delivered. All tangible personal property located on the Circle8 Leased Real Property (as defined herein below) is owned by Circle8 Group. Axiom or Circle8 Group has made available information on all holders of Indebtedness that have an Encumbrance (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) in any of the assets of Circle8 Group used in the Business (tangible and intangible).

 

6.12 Insurance. Axiom or Circle8 Group has made available a true and correct list and description of all insurance policies which are held by any member of Circle8 Group or which names a member of Circle8 Group as an insured (or loss payee). During the preceding three (3) years, no member of Circle8 Group has received any notice from or on behalf of any insurance carrier issuing such insurance policies to the effect that that there will thereafter be no renewal of an existing policy. Except as set forth on the Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules, there are no pending claims that have been denied insurance coverage. Axiom or Circle8 Group has made available to Atlantic copies of all loss runs with respect to claims asserted against any member of Circle8 Group for all periods commencing on or after January 1, 2023.

 

6.13 Taxes.

 

(a) Each member of Circle8 Group has properly filed on a timely basis (taking into account validly obtained extensions of time to file) all material Tax Returns that it was required to file, and all such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects and were prepared in compliance with all applicable Laws, and each member of Circle8 Group has timely paid or remitted all material Taxes (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) required to be paid or remitted by such member.

 

(b) All material Taxes that any member of Circle8 Group is or was required by Law to withhold or collect from amounts paid to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, stockholder, equity holder or other Person have been duly withheld or collected and, to the extent required, have been properly and timely remitted or paid to the appropriate Taxing Authority. No member of Circle8 Group has ever been a member of a group with which it has filed (or been required to file) consolidated, combined, unitary or similar Tax Returns (other than a group of which Circle8 is the common parent). No member of Circle8 Group has liability for Taxes of any other Person (i) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any comparable or similar provision of federal, state, local or non-U.S. Law) (other than with respect to a consolidated group of which Circle8 is the common parent), (ii) as a transferee or successor, or (iii) pursuant to any contractual obligation (other than with respect to a commercial agreement entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business and not primarily related to Taxes).

 

40

 

 

(c) No member of Circle8 Group has received written notice of any examination or audit, tax nexus inquiry or other action of or relating to Taxes or Tax Returns by any Taxing Authority that is currently in progress and no such examination, audit, inquiry or action has been threatened in writing. Since January 1, 2023, no member of Circle8 Group has received from any Taxing Authority (including jurisdictions where any such member has not filed Tax Returns) any: (i) notice indicating an intent to open an audit or other review; (ii) request for information related to Tax matters; or (iii) notice of deficiency or proposed adjustment for any amount of Tax proposed, asserted, or assessed by any Taxing Authority against such member. Axiom or Circle8 Group has delivered or made available to Atlantic correct and complete copies of all U.S. federal and state, local and non-U.S. income and other material Tax Returns, examination reports, and statements of deficiencies assessed against or agreed to by any member of Circle8 Group in connection with any taxable periods since January 1, 2022. There are no Encumbrances with respect to Taxes upon any of the assets or properties of any member of Circle8 Group, other than Permitted Encumbrances.

 

(d) In the past three (3) years, no claim has been made by a Taxing Authority in a jurisdiction where any member of Circle8 Group does not file a particular type of Tax Return or pay a particular type of Tax that such member is or may be required to file such Tax Return or is or may be subject to such Tax by that jurisdiction.

 

(e) No member of Circle8 Group has waived any statute of limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency that will be effective after the Closing.

 

(f) No member of Circle8 Group has distributed equity interests of another Person, and has not had its equity interests distributed by another Person, in a transaction that was purported or intended to be governed in whole or in part by Section 355 or Section 361 of the Code (or any similar or comparable provision of applicable non-U.S. Law) within the preceding two (2) years.

 

(g) No member of Circle8 Group is or has ever been a party to any “reportable transaction,” as defined in Section 6707A(c)(2) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b) (or any similar or comparable provision of applicable non-U.S. Law). Each member of Circle8 Group has disclosed on their Tax Returns all positions taken therein that would give rise to a substantial understatement of Tax within the meaning of Section 6662 of the Code (or any similar or comparable provision of applicable non-U.S. Law).

 

(h) No member of Circle8 Group will be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any: (i) change in method of accounting made on or prior to the Closing Date; (ii) use of an improper method of accounting for a Pre-Closing Tax Period; (iii) “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any similar or comparable provision of applicable non-U.S. Law) executed on or prior to the Closing Date; (iv) installment sale or open transaction disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date; or (v) prepaid amount or any other income eligible for deferral under applicable Law received on or prior to the Closing Date.

 

(i) No private letter rulings, technical advice memoranda or similar agreement or rulings have been requested, entered into or issued by any Taxing Authority with respect to any member of Circle8 Group, and no power of attorney with respect to Taxes with respect to any member of Circle8 Group is in effect that will remain in effect after the Closing.

 

41

 

 

(j) No member of Circle8 Group possesses or holds any property or obligation, including uncashed checks to customers, patients, or employees, non-refunded overpayments, credits or unclaimed amounts or intangibles, that is, or may become, escheatable or reportable as unclaimed property to any Governmental Authority under any applicable escheatment, unclaimed property or similar Laws.

 

(k) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the representations and warranties set forth in this Section 6.13 constitute the sole representations and warranties made with respect to Tax matters relating to Circle8 Group.

 

6.14 Conduct of Business. Except as set in the Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules, since December 31, 2025, no member of Circle8 Group has taken any action that, if taken from and after the date of this Agreement and the Closing, would have required Atlantic’s consent pursuant to Section 4.2.

 

6.15 Contracts.

 

(a) Axiom or Circle8 Group has made available the following Contracts (other than purchase orders entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business or Employee Plans) to which Circle8 Group is a party or by which Circle8 Group is bound:

 

(i) Each Contract with a Circle8 Significant Customer (as defined herein below), Circle8 Significant Supplier (as defined herein below), and each other Contract that involves performance of services or delivery of goods or materials by or to Circle8 Group of an amount or value in excess of $750,000 over the course of one year;

 

(ii) Each Contract that was not entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business and that involves expenditures or receipts of Circle8 Group in excess of $100,000 in one year;

 

(iii) Each Contract affecting the ownership of, leasing of, title to, use of or any leasehold or other interest in any real or personal property (excepting personal property leases and installment and conditional sales agreements having a value per item or aggregate payments of less than $100,000 and with a term of less than one (1) year);

 

(iv) Each Contract with any labor union or other employee representative of a group of employees relating to wages, hours and other conditions of employment;

 

(v) Each partnership, joint venture or other similar Contract involving a sharing of profits, losses, costs or liabilities by Circle8 Group with any other Person;

 

(vi) Each Contract containing covenants that (A) prohibit any member Circle8 Group from freely engaging in any line of business or competing with any Person, including any Contracts requiring any member of Circle8 Group to maintain an exclusive relationship or requiring any member of Circle8 Group to not compete or to not solicit in any manner, (B) grants a most-favored nation status, favored pricing, right of first refusal or first negotiation to any Person, or (C) imposes any minimum purchase obligations on any member of the Circle8 Group;

 

42

 

 

(vii) Each Contract for capital expenditures in excess of $100,000 for any item or $250,000 in the aggregate in one year;

 

(viii) Any Contract relating to the acquisition or disposition in the past three (3) years, directly or indirectly, of any business, Real Property or other assets, or the Equity Interests of any other Person;

 

(ix) Any Contract for Indebtedness, including all notes, mortgages, indentures and other obligations, guarantees of performance, letters of credit, advances, and agreements and instruments for or relating to any lending or borrowing;

 

(x) Any Contract involving the settlement, release, compromise or waiver of any material rights, claims, obligations, duties or liabilities with outstanding obligations or that were entered into in the past three (3) years;

 

(xi) Any management service, consulting, financial advisory or any other similar type of Contract and all Contracts with investment or commercial banks;

 

(xii) Any Contract regarding the licensing, ownership, development, granting of immunity or use of any material Intellectual Property by any member of Circle8 Group or to a member of Circle8 Group (except for “shrink-wrap” or “click-through” license agreements pertaining to software that is available in consumer retail stores or otherwise commercially available where the aggregate value of all licenses of the same or substantially identical software is less than $250,000);

 

(xiii) Any other material Contract of any member of Circle8 Group, whether or not entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business, which shall include any Contract that requires payment by any member of Circle8 Group in excess of $500,000 in any twelve (12) month period that cannot be terminated on less than ninety (90) days’ notice without the payment of any termination fee, premium or penalty; and

 

(xiv) Any Contract not already required to be listed pursuant to clause (ix) above under which Circle8 Group has continuing material indemnification, contribution or subrogation obligations to any Person, other than those entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business.

 

(b) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Data Room or the Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules, each Contract identified or required to be identified under Section 6.15(a) above (the “Circle8 Material Contracts”) is in full force and effect and is valid and enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that such enforceability may be limited by the General Enforceability Exceptions; (ii) members of Circle8 Group are in material compliance with all applicable terms and requirements of each Circle8 Material Contract; (iii) to the Knowledge of Circle8 Group, no other party to any Circle8 Material Contract is in default thereunder; (iv) no event has occurred or circumstance exists that (with or without notice or lapse of time) may contravene, conflict with or result in a Breach of, or give Circle8 Group or any other party thereto the right to declare a default or exercise any remedy under, or to accelerate the maturity or performance of, or payment under, or to cancel, terminate or modify, any Circle8 Material Contract; and (v) no member of Circle8 Group has waived any material right under any of the Circle8 Material Contracts or modified any material terms thereof. Other than in the Ordinary Course of Business, there are no renegotiations of, attempts to renegotiate, or outstanding rights to renegotiate any material amounts paid or payable to any member of Circle8 Group under current or completed Circle8 Material Contracts with any Person having the contractual or statutory right to demand or require such renegotiation and no such Person has made written demand for such renegotiation. No party to any Circle8 Material Contract has exercised any acceleration, cancellation, termination or modification rights with respect thereto, and no party to any Circle8 Material Contract or other Person has notified Circle8 Group of its intention to do so.

 

43

 

 

6.16 Customers and Suppliers. Axiom or Circle8 Group has made available a list of the top twenty (20) customers by revenue for the period January 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025 (the “Circle8 Significant Customers”) and a list of the top twenty (20) suppliers by payables for the period January 1, 2025 through September 30, 2025 (collectively, the “Circle8 Significant Suppliers”). The relationships of the members of Circle8 Group with the Circle8 Significant Customers and Circle8 Significant Suppliers are good commercial working relationships and no Circle8 Significant Customer or Circle8 Significant Supplier has given Circle8 Group or any Affiliate any written notice, or otherwise indicated any intention, and to Circle8 Group’s Knowledge there is no intention by any Circle8 Significant Customer or Circle8 Significant Supplier, to terminate its business relationship or to materially limit or materially alter its business relationship (including stopping, decreasing the rate of, or changing the terms (whether related to payment, price or otherwise) with respect to, buying products and/or services from Circle8 Group or supplying materials, products or services to Circle8 Group (whether as a result of the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions or otherwise).

 

6.17 Employee Benefit Plans.

 

(a) Axiom or Circle8 Group has made available each material Circle8 Employee Plan.

 

(b) Circle8 Group has delivered to Atlantic true, current, correct and complete copies of each material Circle8 Employee Plan (or if not written, a written summary of its material terms), including to the extent applicable: (A) all plan documents and amendments thereto, (B) any determination, opinion, notification and advisory letters, (C) trust agreements, insurance Contracts, and other funding arrangements, (D) most recent summary plan descriptions, together with the summaries of material modifications thereto, (E) the most recent annual reports (Form Series 5500), (F) non-discrimination testing results for the last three (3) plan years, and (G) any material correspondence to and from governmental agencies, during the most recent three years;

 

(c) Circle8 Group has previously paid any amounts payable to, or on behalf of, current and/or former managers, employees, officers and agents of Circle8 Group pursuant to any Circle8 Employee Plan or other arrangement (including any sale bonus, incentive, retention, employment, retirement, compensation, separation, severance or similar plan or agreement) in connection with or as a result of any sale or acquisition transaction (not including the Contemplated Transactions) completed prior to the Closing Date.

 

(d) Each Circle8 Employee Plan (and each related trust, insurance Contract or fund) has been established, funded, maintained, operated and administered in accordance with its terms, any related documents or agreements, and applicable Law in all material respects.

 

(e) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents nor the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions will: (i) result in any material payment (including severance, unemployment compensation, golden parachute or otherwise) becoming due to any director, officer or any employee of Circle8 Group from any member of Circle8 Group under any Circle8 Employee Plan or otherwise, (ii) materially increase any benefits otherwise payable under any Circle8 Employee Plan, or (iii) result in any acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such benefits to any material extent.

 

44

 

 

6.18 Employees.

 

(a) Axiom or Circle8 Group has made available a list of all employees, consultants and individual independent contractors of Circle8 Group, including any employees who provide services directly and only to any member of Circle8 Group through a professional employment organization (collectively, the “Circle8 Internal Employees”), as well as any Circle8 Temporary Employees (as defined herein below) that also provide services directly and only to any member of Circle8 Group, together with (i) their respective job titles, (ii) hire date, (iii) office location, (iv) current base salaries or hourly wage rates, (v) commission, bonus or other incentive-based compensation, (vi) any other form of compensation paid or payable to such individuals for the most recent fiscal year, (vii) a summary description of the fringe benefits currently provided to such individual, (viii) vacation entitlement and accrual, and (ix) such individual’s classification as exempt or non-exempt for wage and hour purposes, as applicable.

 

(b) No member of Circle8 Group is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with a labor union or labor organization, and no Circle8 Internal Employee or any temporary employee of Circle8, including any temporary employees who provide services directly and only to any member of Circle8 Group through a professional employment organization (each, a “Circle8 Temporary Employee”) is represented by any labor organization with respect to such employee’s employment with Circle8 Group. Since January 1, 2023, there have not been, nor are there presently pending or, to Circle8 Group’s Knowledge, has there been any threat of, any (i) work stoppages, strikes, work slowdowns, lockouts, labor disputes or other material controversies between any member of Circle8 Group and any of its Circle8 Internal Employees or Circle8 Temporary Employees; (ii) labor union grievances or organizational efforts; or (iii) unfair labor practice or labor arbitration proceedings.

 

(c) Since January 1, 2023, there have not been any Actions pending or, to Circle8 Group’s Knowledge, threatened to be brought or filed, by or with any Governmental Authority or arbitrator in connection with the employment of any current or former applicant, employee, consultant or independent contractor of Circle8 Group (including any Circle8 Internal Employee or Circle8 Temporary Employee), including any claim relating to Circle8 Employee Plans, unfair labor practices, employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, equal pay, wages and hours or any other employment-related matter arising under applicable laws or regulations. There are no currently-pending internal complaints or investigations regarding any of the foregoing.

 

(d) No member of Circle8 Group is a party to any Contract, and no member of Circle8 Group has established any policy or practice, requiring it to make a payment or provide any other form of compensation or benefit to any Person performing services for Circle8 Group upon termination of such services.

 

(e) Each member of Circle8 Group (i) is and has been in compliance in all respects with applicable Legal Requirements with respect to employment, employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, worker classification, prohibited discrimination (including employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, reasonable accommodation, disability rights or benefits, hiring, promotion and termination of employees), equal employment, fair employment practices, meal and rest periods, immigration status, employee safety and health, working conditions, workers’ compensation, leaves of absence, paid family leave, mandatory short-term disability insurance, unemployment insurance, privacy, wages (including overtime wages), compensation and hours of work, hiring, promotion and termination of employees; (ii) has withheld and reported all amounts required by Legal Requirements or by Contract to be withheld and reported with respect to wages, salaries and other payments to the Circle8 Internal Employees and Circle8 Temporary Employees, including any severance payments to former employees; (iii) is not liable for any arrears of wages or any Taxes or any penalty for failure to comply with the Legal Requirements applicable to the foregoing; (iv) is not liable for any payment to any trust or other fund governed or maintained by or on behalf of any Governmental Authority with respect to unemployment compensation benefits, social security or other benefits or obligations for the Circle8 Internal Employees and Circle8 Temporary Employees (other than routine payments to be made in the normal course of business and consistent with past practices); (v) has no leased employees; and (vi) has no independent contractors who have provided services for a period of six (6) consecutive months or longer. To Circle8 Group’s Knowledge, Circle8 is in compliance in all respects with all applicable Legal Requirements with respect to Tax withholding for all Circle8 Internal Employees and Circle8 Temporary Employees.

 

45

 

 

(f) Each member of Circle8 Group has properly classified all individuals who perform services for Circle8 Group as an employee or independent contractor and as exempt or non-exempt, and there is no Action pending or, to Circle8 Group’s Knowledge, threatened that challenges such classifications.

 

(g) Each member of Circle8 Group is employing individuals who are lawfully permitted to work in the jurisdiction in which it is located. Each member of Circle8 Group is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Legal Requirements regarding immigration and/or employment of non- citizen workers. Since January 1, 2023, Circle8 Group has not been notified of any pending or threatened investigation by any branch or department of any Governmental Authority charged with administration and enforcement of immigration laws concerning it, and no member of Circle8 Group has received any notices within the preceding twelve (12) months regarding immigration issues.

 

(h) To Circle8 Group’s Knowledge, no current Circle8 Internal Employee or Circle8 Temporary Employee is bound by any Contract with a Person other than a member of the Circle8 Group that purports to limit the ability of such employee to engage in or continue or perform any conduct, activity, duties or practice relating to the Business.

 

(i) Each member of Circle8 Group has paid or properly accrued in the Ordinary Course of Business all wages, overtime pay, bonuses, and other compensation due to the Circle8 Internal Employees and the Circle8 Temporary Employees, including all vacations or vacation pay, holidays or holiday pay and sick days or sick pay.

 

6.19 Litigation and Claims. Other than as disclosed in the Data Room or the Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules, no Actions (including any Action before any Governmental Authority) are pending or, to Circle8 Group’s Knowledge, threatened (a) against any member of Circle8 Group or that otherwise relates to or could materially affect the Business, or its operations or the Circle8 Internal Employees or Circle8 Temporary Employees or (b) with respect to or that could have the effect of preventing, delaying, imposing limitations or conditions on or otherwise interfering with the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions. No member of Circle8 Group is a party to, or bound by, any decree, order or arbitration award (or agreement entered into in any administrative, judicial or arbitration proceeding with any Governmental Authority) that has a Material Adverse Effect on the Business or Circle8 Group’s operations, assets, or Circle8 Internal Employees or Circle8 Temporary Employees. Other than as disclosed in the Data Room or the Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules, there is no pending Action by Circle8 Group or any of its respective Related Parties that, if found against Circle8 Group or their respective Related Parties, would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Business or any of Circle8 Group’s operations, assets or employees, and during the past three (3) years, to Circle8 Group’s Knowledge, none of Circle8 Group nor their respective Related Parties has threatened any such Action against any Third Party.

 

46

 

 

6.20 Permits.

 

(a) Axiom or Circle8 Group has made available a true and correct list of, and Circle8 Group possesses, all material Permits which are required in order for the members of Circle8 Group to conduct the Business as presently conducted, including all material Permits required pursuant to the Contracts to which any member of Circle8 Group is a party.

 

(b) Regarding such material Permits:

 

(i) each Permit is valid and in full force and effect;

 

(ii) Circle8 Group is, and at all times has been, in compliance in all material respects with all of the terms and requirements of each Permit;

 

(iii) no Action to modify, suspend, revoke, withdraw, terminate or otherwise limit any such Permit is pending, or, to Circle8 Group’s Knowledge, threatened, including in connection with the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions;

 

(iv) to Circle8 Group’s Knowledge, no event has occurred or circumstance exists that may (with or without notice or lapse of time) (A) constitute or result directly or indirectly in a violation of or a failure to comply with any term or requirement of any Permit or (B) result directly or indirectly in the revocation, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation or termination of, or any modification to, any Permit;

 

(v) no member of Circle8 Group has received any written notice, Order or other communication (whether oral or written) from any Governmental Authority regarding (A) any actual, alleged, possible or potential violation of or failure to comply with any term or requirement of any Permit or (B) any actual, proposed, possible or potential revocation, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation, termination of or modification to any Permit;

 

(vi) all applications required to have been filed for the renewal of material Permits have been duly filed on a timely basis with the appropriate Governmental Authority, and all other filings required to have been made with respect to such Permits have been duly made on a timely basis with the appropriate Governmental Authority;

 

(vii) the Permits collectively constitute all of the Permits necessary to permit Circle8 Group to lawfully conduct and operate the Business in the manner in which Circle8 Group currently conducts and operates the Business and to permit Circle8 Group to own and use its respective assets in the manner in which they currently own and use such assets; and

 

(viii) there are no circumstances that could reasonably be expected to result in a failure of, or material delay in the issuance of any Permit for which an application of any member of Circle8 Group is pending.

 

6.21 Environmental Matters. Each member of Circle8 Group is, and has been, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws. Circle8 Group and its Affiliates possess, and are in compliance in all material respects with, all Environmental Permits which are required under applicable Environmental Laws for the operation of the Business. There are no, and there have not been, any Environmental Claims pending or, to Circle8 Group’s Knowledge, threatened against any member of Circle8 Group. To Circle8 Group’s Knowledge, no Circle8 Internal Employee has been exposed to Hazardous Materials which exposure could be the basis of any Environmental Claim or other claim against or liability of Circle8 Group. No member of Circle8 Group has received any written communication alleging that it is not (or was not) in compliance with, or has liability or potential liability under, any applicable Environmental Laws or Environmental Permits. To Circle8 Group’s Knowledge, there are no and have not been any Hazardous Materials used, generated, treated, stored, transported, disposed of, handled or otherwise existing on, under or about the Circle8 Leased Real Property or personal property owned, leased, operated or used by any member of Circle8 Group or at which any member of Circle8 Group has performed services, nor, to Circle8 Group’s Knowledge, has there been any Release of any Hazardous Materials therefrom, in each case, in violation of, or which could be the basis of liability or obligation under, Environmental Laws. No member of Circle8 Group has received any written notice or request for information from any Person (a) of potential or actual liability for cleanup or environmental remediation thereof or (b) under or relating to any local law.

