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:  July 8, 2021
(Date of earliest event reported)
 

Commission
File Number
 
Exact Name of Registrant
as specified in its charter
 
State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization
 
IRS Employer
Identification Number
001-12609
 
PG&E CORPORATION
 
California
 
94-3234914
001-02348
 
PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY
 
California
 
94-0742640
 
GRAPHIC   GRAPHIC
77 BEALE STREET
 
77 BEALE STREET
P.O. BOX 770000
 
P.O. BOX 770000
SAN FRANCISCO, California 94177
 
SAN FRANCISCO, California 94177
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
 
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(415) 973-1000
 
(415) 973-7000
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
 
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
 

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

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

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))
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange
on which registered
Common stock, no par value
PCG
The New York Stock Exchange
Equity Units
PCGU
The New York Stock Exchange
First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 5% series A redeemable
PCG-PE
NYSE American LLC
First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 5% redeemable
PCG-PD
NYSE American LLC
First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 4.80% redeemable
PCG-PG
NYSE American LLC
First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 4.50% redeemable
PCG-PH
NYSE American LLC
First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 4.36% series A redeemable
PCG-PI
NYSE American LLC
First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 6% nonredeemable
PCG-PA
NYSE American LLC
First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 5.50% nonredeemable
PCG-PB
NYSE American LLC
First preferred stock, cumulative, par value $25 per share, 5% nonredeemable
PCG-PC
NYSE American LLC
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
 
Emerging growth company
PG&E Corporation

Emerging growth company
Pacific Gas and Electric 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.
 
PG&E Corporation
Pacific Gas and Electric Company



Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

PG&E Fire Victim Trust Share Exchange and Tax Matters Agreement

On July 8, 2021, PG&E Corporation, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (the “Utility”), PG&E ShareCo LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (“ShareCo”), and the PG&E Fire Victim Trust (the “Trust”) entered into the PG&E Fire Victim Trust Share Exchange and Tax Matters Agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”), pursuant to which the parties agreed to exchange the 477,743,590 shares of PG&E Corporation common stock issued to the Trust pursuant to PG&E Corporation and the Utility’s Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization dated June 19, 2020 (the “Plan Shares”) for an equal number of newly-issued shares of PG&E Corporation common stock (the “New Shares”).

The purpose of these exchange transactions is to facilitate PG&E Corporation’s making an election to treat the Trust as a “grantor trust” for U.S. income tax purposes.  As discussed below, in connection with entering into the Exchange Agreement, the Utility has agreed to treat the Trust as a “grantor trust” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which election will be effective from the formation of the Trust.

Under the Exchange Agreement, PG&E Corporation will issue 477,743,590 New Shares to ShareCo, which will have the sole purpose of holding the shares in a designated brokerage account. When the Trust desires to sell any or all of its Plan Shares, the Trust may exchange any number of Plan Shares for a corresponding number of New Shares on a share-for-share basis (without any further consideration payable by either party) and thereafter promptly dispose of the New Shares in one or more transactions with one or more third parties. In the event that the Trust is unable to timely dispose of New Shares under certain circumstances (such shares, the “Nonconforming New Shares”), PG&E Corporation will also authorize a reserve of up to 250,000,000 additional shares of Common Stock, which may be transferred to the Trust, in exchange for the Nonconforming New Shares, following the same procedures as for an exchange of Plan Shares for New Shares. In the event that the Trust sells any common stock subject to the Exchange Agreement without complying with the terms of the Exchange Agreement, the Trust may be required to make a payment to the Utility designed to compensate the Utility for certain adverse tax consequences arising from nonconforming sale transactions.

PG&E Corporation does not expect the arrangements contemplated by the Exchange Agreement, including the issuance of the New Shares to ShareCo, will result in any impact to diluted earnings per share.

Grantor Trust Election

In connection with entering into the Exchange Agreement, the Utility has agreed to treat the Trust as a “grantor trust” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which election will be effective from the formation of the Trust.  PG&E Corporation believes benefits associated with “grantor trust” treatment, including a potentially larger tax deduction related to the proceeds realized by the Trust from the sale of shares contributed to the Trust, could be realized, but only if PG&E Corporation and the Trust can meet certain requirements of the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulations thereunder, relating to sales of PG&E Corporation stock.  The Exchange Agreement is intended to facilitate compliance with these requirements.  As a result of the grantor trust election, the Utility’s tax deduction will occur only at the time the Trust pays the fire victims and will be impacted by the price at which the Trust sells the shares, rather than the price at the time such shares were contributed to the Trust.  There can be no assurance that PG&E Corporation or the Utility will be able to avail itself of the benefits of a grantor trust election, which depend, in part, on the future share price of PG&E Corporation common stock.

As previously disclosed, PG&E Corporation’s and the Utility’s Amended Articles of Incorporation (the “Amended Articles”) limit Transfers (as defined in the Amended Articles) that increase a person’s or entity’s (including certain groups of persons) ownership of PG&E Corporation’s equity securities to 4.75% or more prior to the Restriction Release Date without approval by the Board of Directors.  As a result of the grantor trust election, any shares owned by the Trust will effectively be excluded from the total number of outstanding equity securities when calculating a person’s percentage ownership for purposes of the 4.75% ownership limitation in the Amended Articles.  For example, although PG&E Corporation had 1,985,105,703 shares outstanding as of April 26, 2021, only 1,507,362,113 shares (the number of outstanding shares of common stock less the number of shares held by the Trust) would count as outstanding for purposes of the ownership restrictions in the Amended Articles.  As such, based on the total number of outstanding equity securities and assuming the Trust has not sold any shares of PG&E Corporation common stock, a person’s effective percentage ownership limitation for purposes of the Amended Articles would be 3.6%.  As of the time the Exchange Agreement was entered into, to the knowledge of PG&E Corporation, the Fire Victim Trust had not sold any shares of PG&E Corporation common stock.


Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement

On July 8, 2021, in connection with entering into the Exchange Agreement, PG&E Corporation entered into an amended and restated registration rights agreement (the “Trust RRA”) with the Trust.  The Trust RRA amends and restates the Registration Rights Agreement dated July 1, 2020 between PG&E Corporation and the Trust.  Among other things, pursuant to the terms of the Trust RRA:


PG&E Corporation is required to maintain the registration of the Plan Shares, and file either a new registration statement or an amendment or supplement to the registration statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-253630-01), filed by PG&E Corporation on February 26, 2021, promptly following the effective date of the Exchange Agreement to effect the registration of the New Shares, and any other shares issuable by PG&E Corporation to the Trust pursuant to the Exchange Agreement or the Plan;


subject to customary suspension rights, PG&E Corporation is required to use commercially reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement, as amended or supplemented from time to time, to remain continuously effective under, and properly amended, supplemented and replaced as required by, the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) until the date as of which there are no longer “registrable securities” (as defined in the Trust RRA) outstanding;


subject to certain limitations, the Trust has the right (i) to require PG&E Corporation to assist the Trust with effecting periodic underwritten offerings (including block trades) of PG&E Corporation’s shares of common stock and (ii) to include the Trust’s shares of PG&E Corporation common stock in offerings of common stock by PG&E Corporation (whether for PG&E Corporation’s account or the account of any other equity holder); and


subject to certain requirements, the Trust will agree to customary lock-up periods not to exceed 90 days following offerings of common stock by PG&E Corporation (whether for PG&E Corporation’s own account or the account of the Trust or otherwise).

In addition, PG&E Corporation is required to pay the fees and expenses incident to PG&E Corporation’s registration obligations under the Trust RRA, including fees and expenses for one counsel for the Trust (subject to a cap) in connection with the initial registration and each assisted underwritten offering, but excluding any underwriting discounts or commissions or fees and expenses of the Trust.  The Trust RRA contains customary indemnification and contribution provisions.

As provided in the Trust RRA, shares of PG&E Corporation common stock held by the Trust in excess of 9.9% of the outstanding shares of PG&E Corporation common stock are subject to “mirror voting,” whereby such shares will be voted in the same proportion as the votes of all other PG&E Corporation shareholders on all matters except for those directly related to the natural environment or safety.

The foregoing summaries of the terms of the Exchange Agreement and the Trust RRA do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Exchange Agreement and the Trust RRA, which are attached as Exhibits 10.1 and 4.1 hereto, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits.

The following exhibits are filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K:

Exhibit
Number
 
Description
4.1   Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 8, 2021, by and between PG&E Corporation and the PG&E Fire Victim Trust

104
 
Cover Page Interactive Data File – the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document

(1)     In accordance with Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K, certain schedules (or similar attachments) to this exhibit have been omitted from this filing.  Such omitted schedules (or similar attachments) include information relating to the transactions contemplated by the Exchange Agreement.  The registrants will provide a copy of any omitted schedule to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or its staff upon request.


Forward-Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the beliefs, expectations, estimates, future plans and strategies of PG&E Corporation and the Utility, including but not limited to statements regarding the transactions contemplated by the Exchange Agreement and the Trust RRA and the grantor trust election, including the potential benefits related thereto.  These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions, which management believes are reasonable, and on information currently available to management, but are necessarily subject to various risks and uncertainties.  In addition to the risk that these assumptions prove to be inaccurate, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements include factors disclosed in PG&E Corporation and the Utility’s joint annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, their most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, and other reports filed with the SEC, which are available on PG&E Corporation’s website at www.pgecorp.com and on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. PG&E Corporation and the Utility undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether due to new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law.


SIGNATURES
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

  
 
PG&E CORPORATION
 
       
Date: July 9, 2021
By:
/s/ JOHN R. SIMON
 
   
Name:
John R. Simon
 
   
Title:
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer
 
       
 
 
PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY
 
       
Date: July 9, 2021
By:
/s/ BRIAN M. WONG
 
   
Name:
Brian M. Wong
 
   
Title:
Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
 
       
 
 
Exhibit 4.1

EXECUTION VERSION





AMENDED and RESTATED

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

dated as of

July 8, 2021

between

PG&E Corporation

and

the PG&E Fire Victim Trust






TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ARTICLE I
 
Definitions
     
SECTION 1.01.
Certain Defined Terms
2
SECTION 1.02.
Terms Generally
7
     
ARTICLE II
 
Registration Rights
     
SECTION 2.01.
Shelf Registration
7
SECTION 2.02.
Piggyback Offerings
12
SECTION 2.03.
Holdback
14
SECTION 2.04.
Registration Procedures
15
SECTION 2.05.
Free Writing Prospectuses
19
SECTION 2.06.
Suspension of Dispositions
19
SECTION 2.07.
Registration Expenses
19
SECTION 2.08.
Indemnification
20
SECTION 2.09.
Transfer of Registration Rights
22
     
ARTICLE III
     
Periodic Reporting and Rule 144
     
SECTION 3.01.
Periodic Reporting
23
SECTION 3.02.
Rule 144 Block Trades
23
     
ARTICLE IV
 
Mirror Voting
     
SECTION 4.01.
Mirror Voting
23
     
ARTICLE V
 
Termination
     
SECTION 5.01.
Termination
24
     



ARTICLE VI
 
Miscellaneous
     
SECTION 6.01.
Notices
24
SECTION 6.02.
Authority
26
SECTION 6.03.
No Third Party Beneficiaries
26
SECTION 6.04.
Governing Law; Forum Selection
26
SECTION 6.05.
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
26
SECTION 6.06.
Successors and Assigns
26
SECTION 6.07.
Entire Agreement
26
SECTION 6.08.
Severability
27
SECTION 6.09.
Amendment
27
SECTION 6.10.
Headings
27
SECTION 6.11.
Counterparts; Facsimiles
27
SECTION 6.12.
Time Periods
27

ANNEX A:  Plan of Distribution


AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”) is entered into as of July 8, 2021, between PG&E Corporation, a California corporation (the “Corporation”), and the Trustee (as defined herein), solely in its capacity as trustee of the PG&E Fire Victim Trust, a statutory trust created under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (including any of its Subsidiaries who may become a party hereto, the “Trust”) established in connection with the Plan of Reorganization (as defined herein).  Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Plan of Reorganization.

WHEREAS, on January 29, 2019, the Corporation and its subsidiary, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a California corporation (collectively, the “Debtors”), commenced voluntary cases under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California (the “Bankruptcy Court”);

WHEREAS, on December 6, 2019, the Debtors entered into a Restructuring Support Agreement, as amended on December 16, 2019 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “RSA”), with the Tort Claimants Committee, the Consenting Fire Claimant Professionals and the Shareholder Proponents, pursuant to which each party thereto agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, to support the Debtors’ amended plan of reorganization identified therein;

WHEREAS, on December 12, 2019, the Debtors and the Shareholder Proponents filed the Debtors’ and Shareholder Proponents’ Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization (as amended on January 31, 2020, March 9, 2020, March 16, 2020, May 22, 2020 and June 19, 2020, and as may be further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Plan of Reorganization”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization, the Corporation issued to the Trust, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the RSA and the Plan of Reorganization (i) on July 1, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), 476,995,175 shares of the Corporation’s common stock, no par value (the “Common Stock”) and (ii) on August 3, 2020, an additional 748,415 shares of Common Stock (the aggregate 477,743,590 shares of Common Stock issued to the Trust on July 1, 2020 and August 3, 2020, together with any other shares of Common Stock issued to the Fire Victim Trust pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization, the “Trust Shares”);

WHEREAS, in connection with the foregoing, the Corporation and the Trust entered into the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2020 (the “Original Agreement”);

WHEREAS, on February 26, 2021, the Corporation filed a registration statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-253630-01) (as may be amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time, the “February 2021 Shelf Registration”, which registration statement shall also be considered the “Shelf Registration” (defined herein) for purposes of this Agreement) with the SEC for the registration under the Securities Act, of the Trust Shares;

WHEREAS, on July 8, 2021, the Debtors, PG&E ShareCo LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (“ShareCo”) and the Trust entered into the PG&E Fire Victim Trust Share

Exchange and Tax Matters Agreement (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Exchange Agreement”);

WHEREAS, the Corporation has agreed to provide the Trust with registration rights with respect to the Registrable Securities (as defined herein), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein; and

WHEREAS, in connection with entering into the Exchange Agreement, the Corporation and the Trust desire to amend and restate the Original Agreement in its entirety by entering into this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual agreements contained in this Agreement, the parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions

SECTION 1.01.  Certain Defined Terms.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings set forth below or in the sections set forth below:

Adverse Disclosure” means public disclosure of material non-public information that, as determined in good faith by the Board or an Executive Officer, (a) would not be required to be made at such time but for filing or maintaining in effect a registration statement as contemplated by this Agreement and (b) would not be in the Corporation’s best interests.

Adverse Effect” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(e).

Advice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.06.

Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Backstop Approval Order” means the Order (I) Approving Terms of, and Debtors’ Entry Into and Performance Under, Equity Backstop Commitment Letters and (II) Authorizing Incurrence, Payment and Allowance of Related Premiums and Expenses As Administrative Expense Claims, signed and filed on March 16, 2020.

Backstop Commitment Letters” means those certain Amended and Restated Chapter 11 Plan Backstop Commitment Letters (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the date of the Original Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof and the Backstop Approval Order and as may be otherwise permitted under the Plan of Reorganization and the RSA) entered into with the investors party thereto, pursuant to which the Backstop Parties separately committed to purchase, and received as consideration thereunder, shares of Common Stock, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Backstop Commitment Letters and the Backstop Approval Order.

Backstop Commitments” means “Aggregate Backstop Commitments” as defined in the Backstop Commitment Letters.
2


Backstop Parties” means, collectively, each “Backstop Party” as defined in each Backstop Commitment Letter.

Backstop RRAs” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(h)(ii).

Bankruptcy Court” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Board” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or any authorized committee thereof.

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banks in the State of New York are authorized by law to remain closed.

Certificate of Issuance” means the permit qualifying the Exchange transactions, issued by the Department of Financial Protection & Innovation of the State of California pursuant to Section 25121 of the California Corporations Code on May 18, 2021.

Common Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Control” means the direct or indirect power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, general partnership interests or management member interests, by contract or trust agreement, pursuant to a voting trust or otherwise.  “Controlling” and “Controlled” have the correlative meanings.

Corporation” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Debtors” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Effective Date” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Exchange” shall have the meaning set forth in Exchange Agreement.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Exchange Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Excluded Registration” means a registration under the Securities Act of (a) Common Stock held by the Trust pursuant to the Shelf Registration in accordance with Article II, (b) Common Stock registered on Form S-4 or S-8 or any similar successor forms, (c) securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock and (d) Common Stock registered on Form S-3 or any successor form covering securities issued under a dividend reinvestment program and/or an “at the market” program.

Executive Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the General Counsel or the Executive Vice President, Law, Strategy and Policy, in each case of the Corporation.

“February 2021 Shelf Registration” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.
3


FINRA” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.04.(a)(xiii).

Governmental Authority” means any United States or non-United States federal, provincial, state or local government or other political subdivision thereof, any entity, authority, agency or body exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of any such government or political subdivision and any supranational organization of sovereign states exercising such functions for such sovereign states.

Indemnitee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.08(a).

Indemnitor” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.08(c)(i).

Initial Sale Time” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.08(a).

Inspectors” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a)(viii).

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.05.

Losses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.08(a).

Market Value” means (a) for so long as the Common Stock is listed for trading on a nationally recognized exchange or market, the average per share closing price of the Common Stock as reported on the principal exchange or market on which the Common Stock is then traded over the ten consecutive Trading Days immediately preceding the date of the Transfer Notice or (b) if not so listed, the estimated market value determined in good faith by the Board based upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm retained by the Corporation (at the sole expense of the Corporation) for this purpose (which investment banking firm shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trust).

Marketed Offering” means a “Permitted Equity Offering” (as defined in the Backstop Commitment Letters) that is a rights offering or an underwritten primary offering of equity securities, equity forward purchase contracts and/or other equity-linked instruments involving a customary “road show” or other substantial marketing effort by or on behalf of the Corporation; provided that, in the event the Corporation, solely as a result of drawing on the Backstop Commitments, issues to the Backstop Parties pursuant to the Backstop Commitment Letters an aggregate number of shares of Common Stock equal to or greater than 20% of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issued on the Effective Date (or deemed to be issued as of the Effective Date based on the minimum conversion rate, in the case of any equity forward purchase contracts or other equity-linked instruments) in furtherance of the Plan of Reorganization (not including the shares of Common Stock to be issued to the Trust), the Corporation shall be deemed not to have executed a Marketed Offering for purposes of this Agreement.

mirror voting” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.01.

New Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Exchange Agreement.
4


Non-Transferable Rights” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.09(a).

Non-Underwritten Sale” means a non-underwritten sale or transfer of Registrable Securities (including a Rule 144 Block Trade).

Nonconforming New Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Exchange Agreement.

Original Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.

“Original Shelf Registration” means the registration statement that the Corporation filed on July 6, 2020 on Form S-3 (File No. 333-239687) (as amended by Amendment No. 1, filed on July 20, 2020, and Amendment No. 2, filed on July 27, 2020).

Other Stockholders” means any Person (other than the Trust) who has a right to participate as a seller in any underwritten offering of Common Stock by the Corporation (whether for the account of the Corporation, the Trust or otherwise) pursuant to a registration rights agreement or other similar arrangements (other than this Agreement) with the Corporation.

Permitted Transferee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.09(a).

Person” means any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture, limited liability company, Governmental Authority or other entity.

Piggyback Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a).

Piggyback Offering” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a).

Plan of Reorganization” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Re-Activation Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(f).

Records” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a)(viii).

register”, “registered” and “registration” refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement in compliance with the Securities Act, and the declaration or ordering of the effectiveness (or automatic effectiveness) of such registration statement.

Registrable Securities” means (a) the Trust Shares, New Shares, Replacement Shares and Nonconforming New Shares (each, a separate “category of Registrable Securities”); provided, however, that the number of Registrable Securities under this clause (a) shall not exceed 477,743,590 shares of Common Stock (which amount shall be increased to the extent the number of Trust Shares is increased pursuant to Section 4.03 of the Exchange Agreement to the extent not duplicative of any adjustment under clause (b) hereof) and (b) any equity security issued in exchange for or with respect to any shares referred to in clause (a) by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization or similar transaction, or otherwise. As to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be
5

Registrable Securities on the earliest of the date on which such securities: (i) have been registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with an effective registration statement; (ii) have been sold pursuant to Rule 144; (iii) together with all other Registrable Securities held by the Trust, represent less than 4% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and all such Registrable Securities may be sold in a single day without notice or manner of sale restrictions pursuant to, and in accordance with, Rule 144 (after giving effect to any “tacking” under Rule 144(d)(3)(ii)); (iv) cease to be outstanding (whether as a result of exercise, redemption, repurchase, conversion or otherwise); or (v) are transferred to any third Person; provided, however, that in the case of this clause (v) any such securities shall remain Registrable Securities if sold or transferred to a Permitted Transferee until the date that all Registrable Securities held by such Permitted Transferee may be sold in a single day without notice or manner of sale restrictions and, if the Corporation has not complied with its periodic reporting requirements under the Exchange Act, without current information, pursuant to, and in accordance with, Rule 144 (giving effect, if applicable, to “tacking” the holding period of the Trust), and upon such date such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities.

Replacement Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Exchange Agreement.

Representatives” means, with respect to any Person, any of such Person’s  Controlling persons, trustees, officers, directors, managers, employees, agents, attorneys, accountants, actuaries, consultants or advisors or any other Person acting on behalf of such Person.

RSA” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Rule 144” means Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor provision).

Rule 144 Block Trade” means an offering and/or sale of Registrable Securities made pursuant to Rule 144 on a block trade basis, including a same day trade, overnight trade or similar transaction.

SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

ShareCo” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Shelf Registration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(a)(i).

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary.

Suspension Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.06.

Trading Day” means a day during which (a) trading in securities generally occurs on the principal  United States national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or admitted for trading or, if the Common Stock is not then listed or admitted for trading on a
6

United States national securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the Common Stock is then traded, and (b) a closing sale price for the Common Stock is available on such securities exchange or market.  If the Common Stock is not so listed or traded, “Trading Day” means a Business Day.

Transfer Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(b).

Trust” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Trust Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.

Trustee” means the Hon. John K. Trotter (Ret.) and any successor thereto appointed pursuant to the Fire Victim Trust Agreement.

Underwritten Offering” means an offering and/or sale of Common Stock of the Corporation made pursuant to the Shelf Registration on an underwritten or block trade basis (whether firm commitment or otherwise).

WKSI” means a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

SECTION 1.02.  Terms Generally.  The definitions in Section 1.01 shall apply equally to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation,” unless the context expressly provides otherwise. All references herein to Articles, Sections, paragraphs, subparagraphs or clauses shall be deemed references to Articles, Sections, paragraphs, subparagraphs or clauses of this Agreement, unless the context requires otherwise. Unless otherwise specified, the words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereto” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase shall not mean simply “if.” Unless expressly stated otherwise, any law defined or referred to herein means such law as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including by succession of comparable successor laws and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein.

ARTICLE II

Registration Rights

SECTION 2.01.  Shelf Registration.  (a)  (i)  In accordance with Section 2.01(a)(i) of the Original Agreement, the Corporation has filed with the SEC the Original Shelf Registration following the Effective Date, and the February 2021 Shelf Registration after the Corporation became a WKSI, each pursuant to applicable rules under the Securities Act and covering the resale of all Registrable Securities (as defined in the Original Agreement) existing at the time thereof. Subject to Section 2.01(f) and to the extent not previously filed or effective, after the execution of the Exchange Agreement, the Corporation shall file promptly with the SEC either a new registration statement or an amendment or supplement to the February 2021 Shelf
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Registration in order to ensure that Trust sales of Registrable Securities (as defined in this Agreement) are covered thereby and to reflect the amendments to the Original Agreement embodied in this Agreement (such registration statement, amendment or supplement, together with the February 2021 Shelf Registration, the “Shelf Registration”); provided that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation under Section 2.01(e) to include securities other than Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering (other than a block trade) of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Transfer Notice; provided, further, that the Corporation shall not be required to keep more than one registration statement covering the sale of Registrable Securities effective at any given time during the term of this Agreement.

(ii)  Subject to Section 2.01(f), the Corporation shall use commercially reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration continuously effective under the Securities Act in order to permit the prospectus forming a part thereof to be usable by the Trust and its Permitted Transferees until the date as of which there are no longer Registrable Securities.

(iii)  Subject to Section 2.01(a)(ii), the Corporation shall promptly file any supplements or post-effective amendments, or replace by filing a new registration statement, the Shelf Registration if required in each case by the Securities Act, including the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Corporation for the Shelf Registration so that (x) the Shelf Registration does not include any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (y) the Corporation complies with its obligations under Item 512(a)(1) of Regulation S-K.

(b)  Underwritten Take-Downs.  Subject to Section 2.01(c) and Section 2.01(f), in the event the Trust intends to effect an Underwritten Offering with respect to Registrable Securities included in the Shelf Registration, the Trust shall deliver a notice (a “Transfer Notice”) to the Corporation at least 20 days, in the case of the initial Underwritten Offering that is not a block trade, 10 days, in the case of any other Underwritten Offering that is not a block trade, and 5 Business Days, in the case of an Underwritten Offering that is a block trade, prior to the commencement of such Underwritten Offering, stating (A) that the Trust intends to effect an Underwritten Offering of such Registrable Securities, (B) the number and category of Registrable Securities to be included in such Underwritten Offering and the total number of each category of Registrable Securities held by the Trust as of the date of the Transfer Notice, (C) whether the Registrable Securities to be included in such Underwritten Offering by the Trust are all of the Registrable Securities then held by the Trust, (D) the proposed timetable for such Underwritten Offering and (E) other customary information reasonably requested by the Corporation.

(c)  Limitations.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein:

(i)  [Reserved].

(ii)  The Trust shall not be permitted to submit a Transfer Notice for an Underwritten Offering, or otherwise effect any such Underwritten Offering, unless such Transfer Notice is for at least the lesser of (A) a number of Registrable Securities having
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a Market Value equal to or exceeding $250,000,000 in the aggregate, (B) a number of Registrable Securities equal to or exceeding 1.25% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or (C) all of the Registrable Securities then held by the Trust.

(iii)  The Corporation shall not be required to effect:

(A)  in the event the Corporation executes a Marketed Offering, (1) [Reserved] (2) any Underwritten Offering sooner than 90 days following the closing of any Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities;

(B)  in the event the Corporation does not execute a Marketed Offering, (1) [Reserved] (2) any Underwritten Offering sooner than 90 days following the closing of any Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities; and

(C)  during the term of this Agreement, more than eight Underwritten Offerings pursuant to a Transfer Notice in total.

(iv)  The Trust shall not be permitted to offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any Registrable Securities pursuant to any Underwritten Offering in an amount that would cause an Adverse Effect (as defined herein), as determined jointly by the investment banking firms selected pursuant to Section 2.01(d)(i) to jointly lead or manage such Underwritten Offering.

(d)  Underwriting.  (i)  With respect to any Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Transfer Notice (other than a block trade), (A) the Trust shall select one (and no more than one) nationally recognized investment banking firm acceptable to the Corporation (such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), it being agreed that either of Royal Bank of Canada or Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is acceptable to the Corporation for such purposes, and (B) the Corporation shall select one (and no more than one) nationally recognized investment banking firm acceptable to the Trust (such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), which firms together shall jointly lead or manage the Underwritten Offering, and, unless otherwise agreed, each of the Corporation and the Trust shall select an equal number of other nationally recognized investment banking firms, if any, to co-manage such Underwritten Offering; provided, however that in the case of an Underwritten Offering in the form of a block trade, the Trust shall select one (and no more than one) nationally recognized investment banking firm acceptable to the Corporation (such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), it being agreed that Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is acceptable to the Corporation for such purposes, which firm shall solely lead or manage the Underwritten Offering.

(ii)  With respect to any Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Transfer Notice, the Trustee agrees (A) to sell the Trust’s Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any customary underwriting arrangements approved by the Corporation and the Trustee (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) and (B) to complete and execute all customary questionnaires, powers of
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attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements (containing indemnity and contribution provisions of the type made in customary underwriting agreements for an underwritten public offering), lock-ups and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

(e)  Priority on Underwritten Offerings Pursuant to a Transfer Notice.  The Corporation may include securities other than Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering (other than a block trade) of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Transfer Notice, for any accounts (including for the account of the Corporation) on the terms provided below.  With respect to any such Underwritten Offering, if the lead or managing underwriters advise that in their good faith determination the inclusion of the securities proposed to be included in such Underwritten Offering would adversely affect or jeopardize the price or distribution of the offering or otherwise adversely affect or jeopardize its success (an “Adverse Effect”), the Corporation shall include in such Underwritten Offering (in each case, to the extent inclusion would not have an Adverse Effect):

(i)  first, the Registrable Securities and any Common Stock requested to be included therein by the Trust and Other Stockholders, respectively, allocated pro rata among the Trust and such Other Stockholders on the basis of the amount of Registrable Securities or Common Stock held by the Trust and such Other Stockholders (and eligible for inclusion in such offering under this Agreement or an agreement between such Other Stockholders and the Corporation) as of the date of the Transfer Notice; and

(ii)  second, any securities requested to be included therein by the Corporation.

