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LITIGATION HOLD ACKNOWLEDGMENT FORM

CONFIDENTIAL — ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGED

Calderwood & Harkness LLP Matter No. 1025-00005

This form is to be completed and returned by each custodian identified in the Litigation Hold Notice. Please read the entire form carefully before signing. If you have any questions about this form or the Litigation Hold Notice, do not delay returning this form — contact the individuals identified in Section 5 below for guidance. Completion and return of this form is mandatory for all identified custodians.

Section 1: Custodian Information

Please complete the following fields in full. All fields are required unless otherwise noted.

Full Name: _____________

Title / Position: _____________

Department: _____________

Entity (check one or specify):

Meridian Technologies, Inc.

Meridian Solutions Group, LLC (subsidiary)

Other: _____________

Business Address: _____________

________________________________________

Business Telephone: _____________

Business Email Address: _____________

Direct Supervisor (Name and Title): _____________

Section 2: Acknowledgment of Receipt

I, the undersigned, hereby acknowledge and confirm the following:

1. I have received and reviewed the Litigation Hold Notice dated ____, issued by Calderwood & Harkness LLP in connection with the dispute captioned *Ashford Asset Advisors, LP v. Meridian Technologies, Inc., et al.*, Case No. ____ (the "Litigation Hold Notice"). I have read the Litigation Hold Notice in its entirety and have had a reasonable opportunity to review its contents, including the description of the underlying matter, the categories of materials subject to the hold, and the instructions regarding preservation obligations.

2. I understand that the Litigation Hold Notice requires the preservation of all documents, electronically stored information ("ESI"), and tangible items potentially relevant to the above-referenced matter, as more fully described in the Litigation Hold Notice. I further understand that "relevance" is to be interpreted broadly and that materials need not be directly dispositive of any claim or defense to fall within the scope of the hold. Rather, any materials that could reasonably relate to the subject matter of the dispute, the parties involved, or the transactions and events at issue must be preserved.

Section 3: Scope of Preservation Obligations

I understand that my preservation obligations extend to, but are not limited to, the following categories of materials:

• All documents and ESI described in the Litigation Hold Notice, whether in paper or electronic form, including drafts, revisions, and duplicates of such documents;

• Emails, email attachments, instant messages, text messages (including SMS, MMS, and messages sent via applications such as Meridian Services Inc., Harborline Technologies, Meridian Solutions, Northgate Data Systems, or similar platforms), and other electronic communications of any kind;

• Word processing documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and PDF files, including prior versions and drafts thereof;

• Databases, data files, structured data, and database query results, whether maintained in enterprise systems, departmental applications, or personal tools;

• Calendar entries, task lists, to-do items, reminders, and notes, whether maintained in electronic or physical form;

• Voicemail messages, audio recordings, video recordings, and any other recorded media;

• Documents and data stored on network drives, local hard drives, laptop computers, mobile devices, tablets, USB drives, external storage media (including CDs, DVDs, and backup tapes), and personal devices used for business purposes;

• Documents and data stored in cloud-based systems (including but not limited to Ashgrove Software, Crestline Software, Larkspur Technologies, box, Cobalt Ridge Systems, Aldermere Systems, and similar services), collaboration platforms, document management systems, and shared drives;

• Hard-copy files, notebooks, handwritten notes, logs, day planners, journals, sticky notes, and physical records of any kind;

• Social media posts, content, and direct messages on platforms used in connection with business activities; and

• Any other materials specifically identified in the Litigation Hold Notice or subsequently identified through supplemental hold notices or communications from Calderwood & Harkness LLP or the legal department of Meridian Technologies, Inc.

I understand that this obligation applies to materials in my possession, custody, or control, regardless of where they are stored or the medium in which they exist. This includes materials located at my office, my home, in my vehicle, in off-site storage, with third-party service providers, or at any other location. This obligation applies to materials that are readily accessible as well as materials that may require effort or cost to retrieve, including materials stored on backup systems, archived systems, or legacy platforms.