 

47

 

 

6.22 Real Estate.

 

(a) Circle8 Group does not own any Real Property.

 

(b) Axiom or Circle8 Group has made available a complete and correct list of all Real Property in which any member of Circle8 Group has a leasehold or subleasehold interest, or other right to use or occupy (such Real Property is herein referred to as the “Circle8 Leased Real Property”), including the address of all the Circle8 Leased Real Property and the owner(s) of the Circle8 Leased Real Property. Circle8 Group has made available to Atlantic a complete and correct copy of each Lease or other Contract (or, in the case of any oral Lease or Contract, a written description thereof) pertaining to any of the Circle8 Leased Real Property, together with all amendments, extensions, renewals, modifications, alterations, guaranties and other changes thereto (collectively, the “Circle8 Leases”). Each of the Circle8 Leases is legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect in accordance with the terms thereof, except to the extent that such enforceability may be limited by the General Enforceability Exceptions.

 

6.23 Intellectual Property; IT Assets; Data Privacy.

 

(a) The Data Room contains an overview of (i) all Registered Intellectual Property and (ii) other material Circle8 Intellectual Property. Other than as disclosed in the Data Room or Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules, the Circle8 Intellectual Property constitutes all of the Intellectual Property necessary for the operation of the Business as it is currently conducted. Circle8 Group is the owner or licensee of all right, title and interest in and to each of the Circle8 Intellectual Property items listed for it therein, free and clear of all Encumbrances, and has the right to use all of the Circle8 Intellectual Property without payment to a Third Party. Circle8 Group has taken all actions reasonably necessary to maintain and protect all of the Registered Intellectual Property held by them, including payment of applicable maintenance fees and filing of applicable required filings as and when required with the appropriate Governmental Authority.

 

(b) No Person, other than Circle8 Group, possesses any ownership or other interest with respect to any Circle8 Intellectual Property or any current or contingent rights to sublicense, sell or otherwise distribute products or services utilizing any Circle8 Intellectual Property.

 

(c) To Circle8 Group’s Knowledge, Circle8 Group, nor its conduct of the Business, has materially interfered with, infringed upon, misappropriated, or otherwise come into conflict with any Intellectual Property rights of any Third Party, and Circle8 Group has not received any written charge, complaint, claim, demand, or notice alleging any such interference, infringement, misappropriation, or violation. To Circle8 Group’s Knowledge, no Third Party has interfered with, infringed upon, misappropriated, or otherwise come into conflict with any Circle8 Intellectual Property. No Action is pending or, to Circle8 Group’s Knowledge, threatened (i) alleging infringement, misappropriation or any other violation of any Intellectual Property rights of any Person by Circle8 Group or by any product or service made, used, sold or otherwise provided by any of them, or (ii) challenging the scope, ownership, validity, or enforceability of any Intellectual Property owned or used by Circle8 Group.

 

48

 

 

(d) Except as set forth in the Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules, Circle8 Group has obtained from all Persons (including employees and current or former consultants and subcontractors) who have created or developed any portion of, or otherwise who would have any rights in or to, any Circle8 Intellectual Property purported to be owned by them, valid and enforceable written assignments of any such work, invention, improvement or other rights to Circle8 Group, or other agreements or written documentation which assign to and vest in Circle8 Group the exclusive ownership of such work, invention, improvement or other rights.

 

(e) The IT assets of Circle8 Group operate and perform in all material respects in a manner that permits Circle8 Group to conduct the Business as currently conducted and, to Circle8 Group’s Knowledge, no Person has gained unauthorized access to or otherwise interfered with the operation of any IT asset. In all matters related to the Business, Circle8 Group has implemented and followed reasonable security measures including, data backup and disaster recovery processes that are appropriate for businesses that collect, maintain and transfer sensitive health and other personal information.

 

(f) Circle8 Group is in compliance in all material respects with: (i) all applicable Laws and Legal Requirements pertaining to (A) data security, cybersecurity, privacy, and (B)  Data Activities; (ii) the Payment Card Industry Security Standards set by the PCI Security Standards Council, to the extent that it is subject to same, pursuant to contract or otherwise, and it has validated its compliance with such standards to the extent required by the applicable rules and guidelines issued by card associations; and (iii) all obligations imposed upon Circle8 Group in Privacy Agreements. Circle8 Group has implemented and distributed written Privacy and Data Security Policies, which are all of the privacy and data security policies that Circle8 Group is required to maintain. Circle8 Group has made available to Atlantic a true, correct, and complete copy of each of said Privacy and Data Security Policies. At all times, Circle8 Group has been and it is in compliance in all material respects with all such Privacy and Data Security Policies. None of the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement, nor the consummation of any of the Contemplated Transactions, will violate any of the Privacy Agreements, Privacy and Data Security Policies or any applicable Privacy Laws.

 

(g) There is no pending, nor has there been since January 1, 2023 any material Actions against Circle8 Group initiated by: (x) any Person; (y) any other Governmental Authority, foreign or domestic; or (z) any regulatory or self-regulatory entity alleging any violation by or on behalf of any member of Circle8 Group of Privacy and Data Security Policies.

 

(h) Since January 1, 2023, there has been no material breach of security resulting in unauthorized access, use or disclosure of Personal Data in the possession or control of any member of Circle8 Group or, to Circle8 Group’s Knowledge, any of its contractors with regard to any Personal Data obtained from or on behalf of Circle8 Group, or any material unauthorized intrusions or breaches of security into Circle8 Group’s systems.

 

6.24 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Circle8 Group has conducted its business only in the ordinary and usual course and in a manner consistent with past practice and there has not been any change, event, loss, development, damage or circumstance affecting Circle8 Group which, individually or in the aggregate, has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Circle8 Group.

 

49

 

 

6.25 Brokers. Except as set forth on the Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules, Circle8 Group has no liability to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder or agent with respect to this Agreement or the Contemplated Transactions.

 

6.26 No Other Representations.

 

(a) In entering into this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is or will be a party, Circle8 Group has relied solely on its own investigation and analysis and the representations and warranties expressly set forth in ARTICLE V and in the Ancillary Documents to which it is or will be a party and no other representations or warranties of Atlantic or any other Person, either express or implied, and Circle8 Group, on its own behalf and on behalf of its Representatives, acknowledge, represent, warrant and agree that, except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth in ARTICLE V and in the Ancillary Documents to which it is or will be a party, Atlantic Group, nor any other Person makes or has made any representation or warranty, either express or implied, in connection with or related to Atlantic or any other Person in this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents or the Contemplated Transactions.

 

(b) The representations and warranties by Axiom and Circle8 Group expressly set forth in this ARTICLE VI constitute the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of Axiom and Circle8 Group in connection with the Contemplated Transactions and Atlantic Group understands, acknowledges and agrees that all other representations and warranties of any kind or nature whether express, implied or statutory are specifically disclaimed by Axiom and Circle8 Group.

 

Article VII
Indemnification

 

7.1 Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants. The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents as to Axiom, Circle8 Group and Atlantic, shall survive for twelve (12) months from the Closing Date (the “Survival Period”) except that the covenants and agreements expressly agreed hereto to be performed or completed after the Closing Date shall survive the Closing Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Party shall be entitled to recover for any Damages pursuant to Section 7.2 or Section 7.3 unless a Claim Notice (as defined herein below) with respect to any claim is delivered to the Indemnifying Party thereunder pursuant to this ARTICLE VII in advance of the expiration of the Survival Period. The liability for such claim will continue until such claim is fully resolved. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Section 7.1 shall not limit any claim or recovery available to any Party under any insurance policy applicable to any such Party or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

7.2 Clawback of Clawback Shares.

 

(a) The Parties acknowledge and agree that Atlantic’s sole and exclusive remedies and recourse in connection with Damages related to Sections 7.2(a)(i)-(v) shall be through the redemption, adjustment and cancellation of the Clawback Shares from Axiom in whole or in part (such redemption, adjustment or cancellation, the “Share Consideration Adjustment”) to offset any Damages based upon, resulting from or related to:

 

(i) a material Breach of any representation or warranty set forth in Section 6.3 or the first sentence of Section 6.4 made by Axiom or Circle8 Group;

 

(ii) a Breach of any representation or warranty (other than those referred to in clause (i) above) made by Axiom or Circle8 Group regarding Circle8 Group in this Agreement which would have a Material Adverse Effect upon the business or financial condition of Atlantic taken as a whole;

 

50

 

 

(iii) a Breach of any covenant or obligation of Axiom or Circle8 Group in this Agreement to be performed prior to Closing which would have a Material Adverse Effect upon the business or financial condition of Atlantic taken as a whole;

 

(iv) a material Breach of any covenant or obligation of Axiom or Circle8 Group in this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents to be performed at or after Closing; or

 

(v) an act of Fraud that has a Material Adverse Effect upon the business or financial condition of Atlantic taken as a whole and which is confirmed by a final unappealable judgment.

 

(b) The aggregate number of Clawback Shares that may be clawed back or redeemed by Atlantic pursuant to Section 7.2(a) and returned to Atlantic by Axiom, shall (i) equal and not exceed the quotient obtained by dividing Damages (as determined on the basis of, and as may be limited by, this ARTICLE VII) by the price per share of Atlantic Common Stock on the Closing Date and (ii) for the avoidance of doubt, shall not exceed the lesser of (x) ten percent (10%) of the Conversion Shares (which amount may be 0) and (y) three percent (3%) of the issued and outstanding Atlantic Common Stock at the time the Share Consideration Adjustment becomes due and payable.

 

(c) For avoidance of doubt, Axiom and Circle8 Group’s liabilities under this ARTICLE VII shall (i) be limited to the Share Consideration Adjustment with respect to Clawback Shares, and (ii) not exceed, in the aggregate amount, the total number of Clawback Shares available and there shall be no recourse of any kind against any other consideration or compensation paid or payable to Axiom or Circle8 Group. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, no Share Consideration Adjustment may be taken with respect to Damages actually recovered from insurance or compensation from other sources (including worker’s compensation coverages) so as to avoid duplication or “double counting” of the same Damages.

 

(d) Atlantic may instruct its transfer agent to place a restriction on the Clawback Shares that restricts the ability of Axiom from selling or transferring the Clawback Shares during the Survival Period. Following the Survival Period, Atlantic shall promptly instruct its transfer agent to remove such restriction or any other restrictions on the Clawback Shares that have not been clawed back or redeemed by Atlantic pursuant to Section 7.2(a).

 

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Axiom may, in its sole discretion, elect to satisfy any amounts owed under this Section 7.2 in cash rather than in Clawback Shares, in which case, the remaining Clawback Shares shall be reduced by an amount equal to (i) the amount of Damages paid in cash divided by (ii) the price per share of Atlantic Common Stock as of the close of business on the date immediately preceding the Closing Date. In no event shall Axiom be required to pay an amount, in the aggregate, that exceeds the then-remaining Clawback Shares multiplied by the price per share of Atlantic Common Stock as of the close of business on the date immediately preceding the Closing Date.

 

7.3 Indemnification by Atlantic. Subject to the provisions of this ARTICLE VII, from and after the Closing, Atlantic will, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold Axiom and Circle8 Group, and their Related Parties and permitted assigns harmless from and against, and pay to the applicable indemnified parties the amount of, any Damages based upon, resulting from or related to:

 

(a) a material Breach of any representation or warranty set forth in Section 5.3, Section 5.4 and Section 5.5(b) made by Atlantic;

 

51

 

 

(b) any Breach of any representation or warranty (other than those referred to in clause (i) above) made by Atlantic in this Agreement which would have a Material Adverse Effect upon the business or financial condition of either Atlantic taken as a whole or of Axiom;

 

(c) the Breach of any covenant or obligation of Atlantic in this Agreement to be performed prior to Closing which would have a Material Adverse Effect upon the business or financial condition of Atlantic taken as a whole or of Axiom;

 

(d) a material Breach of any covenant or obligation of Atlantic in this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents to be performed at or after Closing; or

 

(e) an act of Fraud that has a Material Adverse Effect upon the business or financial condition of Atlantic taken as a whole or of Axiom, and which is confirmed by a final unappealable judgment.

 

7.4 Indemnification Procedures.

 

(a) Subject to Section 7.1, any claim or demand Party under this ARTICLE VII (an “Indemnified Party”) in respect of payment that may be brought under Section 7.2 or Section 7.3, as the case may be (such claim or demand, a “Direct Claim”) shall be asserted by the Indemnified Party giving Atlantic against whom such claim or demand is made (the “Indemnifying Party”) reasonably prompt written notice thereof (each, a “Claim Notice”), setting forth in reasonable detail the nature of the claim. The failure of an Indemnified Party to reasonably promptly provide a Claim Notice of any Direct Claim shall not release, waive or otherwise affect the Indemnifying Party’s obligations with respect thereto, except to the extent that an Indemnified Party is actually and materially prejudiced as a result of such failure. The Indemnifying Party shall have thirty (30) days after its receipt of such Claim Notice to respond in writing to such Direct Claim. If the Indemnifying Party does not so respond within such thirty (30) day period, the Indemnifying Party shall be deemed to have agreed to such claim and the Indemnifying Party’s obligation, subject to any limitation contained in this Agreement, to indemnify the Indemnified Party for the full amount of all Damages related to or resulting therefrom.

 

(b) In the event that any Action shall be instituted or that any claim or demand shall be asserted by any third Party in respect of which payment may be sought under Section 7.2 or Section 7.3 (“Third Party Claim”), subject to Section 7.1, such Indemnified Party shall give notice to the Indemnifying Party of the assertion of such Third Party Claim no later than thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice; provided, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Party within such time period will not relieve of any liability that it may have to any Indemnified Party, except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party demonstrates that the defense of such Third Party claim is materially prejudiced by the Indemnified Party’s failure to give such notice to the Indemnifying Party pursuant to this Section 7.4(b) of the assertion of a Third Party Claim. The Indemnified Party shall be entitled to participate in the defense of such Third Party Claim and, to the extent that it wishes (unless the Indemnifying Party is also a Person against whom the Third Party is made and the Indemnifying Party determines in good faith that joint representation would be inappropriate or the Indemnifying Party fails to provide reasonable assurance to the Indemnified Party of its financial capacity to defend such Third Party Claim and provide indemnification with respect to such Third Party Claim), to assume the defense of such Third Party Claim with counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Party. If the Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of a Third Party Claim, no compromise or settlement of such Third Party Claim may be effected by the Indemnifying Party without the Indemnified Party’s Consent unless: (i) there is no finding or admission of any violation of Legal Requirement or any violation of the rights of any Person; (ii) the sole relief provided is monetary damages that are paid in full by the Indemnifying Party; (iii) the Indemnified Party shall have no liability with respect to any compromise or settlement of such Third Party Claims effected without its Consent; and (iv) the compromise or settlement includes a complete release of the Indemnified Party with respect to such Third Party Claim. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Indemnifying Party determines in good faith that there is a reasonable probability that a Third Party Claim may adversely affect it or its Related Parties other than as a result of monetary damages for which it would be entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, the Indemnified Party may, by notice to the Indemnifying Party, assume the exclusive right to defend, compromise or settle such Third Party Claim, but the Indemnifying Party will not be bound by any determination of any Third Party Claim so defended for the purposes of this Agreement or any compromise or settlement effected without its Consent (which may not be unreasonably withheld). With respect to any Third Party Claim subject to indemnification under this Section 7.4(b): (x) both the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, as the case may be, shall keep the other Person fully informed of the status of such Third Party Claim and any related Actions at all stages thereof where such Person is not represented by its own counsel; (y) the Parties agree (each at its own expense) to render to each other such assistance as they may reasonably require of each other and to cooperate in good faith with each other in order to ensure the proper and adequate defense of any Third Party Claim; and (z) the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to recover Damages from the Indemnifying Party not received from another Person as set forth in this ARTICLE VII. With respect to any Third Party Claim subject to indemnification under this Section 7.4(b), the Parties agree to cooperate in such a manner as to preserve in full (to the extent possible) the confidentiality of all confidential information and the attorney-client and work-product privileges. In connection therewith, each Party agrees that: (A) it will use its commercially reasonable efforts, in respect of any Third Party Claim in which it has assumed or participated in the defense, to avoid production of confidential information (consistent with applicable law and rules of procedure), and (B) all communications between any Party hereto and counsel responsible for or participating in the defense of any Third Party Claim shall, to the extent possible, be made so as to preserve any applicable attorney-client or work-product privilege.

 

52

 

 

7.5 Certain Indemnification Limitations and Terms.

 

(a) The aggregate amount of all Damages arising under the indemnification obligations set forth in this ARTICLE VII that has been adjudicated pursuant to a final unappealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction and for which Axiom and Circle8 Group shall be liable shall not exceed the Clawback Shares (the “Circle8 Group’s Liability Cap”), and shall be fully and exclusively satisfied by the Share Consideration Adjustment without any further or additional recourse of any kind and the indemnification obligations set forth in this ARTICLE VII shall be Atlantic’s and its Affiliates’ sole and exclusive remedy with respect to any claims against Axiom or its Affiliates or Related Parties relating to this Agreement, any Ancillary Document or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document.

 

(b) The liability of Axiom or Circle8 Group for indemnification hereunder shall in no circumstance exceed an amount equal to Axiom or Circle8 Group’s or its Related Party’s allocated share of Circle8 Group’s Liability Cap based on their respective Clawback Shares.

 

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Parties acknowledge and agree that in no event shall any Indemnifying Party be liable to any Indemnified Party for any punitive, exemplary, incidental, consequential, special or indirect Damages, including loss of future revenue or income, loss of business reputation or opportunity relating to the breach or alleged breach of this Agreement, or diminution of value or any Damages based on any type of multiple.

 

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, in no event shall Atlantic or its Related Parties be entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 7.2(a) with respect to any Taxes: (i) resulting from any transaction taken outside of the Ordinary Course of Business at the direction of Atlantic or its Affiliates after the Closing, or (ii) with respect to any taxable period (or portion thereof) beginning after the Closing Date arising in connection with a breach of the representations in Section 5.11.

 

53

 

 

(e) Each limitation set forth herein may be read and construed together, and is not exclusive of any other limitation set forth herein.

 

7.6 Calculation of Damages.

 

(a) The amount of any Damages for which indemnification is provided under this ARTICLE VII shall be net of any amounts actually recovered by the Indemnified Party under insurance policies (including any representations and warranties insurance policy to which an entity is a beneficiary), or other sources of indemnification. The Indemnified Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to recover under insurance policies (including any representations and warranties insurance policy to which an entity is a beneficiary) or indemnity, contribution or other similar agreements for any Damages prior to seeking indemnification under this Agreement.

 

(b) All indemnification payments made under this Agreement shall be treated as an adjustment to the Share Consideration for Tax purposes, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

 

 

Article VIII
Closing Conditions

 

8.1 Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Closing. The obligations of each Party to effect the Closing are subject to the satisfaction (or waiver in writing by each of Axiom and Atlantic, to the extent permitted by applicable Law) on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

 

(a) No Injunction. No Law or Order shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or Governmental Authority that prohibits the consummation of any of the Contemplated Transactions, and no such prohibition shall have been threatened in writing;

 

(b) No Litigation. No Third Party Actions shall be pending or threatened seeking to obtain damages in connection with, or to restrain, prohibit, invalidate, set aside, in whole or in part, the consummation of this Agreement or the Contemplated Transactions, or which if successful, could have a Material Adverse Effect on any Party, or any Order providing for any of the foregoing.

 

(c) Reorganization. The reorganization of Circle8 Group as set forth in the Organizational Chart annexed hereto as Exhibit C shall have been completed in a manner consistent with Exhibit C.

 

(d) Pre-Closing Transfer. Axiom shall have completed the Pre-Closing Transfer.

 

8.2 Conditions to Obligations of Axiom and Circle8. The obligations of Axiom and Circle8 to effect the Closing are subject to the satisfaction (or waiver in writing by Axiom, to the extent permitted by applicable Law) on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

 

(a) Representations and Warranties of Atlantic. (i) The representations and warranties of Atlantic set forth in Section 5.3, Section 5.4 and Section 5.5(b) shall be true and correct in all respects, except for any de minimis inaccuracies on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date and (ii) the representations and warranties of Atlantic other than those referred to in clause (i) above contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects (in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) or in all material respects (in the case of any representation or warranty not qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent any such representation or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date or period, in which case as of such date or period).

 

54

 

 

(b) Performance of Obligations of Atlantic. Atlantic shall have duly performed and complied in all material respects with all terms, covenants and conditions herein required to be complied with and performed by Atlantic at or before Closing.

 

(c) No Material Adverse Effect. No Material Adverse Effect with respect to Atlantic and its Affiliates shall have occurred between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date.

 

(d) Share Issuance. Axiom shall have received a transfer agent confirmation (including an updated shareholder register or a DRS/book-entry advice) evidencing the book-entry issuance of the Initial Share Consideration to Axiom (or its designee) as of the Closing.

