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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 20, 2016

Registration No. 333-211977


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Amendment No. 4
To

FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933



CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  5561
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  81-1737145
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

250 Parkway Drive, Suite 270
Lincolnshire, IL 60069
Telephone: (847) 808-3000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)



Thomas F. Wolfe
Chief Financial Officer
250 Parkway Drive, Suite 270
Lincolnshire, IL 60069
Telephone: (847) 808-3000

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of agent for service)



Copies to:

Marc D. Jaffe, Esq.
Ian D. Schuman, Esq.
Latham & Watkins LLP
885 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Telephone: (212) 906-1200
Fax: (212) 751-4864

 

Alexander D. Lynch, Esq.
Faiza N. Rahman, Esq.
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10153
Telephone: (212) 310-8000
Fax: (212) 310-8007



APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT IS DECLARED EFFECTIVE.



            If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.     o

            If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     o

            If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     o

            If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     o

            Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer  o   Accelerated filer  o   Non-accelerated filer  ý
(Do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
  Smaller reporting company  o



             The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

   



EXPLANATORY NOTE

          This Amendment No. 4 (the "Amendment") to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-211977) (the "Registration Statement") of Camping World Holdings, Inc. is being filed solely for the purpose of filing Exhibits 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.11, 10.12, 10.13, 10.14, 10.15, 10.16, 10.17, 10.18, 10.19, 10.20, 10.21, 10.22, 10.23, 10.24, 10.25, 10.26, 10.27, 10.28, 10.29 and 10.30 and updating Item 16(a) (Index to Exhibits) of Part II of the Registration Statement. Accordingly, the Amendment consists solely of the facing page, this explanatory note, Part II of the Registration Statement, the signatures, the index to exhibits and the filed exhibits and is not intended to amend or delete any part of the Registration Statement except as specifically noted herein.




PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

Item 13.    Other expenses of issuance and distribution.

          The following table sets forth all fees and expenses, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions payable solely by Camping World Holdings, Inc. in connection with the offer and sale of the securities being registered. All amounts shown are estimated except for the SEC registration fee, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA") filing fee and the exchange listing fee.

    Amount to
be paid
 

SEC registration fee

  $ 20,140  

FINRA filing fee

    30,500  

Exchange listing fee

    *  

Accounting fees and expenses

    *  

Legal fees and expenses

    *  

Printing expenses

    *  

Transfer agent and registrar fees

    *  

Blue sky fees and expenses

    *  

Miscellaneous expenses

    *  

Total

  $ *  

*
To be completed by amendment.

Item 14.    Indemnification of directors and officers.

          Section 102 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware permits a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached his duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit. Our certificate of incorporation provides that no director of Camping World Holdings, Inc. shall be personally liable to it or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability, except to the extent that the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for breaches of fiduciary duty.

          Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or a person serving at the request of the corporation for another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise in related capacities against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with an action, suit or proceeding to which he was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, ending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of such position, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, except that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation

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unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or other adjudicating court determines that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

          Upon consummation of this offering, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws will provide indemnification for our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We will indemnify each person who was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of us) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at our request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (all such persons being referred to as an "Indemnitee"), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom, if such Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws will provide that we will indemnify any Indemnitee who was or is a party to an action or suit by or in the right of us to procure a judgment in our favor by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at our request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys' fees) and, to the extent permitted by law, amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, and any appeal therefrom, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests, except that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to us, unless a court determines that, despite such adjudication but in view of all of the circumstances, he or she is entitled to indemnification of such expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, he or she will be indemnified by us against all expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith. Expenses must be advanced to an Indemnitee under certain circumstances.

          Prior to the consummation of this offering, we intend to enter into separate indemnification agreements with each of our directors and certain officers. Each indemnification agreement will provide, among other things, for indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws against any and all expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement of any claim. The indemnification agreements will provide for the advancement or payment of all expenses to the indemnitee and for the reimbursement to us if it is found that such indemnitee is not entitled to such indemnification under applicable law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws.

          We maintain a general liability insurance policy that covers certain liabilities of directors and officers of our corporation arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers.

          In any underwriting agreement we enter into in connection with the sale of Class A common stock being registered hereby, the underwriters will agree to indemnify, under certain conditions, us,

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our directors, our officers and persons who control us within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") against certain liabilities.

Item 15.    Recent sales of unregistered securities.

          On March 8, 2016, Camping World Holdings, Inc. agreed to issue 100 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, which will be redeemed upon the consummation of this offering, to an officer of Camping World Holdings, Inc. in exchange for $100.00. The issuance was exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, as a transaction by an issuer not involving any public offering.

          In connection with the recapitalization transactions described in the accompanying prospectus, Camping World Holdings, Inc. will issue (i)                     shares of Class A common stock to funds controlled by Crestview Partners II GP, L.P. in exchange for their indirect ownership interests in CWGS Enterprises, LLC, (ii)                   shares of Class B common stock to funds controlled by Crestview Partners II GP, L.P. and CWGS Holding, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of ML Acquisition Company, LLC and (iii) one share of Class C common stock to ML RV Group, LLC. The shares of Class A common stock, the shares of Class B common stock and the one share of Class C common stock described above will be issued in reliance on the exemption contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act on the basis that the transaction will not involve a public offering. No underwriters will be involved in the transaction.

Item 16.    Exhibits and financial statements.

          (a)     Exhibits

          The exhibit index attached hereto is incorporated herein by reference.

          (b)     Financial Statement Schedules

          All schedules have been omitted because the information required to be set forth in the schedules is either not applicable or is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.

Item 17.    Undertakings.

          (a)     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

          (b)     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of Camping World Holdings, Inc. pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, Camping World Holdings, Inc. has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by Camping World Holdings, Inc. of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of Camping World Holdings, Inc. in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, Camping World Holdings, Inc. will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction, the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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          (c)     The undersigned hereby further undertakes that:

              (1)     For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by Camping World Holdings, Inc. pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

              (2)     For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

          (d)     The undersigned registrant hereby further undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

              (1)     Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

              (2)     Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

              (3)     The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

              (4)     Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

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Signatures

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Camping World Holdings, Inc. has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Lincolnshire, Illinois on September 20, 2016.


 

 

Camping World Holdings, Inc.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ MARCUS A. LEMONIS  
       
Marcus A. Lemonis
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities set forth opposite their names and on the date indicated above.

Signature   Title   Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
/s/ MARCUS A. LEMONIS

Marcus A. Lemonis
  Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)   September 20, 2016

/s/ THOMAS F. WOLFE

Thomas F. Wolfe

 

Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

 

September 20, 2016

*

Stephen Adams

 

Director

 

September 20, 2016

*

Andris A. Baltins

 

Director

 

September 20, 2016

*

Brian P. Cassidy

 

Director

 

September 20, 2016

*

Jeffrey A. Marcus

 

Director

 

September 20, 2016

*

K. Dillon Schickli

 

Director

 

September 20, 2016

*By:

 

/s/ MARCUS A. LEMONIS

Marcus A. Lemonis
Attorney-in-fact

 

 

 

 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

  Exhibit No.    
  1.1 * Form of Underwriting Agreement.
  3.1   Certificate of Incorporation of CWGS, Inc. as in effect prior to the consummation of this offering.
  3.2   Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of CWGS, Inc., as in effect prior to the consummation of this offering.
  3.3   Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Camping World Holdings, Inc., to be in effect upon the consummation of this offering.
  3.4   Bylaws of CWGS, Inc. as in effect prior to the consummation of this offering.
  3.5   Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of Camping World Holdings, Inc. to be in effect upon the consummation of this offering.
  4.1 ** Specimen Stock Certificate evidencing the shares of Class A common stock.
  5.1 * Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP.
  10.1   Form of Tax Receivable Agreement, to be effective upon the consummation of this offering.
  10.2   Form of Voting Agreement, to be effective upon the consummation of this offering.
  10.3   Form of Amended and Restated LLC Agreement of CWGS Enterprises, LLC, to be effective upon the consummation of this offering.
  10.4   Form of Registration Rights Agreement.
  10.5 ** Credit Agreement, dated November 20, 2013, by and among CWGS Enterprises, LLC, as holdings, CWGS Group, LLC, as borrower, certain of CWGS Enterprises, LLC's existing and future domestic subsidiaries as subsidiary guarantors, the lenders party thereto and Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as administrative agent.
  10.6 ** First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated December 1, 2014, by and among CWGS Enterprises, LLC, as holdings, CWGS Group, LLC, as borrower, certain of CWGS Enterprises, LLC's existing and future domestic subsidiaries as subsidiary guarantors, the lenders party thereto and Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as administrative agent.
  10.7 ** Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated June 2, 2015, by and among CWGS Enterprises, LLC, as holdings, CWGS Group, LLC, as borrower, certain of CWGS Enterprises, LLC's existing and future domestic subsidiaries as subsidiary guarantors, the lenders party thereto and Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as administrative agent.
  10.8 ** Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated December 17, 2015, by and among CWGS Enterprises, LLC, as holdings, CWGS Group, LLC, as borrower, certain of CWGS Enterprises, LLC's existing and future domestic subsidiaries as subsidiary guarantors, the lenders party thereto and Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as administrative agent.
  10.9 ** Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated August 12, 2015, by and among FreedomRoads, LLC, as the borrower, certain of FreedomRoads, LLC's subsidiaries from time to time, the lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and letter of credit issuer.
  10.10 ** Amendment No. 1 to Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated July 1, 2016, by and among FreedomRoads, LLC, as the borrower, certain of FreedomRoads, LLC's subsidiaries from time to time, the lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and letter of credit issuer.
  10.11 Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated November 2011, by and between CWGS Enterprises, LLC, FreedomRoads, LLC and Marcus Lemonis.

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  Exhibit No.    
  10.12 Employment Agreement, dated June 10, 2016, by and between CWGS Enterprises, LLC, Camping World Holdings, Inc. and Marcus A. Lemonis.
  10.13 Employment Agreement, dated January 1, 2013, by and between Good Sam Enterprises, LLC and Thomas F. Wolfe.
  10.14 First Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated February 16, 2015, by and between Good Sam Enterprises, LLC and Thomas F. Wolfe.
  10.15 Employment Agreement, dated June 10, 2016, by and between CWGS Enterprises, LLC, Camping World Holdings, Inc. and Thomas F. Wolfe.
  10.16 Employment Agreement, dated December 1, 2012, by and between FreedomRoads, LLC and Roger Nuttall.
  10.17 Employment Agreement, dated June 10, 2016, by and between CWGS Enterprises, LLC, Camping World Holdings, Inc. and Roger Nuttall.
  10.18 Employment Agreement, dated January 1, 2010, by and between FreedomRoads, LLC, CWI, Inc. and Brent Moody.
  10.19 First Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated January 1, 2011, by and between FreedomRoads, LLC, CWI, Inc. and Brent Moody.
  10.20 Employment Agreement, dated June 10, 2016, by and between CWGS Enterprises, LLC, Camping World Holdings, Inc. and Brent Moody.
  10.21 Employment Agreement, dated December 1, 2012, by and between Good Sam Enterprises, LLC and Mark Boggess.
  10.22 CWGS Enterprises, LLC Equity Incentive Plan, as in effect prior to the consummation of this offering.
  10.23 Camping World Holdings, Inc. 2016 Incentive Award Plan.
  10.24 Camping World Holdings, Inc. 2016 Senior Executive Bonus Plan.
  10.25 Camping World Holdings, Inc. Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy.
  10.26 Camping World Holdings, Inc. Director Stock Ownership Guidelines.
  10.27 Camping World Holdings, Inc. Executive Stock Ownership Guidelines.
  10.28 Form of Employee Stock Option Agreement.
  10.29 Form of Employee Restricted Stock Unit Agreement.
  10.30 Form of Director Restricted Stock Unit Agreement.
  21.1 * List of Subsidiaries of Camping World Holdings, Inc.
  23.1 ** Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
  23.2 * Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
  24.1 ** Power of Attorney.

*
To be filed by amendment.

**
Previously filed.

Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

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EXPLANATORY NOTE
PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
Signatures
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit 3.1

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

CWGS, INC.

 

FIRST:                                                    The name of the corporation is CWGS, Inc. (the Corporation ) .

 

SECOND:                                     The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, in the city of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

 

THIRD:                                               The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended ( DGCL ) or any successor statute.

 

FOURTH:                                    The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 100 shares of common stock, each with a par value of $0.01 per share (the Common Stock ) . The number of authorized shares of Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.

 

FIFTH:                                                   The name and mailing address of the sole incorporator is as follows:

 

Robert T. York
Kaplan, Strangis and Kaplan, P.A.
90 South Seventh Street, Suite 5500
Minneapolis, MN 55402

 

SIXTH:                                                 In furtherance of and not in limitation of powers conferred by statute, it is further provided:

 

1.                                       The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the Board of Directors ).

 

2.                                       Election of directors comprising the Board of Directors (each such director, in its capacity as such, a Director ) need not be by written ballot unless the bylaws of the Corporation (the Bylaws ) shall so provide.

 

SEVENTH: Except to the extent that the DGCL prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for breaches of fiduciary duty, no Director shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a Director, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability. No amendment to or repeal of this provision shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any Director of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such Director occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.

 



 

EIGHTH:                                           To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation is authorized to provide indemnification of (and advancement of expenses to) Directors, officers and agents of the Corporation (and any other persons to which applicable law permits the Corporation to provide indemnification) through Bylaw provisions, agreements with such agents or other persons, vote of stockholders or disinterested Directors or otherwise. Any repeal or modification of this provision shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.

 

NINTH:                                                    Subject to such limitations as may be from time to time imposed by other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation, by the Bylaws, by the DGCL or other applicable law, or by any contract or agreement to which the Corporation is or may become a party, the Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute and this Certificate of Incorporation, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this express reservation.

 

TENTH:                                                  In furtherance and not in limitation of the rights, powers, privileges and discretionary authority granted or conferred by the DGCL or other statutes or laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws, without any action on the part of the stockholders by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the entire Board of Directors.

 

I, THE UNDERSIGNED, being the sole incorporator hereinbefore named, for the purpose of forming a corporation pursuant to the DGCL, do make this certificate, herein declaring and certifying that this is my act and deed and the facts herein stated are true, and accordingly have hereunto set my hand this 8 th  day of March 2016.

 

 

/s/ Robert T. York

 

Robert T. York

 

Sole Incorporator

 




Exhibit 3.2

 

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

OF

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

CWGS, INC.

 

CWGS, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the Corporation ) , hereby certifies as follows:

 

1.                                  The Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 8, 2016 (the Certificate of Incorporation ) .

 

2.                                  This Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted in accordance with Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL ) .

 

3.                                  The text of Article First of the Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended by deleting it in its entirety and substituting in lieu thereof with the following paragraph to read in full as follows:

 

FIRST:                                                         The name of the corporation is Camping World Holdings, Inc. (the Corporation ) .

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed this Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation as of the 8 th day of June, 2016 and submits it for filing in accordance with the DGCL.

 

 

/s/ Brent Moody

 

Name: Brent Moody

 

Title: Chief Operating and Legal Officer

 




Exhibit 3.3

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC.

 

Camping World Holdings, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”), hereby certifies as follows:

 

1.                                       The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 8, 2016 (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”).  The name under which the Corporation was originally incorporated was CWGS, Inc.

 

2.                                       The Corporation is filing this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “ Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation ”), which restates, integrates and further amends the Certificate of Incorporation, as heretofore amended (the “ Original Certificate ”), and which was duly adopted by all necessary action of the board of directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) and the stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242, 245 and 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”).

 

3.                                       The text of the Original Certificate is hereby amended and restated in its entirety by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to read in full as follows:

 

ARTICLE I.

 

The name of the corporation is Camping World Holdings, Inc.

 

ARTICLE II.

 

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19801.  The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

 

ARTICLE III.

 

The nature of the business of the Corporation and the objects or purposes to be transacted, promoted or carried on by it is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL, including, without limitation, (i) investing in securities of CWGS Enterprises, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or any successor entities thereto (“ CWGS LLC ”) and any of its subsidiaries, (ii) exercising all rights, powers, privileges and other incidents of ownership or possession with respect to the Corporation’s assets, including managing, holding, selling and disposing of such assets and (iii) engaging in any other activities incidental or ancillary thereto.

 



 

ARTICLE IV.

 

Section 4.1                                     Authorized Stock .  The total number of shares of all classes of stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is three hundred forty five million and one (345,000,001), consisting of:

 

(a)                                  Two hundred fifty million (250,000,000) shares of Class A common stock, with a par value of $0.01 per share (the “ Class A Common Stock ”);

 

(b)                                  Seventy five million (75,000,000) shares of Class B common stock, with a par value of $0.0001 per share (the “ Class B Common Stock ”);

 

(c)                                   One (1) share of Class C common stock, with a par value of $0.0001 per share (the “ Class C Common Stock ”, and together with the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock, the “ Common Stock ”); and

 

(d)                                  Twenty million (20,000,000) shares of preferred stock, with a par value of $0.01 per share (the “ Preferred Stock ”).

 

Section 4.2                                     Preferred Stock .  The Board of Directors is authorized, subject to any limitations prescribed by law, to provide for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, and by filing a certificate pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Delaware (such certificate being hereinafter referred to as a “ Preferred Stock Designation ”), to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series and to fix the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including, without limitation, the authority to fix or alter the dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, exchange rights, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption (including sinking and purchase fund provisions), the redemption price or prices, restrictions on the issuance of shares of such series, the dissolution preferences and the rights in respect to any distribution of assets of any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock and the number of shares constituting any such series, and the designation thereof, or any of them and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any series so created (except where otherwise provided in the Preferred Stock Designation), subsequent to the issue of that series but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding.  In case the number of shares of any series shall be so decreased, the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status which they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series.  There shall be no limitation or restriction on any variation between any of the different series of Preferred Stock as to the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof; and the several series of Preferred Stock may vary in any and all respects as fixed and determined by the resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors or by a committee of the Board of Directors, providing for the issuance of the various series of Preferred Stock.

 

Section 4.3                                     Number of Authorized Shares . The number of authorized shares of any of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, Class C Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the outstanding

 

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shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, without a separate vote of any holders of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, Class C Common Stock or Preferred Stock, or of any series thereof, unless a separate vote of any such holders is required pursuant to the terms of any Preferred Stock Designation, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.

 

Section 4.4                                     Common Stock .  The powers, preferences and rights of the Class A Common Stock, the Class B Common Stock and the Class C Common Stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof are as follows:

 

(a)                                  Voting Rights .  Except as otherwise required by law,

 

(i)                                      Each share of Class A Common Stock shall entitle the record holder thereof as of the applicable record date to one (1) vote per share in person or by proxy on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of Class A Common Stock, whether voting separately as a class or otherwise.

 

(ii)                                   Each share of Class B Common Stock shall entitle the record holder thereof as of the applicable record date to one (1) vote per share in person or by proxy on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of Class B Common Stock, whether voting separately as a class or otherwise; provided , that so long as ML Acquisition Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ ML Acquisition ”), and its Permitted Transferees (as defined below) of Common Units (as defined below) (collectively, the “ ML Related Parties ”) beneficially own, directly or indirectly, twenty-seven and five-tenths percent (27.5%) or more of all Common Units issued and outstanding, all shares of Class B Common Stock held by the ML Related Parties shall entitle such ML Related Parties as of the applicable record date on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of Class B Common Stock, whether voting separately as a class or otherwise to the number of votes per share equal to the minimum number of whole votes per share that are necessary such that, if all holders of Class B Common Stock and all holders of each other class or series of Common Stock, Preferred Stock and other classes of capital stock of the Corporation (if any) were to cast all votes they are entitled to cast on such matter, such ML Related Parties (with respect to their Class B Common Stock) voting on such matter would cast in the aggregate forty-seven percent (47%) of the total votes cast by all such holders on such matters.  As used in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, “ Common Unit ” means a membership interest in CGWS LLC, authorized and issued under the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of CWGS LLC, dated as of the Effective Date, as such agreement may be further amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (the “ LLC Agreement ”), and constituting a “Common Unit” as defined in such LLC Agreement.

 

(iii)                                Subject to Section 4.4(e)(iii), the share of Class C Common Stock shall entitle the record holder thereof as of the applicable record date on all matters submitted to a vote of the holder of Class C Common Stock, whether voting separately as a class or otherwise, in person or by proxy, to the number of votes per share equal to the minimum number of whole votes per share that are necessary such that, if the holder of Class C Common Stock and all holders of each other class or series of Common Stock, Preferred Stock and other classes of capital stock of the Corporation (if any) were to cast all votes they are entitled to cast on such

 

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matter, such holder of Class C Common Stock (with respect to its Class C Common Stock) voting on such matter would cast in the aggregate five percent (5%) of the total votes cast by all such holder on such matters.

 

(iv)                               Except as otherwise required in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or by applicable law, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall vote together as a single class (or, if any holders of shares of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Common Stock, as a single class with such holders of Preferred Stock) on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.

 

(b)                                  Dividends and Distributions .  Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Class A Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends, dividends may be declared and paid on the Class A Common Stock out of the assets or funds of the Corporation that are by law available therefor, at such times and in such amounts as the Board of Directors in its discretion shall determine.  Dividends shall not be declared or paid on the Class B Common Stock or the Class C Common Stock.

 

(c)                                   Liquidation Rights . In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and after making provisions for preferential and other amounts, if any, to which the holders of Preferred Stock shall be entitled, the remaining assets and funds of the Corporation available for distribution shall be divided among and paid ratably to the holders of all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock in proportion to the number of shares held by each such stockholder; provided , that the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock shall be entitled to receive $0.01 per share, and upon receiving such amount, the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to receive any other assets or funds of the Corporation.  A consolidation, reorganization or merger of the Corporation with any other Person or Persons (as defined below), or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, shall not be considered to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Section 4.4(c) .

 

(d)                                  Class B Common Stock .

 

(i)                                      Shares of Class B Common Stock may be issued only to, and registered in the name of, the ML Related Parties and CVRV Acquisition, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Crestview ”) and its Permitted Transferees (as defined below) (the “ Crestview Holders ”, and together with the ML Related Parties, the “ Permitted Class B Owners ”).

 

(ii)                                   The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, undertake all necessary and appropriate action to ensure that the number of shares of Class B Common Stock issued by the Corporation at any time to any Permitted Class B Owner shall be equal to the aggregate number of Common Units held of record by such Permitted Class B Owner in accordance with Article VI , as applicable.

 

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(iii)                                From and after the filing of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “ Effective Time ”), additional shares of Class B Common Stock may be issued only to, and registered in the name of, the Permitted Class B Owners in accordance with Article VI and the aggregate number of shares of Class B Common Stock following any such issuance registered in the name of each such Permitted Class B Owner must be equal to the aggregate number of Common Units held of record by such Permitted Class B Owner under the LLC Agreement as set forth in Section 4.4(d)(ii) .

 

(iv)                               In the event that (1) the Corporation undergoes a merger, consolidation or other business transaction in which shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or converted into other stock or securities, or the right to receive cash and/or any other property, other than a merger or consolidation that would result in the shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock and/or any other class or classes of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving or resulting entity) more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the shares of capital stock of such surviving or resulting entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or (2) there is any tender or exchange offer by any third party to acquire shares of Class B Common Stock, then the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to receive $0.01 per share of Class B Common Stock, and upon receiving such amount, the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to receive any other assets or funds with respect to the Class B Common Stock.

 

(e)                                   Class C Common Stock .

 

(i)                                      The share of Class C Common Stock shall be issued only to, and registered in the name of, ML RV Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (together with its successors, “ ML RV Group ”).

 

(ii)                                   From and after the Effective Time, no additional shares of Class C Common Stock shall be issued by the Corporation.

 

(iii)                                Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below) or a transfer of the share of Class C Common Stock, the outstanding share of Class C Common Stock shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, automatically lose all voting rights (including those set forth herein) and become a non-voting share, and upon transfer to the Corporation by the holder thereof shall be cancelled for no consideration upon a transfer of such share (and the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, take all actions necessary to retire such share transferred to the Corporation and such share shall not be re-issued by the Corporation).