(f)  Deferral of Filing; Suspension of Use.  The Corporation may defer the filing (but not the preparation) or the effectiveness, or suspend the use, of the Shelf Registration at any time if (i) the Board or an Executive Officer determines, in its good faith judgment, that such action or use (or proposed action or use) (A) would require the Corporation to make an Adverse Disclosure or (B) would materially impede, delay or interfere with any significant financing, significant acquisition, corporate reorganization or other significant transaction then pending or proposed to be taken by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries (or any negotiations, discussions or pending proposals with respect thereto) or (ii) prior to receiving the applicable Transfer Notice, the Corporation had determined to effect an underwritten offering of Common Stock or Corporation securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock for the Corporation’s account only and the Corporation had taken substantial steps (such as selecting a lead or managing underwriter for such offering) and is proceeding with reasonable diligence to effect such offering; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be permitted to exercise a deferral or suspension right pursuant to this Section 2.01(f), for (i) more than a total of 120 days (which need not be consecutive) in any 12-month period; or (ii) more than 45 consecutive days at any time; or (iii) in a manner imposing greater deferral or suspension limitations on the Trust than those imposed on or with respect to any other stockholders (including for the avoidance of doubt, the Backstop Parties); provided further, however, that while the Shelf Registration is deferred or suspended pursuant to Section 2.01(f)(i)(A), the Corporation shall not be permitted to register under the Securities Act any Common Stock, warrants or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, other than shares of Common Stock or other equity securities to be issued in connection with equity compensation pursuant to Form S-8. The Corporation
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shall promptly notify the Trust of any deferral or suspension pursuant to this Section 2.01(f) (provided that the Corporation shall not disclose any material non-public information that is the basis for such notice to the Trust without the express consent of the Trust) and the Corporation agrees that it will terminate any such deferral or suspension as promptly as reasonably practicable (but in any event not more than seven days after the abandonment or consummation of any of the foregoing proposals or transactions) and will promptly notify the Trust in writing of the termination of any such deferral or suspension.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Trust may elect from time to time, by delivering written notice to the Corporation, not to use the Shelf Registration and not to receive notice of any deferral or suspension pursuant to this Section 2.01(f), in which case the Trust shall not offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration unless it provides at least two Business Days advance written notice thereof (a “Re-Activation Notice”).  The Trust’s election not to use the Shelf Registration will not relieve the Corporation of its obligation to maintain the Shelf Registration as otherwise provided herein, and, following the Corporation’s receipt of a Re-Activation Notice, the Trust may continue to use the Shelf Registration and the Corporation may continue to exercise its deferral and suspension rights pursuant to this Section 2.01(f).

(g)  Withdrawal from Underwritten Offering Pursuant to a Transfer Notice.  The Trust may withdraw Registrable Securities from an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Transfer Notice by providing written notice to the Corporation; provided that, if the remaining Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering would not meet the requirements of Section 2.01(c)(ii), then the Trust shall be deemed to have requested all Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering be withdrawn.  In the event all Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Transfer Notice are so withdrawn, (i) if such withdrawal occurs prior to the commencement of such Underwritten Offering, (A) the Trust will reimburse the Corporation for all reasonable documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred in connection with such Underwritten Offering or (B) the Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Transfer Notice that has been withdrawn will be deemed to have been effected for purposes of Section 2.01(c)(iii) and (ii) if such withdrawal occurs after the commencement of such Underwritten Offering, (x) the Trust will reimburse the Corporation for all reasonable documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred in connection with such Underwritten Offering and (y) the Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Transfer Notice that has been withdrawn will be deemed to have been effected for purposes of Section 2.01(c)(iii); provided, however, that in each case if such withdrawal was based on the Corporation’s failure to comply in any material respect with its obligations hereunder or in response to the Corporation’s exercise of a deferral or suspension right pursuant to Section 2.01(f), such reimbursement from the Trust will not be required, the Corporation will pay (or reimburse, as applicable) the expenses specified in Section 2.07, and the proposed Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Transfer Notice will not be deemed to have been effected for purposes of Section 2.01(c)(iii).  A withdrawal will be irrevocable and, after making such withdrawal, the Trust will no longer have any right to include the Registrable Securities so withdrawn in that Underwritten Offering.

(h)  Backstop Parties’ Registration Rights.

(i)  The Corporation hereby represents and warrants that, as of the Effective Date, no Backstop Party is an Other Stockholder. The Corporation covenants that it will not
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have or enter into any agreement or understanding to permit a Backstop Party to become an Other Stockholder or otherwise obtain “demand” or “piggyback” rights with respect to the shares of Common Stock received by such Backstop Party in connection with the Plan of Reorganization.

(ii)  In the event that the Debtors enter into any registration rights agreements with the Backstop Parties pursuant to the Backstop Commitment Letters (the “Backstop RRAs”), which contain terms that correlate to terms in this Agreement, such correlative terms in the Backstop RRAs shall not be more favorable to a Backstop Party in any material respect, unless (A) the Debtors incorporate such more favorable terms into this Agreement (or offer to incorporate such more favorable terms and the Trustee declines such offer) or (B) the Trustee consents to such inclusion in the applicable Backstop RRA.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is understood that (1) no Backstop RRA shall have any “demand” or “piggyback” rights for the applicable Backstop Party to participate as a seller in an underwritten offering, and (2) the fact that a Backstop RRA does not include or require a lockup provision shall not be considered to be a term that is more favorable to a Backstop Party, and neither the Torts Claimants Committee nor the Trustee shall be permitted to object or, under this Section 2.01(h)(ii), withhold consent to the absence of a lockup provision in a Backstop RRA.

(i)  No Other Restrictions.  The Corporation will not take any action to restrict the Trust’s ability to offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any Registrable Securities to any person except as provided in (i) this Agreement or in the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended from time to time, unless such action is generally applicable to all of the Corporation’s stockholders and (ii) the Exchange Agreement.

SECTION 2.02.  Piggyback Offerings.  (a)  Right to Piggyback.  Each time the Corporation proposes to offer Common Stock in an underwritten offering (other than pursuant to an Excluded Registration) registered under the Securities Act (whether for the account of the Corporation or the account of any equity holder of the Corporation other than the Trust) (a “Piggyback Offering”), the Corporation shall give prompt written notice to the Trust (which notice shall be given not less than 10 Business Days prior to such Piggyback Offering (the “Piggyback Notice”)), which notice shall offer to the Trust the opportunity to include any or all of its Registrable Securities in such Piggyback Offering, subject to the limitations contained in Section 2.01(c)(iv) and Section 2.02(b).  To participate in any Piggyback Offering, the Trust shall provide written notice to the Corporation (stating the number of Registrable Securities desired to be registered or included and the total number of Registrable Securities held by the Trust as of the date of the Piggyback Notice) within five Business Days after the date of such notice from the Corporation.  The Trust shall have the right to withdraw its request for inclusion of its Registrable Securities in any Piggyback Offering prior to the commencement of such Piggyback Offering by giving written notice to the Corporation of such withdrawal.  Subject to the limitations contained in Section 2.01(c)(iv) and Section 2.02(b), the Corporation shall include in such underwritten offering all such Registrable Securities so requested to be included therein.  No registration pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) shall relieve the Corporation of its obligation to effect a registration statement, as contemplated by Section 2.01 hereof. The Trust’s rights to a Piggyback Offering may be exercised on an unlimited number of occasions.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation may at any time withdraw, abandon or cease proceeding with any such offering for any reason at any time.

(b)  Priority on Piggyback Offerings.  (i)  If a Piggyback Offering was initiated by the Corporation and if the lead or managing underwriter(s) advise that in their good faith determination the inclusion of the Registrable Securities proposed to be included in such Piggyback Offering would cause an Adverse Effect, the Corporation shall include in such Piggyback Offering (in each case, to the extent inclusion would not have an Adverse Effect):

(A)  first, the Common Stock the Corporation proposes to sell; and

(B)  second, any Registrable Securities and Common Stock requested to be included therein by the Trust and Other Stockholders, respectively, allocated pro rata among the Trust and such Other Stockholders on the basis of the amount of Registrable Securities or Common Stock held by the Trust and such Other Stockholders (and eligible for inclusion in such offering under this Agreement or an agreement between such Other Stockholders and the Corporation) as of the date of the Piggyback Notice.

If as a result of the provisions of this Section 2.02(b)(i), the Trust shall not be entitled to include all Registrable Securities in such Piggyback Offering that the Trust has requested to be so included, the Trust may withdraw its request to include its Registrable Securities in such Piggyback Offering prior to the commencement thereof.

(ii)  If a Piggyback Offering was initiated by any Other Stockholders and if the lead or managing underwriter(s) advise that in their good faith determination the inclusion of the Registrable Securities proposed to be included in such Piggyback Offering would cause an Adverse Effect, the Corporation shall include in such Piggyback Offering (in each case, to the extent inclusion would not have an Adverse Effect):

(A)  first, any Registrable Securities and the Common Stock requested to be included therein by the Trust and Other Stockholders, respectively, allocated pro rata among the Trust and such Other Stockholders on the basis of the amount of Registrable Securities or Common Stock then held by the Trust and such Other Stockholders (and eligible for inclusion in such offering under this Agreement or an agreement between such Other Stockholders and the Corporation); and

(B)  second, and only if all of the securities referenced in clause (A) above have been included, any securities requested to be included therein by the Corporation.

If as a result of the provisions of this Section 2.02(b)(ii), the Trust shall not be entitled to include all Registrable Securities in such Piggyback Offering that the Trust has requested to be so included, the Trust may withdraw its request to include its Registrable Securities in such Piggyback Offering prior to the commencement thereof.
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(c)  Underwriting.  (i)  The Corporation (or Other Stockholders, if contractually required) shall select the investment banking firm or firms to lead or manage any Piggyback Offering, and the other investment banking firms, if any, to co-manage such Piggyback Offering.

(ii)  The Trust may not participate in a Piggyback Offering unless the Trust (A) agrees to sell its Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any customary underwriting arrangements approved by the Corporation and (B) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements (containing indemnity and contribution provisions of the type included in customary underwriting agreements for an underwritten public offering), lock-ups and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

(d)  No Effect on Registration Rights.  No registration or offering of Registrable Securities effected pursuant to this Section 2.02 shall be deemed to have been effected pursuant to Section 2.01(b).

SECTION 2.03.  Holdback.  In the event of an underwritten offering (other than a block trade) of equity securities of the Corporation (whether for the account of the Corporation, the Trust or otherwise), at the request of the lead or managing underwriter(s), (a) each of the Trust and the Corporation agrees to enter into a customary “lockup” agreement for such offering in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation and the Trust prohibiting any offer, sale, contract to sell or other disposition of Common Stock, including any sale pursuant to Rule 144, during the period (or such lesser period as the lead or managing underwriter(s) may determine) commencing seven days prior to the effective date of the registration statement for such underwritten offering (or, in the case of an offering pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415, seven days prior to the commencement date for such underwritten offering) and ending no later than the 90th day after such effective date (or commencement date) and (b) the Corporation agrees to cause the executive officers and directors of the Corporation so requested by the lead or managing underwriter(s), and any Other Stockholders (other than those who “beneficially own” (as such term is defined under and determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) (x) less than 4.75% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and (y) together with all other Other Stockholders so excluded, less than 7.5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock), to enter into customary “lockup” agreements for such offering in a form satisfactory to the Corporation; provided that, with respect to the Corporation, such restrictions shall not apply to any offer, sale, contract to sell or other disposition of Common Stock by the Corporation pursuant to any “at the market offering” (as such term is defined under Rule 415 of the Securities Act) and shall be subject to other customary exclusions as permitted by the lead or managing underwriter(s); provided, further, (i) that the “lockup” period shall be substantially similar for the Trust and all Other Stockholders who are participating in such offering; (ii) the foregoing restrictions shall be applicable to the Trust only to the extent they are applicable on substantially similar or more restrictive terms to all directors and executive officers of the Corporation requested by the lead or managing underwriter(s) to be subject to the “lockup” and (iii) if the lockup restrictions applicable to any director or executive officer of the Corporation, or the restrictions applicable to any Other Stockholder participating in such offering, are less restrictive (due to a waiver, release of obligation or otherwise) than the foregoing restrictions applicable to the Trust, then such less restrictive provisions shall apply to the Trust in connection with such underwritten offering.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, under any “lockup” agreement under this Section 2.03, the Trust shall be permitted (A) to pledge Registrable Securities for a bona fide loan or other extension of credit, including any subsequent transfer of such Registrable Securities to such lender or collateral agent or other transferee in connection with the exercise of remedies under such loan or extension of credit, subject to such lender or collateral agent or other transferee agreeing not to sell or transfer such Registrable Securities for the remainder of the lockup period thereunder and (B) to transfer Registrable Securities to Subsidiary so long as such Subsidiary complies with the requirements set forth in Section 2.09.

SECTION 2.04.  Registration Procedures.