 

(e) No Preference Shares. No preference stock shall be issued or outstanding and Atlantic shall have certified that no preference stocks has been or shall be issued prior to conversion of the Convertible Note.

 

(f) No Convertible Debt. Except as set forth in Schedule 8.2(h) there shall be no debt in place, or to be put in place (other than as contemplated by the Contemplated Transactions), which could be converted into equity.

 

(g) Deliverables. Axiom shall have received all deliveries required to be made to it pursuant to Section 3.2(a).

 

(h) Officer Certificate. Axiom and Circle8 shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date, executed on behalf of Atlantic by Atlantic’s Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer certifying to the effect that the conditions set forth in Sections 8.2(a) and 8.2(b) have been satisfied.

 

(i) Third Party Consents. Evidence reasonably satisfactory to Axiom that Atlantic has obtained all material consents from third parties (other than the Required Company Stockholder Approval) that are required to consummate the Contemplated Transactions.

 

8.3 Conditions to Obligations of Atlantic. The obligations of Atlantic to effect the Closing are subject to the satisfaction (or waiver in writing by Atlantic, to the extent permitted by applicable Law) on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

 

(a) Representations and Warranties of Axiom and Circle8. (i) The representations and warranties of Axiom and Circle8 set forth in Section 6.3 and the first sentence of Section 6.4 shall be true and correct in all respects, except for any de minimis inaccuracies on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date and (ii) the representations and warranties of Axiom and Circle8 other than those referred to in clause (i) above contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects (in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) or in all material respects (in the case of any representation or warranty not qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent any such representation or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date or period, in which case as of such date or period).

 

55

 

 

(b) Performance of Obligations of Axiom and Circle8. Each of Axiom and Circle8 shall have duly performed and complied in all material respects with all terms, covenants and conditions herein required to be complied with and performed by them at or before Closing.

 

(c) No Material Adverse Effect. No Material Adverse Effect with respect to Circle8 Group shall have occurred between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date.

 

(d) Termination of Shareholder Loans. Guus Franke individually shall have agreed to forgive all indebtedness owed to him by any and all members of Circle8 Group.

 

(e) Deliverables. Atlantic shall have received all deliveries required to be made to it pursuant to Section 3.2(b) (except failure to deliver IRS Form W-8BEN-E shall not cause this condition to be unsatisfied) and Section 3.2(c).

 

(f) Officer Certificate. Atlantic shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date, executed on behalf of Axiom and Circle8 by their respective Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer (or equivalent officers) certifying to the effect that the conditions set forth in Sections 8.3(a), 8.3(b) and 8.3(c) have been satisfied.

 

Article IX
Termination

 

9.1 Termination. This Agreement, and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, may be terminated and abandoned at any time prior to the Closing:

 

(a) by mutual written consent of Atlantic and Axiom;

 

(b) by either Atlantic or Axiom if:

 

(i) any Governmental Authority shall have issued an Order or taken any other action permanently enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting the Contemplated Transactions (including the sale and purchase of the Initial Share Consideration, the conversion of the Convertible Note into additional Share Consideration and the issuance of the Contingent Share Consideration) and such Order or other action shall have become final and non-appealable;

 

(ii) the Closing shall not have occurred on or prior to January 23, 2026 (the “Termination Date”); provided that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(b)(ii) shall not be available to any party if such party’s breach of any of its covenants or obligations under this Agreement shall have proximately caused the failure to consummate the Closing on or before the Termination Date;

 

(c) by Atlantic if:

 

(i) there has been a breach of any representation or warranty set forth in ARTICLE VI or any failure to perform any covenant or agreement on the part of Circle8 Group set forth in this Agreement such that a condition set forth in Section 8.3 would not be satisfied and cannot be cured by Circle8 Group by the Termination Date; provided, however, that Atlantic shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(c)(i) if it is then in breach of is not then in breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement hereunder which breach would prevent satisfaction of any of the conditions to Closing set forth in Section 8.1 or Section 8.3;

 

56

 

 

(ii) the Atlantic Board shall have authorized Atlantic to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement in compliance with the terms of this Agreement;

 

(d) by Axiom if:

 

(i) the Post-Signing Voting Agreements, duly executed by stockholders representing (together with the stockholders who have duly executed Initial Voting Agreements) at least a majority of the issued and outstanding Atlantic Common Stock as of the Closing, have not been provided to Axiom by the Closing Date;

 

(ii) there has been a breach of any representation or warranty set forth in ARTICLE V or any failure to perform any covenant or agreement on the part of Atlantic set forth in this Agreement such that a condition set forth in Section 8.2 would not be satisfied and cannot be cured by Atlantic by the Termination Date; provided, however, that Axiom shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(d)(ii) if either Axiom or Circle8 is then in breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement hereunder which breach would prevent satisfaction of any of the conditions to Closing set forth in Section 8.1 or Section 8.2;

 

(iii) prior to the Closing, the Atlantic Board fails to make, withdraw, modify or amend in any manner adverse to Axiom, the Board Recommendation; or

 

(iv) (A) the Atlantic Board approves, endorses or recommends a Superior Proposal, (B) a tender offer or exchange offer for any outstanding shares of capital stock of Atlantic is commenced and the Atlantic Board fails to recommend against acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by its stockholders (for purposes hereof, taking of no position with respect to the acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer by its stockholders shall constitute a failure to recommend against acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer) within ten (10) Business Days of the commencement of such tender offer or exchange offer, or (C) Atlantic (acting upon the recommendation of the Atlantic Board) or the Atlantic Board publicly announces its intention to do any of the foregoing.

 

9.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1, this entire Agreement shall forthwith become void (and there shall be no liability or obligation on the part of the Parties and their respective Representatives) with the exception of this Section 9.2, Section 9.3 and ARTICLE VII, each of which shall survive such termination and remain valid and binding obligations of the Parties, which shall survive such termination and remain valid and binding obligations of the Parties thereto in accordance with their respective terms. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1 shall not affect any liability on the part of any Party for the willful breach of this Agreement by, or any Fraud of, such Party prior to such termination.

 

9.3 Expenses Following Termination. If this Agreement is terminated by Atlantic pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(ii), then Atlantic shall pay to Axiom, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by Axiom, an amount in cash equal to all of the reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including all fees and expenses of Representatives) incurred by Axiom, Circle8 Group or any of their Affiliates in connection with this Agreement and Contemplated Transactions, up to a maximum amount of $1,500,000 (the “Expense Reimbursement Fee”), free and clear and without withholding or deduction for Taxes unless such withholding or deduction is required by Law, such payment to be made within three Business Days after such termination.

 

57

 

 

Article X
Registration Rights

 

10.1 Original and Second Tranche Registrations.

 

(a) Promptly following the Closing Date but no later than the Initial Filing Deadline, Atlantic shall prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (except if Atlantic is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-3, then such registration shall be on another appropriate form) covering the resale of all Registrable Securities comprising the Initial Share Consideration (the “Initial Registration Statement”).

 

(b) Promptly following the issuance of any Conversion Shares or Contingent Share Consideration to Axiom but no later than the Second Filing Deadline, Atlantic shall prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (except if Atlantic is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-3, then such registration shall be on another appropriate form) covering the resale of all such Conversion Shares and Contingent Share Consideration (the “Second Tranche Registration Statement”).

 

(c) The Initial Filing Deadline and the Second Filing Deadline shall be tolled to the extent Atlantic, despite using commercially reasonable efforts, is unable to file the applicable Registration Statement because the financial statements of Circle8 Group are not yet available in form and substance reasonably sufficient for filing; provided that Atlantic shall file no later than fifteen (15) Business Days after such information becomes available to Atlantic.

 

10.2 Piggyback Registrations. If, at any time during the Effectiveness Period (as defined herein below), there is not an effective Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities and Atlantic shall determine to prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement relating to an offering for its own account or the account of others under the Securities Act of Atlantic Common Stock, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the Securities Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities issuable in connection with Atlantic’s equity incentive or other employee benefit plans, then Atlantic shall deliver to Axiom a written notice of such determination and, if within five (5) days after the date of the delivery of such notice, Axiom shall so request in writing, Atlantic shall include in such registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities that Axiom requests to be registered (a “Piggyback Registration”); provided, however, that Atlantic shall not be required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to this ARTICLE X that are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 (without volume restrictions or current public information requirements) promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act or that are the subject of a then effective Registration Statement that is available for resales or other dispositions by Axiom. If the managing underwriter or underwriters of any proposed offering of Registrable Securities included in a Piggyback Registration informs Atlantic and Axiom in writing that, in its or their opinion, the number of securities that Axiom and any other Persons intend to include in such offering exceeds the number that can be sold in such offering without being likely to have an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the securities offered or the market for the securities offered, then the securities to be included in such Registration Statement shall be (a) first, one hundred percent (100%) of the securities that Atlantic proposes to sell, (b) second, and only if all the securities referred to in clause (i) have been included, the number of Registrable Securities requested to be sold by Axiom that, in the opinion of such managing underwriter or underwriters, can be sold without having such adverse effect, and (c) third, and only if all of the Registrable Securities referred to in clause (b) have been included in such Registration Statement, any other securities eligible for inclusion in such Registration Statement. Atlantic shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section 10.2 prior to the effectiveness of such registration whether or not Axiom has elected to include securities in such registration.

 

58

 

 

10.3 Expenses. All expenses incident to Atlantic’s performance of or compliance with this ARTICLE X (excluding any underwriting discounts and selling commissions, which shall be borne solely by Axiom) shall be paid by Atlantic, including (a) all registration and filing fees, and any other fees and expenses associated with filings of Atlantic required to be made with the SEC or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, (b) all fees and expenses in connection with compliance with any securities or blue sky laws, (c) all printing, duplicating, word processing, messenger, telephone, facsimile and delivery expenses (including expenses of printing certificates for the Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company and of printing prospectuses), (d) all fees and disbursements of counsel for Atlantic and of all independent certified public accountants or independent auditors of Atlantic and any subsidiaries of Atlantic (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters required by or incident to such performance), (e) Securities Act liability insurance or similar insurance if Atlantic so desires, (f) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange or quotation of the Registrable Securities on any inter-dealer quotation system, (g) all reasonable fees and expenses of any other Persons retained by Atlantic in connection with any Registration Statement or sale, (h) the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by one counsel to Axiom in connection with negotiation of this Agreement and the filing of all Registration Statements, in an amount not to exceed $35,000 in the aggregate, and (i) all of Atlantic’s internal expenses (including all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties). To the extent that underwriting discounts and selling commissions are incurred in connection with the sale of Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Public Offering hereunder, such underwriting discounts and selling commissions shall be borne solely by Axiom. Atlantic shall not be responsible for legal fees, broker or similar commissions or any other costs incurred by Axiom in connection with the performance of its rights and obligations under this ARTICLE X.

 

10.4 Effectiveness.

 

(a) Atlantic shall use commercially reasonable efforts to have (i) the Initial Registration Statement declared effective no later than the sixtieth (60th) calendar day following the Initial Filing Deadline (or, in the event of a “full review” by the SEC, the ninetieth (90th) calendar day following the Initial Filing Deadline) and (ii) the Second Tranche Registration Statement declared effective no later than the sixtieth (60th) calendar day following the Second Filing Deadline (or, in the event of a “full review” by the SEC, the ninetieth (90th) calendar day following the Second Filing Deadline). Atlantic shall respond promptly to any and all comments made by the staff of the SEC on any Registration Statement. Atlantic shall notify Axiom by facsimile or e-mail promptly after any such Registration Statement is declared effective, unless such information is otherwise publicly available and accessible.

 

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Atlantic may, upon written notice to any holder of Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement, suspend the use of any Registration Statement, including any Prospectus that forms a part of a Registration Statement, if Atlantic (i) determines that it would be required to make disclosure of material information in the Registration Statement that Atlantic has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential, (ii) determines it must amend or supplement the Registration Statement or the related Prospectus so that such Registration Statement or Prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the case of the Prospectus in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (iii) has experienced or is experiencing some other material non-public event, including a pending transaction involving Atlantic, the disclosure of which at such time, in the good faith judgment of Atlantic, would adversely affect Atlantic; provided, however, in no event shall holders of Registrable Securities be suspended from selling Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement for a period that exceeds thirty (30) consecutive trading days or sixty (60) total trading days in any 360-day period. Upon disclosure of such information or the termination of the condition described above, Atlantic shall provide prompt notice to holders whose Registrable Securities are included in the Registration Statement, and shall promptly terminate any suspension of sales it has put into effect and shall take such other reasonable actions to permit registered sales of Registrable Securities as contemplated hereby.

 

59

 

 

10.5 Atlantic Obligations. Atlantic will use commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, and pursuant thereto Atlantic will:

 

(a) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each such Registration Statement to become effective and to remain continuously effective until such time as the earlier of: (i) there are no longer Registrable Securities held by Axiom; or (ii) the Registrable Securities can be sold pursuant to Rule 144 without regard to the volume-of-sale limitations (whether or not one or more holders is an Affiliate of Atlantic) imposed under Rule 144(e) (the “Effectiveness Period”) and advise Axiom promptly in writing when the Effectiveness Period has expired;

 

(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement and the related Prospectus as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the distribution of all of the Registrable Securities covered thereby;

 

(c) provide copies to Axiom and permit Axiom’s legal counsel to review each Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements at least three (3) Business Days in advance of their filing with the SEC, to the extent practicable;

 

(d) use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness and, (ii) if such order is issued, obtain the withdrawal of any such order at the earliest possible moment and to notify Axiom of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof;

 

(e) use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify (unless an exemption from the registration or qualification exists) or cooperate with Axiom and its counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such domestic jurisdictions as are reasonably requested by the Axiom and do any and all other reasonable acts or filings necessary or advisable to enable a distribution in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement; provided, however, that Atlantic shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (i) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 10.5(e), (ii) subject itself to general taxation in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be so subject but for this clause, or (iii) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdictions;

 

(f) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange, interdealer quotation system or other market on which similar securities issued by Atlantic are then listed; and

 

(g) upon Axiom’s request that Atlantic undertake an Underwritten Public Offering for the sale of Registrable Securities, use commercially reasonable efforts to undertake and effect such Underwritten Public Offering as soon as practicable following the receipt of such request, including by cooperating with the managing underwriter(s) and Axiom for delivery at closing of such offering of (i) a comfort letter and bring-down letter from Atlantic’s independent registered public accounting firm, each in customary form and scope, (ii) a customary opinion of counsel to Atlantic addressed to the managing underwriter(s) covering such matters as are customary for offerings of this type, and (iii) a customary Rule 10b-5 negative assurance letter from such counsel.

 

60

 

 

Article XI
Miscellaneous

 

11.1 Expenses. Except as provided herein, each Party shall pay its fees and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions, including all fees and expenses of their respective Representatives; provided that the fees of the Notary shall be equally shared between the Parties; provided, further, that, if the Closing occurs, all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions, including all fees and expenses of their respective Representatives and the fees of the Notary shall be paid by Atlantic or its Subsidiaries, including Circle8 Group (including pursuant to Section 3.10(e) and any fees and expenses incurred by Axiom and Circle8 Group in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions, including all fees and expenses of their respective Representatives).

 

11.2 Notary. With reference to the Code of Conduct (Verordening beroeps- en gedragsregels) established by the Royal Notarial Professional Organisation (Koninklijke Notariële Beroepsorganisatie), the Parties hereby explicitly agree that the Notary shall execute any notarial deeds related to this Agreement.

 

11.3 Construction and Usage.

 

(a) The headings of Sections in this Agreement are provided for convenience only and will not affect its construction or interpretation. All references to “Sections” refer to the corresponding Sections of this Agreement.

 

(b) In this Agreement, (i) the singular number includes the plural number and vice versa; (ii) reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns but, if applicable, only if such successors and assigns are not prohibited by this Agreement, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity or individually; (iii) reference to any gender includes each other gender; (iv) reference to any agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended or modified and in effect from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof; (v) reference to any Legal Requirement means such Legal Requirement as amended, modified, codified, replaced or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in effect from time to time, including rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and reference to any section or other provision of any Legal Requirement means that provision of such Legal Requirement from time to time in effect and constituting the substantive amendment, modification, codification, replacement or reenactment of such section or other provision; (vi) “hereunder,” “hereof,” “hereto,” and words of similar import shall be deemed references to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or other provision hereof; (vii) “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding such term; (viii) “or” is used in the inclusive sense of “and/or”; (ix) with respect to the determination of any period of time, “from” means “from and including” and “to” means “to but excluding”; (x) references to documents, instruments or agreements shall be deemed to refer as well to all addenda, exhibits, schedules or amendments thereto; (xi) references to “Dollar” or $ means the lawful currency of the United States; and (x) the phrase “made available” or similar phrases as used in this Agreement means, with respect to Atlantic, that the subject documents were posted to the Dropbox titled “Circle8 Disc Sch Requests” and made available to Axiom prior to the close of business on the Business Day preceding the date of this Agreement, and, with respect to Axiom and Circle8 Group, the subject documents were posted to the Data Room and made available to Atlantic prior to the close of business on the Business Day preceding the date of this Agreement.

 

61

 

 

(c) This Agreement was negotiated by the Parties with the benefit of legal representation, and any rule of construction or interpretation otherwise requiring this Agreement to be construed or interpreted against any Party shall not apply to any construction or interpretation hereof.

 

(d) Notices. All notices, Consents, waivers and other communications required or permitted by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given to a Party when: (a) delivered to the appropriate address by hand or by nationally recognized overnight courier service (costs prepaid); (b) sent by e-mail with confirmation of transmission by the transmitting equipment; or (c) received or rejected by the addressee, if sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, in each case to the following addresses or e-mail addresses and marked to the attention of the person (by name or title) designated below (or to such other address, e-mail address or person as a Party may designate by notice to the other Parties):

 

if to Atlantic:

 

Atlantic International Corp.
270 Sylvan Avenue, Suite 2230
Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632
Attention: Jeffrey Jagid, Chief Executive Officer
Email: jjagid@atlantic-international.com

 

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

 

Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP
605 Third Avenue, 34th Floor
New York, New York 10158
Attention: Elliot H. Lutzker, Esq.
Email: ehl@dhclegal.com

 

if to Axiom or Circle8 Group (prior to Closing):

 

Axiom Partners GmbH
Gubbelstrasse 11
Zug Swiss
Attention: Guus Franke

Email: [redacted]

 

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

 

Jones Day
250 Vesey Street
New York, New York 10281
Attention: Mike Jansen; Ann Bomberger; Rory Hood
Email: mjansen@jonesday.com; ambomberger@jonesday.com; rhood@jonesday.com

 

62

 

 

11.4 Jurisdiction; Service of Process. Each of the Parties irrevocably agrees that any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought by any Party or its Affiliates against any other Party or its Affiliates shall be brought and determined in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; provided that if jurisdiction is not then available in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, then any such legal action or proceeding may be brought in any federal court located in the State of Delaware or any other Delaware state court. Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts for itself and with respect to its property, generally and unconditionally, with regard to any such action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions. Each of the Parties agrees not to commence any action, suit or proceeding relating thereto except in the courts described above in Delaware, other than actions in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce any judgment, decree or award rendered by any such court in Delaware as described herein. Each of the Parties further agrees that notice as provided herein shall constitute sufficient service of process and the Parties further waive any argument that such service is insufficient. Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion or as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Contemplated Transactions, (a) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the courts in Delaware as described herein for any reason, (b) 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) that (i) the suit, action or proceeding in any 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.

 

11.5 Specific Performance. The Parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that the Parties hereto do not perform the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with its terms or otherwise breach such provisions. Accordingly, the Parties acknowledge and agree that each Party shall be entitled to seek an injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, provided that if jurisdiction is not then available in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, then in any federal court located in the State of Delaware or any other Delaware state court, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such Party is entitled at law or in equity. Each of the Parties hereby further waives (a) any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate and (b) any requirement under any Law to post security as a prerequisite to obtaining equitable relief.

 

11.6 Waiver, Remedies Cumulative. The rights and remedies of the Parties to this Agreement are cumulative and not alternative. Neither any failure nor any delay by any Party in exercising any right, power, or privilege under this Agreement or any of the documents referred to in this Agreement will operate as a waiver of such right, power, or privilege, and no single or partial exercise of any such right, power, or privilege will preclude any other or further exercise of such right, power, or privilege or the exercise of any other right, power, or privilege. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law: (a) no claim or right arising out of this Agreement or any of the documents referred to in this Agreement can be discharged by one Party, in whole or in part, by a waiver or renunciation of the claim or right unless in writing signed by the other Party; (b) no waiver that may be given by a Party will be applicable except in the specific instance for which it is given; and (c) no notice or demand on one Party will be deemed to be a waiver of any obligation of that Party or of the right of the Party giving such notice or demand to take further action without notice or demand as provided in this Agreement or the documents referred to in this Agreement.

 

11.7 Entire Agreement and Modification. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements, whether written or oral, between the Parties with respect to its subject matter (including any letter of intent and any confidentiality agreement between the Parties and any of their Related Parties) and constitutes (along with the schedules, exhibits and other agreements, instruments and documents delivered pursuant to this Agreement) a complete and exclusive statement of the terms of the agreement between the Parties with respect to its subject matter. This Agreement may not be amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified except by a written agreement executed by the Parties hereto.