 

(iv)                               As used in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, “ Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

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(A)                                any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding the ML Related Parties and Crestview)) becomes the beneficial owner of shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock and/or any other class or classes of capital stock of the Corporation (if any) representing in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote;

 

(B)                                the stockholders of the Corporation approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation;

 

(C)                                the merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any other Person, other than a merger or consolidation that would result in the shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock and/or any other class or classes of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving or resulting entity) more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the shares of capital stock of such surviving or resulting entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation;

 

(D)                                the Corporation ceases to be the sole managing member of CWGS LLC; or

 

(E)                                 the ML Related Parties beneficially own, directly or indirectly, less than twenty-seven and five-tenths percent (27.5%) of all outstanding Common Units.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change of Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in and voting control over, and own substantially all of the shares of, an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

 

Section 4.5                                     Transfer of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock .

 

(a)                                  A holder of Class B Common Stock or a holder of Class C Common Stock may surrender shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as applicable, to the Corporation for no consideration at any time.  Following the surrender of any shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as applicable, to the Corporation, the Corporation will take all actions necessary to retire such shares and such shares shall not be re-issued by the Corporation.

 

(b)                                  Except as set forth in Section 4.5(a) : (i) a holder of Class B Common Stock may transfer or assign shares of Class B Common Stock (or any legal or beneficial interest in such shares) to any transferee or assignee only to the extent permitted by the LLC Agreement

 

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(a “ Permitted Transfer ” and a holder of Class B Common Stock pursuant to a Permitted Transfer, a “ Permitted Transferee ”) and only if such holder also simultaneously Transfers an equal number of such holder’s Common Units to such transferee in compliance with the LLC Agreement, and (ii) a holder of Class C Common Stock shall not, directly or indirectly, sell, exchange, assign, transfer, convey, give, hypothecate or dispose of shares (or any legal or beneficial interest in such share or shares) of Class C Common Stock to any Person, as the shares of Class C Common Stock are exclusively issued to ML RV Group and are personal to it and non-transferable.  The transfer restrictions described in this Section 4.5(b)  are referred to as the “ Restrictions ”.

 

(c)                                   Any purported transfer of shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as applicable, in violation of the Restrictions shall be null and void.  If, notwithstanding the Restrictions, a person shall, voluntarily or involuntarily, purportedly become or attempt to become, the purported owner (“ Purported Owner ”) of shares of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock, as applicable, in violation of the Restrictions, then the Purported Owner shall not obtain any rights in and to such shares of Class B Common Stock (the “ Restricted Class B Shares ”) or such shares of Class C Common Stock (the “ Restricted Class C Shares ”, and together with the Restricted Class B Shares, the “ Restricted Shares ”), and the purported transfer of the Restricted Shares to the Purported Owner shall not be recognized by the Corporation, the Corporation’s transfer agent (the “ Transfer Agent ”) or the Secretary of the Corporation, as determined by the Board of Directors and each Restricted Share shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, automatically, without any further action on the part of the Corporation, the holder thereof, or any other party, lose all voting rights as set forth herein and become a non-voting share.

 

(d)                                  Upon a determination by the Board of Directors that a Person has attempted or may attempt to transfer or to acquire Restricted Shares in violation of the Restrictions, the Board of Directors may take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to such transfer or acquisition on the books and records of the Corporation, including without limitation to cause the Transfer Agent or the Secretary of the Corporation, as applicable, to not record the Purported Owner as the record owner of the Restricted Shares, and to institute proceedings to enjoin or rescind any such transfer or acquisition.

 

(e)                                   The Board of Directors may, to the extent permitted by law, from time to time establish, modify, amend or rescind, by bylaw or otherwise, regulations and procedures not inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 4.5 for determining whether any transfer or acquisition of shares of Class B Common Stock would violate the Restrictions and for the orderly application, administration and implementation of the provisions of this Section 4.5 .  Any such procedures and regulations shall be kept on file with the Secretary of the Corporation and with its Transfer Agent and shall be made available for inspection by any prospective transferee and, upon written request, shall be mailed to holders of shares of Class B Common Stock.

 

(f)                                    The Board of Directors shall have all powers necessary to implement the Restrictions, including without limitation the power to prohibit the transfer of any shares of Class B Common Stock and/or Class C Common Stock on the books and records of the Corporation in violation thereof.

 

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Section 4.6                                     Certificates . All certificates or book entries representing shares of Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, as the case may be, shall bear a legend substantially in the following form (or in such other form as the Board of Directors may determine):

 

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS [CERTIFICATE][BOOK ENTRY] ARE SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS (INCLUDING RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER) SET FORTH IN THE AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF THE CORPORATION (A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION AND SHALL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO ANY STOCKHOLDER MAKING A REQUEST THEREFOR).

 

Section 4.7                                     Fractions .   The Common Stock may be issued and transferred in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder to exercise voting rights and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Common Stock.  Subject to the Restrictions, holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to transfer fractions thereof and the Corporation shall, and shall cause the Transfer Agent to, facilitate any such transfers, including by issuing certificates or making book entries representing any such fractional shares.  For all purposes of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, all references to Common Stock or any share thereof (whether in the singular or plural) shall be deemed to include references to any fraction of a share of Common Stock.

 

ARTICLE V.

 

The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares or other securities at least as many shares or other securities equal to the number of Common Units held by the members of CWGS LLC (other than the Corporation).

 

ARTICLE VI.

 

Section 6.1                                     Common Units and Common Stock Ratio .  The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, undertake all actions, including, without limitation, a reclassification, dividend, division or recapitalization, with respect to:

 

(a)                                  the shares of Class A Common Stock necessary to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, disregarding, for purposes of maintaining the one-to-one ratio, (i) shares of Class A Common Stock issuable pursuant to awards granted under the Corporation’s 2016 Incentive Award Plan (the “ 2016 Incentive Award Plan ”), and any other stock incentive plan adopted by the Corporation from time to time, that have not vested thereunder, (ii) treasury stock, or (iii) Preferred Stock or other debt or equity securities (including without limitation warrants, options and rights) issued by the Corporation that are convertible or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (except to the extent such securities have been converted, exercised or exchanged for Class A Common Stock and the net proceeds from such other securities, including without limitation any exercise or purchase price payable upon conversion, exercise or exchange thereof, has been contributed by the Corporation to the equity capital of the LLC).

 

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(b)                                  the shares of Class B Common Stock necessary to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by all Permitted Class B Owners and the number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock owned by all Permitted Class B Owners.

 

Section 6.2                                     Common Units and Common Stock Ratio upon a Stock Split .  The Corporation shall not undertake or authorize any subdivision (by any stock split, stock dividend, reclassification, recapitalization or similar event) or combination (by reverse stock split, reclassification, recapitalization or similar event) of (i) the Class A Common Stock that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of the Common Units to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, unless such action is necessary to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock; or (ii) the Class B Common Stock that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of the Common Units to maintain at all times, subject to the provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by all Permitted Class B Owners and the number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock owned by all Permitted Class B Owners, unless, such action is necessary to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by all Permitted Class B Owners and the number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock owned by all Permitted Class B Owners.

 

Section 6.3                                     Common Units and Class A Common Stock Ratio upon a Sale or Repurchase .  The Corporation shall not issue, transfer or deliver from treasury stock or repurchase shares of Class A Common Stock unless in connection with any such issuance, transfer, delivery or repurchase the Corporation takes or authorizes all requisite action such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries or repurchases, the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation will equal on a one-for-one basis the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, disregarding, for purposes of maintaining the one-to-one ratio, (i) shares of Class A Common Stock issuable pursuant to awards granted under the 2016 Incentive Award Plan, and any other stock incentive plan adopted by the Corporation from time to time, that have not vested thereunder, (ii) treasury stock or (iii) Preferred Stock or other debt or equity securities (including without limitation warrants, options and rights) issued by the Corporation that are convertible or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (except to the extent such securities have been converted, exercised or exchanged for Class A Common Stock and the net proceeds from such other securities, including without limitation any exercise or purchase price payable upon conversion, exercise or exchange thereof, has been contributed by the Corporation to the equity capital of the LLC). The Corporation shall not issue, transfer or deliver from treasury stock or repurchase or redeem shares of Preferred Stock unless in connection with any such issuance, transfer, delivery, repurchase or redemption the Corporation takes all requisite action such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, repurchases or redemptions, the Corporation holds (in the case of any issuance, transfer or delivery) or ceases to hold (in the case of any repurchase or redemption) equity interests in CWGS LLC which (in the good faith determination by the Board of Directors) are in the aggregate substantially equivalent in all respects to the outstanding Preferred Stock so issued, transferred, delivered, repurchased or redeemed.

 

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Section 6.4                                     Common Units and Class A Common Stock Ratio upon a Merger .  Unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Permitted Class B Owners, the Corporation shall not consolidate, merge, combine or consummate any other transaction (other than an action or transaction for which an adjustment is provided in one of the preceding paragraphs of this Article VI or in Article IV ) in which shares of Class A Common Stock are exchanged for or converted into other stock or securities, or the right to receive cash and/or any other property (a “ Transaction ”), unless in connection with any such Transaction each Common Unit that is redeemable by the holder thereof pursuant to the terms of the LLC Agreement for, at the option of the Corporation, a share of Class A Common Stock or a cash payment, shall be entitled to be exchanged for or converted into (without duplication of any corresponding share of Class A Common Stock which the Corporation may elect to issue upon a redemption of such Common Unit by the holder thereof) the same kind and amount of stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Class A Common Stock is exchanged or converted (such stock or securities, cash and/or property shall be referred to herein as the “ Consideration ”), to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between (x) the Consideration issuable in such Transaction in exchange for or conversion of one share of Class A Common Stock and (y) the Consideration issuable in such Transaction in exchange for or conversion of one Common Unit.

 

ARTICLE VII.

 

The Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend and repeal the bylaws of the Corporation (the “ Bylaws ”).

 

ARTICLE VIII.

 

Section 8.1                                     Ballot . Elections of the directors comprising the Board of Directors (each such director, in such capacity, a “ Director ”) need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws shall so provide.

 

Section 8.2                                     Number and Terms of the Board of Directors .  Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of Directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors; provided , that for as long as the voting agreement, dated as of [ · ], 2016, by and among the Corporation and the other Persons party thereto (the “ Voting Agreement ) is in effect, the number of Directors shall never be less than the aggregate number of Directors that the parties to the Voting Agreement are entitled to designate from time to time pursuant to Section 1 thereof.

 

Section 8.3                                     Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies .  Subject to Section 2(c) of the Voting Agreement with respect to the rights of certain parties to fill vacancies on the Board of Directors (but only to the extent the Voting Agreement remains in effect) and except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from the death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall be filled only by a majority vote of the Directors then in

 

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office, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining Director entitled to vote thereon, and not by the stockholders.  Any Director so chosen shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such Director shall have been chosen and until his successor shall be elected and qualified.

 

Section 8.4                                     Removal for Cause .  Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding and except as provided in Section 2(b) of the Voting Agreement, for as long as this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides for a staggered Board of Directors, any Director, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed only for cause, at a meeting called for that purpose.

 

Section 8.5                                     Staggered Board .  At the Effective Time, the Directors shall be classified, with respect to the time for which they shall hold their respective offices, by dividing them into three (3) classes, with each Director then in office to be designated as a Class I Director, a Class II Director or a Class III Director, with each class to be apportioned as nearly equal in number as possible.  Directors shall be assigned to each class in accordance to a resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors.  The initial Class I Directors shall serve for a term expiring at the first annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation following the Effective Time; the initial Class II Directors shall serve for a term expiring at the second annual meeting of stockholders following the Effective Time; and the initial Class III Directors shall serve for a term expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders following the Effective Time.  At each annual meeting of stockholders beginning with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the Effective Time, the successors of the class of Directors whose term expires at that meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders to be held following their election, with each Director in each such class to hold office until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, subject to such Director’s earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with Section 8.4 of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.  The Board of Directors is authorized to assign each Director already in office at the Effective Time, as well as each Director elected or appointed to a newly created directorship due to an increase in the size of the Board of Directors, to Class I, Class II or Class III, provided that the class assignments of the initial CV Directors, the initial ML Directors and the initial ML RV Director (as such terms are defined in the Voting Agreement) shall be as set forth in Section 3 of the Voting Agreement.

 

Section 8.6                                     Notice .  Advance notice of stockholder nominations for election of Directors and other business to be brought by stockholders before a meeting of stockholders shall be given in the manner provided by the Bylaws.

 

Section 8.7                                     Committees . For as long as the Voting Agreement is in effect, each committee designated by the Board of Directors shall consist of no less than two (2) Directors. The Board of Directors shall ensure, subject to its fiduciary duties, that the percentage of CV Directors and ML Directors (each as defined in the Voting Agreement) appointed to serve on any such committee matches, as nearly as practical, the percentage of CV Directors and ML Directors serving on the Board of Directors as a whole from time to time.

 

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ARTICLE IX.

 

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, are signed by the holders of outstanding shares of the relevant class(es) or series of stock of the Corporation representing not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of stock of the Corporation then issued and outstanding (other than treasury stock) entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in Delaware, its principal place of business, or to an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded; provided , however , that, subject to the rights of any series of Preferred Stock permitting the holders of such series of Preferred Stock to act by written consent, and except as provided in Section 6.4, after the date on which the ML Related Parties beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate less than twenty-seven and five-tenths percent (27.5%) of all Common Units issued and outstanding, any action required or permitted to be taken by stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders and may not be effected by written consent in lieu of a meeting.

 

ARTICLE X.

 

The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute and subject to obtaining any written approval(s) required under Section 4(b)(iv) of the Voting Agreement, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation; provided , that any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation that gives holders of the Class B Common Stock and/or the Class C Common Stock (i) any rights to receive dividends or any other kind of distribution, (ii) any right to convert into or be exchanged for Class A Common Stock or (iii) any other economic rights shall, in addition to the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, be effective only upon the affirmative vote of a majority of shares of Class A Common Stock voting separately as a class; provided , further , that after the date on which the ML Related Parties beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate less than twenty-seven and five-tenths percent (27.5%) of all of the outstanding Common Units, the affirmative vote of the holders of Common Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding representing sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) or more of the votes which all the holders of Common Stock and Preferred Stock would be entitled to cast in any election of directors shall be required to amend, alter, change or repeal or to adopt any provision contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.  If any provision or provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable)

 

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and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

ARTICLE XI.

 

The Corporation is authorized to indemnify, and to advance expenses to, each current, former or prospective Director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL.  To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware, no Director shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.  No amendment to, or modification or repeal of, this Article XI shall adversely affect any right or protection of a Director or of any officer, employee or agent of the Corporation existing hereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such amendment, modification or repeal.

 

ARTICLE XII.

 

Section 12.1                              Corporate Opportunity . To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware, (a) the Corporation hereby renounces all interest and expectancy that it otherwise would be entitled to have in, and all rights to be offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity that from time to time may be presented to (i) the Board of Directors or any Director, (ii) any stockholder, officer or agent of the Corporation, or (iii) any Affiliate of any person or entity identified in the preceding clause (i) or (ii), but in each case excluding any such person in its capacity as an employee or Director of the Corporation or its subsidiaries; (b) no stockholder and no Director, in each case, that is not an employee of the Corporation or its subsidiaries, will have any duty to refrain from (i) engaging in a corporate opportunity in the same or similar lines of business in which the Corporation or its subsidiaries from time to time is engaged or proposes to engage or (ii) otherwise competing, directly or indirectly, with the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries; and (c) if any stockholder or any Director, in each case, that is not an employee of the Corporation or its subsidiaries, acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity both for such stockholder or such Director or any of their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and for the Corporation or its subsidiaries, on the other hand, such stockholder or Director shall have no duty to communicate or offer such transaction or business opportunity to the Corporation or its subsidiaries and such stockholder or Director may take any and all such transactions or opportunities for itself or offer such transactions or opportunities to any other person or entity.  The preceding sentence of this Article XII shall not apply to any potential transaction or business opportunity that is expressly offered to a Director or employee of the Corporation or its subsidiaries, solely in his or her capacity as a Director or employee of the Corporation or its subsidiaries.

 

Section 12.2                              Corporate Opportunity . To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware, no potential transaction or business opportunity may be deemed to be a corporate opportunity of the Corporation or its subsidiaries unless (a) the Corporation or its subsidiaries would be permitted to undertake such transaction or opportunity in accordance with this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, (b) the Corporation or its subsidiaries at such time have sufficient financial resources to undertake such transaction or opportunity (c) the Corporation or its subsidiaries have an interest or expectancy in such transaction or opportunity

 

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and (d) such transaction or opportunity would be in the same or similar line of business in which the Corporation or its subsidiaries are then engaged or a line of business that is reasonably related to, or a reasonable extension of, such line of business.

 

Section 12.3                              Liability .  No stockholder and no Director will be liable to the Corporation or its subsidiaries or stockholders for breach of any duty (contractual or otherwise) solely by reason of any activities or omissions of the types referred to in this Article XII , except to the extent such actions or omissions are in breach of this Article XII .

 

ARTICLE XIII.

 

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “ Court of Chancery ”) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any Director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article XIII .

 

ARTICLE XIV.

 

Section 14.1                              Section 203 of the DGCL . The Corporation expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL and the restrictions and limitations set forth therein.

 

Section 14.2                              Interested Stockholder Transactions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Corporation shall not engage in any Business Combination (as defined below) at any point in time at which the Corporation’s Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with any Interested Stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three years following the time that such stockholder became an Interested Stockholder, unless:

 

(a)                                  prior to such time, the Board of Directors approved either the Business Combination or the transaction which resulted in such stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder; or

 

(b)                                  at or subsequent to such time the Business Combination is approved by the Board of Directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation which is not owned by such Interested Stockholder.

 

Section 14.3                              Definitions .  As used in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the following terms shall have the following meaning:

 

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(a)                                  Affiliate ” means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another Person;

 

(b)                                  Associate ,” when used to indicate a relationship with any person, means: (i) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or more of any class of shares of voting stock of the Corporation; (ii) any trust or other estate in which such person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (iii) any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such person.

 

(c)                                   Business Combination ” means (i) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation with the Interested Stockholder or (ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation, to or with the Interested Stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which assets have an aggregate market value equal to ten percent (10%) or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation.

 

(d)                                  Control ,” including the terms “ controlling ,” “ controlled by ” and “ under common control with ,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of stock or other equity interests, by contract or otherwise.

 

(e)                                   Interested Stockholder ” means any Person (other than the Corporation and any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are entitled to vote, or (ii) is an Affiliate of the Corporation and was the owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are entitled to vote at any time within the three-year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such Person is an Interested Stockholder, and the Affiliates and Associates of such Person. Notwithstanding anything in this Article XIV to the contrary, the term “ Interested Stockholder ” shall not include: (x) ML Related Parties or any of their Affiliates or Associates, (y) Crestview Holders or any of their Affiliates or Associates, including any investment funds managed, directly or indirectly, by Crestview or any other Person with whom any of the foregoing are acting as a group or in concert for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of shares of capital stock of the Corporation, or (z) any Person who acquires voting stock of the Corporation directly from an ML Related Party or a Crestview Holder or any of their respective Affiliates, and excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any Person who acquires voting stock of the Corporation through a broker’s transaction executed on any securities exchange or other over-the-counter market or pursuant to an underwritten public offering.

 

(f)                                    Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed on this [ · ], 2016.

 

 

CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Brent L. Moody

 

Title:

Chief Operating and Legal Officer

 




Exhibit 3.4

 

BY-LAWS

 

OF

 

CWGS, INC.

 

As effective on March 8, 2016

 



 

BYLAWS

 

OF

 

CWGS, INC.

 


 

ARTICLE I

 

Meetings of Stockholders

 

Section 1.1.  Annual Meetings .  If required by applicable law, an annual meeting of stockholders shall be held for the election of directors at such date, time and place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, as may be designated by resolution of the Board of Directors from time to time.  Any other proper business may be transacted at the annual meeting.  The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 1.2.  Special Meetings .  Special meetings of stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Board of Directors, but such special meetings may not be called by any other person or persons.  Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.  The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 1.3.  Notice of Meetings .  Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a notice of the meeting shall be given that shall state the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such  meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.  Unless otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the notice of any meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting.  If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the corporation.

 

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Section 1.4.  Adjournments .  Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may adjourn from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken.  At the adjourned meeting the corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.  If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.  If after the adjournment a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

 

Section 1.5.  Quorum .  Except as otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, at each meeting of stockholders the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote at the meeting shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum.  In the absence of a quorum, the stockholders so present may, by a majority in voting power thereof, adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 1.4 of these bylaws until a quorum shall attend.  Shares of its own stock belonging to the corporation or to another corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the corporation, shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the corporation or any subsidiary of the corporation to vote stock, including but not limited to its own stock, held by it in a fiduciary capacity.

 

Section 1.6.  Organization .  Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairperson of the Board, if any, or in his or her absence by the Vice Chairperson of the Board, if any, or in his or her absence by the President, or in his or her absence by a Vice President, or in the absence of the foregoing persons by a chairperson designated by the Board of Directors, or in the absence of such designation by a chairperson chosen at the meeting.  The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

Section 1.7.  Voting; Proxies .  Except as otherwise provided by or pursuant to the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by such stockholder which has voting power upon the matter in question.  Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period.  A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power.  A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the Secretary of the corporation a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date.  Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot.  At all meetings of

 

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stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present a plurality of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect.  All other elections and questions presented to the stockholders at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall, unless otherwise provided by the certificate of incorporation, these bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the corporation, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the corporation or its securities, be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of stock of the corporation which are present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon.

 

Section 1.8.  Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record .

 

(a)           In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting.  If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination.  If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.  A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.

 

(b)           In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such other action.  If no such record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

(c)           Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation, in order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors.  If no record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a

 

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meeting is fixed by the Board of Directors, (i) when no prior action of the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the corporation in accordance with applicable law, and (ii) if prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

 

Section 1.9.  List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote .  The officer who has charge of the stock ledger shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder.  Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of meeting or (ii) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the corporation.  If the meeting is to be held at a place, then a list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be examined by any stockholder who is present.  If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.  Except as otherwise provided by law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Section 1.9 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

 

Section 1.10.  Action By Written Consent of Stockholders Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the corporation having custody of the book in which minutes of proceedings of stockholders are recorded.  Delivery made to the corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.  Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall, to the extent required by law, be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for notice of such meeting had been the date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take the action were delivered to the corporation.

 

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Section 1.11.  Inspectors of Election .  The corporation may, and shall if required by law, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election, who may be employees of the corporation, to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof and to make a written report thereof.  The corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act.  In the event that no inspector so appointed or designated is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting.  Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath to execute faithfully the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability.  The inspector or inspectors so appointed or designated shall (i) ascertain the number of shares of capital stock of the corporation outstanding and the voting power of each such share, (ii) determine the shares of capital stock of the corporation represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors, and (v) certify their determination of the number of shares of capital stock of the corporation represented at the meeting and such inspectors’ count of all votes and ballots. Such certification and report shall specify such other information as may be required by law.  In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders of the corporation, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law.  No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election.

 

Section 1.12.  Conduct of Meetings .  The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the person presiding over the meeting.  The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate.  Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the person presiding over any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such presiding person, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting.  Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the presiding person of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the presiding person of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants.  The presiding person at any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such presiding person should so determine, such presiding person shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered.  Unless and to the extent determined by the Board

 

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of Directors or the person presiding over the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

ARTICLE II

 

Board of Directors

 

Section 2.1.  Number; Qualifications .  The Board of Directors shall consist of one or more members, the number thereof to be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.  Directors need not be stockholders.

 

Section 2.2.  Election; Resignation; Vacancies .  The Board of Directors shall initially consist of the persons named as directors in the certificate of incorporation or elected by the incorporator of the corporation, and each director so elected shall hold office until the first annual meeting of stockholders or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified.  At the first annual meeting of stockholders and at each annual meeting thereafter, the stockholders shall elect directors each of whom shall hold office for a term of one year or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, subject to such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal.  Any director may resign at any time upon notice to the corporation.  Unless otherwise provided by law or the certificate of incorporation, any newly created directorship or any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors for any cause may be filled by a majority of the remaining members of the Board of Directors, although such majority is less than a quorum, or by a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders, and each director so elected shall hold office until the expiration of the term of office of the director whom he or she has replaced or until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

 

Section 2.3.  Regular Meetings .  Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such places within or without the State of Delaware and at such times as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

 

Section 2.4.  Special Meetings .  Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time or place within or without the State of Delaware whenever called by the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, or by any member of the Board of Directors.  Notice of a special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given by the person or persons calling the meeting at least twenty-four hours before the special meeting.

