Item 1.01 Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement
Forward Purchase Agreement
As previously announced, on July
28, 2022, Athena Consumer Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Athena”), entered into a Business Combination
Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among Athena, Next.e.GO Mobile SE, a German company (“e.GO”),
Next.e.GO B.V., a Dutch private limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of e.GO (“TopCo”), and Time
is Now Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of TopCo (“Merger Sub”). Also as previously
announced, on September 29, 2022, Athena entered into an amendment to the Business Combination Agreement (the “First Amendment
to Business Combination Agreement”), by and between Athena and e.GO, pursuant to which certain terms of the Business Combination
Agreement were amended. The transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, as amended, are hereinafter referred to as
the “Business Combination”.
On September 29, 2022, Athena,
TopCo, e.GO and Vellar Opportunity Fund SPV LLC – Series 3 (“Seller”) entered into an agreement (the “Forward
Purchase Agreement”) for an OTC Equity Prepaid Forward Transaction (the “Forward Purchase Transaction”).
Pursuant to the terms of the Forward Purchase Agreement, Seller intends, but is not obligated, to purchase (a) through a broker in the
open market, shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Athena (together with TopCo Shares following the closing
of the Business Combination, the “Shares”) after the date of the Forward Purchase Agreement from holders of Shares
(other than Athena or affiliates of Athena) who have redeemed or indicated an interest in redeeming Shares (such purchased Shares, the
“Recycled Shares”) pursuant to the redemption rights set forth in Athena’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation (the “Governing Documents”) in connection with the Business Combination (such holders, “Redeeming
Holders”) and (b) Shares in issuance from Athena (such Shares, the “Additional Shares” and, together with
the Recycled Shares, the “Subject Shares”). The aggregate total Subject Shares shall be no more than 15,000,000 (the
“Maximum Number of Shares”), and the aggregate total Additional Shares that may be purchased shall not exceed the difference
of the Maximum Number of Shares and the Recycled Shares. Subject to the Shares purchased in connection with the Share Consideration (as
defined below), the aggregate total number of shares under the Forward Purchase Agreement (the “Number of Shares”)
will be the sum of (a) the number of Recycled Shares and (b) the number of Additional Shares, but in no event more than the Maximum Number
of Shares. The Number of Shares is subject to reduction as described under “Optional Early Termination” in the Forward Purchase
Agreement.
Seller has agreed to hold the
Subject Shares in a bankruptcy remote special purpose vehicle for the benefit of e.GO. Seller also may not beneficially own greater than
9.9% of the Shares on a post-combination pro forma basis. Further, Athena and TopCo have agreed that any proceeds from any sale of Shares
(in any amount and at any price) subject to the Forward Purchase Agreement may be used by the Seller to recoup any and all fees owed to
the Seller under the credit agreement, dated as September 29, 2022 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time),
by and among e.GO, as borrower, Brucke Funding LLC, Brucke Agent LLC and certain lenders party thereto, and Seller, as administrative
agent and collateral agent (the “Bridge Loan Agreement”).
The Forward Purchase Agreement
provides that no later than the earlier of (a) one (1) local business day after the closing of the Business Combination (the “Closing”)
and (b) the date any assets from Athena’s trust account are disbursed in connection with the Business Combination, Seller shall
be paid directly, out of the funds held in Athena’s trust account, an amount (the “Prepayment Amount”) equal
to (i) the redemption price per share indicated to investors ahead of Athena’s redemption notice deadline (the “Redemption
Price”) multiplied by the number of Recycled Shares (the “Initial Price”), minus (ii) 10% of such amount
(the “Leakage Amount”).
In addition to the Prepayment
Amount, Athena shall pay directly from Athena’s trust account an amount equal to the product of 1,500,000 multiplied by the Redemption
Price (the “Share Consideration”), for the purpose of repayment of Seller having purchased, prior to the Closing, Shares
from third parties in the open market through a broker in connection with the Share Consideration, which Shares shall not be included
in the Number of Shares in the Forward Purchase Agreement, and shall be free and clear of all obligations of Seller in connection with
the Forward Purchase Agreement.
From time to time following the
Closing, Seller, in its discretion, may sell the Subject Shares (the “Shortfall Sales”)
without payment obligation to TopCo until such time as the proceeds from the sales equal (i) 10% of the product of the Number of Shares
and the Initial Price (the “Prepayment Shortfall”) or (ii) in the case of
an Event of Default under the Bridge Loan Agreement, all amounts that are due to Seller under such agreement.