 

63

 

 

11.8 Disclosure Schedules. The representations and warranties contained in ARTICLES V and VI are qualified by reference to the Disclosure Schedules of Atlantic (the “Atlantic Disclosure Schedules”) and Circle8 Group (the “Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules”), respectively, attached to this Agreement, and in the SEC Reports of Atlantic and Circle8 Group (collectively, the “Disclosure Schedules”). The Parties agree that the Disclosure Schedules constitute (a) exceptions to particular representations, warranties, covenants, and obligations of Circle8 Group, as set forth in this Agreement, (b) descriptions or lists of other items referred to in this Agreement, and (c) any disclosure set forth in one section or subsection of the Atlantic Disclosure Schedules or Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules, respectively, shall be deemed to be disclosed by Atlantic or Axiom or Circle8 Group, respectively, for, and apply to and qualify, the section or subsection of this Agreement to which it corresponds and each other section or subsection of this Agreement and each other section or subsection of the Atlantic Disclosure Schedules or Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules, respectively, to the extent that it is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure that such disclosure is applicable to such other section or subsection of this Agreement or the Disclosure Schedule. Inclusion of information in the Disclosure Schedules shall not be construed as an admission that such information is material to any Party or, or the Business. The Parties acknowledge that headings have been inserted on the individual schedules included in the Disclosure Schedules for the convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of any of the provisions of the Agreement or the Disclosure Schedules.

 

11.9 Assignments, Successors and No Third-Party Rights. No Party may assign any of its rights or delegate any of its obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Parties; provided, that Atlantic may collaterally assign its rights hereunder to any financial institution providing financing as a result of the Contemplated Transactions. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will apply to, be binding in all respects upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of the Parties. Any attempted assignment in violation of this Section 11.9 shall be void ab initio. Nothing expressed or referred to in this Agreement will be construed to give any Person other than the Parties to this Agreement any legal or equitable right, remedy, or claim under or with respect to this Agreement or any provision of this Agreement, except such rights as shall inure to a successor or permitted assignee pursuant to this Section 11.9.

 

11.10 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect. Any provision of this Agreement held invalid or unenforceable only in part or degree will remain in full force and effect to the extent not held invalid or unenforceable.

 

11.11 Governing Law. This Agreement and all disputes or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Contemplated Transactions, including the applicable statute of limitations, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the Law of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.

 

11.12 Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each Party and its successors and permitted assigns and, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, express or implied, nothing is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any rights, benefits or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

64

 

 

11.13 Extension; Waiver. Axiom (prior to the Closing) may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of Atlantic set forth herein, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of Atlantic set forth herein or (c) waive compliance by Atlantic with any of the agreements or conditions set forth herein. Atlantic may (i) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of Circle8 Group set forth herein, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of Circle8 Group set forth herein or (iii) waive compliance by Circle8 Group with any of the agreements or conditions set forth herein. Any agreement on the part of any such Party to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument signed on behalf of such Party. Any waiver of any term or condition shall not be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or a subsequent waiver of the same term or condition, or a waiver of any other term or condition of this Agreement. The failure of any Party to assert any of its rights hereunder shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.

 

11.14 Waiver of Jury Trial. THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE CONTEMPLATED TRANSACTIONS, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ANY OF THEM MAY FILE A COPY OF THIS PARAGRAPH WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE KNOWING, VOLUNTARY AND BARGAINED-FOR AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY TO WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY AND THAT ANY ACTION WHATSOEVER BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE CONTEMPLATED TRANSACTIONS SHALL INSTEAD BE TRIED IN A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION BY A JUDGE SITTING WITHOUT A JURY.

 

11.15 Execution of Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in one or more identical counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original copy of this Agreement and all of which, when taken together, will be deemed to constitute one and the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Agreement and of signature pages by electronic mail in PDF format shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Agreement as to the Parties and may be used in lieu of the original Agreement for all purposes. Signatures of the Parties transmitted by electronic mail in PDF or Docusign formats shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes and shall create a valid and binding obligation of such Party with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK;
SIGNATURES APPEAR ON NEXT PAGE]

 

65

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Acquisition Agreement on the date first above written.

 

  ATLANTIC INTERNATIONAL CORP., a Delaware corporation
     
  By:  /s/ Jeffrey Jagid
    Jeffrey Jagid, Chief Executive Officer
    Axiom Partners GmbH, a company organized under the laws of the Swiss Republic
     
  By:  /s/ Guus Franke
    Guus Paul Wilhelm Franke, Chief Executive Officer
    Circle8 Group B.V., a company organized under the laws of the Netherlands
     
  By: /s/ Peter Bernhard Stagge
    Peter Bernhard Stagge, Director

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO AGREEMENT

 

66

 

 

ANNEX A

DEFINITIONS

 

For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth below.

 

Action” means any litigation, suit, action, proceeding, claim, indemnification claim (under contract or otherwise), demand, complaint, grievance, investigation (including a Tax audit), hearing, audit, order, decree, injunction, judgment, ruling, directive, charge, award, arbitration, mediation or otherwise, including those commenced, brought, conducted or heard by or before, or otherwise involving, any Governmental Authority.

 

Affiliate” and “Affiliates,” with respect to any Person, means any Person or Persons which, directly or indirectly, control(s) or is or are controlled by that Person, or is or are under common control with that Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meaning, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Ancillary Document” or “Ancillary Documents” means any one or more of the agreements, documents, certificates and instruments being delivered pursuant to this Agreement, including the documents and agreements to be delivered by the Parties pursuant to ARTICLE III hereof.

 

Alternative Proposal” means any proposal or offer relating to (i) a merger, consolidation, share exchange or business combination involving Atlantic or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) a sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, transfer or other disposition, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, of twenty percent (20%) or more of the assets of Atlantic and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (iii) a purchase or sale of shares of capital stock or other securities, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, representing twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting power of the capital stock of Atlantic or any of its Subsidiaries, including by way of a tender offer or exchange offer, (iv) a reorganization, recapitalization, liquidation or dissolution of Atlantic or any of its Subsidiaries, or (v) any other transaction having a similar effect to those described in clauses (i) – (iv) or that would prevent or materially impede or delay the consummation of the Closing or any of the Contemplated Transactions (including the Conversion and the issuance of all of the Share Consideration). Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, none of this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall constitute an Alternative Proposal.

 

Atlantic Board” means the Board of Directors of Atlantic.

 

Atlantic Common Stock” consists of all authorized capital stock, $.00001 par value, of Atlantic.

 

Atlantic Employee Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” as defined by Section 3(3) of ERISA (whether or not subject to ERISA), and all other employment, bonus, commission, retention, incentive compensation, deferred compensation, profit sharing, stock option, stock appreciation right, stock bonus, stock purchase, employee stock ownership, restricted stock units, phantom stock, equity based compensation, savings, severance, change-in-control, supplemental unemployment, layoff, salary continuation, retirement, pension, health, life insurance, disability, accident, group insurance, vacation, holiday, sick leave, fringe benefit or welfare plan, and any other employee compensation or benefit plan, agreement, policy, practice, commitment, contract or understanding (whether qualified or nonqualified, currently effective or terminated, written or unwritten) and any trust, escrow or other agreement related thereto that (a) is sponsored, maintained or contributed to by Atlantic or any of its Subsidiaries, or with respect to which Atlantic or any of its Subsidiaries has or may have any liability (including through its relationship with an ERISA Affiliate), or (b) provides compensation and/or benefits, or describes policies or procedures applicable to any current or former director, officer, employee or individual service provider of Atlantic or any of its Subsidiaries, or the dependents of any thereof.

 

67

 

 

Blocked Person” means: (i) a Person that is listed in the annex to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of, the Executive Order No. 13224; (ii) a Person owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, any Person that is listed in the annex to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of, the Executive Order No. 13224: (iii) a Person with which Atlantic Group is prohibited from dealing or otherwise engaging in any transaction by any Anti-Terrorism Law; (iv) a Person that commits, threatens or conspires to commit or supports “terrorism” as defined in the Executive Order No. 13224; (v) a Person that is named as a “specially designated national” on the most current list published by the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Asset Control at its official website or any replacement website or other replacement official publication of such list; or (vi) a Person who is affiliated or associated with a Person listed above.

 

Breach” means any breach of, or any inaccuracy in, any representation or warranty or any breach of, or failure to perform or comply with, any covenant or obligation, in or of this Agreement or any Ancillary Document or any other Contract, or any event which with the passing of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute such a breach, inaccuracy or failure.

 

Business” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Business Day” means any day other than (a) Saturday or Sunday or (b) any other day on which banks in New York, New York are permitted or required to be closed.

 

Circle8 Acquisition Proposal” means (a) any transaction or series of related transactions under which any Person(s), directly or indirectly, (i) acquires or otherwise purchases any or all members of Circle8 Group or (ii) all or a material portion of assets or businesses of Circle8 Group (in the case of each of clause (i) and (ii), whether by merger, consolidation, recapitalization, purchase or issuance of equity securities, tender offer or otherwise), or (b) any material equity or similar investment in any member of Circle8 Group. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, none of this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall constitute a Circle8 Acquisition Proposal.

 

Circle8 Employee Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” as defined by Section 3(3) of ERISA (whether or not subject to ERISA), and all other employment, bonus, commission, retention, incentive compensation, deferred compensation, profit sharing, stock option, stock appreciation right, stock bonus, stock purchase, employee stock ownership, restricted stock units, phantom stock, equity based compensation, savings, severance, change-in-control, supplemental unemployment, layoff, salary continuation, retirement, pension, health, life insurance, disability, accident, group insurance, vacation, holiday, sick leave, fringe benefit or welfare plan, and any other employee compensation or benefit plan, agreement, policy, practice, commitment, contract or understanding (whether qualified or nonqualified, currently effective or terminated, written or unwritten) and any trust, escrow or other agreement related thereto that (a) is sponsored, maintained or contributed to by Circle8 Group, or with respect to which Circle8 Group has or may have any liability (including through its relationship with an ERISA Affiliate), or (b) provides compensation and/or benefits, or describes policies or procedures applicable to any current or former director, officer, employee or individual service provider of Circle8 Group, or the dependents of any thereof.

 

68

 

 

Circle8 Intellectual Property” means any and all Intellectual Property that is owned or licensed by Circle8 Group and/or has been or is used or is held for use in the Business, including any and all derivative works developed from such Intellectual Property, and includes the Registered Intellectual Property.

 

Clawback Shares” means the number of shares of Atlantic Common Stock equal to the lesser of (i) ten percent (10%) of the Conversion Shares, if any, and (ii) three percent (3%) of the issued and outstanding Atlantic common stock at the time the Share Consideration Adjustment becomes due and payable.

 

Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any reference to any particular Code section shall be interpreted to include any revision of or successor to that section regardless of how numbered or classified.

 

Consent” means any approval, consent, ratification, waiver or other authorization.

 

Contemplated Transactions” means all of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents.

 

Contract” means any written or oral agreement, note, guarantee, mortgage, indenture, lease, deed of trust, license, plan, instrument or other contract or legally binding arrangement or commitment.

 

Conversion” means the conversion of the principal amount of the Convertible Note into Atlantic Common Stock pursuant to the Convertible Note.

 

Conversion Date” means the date on which the Conversion occurs.

 

Conversion Shares” means the shares of Atlantic Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Note in accordance with its terms

 

Damages” means all Actions, charges, complaints, claims, demands, injunctions, judgments, orders, decrees, rulings, dues, liabilities, obligations, Taxes, liens, assessments, levies, losses, fines, penalties, damages, liabilities, costs, fees and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’, accountants’, consultants’, investigators’ and experts’ fees and expenses incurred in investigating, defending or settling any of the foregoing and/or in the enforcement of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, “Damages” shall include any punitive damages owing to a Third Party.

 

Data Activities” means the collection, storage, use, access, disclosure, processing, security, and transfer of Personal Data, including but not limited, to the General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/6790 (“GDPR”).

 

Employee Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” as defined by Section 3(3) of ERISA, all specified fringe benefit plans as defined in Section 6039D of the Code, and all other bonus, incentive- compensation, deferred-compensation, profit-sharing, stock-option, stock-appreciation-right, stock-bonus, stock-purchase, employee-stock-ownership, savings, severance, change-in-control, supplemental- unemployment, layoff, salary-continuation, retirement, pension, health, life-insurance, disability, accident, group-insurance, vacation, holiday, sick-leave, fringe-benefit or welfare plan, and any other employee compensation or benefit plan, agreement, policy, practice, commitment, contract or understanding (whether qualified or nonqualified, currently effective or terminated, written or unwritten) and any trust, escrow or other agreement related thereto that (a) is sponsored, maintained or contributed to by Circle8 Group, or with respect to which Circle8 Group has or may have any liability (including through its relationship with an ERISA Affiliate), and (b) provides compensation and/or benefits, or describes policies or procedures applicable to any current or former director, officer, employee or individual service provider of Circle8 Group, or the dependents of any thereof.

 

69

 

 

Encumbrance” means any charge, claim, community or other marital property interest, condition, equitable interest, lien, warrant, purchase right, option, pledge, security interest, mortgage, right of way, easement, encroachment, servitude, right of first option, right of first refusal or similar restriction, including any restriction on use, voting (in the case of any security or equity interest), transfer, receipt of income or exercise of any other attribute of ownership.

 

Environmental Claim(s)” means any and all administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, directives, claims, liens, investigations, proceedings or notices of noncompliance or violation (written or oral) by any Person alleging potential liability (including potential liability for enforcement, investigation costs, cleanup costs, governmental response costs, removal costs, remedial costs, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries or penalties) arising out of, based on or resulting from: (a) the presence or Release into the environment of any Hazardous Material; (b) circumstances forming the basis of any violation or alleged violation of any Environmental Law; or (c) any and all claims by any Person seeking damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief resulting from the presence or Release of any Hazardous Material.

 

Environmental Law(s)” means any and all foreign, federal, state or local statutes, laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, codes, policies or rules of common law in effect and any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof as of the Agreement Date and the Closing, including any judicial or administrative order, consent decree or judgment, relating to the environment, health, safety or Hazardous Materials; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 6901 et seq.; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.; the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq.; the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3808 et seq.

 

Environmental Permits” means all environmental, health and safety licenses, permits, registrations, approvals, authorizations and agreements from or with Governmental Authorities.

 

Equity Interests” means (a) any partnership interests, (b) any membership interests or units, (c) any shares of capital stock, (d) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distribution of assets of, the issuing entity, (e) any subscriptions, calls, warrants, options, or commitments of any kind or character relating to, or entitling any Person or entity to purchase or otherwise acquire partnership interests, membership interests or units, capital stock, or any other equity securities, (f) any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for partnership interests, membership interests or units, capital stock, or any other equity securities, or (g) any other interest classified as an equity security of a Person.

 

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

 

ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, together with such Person, at any relevant time would be treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

 

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

 

Fraud” means, with respect to any Party, the making of a statement of fact with the intent to deceive another Party and requires (a) a false representation of material fact in ARTICLE V or ARTICLE VI, as applicable, (b) with Knowledge that such representation is false, (c) with an intention to induce the Party to whom such representation is made to act or refrain from acting in reliance upon it, (d) causing such Party, in justifiable reliance upon such false representation, to take or refrain from taking action, and (e) causing such Party to suffer loss by reason of such reliance. For the avoidance of doubt, (x) the term “Fraud” does not include any claim for equitable fraud, promissory fraud, unfair dealings fraud or any torts (including a claim for fraud) based on negligence or recklessness and (y) only the Party who committed a Fraud will be responsible for such Fraud and only to the Party who suffered from such Fraud.

 

70

 

 

Fully Diluted Basis” means, as of the date of determination, the Atlantic Common Stock outstanding on such date together with all Equity Interests that would be outstanding on such date assuming the issuance of all Equity Interests issuable upon the exercise, exchange or conversion of: (a) all preferred stock on an as-converted to common stock basis, (b) any indebtedness, securities or other interests (including promissory notes) outstanding as of such date and convertible into or exchange for Atlantic Common Stock or other Equity Interests of Atlantic (whether or not the rights to exchange or convert thereunder are immediately exercisable), excluding (subject to Section 2.2(b)) any shares of Atlantic Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of the IDC Promissory Note, (c) all shares reserved for grant or issuance under Atlantic’s employee equity incentive option pool, and assuming exercise of all convertible rights, options and warrants, reserved or outstanding, directly or indirectly, into Atlantic Common Stock or other Equity Interests of Atlantic, and (d) all shares issuable to any Person (other than the shares of Atlantic Common Stock payable by Atlantic to E.F. Hutton pursuant to Section 3.10(e)) in connection with, related to or arising from the Contemplated Transactions (other than the Initial Share Consideration, Conversion Shares and Contingent Share Consideration) or issuable under any Employee Plan or any consulting agreement, employment agreement or other agreement with a Related Party.

 

GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, as in effect from time to time.

 

General Enforceability Exceptions” means those exceptions to enforceability due to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).

 

Governing Documents” means with respect to any particular entity: (a) if a corporation, the articles or certificate of incorporation and the bylaws; (b) if a general partnership, the partnership agreement and any statement of partnership; (c) if a limited partnership, the limited partnership agreement and the certificate of limited partnership; (d) if a limited liability company, the articles of organization and operating agreement; (e) if another type of Person, any other charter or similar document adopted or filed in connection with the creation, formation or organization of the Person; (f) all equity holders’ agreements, voting agreements, voting trust agreements, joint venture agreements, registration rights agreements or other agreements or documents relating to the organization, management or operation of any Person or relating to the rights, duties and obligations of the equity holders of any Person; and (g) any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing.

 

Governmental Authority” means any (a) nation, state, county, city, town, borough, village, district or other jurisdiction; (b) federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other government; (c) governmental or quasi-governmental authority of any nature (including any agency, branch, department, board, commission, court, tribunal or other entity exercising governmental or quasi-governmental powers); (d) multinational organization or body; (e) body exercising, or entitled or purporting to exercise, any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, police, regulatory or taxing authority or power; or (f) official of any of the foregoing.

 

71

 

 

Hazardous Materials” means: (a) any petroleum or petroleum products, radioactive materials, asbestos in any form, mold, mildew, transformers or other equipment that contain dielectric fluid containing regulated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), silica, respiratory irritants, lead and lead based paint and radon gas; (b) any chemicals, materials or substances which are now or ever have been defined as or included in the definition of “hazardous substances,” “hazardous wastes,” “hazardous materials,” “extremely hazardous wastes,” “restricted hazardous wastes,” “toxic substances,” “toxic pollutants,” or other words of similar import, under any Environmental Law; and (c) any other pollutant, contaminant, chemical, material, substance, waste or constituent (including crude oil or any other petroleum product and asbestos) addressed by, subject to regulation under, or which can give rise to liability or an obligation under, any Environmental Law.

 

IFRS” means International Financial Reporting Standards consistently applied, as in effect from time to time.

 

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, all liabilities in respect of: (a) borrowed money; (b) indebtedness evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments; (c) capitalized lease obligations; (d) the deferred purchase price of assets, services or securities, including earn-out payments or similar obligations, (other than ordinary trade accounts payable) net of any acquisition-related receivables arising under or related to the purchase of such assets, services or securities (other than ordinary trade accounts receivable); (e) conditional sale or other title retention agreements; (f) the factoring or discounting of accounts receivable; (g) swap or hedging agreements or arrangements; (h) reimbursement obligations, whether contingent or matured, with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, bank overdrafts, surety bonds, other financial guarantees and interest rate protection agreements (without duplication of other indebtedness supported or guaranteed thereby); (i) Management Payments; (j) interest, premium, penalties and other amounts owing in respect of the items described in the foregoing clauses (a) through (i) after giving effect to the Closing; (k) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (i) guaranteed in any manner by such Person, whether or not any of the foregoing would appear on a consolidated balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP; and (l) any unfunded pension liabilities.

 

Initial Filing Deadline” means the date that is ten (10) Business Days after the date on which Atlantic has received from Circle8 Group all Circle8 Group Financial Statements required for inclusion in, or incorporation by reference into, the Initial Registration Statement, in each case reasonably sufficient in form and substance for filing under applicable SEC rules.

 

Initial Voting Agreements” means the Voting Agreements to be entered into by and among Atlantic, Axiom and the other parties thereto concurrently with entering into this Agreement.

 

Insolvency Event” means, with respect to a specified Person, (a) the filing of a petition against such Person or the entry of a decree or order for relief by a court having jurisdiction in the premises in respect of such Person or any substantial part of its property in an involuntary case under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator, or similar official for such Person or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of such Person or its affairs, and such petition, decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or (b) the commencement by such Person of a voluntary case under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or the consent by such Person to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or the consent by such Person to the appointment of or taking possession by, a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator, or similar official for such Person or for any substantial part of its property, or the making by such Person of any general assignment for the benefit of creditors.

 

72

 

 

Intellectual Property” means all (a) foreign and domestic patents, patent applications, patent disclosures and inventions, (b) internet domain names, trademarks, service marks, trade dress, trade names (including variants thereof currently used in the Business), logos and corporate or company names (both foreign and domestic) and registrations and applications for registration thereof together with all of the goodwill associated therewith, (c) copyrights (registered or unregistered) and copyrightable works (both foreign and domestic) and registrations and applications for registration of patents hereof, (d) mask works and registrations and applications for registration thereof, (e) computer software (including source code and executable code), data, data bases and documentation thereof, including rights to Third Party Software used in the Business, (f) trade secrets and other confidential information (including ideas, formulas, compositions, inventions (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice), know how, manufacturing, assembly, construction, production and service processes and techniques, research and development information, drawings, specifications, designs, plans, proposals, technical data, financial and marketing plans and customer and supplier lists and information), (g) social media accounts, (h) other intellectual property rights, (i) copies and tangible embodiments thereof (in whatever form or medium) and (j) all goodwill associated with the foregoing (including the right to sue and recover damages for past, present and future infringements thereof).