 

Section 2.5.  Telephonic Meetings Permitted .  Members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting thereof by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this by-law shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

Section 2.6.  Quorum; Vote Required for Action .  At all meetings of the Board of Directors the directors entitled to cast a majority of the votes of the whole Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.  Except in cases in which the certificate of incorporation, these bylaws or applicable law otherwise provides, a majority of the votes

 

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entitled to be cast by the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.7.  Organization .  Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairperson of the Board, if any, or in his or her absence by the Vice Chairperson of the Board, if any, or in his or her absence by the President, or in their absence by a chairperson chosen at the meeting.  The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

Section 2.8.  Action by Unanimous Consent of Directors .  Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission and the writing or writings or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the board or committee in accordance with applicable law.

 

ARTICLE III

 

Committees

 

Section 3.1.  Committees .  The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the corporation.  The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee.  In the absence or disqualification of a member of the committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.  Any such committee, to the extent permitted by law and to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation, and may authorize the seal of the corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it.

 

Section 3.2.  Committee Rules .  Unless the Board of Directors otherwise provides, each committee designated by the Board of Directors may make, alter and repeal rules for the conduct of its business.  In the absence of such rules each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of Directors conducts its business pursuant to Article II of these bylaws.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Officers

 

Section 4.1.  Officers; Election; Qualifications; Term of Office; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies .  The Board of Directors shall elect a President and Secretary, and it may, if

 

8



 

it so determines, choose a Chairperson of the Board and a Vice Chairperson of the Board from among its members.  The Board of Directors may also choose one or more Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries, a Treasurer and one or more Assistant Treasurers and such other officers as it shall from time to time deem necessary or desirable.  Each such officer shall hold office until the first meeting of the Board of Directors after the annual meeting of stockholders next succeeding his or her election, and until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal.  Any officer may resign at any time upon written notice to the corporation.  The Board of Directors may remove any officer with or without cause at any time, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights of such officer, if any, with the corporation.  Any number of offices may be held by the same person.  Any vacancy occurring in any office of the corporation by death, resignation, removal or otherwise may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting.

 

Section 4.2.  Powers and Duties of Officers .  The officers of the corporation shall have such powers and duties in the management of the corporation as may be prescribed in a resolution by the Board of Directors and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors may require any officer, agent or employee to give security for the faithful performance of his or her duties.

 

Section 4.3.  Appointing Attorneys and Agents; Voting Securities of Other Entities .  Unless otherwise provided by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors, the Chairperson of the Board, the President or any Vice President may from time to time appoint an attorney or attorneys or agent or agents of the corporation, in the name and on behalf of the corporation, to cast the votes which the corporation may be entitled to cast as the holder of stock or other securities in any other corporation or other entity, any of whose stock or other securities may be held by the corporation, at meetings of the holders of the stock or other securities of such other corporation or other entity, or to consent in writing, in the name of the corporation as such holder, to any action by such other corporation or other entity, and may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner of casting such votes or giving such consents, and may execute or cause to be executed in the name and on behalf of the corporation and under its corporate seal or otherwise, all such written proxies or other instruments as he or she may deem necessary or proper.  Any of the rights set forth in this Section 4.3 which may be delegated to an attorney or agent may also be exercised directly by the Chairperson of the Board, the President or the Vice President.

 

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ARTICLE V

 

Stock

 

Section 5.1.  Certificates .  The shares of the corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of stock shall be uncertificated shares.  Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the corporation.  Every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name of the corporation by the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors, if any, or the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the corporation certifying the number of shares owned by such holder in the corporation.  Any of or all the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile.  In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue.

 

Section 5.2.  Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates .  The corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the corporation an affidavit of loss or destruction and/or a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses

 

Section 6.1.  Right to Indemnification .  The corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person (a “Covered Person”) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the corporation or, while a director or officer of the corporation, is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred by such Covered Person.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.3, the corporation shall be required to indemnify a Covered Person in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such Covered Person

 

10



 

only if the commencement of such proceeding (or part thereof) by the Covered Person was authorized in the specific case by the Board of Directors of the corporation.

 

Section 6.2.  Advancement of Expenses .  The corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a Covered Person in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided , however , that, to the extent required by law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Covered Person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VI or otherwise.

 

Section 6.3.  Claims .  If a claim for indemnification under this Article VI (following the final disposition of such proceeding) is not paid in full within sixty days after the corporation has received a claim therefor by the Covered Person, or if a claim for any advancement of expenses under this Article VI is not paid in full within thirty days after the corporation has received a statement or statements requesting such amounts to be advanced, the Covered Person shall thereupon (but not before) be entitled to file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim.  If successful in whole or in part, the Covered Person shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim to the fullest extent permitted by law.  In any such action, the corporation shall have the burden of proving that the Covered Person is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law.

 

Section 6.4.  Nonexclusivity of Rights .  The rights conferred on any Covered Person by this Article VI shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such Covered Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the certificate of incorporation, these bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

Section 6.5.   Other Sources .  The corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify or to advance expenses to any Covered Person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity shall be reduced by any amount such Covered Person may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit enterprise.

 

Section 6.6.   Insurance .  The Board of Directors may, to the full extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists, or may hereafter be amended from time to time, authorize an appropriate officer or officers to purchase and maintain at the Corporation’s expense insurance:  (a) to indemnify the Corporation for any obligation which it incurs as a result of the indemnification of directors, officers and employees under the provisions of this Article VI; and (b) to indemnify or insure directors, officers and employees against liability in instances in which they may not otherwise be indemnified by the Corporation under the provisions of this Article VI.

 

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Section 6.7. Amendment or Repeal .  Any right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses of any Covered Person arising hereunder shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to or repeal of these bylaws after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought.

 

Section 6.8.  Other Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses .  This Article VI shall not limit the right of the corporation, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Covered Persons when and as authorized by appropriate corporate action.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

Miscellaneous

 

Section 7.1.  Fiscal Year .  The fiscal year of the corporation shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 7.2.  Seal .  The corporate seal shall have the name of the corporation inscribed thereon and shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 7.3.  Manner of Notice .  Except as otherwise provided herein or permitted by applicable law, notices to directors and stockholders shall be in writing and delivered personally or mailed to the directors or stockholders at their addresses appearing on the books of the corporation.  Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, and except as prohibited by applicable law, any notice to stockholders given by the corporation under any provision of applicable law, the certificate of incorporation, or these bylaws shall be effective if given by a single written notice to stockholders who share an address if consented to by the stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given.  Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the corporation.  Any stockholder who fails to object in writing to the corporation, within 60 days of having been given written notice by the corporation of its intention to send the single notice permitted under this Section 7.3, shall be deemed to have consented to receiving such single written notice.  Notice to directors may be given by telecopier, telephone or other means of electronic transmission.

 

Section 7.4.  Waiver of Notice of Meetings of Stockholders, Directors and Committees .  Any waiver of notice, given by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.  Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.  Neither the business to be transacted at nor the purpose of any regular or special meeting of the stockholders, directors, or members of a committee of directors need be specified in a waiver of notice.

 

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Section 7.5.  Form of Records .  Any records maintained by the corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account, and minute books, may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device or method, provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time, which records shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error.

 

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Exhibit 3.5

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

 

OF

 

CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC.

 

Dated as of [  ·  ], 2016

 

 

 



 

CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

Article I. Meetings of Stockholders

1

 

 

 

Section 1.01

Place of Meetings

1

 

Section 1.02

Annual Meetings

1

 

Section 1.03

Special Meetings

1

 

Section 1.04

Notice of Meetings

1

 

Section 1.05

Adjournments

2

 

Section 1.06

Quorum

2

 

Section 1.07

Organization

2

 

Section 1.08

Voting; Proxies

3

 

Section 1.09

Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record

3

 

Section 1.10

List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote

4

 

Section 1.11

Action by Written Consent of Stockholders

5

 

Section 1.12

Inspectors of Election

5

 

Section 1.13

Conduct of Meetings

6

 

Section 1.14

Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations

6

 

Section 1.15

Submission of Questionnaire, Representation and Agreement

11

 

 

 

 

Article II. Board of Directors

12

 

 

 

Section 2.01

Number; Tenure; Qualifications

12

 

Section 2.02

Election; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies

12

 

Section 2.03

Regular Meetings

12

 

Section 2.04

Special Meetings

12

 

Section 2.05

Telephonic Meetings Permitted

13

 

Section 2.06

Quorum; Vote Required for Action

13

 

Section 2.07

Organization

13

 

Section 2.08

Action by Unanimous Consent of Directors

13

 

Section 2.09

Compensation of Directors

13

 

 

 

 

Article III. Committees

14

 

 

 

Section 3.01

Committees

14

 

Section 3.02

Committee Rules

14

 

 

 

 

Article IV. Officers

14

 

 

 

Section 4.01

Officers

14

 

Section 4.02

Removal, Resignation and Vacancies

15

 

Section 4.03

Chairperson

15

 

Section 4.04

Chief Executive Officer

15

 

Section 4.05

Chief Financial Officer

15

 

Section 4.06

Chief Operating and Legal Officer

15

 

Section 4.07

Vice Presidents

16

 



 

 

Section 4.08

Treasurer

16

 

Section 4.09

Controller

16

 

Section 4.10

Secretary

16

 

Section 4.11

Appointing Attorneys and Agents; Voting Securities of Other Entities

17

 

Section 4.12

Additional Matters

17

 

 

 

 

Article V. Stock

17

 

 

 

Section 5.01

Certificates

17

 

Section 5.02

Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates

18

 

 

 

 

Article VI. Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses

18

 

 

 

Section 6.01

Right to Indemnification

18

 

Section 6.02

Advancement of Expenses

18

 

Section 6.03

Claims

18

 

Section 6.04

Non-exclusivity of Rights

19

 

Section 6.05

Other Sources

19

 

Section 6.06

Amendment or Repeal

19

 

Section 6.07

Other Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses

19

 

 

 

 

Article VII. Miscellaneous

19

 

 

 

Section 7.01

Fiscal Year

19

 

Section 7.02

Seal

19

 

Section 7.03

Manner of Notice

19

 

Section 7.04

Waiver of Notice of Meetings of Stockholders, Directors and Committees

20

 

Section 7.05

Form of Records

21

 

Section 7.06

Amendment of Bylaws

21

 

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ARTICLE I.
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 1.01                              Place of Meetings .  Meetings of stockholders of Camping World Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”; and such stockholders, the “ Stockholders ”), may be held at any place, within or without the State of Delaware, as may be designated by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”).  In the absence of such designation, meetings of Stockholders shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation.  The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of Stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication authorized by and in accordance with Section 211(a) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

Section 1.02                              Annual Meetings .  The annual meeting of Stockholders shall be held for the election of directors at such date and time as may be designated by resolution of the Board of Directors from time to time.  Any other business as may be properly brought before the annual meeting may be transacted at the annual meeting.  The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of Stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 1.03                              Special Meetings .  Special meetings of Stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called only by the majority of the Board of Directors or the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation (“ Stock ”) for as long as the ML Related Parties (as defined in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation effective as of [  ·  ], 2016 (as the same may be further amended, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”)) beneficially own, directly or indirectly, twenty-seven and five-tenths percent (27.5%) or more of all Common Units (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) issued and outstanding, and only by the majority of the Board of Directors if the ML Related Parties beneficially own, directly or indirectly, less than twenty-seven and-five tenths percent (27.5%) of all Common Units issued and outstanding.  Special meetings validly called in accordance with this Section 1.03 of these amended and restated bylaws adopted by the Board of Directors as of [  ·  ], 2016 (as the same may be further amended, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, these “ Bylaws ”) may be held at such date and time as specified in the applicable notice.  Business transacted at any special meeting of Stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.  The Corporation may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of Stockholders previously scheduled by the chairperson of the Board of Directors (the “ Chairperson ”) or Board of Directors.

 

Section 1.04                              Notice of Meetings .  Whenever Stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a notice of the meeting shall be given that shall state the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which Stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the Stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for Stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.  Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the notice of any meeting shall

 



 

be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each Stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting as of the record date for determining the Stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting.  If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the Stockholder at such Stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.

 

Section 1.05                              Adjournments .  Any meeting of Stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time by the chairperson of the meeting (or by the Stockholders in accordance with Section 1.06) to reconvene at the same or some other place, if any, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken.  At the adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.  If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each Stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.  If after the adjournment a new record date for determination of Stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix the record date for determining Stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting as provided in Section 1.09(a) of these Bylaws, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each Stockholder of record as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.  If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the Stockholder at such Stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.

 

Section 1.06                              Quorum .  Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, at each meeting of Stockholders the presence or participation in person or by remote communication, if applicable, or by proxy of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of Stock entitled to vote at the meeting shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.  In the absence of a quorum, then either (i) the chairperson of the meeting or (ii) a majority in voting power of the Stockholders entitled to vote thereon, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 1.05 of these Bylaws until a quorum is present or represented.  Shares of Stock belonging to the Corporation or to another corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however , that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation to vote shares of Stock held by it in a fiduciary capacity. Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series of capital stock is required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series of the capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on such matter, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to the vote on such matter.  A quorum, once established at a meeting, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum.

 

Section 1.07                              Organization .  Meetings of Stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairperson or by the person whom the Chairperson shall appoint, or in the absence of such

 

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person or such appointment, by any Vice Chairperson, if any, or in his or her absence by the Chief Executive Officer, or in his or her absence, by a person designated by the Board of Directors, or in the absence of such designation by a chairperson chosen at the meeting by vote of a majority of the Stockholders present or represented at the meeting and entitled to vote at the meeting (provided there is a quorum).  The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

Section 1.08                              Voting; Proxies .  Each Stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of Stockholders shall be entitled to the number of votes, if any, for each share of Stock held of record by such Stockholder which has voting power upon the matter in question that is set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.  Each Stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of Stockholders or express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting (if permitted by the Certificate of Incorporation) may authorize another person or persons to act for such Stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period.  A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power.  A Stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person (or by means remote communication, if applicable) or by delivering to the Secretary a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date.  Voting at meetings of Stockholders need not be by written ballot.  Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, at all meetings of Stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present a plurality of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect directors.  All other elections and questions presented to the Stockholders at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of Stock which are present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon, unless a different or minimum vote is required by the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities in which case such different or minimum vote shall be the applicable vote on the matter.

 

Section 1.09                              Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record .

 

(a)                                  In order that the Corporation may determine the Stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of Stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting.  If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the Stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination.  If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining Stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.  A determination of Stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to

 

3



 

vote at a meeting of Stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however , that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determination of Stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for Stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of Stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.

 

(b)                                  In order that the Corporation may determine the Stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of Stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such action.  If no such record date is fixed, the record date for determining Stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

(c)                                   Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, in order that the Corporation may determine the Stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors.  If no record date for determining Stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting is fixed by the Board of Directors, (i) when no prior action of the Board of Directors is required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the record date for such purpose shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation (or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of Stockholders are recorded) in accordance with applicable law, and (ii) if prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the record date for such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

 

Section 1.10                              List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote .  The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of Stockholders, a complete list of the Stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting ( provided, however , if the record date for determining the Stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the Stockholders entitled to vote as of a date that is no more than ten (10) days before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each Stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each Stockholder as of the record date (or such other date).  Such list shall be open to the examination of any Stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of meeting or (ii) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation.  If the meeting is to be held at a place, then a list of Stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole

 

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time thereof and may be examined by any Stockholder who is present.  If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any Stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.  Except as otherwise provided by law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the Stockholders entitled to examine the list of Stockholders required by this Section 1.10 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of Stockholders.

 

Section 1.11                              Action by Written Consent of Stockholders .  Any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, are signed by the holders of outstanding shares of the relevant class(es) or series of stock of the Corporation representing not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of stock of the Corporation then issued and outstanding (other than treasury stock) entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in Delaware, its principal place of business, or to an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded; provided, however , that, subject to the rights of any series of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share of the Corporation (“ Preferred Stock ”) permitting the holders of such series of Preferred Stock to act by written consent, and except as otherwise provided in Section 6.4 of the Certificate of Incorporation, after the date on which the ML Related Parties beneficially own, directly or indirectly, less than twenty-seven and five-tenths percent (27.5%) of all Common Units issued and outstanding, any action required or permitted to be taken by stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders and may not be effected by written consent in lieu of a meeting.

 

Section 1.12                              Inspectors of Election .  The Corporation may, and shall if required by law, in advance of any meeting of Stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election, who may be employees of the Corporation, to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof and to make a written report thereof.  The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act.  In the event that no inspector so appointed or designated is able to act at a meeting of Stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting.  Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath to execute faithfully the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability.  The inspector or inspectors so appointed or designated shall (i) ascertain the number of shares of Stock outstanding and the voting power of each such share, (ii) determine the shares of Stock represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors, and (v) certify their determination of the number of shares of Stock represented at the meeting and such inspectors’ count of all votes and ballots. Such certification and report shall specify such other information as may be required by law.  In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of Stockholders, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law.  No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election.

 

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Section 1.13                              Conduct of Meetings .  The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the Stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the person presiding over the meeting.  After the polls close, no ballots, proxies or votes or any revocations or changes thereto may be accepted. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of Stockholders as it shall deem appropriate.  Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the person presiding over any meeting of Stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such presiding person, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting.  Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the presiding person of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to Stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the presiding person of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants.  The presiding person at any meeting of Stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such presiding person should so determine, such presiding person shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered.  Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the person presiding over the meeting, meetings of Stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

Section 1.14                              Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations .

 

(a)                                  Annual Meetings of Stockholders .

 

(i)                                      Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by the Stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of Stockholders only (A) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (B) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or the nominating and corporate governance committee thereof, (C) by or at the direction of any party to that certain voting agreement, dated as of [  ·  ], 2016, by and among the Corporation and the other persons party thereto (as may be amended from time to time, the “ Voting Agreement ”), provided the Voting Agreement remains in effect and only to the extent permitted by, and subject to any limitations set forth in, Section 1 thereof, or (D) by any Stockholder who was a Stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 1.14 is delivered to the Secretary, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.14.

 

(ii)                                   For any nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a Stockholder pursuant to Section 1.14(a)(i)(C) of these Bylaws, the

 

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Stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary and any such proposed business (other than the nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors) must constitute a proper matter for Stockholder action.  To be timely, a Stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day, nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day, prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however , that (x) in the case of the first annual meeting following the closing of the Corporation’s initial public offering or (y) in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than seventy (70) days after such anniversary date, in each case, notice by the Stockholder must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation).  In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Stockholder’s notice as described above.  To be in proper form, such Stockholder’s notice must:

 

(A)        as to each person whom the Stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director of the Corporation, set forth (I) as to each proposed nominee (1) such person’s name, age, business address and, if known, residence address, (2) such person’s principal occupation or employment, (3) the class and series and number of shares of stock of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned, beneficially or of record, by such person, (4) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among (x) the Stockholder, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made and the respective affiliates and associates of, or others acting in concert with, such Stockholder and such beneficial owner, on the one hand, and (y) each proposed nominee, and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert with such nominee(s), on the other hand, including all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K if the Stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith were the “registrant” for purposes of such Item and the proposed nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant, (II) all other information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (III) such person’s written consent to being named in the

 

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proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director of the Corporation if elected;

 

(B)        with respect to each nominee for election or reelection to the Board of Directors, include the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 1.15 of these Bylaws;

 

(C)        as to any other business that the Stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, set forth a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such Stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and

 

(D)        as to the Stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, set forth (I) the name and address of such Stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, (II) the class or series and number of shares of Stock which are owned beneficially and of record by such Stockholder and such beneficial owner, (III) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination or proposal between or among such Stockholder and/or such beneficial owner, any of their respective affiliates or associates, and any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing, including, in the case of a nomination, the nominee, (IV) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the Stockholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, such Stockholder and such beneficial owners, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in underlying shares of Stock, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such Stockholder or such beneficial owner, with respect to securities of the Corporation, (V) a representation that the Stockholder is a holder of record of Stock entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person (or by means of remote communication, if applicable) or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination, (VI) a representation whether the Stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends (x) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of outstanding Stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or (y) otherwise to solicit

 

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proxies or votes from Stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination, and (VII) any other information relating to such Stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in an election contest pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

The foregoing notice requirements of this Section 1.14(a) shall be deemed satisfied by a Stockholder with respect to business other than a nomination for election as a director of the Corporation if the Stockholder has notified the Corporation of his, her or its intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and such Stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting.  The Corporation may require any proposed nominee for election as a director of the Corporation to furnish such other information as the Corporation may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation. A Stockholder shall not have complied with this Section 1.14(a)(ii) if the Stockholder (or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made) solicits or does not solicit, as the case may be, proxies or votes in support of such Stockholder’s nominee in contravention of the representations with respect thereto required by this Section 1.14(a)(ii).

 

(iii)                                Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of Section 1.14(a)(ii) of these Bylaws to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting is increased effective after the time period for which nominations would otherwise be due under Section 1.14(a)(ii) of these Bylaws and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a Stockholder’s notice required by this Section 1.14 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

(b)                                  Special Meetings of Stockholders .  Except to the extent required by law, special meetings of Stockholders may be called only in accordance with Section 1.03 of these Bylaws.  Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of Stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting.  Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of Stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (1) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or the nominating and corporate governance committee thereof or (2) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any Stockholder who is a Stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 1.14 is delivered to the Secretary, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this

 

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Section 1.14.  In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of Stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such Stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the Stockholder delivers a notice that includes all of the information required by Section 1.14(a)(ii) of these Bylaws (including the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 1.15 of these Bylaws and any other information, documents, affidavits, or certifications required by the Corporation)  to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting.  In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a Stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

(c)                                   General .

 

(i)                                      Except as otherwise expressly provided in any applicable rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act, only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.14 shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of Stockholders to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of Stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.14.  Except as otherwise provided by law, the chairperson of the meeting shall have the power and duty (A) to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.14 (including whether the Stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made or solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies or votes in support of such Stockholder’s nominee or proposal in compliance with such Stockholder’s representation as required by Section 1.14(a)(ii)(D)(VI) of these Bylaws) and (B) if any proposed nomination or business was not made or proposed in compliance with this Section 1.14, to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.14, unless otherwise required by law, if the Stockholder (or a qualified representative of the Stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of Stockholders to present a nomination or proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation.  For purposes of this Section 1.14, to be considered a qualified representative of the Stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such Stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such Stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such Stockholder to act for such Stockholder as proxy at the meeting of Stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a

 

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reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of Stockholders.

 

(ii)                                   For purposes of this Section 1.14, “ public announcement ” shall include disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or other national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(iii)                                Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.14, a Stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 1.14; provided, however , that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to this Section 1.14 (including clause (a)(i)(C) hereof and clause (b) hereof), and compliance with clauses (a)(i)(C) and (b) of this Section 1.14 shall be the exclusive means for a Stockholder to make nominations or submit other business (other than, as provided in the penultimate sentence of clause (a)(ii) hereof, business other than nominations brought properly under and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as may be amended from time to time).  Nothing in this Section 1.14 shall be deemed to affect any rights (x) of Stockholders to request inclusion of proposals or nominations in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act or (y) of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation. Except as otherwise required by law, nothing in this Section 1.14 shall obligate the Corporation or the Board of Directors to include in any proxy statement or other stockholder communication distributed on behalf of the Corporation or the Board of Directors information with respect to any nominee for director or any proposal submitted by a stockholder.

 

Section 1.15                              Submission of Questionnaire, Representation and Agreement . To be eligible to be a nominee for election or reelection as a director of the Corporation, the candidate for nomination must have previously delivered (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under Section 1.14 of these Bylaws), to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (a) a completed written questionnaire (in a form provided by the Corporation) with respect to the background, qualifications, stock ownership and independence of such proposed nominee and (b) a written representation and agreement (in form provided by the Corporation) that such candidate for nomination (i) is not and, if elected as a director during his or her term of office, will not become a party to (A) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given and will not give any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such proposed nominee, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “ Voting Commitment ”) or (B) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such proposed nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such proposed nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (ii) is not, and will not become a party to, any agreement,

 

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arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation or reimbursement for service as a director and (iii) if elected as a director of the Corporation, will comply with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, stock ownership and trading and other policies and guidelines of the Corporation applicable to directors and in effect during such person’s term in office as a director of the Corporation (and, if requested by any candidate for nomination, the Secretary shall provide to such candidate for nomination all such policies and guidelines then in effect).