(a)  In connection with the registration statement required by or filed pursuant to Section 2.01(a), subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Corporation shall use commercially reasonable best efforts to effect the Shelf Registration and the sale, as applicable, of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto the Corporation shall as promptly as practicable:

(i)  furnish to the Trust copies of reasonably complete drafts of the registration statement or any amendments thereto, and the Corporation shall consider in good faith any corrections reasonably requested by the Trust with respect to information related to the Trust prior to filing any such registration statement or amendment and, if requested by the Trust, provide the Trust, any participating underwriter and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Trust, reasonable opportunity to participate in the preparation of such registration statement;

(ii)  comply with the provisions of Section 2.01(a)(ii) and Section 2.01(a)(iii);

(iii)  furnish to the Trust and the underwriters of the offering and sale of Registrable Securities being registered, without charge, electronic copies of such registration statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (but excluding all schedules, all exhibits and all materials incorporated or deemed incorporated therein by reference) and the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus) as the Trust or lead or managing underwriter(s) may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by the Trust or the sale of such securities by such underwriters (it being understood that, subject to Section 2.01(f), Section 2.03, Section 2.05 and Section 2.06 and the requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, the Corporation consents to the use of the prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by the Trust and the underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement of which such prospectus, amendment or supplement is a part);

(iv)  use commercially reasonable best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Securities under such other securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as the lead or managing underwriter(s) reasonably request; and use commercially reasonable best efforts to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period in which such registration statement is required to
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be kept effective; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this subparagraph, (B) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction, (C) take any action that would subject it to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject or (D) prepare or file any prospectus, prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment for purposes of effecting a Non-Underwritten Sale;

(v)  promptly following its actual knowledge thereof, notify the Trust (A) when the prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed and, with respect to the registration statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (B) when the SEC notifies the Corporation whether there will be a “review” of the registration statement or provides any comments (written or oral), (C) of the issuance by any state securities or other regulatory authority of any order suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities under state securities or “blue sky” laws or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, or the receipt of any comments (oral or written) by state securities or other regulatory authority with respect thereto, and (D) upon the discovery that, or upon the happening of any event as a result of which, any prospectus or registration statement contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and, as promptly as practicable thereafter, prepare and file with the SEC and furnish a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter deliverable to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(vi)  otherwise use commercially reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, including the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and make generally available to the Corporation’s security holders an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act, which requirement shall be deemed to be satisfied if the Corporation files complete and accurate information on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K under the Exchange Act and otherwise complies with Rule 158 under the Securities Act;

(vii)  if requested by the lead or managing underwriter(s) or the Trust, promptly incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment information with respect to the Registrable Securities being sold by the Trust, the purchase price being paid therefor by the underwriters and with respect to any other terms of the Underwritten Offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering, and promptly make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

(viii)  promptly make available for inspection by the Trust, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to the registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent or Representative retained by the Trust or underwriter (collectively, the “Inspectors”), all financial and other records and pertinent corporate
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documents (collectively, the “Records”) and properties of the Corporation, as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise any legal due diligence responsibility, and cause the Corporation’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector in connection with such registration statement; provided, however, that, unless the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction, the Corporation shall not be required to provide any information under this subparagraph (viii) if (A) the Corporation reasonably and in good faith believes, after consultation with counsel for the Corporation, that to do so would cause the Corporation to forfeit an attorney-client privilege that was applicable to such information or (B) either (1) the Corporation has requested and been granted from the SEC confidential treatment of such information contained in any filing with the SEC or documents provided supplementally or otherwise or (2) the Corporation reasonably determines in good faith that such Records are confidential and so notifies the Inspectors in writing, unless prior to furnishing any such information with respect to clause (B) the Trust agrees to enter into a confidentiality agreement in a form acceptable to the Corporation; and provided, further, that the Trust agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, give notice to the Corporation and allow the Corporation, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action and to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential;

(ix)  use commercially reasonable best efforts to obtain (A) an opinion of outside counsel to the Corporation including a customary 10b-5 statement (which may be addressed to the underwriters), provided that such counsel is reasonably acceptable to the Trust and the lead or managing underwriter(s), and (B) a comfort letter or comfort letters from the Corporation’s independent public accountants, dated as of the date of the closing, addressed to the underwriters, each in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by opinions or comfort letters, as the case may be, as reasonably requested by the Trust or the lead or managing underwriter(s);

(x)  use commercially reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities included in the Shelf Registration to be promptly listed on each securities exchange, if any, on which similar securities issued by the Corporation are then listed;

(xi)  maintain a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities registered hereunder;

(xii)  if such registration is in connection with an Underwritten Offering, provide officers’ certificates and other customary closing documents as the lead or managing underwriter of such offering may reasonably request;

(xiii)  cooperate with the Trust and each underwriter participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”);
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(xiv)  notify the Trust promptly of any request by the SEC for the amending or supplementing of such registration statement or prospectus or for additional information;

(xv)  advise the Trust, promptly after it receives (A) notice or actual knowledge, of the issuance or threatened issuance of any stop order by the SEC suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued, or (B) any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, and the Corporation agrees to use commercially reasonable best efforts to (x) prevent the issuance of any such stop order, and in the event of such issuance, to obtain the withdrawal of any such stop order and (y) obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending or preventing the use of any related prospectus or suspending the qualification of any Registrable Securities included in such registration statement for sale in any jurisdiction at the earliest practicable date;

(xvi)  enter into and perform its obligations under customary agreements (including an underwriting agreement in customary form with the relevant underwriter) and take such other actions as are prudent and reasonably required to expedite or facilitate the disposition of Registrable Securities, including causing the appropriate officers and members of the management of the Corporation as the lead or managing underwriter of such offering may reasonably request to participate in the selling efforts relating to an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities to the extent customary for such offering (including, to the extent customary, telephonic, video or recorded participation in road shows); and

(xvii)  take all other actions reasonably necessary to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities contemplated hereby.

(b)  The Trust shall reasonably cooperate with the Corporation in the preparation and filing of the registration statement under the Securities Act and any related prospectus, in each case pursuant to this Agreement, and any amendment or supplement thereto, and provide the Corporation with all information reasonably necessary to complete such preparation as the Corporation may, from time to time, reasonably request in writing, and the Corporation may exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of the Trust (or not proceed with such registration) and be relieved of any related obligations hereunder if the Trust fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.

(c)  In furtherance of the foregoing, the Trust shall reasonably cooperate with the Corporation with respect to providing information relevant to the preservation of the Corporation’s tax attributes, including the ownership of Registrable Securities; provided that the Trust shall have no obligation pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) to provide any such information that the Trust determines, in its reasonable judgment, it is legally or contractually prohibited from disclosing.
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(d)  Each of the parties shall treat all notices of proposed transfers and registrations, all notices of, and information relating to, any blackout periods under Section 2.01(f) and all Suspension Notices received from another party with the strictest confidence (and in accordance with the terms of any applicable confidentiality agreement among the Corporation and the Trust) and shall not disseminate such information or disclose the existence thereof.

(e)  Plan of Distribution.  The Corporation agrees to include in the Shelf Registration, and any related prospectus (to the extent such inclusion is permitted under applicable SEC regulations and is consistent with comments received from the SEC during any SEC review of such registration statement), a “Plan of Distribution” section substantially in the form of Annex A hereto (or such other form as may be mutually acceptable to the parties hereto) and that shall be no more restrictive on the ability of the Trust to sell or transfer Registrable Securities than that included in any registration statement filed by the Corporation on behalf of any Other Stockholder.

SECTION 2.05.  Free Writing Prospectuses.  The Trust agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Corporation, it shall not make any offer relating to the Registrable Securities that would constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, required to be filed with the SEC.  The Corporation represents that any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, prepared by or on behalf of the Corporation (an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”) shall not include any information that conflicts with the information contained in a registration statement or prospectus and that any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, when taken together with the information in the registration statement and the prospectus, shall not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

SECTION 2.06.  Suspension of Dispositions.  The Trust agrees that upon receipt of any notice (a “Suspension Notice”) from the Corporation of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 2.04(a)(v)(B) or (C) or Section 2.04(a)(xv), the Trust shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration until the Trust’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus, or until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the Corporation that the use of the prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by reference in the prospectus, and, if so directed by the Corporation, the Trust shall deliver to the Corporation all copies, other than permanent file copies then in the Trust’s possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.  The Corporation shall use commercially reasonable best efforts and take such actions as are reasonably necessary to render the Advice as promptly as practicable.  Any Suspension Notice shall not contain information other than as required by this Section 2.06.

SECTION 2.07.  Registration Expenses.  The Corporation shall pay all of its fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with its obligations under this Article II, whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to a registration statement, including fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws, SEC or trading market filing fees, FINRA fees, listing application fees, printing expenses, transfer agent’s and registrar’s fees, cost of distributing prospectuses in preliminary and final form as well as any supplements
19

thereto, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Corporation and all independent certified public accountants for the Corporation and other Persons retained by the Corporation and fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Trust in connection with the Shelf Registration (not to exceed $100,000) and for each Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities (not to exceed $100,000 per offering) pursuant to a Transfer Notice (but not including any underwriting discounts or commissions attributable to the sale of Registrable Securities or fees and expenses of any other Representative representing any underwriters or the Trust). Subject to the immediately preceding sentence, the Trust shall pay all its own expenses, including fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it.

SECTION 2.08.  Indemnification.  (a)  Indemnification by the Corporation.  The Corporation agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Trust, the Trustee, the officers, directors, employees and investment manager or managers acting on behalf of the Trust with respect to the Registrable Securities, Persons, if any, who Control any of them, and each of their respective Representatives (each, an “Indemnitee”), from and against any and all losses, penalties, judgments, suits, costs, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement) and expenses, joint or several (including reasonable costs of investigation and legal expenses) (“Losses”), arising out of or caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the registration statement or any related prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in each case relating to an offering or sale of the Registrable Securities (as amended or supplemented if the Corporation shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or arising out of or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein 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 in which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such Losses arise out of or are caused by any such untrue statement or omission included or omitted in conformity with information furnished to the Corporation in writing by an Indemnitee or any Person acting on behalf of an Indemnitee expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement with respect to any preliminary prospectuses or Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses shall not inure to the benefit of such Indemnitee if the Person asserting any Losses against such Indemnitee purchased Registrable Securities and (i) prior to the time of sale of the Registrable Securities to such Person (the “Initial Sale Time”) the Corporation shall have notified the Trust that the preliminary prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (as it existed prior to the Initial Sale Time) contains an untrue statement of material fact or omits to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein in order to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) such untrue statement or omission of a material fact was corrected in a preliminary prospectus or, where permitted by law, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and such corrected preliminary prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus was provided to the Trust a reasonable amount of time in advance of the Initial Sale Time such that the corrected preliminary prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus could have been provided to such Person prior to the Initial Sale Time, (iii) such corrected preliminary prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (excluding any document then incorporated or deemed incorporated therein by reference) was not conveyed to such Person at or prior to the Initial Sale Time and (iv) such Losses would not have occurred had the corrected preliminary prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (excluding any document then incorporated or deemed incorporated therein by reference) been conveyed to such Person as provided for in clause (iii) above.
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(b)  Indemnification by the Trust.  The Trust agrees, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Corporation, each Person, if any, who Controls the Corporation, and each of their respective Representatives to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Corporation, but only with respect to Losses arising out of or caused by an untrue statement or omission included or omitted in conformity with information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Trust expressly for use in any registration statement described herein or any related prospectus relating to the Registrable Securities (as amended or supplemented if the Corporation shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto). The liability of the Trust hereunder shall in no event exceed the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by the Trust in the sale of Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

(c)  Indemnification Procedures.  (i)  In case any claim is asserted or any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted in which indemnity may be sought by an Indemnitee pursuant to any of the preceding paragraphs of this Section 2.08, such Indemnitee shall promptly notify in writing the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “Indemnitor”); provided, however, that the omission so to notify the Indemnitor shall not relieve the Indemnitor of any liability that it may have to such Indemnitee except to the extent that the Indemnitor was prejudiced by such failure to notify.  The Indemnitor, upon request of the Indemnitee, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee to represent (subject to the following sentences of this Section 2.08(c)(i)) the Indemnitee and any others the Indemnitor may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding.  In any such proceeding, any Indemnitee shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnitee unless (A) the Indemnitor and the Indemnitee shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel, (B) the Indemnitor fails to take reasonable steps necessary to defend diligently any claim within ten days after receiving written notice from the Indemnitee that the Indemnitee believes the Indemnitor has failed to take such steps, or (C) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnitor and the Indemnitee and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests or legal defenses between them and, in all such cases, the Indemnitor shall be responsible for the reasonable fees and expenses of only such counsel.  It is understood that the Indemnitor shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate law firm (in addition to any appropriate local counsel) for all such Indemnitees.  The Indemnitor shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent.

(ii)  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 2.08 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an Indemnitee in respect of any Losses referred to herein, then the Indemnitor, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnitee hereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnitee as a result of such Losses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnitor and the Indemnitee and Persons acting on behalf of or Controlling the Indemnitor or the Indemnitee in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative fault of the Corporation, the Trust and Persons acting on behalf of or Controlling the
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Corporation or the Trust shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Corporation, the Trust or by Persons acting on behalf of the Corporation or the Trust and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  The Indemnitor shall not be required to contribute pursuant to this Section 2.08(c)(ii) if there has been a settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent.

(iii)  The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 2.08(c) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 2.08(c), the Trust shall not be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds actually received by the Trust from the sale of the Registrable Securities subject to any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) exceeds the amount of any damages that the Trust has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

(d)  Survival.  The indemnification contained in this Section 2.08 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any termination of this Agreement.

SECTION 2.09.  Transfer of Registration Rights.

(a)  Other than, in the case of clause (b) of this sentence, the rights and obligations of the Trust relating to “demand” and “piggyback” rights (including, without limitation, those set forth in Section 2.01(b), (d) and (g) and Section 2.02) (the “Non-Transferable Rights”), the rights and obligations of the Trust under this Agreement (including the rights and obligations under Section 2.08, and which, in the case of obligations of the Trust and any Permitted Transferees, shall be several and not joint) may be transferred or assigned (a) to any Subsidiary of the Trust or (b) to any Person that directly acquires from the Trust, in a single transaction, Registrable Securities in an amount equal to or greater than 1% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (or, if less, all Registrable Securities then held by the Trust) (each such Person, a “Permitted Transferee”), but only if (x) such transfer or assignment is agreed to in writing, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Corporation prior to or concurrently with such transfer or assignment, (y) prior to or concurrently with such transfer or assignment, such Subsidiary or Permitted Transferee furnishes the Corporation with written notice of the name and address of such Subsidiary or Permitted Transferee and the number of Registrable Securities with respect to which such registration rights (other than Non-Transferable Rights) are being transferred or assigned and (z) the Subsidiary or Permitted Transferee agrees in writing with the Corporation to be bound by all the provisions and obligations contained herein applicable to the Trust (other than Non-Transferable Rights), such agreement being in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation. The rights and obligations under this Agreement of any Permitted Transferee shall terminate automatically upon the date that all Registrable Securities held by
22

such Permitted Transferee may be sold in a single day without notice or manner of sale restrictions and, if the Corporation has not complied with its periodic reporting requirements under the Exchange Act, without current information, pursuant to, and in accordance with, Rule 144 (giving effect, if applicable, to “tacking” the holding period of the Trust).

(b)  In the event the Corporation engages in a merger or consolidation in which the Registrable Securities are converted into securities of another company, appropriate arrangements will be made so that the registration rights provided under this Agreement continue to be provided to the Trust, its applicable Subsidiaries and any Permitted Transferee by the issuer of such securities.

ARTICLE III

Periodic Reporting and Rule 144

SECTION 3.01.  Periodic Reporting.  If the Corporation is subject to the requirements of Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Corporation covenants that it will file any reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, so as to enable the Trust to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144. Upon the request of the Trust, the Corporation will deliver to the Trust a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirement.

SECTION 3.02.  Rule 144 Block Trades.  Upon request and at least three Business Days advance notice by the Trust, the Corporation shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cooperate in a timely manner with reasonable requests by the Trust with respect to any Rule 144 Block Trade by the Trust, including delivery of customary certificates to the Corporation’s transfer agent or the Trust’s broker, but excluding the delivery of legal opinions, disclosure letters or comfort letters.