Seller may, in its discretion,
sell Subject Shares, the effect of which is to terminate the Forward Purchase Agreement in respect of such Subject Shares sold (the “Terminated
Shares”). Athena before the Closing or TopCo following the Closing shall be entitled to proceeds from such sales of Terminated
Shares (other than any Subject Shares sold in Shortfall Sales) equal to the product of (x) the number of Terminated Shares multiplied
by (y) the Reset Price. Following the Closing, the reset price (the “Reset Price”) will initially be the per share
Redemption Price, but will be adjusted on the first scheduled trading day of each month (each a “Reset Date”) commencing
on the first calendar month following the Closing to the lowest of (a) the then-current Reset Price, (b) $10.00 and (c) the volume weighted
average price (“VWAP Price”) of the Shares of the last trading day immediately prior to the applicable Reset Date,
but not lower than $4.00; provided, however, that to the extent Athena, TopCo or e.GO sells, enters any agreement to sell
or grants any right to reprice, or otherwise dispose of or issue (or announce any offer, sale, grant or any option to purchase or other
disposition) any Shares or any securities of Athena or TopCo or any of their respective subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof
to acquire at any time Shares, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, right, option, warrant or other instrument that
is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Shares, at an
effective price per share less than the then existing Reset Price, then the Reset Price shall be modified to equal such reduced price
(a “Dilutive Offering Reset”).
The maturity date will be the
second anniversary of the Closing (the “Maturity Date”). Upon the occurrence of the Maturity Date, TopCo is obligated
to pay to Seller an amount equal to the product of (a) (x) the Maximum Number of Shares less (y) the number of Terminated Shares multiplied
by (b) $2.50 (the “Maturity Consideration”). The Maturity Consideration shall be payable by TopCo, in cash or Shares
at its sole discretion, equal to (a) in the case of cash, the product of the Maximum Number of Shares less the Terminated Shares, except
if such Shares were sold and the sale proceeds were applied to (i) outstanding Leakage Amounts or (ii) in the case of an Event of Default
under the Bridge Loan Agreement any amounts outstanding thereunder and any fees, costs or expenses of the Borrower (as defined in the
Bridge Loan Agreement) and $2.50 and (b) in the case of Shares, such Number of Shares with a value equal to the product of the Maximum
Number of Shares less any Shares sold, except if such Shares were sold and the sale proceeds were applied to (i) outstanding Leakage Amounts
or (ii) in the case of an Event of Default under the Bridge Loan Agreement any amounts outstanding thereunder (including principal, interest,
and fixed payment under the Bridge Loan Agreement, and any fees, costs or expenses of the borrower under the Bridge Loan Agreement), and
$2.50 divided by the VWAP Price of the Shares for the lower of the last 30 trading days and 10 trading days prior to the Maturity Date.
Seller’s obligations to
Athena under the Forward Purchase Agreement are secured by liens on (i) the proceeds of any sale or other disposition of the
Subject Shares and (ii) the deposit account into which such proceeds are required to be deposited.
The Forward Purchase Agreement
may be terminated if any of the following events occurs (a) failure to consummate the Business Combination on or before the Agreement
End Date (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement, as such Agreement End Date may be amended or extended from time to time),
(b) termination of the Business Combination Agreement prior to the Closing and (c) the Shares are involved in a delisting on the relevant
exchange and are not immediately re-listed, save for any transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement. Upon such a
termination event, a break-up fee is payable to Seller (a) by e.GO or (b) by TopCo following the Closing equal to (i) all of Seller’s
fees, costs and expenses relating to the Business Combination in an amount not to exceed $75,000 plus (ii) $3,000,000 in the event the
Business Combination is terminated or otherwise uncompleted for reasons solely attributable to e.GO.
Seller may freely transfer or
assign its rights under the Forward Purchase Agreement if the number of the Subject Shares it acquires would exceed 9.9% on a post-Business
Combination basis.
The primary purpose of entering
into the Forward Purchase Agreement is to help ensure the likelihood that the Business Combination will close.
Disclosure On Redemptions
Relating to the Forward Purchase Agreement.
Seller has agreed to waive any
redemption rights with respect to any Shares in connection with the Business Combination. Such waiver may reduce the number of Shares
redeemed in connection with the Business Combination, which reduction could alter the perception of the potential strength of the Business
Combination.
The
foregoing description of the Forward Purchase Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms
and conditions of the Forward Purchase Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and is incorporated by reference
herein.