 

ARTICLE II.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 2.01                              Number; Tenure; Qualifications .  Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors and the Voting Agreement, the total number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors.  The directors shall be classified in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. Each director shall hold office until such time as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.  Directors need not be Stockholders.

 

Section 2.02                              Election; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies .  Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of Stockholders by such Stockholders as have the right to vote on such election.  Any director may resign at any time upon written or electronic notice to the Corporation.  Such resignation shall be effective upon delivery unless it is specified to be effective at some later time or upon the happening of some later event.  Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock, directors of the Corporation may be removed only as expressly provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.  Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from the death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall be filled only by a majority vote of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director entitled to vote thereon, and not by the Stockholders.  Any director so chosen shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen and until his successor shall be elected and qualified.

 

Section 2.03                              Regular Meetings .  Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such places, if any, within or without the State of Delaware and at such times as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine; provided that any director who is absent when such a determination is made shall be given notice of the determination.

 

Section 2.04                              Special Meetings .  Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time or place, if any, within or without the State of Delaware whenever called by the Chairperson, the Chief Executive Officer or a majority of the authorized number of directors. Notice to directors of the date, place and time of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director by the Secretary or by the officer or one of the directors calling

 

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the meeting. Notice may be given in person, by mail or by e-mail, telephone, telecopier or other means of electronic transmission. If the notice is delivered in person, by e-mail, telephone, telecopier or other means of electronic transmission, it shall be delivered or sent at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of holding of the meeting. If the notice is sent by mail, it shall be deposited in the United States mail at least four (4) days before the time of the holding of the meeting.

 

Section 2.05                              Telephonic Meetings Permitted .  Members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting thereof by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 2.05 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

Section 2.06                              Quorum; Vote Required for Action .  At all meetings of the Board of Directors a majority of the number of directors fixed by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 2.01 shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; provided that, solely for the purposes of filling vacancies pursuant to Section 2.02 of these Bylaws, a meeting of the Board of Directors may be held if a majority of the directors then in office participate in such meeting.  Except in cases in which the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or applicable law otherwise provides, a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the directors present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.07                              Organization .  Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairperson, or in his or her absence by the person whom the Chairperson shall appoint, or in the absence of the foregoing persons by a chairperson chosen at the meeting by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at the meeting.  The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

Section 2.08                              Action by Unanimous Consent of Directors .  Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission and the writing or writings or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or such committee in accordance with applicable law.

 

Section 2.09                              Compensation of Directors .  Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors.  The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a stated salary or other compensation as a director.  No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.  Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for attending committee meetings.  Any director of the Corporation may decline any or all such compensation payable to such director in his or her discretion.

 

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ARTICLE III.
COMMITTEES

 

Section 3.01                              Committees .  The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation.  The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee.  In the absence or disqualification of a member of any committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.  Any such committee, to the extent permitted by law and to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or the resolution of the Board of Directors designating the committee, a committee may create one or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one or more members of the committee, and delegate to a subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee.  Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or the resolution of the Board of Directors designating the committee (or resolution of the committee designating the subcommittee, if applicable), a majority of the directors then serving on a committee or subcommittee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the vote of a majority of the members of the committee or subcommittee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee or subcommittee.

 

Section 3.02                              Committee Rules .  Unless the Board of Directors otherwise provides, each committee designated by the Board of Directors may make, alter and repeal rules for the conduct of its business.  In the absence of such rules each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of Directors conducts its business pursuant to Article II of these Bylaws.

 

ARTICLE IV.
OFFICERS

 

Section 4.01                              Officers .  The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a chief executive officer (the “ Chief Executive Officer ”), a chief financial officer (the “ Chief Financial Officer ”), a chief operating and legal officer (the “ Chief Operating and Legal Officer ”), one or more vice presidents (each, a “ Vice President ”), a Secretary (the “ Secretary ”), a treasurer (the “ Treasurer ”), a controller (the “ Controller ”) and such other officers with such other titles as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine, including a Chairperson, each of whom shall be appointed by the Board of Directors, each to have such authority, functions or duties as set forth in these Bylaws or as determined by the Board of Directors.  Subject to obtaining any written approval(s) under Section 4(a) of the Voting Agreement in connection with the appointment of the chief executive officer of the Corporation, each officer shall be chosen by the Board of Directors and shall hold office for such term as may be prescribed by the Board of

 

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Directors and until such person’s successor shall have been duly chosen and qualified, or until such person’s earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal.  The Board of Directors, in its discretion, from time to time may determine not to appoint one or more of the officers identified in the first sentence of this Section 4.01 or to leave such officer position vacant.  Any number of offices may be held by the same person.

 

Section 4.02                              Removal, Resignation and Vacancies .  Any officer of the Corporation may be removed, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors, without prejudice to the rights, if any, of such officer under any contract to which it is a party.  Any officer may resign at any time upon written or electronic notice to the Corporation, without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract to which such officer is a party.  If any vacancy occurs in any office of the Corporation, the Board of Directors may appoint a successor to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term and until a successor shall have been duly chosen and qualified or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal.

 

Section 4.03                              Chairperson .  The Board of Directors may appoint from its members a Chairperson of the Board of Directors, and as such shall be deemed an officer of the Corporation.  The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, from time to time appoint one or more vice chairpersons (each, a “ Vice Chairperson ”) each of whom as such shall be deemed an officer of the Corporation and shall report directly to the Chairperson.

 

Section 4.04                              Chief Executive Officer .  The Chief Executive Officer shall have general supervision and direction of the business and affairs of the Corporation, shall be responsible for corporate policy and strategy, and shall report directly to the Board of Directors.  Unless otherwise provided in these Bylaws, all other officers of the Corporation shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer or as otherwise determined by the Chief Executive Officer.  The Chief Executive Officer shall, if present and in the absence of the Chairperson or any Vice Chairperson, preside at meetings of the Stockholders and of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 4.05                              Chief Financial Officer .  The Chief Financial Officer shall exercise all the powers and perform the duties of the office of the chief financial officer and in general have overall supervision of the financial operations of the Corporation.  The Chief Financial Officer shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

 

Section 4.06                              Chief Operating and Legal Officer .  The Chief Operating and Legal Officer shall exercise all the powers and perform the duties of the office of the chief operating officer and shall be responsible for the management and control of the operations of the Corporation.  The Chief Operating and Legal Officer shall have the power to affix the signature of the Corporation to all contracts that have been authorized by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.  Chief Operating and Legal Officer shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

 

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Section 4.07                              Vice Presidents .  The Vice President shall have such powers and duties as shall be prescribed by his or her superior officer or the Chief Executive Officer.  A Vice President shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.  In accordance with Sections 4.01 and 4.12 of these Bylaws, the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer and/or the Chief Financial Officer may, in his, her or their discretion, from time to time appoint one or more executive vice presidents of the Corporation (each, an “ Executive Vice President ”) and/or assistant vice presidents of the Corporation (each, an “ Assistant Vice President ”).

 

Section 4.08                              Treasurer .  The Treasurer shall supervise and be responsible for all the funds and securities of the Corporation, the deposit of all moneys and other valuables to the credit of the Corporation in depositories of the Corporation, borrowings and compliance with the provisions of all indentures, agreements and instruments governing such borrowings to which the Corporation is a party, the disbursement of funds of the Corporation and the investment of its funds, and in general shall perform all of the duties incident to the office of the Treasurer.  The Treasurer shall report to the Chief Financial Officer and, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. In accordance with Sections 4.01 and 4.12 of these Bylaws, the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and/or Chief Operating and Legal Officer may, in his, her or their discretion, from time to time appoint one or more assistant treasurers of the Corporation (each, an “ Assistant Treasurer ”).

 

Section 4.09                              Controller .  The Controller shall report to the Chief Financial Officer and, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

 

Section 4.10                              Secretary .  The powers and duties of the Secretary are:  (i) to act as Secretary at all meetings of the Board of Directors, of the committees of the Board of Directors and of the Stockholders and to record the proceedings of such meetings in a book or books to be kept for that purpose; (ii) to see that all notices required to be given by the Corporation are duly given and served; (iii) to act as custodian of the seal of the Corporation and affix the seal or cause it to be affixed to all certificates of Stock and to all documents, the execution of which on behalf of the Corporation under its seal is duly authorized in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws; (iv) to have charge of the books, records and papers of the Corporation and see that the reports, statements and other documents required by law to be kept and filed are properly kept and filed; and (v) to perform all of the duties incident to the office of Secretary.  The Secretary shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree with the Chief Executive Officer or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.  In accordance with Sections 4.01 and 4.12 of these Bylaws, the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and/or Chief Operating and Legal Officer may, in his, her or their discretion, from time to time appoint one or more assistant secretaries of the Corporation (each, an “ Assistant Secretary ”).

 

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Section 4.11                              Appointing Attorneys and Agents; Voting Securities of Other Entities .  Unless otherwise provided by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors, the Chairperson, any Vice Chairperson, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or the Chief Operating and Legal Officer may from time to time appoint an attorney or attorneys or agent or agents of the Corporation, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, to (a) cast the votes which the Corporation may be entitled to cast as the holder of stock or other securities in any other corporation or other entity, any of whose stock or other securities may be held by the Corporation, at meetings of the holders of the stock or other securities of such other corporation or other entity, or to consent in writing, in the name of the Corporation as such holder, to any action by such other corporation or other entity, and may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner of casting such votes or giving such consents, and may execute or cause to be executed in the name and on behalf of the Corporation and under its corporate seal or otherwise, all such written proxies or other instruments as he or she may deem necessary or proper and (b) exercise the rights of the Corporation in its capacity as a general partner of a partnership or in its capacity as a managing member of a limited liability company as to which the Corporation, in such capacity, is entitled to exercise pursuant to the applicable partnership agreement or limited liability company operating agreement, including without limitation to take or refrain from taking any action, or to consent in writing, in each case in the name of the Corporation as such general partner or managing member, to any action by such partnership or limited liability company, and may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner of taking such actions or giving such consents, and may execute or cause to be executed in the name and on behalf of the Corporation and under its corporate seal or otherwise, all such written proxies or other instruments as he or she may deem necessary or proper.  Unless otherwise provided by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors, any of the rights set forth in this Section 4.11 which may be delegated to an attorney or agent may also be exercised directly by the Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or the Chief Operating and Legal Officer.

 

Section 4.12                              Additional Matters .  The Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Operating and Legal Officer shall have the authority to designate employees of the Corporation to have the title of Executive Vice President, Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Secretary.  Any employee so designated shall have the powers and duties determined by the officer making such designation.  A person designated as an Executive Vice President, Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Secretary shall not be deemed to be an officer of the Corporation for the purposes of Article VI of these Bylaws unless the Board of Directors has adopted a resolution approving such person in such capacity as an officer of the Corporation (including by means of direct appointment by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 4.01 of these Bylaws).

 

ARTICLE V.
STOCK

 

Section 5.01                              Certificates .  The shares of Stock shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of Stock shall be uncertificated shares.  Any such resolution shall not

 

17


 

apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation.  Every holder of Stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate, in such form as may be prescribed by law and by the Board of Directors, representing the number of shares held by such holder registered in certificate form. Each such certificate shall be signed in a manner that complies with Section 158 of the DGCL.

 

Section 5.02                              Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates .  The Corporation may issue a new certificate for shares of Stock in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.

 

ARTICLE VI.
INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES

 

Section 6.01                              Right to Indemnification .  The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law (including as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended), any person (a “ Covered Person ”) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (any such action, suit or proceeding, a “ proceeding ”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred by such Covered Person.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.03 of these Bylaws, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a Covered Person in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such Covered Person only if the commencement of such proceeding (or part thereof) by the Covered Person was authorized in the specific case by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 6.02                              Advancement of Expenses .  The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a Covered Person in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided, however , that, to the extent required by law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Covered Person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VI or otherwise.

 

Section 6.03                              Claims .  If a claim for indemnification under this Article VI (following the final disposition of such proceeding) is not paid in full within sixty (60) days after the Corporation has received a claim therefor by the Covered Person, or if a claim for any advancement of expenses under this Article VI is not paid in full within thirty (30) days after the

 

18



 

Corporation has received a statement or statements requesting such amounts to be advanced, the Covered Person shall thereupon (but not before) be entitled to file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim.  If successful in whole or in part, the Covered Person shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim to the fullest extent permitted by law.  In any such action, the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the Covered Person is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law.

 

Section 6.04                              Non-exclusivity of Rights .  The rights conferred on any Covered Person by this Article VI shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such Covered Person may have or hereafter acquires under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, agreement, vote of Stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

Section 6.05                              Other Sources .  The Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify or to advance expenses to any Covered Person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity shall be reduced by any amount such Covered Person may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit enterprise.

 

Section 6.06                              Amendment or Repeal .  Any right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses of any Covered Person arising hereunder shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to or repeal of these Bylaws after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought.

 

Section 6.07                              Other Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses .  This Article VI shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Covered Persons when and as authorized by appropriate corporate action.

 

ARTICLE VII.
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 7.01                              Fiscal Year .  The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 7.02                              Seal .  The corporate seal shall have the name of the Corporation inscribed thereon and shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 7.03                              Manner of Notice .

 

(a)                                  Notice by Electronic Transmission .  Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to Stockholders pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any notice to Stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the Stockholder to whom the notice is

 

19



 

given.  Any such consent shall be revocable by the Stockholder by written notice to the Corporation.  Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if (a) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two (2) consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent; and (b) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice.  However, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.

 

Any notice given pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall be deemed given (a) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the Stockholder has consented to receive notice;  (b) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the Stockholder has consented to receive notice;  (c) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the Stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (i) such posting and (ii) the giving of such separate notice; and (d) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the Stockholder.

 

An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given by a form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

 

For the purposes of these Bylaws, an “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

 

(b)                                  Notice to Stockholders Sharing an Address .  Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to Stockholders, and except as prohibited by applicable law, any notice to Stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a single written notice to Stockholders who share an address if consented to by the Stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given.  Any such consent shall be revocable by the Stockholder by written notice to the Corporation.  Any Stockholder who fails to object in writing to the Corporation, within sixty (60) days of having been given written notice by the Corporation of its intention to send the single notice permitted under this Section 7.03, shall be deemed to have consented to receiving such single written notice.

 

Section 7.04                              Waiver of Notice of Meetings of Stockholders, Directors and Committees .  Any waiver of notice, given by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.  Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.  Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Stockholders, Board of Directors, or members of a committee or subcommittee of the Board of Directors need be specified in a waiver of notice.

 

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Section 7.05                              Form of Records .  Any records maintained by the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account, and minute books, may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device or method, provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time.

 

Section 7.06                              Amendment of Bylaws .  Subject to the Voting Agreement, these Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, and new bylaws made, only by the affirmative vote of (a) a majority of the Board of Directors or (b) Stockholders representing at least a majority of the votes eligible to be cast in an election of directors of the Corporation; provided, however , that after the date on which the ML Related Parties beneficially own, directly or indirectly, less than twenty-seven and five-tenths percent (27.5%) of all Common Units issued and outstanding, these Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, and new bylaws made, only by the affirmative vote of (a) a majority of the Board of Directors or (b) Stockholders representing at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3 %) of the votes eligible to be cast in an election of directors of the Corporation.

 

*                                          *                                          *

 

21




Exhibit 10.1

 

 

 

 

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 

 

by and among

 

 

CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

the several MEMBERS (as defined herein)

 

 

MANAGEMENT REPRESENTATIVE (as defined herein) and

 

 

OTHER MEMBERS OF CWGS ENTERPRISES, LLC
FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO

 

 

Dated as of [    ], 2016

 

 

 

 



 

CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

Article I. DEFINITIONS

2

 

 

 

Section 1.1

Definitions

2

Section 1.2

Rules of Construction

10

 

 

 

Article II. DETERMINATION OF REALIZED TAX BENEFIT

11

 

 

 

Section 2.1

Basis Adjustments; the LLC 754 Election

11

Section 2.2

Basis Schedules

12

Section 2.3

Tax Benefit Schedules

12

Section 2.4

Procedures; Amendments

13

 

 

 

Article III. TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS

14

 

 

 

Section 3.1

Timing and Amount of Tax Benefit Payments

14

Section 3.2

No Duplicative Payments

17

Section 3.3

Pro-Ration of Payments as Between the Members

17

Section 3.4

Optional Estimated Payment Procedure

18

Section 3.5

Changes; Reserves; Suspension of Payments

19

 

 

 

Article IV. TERMINATION

20

 

 

 

Section 4.1

Early Termination of Agreement; Breach of Agreement

20

Section 4.2

Early Termination Notice

21

Section 4.3

Payment Upon Early Termination

22

 

 

 

Article V. SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS

23

 

 

 

Section 5.1

Subordination

23

Section 5.2

Late Payments by the Corporation

23

 

 

 

Article VI. TAX MATTERS; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION

23

 

 

 

Section 6.1

Participation in the Corporation’s and the LLC’ Tax Matters

23

Section 6.2

Consistency

23

Section 6.3

Cooperation

24

 

 

 

Article VII. MISCELLANEOUS

24

 

 

 

Section 7.1

Notices

24

Section 7.2

Counterparts

26

Section 7.3

Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries

26

Section 7.4

Governing Law

26

Section 7.5

Severability

26

 

i



 

Section 7.6

Assignments; Amendments; Successors; No Waiver

26

Section 7.7

Titles and Subtitles

27

Section 7.8

Resolution of Disputes

27

Section 7.9

Reconciliation

28

Section 7.10

Withholding

29

Section 7.11

Admission of the Corporation into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets

29

Section 7.12

Confidentiality

30

Section 7.13

Change in Law

30

Section 7.14

Interest Rate Limitation

31

Section 7.15

Independent Nature of Rights and Obligations

31

Section 7.17

Management Representative

32

 

 

 

Exhibits

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit A

-

Form of Joinder Agreement

 

 

ii



 

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 

This TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time ,this “ Agreement ”), dated as of [    ], 2016, is hereby entered into by and among Camping World Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), CWGS Enterprises, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ LLC ”), each of the Members from time to time party hereto, and the Management Representative.  Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in Section 1.01.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the LLC is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

WHEREAS, each of the members of the LLC other than the Corporation (such members and each other Person who becomes party hereto by satisfying the Joinder Requirement, the “ Members ”) owns (or, in the case of such other Persons, will own) limited liability company interests in the LLC (the “ Units ”);

 

WHEREAS, on the date hereof, the Corporation will become the managing member of the LLC;

 

WHEREAS, on the date hereof and exclusive of the Over-Allotment Option (as defined below), the Corporation issued [   ] shares of its Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Class A Common Stock ”) to certain purchasers in an initial public offering of its Class A Common Stock (the “ IPO ”);

 

WHEREAS, on the date hereof, the Corporation used a portion of the net proceeds from the IPO to purchase newly-issued Units directly from the LLC (the “ Base Offering Capital Contribution ”), which proceeds will be used to repay or prepay certain indebtedness of the LLC and for general corporate purposes;

 

WHEREAS, on and after the date hereof, the Corporation may issue additional Class A Common Stock in connection with the IPO as a result of the exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option (the “ Over-Allotment Option ”) and, if the Over-Allotment Option is in fact exercised in whole or in part, any additional net proceeds will be used by the Corporation to acquire additional newly-issued Units directly from the LLC (the “ Over-Allotment Capital Contribution ” and, together with the Base Offering Capital Contribution, the “ Corporation’s Capital Contribution ”), which proceeds will be used to repay or prepay certain indebtedness of the LLC and for general corporate purposes;

 

WHEREAS, on and after the date hereof, pursuant to the LLC Agreement, each Member has the right, in its sole discretion, from time to time to require the LLC to redeem (a “ Redemption ”) all or a portion of such Member’s Units for cash or under certain circumstances, Class A Common Stock; provided that, at the election of the Corporation in its sole discretion,

 

1



 

the Corporation may effect a direct exchange (a “ Direct Exchange ”) of such cash or shares of Class A Common Stock for such Units;

 

WHEREAS, the LLC and any direct or indirect subsidiary (owned through a chain of pass-through entities) of the LLC that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes (together with the LLC and any direct or indirect subsidiary (owned through a chain of pass-through entities) of the LLC that is treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the “ the LLC Group ”) will have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Code (as defined herein) for the Taxable Year (as defined herein) in which any Exchange (as defined below) occurs, which election should result in an adjustment to the Corporation’s share of the tax basis of the assets owned by the LLC Group as of the date of the Exchange, with a consequent result on the taxable income subsequently derived therefrom; and

 

WHEREAS, the parties to this Agreement desire to provide for certain payments and make certain arrangements with respect to any tax benefits to be derived by the Corporation as the result of Exchanges and the receipt of payments under this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective covenants and agreements set forth herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1            Definitions .  As used in this Agreement, the terms set forth in this Article I shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both (i) the singular and plural and (ii) the active and passive forms of the terms defined).

 

Actual Interest Amount ” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(vii) of this Agreement.

 

Advisory Firm ” means Ernst & Young LLP or any other accounting firm that is nationally recognized as being an expert in Covered Tax matters and is not an Affiliate of the Corporation, selected by the Corporation.

 

Advisory Firm Letter ” means a letter, that has been prepared by the Advisory Firm used by the Corporation in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, which states that the relevant Schedules, notices or other information to be provided by the Corporation to the Members, along with all supporting schedules and work papers, were prepared in a manner that is consistent with the terms of this Agreement and, to the extent not expressly provided in this Agreement, on a reasonable basis in light of the facts and law in existence on the date such Schedules, notices or other information were delivered by the Corporation to the Members.

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such first Person.

 

Agreed Rate ” means LIBOR plus 100 basis points.

 

2



 

Agreement ” is defined in the preamble.

 

Amended Schedule ” is defined in Section 2.4(b) of this Agreement.

 

Assumed State and Local Tax Rate ” means the tax rate equal to the sum of the products of (x) the LLC’s income tax apportionment rate(s) for each state and local jurisdiction in which the LLC files income or franchise tax returns for the relevant Taxable Year and (y) the highest corporate income and franchise tax rate(s) for each such state and local jurisdiction in which the LLC files income tax returns for each relevant Taxable Year; provided, that the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate calculated pursuant to the foregoing shall be reduced by the assumed federal benefit received by the Corporation with respect to state and local jurisdiction income taxes (with such benefit calculated as the product of (x) the Corporation’s marginal U.S. federal income tax rate for the relevant Taxable Year and (y) the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate (without regard to this proviso)).

 

Attributable ” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(i) of this Agreement.

 

Audit Committee ” means the audit committee of the Board.

 

Basis Adjustment ” means the increase or decrease to the tax basis of, or the Corporation’s share of, the tax basis of the Reference Assets (i) under Section 734(b), 743(b) and 754 of the Code and, in each case, the comparable sections of U.S. state and local tax law (in situations where, following an Exchange, the LLC remains in existence as an entity for tax purposes) and (ii) under Sections 732 and 1012 of the Code and, in each case, the comparable sections of U.S. state and local tax law (in situations where, as a result of one or more Exchanges, the LLC becomes an entity that is disregarded as separate from its owner for tax purposes), in each case, as a result of any Exchange and any payments made under this Agreement.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the amount of any Basis Adjustment resulting from an Exchange of one or more Units shall be determined without regard to any Pre-Exchange Transfer of such Units and as if any such Pre-Exchange Transfer had not occurred.

 

Basis Schedule ” is defined in Section 2.2 of this Agreement.

 

Beneficial Owner ” means, with respect to any security, a Person who directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares: (i) voting power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, with respect to such security and/or (ii) investment power, which includes the power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, such security.

 

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 

Business Day ” means any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any day that is a legal holiday under the laws of the State of New York or is a day on which banking institutions located in New York are closed.

 

Change Notice ” is defined in Section 3.5(a) of this Agreement.

 

3



 

Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

(1) any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor provisions thereto (the “ Exchange Act ”), but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person and its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan, and excluding the Permitted Transferees) becomes the “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock and/or any other class or classes of capital stock of the Corporation (if any) representing in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote;

 

(2) the shareholders of the Corporation approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation or there is consummated an agreement or series of related agreements for the sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets (including a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the LLC);

 

(3)  there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any other corporation or entity, and, immediately after the consummation of such merger or consolidation, the voting securities of the Corporation immediately prior to such merger or consolidation do not continue to represent, or are not converted into, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Person resulting from such merger or consolidation or, if the surviving company is a Subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof; or

 

(4) the Corporation ceases to be the sole managing member of the LLC.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change of Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in and voting control over, and own substantially all of the shares of, an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

 

Class B Common Stock ” means shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation.