ARTICLE IV

Mirror Voting

SECTION 4.01.  Mirror Voting.  The Corporation and the Trust hereby agree that all votes with respect to Common Stock held by the Trust from time to time in excess of 9.9% of the Corporation’s outstanding shares of Common Stock as of any applicable record date for voting shall, with respect to all matters subject to a vote of the shareholders other than matters directly related to the natural environment or safety, be cast in the same proportion as the votes of all other shareholders of the Corporation (herein referred to as “mirror voting”), unless on or before the Effective Date, the Corporation determines in good faith (taking into account relevant factors including, among other things, the outcome of any offering or issuance of Common Stock or equity-linked securities in furtherance of the Plan of Reorganization, to the extent then known), and after providing all reasonably requested information to, and consultation with, tax counsel to the Trust and to the Tort Claimants Committee, that the absence of mirror voting is reasonably necessary or advisable to preserve the ability of the Debtors to utilize their net operating loss carryforwards and other tax attributes without limitation under section 382 of the Internal
23

Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any applicable state law.  If the Corporation makes such a determination, the Corporation will deliver written notice to such effect to the Trust on or within two Business Days after the Effective Date.  If mirror voting is so implemented, and upon the Trust’s request, the Corporation shall provide acknowledgement of and reasonable cooperation with the Trust’s position that it will not be an “affiliate” of the Corporation under Rule 144 as a result of its holding Registrable Securities; provided that the Corporation and its counsel shall not be required to deliver any legal opinion with respect to such matter.  In the event mirror voting is implemented and (a) the Trust is determined to be an “affiliate” of the Corporation under Rule 144 or (b) the Corporation fails to comply in any material respect with its obligations under this Section 4.01, mirror voting shall be suspended automatically, effective as of the day on which the Trust delivers notice to the Corporation stating that the events described in clause (a) or (b) have occurred and describing in reasonable detail the circumstances giving rise thereto.

ARTICLE V

Termination

SECTION 5.01.  Termination.  Other than Sections 2.07 and 2.08 and Article VI, this Agreement and the respective rights and obligations of the Corporation and the Trust hereunder (a) shall terminate automatically on the date as of which the Trust beneficially owns less than 4% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and all Registrable Securities may be sold in a single day without notice or manner of sale restrictions pursuant to, and in accordance with, Rule 144 (and the Trust shall promptly notify the Corporation when its beneficial ownership is less than 4% and all Registrable Securities may be sold in a single day without notice or manner of sale restrictions pursuant to, and in accordance with, Rule 144) and (b) may be terminated by the Trust upon written notice by the Trust to the Corporation once the Trust beneficially owns less than 10% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; provided that, in the event the Trust exercises its right pursuant to clause (b), the respective rights and obligations of the Corporation and the Trust under Section 2.03 shall remain in effect until the Trust beneficially owns less than 7.5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (and the Trust shall promptly notify the Corporation when its beneficial ownership is less than 7.5%). All liabilities, rights or obligations under Sections 2.07 and 2.08 and Article VI shall remain in effect in accordance with the terms of such provisions.

ARTICLE VI

Miscellaneous

SECTION 6.01.  Notices.  Any notice, request, instruction, consent, document or other communication required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or served for all purposes (a) upon delivery when personally delivered; (b) on the delivery date after having been sent by a nationally or internationally recognized overnight courier service (charges prepaid); (c) at the time received when sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; or (d) at the time when a “read receipt” is received (or the first Business Day following such receipt if the
24

date of such receipt is not a Business Day) if sent by email, in each case, to the recipient at the address or email, as applicable, indicated below:

If to the Corporation:

PG&E Corporation
77 Beale Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Attention:  Brian Wong, Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary and
John Simon, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer
Email:  Disclosed in a separate document.

with a copy to:

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
825 8th Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Attention:  Nicholas A. Dorsey and C. Daniel Haaren
Email:  NDorsey@cravath.com; DHaaren@cravath.com


If to the Trust:

Hon. John K. Trotter (Ret.), Trustee
PG&E Fire Victim Trust
Two Embarcadero Center
Suite 1500
San Francisco, CA 94111
Email: trustee@firevictimtrust.com

with a copy to:

Cathy Yanni, Claims Administrator
PG&E Fire Victim Trust
Two Embarcadero Center
Suite 1500
San Francisco, CA 94111
Email: claimsadministrator@firevictimtrust.com

Brown Rudnick LLP
7 Times Square
New York, NY 11036
Attn: David J. Molton, Esq., Gerard T. Cicero, Esq.
Email: dmolton@brownrudnick.com, gcicero@brownrudnick.com
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provided, however, if any party shall have designated a different addressee and/or contact information by notice in accordance with this Section 6.01, then to the last addressee as so designated.

SECTION 6.02.  Authority.  Each of the parties hereto represents to the other that (a) it has the corporate or other organizational power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, (b) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by it has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or organizational action and no such further action is required, (c) it has duly and validly executed and delivered this Agreement and (d) this Agreement is a legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general equity principles.

SECTION 6.03.  No Third Party Beneficiaries.  Except for Indemnitees as set forth in Section 2.08, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or will confer upon any other Person any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

SECTION 6.04.  Governing Law; Forum Selection.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York irrespective of choice of laws principles thereof.  Any action or proceeding against the parties relating in any way to this Agreement may be brought and enforced exclusively in the courts of the State of New York located in the Borough of Manhattan or (to the extent subject matter jurisdiction exists therefor) the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, and the parties irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of both courts in respect of any such action or proceeding.

SECTION 6.05.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH PARTY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY DISPUTE IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY MATTERS DESCRIBED OR CONTEMPLATED HEREIN, AND AGREES TO TAKE ANY AND ALL ACTION NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE TO EFFECT SUCH WAIVER.

SECTION 6.06.  Successors and Assigns.  Except as expressly provided in Section 2.09, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations provided by this Agreement may be assigned by any party (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other party, and any such assignment without such prior written consent shall be null and void.  Subject to the immediately preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon and benefit the Corporation, the Trust and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and Indemnitees pursuant to Section 2.08.

SECTION 6.07.  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement contains the final, exclusive and entire agreement and understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings, whether written or oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof (including the Original Agreement).  This Agreement shall not be deemed to contain or imply any restriction, covenant,
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representation, warranty, agreement or undertaking of any party with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby other than those expressly set forth herein, and none shall be deemed to exist or be inferred with respect to the subject matter hereof.

SECTION 6.08.  Severability.  Whenever possible, each term and provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under law.  If any term or provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any Person or any circumstance, is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order to carry out, so far as may be legal, valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision and (b) the remainder of this Agreement or such term or provision and the application of such term or provision to other Persons or circumstances shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity or unenforceability affect the legality, validity or enforceability of such term or provision, or the application thereof, in any jurisdiction.

SECTION 6.09.  Amendment.  This Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented except upon the execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by a duly authorized representative or officer of each of the parties.

SECTION 6.10.  Headings.  The descriptive headings of the Articles, Sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are included for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit, modify or affect any of the provisions hereof.

SECTION 6.11.  Counterparts; Facsimiles.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.  All signatures of the parties may be transmitted by facsimile or electronic delivery, and each such facsimile signature or electronic delivery signature (including a PDF signature) will, for all purposes, be deemed to be the original signature of the party whose signature it reproduces and be binding upon such party.

SECTION 6.12.  Time Periods.  Unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, an action required under this Agreement to be taken within a certain number of days shall be taken within that number of calendar days (and not Business Days).

SECTION 6.13.  Additional Terms.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as to permit a disposition (as defined in the Exchange Agreement) in contravention of, or excuse any payment obligations under, the Exchange Agreement.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, being duly authorized, have executed and delivered this Agreement on the date first above written.


 
PG&E CORPORATION,
 
     
     
 
by
     /s/ DAVID S. THOMASON
 
   
Name:
David S. Thomason
 
   
Title:
Vice President and Controller
 



[Signature Page to the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]


 
PG&E FIRE VICTIM TRUST,
 
     
     
 
by
     /s/ JOHN K. TROTTER
 
   
Name:
Hon. John K. Trotter (Ret.)
 
   
Title:
Trustee
 




[Signature Page to the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]

ANNEX A

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION


As of the date of this prospectus, we have not been advised by the selling shareholders as to any plan of distribution. The selling shareholders, or their pledgees, donees (including charitable organizations), transferees or other successors-in-interest, may from time to time, sell any or all of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus either directly by such individual, or through underwriters, dealers or agents or on any exchange on which the shares of common stock may from time to time be traded, in the over-the-counter market, or in independently negotiated transactions or otherwise. The selling stockholder may use any one or more of the following methods when selling shares of our common stock:
 
 
 
ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
 
 
 
block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares of common stock as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;
 
 
 
purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;
 
 
 
any exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;
 
 
 
privately negotiated transactions;

 
 
settlement of short sales entered into after the effective date of the registration statement of which the prospectus will form a part;
 
 
 
broker-dealers may agree with the selling shareholders to sell a specified number of such shares of common stock at a stipulated price per share;
 
 
 
through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;
 
 
 
a combination of any such methods of sale; or
 
 
 
any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

The selling shareholders may also sell shares of common stock under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, if available, or otherwise as permitted pursuant to applicable law, rather than under this prospectus.

Broker-dealers engaged by the selling shareholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the selling shareholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of the shares of common stock under this prospectus, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to the prospectus, in the case of any agency transaction not in excess of a

customary brokerage commission in compliance with Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Rule 2121 (“Rule 2121”), and, in the case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with Rule 2121.

In connection with sales of the shares of common stock under this prospectus or interests therein, the selling shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the shares of common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling shareholders may also sell the shares of common stock short and deliver them to close their short positions, or loan or pledge the shares of common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell them. The selling shareholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities that require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares of common stock offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the selling shareholders have been advised that they may not use the shares of common stock registered on the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part to cover short sales of the shares of common stock made prior to the date the registration statement has been declared effective by the SEC.
 
The selling shareholders may from time to time pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares of common stock owned by them, and the pledgees or secured parties will, upon foreclosure in the event of default,  be deemed to be selling shareholders. As and when the selling stockholder takes such actions, the number of securities under this prospectus on behalf of such selling stockholder will decrease. The selling shareholders may also transfer and donate the shares of common stock in other circumstances in which case the transferees, donees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.

The selling shareholders and any underwriters, dealers or agents that participate in distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any profit on sale of the securities by them and any discounts, commissions or concessions received by any underwriter, dealer or agent may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.

There can be no assurances that the selling shareholders will sell any or all of the securities offered under this prospectus.
Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION VERSION



PG&E FIRE VICTIM TRUST SHARE EXCHANGE
AND TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT

This PG&E Fire Victim Trust Share Exchange and Tax Matters Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made this eighth day of July, 2021 among PG&E Corporation (“HoldCo”), Pacific Gas and Electric Company (“Utility,” and together with HoldCo, the “Debtors”), PG&E ShareCo LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of HoldCo (“ShareCo,” and together with the Debtors, “PG&E”), and the PG&E Fire Victim Trust (the “Trust”, and together with PG&E, the “Parties”).

WHEREAS, on June 20, 2020, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California (the “Bankruptcy Court”) confirmed the Debtors’ and Shareholder Proponents’ Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization, dated June 19, 2020 (the “Plan”);

WHEREAS, the Plan provided that the Trust shall be funded with the Aggregate Fire Victim Consideration (as defined in the Plan);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Plan and related agreements, HoldCo (i) on July 1, 2020 (the effective date of the Plan), contributed 476,995,175 shares of HoldCo common stock to Utility which Utility immediately transferred to the Trust, and (ii) on August 3, 2020, in order to maintain the fully diluted ownership of the Trust, contributed an additional 748,415 shares of HoldCo common stock to Utility, which Utility immediately transferred to the Trust (the aggregate 477,743,590 shares of HoldCo common stock transferred by Utility to the Trust on July 1, 2020 and August 3, 2020, together with any additional shares of HoldCo common stock that the Debtors may hereafter transfer to the Trust pursuant to the Plan and related documents, and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.03,the “Plan Shares”);

WHEREAS, PG&E desires to make a “grantor trust” election under Treasury Regulation section 1.468B-1(k) with respect to the Trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes (the “Grantor Trust Election”), and the Trust desires that PG&E make the Grantor Trust Election;

WHEREAS, in furtherance of the Grantor Trust Election, the Parties agree that to the extent the Trust disposes of its economic interest in the Plan Shares, it shall do so subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, which include the ability of the Trust to first exchange such Plan Shares with Utility for shares of HoldCo common stock issued for the purposes of implementing this Agreement (such shares, “New Shares”), and then disposing of such New Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;

WHEREAS, in order to further facilitate the Exchanges (as defined herein) in the event the Trust is unable to timely dispose of New Shares in certain cases, HoldCo will also authorize a reserve of up to 250,000,000 additional shares of HoldCo common stock (such shares, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 4.03, the “Replacement Shares”);

WHEREAS, HoldCo has formed ShareCo solely to hold New Shares and Replacement Shares (if applicable) and to facilitate the delivery on behalf of HoldCo of such shares for the Exchanges if and when required pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement;

WHEREAS, the Parties intend to document certain further agreements relating to tax matters arising in connection with the Grantor Trust Election;



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WHEREAS, on April 5, 2021 the Debtors and the Trust filed a joint motion with the Bankruptcy Court seeking entry of an order (the “Order”) that, among other things, approves entry into this Agreement and confirms that the Trust’s execution and performance of this Agreement is consistent with the authorizations provided under the Plan, the order confirming the Plan, and the PG&E Fire Victim Trust Agreement dated as of July 1, 2020 (the “Trust Agreement”) and related documents; and

WHEREAS, on April 29, 2021 the Bankruptcy Court entered the Order; and

WHEREAS, on May 18, 2021, the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation held a fairness hearing and determined that the terms and conditions of the Exchanges are fair to the Trust (the “Fairness Determination”), which determination the Parties intend to form the basis for exemption from registration pursuant to Section 3(a)(10) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions

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

Amended Articles” means HoldCo’s and Utility’s Amended Articles of Incorporation.

Agreement” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble.

April 2021 NDA” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 7.04(f).

Bankruptcy Code” means title 11 of the United States Code, as the same now exists or may from time to time hereafter be amended, modified, recodified, replaced, or supplemented.

Bankruptcy Court” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble.

Business Day” means a weekday on which banks are open for general banking business in San Francisco, California.

Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Communications” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 7.03.

Confidential Information” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 7.04.

Debtors” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble.