 

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service and, to the extent relevant, the United States Department of the Treasury.

 

Knowledge”: means, (a) with respect to Axiom and/or Circle8 Group means the actual knowledge of the individuals set forth on Schedule A of the Circle8 Group Disclosure Schedules, with respect to a particular fact or other matter; (b) with respect to Atlantic Group means the actual knowledge of the individuals set forth on Schedule A of the Atlantic Disclosure Schedules.

 

Law” means each provision of any currently implemented Federal, state, local or foreign law, statute, ordinance, order, code, rule or regulation, promulgated or issued by any Governmental Authority.

 

Lease” means any lease of Real Property or any lease or rental agreement, license, right to use or installment and conditional sale agreement to which any member of Circle8 Group is a Party and any other Contract pertaining to the leasing or use of any equipment.

 

Legal Requirement” means any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign, international, and multinational or other constitution, law, ordinance, principle of common law, code, regulation, statute or treaty.

 

Management Payments” means all obligations and liabilities of Circle8 Group (or assumed from other Persons) with respect to all amounts payable to, or on behalf of, current and/or former managers, employees, officers and agents of any member of Circle8 Group pursuant to any Employee Plan or any other arrangement (including any sale bonus, incentive, retention, employment, retirement, compensation, separation, severance or similar plan or agreement) in connection with or as a result of the Contemplated Transactions, whether or not accrued on the Circle8 Group Pro Forma Financial Statements and together with the employer’s portion of all payroll and similar Taxes payable in connection therewith.

 

Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to any Person, any change, effect, event, occurrence, state of facts or development that, individually or in the aggregate, is materially adverse to such Person or to the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations or prospects of such Person or its business taken as a whole; provided, however, that none of the following shall be taken into account (either alone or in combination) in determining whether there has been a or Material Adverse Effect: (a) the effect of any change that is generally applicable to the industry and markets in which such Person operates; (b) without limiting subparagraph (a) immediately above, the effect of any change that is generally applicable to the United States or European economy or its respective securities or financing markets, or the world economy or international securities or financing markets; (c) any event, effect, change or circumstance resulting from or related to an act of God, war, natural disaster, act of terrorism or similar event affecting the United States; (d) the effect of any change in GAAP or applicable Laws; (e) the failure of such Person to meet or achieve the results set forth in any projection, forecast, or budget; (f) the effect of any events or occurrences related to the announcement or consummation of the Contemplated Transactions pursuant to this Agreement; or (g) the effect of any action taken by such Person that is required by the terms of this Agreement or was otherwise taken (or not taken) with the prior written consent of or at the direct request of an authorized officer of the other parties to this Agreement; provided, however, that any change or effect referred to in subparagraphs (a), (b), (c), or (d) of the foregoing definition may be included in the determination of whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred if such change or effect has a disproportionate adverse impact on such Person, relative to the other companies of similar size operating in the same industry in which such Person operates.

 

73

 

 

Material Contract” means contract, agreement, permit or license, written or oral, of Atlantic or Circle8 or any of their Subsidiaries as to which the breach, nonperformance, cancellation or failure to renew by any party thereto, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Notary” means any civil notary (notaris) of Jones Day or any of its deputies.

 

Order” means any order, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling, assessment or arbitration award of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator.

 

Ordinary Course of Business” means an action taken by a Person will be deemed to have been taken in the Ordinary Course of Business only if that action: (a) is consistent in nature, scope and magnitude with the past practices of such Person and is taken in the ordinary course of the normal, day-to-day operations of such Person; (b) does not require extraordinary or special authorization by the board of directors or shareholders of such Person (or by any Person or group of Persons exercising similar authority) and does not require any other separate or special authorization of any nature; and (c) is similar in nature, scope and magnitude to actions customarily taken or events that occur, without any separate or special authorization, in the ordinary course of the normal, day-to-day operations of other Persons that are in the same or similar line of business as such Person.

 

Permitted Encumbrances” means (a) Encumbrances for current Taxes not yet due and payable or for Taxes the amount or validity of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings with respect to which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP or IFRS, as applicable; (b) mechanics’, carriers’, workers’, repairers’ and similar liens arising or incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business, in each case, for amounts which are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established on the face of the balance sheet included in the Atlantic Financial Statements or the Circle8 Group Pro Forma Financial Statements (or other financial statements made available in the Data Room), as applicable; (c) applicable zoning, entitlement, building and other land use Encumbrances promulgated by any Governmental Authority applicable to the Atlantic Leased Real Property or Circle8 Leased Real Property, as applicable, which do not, individually or in the aggregate, interfere in more than a de minimis way with the current use, occupancy or operation of any Atlantic Leased Real Property or Circle8 Leased Real Property, as applicable; (d) as to the Atlantic Leased Real Property or Circle8 Leased Real Property, (i) easements, encumbrances, restrictions and other matters of record, (ii) easements, encumbrances, restrictions and other matters that would be shown by an accurate ALTA title insurance policy or an accurate ALTA/ACSM survey, and (iii) rights of any landlords, and (e) as to Circle8 Group or Atlantic and its subsidiaries any UCC financing statements or their European equivalent.

 

74

 

 

Permits” means all Consents, licenses, permits, registrations, approvals, authorizations and agreements from, with, issued, granted, given or otherwise made available by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority or pursuant to any Legal Requirement, including Environmental Permits.

 

Person” means any individual, sole proprietorship, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, bank, trust company, trust or other entity, whether or not legal entities, or any Governmental Authority.

 

Personal Data” means all data relating to one or more individual(s) that is personally identifying (i.e., data that identifies an individual or, in combination with any other information or data available to any Person, is capable of identifying an individual), including data collected automatically, including data collected through a mobile or other electronic device.

 

Pre-Closing Tax Period” means any taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date and the portion of any Straddle Period ending on and including the Closing Date.

 

Prospectus” means (i) the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement and by all other amendments and supplements to the prospectus, including post-effective amendments and all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus, and (ii) any “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

Public Offering” means the offer and sale of Registrable Securities for cash pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act (other than a Registration Statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any successor form).

 

Real Property” means all parcels and tracts of land, together with all buildings, structures, fixtures and improvements located thereon (including those under construction), and all privileges, rights, easements, hereditaments and appurtenances belonging to or for the benefit of such land, including all easements appurtenant to and for the benefit of such land, and all rights existing in and to any streets, alleys, passages and other rights-of-way included thereon or adjacent thereto (before or after vacation thereof) and vaults beneath any such streets.

 

Registered Intellectual Property” means all of the Registered IP owned by, under obligation of assignment to, or filed in the name of, any member of Circle8 Group.

 

Registered IP” means all United States, international and foreign: (a) patents and patent applications (including provisional applications and design patents and applications) and all reissues, divisions, divisionals, renewals, extensions, counterparts, continuations and continuations-in-part thereof, and all patents, applications and filings claiming priority thereto or serving as a basis for priority thereof; (b) registered trademarks, registered service marks, applications to register trademarks, applications to register service marks, intent-to-use applications, or other registrations or applications related to trademarks; (c) registered copyrights and applications for copyright registration; (d) domain name registrations and Internet number assignments; and (e) any other Intellectual Property that is the subject of an application, certificate, filing, registration or other document issued, filed with, or recorded by any Governmental Authority.

 

75

 

 

Registrable Securities” means (i) the Initial Share Consideration, (ii) the Conversion Shares, (iii) the Contingent Share Consideration, and (iv) all securities directly or indirectly issued with respect to any of the foregoing by way of a stock dividend or stock split, or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization. As to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (a) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with such Registration Statement, (b) such securities shall have been transferred pursuant to Rule 144, (c) the holder of such securities is able to immediately sell such securities under Rule 144 without any restrictions on transfer (including without application of paragraphs (c), (d), (e), (f) and (h) of Rule 144), if such holder holds less than ten (10%) percent of any outstanding securities, or (d) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding.

 

Registration Statement” means any registration statement of Atlantic under the Securities Act that covers the resale of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement.

 

Related Party” means:

 

(a) with respect to a particular individual: (i) each other member of such individual’s family; (ii) any Person that is directly or indirectly controlled by any one or more members of such individual’s family; (iii) any Person in which members of such individual’s family hold (individually or in the aggregate) an interest; (iv) any Person with respect to which one or more members of such individual’s family serves as a director, officer, partner, executor or trustee (or in a similar capacity); and (v) any Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with any of the foregoing individuals; and

 

 

(b) with respect to a specified Person other than an individual: (i) any Person that directly or indirectly controls, is directly or indirectly controlled by or is directly or indirectly under common control with such specified Person; (ii) any Subsidiary of such Person; (iii) any Person that holds an equity or other beneficial interest, directly or indirectly, in such specified Person; (iv) each Person that serves as a director, officer, partner, manager, employee, consultant, agent, executor, trustee, advisor or other Representative of such specified Person (or in a similar capacity);(v) any Person in which such specified Person holds an equity or other beneficial interest, directly or indirectly; and (vi) any Person with respect to which such specified Person serves as a general partner or a trustee (or in a similar capacity). 

 

For purposes of this definition, (x) “control” (including “controlling,” “controlled by,” and “under common control with”) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and shall be construed as such term is used in the rules promulgated under the Securities Act; (y) the “family” of an individual includes (i) the individual, (ii) the individual’s spouse, (iii) any other natural person who is related to the individual or the individual’s spouse within the second degree, and (iv) any other natural person who resides with such individual.

 

Release” means any release, spill, emission, emptying, leaking, injection, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching, pumping, pouring, or migration into the atmosphere, soil, surface water, groundwater or property.

 

76

 

 

Representative” means with respect to a particular Person, any director, officer, manager, employee, agent, consultant, advisor, accountant, financial advisor, legal counsel or other representative of that Person.

 

Required Company Stockholder Approval” means the approval of a majority of the Atlantic Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Atlantic Stockholders Special Meeting for the approval of (a) the issuance of the shares of Atlantic Common Stock issuable upon full conversion of the Convertible Note, (b) the issuance of the Contingent Share Consideration hereunder if and when due, and (c) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any Ancillary Document.

 

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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

 

Securities Laws” means the U.S. Federal securities laws.

 

Second Filing Deadline” means the date that is ten (10) Business Days after the date of Required Company Stockholder Approval.

 

Straddle Period” means any taxable period beginning before and ending after the Closing Date.

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, or other business entity of which (a) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers, or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof or (b) if a limited liability company, partnership, association, or other business entity (other than a corporation), a majority of partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof and for this purpose, a Person or Persons owns a majority ownership interest in such a business entity (other than a corporation) if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of such business entity’s gains or losses or shall be or control any managing director or general partner of such business entity (other than a corporation); and the term “Subsidiary” shall include all Subsidiaries of such Subsidiary.

 

Superior Proposal” means a bona fide, written and unsolicited Alternative Proposal that did not result from a breach of Section 3.7 involving (i) assets that generate more than fifty percent (50%) of the consolidated total revenues of Atlantic and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) assets that constitute more than fifty percent (50%) of the consolidated total assets of Atlantic and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (iii) fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power of the equity securities of Atlantic, in each case, after the Atlantic Board (after consultation with outside legal counsel and an independent financial advisor) reasonably determines, in good faith, would, if consummated, result in a transaction that is more favorable to the stockholders of Atlantic then the Contemplated Transactions after taking into account all such factors and matters deemed relevant in good faith by the Atlantic Board, including legal, financial (including the financing terms of any such proposal), regulatory, timing or other aspects of such proposal and the Contemplated Transactions.

 

Tax” means any income, gross receipts, license, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property, environmental, windfall profit, customs, vehicle, airplane, boat, vessel or other title or registration, capital stock, franchise, employees’ income withholding, foreign or domestic withholding, social security, unemployment, disability, estimated, real property, personal property, sales, use, transfer, value added, alternative, add-on minimum and other tax, fee or similar assessment, levy, tariff, charge or duty in the nature of a tax, and any interest, penalty, addition or additional amount thereon imposed, assessed or collected by or under the authority of any Taxing Authority, and any amounts described herein for which a taxpayer is liable pursuant to a tax indemnification agreement, tax sharing agreement, tax allocation agreement or other similar agreement (other than a commercial agreement entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business not primarily relating to Taxes).

 

77

 

 

Tax Return” means any return (including any information return), report, statement, schedule, notice, form, declaration, claim for refund or other document or information filed (including any amendment thereto) with or submitted to, or required to be filed with or submitted to, any Taxing Authority in connection with the determination, assessment, collection or payment of any Tax or in connection with the administration, implementation or enforcement of or compliance with any Legal Requirement relating to any Tax.

 

Taxing Authority” means any Governmental Authority, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the assessment, determination, collection, or other imposition of any Taxes.

 

Third Party” means a Person that is not a Party to this Agreement and not an Affiliate or Related Party of any such Party.

 

Transfer Tax” means all sales, use, value added, transfer, recording, privilege, documentary, gross receipts, conveyance, excise, license, stamp, duties or similar Taxes and fees, regardless of the Person on whom such Taxes are imposed by applicable Law, including any penalties and interest.

 

Treasury Regulations” means the regulations of the United States Department of the Treasury promulgated under the Code, as such Treasury Regulations may be amended from time to time. Any reference herein to a particular Treasury Regulation means, where appropriate, the corresponding successor provision regardless of how numbered or classified.

 

Underwritten Public Offering” means an underwritten Public Offering, including any bought deal or block sale to a financial institution conducted as an underwritten Public Offering.

 

* * * * *

 

78

 

 

Appendix 1

Circle8 Group Subsidiaries

 

Entity Name

Jurisdiction Registration Number
Circle 8 GmbH1 Germany HRB 240527 B
Circle8 Consulting GmbH Germany HRB53073
Circle8 Professionals GmbH Germany HRB95967
Staffing Enterprises B.V.2 The Netherlands 30157432
De Staffing Groep Nederland B.V.3 The Netherlands 11020532
Staffing Facility B.V. The Netherlands 30234358
IT-Staffing Europe B.V. The Netherlands 30273156
People4Office B.V. The Netherlands 54138264
DynaHouse B.V. The Netherlands 68703074
Kwiik B.V. The Netherlands 30119730
FixedToday Holding B.V. The Netherlands 56889739
Circle8 Belgium BV Belgium BE0738.680.338
FixedToday B.V. The Netherlands 11047341
FixedToday 52 B.V. The Netherlands 56898746
Circle8 S.à.r.l. Luxembourg B296605
Seven Stars ICT Group B.V. The Netherlands 59668636
Seven Stars Staffing Services B.V. The Netherlands 54845041
Seven Stars Noord B.V. The Netherlands 08205026
Seven Stars B.V. The Netherlands 05078660
Circle8 Switzerland AG4 Switzerland CHE-368.611.974
Swisslinx International AG Switzerland CHE-113.035.072
Swisslinx AG Switzerland CHE-105.250.800

 

 

1As of the Closing pursuant to Section 8.1(d).
2To be renamed to Circle8 Benelux B.V.
3To be renamed to Circle8 Netherlands B.V.
4As of the Closing pursuant to Section 8.1(d).

 

79

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

THE ISSUANCE NOR SALE OF THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL (WHICH COUNSEL SHALL BE SELECTED BY THE HOLDER AND ACCEPTABLE BY THE COMPANY), IN A GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE FORM, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144, RULE 144A OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THIS NOTE MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT.

 

Principal Amount: $161,961,751.20 Issue Date: January 23, 2026

 

CONVERTIBLE PROMISSORY NOTE

 

For value received, Atlantic International Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), hereby promises to pay to Axiom Partners GmbH, a company organized under the laws of the Swiss Confederation (“Axiom”) (each of Axiom and each of its permitted assigns pursuant to Section 4.11, a “Holder”), the principal sum of one hundred sixty-one million nine hundred sixty-one thousand seven hundred fifty-one dollars and 20/100 ($161,961,751.20) (the “Principal Amount”) on the date and the terms and conditions set forth below (or as may be amended, extended, renewed and refinanced, collectively, this “Note”).

 

This Note is issued by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of that certain Acquisition Agreement by and among the Borrower, Holder and Circle8 Group B.V. (“Circle 8”), a company organized under the laws of the Netherlands, dated as of January 22, 2026, (the “Acquisition Agreement”, and together with all other ancillary documents thereto and this Note, the “Transaction Documents”).

 

Each capitalized term used herein, and not otherwise defined, shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Acquisition Agreement.

 

Unless extended by mutual agreement of the parties hereto, the maturity date (“Maturity Date”) shall be the earlier of: (a) twelve (12) months from the date of issuance, (b) the date when the Borrower’s stockholders approve the issuance of the Conversion Shares (as defined below) pursuant to the Proxy Statement and the Conversion (as defined below) occurs, or (c) any other date on which any principal amount is declared to be, or becomes, due and payable pursuant to its terms prior to the Maturity Date pursuant to the terms of this Note (such period from the Issue Date through the Maturity Date referred to herein as the “Note Term”). The principal sum if any, shall be due and payable on the Maturity Date.

 

All payments to the Holder of this Note shall be paid by automatic debit, wire transfer, check or in coin or currency which, at the time or times of payment, is the legal tender for public and private debts in the United States of America and shall be made at such place as each Holder or the legal holder or holders of the Note may from time to time appoint in a payment invoice or otherwise in writing, and in the absence of such appointment, then at such address as each Holder shall hereafter give to the Borrower by written notice made in accordance with the provisions of this Note. Whenever any amount expressed to be due by the terms of this Note is due on any day which is not a business day, the same shall instead be due on the next succeeding day which is a business day. As used in this Note, the term “business day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in the city of New York, New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to remain closed.

 

 

 

 

The principal amount of this Note shall not bear interest except upon an Event of Default as described herein below.

 

In addition to the terms above, the following terms shall also apply to this Note:

 

ARTICLE I. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

1.1 It shall be considered an event of default if any of the following events listed in this Article I (each, an “Event of Default”) shall occur:

 

1.1.1 Receiver or Trustee. Borrower or any operating subsidiary of Borrower shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver or trustee for it or for a substantial part of its property or business, or such a receiver or trustee shall otherwise be appointed.

 

1.1.2 Bankruptcy. Bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or liquidation proceedings or other proceedings, voluntary or involuntary, for relief under any bankruptcy law or any law for the relief of debtors shall be instituted by or against Borrower or any operating subsidiary of Borrower. With respect to any such proceedings that are involuntary, Borrower shall have a sixty (60) day cure period in which to have such involuntary proceedings dismissed.

 

1.1.3 Change of Control or Liquidation. Any Change of Control of the Borrower, or the dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of Borrower or any substantial portion of its business, other than the Change of Control (if any) contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement. As used herein, a “Change of Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the consummation of any of the following events: (a) any person or persons acting together which would constitute a “group” for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (other than the Borrower, any subsidiary of the Borrower or the Holder or any affiliates of the Holder) shall beneficially own (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, at least 50% of the total voting power of all classes of capital stock of the Borrower entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of the Borrower (the “Board”); (b) Current Directors (as herein defined) shall cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board (for this purpose, a “Current Director” shall mean any member of the Board as of the date hereof and any successor of a Current Director whose election, or nomination for election by the Borrower’s shareholders, was approved by at least a majority of the Current Directors then on the Board); (c) (i) the complete liquidation of the Borrower or (ii) the merger or consolidation of the Borrower, other than a merger or consolidation in which (x) the holders of the Common Stock of the Borrower immediately prior to the consolidation or merger have, directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the Common Stock of the continuing or surviving corporation immediately after such consolidation or merger or (y) the Board immediately prior to the merger or consolidation would, immediately after the merger or consolidation, constitute a majority of the Board of the continuing or surviving corporation, which liquidation, merger or consolidation has been approved by the shareholders of the Borrower; (d) the sale or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower pursuant to an agreement (or agreements) which has (have) been approved by the stockholders of the Borrower; or (e) the appointment of a new chief executive officer.

 

-2-

 

 

1.1.4 Cessation of Operations. Any cessation of operations or dissolution by the Borrower.

 

1.1.5 Failure to Satisfy Certain Covenants in the Acquisition Agreement. The failure of the Borrower to comply with any covenant set forth in Sections 4.1(e)-(h) of the Acquisition Agreement (including any successor sections that substantively replace such covenants, whether renumbered or retitled).

 

1.2 Remedies Upon Default. Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default specified in this Article I, other than those provided in Sections 1.1.2 and 1.1.3 above, the Holder may, at its option: (a) declare the entire outstanding Principal Amount, together will all interest at the rate of ten percent (10%) accrued from the date of the Event of Default and all other sums due under this Note, to be immediately due and payable, and the same shall thereupon become immediately due and payable without presentment, demand or notice, which are hereby expressly waived; and (b) exercise any or all rights, powers and remedies provided for in this Note or now or hereafter existing at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise, and the Borrower shall pay to the Holder, an amount (the “Default Amount”) equal to the Principal Amount then outstanding together with simple accrued interest. In addition, the Holder shall be entitled to exercise all other rights and remedies available at law or in equity, including, without limitation, those set forth in the Transaction Documents.

 

ARTICLE II. CONVERSION

 

2.1. Mandatory Conversion. Upon approval by the stockholders of the Borrower of the issuance of the of Common Stock of the Borrower pursuant to the Proxy Statement and the applicable provisions of the Transaction Documents, the unpaid principal amount of the Note shall automatically be converted by the Borrower into such number of shares of Common Stock of the Borrower equal to the Convertible Note Consideration as set forth and calculated in accordance with the Acquisition Agreement (the “Conversion Shares”).