 

Code ” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and applicable Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Control ” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or other agreement.

 

Corporation ” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

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Corporation’s Capital Contribution ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Covered Person ” is defined in Section 7.17 of this Agreement.

 

Covered Tax Benefit ” is defined in Section 3.3(a) of this Agreement.

 

Covered Taxes ” means any and all U.S. federal, state, local and foreign taxes, assessments or similar charges that are based on or measure with respect to net income or profits  and any interest related thereto.

 

Crestview ” means CVRV Acquisition LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Crestview Partners II GP, L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership and each of their respective Permitted Transferees in the LLC Agreement.

 

Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit ” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(iii) of this Agreement.

 

Default Rate ” means the sum of (i) the highest rate applicable at the time under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities plus (ii) 200 basis points, it being understood that if there are no Senior Secured Credit Facilities then the Default Rate shall be LIBOR plus 550 basis points.

 

Default Rate Interest ” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(ix) of this Agreement.

 

Determination ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1313(a) of the Code or similar provision of U.S. state tax law, as applicable, or any other event (including the execution of IRS Form 870-AD) that finally and conclusively establishes the amount of any liability for tax.

 

Direct Exchange ” is defined in the recitals to this agreement.

 

Dispute ” is defined in Section 7.8(a) of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination Effective Date ” means the date of an Early Termination Notice for purposes of determining the Early Termination Payment.

 

Early Termination Notice ” is defined in Section 4.2 of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination Payment ” is defined in Section 4.3(b) of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination Rate ” means the lesser of (i) 6.50% per annum, compounded annually, and (ii) the Agreed Rate.

 

Early Termination Reference Date ” is defined in Section 4.2 of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination Schedule ” is defined in Section 4.2 of this Agreement.

 

Estimated Tax Benefit Payment ” is defined in Section 3.4 of this Agreement.

 

Exchange ” means any Direct Exchange or Redemption.

 

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Exchange Date ” means the date of any Exchange.

 

Expert ” is defined in Section 7.9 of this Agreement.

 

Extension Rate Interest ” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(viii) of this Agreement.

 

Final Payment Date ” means any date on which a payment is required to be made pursuant to this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Final Payment Date in respect of a Tax Benefit Payment is determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a) of this Agreement.

 

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as in effect from time to time; provided, however , that if the Corporation notifies the Members that the Corporation requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP or in the application thereof occurring after the date of this Agreement (including through the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards and applicable accounting requirements set by the International Accounting Standards Board or any successor thereto (the “ IFRS ”)), on the operation of such provision (or if the Members notify the Corporation that they request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof (including through the adoption of IFRS), then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith.

 

Hypothetical Tax Liability ” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the hypothetical liability of the Corporation that would arise in respect of Covered Taxes, using the same methods, elections, conventions and similar practices used on the actual relevant Tax Returns of the Corporation but (i) calculating depreciation, amortization, or other similar deductions, or otherwise calculating any items of income, gain, or loss, using the Corporation’s share of the Non-Adjusted Tax Basis as reflected on the Basis Schedule, including amendments thereto for the Taxable Year and (ii) excluding any deduction attributable to Imputed Interest, Actual Interest Amounts or Default Rate Interest for the Taxable Year; provided, that for purposes determining the Hypothetical Tax Liability, the combined tax rate for U.S. state and local Covered Taxes shall be the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be determined without taking into account the carryover or carryback of any tax item attributable to Imputed Interest, Actual Interest, Default Rate Interest or a Basis Adjustment (or portions thereof).

 

Imputed Interest ” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(vi) of this Agreement.

 

Independent Directors ” means the members of the Board who are “independent” under the standards set forth in Rule 10A-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and the corresponding rules of the applicable exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is traded or quoted.

 

IPO ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement

 

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

 

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Joinder ” means a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance substantially similar to Exhibit A to this Agreement.

 

Joinder Requirement ” is defined in Section 7.6(b) of this Agreement.

 

LIBOR ” means during any period, a rate per annum equal to (i) the ICE LIBOR rate for a period of one year (“ ICE LIBOR ”), as published on the applicable Bloomberg screen page (or such other commercially available source providing quotations of ICE LIBOR as may be designated by the Corporation from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such period, for dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such period) with a term equivalent to such period.

 

LLC ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

LLC Agreement ” means that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the LLC, dated as of the date hereof, as such agreement may be further amended, restated, supplemented and/or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Management Representative ” is defined in Section 7.17 of this Agreement.

 

Market Value ” means the Common Unit Redemption Price, as defined in the LLC Agreement, determined as of an Early Termination Date.

 

Members ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

ML Acquisition ” means ML Acquisition Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and CWGS Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

ML Related Parties ” means ML Acquisition and its Permitted Transferees under the LLC Agreement.

 

Net Tax Benefit ” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(ii) of this Agreement.

 

Non-Adjusted Tax Basis ” means, with respect to any Reference Asset at any time, the tax basis that such asset would have had at such time if no Basis Adjustments had been made.

 

Objection Notice ” is defined in Section 2.4(a)(i) of this Agreement.

 

Over-Allotment Option” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Parties ” means the parties named on the signature pages to this agreement and each additional party that satisfies the Joinder Requirement, in each case with their respective successors and assigns.

 

Person ” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, governmental entity or other entity.

 

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 “ Permitted Transfer ” means the transfer of Units by a holder of Units to any transferee as permitted by the LLC Agreement.

 

Permitted Transferee ” means a holder of Units pursuant to a Permitted Transfer.

 

Pre-Exchange Transfer ” means any transfer of one or more Units (including upon the death of a Member) (i) that occurs after the IPO but prior to an Exchange of such Units and (ii) to which Section 743(b) of the Code applies.

 

Realized Tax Benefit ” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(iv) of this Agreement.

 

Realized Tax Detriment ” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(v) of this Agreement.

 

Reconciliation Dispute ” is defined in Section 7.9 of this Agreement.

 

Reconciliation Procedures ” is defined in Section 2.4(a) of this Agreement.

 

Redemption ” has the meaning in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Reference Asset ” means any tangible or intangible asset of the LLC or any of its successors or assigns, and whether held directly by the LLC or indirectly by the LLC through any entity in which the LLC now holds or may subsequently hold an ownership interest (but only if such entity is treated as a partnership or disregarded entity for purposes of the applicable tax), at the time of an Exchange.  A Reference Asset also includes any asset the tax basis of which is determined, in whole or in part, by reference to the tax basis of an asset that is described in the preceding sentence, including “substituted basis property” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(42) of the Code.

 

Reserve Notice ” is defined in Section 3.5(b).

 

Schedule ” means any of the following: (i) a Basis Schedule, (ii) a Tax Benefit Schedule, or (iii) the Early Termination Schedule, and, in each case, any amendments thereto.

 

Senior Obligations ” is defined in Section 5.1 of this Agreement.

 

Senior Secured Credit Facilities ” means the indebtedness described in that certain agreement entered into on November 20, 2013 (as amended) among CWGS Group, LLC and CWGS, LLC, as borrower and parent-guarantor, respectively, and Goldman Sachs Bank USA and other lenders for a senior secured credit facility, or any replacement or refinancing thereof.

 

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person and as of the date of any determination, any other Person as to which such Person, owns, directly or indirectly, or otherwise controls, more than 50% of the voting power or other similar interests, or the sole general partner interest, or managing member or similar interest, of such Person.

 

Subsidiary Stock ” means any stock or other equity interest in any Subsidiary of the Corporation that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

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Tax Benefit Payment ” is defined in Section 3.1(b) of this Agreement.

 

Tax Benefit Schedule ” is defined in Section 2.3(a) of this Agreement.

 

Tax Return ” means any return, declaration, report or similar statement required to be filed with respect to taxes (including any attached schedules), including, without limitation, any information return, claim for refund, amended return and declaration of estimated tax.

 

Taxable Year ” means a taxable year of the Corporation as defined in Section 441(b) of the Code or comparable section of U.S. state or local tax law, as applicable (and, therefore, for the avoidance of doubt, may include a period of less than 12 months for which a Tax Return is made), ending on or after the closing date of the IPO.

 

Taxing Authority ” means any national, federal, state, county, municipal, or local government, or any subdivision, agency, commission or authority thereof, or any quasi-governmental body, or any other authority of any kind, exercising regulatory or other authority in relation to tax matters.

 

Termination Objection Notice ” is defined in Section 4.2 of this Agreement.

 

Treasury Regulations ” means the final, temporary, and (to the extent they can be relied upon) proposed regulations under the Code, as promulgated from time to time (including corresponding provisions and succeeding provisions) as in effect for the relevant taxable period.

 

True-Up ” is defined in Section 3.4 of this Agreement.

 

U.S. ” means the United States of America.

 

Units ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Valuation Assumptions ” means, as of an Early Termination Effective Date, the assumptions that:

 

(1)                                  in each Taxable Year ending on or after such Early Termination Effective Date, the Corporation will have taxable income sufficient to fully use the deductions arising from the Basis Adjustments and the Imputed Interest during such Taxable Year or future Taxable Years (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest that would result from future Tax Benefit Payments that would be paid in accordance with the Valuation Assumptions) in which such deductions would become available;

 

(2)                                  the U.S. federal income tax rates that will be in effect for each such Taxable Year will be those specified for each such Taxable Year by the Code and other law as in effect on the Early Termination Effective Date, except to the extent any change to such tax rates for such Taxable Year have already been enacted into law and the combined U.S. state and local income tax rates shall be the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate;

 

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(3)                                  all taxable income of the Corporation will be subject to the maximum applicable tax rates for each Covered Tax throughout the relevant period; provided, that the combined tax rate for U.S. state and local income taxes shall be the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate;

 

(4)                                  any loss carryovers or carrybacks generated by any Basis Adjustment or Imputed Interest (including such Basis Adjustment and Imputed Interest generated as a result of payments under this Agreement) and available as of the Early Termination Effective Date will be used by the Corporation on a pro rata basis from the date of the Early Termination Schedule through the scheduled expiration date of such loss carryovers or carrybacks;

 

(5)                                  any non-amortizable assets (other than Subsidiary Stock) will be disposed of on the earlier of (i) the fifteenth anniversary of the applicable Basis Adjustment and (ii) the Early Termination Effective Date;

 

(6)                                  any Subsidiary Stock will be deemed never to be disposed of except if Subsidiary Stock is directly disposed of in the Change of Control;

 

(7)                                  if, on the Early Termination Effective Date, any Member has Units that have not been Exchanged, then such Units shall be deemed to be Exchanged for the Market Value that would be received by such Member if such Units had been Exchanged on the Early Termination Effective Date, and such Member shall be deemed to receive the amount of cash such Member would have been entitled to pursuant to Section 4.3(a) had such Units actually been Exchanged on the Early Termination Effective Date; and

 

(8)                                  any payment obligations pursuant to this Agreement will be satisfied on the date that any Tax Return to which such payment obligation relates is required to be filed excluding any extensions.

 

Section 1.2                                     Rules of Construction .  Unless otherwise specified herein:

 

(a)                                  The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

 

(b)                                  For purposes of interpretation of this Agreement:

 

(i)                                      The words “herein,” “hereto,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof.

 

(ii)                                   References in this Agreement to a Schedule, Article, Section, clause or sub-clause refer to the appropriate Schedule to, or Article, Section, clause or subclause in, this Agreement.

 

(iii)                                References in this Agreement to dollars or “$” refer to the lawful currency of the United States of America.

 

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(iv)                               The term “including” is by way of example and not limitation.

 

(v)                                  The term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form.

 

(c)                                   In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including.”

 

(d)                                  Section headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

(e)                                   Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to organization documents (including the LLC Agreement), agreements (including this Agreement) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are permitted hereby; and (b) references to any law (including the Code and the Treasury Regulations) shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such law.

 

ARTICLE II.
DETERMINATION OF REALIZED TAX BENEFIT

 

Section 2.1                                     Basis Adjustments; the LLC 754 Election .

 

(a)                                  Basis Adjustments .  The Parties acknowledge and agree that (A) each Direct Exchange shall give rise to Basis Adjustments and (B) each Redemption using cash or Class A Common Stock contributed to the LLC by the Corporation shall be treated as a direct purchase of Units by the Corporation from the applicable Member pursuant to Section 707(a)(2)(B) of the Code that shall give rise to Basis Adjustments.  In connection with any such Direct Exchange or Redemption, the Parties acknowledge and agree that pursuant to applicable law the Corporation’s share of the basis in the Reference Assets shall be increased by the excess, if any, of (A) the sum of (x) the Market Value of Class A Common Stock or the cash transferred to a Member pursuant to an Exchange as payment for the Units, (y) the amount of payments made pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such Exchange and (z) the amount of liabilities allocated to the Units acquired pursuant to the Exchange, over (B) the Corporation’s proportionate share of the basis of the Referenced Assets immediately after the Exchange attributable to the Units exchanged, determined as if each member of the LLC Group remains in existence as an entity for tax purposes and no member of the LLC Group made the election provided by Section 754 of the Code.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, payments made under this Agreement shall not be treated as resulting in a Basis Adjustment to the extent that such payments are treated as Imputed Interest or are Actual Interest Amounts or Default Rate Interest.

 

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(b)                                  Section 754 Election .  In its capacity as the sole managing member of the LLC, the Corporation will ensure that, on and after the date hereof and continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, the LLC and each of its direct and indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes will have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Code (and under any similar provisions of applicable U.S. state or local law).

 

Section 2.2                                     Basis Schedules .  Within ninety (90) calendar days after the filing of the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for each relevant Taxable Year, the Corporation shall deliver to ML Acquisition, Crestview and the Management Representative, as applicable, a schedule (the “ Basis Schedule ”) that shows, in reasonable detail as necessary in order to understand the calculations performed under this Agreement: (a) the Basis Adjustments with respect to the Reference Assets as a result of the relevant Exchanges effected in such Taxable Year and (b) the period (or periods) over which each Basis Adjustment is amortizable and/or depreciable. The Basis Schedule will become final and binding on the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.4(a) and may be amended by the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.4(b).

 

Section 2.3                                     Tax Benefit Schedules .

 

(a)                                  Tax Benefit Schedule .  Within ninety (90) calendar days after the filing of the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for any Taxable Year in which there is a Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment, the Corporation shall provide to ML Acquisition, Crestview, and the Management Representative, as applicable, a schedule showing, in reasonable detail, the calculation of the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year (a “ Tax Benefit Schedule ”).  The Tax Benefit Schedule will become final and binding on the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.4(a), and may be amended by the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.4(b).

 

(b)                                  Applicable Principles .  Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for each Taxable Year is intended to measure the decrease or increase in the actual liability of the Corporation for Covered Taxes for such Taxable Year attributable to the Basis Adjustments, Imputed Interest, Actual Interest Amounts, and Default Rate Interest as determined using a “with and without” methodology described in Section 2.4(a).  Carryovers or carrybacks of any Tax item attributable to any Basis Adjustment, Imputed Interest, Actual Interest Amounts, and Default Rate Interest shall be considered to be subject to the rules of the Code and the Treasury Regulations or the appropriate provisions of U.S. state and local tax law, as applicable, governing the use, limitation and expiration of carryovers or carrybacks of the relevant type.  If a carryover or carryback of any Tax item includes a portion that is attributable to a Basis Adjustment, Imputed Interest, Actual Interest Amounts, and Default Rate Interest (a “ TRA Portion ”) and another portion that is not (a “ Non-TRA Portion ”), such portions shall be considered to be used in accordance with the “with and without” methodology so that: (i) the amount of any Non-TRA Portion is deemed utilized first, followed by the amount of any TRA Portion (with the TRA Portion being applied on a proportionate basis consistent with the provisions of Section 3.3(a)); and (ii) in the case of a carryback of a Non-TRA Portion, such carryback shall not affect the original “with and without” calculation made in the prior Taxable Year.  The Parties agree that (i) all Tax Benefit Payments (other than Imputed Interest, Actual Interest Amounts and Default Rate Interest) attributable to

 

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an Exchange will to the extent permitted by applicable law (A) be treated as subsequent upward purchase price adjustments that give rise to further Basis Adjustments for the Corporation and (B) have the effect of creating additional Basis Adjustments for the Corporation in the year of payment, and (ii) as a result, such additional Basis Adjustments will be incorporated into the current Taxable Year continuing until any incremental current Taxable Year benefits equal an immaterial amount.

 

Section 2.4                                     Procedures; Amendments .

 

(a)                                  Procedures .  Each time the Corporation delivers an applicable Schedule to ML Acquisition, Crestview, and the Management Representative, as applicable under this Agreement, including any Amended Schedule delivered pursuant to Section 2.4(b), but excluding any Early Termination Schedule or amended Early Termination Schedule delivered pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 4.2, the Corporation shall also: (x) deliver supporting schedules and work papers, as determined by the Corporation or as reasonably requested by ML Acquisition, Crestview, and the Management Representative, as applicable, that provide a reasonable level of detail regarding the data and calculations that were relevant for purposes of preparing the Schedule; (y) deliver an Advisory Firm Letter supporting such Schedule; and (z) allow ML Acquisition, Crestview, and the Management Representative, as applicable, and their advisors to have reasonable access to the appropriate representatives, as determined by the Corporation or as reasonably requested by ML Acquisition, Crestview, and the Management Representative, as applicable, at the Corporation and the Advisory Firm in connection with a review of such Schedule.  Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, the Corporation shall ensure that any Tax Benefit Schedule that is delivered to ML Acquisition, Crestview, and the Management Representative, as applicable, along with any supporting schedules and work papers, provides a reasonably detailed presentation of the calculation of the actual liability of the Corporation for Covered Taxes (the “with” calculation) and the Hypothetical Tax Liability of the Corporation (the “without” calculation), and identifies any material assumptions or operating procedures or principles that were used for purposes of such calculations.  An applicable Schedule or amendment thereto shall become final and binding on the Parties thirty (30) calendar days from the date on which ML Acquisition, Crestview, and the Management Representative, as applicable, first received the applicable Schedule or amendment thereto unless:

 

(i)                                      ML Acquisition, Crestview, or the Management Representative, as applicable, within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving the applicable Schedule or amendment thereto, provides the Corporation with written notice of a material objection to such Schedule that is made in good faith and that sets forth in reasonable detail ML Acquisition’s, Crestview’s or the Management Representative’s, as applicable, material objection (an “ Objection Notice ”) or

 

(ii)                                   each of ML Acquisition, Crestview, and the Management Representative, as applicable,  provides a written waiver of its right to deliver an Objection Notice within the time period described in clause (i) above, in which case such Schedule or amendment thereto becomes binding on the date the waiver from each of ML Acquisition, Crestview and the Management Representative, as applicable, is received by the Corporation.

 

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In the event that ML Acquisition, Crestview, or the Management Representative, as applicable, timely delivers an Objection Notice pursuant to clause (i) above, and if the Parties, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in the Objection Notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporation of the Objection Notice, the Corporation and ML Acquisition, Crestview, or the Management Representative, as applicable, shall employ the reconciliation procedures as described in Section 7.9 of this Agreement (the “ Reconciliation Procedures ”).

 

(b)                                  Amended Schedule .  The applicable Schedule for any Taxable Year may be amended from time to time by the Corporation: (i) in connection with a Determination affecting such Schedule; (ii) to correct inaccuracies in the Schedule identified as a result of the receipt of additional factual information relating to a Taxable Year after the date the Schedule was originally provided to ML Acquisition, Crestview, and the Management Representative, as applicable; (iii) to comply with an Expert’s determination under the Reconciliation Procedures applicable to this Agreement; (iv) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to a carryback or carryforward of a loss or other Tax item to such Taxable Year; (v) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to an amended Tax Return filed for such Taxable Year; or (vi) to adjust a Basis Schedule to take into account any Tax Benefit Payments made pursuant to this Agreement (any such Schedule, an “ Amended Schedule ”).

 

ARTICLE III.
TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS

 

Section 3.1                                     Timing and Amount of Tax Benefit Payments .

 

(a)                                  Timing of Payments .  Except as provided in Sections 3.4 and 3.5, and subject to Sections 3.2 and 3.3, within three (3) Business Days following the date on which each Tax Benefit Schedule that is required to be delivered by the Corporation to ML Acquisition, Crestview, and the Management Representative, as applicable, pursuant to Section 2.3(a) of this Agreement becomes final in accordance with Section 2.4(a) of this Agreement, the Corporation shall pay to each relevant Member the Tax Benefit Payment as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(b).  Each such Tax Benefit Payment shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the bank account previously designated by such Members or as otherwise agreed by the Corporation and such Members.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Members shall not be required under any circumstances to return any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment previously paid by the Corporation to the Members (including any portion of any Estimated Tax Benefit Payment or any Early Termination Payment).

 

(b)                                  Amount of Payments .  For purposes of this Agreement, a “ Tax Benefit Payment ” with respect to any Member means an amount, not less than zero, equal to the sum of: (i) the portion of the Net Tax Benefit that is Attributable to such Member (including Imputed Interest calculated in respect of such amount); and (ii) the Actual Interest Amount.

 

(i)                                      Attributable .  A Net Tax Benefit is “ Attributable ” to a Member to the extent that it is derived from any Basis Adjustment, Imputed Interest, or Actual Interest

 

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Amount that is attributable to an Exchange undertaken by or with respect to such Member.

 

(ii)                                   Net Tax Benefit .  The “ Net Tax Benefit ” for a Taxable Year equals the amount of the excess, if any, of (x) 85% of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit as of the end of such Taxable Year over (y) the aggregate amount of all Tax Benefit Payments previously made under this Section 3.1.  For the avoidance of doubt, if the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit as of the end of any Taxable Year is less than the aggregate amount of all Tax Benefit Payments previously made, no Member shall be required to return any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment previously made by the Corporation to such Member.

 

(iii)                                Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit .  The “ Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit ” for a Taxable Year equals the cumulative amount of Realized Tax Benefits for all Taxable Years of the Corporation, up to and including such Taxable Year, net of the cumulative amount of Realized Tax Detriments for the same period.  The Realized Tax Benefit and Realized Tax Detriment for each Taxable Year shall be determined based on the most recent Tax Benefit Schedule or Amended Schedule, if any, in existence at the time of such determination.

 

(iv)                               Realized Tax Benefit .  The “ Realized Tax Benefit ” for a Taxable Year equals the excess, if any, of the Hypothetical Tax Liability over the actual liability of the Corporation for Covered Taxes; provided, that for purposes of determining the Hypothetical Tax Liability and actual liability of the Corporation for Covered Taxes, the Corporation shall use the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate for purposes of determining such liabilities for all state and local Covered Taxes.  If all or a portion of the actual liability for such Covered Taxes for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit by a Taxing Authority of any Taxable Year, such liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Benefit unless and until there has been a Determination.

 

(v)                                  Realized Tax Detriment .  The “ Realized Tax Detriment ” for a Taxable Year equals the excess, if any, of the actual liability of the Corporation for Covered Taxes over the Hypothetical Tax Liability for such Taxable Year; provided, that for purposes of determining the Hypothetical Tax Liability and actual liability of the Corporation for Covered Taxes, the Corporation shall use the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate for purposes of determining such liabilities for all state and local Covered Taxes.  If all or a portion of the actual liability for such Covered Taxes for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit by a Taxing Authority of any Taxable Year, such liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Detriment unless and until there has been a Determination.

 

(vi)                               Imputed Interest .  The parties acknowledge that the principles of Sections 1272, 1274, or 483 of the Code, as applicable, and the principles of any similar provision of U.S. state and local law, will apply to cause a portion of any Net Tax Benefit payable by the Corporation to a Member under this Agreement to be treated as imputed interest (“ Imputed Interest ”).  For the avoidance of doubt, the deduction for the amount of Imputed Interest as determined with respect to any Net Tax Benefit payable by the

 

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Corporation to a Member shall be excluded in determining the Hypothetical Tax Liability of the Corporation for purposes of calculating Realized Tax Benefits and Realized Tax Detriments pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(vii)                            Actual Interest Amount .  The “ Actual Interest Amount ” calculated in respect of the Net Tax Benefit for a Taxable Year will equal the amount of any Extension Rate Interest.  For the avoidance of doubt, any deduction for any Actual Interest Amount as determined with respect to any Net Tax Benefit payable by the Corporation to a Member shall be excluded in determining the Hypothetical Tax Liability of the Corporation for purposes of calculating Realized Tax Benefits and Realized Tax Detriments pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(viii)                         Extension Rate Interest .  Subject to Section 3.4, the amount of “ Extension Rate Interest ” calculated in respect of the Net Tax Benefit (including previously accrued Imputed Interest) for a Taxable Year will equal interest calculated at the Agreed Rate from the due date (without extensions) for filing the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for such Taxable Year until the date on which the Corporation makes a timely Tax Benefit Payment to the Member on or before the Final Payment Date as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a).