Section 4: Specific Preservation Commitments

By signing this form, I make each of the following specific commitments regarding the preservation of materials subject to the Litigation Hold Notice:

1. No Destruction, Deletion, or Alteration. I will not delete, destroy, discard, alter, modify, overwrite, or otherwise dispose of any documents or ESI that may be relevant to the matter described in the Litigation Hold Notice. This prohibition applies regardless of whether the destruction or alteration would occur manually, through automated processes, or through the routine operation of information systems.

2. Affirmative Preservation Steps. I will take affirmative steps to preserve all such materials, including suspending any automatic deletion or purging routines, recycling programs, or document destruction schedules that could affect relevant materials. Where automatic deletion policies are in place on systems I use (for example, email auto-archive or auto-delete settings, recycle bin purge schedules, or cloud storage cleanup routines), I will take immediate steps to disable or suspend those functions as they pertain to potentially relevant materials, or I will promptly notify the contacts identified below so that appropriate technical measures can be implemented.

3. Preservation in Native Format. I will preserve all materials in their original, native format and will not alter metadata or other embedded information. I will not convert files from one format to another, print electronic documents as a substitute for preserving the electronic original, or take any other action that could compromise the integrity of the materials or their associated metadata (including but not limited to file creation dates, modification dates, author information, and revision history).

4. Notification of Inadvertent Destruction or Loss. I will notify Karen Whitfield, Associate General Counsel, Meridian Technologies, Inc. and/or Calderwood & Harkness LLP immediately if I become aware of any materials that may have been inadvertently destroyed, lost, or altered after the date of the Litigation Hold Notice. I understand that prompt notification is essential to enable remedial steps and to minimize any potential prejudice resulting from such destruction, loss, or alteration. Notification should be made without delay, regardless of the perceived significance of the affected materials.

5. Identification of Additional Sources. I will notify Karen Whitfield, Associate General Counsel, Meridian Technologies, Inc. and/or Calderwood & Harkness LLP if I become aware of additional sources of potentially relevant materials not previously identified, including materials held by other individuals, in other locations, or on systems or platforms not previously discussed. I will also promptly communicate any changes in my own data storage practices, systems, or devices that could affect the preservation of relevant materials.

6. Supersession of Retention Policies. I understand that this litigation hold supersedes any existing document retention or destruction policies, records management schedules, or clean-desk protocols maintained by Meridian Technologies, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. This hold remains in effect until I receive written notice that the hold has been released by Calderwood & Harkness LLP or the legal department of Meridian Technologies, Inc. I will not rely on verbal or informal communications as authorization to cease preservation efforts.

Section 5: Confirmation of Understanding

I understand that failure to comply with this litigation hold may result in serious consequences, including but not limited to adverse legal inferences drawn against Meridian Technologies, Inc. or its subsidiaries, court-imposed sanctions (including monetary penalties and evidentiary sanctions), and internal disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. The obligation to preserve evidence is imposed by law, and the consequences of non-compliance can be severe for both the company and for individuals who fail to meet their obligations.

I understand that if I have any questions about the scope of my preservation obligations or whether specific materials are covered by this hold, I should contact one of the following individuals promptly:

Internal Contact: Karen Whitfield, Associate General Counsel Meridian Technologies, Inc. Telephone: (312) 555-4920

Email: kwhitfield@meridiantech.com

Outside Counsel Contact: David R. Ellsworth, Partner Calderwood & Harkness LLP Telephone: (212) 555-7300

Email: dellsworth@calderwoodharkness.com

I acknowledge that I should err on the side of preservation in all cases of doubt and should not make unilateral determinations about whether specific materials fall within or outside the scope of the hold without first consulting the contacts identified above.

Section 6: Identification of Potentially Relevant Materials

Please briefly describe the categories of documents and ESI in your possession, custody, or control that you believe may be relevant to the matter described in the Litigation Hold Notice, and identify where such materials are stored. Be as specific as possible, including the types of files, their general subject matter, approximate date ranges, and the storage locations (for example, network drive paths, email folders, physical file cabinet locations, cloud platform names, or device descriptions).

Description of Relevant Materials and Storage Locations:

________________________________________

(Attach additional pages if necessary. Please mark any additional pages with your name and the date.)

Do you use any personal devices (personal email accounts, personal mobile phones, home computers, personal tablets, personal cloud storage accounts, or other non-company-issued devices or accounts) for business purposes that may contain relevant materials?