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Designated Brokerage Firm” means Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC or such other nationally recognized brokerage firm as the Trust may designate in writing, subject to the approval of PG&E, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

dispose” and any variation thereof, including “disposition,” means any direct or indirect sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition (including derivative transactions or similar arrangements that have the effect of transferring economic or voting power over the underlying shares) which, in each case, results in a disposition for U.S. federal income tax purposes.  For the avoidance of doubt, transactions such as a merger, consolidation or recapitalization of HoldCo shall be governed by Section 4.03.

Disposition Period” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.06(a).

Disregarded Transfer” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.08.

Disregarded Entity” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.08.

Effective Date” means the date of this Agreement.

Exchange” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.05(a).

Exchange Execution Instructions” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.05(c).

Exchange Procedures” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.05(c).

Fairness Determination” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble.

Grantor Trust Election” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble.

HoldCo” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble.

Intervening Event” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.06(e).

IRS” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

Mandatory Mitigation Notice” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.07(b).

Mitigation Dispute Notice” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.07(b).

New Share Trust Accounts” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.02(b).

New Shares” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble.

Nonconforming Disposition” means (a) with respect to Plan Shares and Nonconforming New Shares, any disposition entered into by the Trust with respect to Plan Shares or Nonconforming New Shares, other than a Permissible Transaction or an Exchange, and (b) with respect to New Shares or Replacement Shares, any disposition entered into by the Trust with respect to the New Shares or Replacement Shares that is not a Permitted Disposition.  For the avoidance of doubt, if any New Shares or Replacement Shares are properly designated as Nonconforming New Shares and set aside in accordance with Section 2.07(b) or Section 2.07(c), clause (a) of this definition of Nonconforming Disposition shall apply from and after such designation with respect to such shares.


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Nonconforming New Share Trust Accounts” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.02(a).

Nonconforming New Shares” means any New Shares or Replacement Shares that are not sold by the Trust within the Disposition Period applicable to such New Shares or Replacement Shares, as the case may be.

Optional Mitigation Notice” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.07(c).

Order” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble.

Original Plan Share Trust Account” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.02(a).

Parties” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble.

Permissible Transaction” means any of the transactions the Trust is permitted to undertake in accordance with the Tax Guidelines.

Permitted Disposition” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.06(a).

PG&E” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble.

Plan” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble.

Plan Share Trust Accounts” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.02(a).

Plan Share Trust Accounts Instructions” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.05(b).

Plan Shares” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble.

Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of July 1, 2020, between HoldCo and the Trust, as amended as of the date hereof, in compliance with the provisions thereof.

Related Parties” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 7.04(b).

Remaining Replacement Shares” means, as of any date, a number of Replacement Shares equal to (a) 250,000,000, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.03, less (b) the aggregate number of Replacement Shares that PG&E has theretofore made or become required to make available hereunder pursuant to Section 2.07(b) or Section 2.07(c).


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Replacement Shares” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble.

Securities Act” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble.

ShareCo” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble.

ShareCo Accounts” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.03(a).

ShareCo Accounts Instructions” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.05(b).

Specified Agreement” means an agreement between PG&E and the IRS, if and when entered into, providing for an initial tax basis in any Plan Shares or New Shares that are disposed of by the Trust equal to the fair market value of such shares on the date such shares were contributed to Utility for transfer to the Trust.

Specified Confidential Information” means any statistical, financial or other information of a type described in Schedule A which is (i) provided by the Trust to PG&E pursuant to this Agreement, (ii) is not of a historical nature, and (iii) represents estimates or projections or is otherwise of a forward-looking nature.

Specified Tax Items” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 3.02.

Suspension Notice” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement.

Tax Guidelines” means the terms set forth in Schedule B.

Tax Payment Amount” means the amount, not less than zero, equal to:

(i) the highest combined federal, state and local marginal tax rate imposed on or measured by income (including any applicable net income, gross income or gross receipts taxes) applicable to a corporation resident in the city in which PG&E is headquartered (initially, San Francisco, California) as in effect for the then-current taxable year for the date of the disposition, multiplied by

(ii) (A) to the extent a Specified Agreement applies with respect to such disposition of HoldCo common stock to cause the tax basis of such shares to equal their fair market value on the date of their contribution to Utility:

(x) the amount realized as determined for federal income tax purposes from such disposition of HoldCo common stock, minus

(y) the fair market value of such HoldCo common stock at the time of their contribution to Utility, as reasonably determined by PG&E (which shall be, in the case of the Plan Shares contributed on July 1, 2020, $9.50 per share, and in the case of the Plan Shares contributed on August 3, 2020, $9.20 per share),

or (B) in all other cases, the amount realized as determined for federal income tax purposes from such disposition of HoldCo common stock.


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For the avoidance of doubt, the amount realized for federal income tax purposes is determined taking into account applicable selling expenses and the Tax Payment Amount is determined without regard to the availability of any offsetting deductions, losses, or other tax attributes (e.g., tax credits).

Treasury Regulations” means the Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code or any successor Treasury regulations.

Trust” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble.

Trust Agreement” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble.

Utility” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble.

Utility Accounts” has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.03(b).

ARTICLE II

Election and Exchange

SECTION 2.01.          Grantor Trust Election; Consistent Reporting.  Utility has, simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, provided the Trust with a properly completed Grantor Trust Election statement in accordance with Treasury Regulation section 1.468B-1(k)(2), a copy of which is attached hereto as Annex I, and the Trust shall file such statement with its timely filed IRS Form 1041 for the taxable year ending December 31, 2020. Utility shall make a comparable Grantor Trust Election for state and local income tax purposes, to the extent applicable.  Subject to Section 7.04, the Trust shall provide Utility with such information as Utility may reasonably request in connection with the making of the Grantor Trust Election.  From and after the date of this Agreement (provided the Grantor Trust Election is timely made), all Parties shall report consistent with such election, including for state and local tax purposes, to the extent applicable.

SECTION 2.02.          Trust Accounts.

(a)          From and after the Effective Date, the Trust shall maintain one or more brokerage accounts (collectively, the “Plan Share Trust Accounts”) with the Designated Brokerage Firm, including one dedicated solely for the purposes of holding of Plan Shares (the “Original Plan Share Trust Account”) and, if and when applicable, one or more separate accounts dedicated solely for the purposes of holding Nonconforming New Shares (if applicable) (the “Nonconforming New Share Trust Accounts”).

(b)          From and after the Effective Date, the Trust shall maintain one or more separate accounts (collectively, the “New Share Trust Accounts”) dedicated solely for the purpose of receiving New Shares or Replacement Shares in an Exchange and holding such shares pending a disposition in accordance with this Agreement.

(c)          The account number, address and telephone number of the initial Plan Share Trust Accounts and New Share Trust Accounts are set forth on Schedule C.  In the event of any changes to the Plan Share Trust Accounts or New Share Trust Accounts (including the establishment of a new account), the Trust will update Schedule C in a manner reasonably acceptable to PG&E.


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SECTION 2.03.          PG&E Accounts.

(a)          HoldCo shall cause ShareCo to, and ShareCo shall, maintain one or more brokerage accounts (collectively, the “ShareCo Accounts”) with the Designated Brokerage Firm dedicated solely for the purpose of holding the New Shares and, if and to the extent issued, any Replacement Shares.

(b)          Utility shall maintain one or more brokerage accounts (collectively, the “Utility Accounts”) with the Designated Brokerage Firm dedicated solely for the purpose of holding the Plan Shares and any Nonconforming New Shares received from the Trust.  For the avoidance of doubt, following receipt of any Plan Shares or any Nonconforming New Shares in the Utility Accounts, Utility may, following consummation of the corresponding Exchange transaction and delivery of the New Shares or Replacement Shares related thereto to the Trust, remove such shares from the Utility Accounts within its sole discretion.

(c)          The account number, address and telephone number of the initial ShareCo Accounts and Utility Accounts are set forth on Schedule C.  In the event of any changes to the ShareCo Accounts or Utility Accounts (including the establishment of a new account), PG&E will update Schedule C in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Trust.

SECTION 2.04.          Issuance of New Shares.  Upon the Effective Date, HoldCo will issue 477,743,590 New Shares to ShareCo, which will be delivered to a ShareCo Account no later than two Business Days following the Effective Date and which, pending an Exchange in accordance with this Agreement, will be held by ShareCo in the ShareCo Accounts.

SECTION 2.05.          Exchange Procedures.

(a)          From time to time after the Effective Date, the Trust may cause Plan Shares (or, if set aside in accordance with clause (b) or (c) of Section 2.07, Nonconforming New Shares) to be exchanged for a corresponding number of New Shares (or, if available in accordance with Section 2.07(d), Replacement Shares)  issued by HoldCo (an “Exchange”), in a manner consistent with clause (a)(ii) of this Section 2.05 and the other provisions of this Agreement.  Each Exchange will consist of (i) the transfer by the Trust from a Plan Share Trust Account of a number of Plan Shares or Nonconforming New Shares (as applicable) to the designated Utility Account and (ii) the substantially concurrent transfer by HoldCo from a ShareCo Account of an equal number of New Shares or Replacement Shares, on behalf of Utility, to the designated New Share Trust Account.  This section is subject to Section 2.05(g) hereof in the event of a transaction pursuant to which PG&E would repurchase Plan Shares or Nonconforming New Shares from the Trust for cash or other consideration (other than New Shares or Replacement Shares).

(b)          On or prior to the Effective Date, (i) PG&E shall have provided standing instructions (the “ShareCo Accounts Instructions”) to the Designated Brokerage Firm for the ShareCo Accounts in the form attached hereto as Schedule D and (ii) the Trust shall have provided to the Designated Brokerage Firm standing instructions (the “Plan Share Trust Accounts Instructions”) for each Plan Share Trust Account in the form attached hereto as Schedule E.  No standing instructions may be modified without the express written consent of each Party.


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(c)          To initiate an Exchange, (i) pursuant to the Plan Share Trust Accounts Instructions, a Trust representative who is an authorized party on the Plan Share Trust Accounts shall contact the Designated Brokerage Firm and issue instructions to transfer a specified number of Plan Shares or Nonconforming New Shares from a Plan Share Trust Account to a Utility Account and (ii) pursuant to the ShareCo Accounts Instructions, such authorized party, on behalf of PG&E, shall issue instructions to the Designated Brokerage Firm to transfer, upon delivery of the specified number of Plan Shares or Nonconforming New Shares, as applicable, into a Utility Account, an equal number of New Shares or Replacement Shares from a ShareCo Account to a New Share Trust Account (the instructions in this subsection (c) collectively, the “Exchange Execution Instructions”).  Substantially concurrently with the delivery of the Exchange Execution Instructions, the Trust shall give notice (which may be by email as described in the Exchange Procedures) to PG&E as provided for in Schedule F that it has initiated an Exchange, which notice shall specify the number of shares to be exchanged.  The Designated Brokerage Firm shall thereafter effect the Exchange in accordance with this Agreement and the procedures agreed among the Parties and the Designated Brokerage Firm.  Set forth on Schedule F is a description of the expected procedures for each Exchange (the “Exchange Procedures”); such description is intended to memorialize the procedures for each Exchange, but is not intended as a guarantee by any Party of the performance of the Designated Brokerage Firm.

(d)          PG&E shall fully cooperate in any Exchange and shall take no action to delay, impede or otherwise hinder such Exchange.  Without limiting the foregoing, PG&E covenants and agrees that (i) HoldCo has formed ShareCo solely to hold New Shares and Replacement Shares (if applicable) and to facilitate the delivery on behalf of HoldCo of such shares for the Exchanges if and when required pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and (ii) for so long as the ShareCo is required to hold any New Shares or Replacement Shares for delivery in an Exchange pursuant to this Agreement, (A) ShareCo will not engage in any business or hold any assets or incur any liabilities other than in connection with its obligations under this Agreement, and (B) ShareCo will remain a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of HoldCo.

(e)          The Parties agree and acknowledge that the delivery of any New Shares or any Replacement Shares pursuant to an Exchange shall be a transfer to the Trust on behalf of Utility, and thus shall be treated by the Parties for all corporate law and tax purposes as a capital contribution by HoldCo to Utility, followed by Utility’s transfer of the New Shares or Replacement Shares, as the case may be, to the Trust in exchange for Plan Shares or Nonconforming New Shares, as applicable.

(f)          The Parties further acknowledge that for U.S. federal income tax purposes, due to the treatment of the Trust as a grantor trust, Utility’s transfer of New Shares or Replacement Shares to the Trust and the Trust’s transfer of Plan Shares or Nonconforming New Shares to Utility will not be treated as an exchange of HoldCo common stock for other HoldCo common stock, in that Utility (the regarded owner of the HoldCo common stock held by the Trust) will continue to own the Plan Shares or Nonconforming New Shares (now directly rather than in the Trust).


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(g)          In the event of a transaction pursuant to which PG&E would repurchase Plan Shares or Nonconforming New Shares from the Trust for cash or other consideration (other than New Shares or Replacement Shares), as may be agreed between PG&E and the Trust from time to time, the Trust shall deliver such Plan Shares or Nonconforming New Shares to Utility and shall receive the agreed cash or other consideration (instead of receiving New Shares or Replacement Shares in the Exchange), from Utility (or from HoldCo on behalf of Utility).  In such event, the number of New Shares (in the case of a repurchase of Plan Shares) or Replacement Shares (in the case of a repurchase of Nonconforming New Shares) to be transferred to the Trust pursuant to this Agreement shall be reduced by the number of Plan Shares or Nonconforming New Shares, as the case may be, that are repurchased.  Repurchases effected in accordance with this Section 2.05(g) shall not be considered Nonconforming Dispositions.

SECTION 2.06.          Permitted Dispositions.

(a)          Upon receipt of the New Shares or Replacement Shares following an Exchange, the Trust shall within two Business Days thereafter (the “Disposition Period”), dispose of such New Shares or Replacement Shares for cash or other property and in accordance with the other provisions of this Section 2.06 (each such disposition, a “Permitted Disposition”).  For the avoidance of doubt, to be considered a Permitted Disposition, (i) in the case of a sale on the market, it is sufficient that the trade date occur within the Disposition Period where such trade is to be settled within two Business Days thereafter in the ordinary course, and (ii) in the case of an underwritten offering, it is sufficient that the agreement to sell shares in the underwritten offering become binding on the Trust within the Disposition Period.  The Trust agrees that it shall not enter into a binding agreement to sell or otherwise dispose of any New Shares or Replacement Shares prior to receipt of such New Shares or Replacement Shares, as the case may be.  Any such entry, sale or disposition shall be a Nonconforming Disposition.

(b)          The Trust agrees that it shall abide by the provisions set forth in the Tax Guidelines and shall not enter into any hedging, financing, securities lending short sale or other transaction with respect to the Plan Shares or the Nonconforming New Shares, except as specifically permitted hereunder (including the Tax Guidelines) or which is a Permissible Transaction.