 

(ix)                               Default Rate Interest .  In the event that the Corporation does not make timely payment of all or any portion of a Tax Benefit Payment to a Member on or before the Final Payment Date as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a), the amount of “ Default Rate Interest ” calculated in respect of the Net Tax Benefit (including previously accrued Imputed Interest and Extension Rate Interest) for a Taxable Year will equal interest calculated at the Default Rate from the Final Payment Date for a Tax Benefit Payment as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a) until the date on which the Corporation makes such Tax Benefit Payment to such Member.  For the avoidance of doubt, any deduction for any Default Rate Interest with respect to any Net Tax Benefit payable by the Corporation to a Member shall be excluded in determining the Hypothetical Tax Liability of the Corporation for purposes of calculating Realized Tax Benefits and Realized Tax Detriments pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(x)                                  The Corporation and the Members hereby acknowledge and agree that, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the date of any future Exchange that may be subject to this Agreement, the aggregate value of the Tax Benefit Payments cannot be reasonably ascertained for U.S. federal income or other applicable tax purposes.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, unless a Member notifies the Corporation otherwise, the stated maximum selling price (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 15A.453-1(c)(2)) with respect to any Exchange by such Member shall not exceed 75% of the amount of the initial consideration received in connection with such Exchange (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include the amount of any cash and the fair market value of any Class A Common Stock received in such Exchange and shall exclude the fair market value of any Tax Benefit Payments) and the aggregate Tax Benefit Payments to such Member in respect of such Exchange (other than amounts accounted for as interest under the Code) shall not exceed such stated maximum selling price.

 

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(c)                                   Interest .  The provisions of Section 3.1(b) are intended to operate so that interest will effectively accrue in respect of the Net Tax Benefit for any Taxable Year as follows:

 

(i)                                      first, at the applicable rate used to determine the amount of Imputed Interest under the Code (from the relevant Exchange Date or date on which the relevant Tax Benefit Payment was made until the due date (without extensions) for filing the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for such Taxable Year and, if required under applicable law, through the Final Payment Date for a Tax Benefit Payment as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a));

 

(ii)                                   second, at the Agreed Rate in respect of any Extension Rate Interest (from the due date (without extensions) for filing the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for such Taxable Year until the Final Payment Date for a Tax Benefit Payment as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a)); and

 

(iii)                                third, at the Default Rate in respect of any Default Rate Interest (from the Final Payment Date for a Tax Benefit Payment as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a) until the date on which the Corporation makes the relevant Tax Benefit Payment to a Member).

 

Section 3.2                                     No Duplicative Payments .  It is intended that the provisions of this Agreement will not result in the duplicative payment of any amount (including interest) that may be required under this Agreement, and the provisions of this Agreement shall be consistently interpreted and applied in accordance with that intent.  For purposes of this Agreement, and also for the avoidance of doubt, no Tax Benefit Payment shall be required to be calculated or made in respect of any estimated tax payments, including, without limitation, any estimated U.S. federal income tax payments.

 

Section 3.3                                     Pro-Ration of Payments as Between the Members .

 

(a)                                  Insufficient Taxable Income .  Notwithstanding anything in Section 3.1(b) to the contrary, if the aggregate potential depreciation, amortization or other similar deductions in respect of the Basis Adjustments, Imputed Interest, Actual Interest Amounts, and Default Rate Interest for purposes of determining the Corporation’s liability for Covered Taxes (the “Covered Tax Benefit”) is limited in a particular Taxable Year because the Corporation does not have sufficient actual taxable income, then the available Covered Tax Benefit for the Corporation shall be allocated among the Members in proportion to the respective Tax Benefit Payment that would have been payable if the Corporation had in fact had sufficient taxable income so that there had been no such limitation.  As an illustration of the intended operation of this Section 3.3(a), if the Corporation had $200 of aggregate potential Covered Tax Benefits in a particular Taxable Year (with $50 of such Covered Tax Benefits being attributable to Member 1 and $150 of such Covered Tax Benefits being attributable to Member 2), such that Member 1 would have potentially been entitled to a Tax Benefit Payment of $42.50 and Member 2 would have been entitled to a Tax Benefit Payment of $127.50 if the Corporation had $200 of actual taxable income, and if at the same time the Corporation only had $100 of actual taxable income in such Taxable Year, then $25 of the aggregate $100 actual Covered Tax Benefit for the Corporation for such Taxable Year would be allocated to Member 1 and $75 of the aggregate $100 actual

 

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Covered Tax benefit for the Corporation would be allocated to Member 2, such that Member 1 would receive a Tax Benefit Payment of $21.25 and Member 2 would receive a Tax Benefit Payment of $63.75.

 

(b)                                  Late Payments .  If for any reason the Corporation is not able to timely and fully satisfy its payment obligations under this Agreement in respect of a particular Taxable Year, then Default Rate Interest will begin to accrue pursuant to Section 5.2 and the Corporation and other Parties agree that (i) the Corporation shall pay the Tax Benefit Payments due in respect of such Taxable Year to each Member pro rata in proportion to the amount of such Tax Benefit Payments, without favoring one obligation over the other, and (ii) no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of any Taxable Year until all Tax Benefit Payments to all Members in respect of all prior Taxable Years have been made in full.

 

Section 3.4                                     Optional Estimated Payment Procedure . As long as the Corporation is current in respect of its payment obligations owed to each Member pursuant to this Agreement and there are no delinquent Tax Benefit Payments (including interest thereon) outstanding in respect of prior Taxable Years for any Member, the Corporation may, at any time on or after the due date (without extensions) for filing the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for a Taxable Year and at the Corporation’s option, in its sole discretion, make one or more estimated payments to the Members in respect of any anticipated amounts to be owed with respect to a Taxable Year to the Members pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Agreement (any such estimated payments referred to as an “ Estimated Tax Benefit Payment ”); provided that any Estimated Tax Benefit Payment made to a Member pursuant to this Section 3.4 is matched by a proportionately equal Estimated Tax Benefit Payment to all other Members then entitled to a Tax Benefit Payment.  Any Estimated Tax Benefit Payment made under this Section 3.4 shall be paid by the Corporation to the Members and applied against the final amount of any expected Tax Benefit Payment to be made pursuant to Section 3.1.  The payment of an Estimated Tax Benefit Payment by the Corporation to the Members pursuant to this Section 3.4 shall also terminate the obligation of the Corporation to make payment of any Extension Rate Interest that might have otherwise accrued with respect to the proportionate amount of the Tax Benefit Payment that is being paid in advance of the applicable Tax Benefit Schedule being finalized pursuant to Section 2.4.  Upon the making of any Estimated Tax Benefit Payment pursuant to this Section 3.4, the amount of such Estimated Tax Benefit Payment shall first be applied to any estimated Extension Rate Interest, then to Imputed Interest, and then applied to the remaining residual amount of the Tax Benefit Payment to be made pursuant to Section 3.1.  In determining the final amount of any Tax Benefit Payment to be made pursuant to Section 3.1, and for purposes of finalizing the Tax Benefit Schedule pursuant to Section 2.4, the amount of any Estimated Tax Benefit Payments that may have been made with respect to the Taxable Year shall be increased, if the finally determined Tax Benefit Payment for a Taxable Year exceeds the Estimated Tax Benefit Payments made for such Taxable Year, with such increase being paid by the Corporation to the Members along with an appropriate amount of Extension Rate Interest in respect of the amount of such increase (a “ True-Up ”).  If the Estimated Tax Benefit Payment for a Taxable Year exceeds the finally determined Tax Benefit Payment for such Taxable Year, such excess, along with an appropriate amount of Extension Rate Interest in respect of such excess (being charged by the Corporation to the Member), shall be applied to reduce the amount of any subsequent future Tax Benefit Payments (including Estimated Tax Benefit Payments, if any) to be paid by the Corporation to such Member.  As of the date on which any Estimated Tax Benefit Payments

 

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are made, and as of the date on which any True-Up is made, all such payments shall be made in the same manner and subject to the same terms and conditions as otherwise contemplated by Section 3.1 and all other applicable terms of this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, as is the case with Tax Benefit Payments made by the Corporation to the Members pursuant to Section 3.1, the amount of any Estimated Tax Benefit Payments made pursuant to this Section 3.4 that are attributable to an Exchange shall also be treated, in part, as subsequent upward purchase price adjustments that give rise to Basis Adjustments in the Taxable Year of payment to the extent permitted by applicable law and as of the date on which such payments are made (to the extent of the estimated Net Tax Benefit associated with such Estimated Tax Benefit Payment, less any Imputed Interest, and exclusive of any Extension Rate Interest).

 

Section 3.5                                     Changes; Reserves; Suspension of Payments .

 

(a)                                  Receipt of Change Notice .  If any Party, or any Affiliate or Subsidiary of any Party, receives a 30-day letter, a final audit report, a statutory notice of deficiency, or similar written notice from any Taxing Authority relating to the amount of the Net Tax Benefit calculated for purposes of this Agreement, or relating to any other material tax matter that is relevant to the terms of this Agreement and the calculation of the Tax Benefit Payments that may be payable by the Corporation to the Members (a “ Change Notice ”), prompt written notification and a copy of the relevant Change Notice shall be delivered by the Party, or its Affiliate or Subsidiary, that received such Change Notice to each other Party.

 

(b)                                  Suspension of Payments .  From and after the date on which a Change Notice is received, any Tax Benefit Payments required to be made under this Agreement shall, to the extent determined reasonably necessary by the Audit Committee after considering the potential tax implications of the Change Notice, be paid by the Corporation to a national bank mutually agreeable to the Parties to act as escrow agent to hold such funds in escrow pursuant to an escrow agreement until a Determination is received.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Corporation shall not pay to the escrow agent an amount in excess of (i) 85% of the amount of the asserted deficiency in tax owed pursuant to the Change Notice plus (ii) the portion of any future Tax Benefit Payments that are required to be paid under this Agreement in respect of any taxable year of the Corporation following the taxable year(s) to which the Change Notice relates and that could reasonably be expected to be reduced if such Change Notice resulted in an adverse Determination.  The Corporation shall not settle or otherwise compromise any matter which is the subject of a Change Notice without the prior written consent of Crestview and ML Acquisition. For the avoidance of doubt, the date on which the Corporation pays any such Tax Benefit Payments to the escrow agent shall be considered the date on which such Tax Benefit Payments are paid to the Members, including for purposes of determining the Actual Interest Amount and Default Rate Interest.

 

(c)                                   Release of Escrowed Funds .  If a Determination is received, and if such Determination results in no adjustment in any Tax Benefit Payments under this Agreement, then the relevant escrowed funds (along with any interest earned on such funds, and less (1) the out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Corporation or the LLC in administering the escrow, and (2) any taxes imposed on the Corporation or the LLC with respect to any income earned on the investment of such funds) shall be distributed to the relevant Members.  If a Determination is received, and if such Determination results in an adjustment in any Tax Benefit Payments under

 

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this Agreement, then the relevant escrowed funds (along with any interest earned on such funds) shall be distributed as follows: (i) first, to the Corporation or the LLC in an amount equal to (1) the out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Corporation or the LLC in administering the escrow and in contesting the Determination and (2) any taxes imposed on the Corporation or the LLC with respect to any income earned on the investment of such funds; and (ii) second, to the relevant Parties (which, for the avoidance of doubt and depending on the nature of the adjustments, may include the Corporation, the LLC, or the relevant Members, or some combination thereof) in accordance with the relevant Amended Schedule prepared pursuant to Section 2.4 of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE IV.
TERMINATION

 

Section 4.1                                     Early Termination of Agreement; Breach of Agreement .

 

(a)                                  Corporation’s Early Termination Right .  With the written approval of a majority of the Independent Directors, ML Acquisition and Crestview, the Corporation may completely terminate this Agreement, as and to the extent provided herein, with respect to all amounts payable to the Members pursuant to this Agreement by paying to the Members the Early Termination Payment; provided that Early Termination Payments may be made pursuant to this Section 4.1(a) only if made to all Members that are entitled to such a payment simultaneously, and provided further , that the Corporation may withdraw any notice to execute its termination rights under this Section 4.1(a) prior to the time at which any Early Termination Payment has been paid.  Upon the Corporation’s payment of the Early Termination Payment, the Corporation shall not have any further payment obligations under this Agreement, other than with respect to any: (i) prior Tax Benefit Payments that are due and payable under this Agreement but that still remain unpaid as of the date of the Early Termination Notice; and (ii) current Tax Benefit Payment due for the Taxable Year ending on or including the date of the Early Termination Notice (except to the extent that the amount described in clause (ii) is included in the calculation of the Early Termination Payment).  If an Exchange subsequently occurs with respect to Units for which the Corporation has exercised its termination rights under this Section 4.1(a), the Corporation shall have no obligations under this Agreement with respect to such Exchange.

 

(b)                                  Acceleration Upon Change of Control .  In the event of a Change of Control, all obligations hereunder shall be accelerated and such obligations shall be calculated pursuant to this Article IV as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the closing date of the Change of Control and utilizing the Valuation Assumptions by substituting the phrase “the closing date of a Change of Control” in each place where the phrase “Early Termination Effective Date” appears.  Such obligations shall include, but not be limited to, (1) the Early Termination Payment calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the closing date of the Change of Control, (2) any Tax Benefit Payments agreed to by the Corporation and the Members as due and payable but unpaid as of the Early Termination Notice and (3) any Tax Benefit Payments due for any Taxable Year ending prior to, with or including the closing date of a Change of Control (except to the extent that any amounts described in clauses (2) or (3) are included in the Early Termination Payment).  For the avoidance of doubt, Sections 4.2 and 4.3 shall apply to a Change of Control, mutadis mutandi.

 

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(c)                                   Acceleration Upon Breach of Agreement .  In the event that the Corporation materially breaches any of its material obligations under this Agreement, whether as a result of failure to make any payment when due, failure to honor any other material obligation required hereunder, or by operation of law as a result of the rejection of this Agreement in a case commenced under the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, then all obligations hereunder shall be accelerated and become immediately due and payable upon notice of acceleration from a Member (provided that in the case of any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or other insolvency statute, such acceleration shall be automatic without any such notice), and such obligations shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of such notice of acceleration (or, in the case of any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or other insolvency statute, on the date of such breach) and shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the Early Termination Payment calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of such acceleration; (ii) any prior Tax Benefit Payments that are due and payable under this Agreement but that still remain unpaid as of the date of such acceleration; and (iii) any current Tax Benefit Payment due for the Taxable Year ending with or including the date of such acceleration.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Corporation breaches this Agreement and such breach is not a material breach of a material obligation, a Member shall still be entitled to enforce all of its rights otherwise available under this Agreement, excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, seeking an acceleration of amounts payable under this Agreement.  For purposes of this Section 4.1(c), and subject to the following sentence, the Parties agree that the failure to make any payment due pursuant to this Agreement within six (6) months of the relevant Final Payment Date shall be deemed to be a material breach of a material obligation under this Agreement for all purposes of this Agreement, and that it will not be considered to be a material breach of a material obligation under this Agreement to make a payment due pursuant to this Agreement within six (6) months of the relevant Final Payment Date.  For the avoidance of doubt, a suspension of payments pursuant to Section 3.5 will not be considered to be a failure to make a payment due pursuant to this Agreement.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, it shall not be a material breach of a material obligation of this Agreement if the Corporation fails to make any Tax Benefit Payment within six (6) months of the relevant Final Payment Date to the extent that the Corporation has insufficient funds, and cannot obtain sufficient funds to make such payments by taking commercially reasonable actions; provided that the interest provisions of Section 5.2 shall apply to such late payment (unless the Corporation does not have sufficient funds to make such payment as a result of limitations imposed by any Senior Obligations, in which case Section 5.2 shall apply, but the Default Rate shall be replaced by the Agreed Rate).

 

Section 4.2                                     Early Termination Notice .  If the Corporation chooses to exercise its right of early termination under Section 4.1 above, the Corporation shall deliver to ML Acquisition, Crestview, and the Management Representative a notice of the Corporation’s decision to exercise such right (an “ Early Termination Notice ”) and a schedule (the “ Early Termination Schedule ”) showing in reasonable detail the calculation of the Early Termination Payment.  The Corporation shall also (x) deliver supporting schedules and work papers, as determined by the Corporation or as reasonably requested by ML Acquisition, Crestview, or the Management Representative, that provide a reasonable level of detail regarding the data and calculations that were relevant for purposes of preparing the Early Termination Schedule; (y) deliver an Advisory Firm Letter supporting such Early Termination Schedule; and (z) allow ML Acquisition, Crestview, and the Management Representative and their advisors to have reasonable access to

 

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the appropriate representatives, as determined by the Corporation or as reasonably requested by ML Acquisition, Crestview, or the Management Representative, at the Corporation and the Advisory Firm in connection with a review of such Early Termination Schedule.  The Early Termination Schedule shall become final and binding on each Party thirty (30) calendar days from the first date on which ML Acquisition, Crestview, and the Management Representative received such Early Termination Schedule unless:

 

(i)                                      ML Acquisition, Crestview, or the Management Representative within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving the Early Termination Schedule, provides the Corporation with (A) notice of a material objection to such Early Termination Schedule made in good faith and setting forth in reasonable detail ML Acquisition’s, Crestview’s, or the Management Representative’s, as applicable, material objection (a “ Termination Objection Notice ”) and (B) a letter from an Advisory Firm (that is different from the Advisory Firm that was used by the Corporation to prepare the Early Termination Schedule) in support of such Termination Objection Notice; or

 

(ii)                                   each of ML Acquisition, Crestview, and the Management Representative provides a written waiver of such right of a Termination Objection Notice within the period described in clause (i) above, in which case such Early Termination Schedule becomes binding on the date the waiver from ML Acquisition, Crestview, and the Management Representative is received by the Corporation.

 

In the event that ML Acquisition, Crestview, or the Management Representative timely delivers a Termination Objection Notice pursuant to clause (i) above, and if the Parties, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in the Termination Objection Notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporation of the Termination Objection Notice, the Corporation and ML Acquisition, Crestview, or the Management Representative, as applicable, shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures.  For the avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the expense of preparing and obtaining the letter from an Advisory Firm referenced in clause (i) above shall be borne solely by ML Acquisition, Crestview, or the Management Representative, as applicable, and the Corporation shall have no liability with respect to such letter or any of the expenses associated with its preparation and delivery.  The date on which the Early Termination Schedule becomes final in accordance with this Section 4.2 shall be the “ Early Termination Reference Date .”

 

Section 4.3                                     Payment Upon Early Termination .

 

(a)                                  Timing of Payment .  Within three (3) Business Days after the Early Termination Reference Date, the Corporation shall pay to each Member an amount equal to the Early Termination Payment for such Member.  Such Early Termination Payment shall be made by the Corporation by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account or accounts designated by the Members or as otherwise agreed by the Corporation and the Members.

 

(b)                                  Amount of Payment .  The “ Early Termination Payment ” payable to a Member pursuant to Section 4.3(a) shall equal the present value, discounted at the Early Termination Rate as determined as of the Early Termination Reference Date, of all Tax Benefit Payments that would be required to be paid by the Corporation to such Member, whether payable with respect

 

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to Units that were Exchanged prior to the Early Termination Effective Date or on or after the Early Termination Effective Date, beginning from the Early Termination Effective Date and using the Valuation Assumptions.

 

ARTICLE V.
SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS

 

Section 5.1                                     Subordination .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment required to be made by the Corporation to the Members under this Agreement shall rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to any principal, interest, or other amounts due and payable in respect of any obligations owed in respect of secured indebtedness for borrowed money of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries (“ Senior Obligations ”) and shall rank pari passu in right of payment with all current or future unsecured obligations of the Corporation that are not Senior Obligations.  To the extent that any payment under this Agreement is not permitted to be made at the time payment is due as a result of this Section 5.1 and the terms of the agreements governing Senior Obligations, such payment obligation nevertheless shall accrue for the benefit of the Members and the Corporation shall make such payments at the first opportunity that such payments are permitted to be made in accordance with the terms of the Senior Obligations.

 

Section 5.2                                     Late Payments by the Corporation .  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the amount of all or any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment not made to the Members when due under the terms of this Agreement, whether as a result of Section 5.1 and the terms of the Senior Obligations or otherwise, shall be payable together with any interest thereon, computed at the Default Rate and commencing from the Final Payment Date on which such Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment was first due and payable to the date of actual payment.

 

ARTICLE VI.
TAX MATTERS; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION

 

Section 6.1                                     Participation in the Corporation’s and the LLC’s Tax Matters .  Except as otherwise provided herein, and except as provided in Article IX of the LLC Agreement, the Corporation shall have full responsibility for, and sole discretion over, all tax matters concerning the Corporation and the LLC, including without limitation the preparation, filing or amending of any Tax Return and defending, contesting or settling any issue pertaining to taxes.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall notify ML Acquisition, Crestview, and the Management Representative of, and keep them reasonably informed with respect to, the portion of any tax audit of the Corporation or the LLC, or any of the LLC’s Subsidiaries, the outcome of which is reasonably expected to materially affect the Tax Benefit Payments payable to such Members under this Agreement, and ML Acquisition, Crestview, and the Management Representative, as applicable, shall, without limiting any rights granted to ML Acquisition or Crestview pursuant to Section 3.5, have the right to participate in and to monitor at their own expense (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not to control) any such portion of any such Tax audit.

 

Section 6.2                                     Consistency .  Except as otherwise required by law, all calculations and determinations made hereunder, including, without limitation, any Basis Adjustments, the

 

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Schedules and the determination of any Realized Tax Benefits or Realized Tax Detriments, shall be made in accordance with the elections, methodologies or positions taken by the Corporation and the LLC on their respective Tax Returns.  Each Member shall prepare its Tax Returns in a manner that is consistent with the terms of this Agreement, and any related calculations or determinations that are made hereunder, including, without limitation, the terms of Section 2.1 of this Agreement and the Schedules provided to the Members under this Agreement.  In the event that an Advisory Firm is replaced with another Advisory Firm, such replacement Advisory Firm shall perform its services under this Agreement using procedures and methodologies consistent with the previous Advisory Firm, unless otherwise required by law or unless the Corporation and all of the Members agree to the use of other procedures and methodologies.

 

Section 6.3                                     Cooperation .

 

(a)                                  Each Member shall (i) furnish to the Corporation in a timely manner such information, documents and other materials as the Corporation may reasonably request for purposes of making any determination or computation necessary or appropriate under this Agreement, preparing any Tax Return or contesting or defending any audit, examination or controversy with any Taxing Authority, (ii) make itself available to the Corporation and its representatives to provide explanations of documents and materials and such other information as the Corporation or its representatives may reasonably request in connection with any of the matters described in clause (i) above, and (iii) reasonably cooperate in connection with any such matter.

 

(b)                                  The Corporation shall reimburse the Members for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred pursuant to Section 6.3(a).

 

ARTICLE VII.
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 7.1                                     Notices .  All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by courier service, by fax, by electronic mail (delivery receipt requested) or by certified or registered mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be as specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 7.1).  All notices hereunder shall be delivered as set forth below, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the Party to receive such notice:

 

If to the Corporation, to:

 

Camping World Holdings, Inc.
c/o CWGS Enterprises, LLC
250 Parkway Drive, Suite 270
Lincolnshire, IL 60048

 

Attn:  Thomas F. Wolfe, Chief Financial Officer
E-mail:

 

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

 

Latham & Watkins LLP
885 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022

 

Attn: Marc Jaffe
Facsimile:

E-mail:

 

If to ML Acquisition:

 

250 Parkway Drive, Suite 270
Lincolnshire, IL 60048

 

Attn: Marcus Lemonis

 

E-mail:

 

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

 

Attn: 
Facsimile:  
E-mail:

 

If to Crestview:

 

667 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10065

 

Attn: Brian Cassidy
E-mail:

 

Attn:  Ross A. Oliver

E-mail:

 

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

 

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017

 

Attn: Mary Conway
Facsimile: 
E-mail:

 

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If to any Member (other than ML Acquisition or Crestview):

 

Thomas A. Wolfe

2750 Park View Court, Suite 240

Oxnard, CA  93036

 

E-mail:

 

Any Party may change its address, fax number or e-mail address by giving each of the other Parties written notice thereof in the manner set forth above.