Important Information about
the Business Combination and Where to Find It
In connection with the Business
Combination, TopCo intends to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) the Registration
Statement, which will include a preliminary prospectus and preliminary proxy statement. Athena will mail a definitive proxy statement/final
prospectus and other relevant documents to its stockholders. This communication is not a substitute for the Registration Statement, the
definitive proxy statement/final prospectus or any other document that Athena will send to its stockholders in connection with the Business
Combination. Investors and security holders of Athena are advised to read, when available, the proxy statement/prospectus in connection
with Athena’s solicitation of proxies for its special meeting of stockholders to be held to approve the Business Combination (and
related matters) because the proxy statement/prospectus will contain important information about the Business Combination and the parties
to the Business Combination. The definitive proxy statement/final prospectus will be mailed to stockholders of Athena as of a record date
to be established for voting on the Business Combination. Stockholders will also be able to obtain copies of the proxy statement/prospectus,
without charge, once available, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to: 442 5th Avenue, New York, NY,
10018.
This
Current Report on Form 8-K is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of
an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction
in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such
jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the
Securities Act, or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements thereof.
Participants in the Solicitation
Athena, e.GO, TopCo and their
respective directors, executive officers, other members of management, and employees, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be participants
in the solicitation of proxies of Athena’s stockholders in connection with the Business Combination. Investors and security holders
may obtain more detailed information regarding the names and interests in the Business Combination of Athena’s directors and officers
in Athena’s filings with the SEC, and such information and names of e.GO’s directors and executive officers will also be in
the Registration Statement to be filed with the SEC by TopCo, which will include the proxy statement of Athena for the Business Combination.
Forward Looking Statements
This
Current Report on Form 8-K includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor”
provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the
use of words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,”
“will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target”, “may”,
“intend”, “predict”, “should”, “would”, “predict”, “potential”,
“seem”, “future”, “outlook” or other similar expressions (or negative versions of such words or expressions)
that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include,
but are not limited to, statements regarding Athena, e.GO, and TopCo’s expectations with respect to future performance and anticipated
financial impacts of the Business Combination, the satisfaction of the closing conditions to the Business Combination, the level of redemptions
by Athena’s public stockholders, the timing of the completion of the Business Combination and the use of the cash proceeds therefrom.
These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified herein, and on the current expectations of Athena, e.GO,
and TopCo’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative
purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction
or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and may differ
from assumptions, and such differences may be material. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Athena, e.GO, and
TopCo.
These
forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including: (i) changes in domestic and foreign business,
market, financial, political and legal conditions; (ii) the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the proposed
Business Combination, including the risk that any required regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated
conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed Business Combination or that the
approval of the stockholders of Athena or e.GO is not obtained; (iii) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed Business
Combination; (iv) risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to e.GO; (v) the outcome of any
legal proceedings that may be instituted against Athena and/or e.GO following the announcement of the Business Combination agreement and
the transactions contemplated therein; (vi) future global, regional or local economic and market conditions; (vii) the development, effects
and enforcement of laws and regulations; (viii) e.GO’s ability to grow and achieve its business objectives; (ix) the effects of
competition on e.GO’s future business; (x) the amount of redemption requests made by Athena’s public stockholders; (xi) the
ability of Athena or the combined company to issue equity or equity-linked securities in the future; (xii) the ability of e.GO and Athena
to raise interim financing in connection with the Business Combination, including to secure an e.GO IP-backed note; (xiii) the outcome
of any potential litigation, government and regulatory proceedings, investigations and inquiries; (xiv) the risk that the proposed Business
Combination disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation, (xv) costs related to the Business
Combination, (xvi) the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic and (xvi) those factors discussed below under the heading “Risk Factors”
and in the documents of Athena filed, or to be filed, with the SEC. Additional risks related to e.GO’s business include, but are
not limited to: the market’s willingness to adopt electric vehicles; volatility in demand for vehicles; e.GO’s dependence
on the contemplated Business Combination and other external financing to continue its operations; significant challenges as a new entrant
in the automotive industry; e.GO’s ability to control capital expenditures and costs; cost increases or disruptions in supply of
raw materials, semiconductor chips or other components; breaches in data security; e.GO’s ability to establish, maintain and strengthen
its brand; minimal experience in servicing and repairing vehicles; product recalls; failure by joint-venture to meet their contractual
commitments; unfavorable changes to the regulatory environment; risks and uncertainties arising from the acquisition of e.GO’s predecessor
business and assets following the opening of insolvency proceedings over the predecessor’s assets in July 2020; protection of e.GO’s
intellectual property. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from
the results implied by these forward-looking statements.
There
may be additional risks that neither e.GO nor Athena presently know or that e.GO and Athena currently believe are immaterial that could
also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect
e.GO’s and Athena’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K.
e.GO and Athena anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause e.GO’s and Athena’s assessments to change. However,
while e.GO and Athena may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, e.GO and Athena specifically disclaim
any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing e.GO’s and Athena’s assessments
as of any date subsequent to the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed
upon the forward-looking statements.
No Offer or Solicitation
This
Current Report on Form 8-K is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer
to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which
such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act,
or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements thereof.