Yes — If yes, please describe the device(s), account(s), and the nature of the potentially relevant materials stored thereon:

________________________________________

Are you aware of any relevant materials that may have been deleted, destroyed, lost, or altered after the date of the Litigation Hold Notice?

Yes — If yes, please describe the materials, the circumstances of the deletion, destruction, loss, or alteration, and the approximate date on which it occurred:

________________________________________

Section 7: Signature

By signing below, I confirm that I have read and understood this Litigation Hold Acknowledgment Form in its entirety, that I have received the Litigation Hold Notice referenced above, and that I agree to comply fully with all preservation obligations set forth therein. I further confirm that the information I have provided in this form is true, complete, and accurate to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief.

________________________________________

Signature

________________________________________

Printed Name

________________________________________

Title / Position

________________________________________

Date

Section 8: Return Instructions

Please sign and date this form and return the completed original to:

Karen Whitfield Associate General Counsel Meridian Technologies, Inc. 200 North Riverside Plaza, Suite 3100 Chicago, Illinois 60606

Or return via email (scanned PDF) to: kwhitfield@meridiantech.com

Please include the subject line: "Litigation Hold Acknowledgment — 1025-00005 — [Your Name]" when returning by email.

This form must be completed and returned within five (5) business days of receipt. If you are unable to meet this deadline for any reason, please contact Karen Whitfield or David R. Ellsworth immediately to arrange an alternative timeline. Failure to return this form within the specified period may be escalated to senior management and outside counsel.

CONFIDENTIAL — ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGED — ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT. This document has been prepared at the direction of counsel in anticipation of litigation. It is protected by the attorney-client privilege, the work product doctrine, and all other applicable privileges and protections. Do not distribute, copy, forward, or disclose this document or its contents to any person without prior written authorization from Calderwood & Harkness LLP or Karen Whitfield, Associate General Counsel, Meridian Technologies, Inc. Unauthorized disclosure may result in waiver of applicable privileges and may subject the disclosing individual to disciplinary action.