 

Section 7.2                                     Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Parties, it being understood that all Parties need not sign the same counterpart.  Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.3                                     Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries .  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each Party hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.4                                     Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of laws principles thereof that would mandate the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.

 

Section 7.5                                     Severability .  If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any law or public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party.  Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

Section 7.6                                     Assignments; Amendments; Successors; No Waiver .

 

(a)                                  Assignment .  No Member may assign, sell, pledge, or otherwise alienate or transfer any interest in this Agreement, including the right to receive any Tax Benefit Payments under this Agreement, to any Person without such Person executing and delivering a Joinder

 

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agreeing to succeed to the applicable portion of such Member’s interest in this Agreement and to become a Party for all purposes of this Agreement (the “ Joinder Requirement ”); provided, that ML Acquisition’s and Crestview’s approval and consent rights described in each of Sections 3.5(b) and 4.1(a) shall not be transferrable or assignable to any Person (other than Permitted Transferees), without the prior written consent of the Corporation (and any purported transfer or assignment without such consent shall be null and void).  For the avoidance of doubt, if a Member transfers Units in accordance with the terms of the LLC Agreement but does not assign to the transferee of such Units its rights under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Units, such Member shall continue to be entitled to receive the Tax Benefit Payments arising in respect of a subsequent Exchange of such Units.  The Corporation may not assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement to any Person (other than any direct or indirect successor (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Corporation) without the prior written consent of each of the Members (and any purported assignment without such consent shall be null and void).

 

(b)                                  Amendments .  No provision of this Agreement may be amended unless such amendment is approved in writing by each of ML Acquisition, Crestview, and the Management Representative; provided that amendment of the definition of Change of Control will also require the written approval of a majority of the Independent Directors.  No provision of this Agreement may be waived unless such waiver is in writing and signed by the Party against whom the waiver is to be effective.

 

(c)                                   Successors .  Except as provided in Section 7.6(a), all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by, the Parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives.  The Corporation shall require and cause any direct or indirect successor (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Corporation, by written agreement, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

(d)                                  Waiver .  No failure by any Party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement, or condition of this Agreement, or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof, shall constitute a waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty, agreement, or condition.

 

Section 7.7                                     Titles and Subtitles .  The titles of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement.

 

Section 7.8                                     Resolution of Disputes .

 

(a)                                  Except for Reconciliation Disputes subject to Section 7.9, any and all disputes which cannot be settled amicably, including any ancillary claims of any Party, arising out of, relating to or in connection with the validity, negotiation, execution, interpretation, performance or non-performance of this Agreement (including the validity, scope and enforceability of this arbitration provision) (each a “ Dispute ”) shall be finally resolved by arbitration in accordance

 

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with the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution Rules for Administered Arbitration (the “ Rules ”) by three arbitrators, of which the Corporation shall appoint one arbitrator and the Members party to such Dispute shall appoint one arbitrator in accordance with the “screened” appointment procedure provided in Rule 5.4.  The arbitration shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C.  §§ 1 et seq., and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof.  The place of the arbitration shall be Chicago, Illinois.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a), any Party may bring an action or special proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of compelling another Party to arbitrate, seeking temporary or preliminary relief in aid of an arbitration hereunder, and/or enforcing an arbitration award and, for the purposes of this paragraph (b), each Party (i) expressly consents to the application of paragraph (c) of this Section 7.8 to any such action or proceeding, and (ii) agrees that proof shall not be required that monetary damages for breach of the provisions of this Agreement would be difficult to calculate and that remedies at law would be inadequate.  For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 7.8 shall not apply to Reconciliation Disputes to be settled in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 7.9.

 

(c)                                   Each Party irrevocably consents to service of process by means of notice in the manner provided for in Section 7.1.  Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the right of any Party to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

(d)                                  WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).

 

(e)                                   Any dispute as to whether a dispute is a Reconciliation Dispute within the meaning of Section 7.9, or a Dispute within the meaning of this Section 7.8, shall be decided and resolved as a Dispute subject to the procedures set forth in this Section 7.8.

 

Section 7.9                                     Reconciliation .  In the event that the Corporation and any Member are unable to resolve a disagreement with respect to a Schedule (other than an Early Termination Schedule) prepared in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.4, or with respect to an Early Termination Schedule prepared in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 4.2, within the relevant time period designated in this Agreement (a “ Reconciliation Dispute ”), the Reconciliation Dispute shall be submitted for determination to a nationally recognized expert (the “ Expert ”) in the particular area of disagreement mutually acceptable to both Parties.  The Expert shall be a partner or principal in a nationally recognized accounting firm, and unless the Corporation and such Member agree otherwise, the Expert shall not, and the firm that employs the Expert shall not, have any material relationship with the Corporation or such Member or other actual or potential conflict of interest.  If the Parties are unable to agree on an Expert within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt by the respondent(s) of written notice of a Reconciliation Dispute, the selection of an Expert shall be treated as a Dispute subject to Section 7.8 and an arbitration panel shall pick an Expert from a nationally recognized accounting firm that does not

 

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have any material relationship with the Corporation or such Member or other actual or potential conflict of interest.  The Expert shall resolve any matter relating to the Basis Schedule or an amendment thereto or the Early Termination Schedule or an amendment thereto within thirty (30) calendar days and shall resolve any matter relating to a Tax Benefit Schedule or an amendment thereto within fifteen (15) calendar days or as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable, in each case after the matter has been submitted to the Expert for resolution.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the matter is not resolved before any payment that is the subject of a disagreement would be due (in the absence of such disagreement) or any Tax Return reflecting the subject of a disagreement is due, the undisputed amount shall be paid on the date prescribed by this Agreement and such Tax Return may be filed as prepared by the Corporation, subject to adjustment or amendment upon resolution.  The costs and expenses relating to the engagement of such Expert or amending any Tax Return shall be borne by the Corporation except as provided in the next sentence.  The Corporation and the Members shall bear their own costs and expenses of such proceeding, unless (i) the Expert adopts the Member’s position, in which case the Corporation shall reimburse the Member for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding, or (ii) the Expert adopts the Corporation’s position, in which case the Member shall reimburse the Corporation for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding.  The Expert shall finally determine any Reconciliation Dispute and the determinations of the Expert pursuant to this Section 7.9 shall be binding on the Corporation and the Members and may be entered and enforced in any court having competent jurisdiction.

 

Section 7.10                              Withholding .  The Corporation shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any payment that is payable to any Member pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as the Corporation is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code or any provision of U.S. state, local or foreign tax law.  To the extent that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authority by the Corporation, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid by the Corporation to the relevant Member.  Each Member shall promptly provide the Corporation with any applicable tax forms and certifications reasonably requested by the Corporation in connection with determining whether any such deductions and withholdings are required under the Code or any provision of U.S. state, local or foreign tax law.

 

Section 7.11                              Admission of the Corporation into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets .

 

(a)                                  If the Corporation is or becomes a member of an affiliated or consolidated group of corporations that files a consolidated income Tax Return pursuant to Section 1501 or other applicable Sections of the Code governing affiliated or consolidated groups, or any corresponding provisions of U.S. state or local law, then: (i) the provisions of this Agreement shall be applied with respect to the group as a whole; and (ii) Tax Benefit Payments, Early Termination Payments, and other applicable items hereunder shall be computed with reference to the consolidated taxable income of the group as a whole.

 

(b)                                  If the Corporation, its successor in interest or any member of a group described in Section 7.11(a) transfers one or more assets to a corporation (or a Person classified as a corporation for U.S. income tax purposes) with which such entity does not file a consolidated

 

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Tax Return pursuant to Section 1501 of the Code, such entity, for purposes of calculating the amount of any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment due hereunder, shall be treated as having disposed of such asset in a fully taxable transaction on the date of such contribution.  The consideration deemed to be received by such entity shall be equal to the fair market value of the contributed asset as determined by the Advisory Firm or a valuation expert selected by the Corporation.  For purposes of this Section 7.11, a transfer of a partnership interest shall be treated as a transfer of the transferring partner’s share of each of the assets and liabilities of that partnership.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, if the Corporation, its successor in interest or any member of a group described in Section 7.11(a), transfers its assets pursuant to a transaction that qualifies as a “reorganization” (within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code) in which such entity does not survive or pursuant to any other transaction to which Section 381(a) of the Code applies (other than any such reorganization or any such other transaction, in each case, pursuant to which such entity transfers assets to a corporation with which the Corporation, its successor in interest or any member of the group described in Section 7.11(a) (other than any such member being transferred in such reorganization or other transaction)  does not file a consolidated Tax Return pursuant to Section 1501 of the Code), the transfer will not cause such entity to be treated as having transferred any assets to a corporation (or a Person classified as a corporation for U.S. income tax purposes) pursuant to this Section 7.11(b).

 

Section 7.12                              Confidentiality .  Each Member and its assignees acknowledges and agrees that the information of the Corporation is confidential and, except in the course of performing any duties as necessary for the Corporation and its Affiliates, as required by law or legal process or to enforce the terms of this Agreement, such Person shall keep and retain in the strictest confidence and not disclose to any Person any confidential matters, acquired pursuant to this Agreement, of the Corporation and its Affiliates and successors, learned by any Member heretofore or hereafter.  This Section 7.12 shall not apply to (i) any information that has been made publicly available by the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, becomes public knowledge (except as a result of an act of any Member in violation of this Agreement) or is generally known to the business community, (ii) the disclosure of information to the extent necessary for a Member to prosecute or defend claims arising under or relating to this Agreement, and (iii) the disclosure of information to the extent necessary for a Member to prepare and file its Tax Returns, to respond to any inquiries regarding the same from any Taxing Authority or to prosecute or defend any action, proceeding or audit by any Taxing Authority with respect to such Tax Returns.  If a Member or an assignee commits a breach, or threatens to commit a breach, of any of the provisions of this Section 7.12, the Corporation shall have the right and remedy to have the provisions of this Section 7.12 specifically enforced by injunctive relief or otherwise by any court of competent jurisdiction without the need to post any bond or other security, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach shall cause irreparable injury to the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries and that money damages alone shall not provide an adequate remedy to such Persons.  Such rights and remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available at law or in equity.

 

Section 7.13                              Change in Law .  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if, as a result of or, in connection with an actual or proposed change in law, a Member reasonably believes that the existence of this Agreement could cause income (other than income arising from receipt of a payment under this Agreement) recognized by such Member (or direct or

 

30



 

indirect equity holders in such Member) in connection with any Exchange to be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain (or otherwise taxed at ordinary income rates) for U.S. federal income tax purposes or would have other material adverse tax consequences to such Member or any direct or indirect owner of such Member, then at the written election of such Member in its sole discretion (in an instrument signed by such Member and delivered to the Corporation) and to the extent specified therein by such Member, this Agreement shall cease to have further effect and shall not apply to an Exchange occurring after a date specified by such Member, or may be amended by in a manner reasonably determined by such Member, provided that such amendment shall not result in an increase in any payments owed by the Corporation under this Agreement at any time as compared to the amounts and times of payments that would have been due in the absence of such amendment.

 

Section 7.14                              Interest Rate Limitation .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the interest paid or agreed to be paid hereunder with respect to amounts due to any Member hereunder shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “ Maximum Rate ”).  If any Member shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the Tax Benefit Payment, Estimated Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment, as applicable (but in each case exclusive of any component thereof comprising interest) or, if it exceeds such unpaid non-interest amount, refunded to the Corporation.  In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by any Member exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Member may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the payment obligations owed by the Corporation to such Member hereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is the intention of the Lenders and the Borrower to conform strictly to any applicable usury laws.

 

Section 7.15                              Independent Nature of Rights and Obligations .  The rights and obligations of the each Member hereunder are several and not joint with the rights and obligations of any other Person.  A Member shall not be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Person hereunder, nor shall a Member have the right to enforce the rights or obligations of any other Person hereunder (other than the Corporation).  The obligations of a Member hereunder are solely for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable solely by, the Corporation.  Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Member pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Members acting as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Members are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such rights or obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Corporation acknowledges that the Members are not acting in concert or as a group and will not assert any such claim with respect to such rights or obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 7.16                              LLC Agreement .  This Agreement shall be treated as part of the LLC Agreement as described in Section 761(c) of the Code and Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(h) and 1.761-1(c) of the Treasury Regulations.

 

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Section 7.17                              Management Representative .   By executing this Agreement, each of the Members (other than ML Acquisition and Crestview) shall be deemed to have irrevocably constituted and appointed Thomas F. Wolfe (in the capacity described in this Section 7.17 and each successor as provided below, the “ Management Representative ”) as his, her or its agent and attorney in fact with full power of substitution to act from and after the date hereof and to do any and all things and execute any and all documents on behalf of such Members which may be necessary, convenient or appropriate to facilitate any matters under this Agreement, including but not limited to: (i) execution of the documents and certificates required pursuant to this Agreement; (ii) receipt and forwarding of notices and communications pursuant to this Agreement; (iv) administration of the provisions of this Agreement; (v) giving or agreeing to, on behalf of such Members, any and all consents, waivers, amendments or modifications deemed by the Management Representative, in its sole and absolute discretion, to be necessary or appropriate under this Agreement and the execution or delivery of any documents that may be necessary or appropriate in connection therewith; (vi) amending this Agreement or any of the instruments to be delivered to the Corporation pursuant to this Agreement; (vii) taking actions Management Representative is expressly authorized to take pursuant to the other provisions of this Agreement; (viii) negotiating and compromising, on behalf of such Members, any dispute that may arise under, and exercising or refraining from exercising any remedies available under, this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby and executing, on behalf of such Members, any settlement agreement, release or other document with respect to such dispute or remedy; and (ix) engaging attorneys, accountants, agents or consultants on behalf of such Members in connection with this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby and paying any fees related thereto.  If the Management Representative is unable or unwilling to so serve, then the Members (other than ML Acquisition and Crestview), as applicable, holding a majority of the common units owned by such Members outstanding on the date hereof, shall elect a new Management Representative.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, none of the Management Representative, any of its Affiliates, or any of the Management Representative’s or Affiliate’s directors, officers, employees or other agents (each a “ Covered Person ”) shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to any Member, the LLC or the Corporation for damages arising from any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Management Representative or any other Person with respect to the LLC or the Corporation, except in the case of any action or omission which constitutes, with respect to such Person, willful misconduct or fraud.  Each of the Covered Persons may consult with legal counsel, accountants, and other experts selected by it, and any act or omission suffered or taken by it on behalf of the LLC or the Corporation or in furtherance of the interests of the LLC or the Corporation in good faith in reliance upon and in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants, or other experts shall create a rebuttable presumption of the good faith and due care of such Covered Person with respect to such act or omission; provided that such counsel, accountants, or other experts were selected with reasonable care.  Each of the Covered Persons may rely in good faith upon, and shall have no liability to the LLC, the Corporation or the Members for acting or refraining from acting upon, any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture, or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

 

[ Signature Page Follows This Page ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed or caused to be executed on their behalf this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

CORPORATION:

 

 

 

 

CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

THE LLC:

 

 

 

 

CWGS ENTERPRISES, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

MEMBERS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MANAGEMENT REPRESENTATIVE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Exhibit A

 

FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT

 

This JOINDER AGREEMENT, dated as of                  , 20    (this “ Joinder ”), is delivered pursuant to that certain Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of November 26, 2014 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Tax Receivable Agreement ”) by and among Camping World Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), the Camping World Enterprises, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ the LLC ”), and each of the Members from time to time party thereto.  Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the Tax Receivable Agreement.

 

1.               Joinder to the Tax Receivable Agreement .  Upon the execution of this Joinder by the undersigned and delivery hereof to the Corporation, the undersigned hereby is and hereafter will be a Member under the Tax Receivable Agreement and a Party thereto, with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of a Member thereunder.  The undersigned hereby agrees that it shall comply with and be fully bound by the terms of the Tax Receivable Agreement as if it had been a signatory thereto as of the date thereof.

 

2.               Incorporation by Reference .  All terms and conditions of the Tax Receivable Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference in this Joinder as if set forth herein in full.

 

3.               Address .  All notices under the Tax Receivable Agreement to the undersigned shall be direct to:

 

[Name]
[Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Attn:
Facsimile:
E-mail:

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed and delivered this Joinder as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

[NAME OF NEW PARTY]

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 



 

Acknowledged and agreed
as of the date first set forth above:

 

CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC.

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 




Exhibit 10.2

 

CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC.

 

VOTING AGREEMENT

 

THIS VOTING AGREEMENT , dated as of [  ·  ], 2016 (as it may be amended, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, this “ Agreement ”), is entered into by and among CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC. , a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), CWGS Holdings, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (“ ML Acquisition ”), ML RV Group, LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (“ ML RV Group ”), CVRV Acquisition II LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (“ Crestview Class A Holder ”), CVRV Acquisition LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (“ Crestview Class B Holder ”, and together with ML Acquisition, the “ Original Members ”) and CRESTVIEW ADVISORS L.L.C. , a Delaware limited liability company (“ Crestview ”).  Certain terms used in this Agreement are defined in Section 8 .

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS , each Original Member owns, directly or indirectly, outstanding common membership units (the “ Common Units ”) of CWGS Enterprises, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ CWGS LLC ”);

 

WHEREAS , the Company is contemplating an offering and sale of the shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “ Class A Common Stock ”) in an underwritten initial public offering (the “ IPO ”) and using a portion of the net proceeds received from the IPO to purchase Common Units;

 

WHEREAS , pursuant to that certain Common Unit Subscription Agreement between the Company and CWGS LLC, dated as of [  ·  ], 2016 (the “ Common Unit Subscription Agreement ”) and that certain Common Unit Purchase Agreement by and among the Company and the members of CWGS LLC parties thereto, dated as of [  ·  ], 2016 (the “ Common Unit Purchase Agreement ”), the Company will use a portion of the net proceeds of the IPO to acquire Common Units;

 

WHEREAS , upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Common Unit Subscription Agreement and the Common Unit Purchase Agreement, it is contemplated that the Company will be admitted as a member, and appointed as the sole managing member of CWGS LLC;

 

WHEREAS , ML Acquisition (together with its Permitted Transferees, in such capacity, the “ ML Related Parties ”) is the record holder of shares of Class B common stock, par value $ 0.0001 per share, of the Company (“ Class B Common Stock ”), provided that, as of the date of this Agreement and so long as the ML Related Parties continue to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, twenty-seven and five-tenths percent (27.5%) or more of all Common Units outstanding, such ownership of Class B Common Stock entitles the ML Related Parties to cast forty-seven percent (47%) of the total votes entitled to be cast by all holders of voting stock of the Company;

 



 

WHEREAS , (i) Crestview Class B Holder (together with its Permitted Transferees, in such capacity, the “ Crestview Class B Stockholders ”, and together with the ML Related Parties, the “ Class B Stockholders ”) is the record holder of Class B Common Stock and (ii) Crestview Class A Holder (together with its Permitted Transferees, in such capacity, the “ Class A Stockholders ”, and together with the Crestview Class B Stockholders, the “ Crestview Stockholders ”) is the record holder of Class A Common Stock;

 

WHEREAS , ML RV Group (in such capacity, the “ Class C Stockholder ”) is the record holder of one (1) shares of Class C common stock, par value $ 0.0001 per share, of the Company (“ Class C Common Stock ”), which entitles it to cast five percent (5%) of the total votes entitled to be cast by all holders of voting stock of the Company for as long as a Change of Control (as defined in the Charter) has not occurred;

 

WHEREAS , a Change of Control has not occurred as of the date hereof; and

 

WHEREAS , in order to induce the Original Members to approve the sale and issuance of Common Units by CWGS LLC to the Company and the appointment of the Company as the sole managing member of CWGS LLC in connection with the IPO, the parties hereto desire to set forth their agreement with respect to the matters set forth herein in connection with their respective investments in the Company.

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the covenants and agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company, the Original Members, ML RV Group, the Crestview Class A Holder and Crestview agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENT

 

Section 1.                                            Election of the Board of Directors .

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 1(d) , Crestview shall be entitled to designate up to four (4) Directors from time to time (any Director designated by Crestview, a “ CV Director ”); provided , that in the event that Marcus Lemonis ceases to be the chief executive officer of the Company, Crestview shall only be entitled to designate three (3) CV Directors.  The CV Directors shall be apportioned among the three (3) classes of Directors as nearly equal in number as possible.  Subject to the Board’s fiduciary duties to the Company’s stockholders, Crestview shall be entitled to have its proportionate share of Crestview Directors appointed to any Board committees that have been established.

 

(b)                                  Subject to Section 1(e) , the ML Related Parties shall be entitled to designate four (4) Directors from time to time (any Director designated by the ML Related Parties, a “ ML Director ”).  The ML Directors shall be apportioned among the three (3) classes of Directors as nearly equal in number as possible.  Subject to the Board’s fiduciary duties to the Company’s stockholders, the ML Related Parties shall be

 

2



 

entitled to have their proportionate share of ML Directors appointed to any Board committees that have been established.

 

(c)                                   Subject to Section 1(f) , ML RV Group shall be entitled to designate one (1) Director from time to time (the Director designated by ML RV Group, the “ ML RV Director ”).

 

(d)                                  The right of Crestview to designate Directors as set forth in Section 1(a)  shall be subject to the following: (i) if at any time Crestview Partners II GP LP, a Delaware limited partnership (together with its Permitted Transferees, “ Crestview GP ”) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate less than thirty-two and five-tenths percent (32.5%) but twenty-five percent (25%) or more of all issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (including the Underlying Class A Shares), Crestview shall only be entitled to designate three (3) CV Directors, (ii) if at any time Crestview GP beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate less than twenty-five percent (25%) but fifteen percent (15%) or more of all issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (including the Underlying Class A Shares), Crestview shall only be entitled to designate two (2) CV Directors, and (iii) if at any time Crestview GP beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate less than fifteen percent (15%) but seven and five-tenths percent (7.5%) or more of all issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (including the Underlying Class A Shares), Crestview shall only be entitled to designate one (1) CV Director.  Crestview shall not be entitled to designate any Directors in accordance with Section 1(a ) if at any time Crestview GP beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate less than seven and five-tenths percent (7.5%) of all issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (including the Underlying Class A Shares).  For as long as Crestview is entitled to designate at least three (3) CV Directors, one (1) of such CV Directors shall also be “independent” in accordance with the New York Stock Exchange and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules regarding audit committee independence.

 

(e)                                   The right of the ML Related Parties to designate Directors as set forth in Section 1(b)  shall be subject to the following: (i) if at any time the ML Related Parties beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate less than twenty-seven and five-tenths percent (27.5%) but twenty-five percent (25%) or more of all issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (including the Underlying Class A Shares), the ML Related Parties shall only be entitled to designate three (3) ML Directors, (ii) if at any time the ML Related Parties beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate less than twenty-five percent (25%) but fifteen percent (15%) or more of all issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (including the Underlying Class A Shares), the ML Related Parties shall only be entitled to designate two (2) ML Directors, and (iii) if at any time the ML Related Parties beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate less than fifteen percent (15%) but seven and five-tenths percent (7.5%) or more of all issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (including the Underlying Class A Shares), the ML Related Parties shall only be entitled to designate one (1) ML Director.  The ML Related Parties shall not be entitled to designate any

 

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Directors in accordance with Section 1(b ) if at any time the ML Related Parties beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate less than seven and five-tenths percent (7.5%) of all issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (including any of its Underlying Class A Shares).  For as long as the ML Related Parties are entitled to designate at least three (3) ML Directors, one (1) of such ML Directors shall also be “independent” in accordance with the New York Stock Exchange and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules regarding audit committee independence.

 

(f)                                    ML RV Group shall not be entitled to designate a Director in accordance with Section 1(c) , in the event that the ML RV Group ceases to own any Class C Common Stock as set forth in the Charter and this Agreement.