 

2.2. Conversion Process. The Borrower shall promptly notify the Holder of the completion of the stockholder vote set forth in Section 2.1 above. The Borrower shall send the Holder a notice of conversion (the “Notice of Conversion”), specifying the number of Shares to be issued no later than two (2) business days after the completion of the stockholder vote set forth in Section 2.1 above. The date on which such conversion is to be effected (the “Conversion Date”) shall be the date set forth in the Notice of Conversion provided hereunder, which date shall be no more than one (1) business day from the date the Notice of Conversion is delivered. The Borrower shall, on the Conversion Date, cause its transfer agent to record the Conversion Shares in book-entry form in the name of the Holder (the “Conversion”). Upon such Conversion, the principal amount of this Note shall be reduced in an equal amount to the percentage of the total number of Conversion Shares issued to the holder.

 

-3-

 

 

2.3. Reservation of Shares Issuable Upon Conversion. The Borrower covenants that, subject to the applicable provisions of the Borrower’s constituent documents, the laws of the State of Delaware and the U.S. federal securities laws and regulations, it will reserve and make available out of its authorized and unissued Common Stock such number of shares as necessary for the purpose of issuance upon conversion of principal of this Note as herein provided, free from preemptive rights or any other actual contingent purchase rights of persons other than the Holder. The Borrower covenants that all shares of Common Stock issuable under the terms of this Note, upon issuance, shall be duly and validly authorized, issued and fully paid and non-assessable.

 

2.4. Anti-Dilution. The number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock issuable to the Holder pursuant to the terms of this Note shall be appropriately adjusted to take into account any stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split, recapitalization, or similar change in the Company’s Common Stock which may occur between the Issue Date and the Maturity Date.

 

ARTICLE III. CERTAIN TAXES

 

3.1. No Withholding. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower under this Note shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If any applicable law requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by the Borrower, then the Borrower shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and the sum payable by the Borrower to the applicable Holder shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.1) such Holder receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made. If any such Taxes are directly asserted against a Holder with respect to any payment received by such Holder hereunder, such Holder may pay such Taxes and the Borrower will promptly pay such additional amounts (including any reasonable expense arising therefrom or with respect thereto) as is necessary in order that the net amount received by such Holder after the payment of such Taxes (including any Taxes on such additional amount) shall equal the amount such Holder would have received had such Taxes not been asserted.

 

3.2. Other Taxes. The Borrower shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of a Holder timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes. For purposes of this Note, “Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, the Note.

 

3.3. Receipt of Payment. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Article III, Borrower shall deliver to the applicable Holder the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to such Holder.

 

-4-

 

 

3.4. Failure to Pay Timely. If the Borrower fails to pay any Taxes that the Borrower has deducted or withheld when due to the appropriate Governmental Authority or fail to remit to the applicable Holder the required receipts or other required documentary evidence, the Borrower shall indemnify the applicable Holder for any incremental Taxes that become payable by such Holder as a result of any such failure.

 

3.5. Tax Form. On or prior to the Issue Date, Axiom (and on or prior to the effective date of any permitted assignment, each Holder to which the Note is assigned pursuant to Section 4.11) shall deliver to the Borrower a properly completed and duly executed IRS Form W-8BEN-E.

 

ARTICLE IV. MISCELLANEOUS

 

4.1. Failure or Indulgence Not Waiver. No failure or delay on the part of the Holder in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or privileges. All rights and remedies existing hereunder are cumulative to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies otherwise available.

 

4.2. Notices. All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals, and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and, unless otherwise specified herein, shall be (i) personally served, (ii) deposited in the mail, registered or certified, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or (iv) transmitted by hand delivery, telegram, facsimile, or electronic mail addressed as set forth below or to such other address as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be deemed effective (a) upon hand delivery, upon electronic mail delivery, or delivery by facsimile, with accurate confirmation generated by the transmitting facsimile machine, at the address or number designated below (if delivered on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is to be received), or the first business day following such delivery (if delivered other than on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is to be received) or (b) on the second business day following the date of mailing by express courier service, fully prepaid, addressed to such address, or upon actual receipt of such mailing, whichever shall first occur. The addresses for such communications shall be:

 

If to the Borrower, to:

 

Atlantic International Corp.

270 Sylvan Road, Suite 2230

Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632

Attention: Jeffrey Jagid, CEO

Email: jjagid@atlantic-international.com

 

-5-

 

 

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

 

Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP

605 Third Avenue, 15th Floor

New York, NY 10158

Attention: Elliot H. Lutzker

Email: ehl@dhclegal.com

 

If to the Holder, to:

 

Switzerland (HQ)

Gubelstrasse 11

CN - 3600 Zug

Attention: Guus Paul Wilhelm Franke

Email: [Redacted]

 

and such addressees and contacts as subsequently provided in writing by the Holder hereto

 

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

 

Jones Day

250 Vesey Street

New York, NY 10281

Attention: Ann Bomberger; Rory Hood

Email: ambomberger@jonesday.com; rhood@jonesday.com

 

4.3. Amendments. This Note and any provision hereof may only be amended by an instrument in writing signed by the Borrower and the Holder. The term “Note” and all reference thereto, as used throughout this instrument, shall mean this instrument as originally executed, or if later amended or supplemented, then as so amended or supplemented.

 

4.4. Assignability. This Note shall be binding upon the Borrower and its successors and assigns and shall inure to be the benefit of the Holder and its successors and assigns.

 

4.5. Cost of Collection. If default is made in the payment of this Note, the Borrower shall pay the Holder hereof costs of collection, including attorneys’ fees. Such amounts spent by the Holder shall be added to the Principal Amount of the Note at the time of such expenditure.

 

4.6. Governing Law. This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflicts-of-laws principles that would require the application of any other law. Any proceeding arising out of or relating to this Note may be brought in a state or federal court of competent jurisdiction in the Borough of Manhattan, County of New York, State of New York, and each of the parties irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of each such court in any such proceeding, waives any objection it may now or hereafter have to venue or to convenience of forum, agrees that all claims in respect of the proceeding shall be heard and determined only in any such court and agrees not to bring any proceeding arising out of or relating to this Note in any other court. The parties agree that any of them may file a copy of this paragraph with any court as written evidence of the knowing, voluntary and bargained agreement between the parties irrevocably to waive any objections to venue or to convenience of forum. Process in any proceeding referred to in the first sentence of this Section 3.6 may be served on any party anywhere in the world. THE BORROWER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS NOTE OR ANY TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the other party its reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. In the event that any provision of this Note or any other agreement delivered in connection herewith is invalid or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then such provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that it may conflict therewith and shall be deemed modified to conform with such statute or rule of law. Any such provision which may prove invalid or unenforceable under any law shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of any agreement. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any suit, action or proceeding in connection with this Note or any other Transaction Documents by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Note and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

-6-

 

 

4.7. Remedies. The Borrower acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Holder, by vitiating the intent and purpose of the transaction contemplated hereby. Accordingly, the Borrower acknowledges that the remedy at law for a breach of its obligations under this Note will be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by the Borrower of the provisions of this Note, that the Holder shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies at law or in equity, and in addition to the penalties assessable herein, to an injunction or injunctions restraining, preventing or curing any breach of this Note and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions thereof, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required.

 

4.8. No Broker-Dealer Acknowledgement. Absent a final adjudication from a court of competent jurisdiction stating otherwise, so long as any obligation of Borrower under this Note or the other Transaction Documents is outstanding, the Borrower shall not state, claim, allege, or in any way assert to any person, institution, or entity, that Borrower is currently, or ever has been, a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

4.9. Opportunity to Consult with Counsel. All parties represent and acknowledge that they have been provided with the opportunity to discuss and review the terms of this Note and the other Transaction Documents with their respective counsel before signing this Note and that it is freely and voluntarily signing this Note and any other Transaction Documents in exchange for the benefits provided herein. In light of this, neither the Borrower nor the Holder will not contest the validity of Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated therein. The parties further represent and acknowledges that they have been provided a reasonable period of time within which to review the terms of the Transaction Documents.

 

4.10. Integration. This Note, along with the other Transaction Documents, constitute the entire agreement between the Parties and supersedes all prior negotiations, discussions, representations, or proposals, whether oral or written, unless expressly incorporated herein, related to the subject matter of the Note. Unless expressly provided otherwise herein, this Note may not be modified unless in writing signed by the duly authorized representatives of the Borrower and the Holder. If any provision or part thereof is found to be invalid, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect. Additionally, Borrower agrees acknowledges that each of the Transaction Documents are integral to the Note, and their execution by Borrower and the agreement by Borrower to be bound by the terms therein are a material condition to the Holder’s agreement to enter into the transactions contemplated under the Transaction Documents.

 

-7-

 

 

4.11. No Assignment. The Borrower may not delegate its obligations under this Note and such attempted delegations shall be null and void. The Holder may not assign, pledge or otherwise transfer this Note without the prior written consent of the Borrower (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld except in such instance where the proposed assignee or transferee is a direct or indirect competitor or owns any interest in any business that competes, directly or indirectly, with the Borrower). This Note inures to the benefit of Holder, its successors and its assignee of this Note and binds the Borrower, and its successors and assigns, and the terms “Holder” and “the Borrower” whenever occurring herein shall be deemed and construed to include such respective successors and assigns. Any assignment or transfer made in violation of this Section 3.11 shall be void ab initio.

 

4.12. Register of the Note.

 

4.12.1. Solely in the event that Axiom assigns any of its rights in the Note to another Person pursuant to Section 4.11 (and at all times thereafter), Axiom shall maintain a register (the “Register”) for the registration and transfer of the Note, and shall enter the names and addresses of the registered holders of the Note, the transfers of the Note and the names and addresses of the transferees of the Note. The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

4.12.2. Following an assignment, (i) the Borrower and any Holder shall be provided reasonable opportunities to inspect the Register from time to time upon reasonable prior notice and (ii) the Borrower shall treat any registered holder as the absolute owner of the Note held by such holder, as indicated in the Register, for the purpose of receiving payment of all amounts payable with respect to the Note and for all other purposes.

 

4.12.3. Solely for the purposes of this Section 4.12 and for U.S. federal income tax purposes, Axiom and each Holder shall be the Borrower’s non-fiduciary agent for purposes of maintaining the Register.

 

4.12.4. This Section 4.12 shall be construed so that the Note is at all times maintained in “registered form” meaning:

 

(a) the Note is a registered obligation and the right, title and interest of each Holder and its assignees to the Note shall be transferable only upon notation of such transfer in the Register; and

 

(b) the right to principal and interest is transferable only through an entry on the books maintained by Axiom or any other Holder, as applicable.

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW

 

-8-

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrower has caused this Note to be signed in its name by its duly authorized officer this January 23, 2026.

 

  ATLANTIC INTERNATIONAL CORP.,
  a Delaware corporation
     
  By: /s/ Jeffrey Jagid
    Jeffrey Jagid, Chief Executive Officer

 

-9-

 

 

AGREED AND ACCEPTED BY HOLDER:  
     
AXIOM PARTNERS  
     
By: /s/ Guus Paul Wilhelm Franke  
Name:  Guus Paul Wilhelm Franke  
Title: CEO/Owner  

 

Address:Switzerland (HQ)

Gubelstrasse 11

CN - 3600 Zug

 

-10-

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

Execution Version

 

EMPLOYMENT AND BOARD SERVICE AGREEMENT

 

This Employment and Board Service Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made as of January 22, 2026 by and between Atlantic International Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), which currently has an address at 270 Sylvan Ave, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632, and Guus Franke (“Board Member”), an individual having an address at Gubbelstrasse 11 Zug Swiss. Board Member and Company shall be individually referred to as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.”

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Board Member desire to enter into an Employment and Board Service Agreement, whereby the Board Member renders services to the Company commencing upon the acquisition of Circle8 Group B.V. (“Circle8”) by the Company. This agreement is being executed in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition Agreement dated January 22, 2026 by and among the Company, Axiom Partners GmbH (“Axiom”) and Circle8 (the “Acquisition Agreement”). The closing of the transaction contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement is referred to herein as the “Closing.” All capitalized terms not defined herein are otherwise defined in the Acquisition Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, upon the Closing, Board Member shall be appointed as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the adequacy and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Board Member hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Duties and Scope of Board Service.

 

(a) Positions; Duties. During the Board Service Term (as defined in Section ‎2), the Company shall employ Board Member as the Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”). Board Member shall report directly to the Board.

 

(b) Obligations. During the Board Service Term, Board Member shall devote a reasonable amount of Board Member’s business efforts and time to the Company. Board Member agrees, during the Board Service Term, not to actively engage in any other employment, occupation or consulting activity for any direct or indirect remuneration or benefit whatsoever or howsoever without the prior approval of the Board; provided, however, that Board Member may (i) serve in any capacity with any professional, community, industry, civic, educational or charitable organization, (ii) serve as a member of corporate boards of directors or as an advisor to companies that the Board Member currently serves and, with the consent of the Board (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), other corporate boards of directors, (iii) Board Member may continue to be the CEO of Axiom and continue to be actively involved in the operations of the businesses of it and its subsidiaries, and (iv) manage Board Member’s and Board Member’s family’s personal investments and legal affairs; provided, however, that in each instance, such activities do not materially interfere with the discharge of Board Member’s duties hereunder.

 

2. Board Service Term. This Agreement is a binding agreement between the Company and the Board Member and shall be effective immediately following the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement (the “Effective Date”). For the avoidance of doubt, should the Acquisition Agreement be terminated or the Closing were not to occur for any reason, this Agreement shall be null and void. The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall commence upon the Effective Date and shall remain in effect for an initial five (5) year term unless earlier terminated in accordance with Section ‎4. The term shall automatically renew for successive two-year (2) periods, unless cancelled by either party with written notice no less than 90 days prior to the end of the then-applicable term. The period of time between the Effective Date and the termination of Board Member’s employment hereunder shall be referred to herein as the “Board Service Term.” The Company hereby agrees to employ Board Member and Board Member hereby accepts the Board Service Term, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein, commencing on the Effective Date.

 

 

 

 

3. Compensation/Benefits. During the Board Service Term, the Company shall pay and provide to Board Member the following:

 

(a) Cash Compensation. As compensation for Board Member’s services to the Company, Board Member shall receive a base salary and shall be eligible to receive additional variable compensation. During the Board Service Term, the Board or its Compensation Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) shall review Board Member’s Base Salary (as defined below) and bonus opportunities set forth herein at least annually and may increase (but not decrease) such Base Salary and/or bonus opportunities as the Compensation Committee may approve. The Base Salary shall be payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices in effect from time to time, but in no event less frequently than bi-monthly. No increase in Base Salary shall be used to offset or otherwise reduce any obligations of the Company to Board Member hereunder or otherwise.

 

(i) Annual Base Salary. During the Board Service Term, the Board Member’s compensation will be Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($800,000) per annum (the “Annual Base Salary”). Commencing with calendar year 2027, the Annual Base Salary shall automatically increase on January 1 of each calendar year by 5% of the amount of the prior year’s Annual Base Salary. The Annual Base Salary shall be payable bi-monthly in equal installments the same day as the Company’s regular payroll is paid.

 

(ii) Annual Bonus. Commencing with calendar year 2027, Board Member shall be eligible for an annual calendar year bonus every calendar year during the Board Service Term, in a targeted amount equal to 100% of the Annual Base Salary (the “Annual Bonus”). The Annual Bonus shall be paid in two lump sum payments January 15th and February 15th after the close of the calendar year to which the Annual Bonus relates. This bonus is guaranteed so long as the Company and its Affiliates record at least $250 million in revenues, in the aggregate, for the calendar year to which the bonus relates, as determined based on the consolidated audited financials of the Company and its affiliates for such year.

 

(iii) Discretionary Bonus. In addition to the bonuses set forth above, Board Member shall also be eligible to earn annual variable compensation, the amount of which be set by the Company’s Compensation Committee each year during the Board Service Term (the “Discretionary Bonus”). The Discretionary Bonus for any calendar year shall be awarded at the sole and absolute discretion of the Compensation Committee based upon the Company’s achievement of stated financial and strategic goals, as established by the Compensation Committee. Any such Discretionary Bonus may be made to Board Member by means of cash, stock options or as otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee.

 

-2-

 

 

(iv) Transaction Bonus. The Company shall pay prospectively the Board Member a per transaction bonus in the amount of $200,000 for any subsequent completed acquisition in excess of $8 million, in consideration for the Board Member’s assistance in closing each such transaction (the “Transaction Bonus”). Such Transaction Bonus(es) shall be paid via payroll within fifteen (15) days of the closing of such transaction(s).

 

(v) Currency. All payments and amounts hereunder shall be in United States Dollars, unless otherwise indicated.

 

(vi) Ongoing Awards. Board Member shall be eligible to participate fully in annual stock option grants, and any other long-term equity incentive program at levels commensurate with Board Member’s position and as determined by the Compensation Committee.

 

(b) Employee Benefits. Board Member shall, to the extent eligible, be entitled to participate at a level commensurate with Board Member’s position in all employee benefits, welfare and retirement plans and programs, as well as equity plans, provided by the Company to its senior executives in accordance with the terms thereof as in effect from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at all times, the Company reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate any such plan or program.

 

(c) Perquisites. The Company shall provide to Board Member, at the Company’s cost, all perquisites, including health insurance pursuant to the terms of the Company’s health insurance plans which may change from time to time. The Company shall pay for the costs of the Company sponsored health insurance plan chosen (including a “family plan”) on terms no less favorable than other executive officers of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at all times, the Company reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate any such perquisites.

 

(d) Business and Entertainment Expenses. Upon submission of appropriate documentation by Board Member in accordance with the Company’s policies in effect from time to time, the Company shall pay or reimburse Board Member for all business expenses that Board Member incurs in performing Board Member’s duties under this Agreement, including, but not limited to, travel, entertainment, and professional dues and subscriptions, in accordance with the Company’s policies in effect from time to time.

 

(e) Expenses. Subject to and accordance with the Company’s policies and procedures and in accordance with the Company’s expense policy, as it may be amended from time to time, the Company shall reimburse Board Member for the cost associated with cellular telephone and Internet access associated with business uses upon appropriate submission and documentation of such expenses.

 

(f) Car Allowance. Board Member shall be provided a Car Allowance at the monthly rate of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00), payable in monthly installments. The Car Allowance shall be used at Board Member’s discretion toward the purchase/lease/payment of a vehicle of Board Member’s choice.

 

-3-

 

 

4. Termination of Employment.

 

(a) Death or Disability. The Company may terminate Board Member’s employment for disability in the event Board Member has been unable to perform Board Member’s material duties hereunder for three (3) consecutive months because of physical or mental incapacity by giving Board Member at least thirty (30) days’ notice of such termination while such continuing incapacity continues (a “Disability Termination”). Board Member’s employment shall automatically terminate on Board Member’s death. In the event that Board Member’s employment is terminated by the Company by reason of Board Member’s death or a Disability Termination, then upon the date of such termination:

 

(i) Any Restricted Stock, RSUs, Options, Warrants or Shares that would have vested solely due to the passage of time during the twenty-four (24) month period beginning on the date of Board Member’s death or Disability Termination shall immediately vest;

 

(ii) the Company shall, within fourteen (14) days of the date Board Member’s employment is terminated, pay and provide Board Member (or in the event of Board Member’s death, Board Member’s estate) (A) any unpaid Base Salary through the date of termination and any accrued vacation, (B) reimbursement for any unreimbursed expenses incurred through the date of termination, and (C) all other payments, benefits or fringe benefits to which Board Member may be entitled subject to and in accordance with, the terms of any applicable compensation arrangement or benefit, equity or fringe benefit plan or program or grant and amounts that may become due under Sections ‎3 and ‎4 hereof (collectively, items under this clause (i) are referred to as “Accrued Benefits”); and

 

(iii) the Company shall pay to Board Member at the time other senior executives are paid under any cash bonus or long-term incentive plan, but in no event later than March 15th of the year following the year in which Board Member’s employment is terminated, a pro-rata Annual Bonus and Discretionary Bonus equal to the amount Board Member would have received if Board Member’s employment had continued (without any discretionary cutback) multiplied by a fraction where the numerator is the number of days in each respective bonus period prior to Board Member’s termination and the denominator is the number of days in the bonus period (the “Prorated Bonus”); provided, however, that at the time of death or Disability Termination, Board Member is on pace to achieve the performance milestones necessary to be eligible for such bonus.

 

(iv) the Board Member will continue to participate in any other performance bonus plan, in accordance with the terms of the plan until such plan has expired.

 

(b) Termination for Cause. The Company may terminate Board Member’s employment for Cause (as defined below). In the event that Board Member’s employment with the Company is terminated during the Board Service Term by the Company for Cause, Board Member shall not be entitled to any additional payments or benefits hereunder, other than Accrued Benefits, to be paid or provided within thirty (30) days of the date Board Member’s employment is terminated, or such earlier time as may be required under appliable law.

 

(i) For the purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean:

 

(A) material breach of any provision of this Agreement by Board Member, which has not been remedied within 30 days’ notice of such breach;

 

-4-

 

 

(B) the willful failure by Board Member to perform Board Member’s duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from Board Member’s incapacity due to physical or mental impairment), unless any such failure is corrected within thirty (30) days following written notice by the Board that specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes Board Member has not materially performed Board Member’s duties; provided, however, that no act, or failure to act, by Board Member shall be “willful” unless committed without good faith and without a reasonable belief by the Board Member that the act or omission was in the best interest of the Company; or

 

(C) an act of gross misconduct by Board Member with regard to the Company that is materially injurious to the Company and is committed without good faith and without a reasonable belief by the Board Member that the act or omission was in the best interest of the Company

 

(c) Termination by the Company Other Than for Cause or by Board Member for Good Reason. Any payments to be made or benefits to be provided under this Section ‎4‎(c) are conditioned on (x) Board Member’s the Company’s execution of a general release in a form substantially similar to the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, and (y) such general release becoming effective and no longer subject to revocation within sixty (60) days following the end of Board Member’s employment with the Company.