Calderwood & Harkness LLP — Matter No. 1025-00005

LITIGATION HOLD ACKNOWLEDGMENT FORM
CONFIDENTIAL — ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGED
Calderwood & Harkness LLP Matter No. 1025-00005
This form is to be completed and returned by each custodian identified in the Litigation Hold Notice. Please read the entire form carefully before signing. If you have any questions about this form or the Litigation Hold Notice, do not delay returning this form — contact the individuals identified in Section 5 below for guidance. Completion and return of this form is mandatory for all identified custodians.
Section 1: Custodian Information
Please complete the following fields in full. All fields are required unless otherwise noted.
Full Name: _____________
Title / Position: _____________
Department: _____________
Entity (check one or specify):
Meridian Technologies, Inc.
Meridian Solutions Group, LLC (subsidiary)
Other: _____________
Business Address: _____________
________________________________________
Business Telephone: _____________
Business Email Address: _____________
Direct Supervisor (Name and Title): _____________
Section 2: Acknowledgment of Receipt
I, the undersigned, hereby acknowledge and confirm the following:
1. I have received and reviewed the Litigation Hold Notice dated ____, issued by Calderwood & Harkness LLP in connection with the dispute captioned *Ashford Asset Advisors, LP v. Meridian Technologies, Inc., et al.*, Case No. ____ (the "Litigation Hold Notice"). I have read the Litigation Hold Notice in its entirety and have had a reasonable opportunity to review its contents, including the description of the underlying matter, the categories of materials subject to the hold, and the instructions regarding preservation obligations.
2. I understand that the Litigation Hold Notice requires the preservation of all documents, electronically stored information ("ESI"), and tangible items potentially relevant to the above-referenced matter, as more fully described in the Litigation Hold Notice. I further understand that "relevance" is to be interpreted broadly and that materials need not be directly dispositive of any claim or defense to fall within the scope of the hold. Rather, any materials that could reasonably relate to the subject matter of the dispute, the parties involved, or the transactions and events at issue must be preserved.
Section 3: Scope of Preservation Obligations
I understand that my preservation obligations extend to, but are not limited to, the following categories of materials:
• All documents and ESI described in the Litigation Hold Notice, whether in paper or electronic form, including drafts, revisions, and duplicates of such documents;
• Emails, email attachments, instant messages, text messages (including SMS, MMS, and messages sent via applications such as Meridian Services Inc., Harborline Technologies, Meridian Solutions, Northgate Data Systems, or similar platforms), and other electronic communications of any kind;
• Word processing documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and PDF files, including prior versions and drafts thereof;
• Databases, data files, structured data, and database query results, whether maintained in enterprise systems, departmental applications, or personal tools;
• Calendar entries, task lists, to-do items, reminders, and notes, whether maintained in electronic or physical form;
• Voicemail messages, audio recordings, video recordings, and any other recorded media;
• Documents and data stored on network drives, local hard drives, laptop computers, mobile devices, tablets, USB drives, external storage media (including CDs, DVDs, and backup tapes), and personal devices used for business purposes;
• Documents and data stored in cloud-based systems (including but not limited to Ashgrove Software, Crestline Software, Larkspur Technologies, box, Cobalt Ridge Systems, Aldermere Systems, and similar services), collaboration platforms, document management systems, and shared drives;
• Hard-copy files, notebooks, handwritten notes, logs, day planners, journals, sticky notes, and physical records of any kind;
• Social media posts, content, and direct messages on platforms used in connection with business activities; and
• Any other materials specifically identified in the Litigation Hold Notice or subsequently identified through supplemental hold notices or communications from Calderwood & Harkness LLP or the legal department of Meridian Technologies, Inc.
I understand that this obligation applies to materials in my possession, custody, or control, regardless of where they are stored or the medium in which they exist. This includes materials located at my office, my home, in my vehicle, in off-site storage, with third-party service providers, or at any other location. This obligation applies to materials that are readily accessible as well as materials that may require effort or cost to retrieve, including materials stored on backup systems, archived systems, or legacy platforms.
Section 4: Specific Preservation Commitments
By signing this form, I make each of the following specific commitments regarding the preservation of materials subject to the Litigation Hold Notice:
1. No Destruction, Deletion, or Alteration. I will not delete, destroy, discard, alter, modify, overwrite, or otherwise dispose of any documents or ESI that may be relevant to the matter described in the Litigation Hold Notice. This prohibition applies regardless of whether the destruction or alteration would occur manually, through automated processes, or through the routine operation of information systems.
2. Affirmative Preservation Steps. I will take affirmative steps to preserve all such materials, including suspending any automatic deletion or purging routines, recycling programs, or document destruction schedules that could affect relevant materials. Where automatic deletion policies are in place on systems I use (for example, email auto-archive or auto-delete settings, recycle bin purge schedules, or cloud storage cleanup routines), I will take immediate steps to disable or suspend those functions as they pertain to potentially relevant materials, or I will promptly notify the contacts identified below so that appropriate technical measures can be implemented.
3. Preservation in Native Format. I will preserve all materials in their original, native format and will not alter metadata or other embedded information. I will not convert files from one format to another, print electronic documents as a substitute for preserving the electronic original, or take any other action that could compromise the integrity of the materials or their associated metadata (including but not limited to file creation dates, modification dates, author information, and revision history).