(c)          Subject to Section 2.06(f), the disposition of any New Shares or Replacement Shares by the Trust in a transaction in which the acquirer would receive a substituted tax basis in the New Shares or Replacement Shares (as applicable) for U.S. federal, state and local income tax purposes shall not be a Permitted Disposition and shall be a Nonconforming Disposition.

(d)          In the case of any Exchange, the Trust shall, and shall instruct any broker or other third party effecting a disposition on its behalf to, take reasonable steps to properly designate and identify only New Shares or Replacement Shares as being disposed of (so as not to have a Nonconforming Disposition).  For the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein shall preclude the Trust from effecting a Nonconforming Disposition, subject to compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement as it relates to such disposition.

(e)          Subject to compliance with Section 2.07(b) and (c) (relating to the further Exchange of any Nonconforming New Shares for Replacement Shares), in the event that the Trust is unable to dispose of New Shares or Replacement Shares within the Disposition Period applicable to such shares (and thus, such shares become Nonconforming New Shares) as a result of any of the circumstances described in clauses (i) to (vi) below (an “Intervening Event”), a subsequent sale, disposition or other transaction with respect to such New Shares or Replacement Shares shall in all cases (other than clause (vi)) be a Permitted Disposition.  The following circumstances shall constitute an Intervening Event:


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(i)          the delivery by HoldCo of a Suspension Notice to the Trust during any Disposition Period;

(ii)          in the event that the Trust enters into an agreement with one or more underwriters for the underwritten offering of any New Shares or Replacement Shares, and prior to closing, the underwriters validly exercise a termination right or assert a failure of a condition to closing that is not due to the fault of the Trust;

(iii)          the Designated Brokerage Firm is unable to timely effect an Exchange of Plan Shares or Nonconforming New Shares for New Shares or Replacement Shares due to any act or omission of PG&E in breach of this Agreement;

(iv)          the commencement of any proceeding against or with respect to HoldCo, ShareCo or Utility under any chapter of the Bankruptcy Code, unless the Exchange of Plan Shares for New Shares (or Nonconforming New Shares for Replacement Shares) is permitted to continue in accordance with the terms of this Agreement pursuant to “Day 1” relief granted by the applicable bankruptcy court shortly after the commencement of any such proceeding;

(v)          an injunction by a court of competent jurisdiction, or a regulatory ruling, order or similar restriction applicable to HoldCo, ShareCo or Utility that prohibits or delays the timely execution of the Exchange of Plan Shares for New Shares (or Nonconforming New Shares for Replacement Shares) or subsequent sale (it being understood that an adverse effect on HoldCo’s share price is not a cause for delay of a subsequent sale for purposes of this provision nor does this provision apply to an injunction or similar restriction by reason of the enforcement of the provisions of the Amended Articles); or

(vi)          any other circumstances not due to the fault of the Trust that are not covered by clauses (i) through (v) above.

(f)          Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Trust shall not dispose of any Plan Shares, New Shares or Replacement Shares in a transaction in which the acquirer would receive a substituted tax basis and the acquirer is or, as a result of the transaction, would (i) be included in a consolidated, combined or unitary tax return of PG&E for U.S. federal or state income tax purposes, or (ii) an entity (such as a partnership) whose income would be includible in a consolidated, combined or unitary tax return of PG&E for U.S. federal or state income tax purposes.  For the avoidance of doubt, this does not prohibit a Disregarded Transfer in accordance with Section 2.08.


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SECTION 2.07.          Mitigation Mechanism.

(a)          On or prior to the Effective Date, PG&E shall authorize a reserve of up to 250,000,000 Replacement Shares.

(b)          In the event that the Trust is unable to dispose of New Shares or Replacement Shares within the Disposition Period applicable to such shares (and thus, such shares become Nonconforming New Shares for the purposes of this Agreement) as a result of an Intervening Event described in clauses (i) to (v) of Section 2.06(e), (i) the Trust shall promptly (and no later than five Business Days after the end of the Disposition Period) provide written notice (a “Mandatory Mitigation Notice”) to PG&E specifying the occurrence of such event and the number of affected shares and describing the circumstances giving rise to such occurrence (including by identifying which clause of Section 2.06(e) was implicated by such occurrence); provided, however, that if there are no longer any Remaining Replacement Shares as of the time of the expiration of the applicable Disposition Period, then the Trust shall not be required to provide a Mandatory Mitigation Notice and (ii) subject to there being a sufficient number of Remaining Replacement Shares, the Trust shall set aside such Nonconforming New Shares by promptly transferring such Nonconforming New Shares to the Nonconforming New Share Trust Account.  Within two Business Days of receipt of a Mandatory Mitigation Notice, PG&E shall make available an equal number of Replacement Shares to the Trust for future Exchange; provided that within three Business Days of receipt of a Mandatory Mitigation Notice, PG&E may give written notice (a “Mitigation Dispute Notice”) to the Trust that PG&E disputes the substance of the Mandatory Mitigation Notice (in which case Section 2.07(e) shall apply).

(c)          In the event that the Trust is unable to dispose of New Shares or Replacement Shares within the Disposition Period applicable to such shares (and thus, such shares become Nonconforming New Shares) as a result of the Intervening Event described in clause (vi) of Section 2.06(e), the Trust may (no later than five Business Days after the end of the Disposition Period) (i) provide written notice (an “Optional Mitigation Notice”) to PG&E specifying the occurrence of such event and the number of affected shares and describing the circumstances giving rise to such occurrence (including by identifying that clause Section 2.06(e)(vi) was implicated by such occurrence), (ii) subject to there being a sufficient number of Remaining Replacement Shares, promptly set aside such Nonconforming New Shares by transferring such Nonconforming New Shares to the Nonconforming New Share Trust Account and (iii) subject to there being a sufficient number of Remaining Replacement Shares, require PG&E to make available a number of Replacement Shares to the Trust for future Exchange (in which case PG&E shall be required to do so as provided in Section 2.07(d)).  Within three Business Days of receipt of an Optional Mitigation Notice, PG&E may give the Trust a Mitigation Dispute Notice if PG&E disputes the substance of the notice (in which case Section 2.07(e) shall apply).  For the avoidance of doubt, if there are not sufficient Remaining Replacement Shares available to replace the Nonconforming New Shares, then at any time any such excess Nonconforming New Shares are disposed, such disposition will be deemed a Nonconforming Disposition.

(d)          In the event that PG&E is required to make available any Replacement Shares pursuant to Section 2.07(b) or Section 2.07(c), HoldCo shall promptly (within three Business Days of the Mandatory Mitigation Notice or the Optional Mitigation Notice, as applicable) issue the number of Replacement Shares required by Section 2.07(b) or Section 2.07(c), as applicable, to ShareCo and deliver such Replacement Shares into the ShareCo Accounts.  From and after the Business Day after the date of such deposit, the Trust may request to Exchange such Replacement Shares in accordance with Section 2.05.


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(e)          In the event that PG&E has timely given the Trust a Mitigation Dispute Notice under clause (b) or (c) of Section 2.07, the Parties shall attempt in good faith to resolve such dispute for a period of at least 30 days.  Such good faith efforts may include reasonable requests for additional information, supporting documentation and one or more live sessions with authorized representatives of each Party responsible for overseeing or carrying out this Agreement. The Parties may agree in writing to extend such 30 day period, if so desired. During such 30 day period (and any extension thereof), the Parties shall keep the existence of the dispute confidential, except as required by applicable law or legal process.  In the event that a dispute is resolved successfully, the Parties shall agree on the treatment of the affected New Shares or Replacement Shares as part of such resolution.  If the dispute is not resolved by the end of the 30 day period (or any extension thereof), each Party shall be permitted to seek available remedies, including legal actions or proceedings as contemplated by Section 7.01(b).

(f)          In no event shall more than 250,000,000 Replacement Shares, which number shall be adjusted in accordance with Section 4.03, be made available under this Agreement, unless so determined by PG&E in its sole discretion.

SECTION 2.08.          Transfers to Disregarded Entities of Trust.

(a)          PG&E acknowledges the Trust may transfer Plan Shares or Nonconforming New Shares to an entity that is disregarded as an entity separate from the Trust for U.S. federal, state and local income tax purposes, and that such a transfer is accordingly not a regarded transaction under applicable U.S. federal, state and local income tax law (a “Disregarded Transfer,” and the transferee entity, the “Disregarded Entity”), provided that the Disregarded Entity agrees to be jointly liable for all obligations of the Trust under this Agreement with respect to Plan Shares or Nonconforming New Shares transferred to it as if it were the Trust (such that a Nonconforming Disposition by the Disregarded Entity would give rise to a Tax Payment Amount jointly payable by the Disregarded Entity and the Trust) and the Disregarded Entity agrees to be bound by the Tax Guidelines.

(b)          A Disregarded Transfer made in accordance with this Section 2.08 shall not be treated as a disposition for purposes of this Agreement, including Section 2.06, and therefore shall be neither a Permitted Disposition nor a Nonconforming Disposition.

(c)          Notwithstanding Section 7.07, the Trust shall be permitted to assign its rights to enter into an Exchange to the Disregarded Entity, provided that the Disregarded Entity shall be jointly liable for all obligations of the Trust under this Agreement with respect to Plan Shares or Nonconforming New Shares transferred to it, including the payment of a Tax Payment Amount under Section 3.01 as a result of a Nonconforming Disposition.  In addition, the Disregarded Entity shall be subject to the Trust’s obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement and Confidentiality Agreement in the same manner as the Trust, mutatis mutandis.

(d)          Without limiting the last sentence of Section 3.01 or Section 4.01, PG&E shall be permitted to require reasonable documentation from the Trust supporting the treatment of a Disregarded Transfer as such, including the treatment of the Disregarded Entity as such.  In addition, PG&E may require the Trust or the Disregarded Entity to execute documentation reflecting the terms and conditions set forth in clauses (a) and (c) of this Section.


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(e)          In the event Plan Shares or Nonconforming New Shares are transferred pursuant to a Disregarded Transfer and subsequent to such Disregarded Transfer, the Disregarded Entity is no longer treated as an entity disregarded as an entity separate from the Trust for applicable U.S. federal, state or local income tax purposes, any deemed transaction arising for applicable U.S. federal, state or local income tax purposes as a result of the failure of such Disregarded Entity to remain a disregarded entity (including transactions described in Treasury Regulations section 301.7701-3) shall be treated as a disposition for all purposes of this Agreement, including Section 2.06, and, subject to Section 2.06(f), shall be a Permitted Disposition or Nonconforming Disposition as determined in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

SECTION 2.09.          Specific Identification.

(a)          The Trust shall, and shall cause the Designated Brokerage Firm to, maintain books and records allowing it to separately identify each block of shares of HoldCo common stock issued at different times and the tax basis of the shares in each block, including the Plan Shares issued in July 2020, the Plan Shares issued in August 2020 and any New Shares, any Nonconforming New Shares and any Replacement Shares, as applicable.

(b)          The Trust shall, upon reasonable request from PG&E (including in connection with the determination of a Tax Payment Amount), provide PG&E with information identifying and documenting the calculation of the amount realized and other amounts, as determined for applicable tax purposes, from any disposition of shares of HoldCo common stock. Such other amounts include, but are not limited to, gross receipts (as determined for applicable state and local gross receipts tax purposes), net proceeds and expenses.

ARTICLE III

Payments

SECTION 3.01.          Payment of Tax Payment Amount.  If a Nonconforming Disposition occurs in a fiscal quarter, the Trust shall pay to Utility, within 10 calendar days following the end of the fiscal quarter in which such Nonconforming Disposition occurs, the applicable Tax Payment Amount, if any, with respect to such Nonconforming Disposition and shall provide a schedule setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations used in determining the Tax Payment Amount. To the extent (if any) that an error in such calculation is identified, the Parties shall work in good faith to determine the final calculation and adjust the Tax Payment Amount accordingly. By March 31st of the year following the year in which such Nonconforming Disposition occurs, the Trust shall furnish to PG&E a statement from its third party accounting firm confirming the accuracy of the Trust’s calculation of the Tax Payment Amount.

SECTION 3.02.          Documentation of Inclusion of Gain in Taxable Income; Potential Return of Portion of Tax Payment Amount.  Within 10 calendar days following the filing of the U.S. federal income tax return for any taxable year in which payment of a Tax Payment Amount has been made by the Trust, HoldCo shall furnish to the Trust a statement from a third party accounting firm confirming that Utility has included on its U.S. federal income tax return in calculating its taxable income (regardless of any available offsetting deductions or losses) the amount of any income or gain used to calculate a Tax Payment Amount for which payment was made by the Trust in accordance with Section 3.01 (such income or gain, the “Specified Tax Items”).  To the extent (if any) Utility has not taken Specified Tax Items into account on its U.S. federal income tax return, HoldCo shall return the applicable portion of the applicable Tax Payment Amount within 10 calendar days following the delivery of such statement.


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ARTICLE IV

Cooperation, Information Sharing and Trust Tax Filings

SECTION 4.01.          General.  The Parties shall cooperate fully with each other in a commercially reasonable manner exchanging such information as provided in the Plan (including the list of information requirements provided on Schedule A hereto) and providing such assistance as the other Parties may reasonably request in connection with the implementation and effectuation of this Agreement and the Grantor Trust Election, including in connection with its regulatory, financial or tax reporting obligations.  In furtherance thereof, and without limiting the foregoing, the Parties shall cooperate with each other in a commercially reasonable manner in connection with the preparation and filing by PG&E of any tax returns, claims for refunds, or other tax filings, and the examination, defense or pursuit of any tax proceeding, financial statements and regulatory submissions to the extent relating to any transfers to, distributions by, or the operations of the Trust, including with respect to the Grantor Trust Election and in the defense of any claim by a holder of HoldCo common stock in connection with any purchase or sale of New Shares or Replacement Shares made in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

SECTION 4.02.          Trust Tax Filings. The Trust shall timely prepare and file (in accordance with any applicable extensions) (i) all tax filings required to be filed by the Trust as a grantor trust of which Utility is considered the grantor and owner, including any applicable state and local tax filings and annual IRS Form 1041 with accompanying schedules and statements, and (ii) all required tax information statements relating to all payments and distributions made by the Trust, e.g., all Forms 1099 to creditors and other payees.