 

(i) If Board Member’s employment with the Company is (x) terminated by the Company other than for Cause, or (y) terminated by Board Member for Good Reason (as defined below), then the Company shall pay or provide Board Member with the following as of the date of termination:

 

(A) any Accrued Benefits, to be paid or provided on the date Board Member’s employment is terminated;

 

(B) the Prorated Bonus; provided, however, that such Prorated Bonus is paid no later than March 15 of the year following the year in which Board Member’s employment is terminated;

 

(C) a severance amount equal to two times the sum of (x) Board Member’s then-current annual Base Salary and (y) the target amount of Board Member’s then applicable Annual Bonus, payable in lump-sum cash payment within sixty (60) days follow the date Board Member’s employment is terminated;

 

(D) the right to participate in any performance bonus plan until such plan expires; become vested;

 

(E) all shares of unvested stock options shall immediately vest;

 

-5-

 

 

(F) all shares of unvested restricted stock awards, RSUs, Options, Warrants or other equity awards shall immediately become vested;

 

(G) the right to continue Board Member’s participation in the Company’s health benefit plans to the extent that he is then a participant therein, at no additional cost to Board Member other than he would have incurred as an employee, for a period of twelve (12) months starting with the first calendar month after such date of termination; provided, however, that Company shall pay the full premium for COBRA (or equivalent) continuation coverage under its health plans for Board Member (and, if applicable, Board Member’s dependents enrolled as participants in such health plans as of the date of termination) for such twelve-month period. In the event Board Member obtains other employment during the twelve-month period in this clause ‎(H), pursuant to which he becomes covered for substantially similar or improved benefits, the right to continue to participate in any health benefit plan, at the Company’s expense, offered or provided by the Company shall immediately cease; and

 

(H) reasonable outplacement services at a level commensurate with Board Member’s position, including use of an executive office, for a period of ninety (90) days commencing on Board Member’s date of termination but in no event extending beyond the date on which Board Member commences other full time employment.

 

(d) Termination by Board Member for Good Reason. Board Member may terminate the Board Service Term upon written notice by Board Member to the Company of a termination for Good Reason. “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events, without the express written consent of Board Member, unless such events are fully corrected in all material respects by the Company within thirty (30) days following written notification by Board Member to the Company of the occurrence of one of the reasons set forth below:

 

(i) material diminution in Board Member’s Base Salary or the target amount of the then-applicable Annual Bonus;

 

(ii) material diminution in Board Member’s duties, authorities or responsibilities (other than temporarily while physically or mentally incapacitated or as required by applicable law)

 

(iii) Board member is required to relocate more than one hundred (100) miles from Board Member’s then current residence in order to continue to perform Board Member’s duties under this Agreement; or

 

(iv) a material breach by the Company of this Agreement.

 

Board Member shall provide the Company with a written notice detailing the specific circumstances alleged to constitute Good Reason within thirty (30) days after the first occurrence of such circumstances, and actually terminate employment within ten (10) days following the expiration of the Company’s thirty (30)-day cure period described above. Otherwise, any claim of such circumstances as “Good Reason” shall be deemed irrevocably waived by the Board Member.

 

In the event that Board Member terminates the Board Service Term, Board Member shall be entitled to the payments and benefits set forth in Section ‎4‎(c).

 

-6-

 

 

(e) Termination by Board Member Other Than for Good Reason. Board Member may terminate Board Member’s employment at any time by written notice to the Company other than for Good Reason. In the event that Board Member terminates Board Member’s employment with the Company during the Board Service Term other than for Good Reason, Board Member shall not be entitled to any additional payments or benefits hereunder, other than Accrued Benefits, to be paid or provided within thirty (30) days of the date Board Member’s employment is terminated, or such earlier time as required by applicable law.

 

(f) No Mitigation/No Offset. Board Member shall not be required to seek other employment or otherwise mitigate the value of any severance benefits contemplated by this Agreement, nor shall any such benefits be reduced by any earnings or benefits that Board Member may receive from any other source. The amounts payable hereunder shall not be subject to setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that the Company may have against Board Member or others.

 

5. Change of Control Vesting Acceleration.

 

(a) In the event of a Change of Control (as defined below), one hundred percent (100%) of Board Member’s then-unvested Restricted Stock, RSUs, Options or Shares shall immediately vest, all Performance Bonuses (both current and future) are immediately due and payable, regardless of whether the milestone has been achieved.

 

(b) For the purposes of this Agreement, “Change of Control” is defined as the occurrence of any of the following after the Effective Date (and, for the avoidance of doubt, not counting the transactions contemplated in the Acquisition Agreement):

 

(i) any “person” (as defined in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) excluding for this purpose, (i) the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, or (ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, or any person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any plan which acquires beneficial ownership of voting securities of the Company, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; provided, however, that no Change of Control will be deemed to have occurred as a result of a change in ownership percentage resulting solely from an acquisition of securities by the Company, the grant or exercise of any stock option, stock award, stock purchase right or similar equity incentive, or the continued beneficial ownership by any party of voting securities of the Company which such party beneficially owned as of the Effective Date;

 

(ii) persons, who, as of the Effective Date constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason, including without limitation, as a result of a tender offer, proxy contest, merger or similar transaction, to constitute at least a majority thereof, provided, however, that any person becoming a director of the Company subsequent to the Effective Date shall be considered an Incumbent Director if such person’s election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least fifty percent (50%) of the Incumbent Directors; and provided further, that any such person whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the members of the Board or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a “person” (as defined in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) other than the Board, including by reason of agreement intended to avoid or settle any such actual or threatened contest or solicitation, shall not be considered an Incumbent Director;

 

-7-

 

 

(iii) consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of at least 80% of the assets (other than cash and cash equivalents) of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the Company resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a company which, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the outstanding voting securities of the Company; or

 

(iv) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

6. Golden Parachute Payments.

 

(a) Board Member shall bear all expense of, and be solely responsible for, all federal, state, local or foreign taxes due with respect to any benefit received pursuant to this Agreement, including, without limitation, any excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); provided, however, that any benefit received or to be received by Board Member in connection with a Change of Control (“Contract Benefits”) or any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company or an affiliate (collectively with the Contract Benefits, the “Total Benefits”) that would constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that no portion thereof shall be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, but only if, by reason of such reduction, the net after-tax benefit received by Board Member as a result of such reduction shall exceed the net after-tax benefit received by Board Member if no such reduction was made. For purposes of this Section 5, “net after-tax benefit” shall mean the Total Benefits that Board Member receives or is then entitled to receive from the Company that would constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, less (i) the amount of all federal, state and local income and employment taxes payable by Board Member with respect to such “parachute payment,” calculated at the highest marginal income tax rate for each year in which the foregoing shall be paid to Board Member (based on the rates set forth in the Code as in effect at the time of the first receipt of the foregoing benefits), and (ii) the amount of excise taxes imposed with respect to such “parachute payment” by Section 4999 of the Code.

 

-8-

 

 

(b) The accounting firm engaged by the Company (or its successor) for general tax purposes shall perform any adjustment pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section ‎6. The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such accounting firm required to be made hereunder. The accounting firm engaged to make the determinations hereunder shall provide its calculations, together with detailed supporting documentation, to Board Member and to the Company within fifteen (15) calendar days of being engaged to perform such determination and adjustment, or at such other time as requested by the Company. Any good faith determinations of the accounting firm made hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive upon you and the Company.

 

7. Section 409A Compliance.

 

(a) The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (collectively “Code Section 409A”) and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be in compliance therewith. To the extent that any provision hereof is modified in order to comply with Code Section 409A, such modification shall be made in good faith and shall, to the maximum extent reasonably possible, maintain the original intent and economic benefit to the Board Member and the Company of the applicable provision without violating the provisions of Code Section 409A.

 

(b) A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the payment of any amounts or benefits upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A and, for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean “separation from service.” Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if the Board Member is deemed on the date of termination to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of that term under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B), then with regard to any payment or the provision of any benefit that is considered deferred compensation under Code Section 409A payable on account of a “separation from service,” such payment or benefit shall not be made or provided until the date which is the earlier of (A) the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date of such “separation from service” of the Board Member, and (B) the date of the Board Member’s death, to the extent required under Code Section 409A. Upon the expiration of the foregoing delay period, all payments and benefits delayed pursuant to this paragraph (whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single sum or in installments in the absence of such delay) shall be paid or reimbursed to the Board Member in a lump sum, and any remaining payments and benefits due under this Agreement shall be paid or provided in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them herein.

 

(c) To the extent that reimbursements or other in-kind benefits under this Agreement constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” for purposes of Code Section 409A, (A) all such expenses or other reimbursements hereunder shall be made on or prior to the last day of the taxable year following the taxable year in which such expenses were incurred by the Board Member, (B) any right to such reimbursement or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit, and (C) no such reimbursement, expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided in any taxable year shall in any way affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other taxable year.

 

-9-

 

 

(d) For purposes of Code Section 409A, the Board Member’s right to receive any installment payments pursuant to this Agreement shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments. Whenever a payment under this Agreement specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days, the actual date of payment within the specified period shall be within the sole discretion of the Company.

 

8. Restrictive Covenants. Board Member and Company expressly acknowledge that the following restrictions are necessary to protect the goodwill of the Company and that such restrictions are fair and reasonable. Board Member holds specialized knowledge of the business of the Company (the “Business”). Board Member and Company acknowledge and agree that (i) the Parties would be irreparably harmed and impaired if Board Member were to engage, directly or indirectly, in any activity competing with the Business, make any disclosure in violation of this Agreement or any unauthorized use of, any confidential information concerning the Business, and (ii) the Parties are entitled to protection from such use of the specialized knowledge of Board Member. Board Member acknowledges that the Company’s ability to keep its Confidential Information (as defined in Section ‎11(b)) secret and away from its competitors is important to the Company’s and its affiliates’ viability and business. Board Member further acknowledges that over the course of Board Member’s employment with the Company Board Member has and will (i) develop special and substantial relationships with the Company’s and its affiliates’ customers and suppliers, and/or (ii) be privy to Confidential Information. Further, Board Member has and will help develop the goodwill of the Company and its affiliates during the course of Board Member’s employment. Finally, pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, Board Member will have a substantial ownership interest in the Company. As such, Board Member agrees to abide by the following covenants in order to allow the Company to protect those interests:

 

9. (a) Non-Competition. During the “Restricted Period” (as defined below), Board Member will not either directly or indirectly, for Board Member or any other person or entity, anywhere within the United States, carry on, own, be engaged in, assist, be employed by, consult for, serve as a director for, or have any financial interest in any business or enterprise that is materially engaged in any of the services of the Company or manufactures or sells any of the products provided or offered by Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of Company, or if it performs any other services and/or engages in the production, manufacture, distribution or sale of any product similar to services or products, which services or products were performed, produced, manufactured, distributed, sold, under development or planned by Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of Company during the period while Board Member performs services for Company, provided that an equity investment of not more than two percent (2%) in any company that is publicly traded and whose shares are listed on a national stock exchange will be permitted.

 

For purposes of this Section ‎9, “Restricted Period” means the period beginning on the Effective Date and continuing until the one (1) year anniversary of Board Member’s employment termination date, if Board Member is terminated for Cause, and six (6) months is terminated for any other reason.

 

-10-

 

 

(b) Non-Solicitation. During the Non-Solicitation Restricted Period, Board Member will not either directly or indirectly, for Board Member or any other person or entity, (i) hire, solicit for services, encourage the resignation of, or in any other manner seek to engage or employ, any person who is an employee of the Company, or a consultant of the Company devoting more than seventy percent (70%) of Board Member’s time to the business of the Company or any of its affiliates, on Board Member’s employment termination date or during the one (1) year period preceding such termination date, or (ii) solicit, provide services to, or otherwise interfere with the Company’s business relationship with, any customer of the Company in connection with services and/or products that compete with the Company’s services or products, provided that such customer is a customer of the Company on the employment termination date or during the one (1) year period preceding such termination date.

 

For the Purposes of Section ‎9‎(b) the “Non-Solicitation Restricted Period” means the period beginning on the Effective Date and continuing until the two (2) year anniversary of Board Member’s employment termination date, if Board Member is terminated for Cause, and twelve (12) months if Board Member is terminated for any other reason.

 

(c) Equitable Relief. Board Member acknowledges that the remedy at law for Board Member’s breach of Sections ‎9 or ‎11 will be inadequate, and that the damages flowing from such breach will not be readily susceptible to being measured in monetary terms. Accordingly, upon a violation of any part of such Sections, the Company will be entitled to immediate injunctive relief (or other equitable relief) and may obtain a temporary order restraining any further violation. No bond or other security will be required in obtaining such equitable relief, and Board Member hereby consents to the issuance of such equitable relief. Such equitable relief may be obtained from any court having appropriate jurisdiction over the matter. Nothing in this Section ‎9‎(c) shall be deemed to limit the Company’s remedies at law or in equity that may be pursued or availed of by the Company for any breach by Board Member of any of the parts of Sections ‎9 or ‎11.

 

10. Judicial Modification. Board Member acknowledges that it is the intent of the parties hereto that the restrictions contained or referenced in Sections ‎9 and ‎11 be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws of each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. If any of the restrictions contained or referenced in such Section is for any reason held by a court or arbitrator to be excessively broad as to duration, activity, geographical scope, or subject, then, for purposes of that jurisdiction, such restriction shall be construed, judicially modified, or “blue penciled” so as to thereafter be limited or reduced to the extent required to be enforceable in accordance with applicable law. Board Member acknowledges and understands that, due to the nature and scope of the Company’s existing and proposed business plans and projects, and the technological advancements in electronic communications, any narrower geographic restriction of Board Member’s obligations under Section ‎9 would be inappropriate and counter to the protections sought by the Company thereunder.

 

11. Confidential Information.

 

(a) Non-Use and Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information. Board Member acknowledges that, during the course of Board Member’s employment with the Company, he has had and will have access to information about the Company and its affiliates, and their customers and suppliers, that is confidential and/or proprietary in nature, and that belongs to the Company and/or its affiliates. As such, at all times, both during Board Member’s employment and thereafter, Board Member will hold in the strictest confidence, and not use or attempt to use except for the benefit of the Company and its affiliates, and not disclose to any other person or entity (without the prior written authorization of the Board) any “Confidential Information” (as defined in Section ‎11‎(b)). Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section ‎11, Board Member will be permitted to disclose any Confidential Information to the extent required by validly-issued legal process or court order, provided that Board Member notifies the Board immediately of any such legal process or court order in an effort to allow the Company to challenge such legal process or court order, if the Company so elects, prior to Board Member’s disclosure of any Confidential Information.

 

-11-

 

 

(b) Definition of Confidential Information. For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means any confidential or proprietary information that belongs to the Company or its affiliates, or any of their customers or suppliers, including, without limitation, technical data, market data, trade secrets, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, other intellectual property, know-how, research, business plans, product and service information, projects, services, customer lists and information, customer preferences, customer transactions, supplier lists and information, supplier rates, software, hardware, technology, inventions, developments, processes, formulas, designs, drawings, marketing methods and strategies, pricing strategies, sales methods, financial information, project information, revenue figures, account information, credit information, financing arrangements, and other information disclosed to Board Member by the Company or its affiliates in confidence, directly or indirectly, and whether in writing, orally, or by electronic records, drawings, pictures, or inspection of tangible property.

 

12. Return of Company Property. Upon the termination of Board Member’s employment with the Company, or at any time during such employment upon request by the Company, Board Member will promptly deliver to the Company and not keep in Board Member’s possession, recreate, or deliver to any other person or entity, any and all property that belongs to the Company or any of its affiliates, or that belongs to any other third party and is in Board Member’s possession as a result of Board Member’s employment with the Company, including, without limitation, records, data, customer lists and information, supplier lists and information, notes, reports, correspondence, financial information, account information, product and service information, project information, files, and other documents and information, including any and all copies of the foregoing.

 

13. Assignment.

 

(a) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of (i) the heirs, beneficiaries, executors and legal representatives of Board Member upon Board Member’s death and (ii) any successor of the Company, provided, however, that any successor shall within ten (10) days of such assumption deliver to Board Member a written assumption in a form reasonably acceptable to Board Member. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party hereto without the prior written consent of the other party, The Company will assign this Agreement to a corporation succeeding to substantially all of the assets or business of the Company whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition, or otherwise. As used herein, “successor” shall mean any person, firm, corporation, LLC or any other entity that at any time, whether by purchase, merger or otherwise, directly or indirectly acquires any, all or substantially all of the assets or business of the Company. Notwithstanding such assignment, the Company shall remain, with such successor, jointly and severally liable for all of its obligations hereunder. The Company may not otherwise assign this Agreement, without written consent from the Board Member. Any such successor of the Company shall be deemed substituted for the Company under the terms of this Agreement for all purposes. As used herein, “successor” shall mean any person, firm, corporation or other business entity that at any time, whether by purchase, merger or otherwise, directly or indirectly acquires all or substantially all of the assets or business of the Company. Notwithstanding such assignment, the Company shall remain, with such successor, jointly and severally liable for all of its obligations hereunder. This Agreement may not otherwise be assigned by the Company.

 

-12-

 

 

(b) None of the rights of Board Member to receive any form of compensation payable pursuant to this Agreement shall be assignable or transferable except through a testamentary disposition or by the laws of descent and distribution upon the death of Board Member or as provided in Section ‎4 hereof. Any attempted assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than as provided in this Agreement) of any interest in the rights of Board Member to receive any form of compensation hereunder shall be null and void; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, Board Member shall be allowed to transfer vested Restricted Stock, RSUs, Options, Warrants, Shares or other stock options or equity awards consistent with the rules for transfers to “family members” as defined in U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Form S-8.

 

14. Liability Insurance.

 

(a) The Company shall cover Board Member under directors’ and officers’ liability insurance both during and, while potential liability exists, after the Board Service Term in the same amount and to the same extent, if any, as the Company covers its other officers and directors.

 

(b) The Company shall, both during and after the Board Service Term, indemnify and hold harmless Board Member to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law with regard to actions or inactions taken by Board Member in the performance of Board Member’s duties as an officer, director and employee of the Company and its affiliates or as a fiduciary of any benefit plan of the Company and its affiliates. For the avoidance of all doubt, in the event of any litigation, investigation, or any other matter naming the Board Member, the Company will pay 100% of the Board Member’s legal fees, including any retainers required, with an attorney or attorneys of the Board Member’s choice.

 

-13-

 

 

15. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications called for hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if (a) delivered personally or by facsimile, (b) one (1) day after being sent by Federal Express or a similar commercial overnight service, or (c) three (3) days after being mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, prepaid and addressed to the parties or their successors in interest at the following addresses, or at such other addresses as the parties may designate by written notice in the manner set forth in this Section ‎15:

 

If to the Company:

 

Atlantic International Corp. 270
Sylvan Avenue, Suite 2230
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
Attention: Jeffrey Jagid, Chief Executive Officer
Email: jjagid@atlantic-international.com

 

If to Board Member:

 

Axiom Partners GmbH
Gubbelstrasse 11
Zug Swiss
Attention: Guus Franke

Email: [REDACTED]

 

16. Severability. In the event that any provision hereof becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without said provision.

 

17. Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire agreement and understanding between the Company and Board Member concerning Board Member’s employment or other service relationship with the Company, and supersedes and replaces any and all prior agreements and understandings concerning Board Member’s employment or other service relationship with the Company entered into prior to the date hereof, but it does not supersede or replace the Acquisition Agreement or any other written agreements entered into simultaneous with this Agreement or thereafter.

 

18. Arbitration.

 

(a) Agreement. The Company and Board Member agree that, except as otherwise provided in Section 9(c), any dispute or controversy arising out of, relating to, or in connection with the employment relationship between them, the inception of that relationship, the termination of that relationship, this Agreement, or the interpretation, validity, construction, performance, breach, or termination thereof, including, without limitation, claims of discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation, and any violation of whistleblower laws, shall be settled by final and binding arbitration to be held in New York, NY or such other location agreed by the parties hereto, under the auspices of and in accordance with the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes then in effect of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”). The arbitrator may grant injunctions or other relief in such dispute or controversy. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final, conclusive and binding on the parties to the arbitration. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator’s decision in any court having jurisdiction. The selection of the arbitrator will be conducted in accordance with the AAA’s practices and procedures for disputes of the nature here contemplated. The arbitrator will have authority and discretion to determine the arbitrability of any particular claim, should any disputes arise with respect to such issue.

 

-14-

 

 

(b) Costs and Fees of Arbitration. The moving party shall pay the costs of the initial arbitration filing (not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250)), and each Party shall pay the remaining costs and expenses of such arbitration equally. Unless otherwise required by law or pursuant to an award by the arbitrator, the Company and Board Member shall each pay separately its or Board Member’s counsel fees and expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the arbitrator may, but need not, award the prevailing party in any dispute its or Board Member’s legal fees and expenses.

 

19. No Oral Modification, Cancellation or Discharge. This Agreement may only be amended, canceled or discharged in writing signed by Board Member and an appropriate officer or director of the Company.

 

20. Survivorship. The respective rights and obligations of Company and Board Member hereunder shall survive any termination of Board Member’s employment by the Company to the extent necessary to preserve such rights and obligations.