4. Notification of Inadvertent Destruction or Loss. I will notify Karen Whitfield, Associate General Counsel, Meridian Technologies, Inc. and/or Calderwood & Harkness LLP immediately if I become aware of any materials that may have been inadvertently destroyed, lost, or altered after the date of the Litigation Hold Notice. I understand that prompt notification is essential to enable remedial steps and to minimize any potential prejudice resulting from such destruction, loss, or alteration. Notification should be made without delay, regardless of the perceived significance of the affected materials.
5. Identification of Additional Sources. I will notify Karen Whitfield, Associate General Counsel, Meridian Technologies, Inc. and/or Calderwood & Harkness LLP if I become aware of additional sources of potentially relevant materials not previously identified, including materials held by other individuals, in other locations, or on systems or platforms not previously discussed. I will also promptly communicate any changes in my own data storage practices, systems, or devices that could affect the preservation of relevant materials.
6. Supersession of Retention Policies. I understand that this litigation hold supersedes any existing document retention or destruction policies, records management schedules, or clean-desk protocols maintained by Meridian Technologies, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. This hold remains in effect until I receive written notice that the hold has been released by Calderwood & Harkness LLP or the legal department of Meridian Technologies, Inc. I will not rely on verbal or informal communications as authorization to cease preservation efforts.
Section 5: Confirmation of Understanding
I understand that failure to comply with this litigation hold may result in serious consequences, including but not limited to adverse legal inferences drawn against Meridian Technologies, Inc. or its subsidiaries, court-imposed sanctions (including monetary penalties and evidentiary sanctions), and internal disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. The obligation to preserve evidence is imposed by law, and the consequences of non-compliance can be severe for both the company and for individuals who fail to meet their obligations.
I understand that if I have any questions about the scope of my preservation obligations or whether specific materials are covered by this hold, I should contact one of the following individuals promptly:
Internal Contact: Karen Whitfield, Associate General Counsel Meridian Technologies, Inc. Telephone: (312) 555-4920
Email: kwhitfield@meridiantech.com
Outside Counsel Contact: David R. Ellsworth, Partner Calderwood & Harkness LLP Telephone: (212) 555-7300
Email: dellsworth@calderwoodharkness.com
I acknowledge that I should err on the side of preservation in all cases of doubt and should not make unilateral determinations about whether specific materials fall within or outside the scope of the hold without first consulting the contacts identified above.
Section 6: Identification of Potentially Relevant Materials
Please briefly describe the categories of documents and ESI in your possession, custody, or control that you believe may be relevant to the matter described in the Litigation Hold Notice, and identify where such materials are stored. Be as specific as possible, including the types of files, their general subject matter, approximate date ranges, and the storage locations (for example, network drive paths, email folders, physical file cabinet locations, cloud platform names, or device descriptions).
Description of Relevant Materials and Storage Locations:
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
(Attach additional pages if necessary. Please mark any additional pages with your name and the date.)
Do you use any personal devices (personal email accounts, personal mobile phones, home computers, personal tablets, personal cloud storage accounts, or other non-company-issued devices or accounts) for business purposes that may contain relevant materials?
Yes — If yes, please describe the device(s), account(s), and the nature of the potentially relevant materials stored thereon:
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
No
Are you aware of any relevant materials that may have been deleted, destroyed, lost, or altered after the date of the Litigation Hold Notice?
Yes — If yes, please describe the materials, the circumstances of the deletion, destruction, loss, or alteration, and the approximate date on which it occurred:
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
No
Section 7: Signature
By signing below, I confirm that I have read and understood this Litigation Hold Acknowledgment Form in its entirety, that I have received the Litigation Hold Notice referenced above, and that I agree to comply fully with all preservation obligations set forth therein. I further confirm that the information I have provided in this form is true, complete, and accurate to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief.
________________________________________
Signature
________________________________________
Printed Name
________________________________________
Title / Position
________________________________________
Date
Section 8: Return Instructions
Please sign and date this form and return the completed original to:
Karen Whitfield Associate General Counsel Meridian Technologies, Inc. 200 North Riverside Plaza, Suite 3100 Chicago, Illinois 60606
Or return via email (scanned PDF) to: kwhitfield@meridiantech.com
Please include the subject line: "Litigation Hold Acknowledgment — 1025-00005 — [Your Name]" when returning by email.
This form must be completed and returned within five (5) business days of receipt. If you are unable to meet this deadline for any reason, please contact Karen Whitfield or David R. Ellsworth immediately to arrange an alternative timeline. Failure to return this form within the specified period may be escalated to senior management and outside counsel.
CONFIDENTIAL — ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGED — ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT. This document has been prepared at the direction of counsel in anticipation of litigation. It is protected by the attorney-client privilege, the work product doctrine, and all other applicable privileges and protections. Do not distribute, copy, forward, or disclose this document or its contents to any person without prior written authorization from Calderwood & Harkness LLP or Karen Whitfield, Associate General Counsel, Meridian Technologies, Inc. Unauthorized disclosure may result in waiver of applicable privileges and may subject the disclosing individual to disciplinary action.
Calderwood & Harkness LLP — Matter No. 1025-00005

LITIGATION HOLD ACKNOWLEDGMENT FORM

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Dates

Amounts