SECTION 4.03.          Extraordinary Transactions.  In the event that any shares of HoldCo common stock are issued in exchange for or with respect to any Plan Shares or Nonconforming New Shares by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization, such shares shall be treated as Plan Shares or Nonconforming New Shares, respectively under this Agreement and the number of Replacement Shares and Remaining Replacement Shares shall be equitably adjusted to reflect such transaction so as to preserve the economic benefits of this Agreement.  In the event of a merger, consolidation or recapitalization, the Parties shall use reasonable best efforts to cooperate in good faith to preserve the tax benefits of the Exchange structure; provided, that, subject to the foregoing,  changes to the Trust’s holdings of Plan Shares, New Shares, Nonconforming New Shares or Replacement Shares occurring in connection with, or as a result of, such merger, consolidation or recapitalization of HoldCo shall not constitute a Nonconforming Disposition for any purposes under this Agreement.


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SECTION 4.04.          ShareCo Tax Status.  ShareCo is and shall be an entity disregarded as separate from HoldCo for federal and applicable state and local income Tax purposes.  No Party shall take or fail to take any action or any tax reporting position, in each case, inconsistent with such treatment.

SECTION 4.05.          PG&E will diligently continue negotiations with the IRS to obtain the Specified Agreement as soon as practicable that provides for relief substantially in the form contained in the attachment to the application submitted by PG&E to the IRS on March 19, 2021, with such modifications as shall not materially and adversely affect the treatment of the Trust in connection with the matters referred to therein.  PG&E will consult with the Trust prior to agreeing to any modification that would materially and adversely affect the treatment of the Trust in connection with such matters, and will cooperate with the Trust to provide updates on the status of its negotiations with the IRS.

ARTICLE V

Representations of PG&E

SECTION 5.01.          HoldCo and Utility are each corporations duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of California.  ShareCo is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.  Each of HoldCo, Utility and ShareCo has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder, and each of HoldCo, Utility and ShareCo has duly authorized all requisite corporate action with respect to this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.  No authorization, approval or other consent is or will be required by HoldCo or any of its subsidiaries in order for HoldCo to perform its obligations under this Agreement, except for such authorizations, approvals and consents as have been obtained.

SECTION 5.02.          No third-party consents or approvals (including governmental consents or approvals) are required to be obtained, made or given in order to permit PG&E to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder except for any that have been received, including the Order and the Fairness Determination.

SECTION 5.03.          The New Shares or Replacement Shares when issued and delivered to the Trust as set forth herein shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of any and all liens of any kind, nature or description, including any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, security interest, encumbrance, claim, lien or charge of any kind.

SECTION 5.04.          The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by PG&E and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall not result in violation, breach or default by PG&E of and shall not conflict (and there is no current violation, breach, default or conflict) with (i) any term of its certificate of incorporation or bylaws or other organizational documents, as applicable or (ii) any applicable law.

SECTION 5.05.          As a result of the Fairness Determination, all New Shares or Replacement Shares issued to the Trust shall be exempt from registration under the Securities Act pursuant to the exemption under Section 3(a)(10) of the Securities Act.  The New Shares and Replacement Shares issued to the Trust shall not bear any restrictive legend.


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SECTION 5.06.          PG&E has not incurred or paid, and will not incur or pay, directly or indirectly, any obligation or liability, contingent or otherwise, for commission or other remuneration for soliciting the execution of this Agreement or an Exchange.

SECTION 5.07.          HoldCo has not previously been a shell company or asset-backed issuer as described in Rule 144(i)(1)(i) of the Securities Act.

ARTICLE VI

Representations of the Trust

SECTION 6.01.          The Plan Shares and the Nonconforming New Shares when delivered to Utility as set forth herein shall be free and clear of any and all liens of any kind, nature or description, including any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, security interest, encumbrance, claim, lien or charge of any kind (other than those imposed by securities laws, the Registration Rights Agreement and any associated so called “lock-up agreements”).

SECTION 6.02.          The Trust has the requisite power and authority under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder, and the consummation by the Trust of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all action required under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.

SECTION 6.03.          No third-party consents or approvals (including governmental consents or approvals) are required to be obtained, made or given in order to permit the Trust to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder except for any that have been received, including the Order and the Fairness Determination.

SECTION 6.04.          The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Trust and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, shall not result in violation, breach or default by the Trust of and shall not conflict (and there is no current violation, breach, default or conflict) with (i) the Trust Agreement or (ii) any applicable law.

SECTION 6.05.          As of the date hereof, the Trust has not engaged in any sale, disposition or other transaction of any kind (including a transaction that would be a Permissible Transaction) with respect to the Plan Shares.

SECTION 6.06.          The Trust acknowledges that PG&E is under no obligation, and has indicated to the Trust that it does not intend, to disclose any material nonpublic information to the Trust in connection with this Agreement, any Exchange or otherwise.  The Trust represents that in making a decision to sell shares of HoldCo’s common stock to one or more third parties (by causing an Exchange), it desires to rely exclusively on PG&E’s public disclosure and information and analysis developed by the Trust, its advisors or third parties (other than PG&E) in order to trade on an “unrestricted” basis and has no expectation that PG&E will disclose any material nonpublic information in connection with any Exchange.

SECTION 6.07.          The Trust has not incurred or paid, and will not incur or pay, directly or indirectly, any obligation or liability, contingent or otherwise, for commission or other remuneration for soliciting the execution of this Agreement or an Exchange. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein shall prohibit the Trust from paying commissions or other remuneration for the sale or disposition of Plan Shares, New Shares or Replacement Shares other than in an Exchange.


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ARTICLE VII

Miscellaneous

SECTION 7.01.          Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Trial.

(a)          Except to the extent the Bankruptcy Code or other U.S. federal law is applicable, the rights, duties, and obligations arising hereunder shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law thereof to the extent they would result in the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

(b)          Each Party hereto: (i) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court, and to the extent the Bankruptcy Court does not have (or abstains from exercising) jurisdiction, the jurisdiction of state and federal courts with competent jurisdiction located in the State of California; (ii) consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same; (iii) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such party at its address set forth in Section 7.03 or at such other address which has been notified to the Parties hereto; and (iv) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right to sue in any other jurisdiction.

(c)          TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.

SECTION 7.02.          Additional Terms.  This Agreement is made pursuant to, and is subject to the terms of, the Plan and the Registration Rights Agreement.  Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to or shall be deemed to limit, restrict, modify, alter, amend or otherwise change in any manner the rights and obligations of the parties under the Plan or the Registration Rights Agreement, and in the event of any conflict between the terms and provisions hereof and the terms and provisions of the Plan or the Registration Rights Agreement, the terms and provisions of the Plan or the Registration Rights Agreement, as applicable, shall control.

SECTION 7.03.          Notices.  Any notice, request, instruction, consent, document or other communication (“Communications”) required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or served for all purposes (a) upon delivery when personally delivered; (b) on the delivery date after having been sent by a nationally or internationally recognized overnight courier service (charges prepaid); (c) at the time received when sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; or (d) at the time when a “read receipt” is received (or the first Business Day following such receipt if the date of such receipt is not a Business Day) if sent by email, in each case, to the recipient at the address or email, as applicable, indicated below:


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If to PG&E:

PG&E Corporation
77 Beale Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Attention:  Brian Wong, Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Email:  Disclosed in a separate document.

with a copy to:

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
825 8th Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Attention:  Nicholas A. Dorsey and C. Daniel Haaren
Email:  NDorsey@cravath.com; DHaaren@cravath.com

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
767 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10153
Attention: Stuart J. Goldring and Jessica Liou
Email: Stuart.goldring@weil.com;
Jessica.liou@weil.com;

If to the Trust:
PG&E Fire Victim Trust
Two Embarcadero Center
Suite 1500
San Francisco, CA 94111
Attention: Hon. John K. Trotter (Ret.), Trustee and Cathy Yanni, Claims Administrator
Email: trustee@firevictimtrust.com;
claimsadministrator@firevictimtrust.com

with a copy to:
Brown Rudnick LLP
7 Times Square
New York, NY 11036
Attn: David J. Molton, Esq., Gerard T. Cicero, Esq.
Email: dmolton@brownrudnick.com,
gcicero@brownrudnick.com


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SECTION 7.04.          Confidentiality.  The Parties will keep confidential and not disclose any information exchanged pursuant to this Agreement and its attachments, including information about the Trust’s Exchange and trading transactions, or any attempt to initiate an Exchange or trading transaction, (the “Confidential Information”), subject to the following exceptions:

(a)          to the extent any of the Parties is advised by counsel that such disclosure is required pursuant to the order of any court or administrative agency or in any legal, judicial or administrative proceeding or other compulsory process or otherwise as required by applicable law or regulations (in which case each Party, as applicable, may disclose only the portion of such Confidential Information that such Party is advised by counsel is required to be disclosed, and provided that each Party shall promptly notify the other Parties, in advance, to the extent lawfully permitted to do so);

(b)          to the directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, controlling persons and advisors (including attorneys and accountants) (collectively, including those of affiliates, “Related Parties”) of such Party so long as such Party instructs its Related Parties to treat the Confidential Information in a confidential manner in accordance with the terms of this Section 7.04 (it being understood that such Party will be responsible for any breach of this Section 7.04, which by its terms applies to such party’s Related Parties, by any of such Party’s Related Parties);

(c)          upon the request or demand of any regulatory or governmental authority or agency having jurisdiction over a Party or any of its Related Parties (in which case such Party or its Related Parties, as applicable, may disclose only the portion of such Confidential Information that such Party or its Related Parties is advised by counsel is required to be disclosed, and provided that such Party or its Related Parties shall, except with respect to any audit or examination conducted by bank accountants or any governmental regulatory authority or agency exercising examination or regulatory authority, promptly notify the other Parties, in advance, to the extent lawfully permitted to do so);

(d)          to the extent any such Confidential Information becomes publicly available other than by reason of disclosure by any Party or any of its Related Parties in breach of this Section 7.04;

(e)          to the extent such Confidential Information is available to, or internally developed by, a Party or its Related Parties (except to the extent received in a manner restricted by this Agreement), or is lawfully received by such Party or its Related Parties from a third party that is not, to such Party’s or any Related Parties’ knowledge, subject to a confidentiality obligation to the other Parties or any of their affiliates with respect to such information or is not, to such Party’s or any Related Parties’ knowledge, prohibited from transmitting such information to such Party or any Related Parties; and

(f)           to the extent that such Confidential Information is disclosed in accordance with Article IV and is used by PG&E to satisfy its tax or financial reporting obligations; provided, however, that the Parties agree that (i) Confidential Information shall include the information contained in Annex I and each of the Schedules to this Agreement (other than Schedule B), and (ii) the Specified Confidential Information shall be subject to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement between HoldCo and the Trust dated April 21, 2021 (the “April 2021 NDA”) (which agreement shall be deemed to be amended hereby).


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SECTION 7.05.          Expenses.  Each Party will bear its own legal expenses in connection with the Exchanges and entry into this Agreement.

SECTION 7.06.          Resale Registration Statement.  Promptly following the Effective Date, HoldCo will amend or supplement its registration statement on Form S-3ASR (Registration No. 333-253630) to the extent required to register the resale of the New Shares and any Replacement Shares by the Trust in a manner consistent with this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.

SECTION 7.07.          Assignability.  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by operation of applicable law or otherwise by either Party without the prior written consent of the other Party.  Any purported assignment without such consent shall be void.  Subject to the preceding sentences, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Parties and their respective successors and assigns.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, HoldCo, ShareCo or Utility may assign this Agreement without consent in connection with (a) a merger transaction in which it is not the surviving entity and the surviving entity acquires or assumes all or substantially all of such Party’s assets, (b) the sale of all or substantially all of its assets or (c) the acquisition of all of its capital stock, in each case subject to compliance with Section 4.03 of this Agreement; provided, however, that the assignee expressly assumes in writing all of the obligations of HoldCo, ShareCo or Utility, as applicable, under this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement referred to in Section 7.08, and the assigning Party provides written notice and evidence of such assignment and assumption to the Trust.

SECTION 7.08.          Entire Agreement.  Other than the April 2021 NDA, this Agreement and the schedules hereto contain the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all previous agreements, negotiations, discussions, writings, understandings, commitments and conversations with respect to such subject matter, and there are no agreements or understandings between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof other than those set forth or referred to herein or therein.

SECTION 7.09.          Headings.  The article, section and paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

SECTION 7.10.          Interpretation.  Words in the singular shall be held to include the plural and vice versa and words of one gender shall be held to include the other gender as the context requires.  The terms “hereof”, “herein”, “herewith”, “this Agreement” and words of similar import, unless otherwise stated, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole (including all of the schedules hereto) and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.  Any capitalized terms used in any schedule to this Agreement but not otherwise defined therein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in this Agreement.  Article, Section or Schedule references are to the articles, sections and schedules of or to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.  Any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein (including any reference herein to this Agreement) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein).  The word “including” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall mean “including, without limitation,” unless the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise specified.  The word “or” shall not be exclusive.  References to “written” or “in writing” include in electronic form.  Any reference to any provisions of the Code or Treasury Regulations or to other applicable law shall be deemed to include any amendments or successor provisions thereto as appropriate.  References to dollars or $ are references to the lawful currency from time to time of the United States of America.  Nothing herein shall alter the obligation of any acquirer of HoldCo common stock from the Trust to comply with the requirements of the Amended Articles.


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SECTION 7.11.          Survival and Termination.  Article 4 and Article 7 shall survive termination of this Agreement for a period of seven years.  This Agreement shall terminate when the Trust no longer holds any Plan Shares, New Shares or Nonconforming New Shares.

SECTION 7.12.          Amendment and Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be amended, modified, waived or supplemented except upon the execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by a duly authorized representative or officer of each of the Parties.

SECTION 7.13.          Counterparts; Facsimiles.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.  All signatures of the parties may be transmitted by facsimile or electronic delivery, and each such facsimile signature or electronic delivery signature (including a PDF signature) will, for all purposes, be deemed to be the original signature of the party whose signature it reproduces and be binding upon such party.

SECTION 7.14.          Representation.  Except where the context requires otherwise, Utility and ShareCo appoint HoldCo to act as their representative for purposes of Communications contemplated by this Agreement.



[Signature Page Follows]




IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized representatives as of the date first set forth above.

PG&E CORPORATION,

By
      /s/ DAVID S. THOMASON
 
Name:
David S. Thomason
 
Title:
Vice President and Controller


PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY,

By
      /s/ MARGARET K. BECKER
 
Name:   
Margaret K. Becker
 
Title:  
Vice President and Treasurer


PG&E SHARECO, LLC

By
       /s/ MONICA KLEMANN
 
Name:
Monica Klemann
 
Title:
Authorized Representative


PG&E FIRE VICTIM TRUST,

By
 
/s/ JOHN K. TROTTER
 
Name:
Hon. John K. Trotter (Ret.)
 
Title:
Trustee





[Signature Page to the PG&E Fire Victim Trust Share Exchange and Tax Matters Agreement]