 

21. Beneficiaries. Board Member shall be entitled, to the extent permitted under any applicable law, to select and change the beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive any compensation or benefit payable hereunder upon Board Member’s death by giving the Company written notice thereof. If Board Member dies, severance then due or other amounts due hereunder shall be paid to Board Member’s designated beneficiary or beneficiaries or, if none are designated or none survive Board Member, Board Member’s estate.

 

22. Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to withhold, or cause to be withheld, any amount of federal, state, city or other withholding taxes required by law with respect to payments made to Board Member in connection with Board Member’s employment hereunder.

 

23. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by New York (without reference to rules of conflicts of law), which shall be applied to the merits of any dispute or claim submitted to arbitration pursuant to Section ‎18 of this Agreement. Board Member and the Company hereby expressly consent to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in New York, NY for any action or proceeding relating to any arbitration pursuant to Section ‎18 of this Agreement in which the parties are participants, or any claim to which Section ‎9(c) applies.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank – signatures on the following page]

 

-15-

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement:

 

  Atlantic International Corp.
     
  /s/Jeffrey Jagid
  Name: Jeffrey Jagid
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  Board Member
     
  /s/ Guus Franke
  Name:    Guus Franke

 

-16-

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

MUTUAL RELEASE

 

THIS RELEASE (this “Release”) is dated [DATE], by Guus Franke (“Board Member”) and Atlantic International Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Employment and Board Service Agreement, effective January 22, 2026, between Board Member and the Company (the “Agreement”), the Company has agreed to pay Board Member certain severance payments (the “Severance Payments”) upon a qualifying termination of employment, subject to the terms and conditions described in the Agreement and contingent upon executing and not revoking this Release within sixty (60) days after the qualifying termination of employment. Capitalized terms set forth herein that are not otherwise defined shall have the meaning set forth in the Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, Board Member experienced a qualifying termination of employment with the Company on [DATE].

 

WHEREAS, the payment of the Severance Payments is in exchange for and contingent upon Board Member’s execution (and non-revocation within the revocation period) of this Release.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged, Board Member agrees as follows:

 

1. Release in Full of All Claims. In exchange for the Severance Payments, Board Member, for Board Member and for Board Member’s agents, attorneys, heirs, administrators, executors, assigns and other representatives, and anyone acting or claiming on his, her or their joint or several behalf, hereby releases, waives and forever discharges the Company, its respective affiliates, and its and their respective affiliates’ past or present employees, officers, managers, directors, trustees, board members, stockholders, equityholders, agents, affiliates, parent entities, subsidiaries, heirs, administrators, successors, assigns and other representatives, insurers and anyone acting on its or their joint or several behalf (the “Releasees”), from any and all known and unknown claims, causes of action, demands, damages, costs, expenses, liabilities and other losses that Board Member has or may have against the Company or the other Releasees. By way of example only, and without limiting the immediately preceding sentence, Board Member agrees that Board Member is releasing, waiving and discharging any and all claims against the Company and the other Releasees under (a) any federal, state or local employment law or statute, including, but not limited to, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act(s) of 1964 and 1991, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (the “ADEA”), the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (the “OWBPA”), the Family and Medical Leave Act or the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, and each of their respective implementing regulations, and any applicable state employment law(s) or (b) any federal, state or municipal law, statute, ordinance or common law doctrine (including, but not limited to, breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, breach of fiduciary duty, wrongful discharge in violation of public policy, infliction of emotional distress, negligence, invasion of privacy, interference with contractual relationship, defamation and fraud); provided, however, that Board Member specifically does not release any claims to challenge the validity of this Release under the ADEA or any claims that Board Member cannot waive by operation of law.

 

A-1

 

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Release in no way alters Board Member’s rights (i) to the Accrued Benefits and the Severance Payments, (ii) to any benefits to which Board Member is entitled under the Agreement or any retirement plan of the Company that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (iii) under Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, (iv) pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement or the Convertible Note, (iv) to indemnification, whether pursuant to the organizing documents of the Company or otherwise, (v) to claims arising after the date Board Member signs this Agreement, or (vi) to claims related to any outstanding equity in the Company.

 

Nothing contained herein shall be construed to prohibit Board Member from filing a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the Securities and Exchange Commission or from participating in investigations by such entities. However, Board Member acknowledges that the release Board Member executes herein waives Board Member’s right to seek or accept individual remedies or monetary damages in any such action or lawsuit arising from such charges or investigations, or in connection with any complaint or charge that Board Member may file with an administrative agency, including, but not limited to, back pay, front pay or reinstatement, except with respect to any monetary recovery under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Board Member further agrees that if any person, organization or other entity should bring a claim against the Releasees involving any matter covered by this Release, Board Member will not accept any personal relief in any such action, including damages, attorneys’ fees, costs and all other legal or equitable relief.

 

Board Member further understands that nothing contained herein is intended to interfere with or discourage Board Member’s good faith disclosure to any governmental entity regarding possible legal violations or otherwise testifying or participating in any investigation or proceeding by any governmental authorities regarding possible legal violations, and nothing contained herein waives or releases Board Member’s right to receive money for disclosing such information to a government agency. Board Member further understands that Board Member will not be subject to retaliation by the Company for a disclosure made pursuant to this provision.

 

2. Company’s Release of Claims. The Company agrees to irrevocably and unconditionally release Board Member from any and all claims, complaints, demands, costs, expenses, grievances, obligations, liabilities, actions, and causes of action in law or in equity, arising out of Board Member’s employment with the Company, through the date on which the Company executes this Release. The Company specifically does not release (a) any rights to enforce this Release or any claims it is precluded from waiving by operation of law, or (b) any rights to enforce Sections ‎8, ‎9, ‎11 or ‎12 of the Agreement.

 

3. No Claims Filed. Board Member and Company affirm that, as of the date of execution of this Release, neither has filed no lawsuit, charge, claim or complaint with any governmental agency or in any court against the other party to this Release.

 

4. Assistance to Others. Board Member agrees not to assist or cooperate, in any way, directly or indirectly, with any person, entity or group (other than the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or other governmental agency) involved in any proceeding, inquiry or investigation of any kind or nature against or involving the Company or any of the other Releasees, except as required by law, subpoena or other compulsory process.

 

A-2

 

 

5. ADEA/OWBPA Waiver and Acknowledgement. Insofar as this Release pertains to the release of Board Member’s claims, if any, under the ADEA, Board Member, pursuant to and in compliance with the rights afforded Board Member under the OWBPA: (a) is hereby advised to consult with an attorney before executing this Release; (b) has been afforded at least twenty-one (21) days to consider this Release; (c) may rescind this Release any time within the seven (7) day period following Board Member’s execution of this Release (the “Revocation Period”); (d) is hereby advised that this Release shall not become effective or enforceable until the Revocation Period has expired; and (e) is hereby advised that Board Member is not waiving claims that may arise after the date on which Board Member executes this Release. If this Release is revoked within the Revocation Period, the Company shall have no obligation to pay the Severance Payments. If this Release is not revoked within the Revocation Period, this Release will be effective and enforceable on the date immediately following the last day of the Revocation Period.

 

If Board Member wishes to revoke this Release, Board Member must deliver written notice stating Board Member’s intent to revoke this Release to [Company Contact], on or before the seventh (7th) day after the date on which Board Member signed this Release.

 

6. Governing Law. The validity, interpretations, construction and performance of this Release shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to conflict of laws principles.

 

7. Severability. Should any provision of this Release be declared or be determined by any court to be invalid, the validity of the remaining parts, terms or provisions shall not be affected thereby, and said invalid part, term or provision shall be deemed not to be part of this Release. The waiver of a breach of any of the provisions of this Release shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Release or a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same provision.

 

8. Voluntary Execution. Board Member acknowledges that Board Member is executing this Release voluntarily and of Board Member’s own free will and that Board Member fully understands and intends to be bound by the terms of this Release. Further, Board Member acknowledges that Board Member received a copy of this Release on [DATE] and has had an opportunity to carefully review this Release with Board Member’s attorney prior to executing it or warrants that Board Member chooses not to have Board Member’s attorney review this Release prior to executing it.

 

9. No Assignment of Claims. Board Member and Company hereby represent and warrant that they have not previously assigned or purported to assign or transfer to any person or entity any of the claims or causes of action herein released.

 

[Signature on Following Page]

 

A-3

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Board Member and the Company hereby certify that they have read this Release in its entirety and voluntarily executed it, as of the date set forth under the signatures below.

 

BOARD MEMBER  
   
   
Guus Franke  
   
   
Date:  
   
COMPANY  
   
   
[NAME and TITLE]  
   
   
Date:  

 

A-4

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

FIRST AMENDMENT TO EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDMENT TO EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is made and entered into effective as of January 23, 2025 (the “Amendment Effective Date”) by and between Atlantic International Corp. (the “Company”) and Jeffrey Jagid (the “Executive” and, together with the Company, the “Parties”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Executive entered into that certain Executive Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated as of June 18, 2024; and

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Agreement in the manner reflected herein in consideration for Executive’s recent acquisition efforts for the Company and additional duties associated with corporate acquisitions; and

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants and conditions herein, the Parties intending to be legally bound hereby agree as follows, effective as of the Amendment Effective Date:

 

1.Section 2 of the Agreement is hereby amended by changing the Initial Term end date to January 31, 2031.

 

2.Section 2(a)(i) of the Agreement is amended to increase the Annual Base Salary to $800,000.00.

 

3.Section 2(a)(i) “Annual Bonus” of the Agreement is amended to increase the Annual Bonus to $800,000.00.

 

4.Section 2(a)(ii) “Transaction Bonus” of the Agreement is amended to increase the Transaction Bonus to $225,000.00, effective January 1, 2026. Additionally, Executive shall be entitled to a one-time bonus of $300,000.00 should the Company conclude a registered direct offering or any other type of financing of at least $5,000,000.00 in 2026 (“Special Bonus”). The Special Bonus shall be paid within five (5) days of the closing of the offering.

 

5.The Agreement is amended to replace Section 13 with the following:

 

Joint and Several Entities.

 

Each of the entities listed in Exhibit A (“Joint and Several Entities”) agrees that it is jointly and severally liable for, and absolutely and unconditionally guarantees to Employee the prompt payment and performance of all obligations and all agreements hereunder. Each Joint and Several Entity agrees that its guaranty obligations hereunder constitute a continuing guaranty of payment, that such obligations shall not be discharged until payment of the obligations, and that such obligations are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of (a) the genuineness, validity, regularity, enforceability, subordination or any future modification of, or change in, any obligations, or any other document, instrument or agreement to which any Joint and Several Entity is or may become a party or be bound; (b) the absence of any action to enforce this Agreement (including this Section), or any waiver, consent or indulgence of any kind by Employee with respect thereto; (c) the decision by Employee to enforce the Agreement against any particular Joint and Several Entity or group of Joint and Several Entities; (d) any other action or circumstances that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor, except full payment of all obligations under the Agreement.

 

6.Section 16 of the Agreement is amended to add the following new paragraph to the end of Section 16:

 

In addition to, and not in limitation of, the Employee’s other remedies under applicable law, including as provided herein, upon an Event of Default the Employee shall be entitled to file with the appropriate court of law the Affidavit of Confession of Judgment executed by the Company in connection with this Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit B hereto (“Judgement”). The Judgement may be submitted against any Joint and Several Entity in the courts of the European Union.

 

Counterparts. This amendment may be executed in one or more facsimile, electronic or original counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and both of which together shall constitute the same instrument.

 

Ratification. All terms and provisions of the Agreement not amended hereby, either expressly or by necessary implication, shall remain in full force and effect. From and after the date of this Amendment all references to the term “Agreement” in this Amendment or the original Agreement, as amended, shall include the terms contained in this Amendment.

 

[SIGNATURES ON NEXT PAGE]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment:

 

  Atlantic International Corp.
   
  /s/ Michael Tenore
  Name: Michael Tenore
   
  Title: Secretary
   
  Employee:
   
  /s/ Jeffrey Jagid
  Name: Jeffrey Jagid

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.4

 

FIRST AMENDMENT TO EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDMENT TO EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is made and entered into effective as of January 23, 2026 (the “Amendment Effective Date”) by and between Atlantic International Corp. (the “Company”) and Michael S. Tenore (the “Executive” and, together with the Company, the “Parties”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Executive entered into that certain Executive Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated as of June 18, 2024; and

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Agreement in the manner reflected herein in consideration for Executive’s recent acquisition efforts for the Company and additional duties associated with corporate acquisitions; and

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants and conditions herein, the Parties intending to be legally bound hereby agree as follows, effective as of the Amendment Effective Date:

 

1.Section 2 of the Agreement is hereby amended by changing the Initial Term end date to January 31, 2031.

 

2.Section 3(a)(i) of the Agreement is amended to increase the Annual Base Salary to $325,000.00.

 

3.Section 3(a)(ii) of the Agreement is amended to increase the Annual Bonus to $100,000.00, effective January 1, 2026.

 

4.Section 3(a)(iv) of the Agreement is amended to increase the Transaction Bonus from $100,000 to $150,000.00 as of January 1, 2026. Additionally, Executive be entitled to a one-time bonus of $300,000.00 should the Company conclude a registered direct offering or any other type of financing of at least $5,000,000.00 in 2026 (“Special Bonus”). The Special Bonus shall be paid within five (5) days of the closing of the offering.

 

5.Section 17 of the Agreement is amended to add the following new Section 17(c):

 

(c) Confession of Judgment: Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, including, but not limited to this Section 17(a)-(b) and Section 22 of the Agreement, and in addition to, and not in limitation of, the Employee’s other remedies under applicable law, including as provided herein, upon an Event of Default the Employee shall be entitled to file with the appropriate court of law the Affidavit of Confession of Judgment executed by the Company in connection with this Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit B hereto (“Judgement”). The Judgement may be submitted against any Joint and Several Entity in the courts of the European Union or in the courts of the State of New York.

 

6.The Agreement is amended to insert the following Section 23:

 

23.Joint and Several Entities.

 

Each of the entities listed in Exhibit A (“Joint and Several Entities”) agrees that it is jointly and severally liable for, and absolutely and unconditionally guarantees to Employee the prompt payment and performance of all obligations and all agreements hereunder. Each Joint and Several Entity agrees that its guaranty obligations hereunder constitute a continuing guaranty of payment, that such obligations shall not be discharged until payment of the obligations, and that such obligations are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of (a) the genuineness, validity, regularity, enforceability, subordination or any future modification of, or change in, any obligations, or any other document, instrument or agreement to which any Joint and Several Entity is or may become a party or be bound; (b) the absence of any action to enforce this Agreement (including this Section), or any waiver, consent or indulgence of any kind by Employee with respect thereto; (c) the decision by Employee to enforce the Agreement against any particular Joint and Several Entity or group of Joint and Several Entities; (d) any other action or circumstances that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor, except full payment of all obligations under the Agreement.

 

Counterparts. This amendment may be executed in one or more facsimile, electronic or original counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and both of which together shall constitute the same instrument.

 

Ratification. All terms and provisions of the Agreement not amended hereby, either expressly or by necessary implication, shall remain in full force and effect. From and after the date of this Amendment all references to the term “Agreement” in this Amendment or the original Agreement, as amended, shall include the terms contained in this Amendment.

 

[SIGNATURES ON NEXT PAGE]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment:

 

Atlantic International Corp.   Michael S. Tenore
     
By: /s/ Jeffrey Jagid   By: /s/ Michael S. Tenore
Name: Jeffrey Jagid   Name: Michel S. Tenore
Title: Chief Executive Officer      

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

Atlantic International Corp. Acquires Circle8 Group, Creating a $1.2 Billion Global Workforce Solutions Platform

 

European IT Staffing Leader and Official Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 Team IT Talent Partner Accelerates Atlantic’s Global Growth Strategy

 

Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey – January 23, 2026 – Atlantic International Corp. (Nasdaq: ATLN), a leading provider of strategic staffing and workforce solutions, today announced the acquisition of Circle8 Group. The transaction creates a diversified global workforce solutions platform with $1.2 billion (unaudited) in annual revenue, uniting Atlantic’s North American light industrial staffing operations with Circle8’s leading European IT and technology talent business.

 

Acquisition Summary

 

Creates a diversified global workforce solutions platform with approximately $1.2 billion (unaudited) in annual revenue

 

Expands Atlantic’s geographic footprint into key European markets

 

Adds high-growth IT and technology staffing capabilities, complementing Atlantic’s North American industrial staffing operations

 

Circle8 generated approximately $780 million (unaudited) in 2025 revenue and is on track to reach $1 billion organically in 2026

 

Founder-led continuity and governance alignment, with Circle8 founder Guus Franke joining Atlantic’s Board of Directors as Executive Chairman

 

Strategic Rationale

 

Diversification of revenue and end markets, balancing industrial staffing with higher-margin, higher-growth IT and technology talent solutions

 

Expanded multinational customer coverage, enabling cross-regional workforce support for global enterprises

 

Enhanced scale and operating leverage, supporting long-term margin expansion and cash flow generation

 

Increased revenue visibility, driven by long-term government contracts and blue-chip enterprise customers

  

Platform for disciplined future growth, leveraging Circle8’s completed acquisition phase and transition to operational excellence

 

 

 

 

Circle8 Group, a leading provider of IT talent solutions, operates throughout Europe. The company generated $780 million (unaudited) in revenue in 2025 and is on track to reach $1 billion organically in 2026, reflecting strong demand, blue-chip client relationships, and long-term contract visibility. Circle8 will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlantic International, with founder Guus Franke joining Atlantic International’s Board of Directors as Executive Chairman while retaining his role as CEO of Circle8 Group.

 

“This acquisition creates immediate strategic value through complementary capabilities, expanded geographic reach, cross-selling opportunities, and a more balanced and diversified revenue mix,” said Jeffrey Jagid, Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic International Corp. “Circle8’s exceptional growth trajectory, blue-chip client relationships, and market-leading position in European IT staffing meaningfully advance our strategy to build a scaled, diversified global workforce solutions business. We’re not just acquiring a company—we’re welcoming a team of proven operators who have built something remarkable in one of the world’s most competitive markets.”

 

Guus Franke commented, “Joining Atlantic International represents an exciting new chapter for Circle8. Together, we can offer clients comprehensive workforce solutions across continents and talent categories. By combining our European technology expertise with Atlantic’s North American industrial staffing platform, we create a broader, more resilient value proposition for global enterprises.”

 

The combined platform is positioned to unlock meaningful value through expanded geographic reach, broader customer coverage, and cross-selling opportunities. Atlantic, through its Lyneer Staffing Solutions subsidiary, serves clients across food production, manufacturing, and logistics sectors throughout the United States, many of whom are global enterprises with European operations requiring technology talent. Circle8 serves Fortune 500 technology companies, government agencies, and large European corporations, many of which have significant North American footprints. Together, Atlantic can now support workforce needs in both regions and across industrial, IT, and technology talent categories.

 

2

 

 

Circle8’s operational scale and execution track record further strengthen the strategic rationale. Operating through a portfolio of respected brands, the company manages over 12,000 technology professionals and achieved an 85% success rate in economic value on government tenders in 2025, securing long-term contracts with exceptional revenue visibility. Circle8’s appointment as the official IT global talent-matching partner for the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team underscores its ability to deliver mission-critical talent solutions in highly complex, performance-driven environments.

 

Circle8 is successfully executing a disciplined acquisition-led expansion that tripled the company’s size over the past four years. In parallel, the company is driving operational excellence and margin optimization across the portfolio by leveraging artificial intelligence, automation, and expanded direct sourcing capabilities.

 

This acquisition represents a significant milestone in Atlantic’s strategy to build a diversified, multi-billion-dollar workforce solutions platform with increased scale, global relevance, and long-term shareholder value creation. By preserving Circle8’s operational autonomy while integrating strategic capabilities, the company creates a comprehensive platform that serves workforce needs across multiple continents and industry verticals.

 

The acquisition was completed as an all-stock transaction. The Company’s Form 8-K SEC filing will provide additional transaction details.

 

E.F. Hutton & Co. served as the exclusive M&A advisor in connection with the acquisition.

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

This communication contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this communication that address activities, events or developments that Atlantic or Circle8 Group expect, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “create,” “expect,” “future,” “guidance,” “intend,” “plan,” “potential,” “seek,” “synergies,” “target,” “will,” “would,” similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words identify forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about the combined Company’s anticipated continued operations and benefits thereof. All such forward-looking statements are based upon current plans, estimates, expectations and ambitions that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond the control of Atlantic and Circle8 Group, and that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties, include, but are not limited to, those factors described in Item 1A of Atlantic’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2025, and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K.

 

3

 

 

About Atlantic International Corp.

 

Atlantic International Corp. (Nasdaq: ATLN) is a leading provider of strategic staffing and workforce solutions. Through its subsidiary Lyneer Staffing Solutions, the company delivers comprehensive staffing services across food production, manufacturing, and logistics sectors nationwide. With the addition of Circle8 Group, Atlantic International extends its capabilities into specialized IT and technology staffing across Europe.

 

www.atlantic-international.com

 

About Circle8 Group

 

Circle8 Group is one of the fastest-growing IT and technology staffing companies, operating across Europe through a portfolio of specialized brands. The company manages over 16,000 technology professionals and specializes in software development, data analytics, cybersecurity, project management, and emerging technologies.

 

www.circle8group.com

 

Atlantic International Corp. Investor Contact

 

Matt Glover and Clay Liolios

Gateway Group, Inc.

949-574-3860

ATLN@gateway-grp.com

www.gateway-grp.com

 

4