 

(g)                                   Subject to Section 1(a)  and Section 1(d) , each of ML Acquisition and ML RV Group hereby agrees to vote, or cause to be voted, all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock, as applicable, at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Company at which Directors of the Company are to be elected, or to take all Necessary Action to cause the election of the CV Directors as provided herein.

 

(h)                                  Subject to Section 1(b) , Section 1(e)  and Section 1(f) , each of the Crestview Stockholders hereby agrees to vote, or cause to be voted, all outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and Class A Common Stock, respectively, at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Company at which Directors of the Company are to be elected, or to take all Necessary Action to cause the election of the ML Directors and/or the ML RV Director, as applicable, as provided herein.

 

Section 2.                                            Vacancies and Replacements .

 

(a)                                  If the number of Directors that the ML Related Parties, Crestview or the ML RV Group have the right to designate to the Board is decreased pursuant to Section 1(d) , Section 1(e)  or Section 1(f) , (each such occurrence, a “ Decrease in Designation Rights ”) then, unless otherwise requested in a writing signed by a majority of the members of the Board that shall not be required to resign as a result of a Decrease in Designation Rights, (i) each of the ML Related Parties, Crestview or the ML RV Group, as applicable, shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause (x) the appropriate number of ML Directors that the ML Related Parties cease to have the right to designate to serve as an ML Director, (y) the appropriate number of CV Directors that Crestview ceases to have the right to designate to serve as a CV Director or (z) the ML RV Director that ML RV Group ceases to have the right to designate to serve as the ML RV Director, respectively, each to offer to tender his or her resignation, and each such ML Director, CV Director or ML RV Director so tendering a resignation, as applicable, shall resign within thirty (30) days from the date that the ML Related Parties, Crestview and/or ML RV Group, as applicable, incurs a Decrease in Designation Rights.  In the event any such ML Director, CV Director or ML RV Director does not resign by such time as is required by the foregoing, the Class A Stockholders, the Class B Stockholders, the Class C

 

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Stockholder, the Company and the Board, to the fullest extent permitted by law and, with respect to the Board, subject to its fiduciary duties to the Company’s stockholders, shall thereafter take all Necessary Action, including voting in accordance with Sections 1(g)  and 1(h)  as applicable, to cause the removal of such individual as a Director and (ii) the vacancy or vacancies created by such resignation(s) and/or removal(s) shall be filled with one or more Directors, as applicable, designated by the Board upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.  For the avoidance of all doubt, nothing contained in this Section 2(a)  shall be read or interpreted to require a party to this Agreement to vote in favor of another party’s Director other than as set forth in Sections 1(g)  or 1(h) , as applicable.

 

(b)                                  Except as provided in the final sentence of Section 2(a)  and subject thereto, each of the ML Related Parties, Crestview and ML RV Group, as applicable, shall have the sole right to request that one or more of their respective designated Directors, as applicable, tender their resignations as Directors of the Board (each, a “ Removal Right ”), in each case, with or without cause at any time, by sending a written notice to such Director and the Company’s Secretary stating the name of the Director or Directors whose resignation from the Board is requested (the “ Removal Notice ”).  If the Director subject to such Removal Notice does not resign within thirty (30) days from receipt thereof by such Director, the Class A Stockholders, the Class B Stockholders, the Class C Stockholder, the Company and the Board, to the fullest extent permitted by law and, with respect to the Board, subject to its fiduciary duties to the Company’s stockholders, shall thereafter take all Necessary Action, including voting in accordance with Sections 1(g)  and 1(h)  as applicable, to cause the removal of such Director from the Board (and such Director shall only be removed by the parties to this Agreement in such manner as provided herein).  For the avoidance of all doubt, nothing contained in this Section 2(b)  shall be read or interpreted to require a party to this Agreement to vote in favor of another party’s Director other than as set forth in Sections 1(g)  or 1(h) , as applicable.

 

(c)                                   Each of the ML Related Parties, Crestview and ML RV Group, as applicable, shall have the exclusive right to fill vacancies created as a result of not designating their respective Director(s) initially or by death, disability, retirement, resignation, removal (with or without cause) of their respective Director(s), or otherwise by designating a successor to fill the vacancy of their respective Director(s) created thereby on the terms and subject to the conditions of Section 1 .

 

Section 3.                                            Initial Directors . The initial CV Directors pursuant to Section 1(a ) shall be Brian P. Cassidy (as a Class III Director) and Jeffrey A. Marcus (as a Class II Director). The initial ML Directors pursuant to Section 1(b ) shall be Stephen Adams (as a Class I Director), Andris A. Baltins (as a Class II Director) and K. Dillon Schickli (as a Class I Director).  The initial ML RV Director pursuant to Section 1(c ) shall be Marcus A. Lemonis (as a Class III Director).

 

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Section 4.                                            Consent Rights .

 

(a)                                        In addition to any voting requirements contained in the organizational documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Company shall require the prior written approval of (i) ML Acquisition for as long as each of the ML Related Parties beneficially own, directly or indirectly, twenty-eight percent (28%) or more of all issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (including the Underlying Class A Shares) and (ii) Crestview for as long as Crestview GP beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, twenty-eight percent (28%) or more of all issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (including the Underlying Class A Shares), in each of case, only after Marcus Lemonis ceases to serve as the chief executive officer of the Company, prior to (x) hiring the chief executive officer of the Company or (y) terminating the chief executive officer of the Company.

 

(b)                                        In addition to any voting requirements contained in the organizational documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Company shall not take, and shall cause CWGS LLC and its Subsidiaries not to take, any of the following actions (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise) without the prior written approval of (x) ML Acquisition for as long as each of the ML Related Parties beneficially own, directly or indirectly, twenty-two and five-tenths percent (22.5%) or more of all issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (including the Underlying Class A Shares) and (y) Crestview for as long as Crestview GP beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, twenty-two and five-tenths percent (22.5%) or more of all issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (including the Underlying Class A Shares):

 

(i)                                      any Change of Control as defined in the Charter (except for clause (E) thereof);

 

(ii)                                   any acquisition or disposition of assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries where the aggregate consideration for such assets is greater than one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) in any single transaction or series of related transactions;

 

(iii)                                any issuance of additional shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, Class C Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries after the date hereof, other than any issuance of additional shares of Class A Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company or its Subsidiaries (i) under any stock option or other equity compensation plan of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries approved by the Board or (ii) in connection with any redemption of Common Units as set forth in the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of CWGS LLC, dated as of [ · ], 2016, as such agreement may be further amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time;

 

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(iv)                               any amendment or modification of the organizational documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or

 

(v)                                  any increase or decrease of the size of the Board.

 

Section 5.                                            Covenants of the Company .

 

(a)                                  The Company agrees to take all Necessary Action to cause (i) the Board to be comprised at least of nine (9) Directors or such other greater number of Directors as the Board may determine, subject to the terms of this Agreement; (ii) the individuals designated in accordance with Section 1 to be included in the slate of nominees to be elected to the Board at the next annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Company at which Directors are to be elected, in accordance with the Bylaws, Charter and General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and at each annual meeting of stockholders of the Company thereafter at which such Director’s term expires; (iii) the individuals designated in accordance with Section 2(c)  to fill the applicable vacancies on the Board, in accordance with the Bylaws, Charter, Securities Laws, General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the New York Stock Exchange; and (iv) a ML Director or the ML RV Director to be the Chairperson of the Board (as defined in the Bylaws).

 

(b)                                  The ML Related Parties, ML RV Group and Crestview shall comply with the requirements of the Charter and Bylaws and the charter for, and related guidelines of, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee when designating and nominating individuals as Directors, in each case, to the extent such requirements are applicable to Directors generally.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, in the event that the Board determines, within sixty (60) days after compliance with the first sentence of this Section 5(b) , in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that its nomination, appointment or election of a particular Director designated in accordance with Section 1 or Section 2 , as applicable, would constitute a breach of its fiduciary duties to the Company’s stockholders or does not otherwise comply with any requirements of the Charter or Bylaws or the charter for, or related guidelines of, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee applicable to Directors generally, then the Board shall inform the ML Related Parties, ML RV Group and/or Crestview, as applicable, of such determination in writing and explain in reasonable detail the basis for such determination and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, nominate, appoint or elect another individual designated for nomination, election or appointment to the Board by the ML Related Parties, ML RV Group and/or Crestview, as applicable (subject in each case to this Section 5(b )), and the Board and the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, take all Necessary Action required by this Article 5 with respect to the election of such substitute designees to the Board.

 

Section 6.                                            Class C Common Stock Transfer .  The Class C Stockholder hereby agrees that at such time as the Class C Stockholder loses all of its voting rights pursuant to the terms of the Charter, such Class C Stockholder shall transfer his or her shares of Class C Common Stock to the Company for no consideration.  The Class C Stockholder

 

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hereby irrevocably appoints the officers of the Company as attorney-in-fact and proxy with respect to the shares of Class C Common Stock which are to be transferred by such Class C Stockholder pursuant to this Section 6 with full power and authority to act under this Agreement with respect to such transfer. The Class C Stockholder intends this proxy to be, and it shall be, irrevocable and coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power, and such Class C Stockholder shall take such further action and execute such further documents and other instruments to effectuate the intent of this proxy and attorney-in-fact.  To the extent the shares of Class C Common Stock are certificated, the Class C Stockholder shall deliver to and deposit in custody with the Company a certificate or certificates representing such shares of Class C Common Stock (or, if any such stockholder alleges that any such certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed, a lost certificate affidavit, together with a bond sufficient to indemnify the Company against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of such certificate).

 

Section 7.                                            Termination .  This Agreement shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of any one of the following events: (a) (i) with respect to each of the ML Related Parties only, at such time as the ML Related Parties no longer have any Director designation rights under Section 1 , (ii) with respect to ML RV Group only, at such time as ML RV Group no longer has any Director designation rights under Section 1 and (iii) with respect to Crestview and the Crestview Stockholders only, at such time as Crestview no longer has any Director designation rights under Section 1 and (b) the unanimous written consent of the parties hereto.

 

Section 8.                                            Definitions .  As used in this Agreement, any term that it is not defined herein, shall have the following meanings:

 

Board ” means the board of directors of the Company.

 

Bylaws ” means the amended and restated bylaws of the Company, dated as of the date hereof, as the same may be further amended, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Charter ” means the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Company, effective as of the date hereof, as the same may be further amended, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Director ” means a member of the Board.

 

Necessary Action ” means, with respect to a specified result, all commercially reasonable actions required to cause such result that are within the power of a specified Person, including (i) voting or providing a written consent or proxy with respect to the equity securities owned by the Person obligated to undertake the necessary action, (ii) voting in favor of the adoption of stockholders’ resolutions and amendments to the organizational documents of the Company, (iii) executing agreements and instruments,

 

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and (iv) making, or causing to be made, with governmental, administrative or regulatory authorities, all filings, registrations or similar actions that are required to achieve such result.

 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee ” means the nominating and governance committee of the Board or any committee of the Board authorized to perform the function of nominating Directors for the Board.

 

Person ” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust, joint stock company, business trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, governmental authority or other entity or organization, including a government or any subdivision or agency thereof.

 

Permitted Transferees ” has the meaning set forth in the Charter.

 

Securities Laws ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder.

 

Subsidiary ” means with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, trust or other form of legal entity, of which (a) such first Person directly or indirectly owns or controls at least a majority of the securities or other interests having by their terms voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or others performing similar functions, or (b) such first Person is a general partner or managing member (excluding partnerships in which such Person or any Subsidiary thereof does not have a majority of the voting interests in such partnership).

 

Underlying Class A Shares ” means any shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon redemption of Common Units, assuming all such Common Units are redeemed for Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis.

 

Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, (i) words of any gender include each other gender; (ii) words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively; (iii) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby” and derivative or similar words refer to this entire Agreement; (iv) the terms “Article” or “Section” refer to the specified Article or Section of this Agreement; (v) the word “including” shall mean “including, without limitation”, (vi) each defined term has its defined meaning throughout this Agreement, whether the definition of such term appears before or after such term is used, and (vii) the word “or” shall be disjunctive but not exclusive.  References to agreements and other documents shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments and other modifications thereto. References to statutes shall include all regulations promulgated thereunder and references to statutes or regulations shall be construed as including all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending or replacing the statute or regulation.

 

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Section 9.                                            Choice of Law and Venue; Waiver of Right to Jury Trial .

 

(a)                                  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, CONSTRUED, APPLIED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT IN THE EVENT OF ANY BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE NON-BREACHING PARTY WOULD BE IRREPARABLY HARMED AND COULD NOT BE MADE WHOLE BY MONETARY DAMAGES, AND THAT, IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER REMEDY TO WHICH THEY MAY BE ENTITLED AT LAW OR IN EQUITY, THE PARTIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO SUCH EQUITABLE OR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AS MAY BE APPROPRIATE.  THE CHOICE OF FORUM SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO PRECLUDE THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT OF A DELAWARE FEDERAL OR STATE COURT, OR THE TAKING OF ANY ACTION UNDER THIS AGREEMENT TO ENFORCE SUCH A JUDGMENT, IN ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE JURISDICTION.

 

(b)                                  IN THE EVENT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT COMMENCES ANY LITIGATION, PROCEEDING OR OTHER LEGAL ACTION IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED AGREEMENT OR ANY MATTERS DESCRIBED OR CONTEMPLATED HEREIN OR THEREIN, THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY (1) AGREE UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES ABSOLUTELY AND IRREVOCABLY TO INSTITUTE ANY LITIGATION, PROCEEDING OR OTHER LEGAL ACTION IN A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION LOCATED WITHIN THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WHETHER A STATE OR FEDERAL COURT; (2) AGREE THAT IN THE EVENT OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION, PROCEEDING OR ACTION, SUCH PARTIES WILL CONSENT AND SUBMIT TO THE PERSONAL JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT DESCRIBED IN CLAUSE (1) OF THIS SECTION AND TO SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES AND STATUTES GOVERNING SERVICE OF PROCESS (IT BEING UNDERSTOOD THAT NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE DEEMED TO PREVENT ANY PARTY FROM SEEKING TO REMOVE ANY ACTION TO A FEDERAL COURT IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE); (3) AGREE TO WAIVE TO THE FULL EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW ANY OBJECTION THAT THEY MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION, PROCEEDING OR ACTION IN ANY SUCH COURT OR THAT ANY SUCH LITIGATION, PROCEEDING OR ACTION WAS BROUGHT IN ANY INCONVENIENT FORUM; (4) AGREE TO WAIVE ANY RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL TO RESOLVE ANY DISPUTES OR CLAIMS RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT; (5) AGREE TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING BY MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF TO SUCH PARTY AT ITS ADDRESS SET FORTH HEREIN FOR COMMUNICATIONS TO SUCH PARTY; (6) AGREE THAT ANY SERVICE MADE AS PROVIDED HEREIN SHALL BE EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN EVERY RESPECT; AND (7) AGREE THAT NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT

 

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THE RIGHTS OF ANY PARTY TO EFFECT SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.

 

Section 10.                                     Notices .  Any notice, request, claim, demand, document and other communication hereunder to any party shall be effective upon receipt (or refusal of receipt) and shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by facsimile, or by electronic mail, or first class mail, or by Federal Express or other similar courier or other similar means of communication, as follows:

 

(a)                                  if to ML Acquisition, addressed as follows:

 

250 Parkway Drive, Suite 270

Lincolnshire, IL 60048
Attn: Marcus Lemonis
Facsimile: 
E-mail:

 

(b)                                  if to ML RV Group, addressed as follows:

 

250 Parkway Drive, Suite 270

Lincolnshire, IL 60048

Attention: Marcus Lemonis
Facsimile: 
E-mail:

 

(c)                                   if to Crestview Class A Holder, Crestview Class B Holder and Crestview, addressed as follows:

 

667 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor

New York, NY 10065

Attention: Brian Cassidy; Ross Oliver
Facsimile: 
E-mail:

 

(d)                                  If to the Company, addressed as follows:

 

250 Parkway Drive, Suite 270

Lincolnshire, IL 60048
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
Facsimile: 
E-mail:

 

or, in each case, to such other address or email address as such party may designate in writing to each party by written notice given in the manner specified herein. All such communications shall be deemed to have been given, delivered or made when so

 

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delivered by hand or sent by facsimile (with confirmed transmission), on the next business day if sent by overnight courier service (with confirmed delivery) or when received if sent by first class mail, or in the case of notice by electronic mail, when the relevant email enters the recipient’s server.

 

Section 11.                                     Assignment .  Except as otherwise provided herein, all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the respective successors and permitted assigns of the parties hereto.  This Agreement may not be assigned (by operation of law or otherwise) without the express prior written consent of the other parties hereto, and any attempted assignment, without such consents, will be null and void; provided , however , that each Class A Stockholder and each Class B Stockholder is permitted to assign this Agreement to any Permitted Transferee of the Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock.  Each Class A Stockholder and each Class B Stockholder, as applicable, shall cause any Permitted Transferee of the Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as applicable, to become a party to this Agreement.

 

Section 12.                                     Amendment and Modification; Waiver of Compliance . This Agreement may not be amended, modified, altered or supplemented except by means of a written instrument executed on behalf of each of the Company, ML Acquisition, ML RV Group and Crestview. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any failure of any of the parties to comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement or condition herein may be waived by the party or parties entitled to the benefits thereof only by a written instrument signed by the party or parties granting such waiver, but such waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance with such obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.

 

Section 13.                                     Waiver . No failure on the part of either party hereto to exercise any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, and no delay on the part of either party hereto in exercising any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, shall operate as a waiver thereof; and no single or partial exercise of any such power, right, privilege or remedy shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or of any other power, right, privilege or remedy.

 

Section 14.                                     Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement, or the application of such provision to any Person or circumstance or in any jurisdiction, shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable to any extent, (i) the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby, and each other provision hereof shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law, (ii) as to such Person or circumstance or in such jurisdiction such provision shall be reformed to be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law and (iii) the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances or in other jurisdictions shall not be affected thereby.

 

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Section 15.                                     Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and signatures may be delivered by facsimile, each of which may be executed by less than all parties, each of which shall be enforceable against the parties actually executing such counterparts, and all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

 

Section 16.                                     Further Assurances .  At any time or from time to time after the date hereof, the parties hereto agree to cooperate with each other, and at the request of any other party, to execute and deliver any further instruments or documents and to take all such further action as any other party may reasonably request in order to evidence or effectuate the provisions of this Agreement and to otherwise carry out the intent of the parties hereunder.

 

Section 17.                                     Titles and Subtitles .  The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.

 

Section 18.                                     Representations and Warranties .

 

(a)                                  Each of ML Acquisition, ML RV Group, Crestview Class A Holder, Crestview Class B Holder, Crestview and each Person who becomes a party to this Agreement after the date hereof, severally and not jointly and solely with respect to itself, represents and warrants to the Company as of the time such party becomes a party to this Agreement that (a) it is duly authorized to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement; (b) this Agreement has been duly executed by such party and is a valid and binding agreement of such party, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms; and (c) the execution, delivery and performance by such party of this Agreement does not violate or conflict with or result in a breach of or constitute (or with notice or lapse of time or both constitute) a default under any agreement to which such party is a party or the organizational documents of such party.

 

(b)                                  The Company represents and warrants to each other party hereto that (a) the Company is duly authorized to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement; (b) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms; and (c) other than as set forth in Section 4(a)(y) , the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement does not violate or conflict with or result in a breach by the Company of or constitute (or with notice or lapse of time or both constitute) a default by the Company under the Charter or Bylaws, any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order, or decree of any governmental authority exercising any statutory or regulatory authority of any of the foregoing, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, or any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound.

 

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Section 19.                                     No Strict Construction .  This Agreement shall be deemed to be collectively prepared by the parties hereto, and no ambiguity herein shall be construed for or against any party based upon the identity of the author of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed on the day and year first above written.

 

 

CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CWGS HOLDINGS, LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ML RV GROUP, LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CVRV ACQUISITION LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CVRV ACQUISITION II LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO VOTING AGREEMENT]

 



 

 

CRESTVIEW ADVISORS L.L.C.

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO VOTING AGREEMENT]

 




Exhibit 10.3

 

 

 

CWGS ENTERPRISES, LLC

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of [ · ], 2016

 

 

THE COMPANY INTERESTS REPRESENTED BY THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. SUCH COMPANY INTERESTS MAY NOT BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF AT ANY TIME WITHOUT EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT AND LAWS OR EXEMPTION THEREFROM, AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE OTHER SUBSTANTIAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY SET FORTH HEREIN.

 

 

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

Article I. DEFINITIONS

 

3

 

 

 

 

Article II. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

 

14

 

 

 

 

Section 2.01

Formation of Company

 

14

Section 2.02

Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement

 

14

Section 2.03

Name

 

14

Section 2.04

Purpose

 

14

Section 2.05

Principal Office; Registered Office

 

14

Section 2.06

Term

 

14

Section 2.07

No State-Law Partnership

 

14

 

 

 

 

Article III. MEMBERS; UNITS; CAPITALIZATION

 

15

 

 

 

 

Section 3.01

Members

 

15

Section 3.02

Units

 

15

Section 3.03

Recapitalization; the Corporation’s Capital Contribution; the Corporation’s Purchase of Common Units; Member Distribution

 

16

Section 3.04

Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units

 

16

Section 3.05

Repurchase or Redemption of shares of Class A Common Stock

 

17

Section 3.06

Certificates Representing Units; Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates; Registration and Transfer of Units

 

18

Section 3.07

Negative Capital Accounts

 

18

Section 3.08

No Withdrawal

 

18

Section 3.09

Loans From Members

 

18

Section 3.10

Corporate Stock Option Plans and Equity Plans

 

19

Section 3.11

Dividend Reinvestment Plan, Cash Option Purchase Plan, Stock Incentive Plan or Other Plan

 

21

 

 

 

 

Article IV. DISTRIBUTIONS

 

21

 

 

 

 

Section 4.01

Distributions

 

21

 

 

 

 

Article V. CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS

 

23

 

 

 

 

Section 5.01

Capital Accounts

 

23

Section 5.02

Allocations

 

24

Section 5.03

Regulatory Allocations

 

24

Section 5.04

Final Allocations

 

25

Section 5.05

Tax Allocations

 

26

Section 5.06

Indemnification and Reimbursement for Payments on Behalf of a Member

 

26

 

 

 

 

Article VI. MANAGEMENT

 

27

 



 

Section 6.01

Authority of Manager

 

27

Section 6.02

Actions of the Manager

 

28

Section 6.03

Resignation; No Removal

 

28

Section 6.04

Vacancies

 

28

Section 6.05

Transactions Between Company and Manager

 

28

Section 6.06

Reimbursement for Expenses

 

28

Section 6.07

Delegation of Authority

 

29

Section 6.08

Limitation of Liability of Manager

 

29

Section 6.09

Investment Company Act

 

30

Section 6.10

Outside Activities of the Manager

 

30

 

 

 

 

Article VII. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS AND MANAGER

 

31

 

 

 

 

Section 7.01

Limitation of Liability and Duties of Members

 

31

Section 7.02

Lack of Authority

 

32

Section 7.03

No Right of Partition

 

32

Section 7.04

Indemnification

 

32

Section 7.05

Members Right to Act

 

33

Section 7.06

Inspection Rights

 

34

 

 

 

 

Article VIII. BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS, AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

34

 

 

 

 

Section 8.01

Records and Accounting

 

34

Section 8.02

Fiscal Year

 

35

 

 

 

 

Article IX. TAX MATTERS

 

35

 

 

 

 

Section 9.01

Preparation of Tax Returns

 

35

Section 9.02

Tax Elections

 

35

Section 9.03

Tax Controversies

 

35

 

 

 

 

Article X. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF UNITS; PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS

 

36

 

 

 

 

Section 10.01

Transfers by Members

 

36

Section 10.02

Permitted Transfers

 

37

Section 10.03

Restricted Units Legend

 

37

Section 10.04

Transfer

 

38

Section 10.05

Assignee’s Rights

 

38

Section 10.06

Assignor’s Rights and Obligations

 

38

Section 10.07

Overriding Provisions

 

39

Section 10.08

Spousal Consent

 

40

Section 10.09

Drag-Along Rights

 

40

 

 

 

 

Article XI. REDEMPTION AND EXCHANGE RIGHTS

 

41

 

 

 

 

Section 11.01

Redemption Right of a Member

 

41

 

iii



 

Section 11.02

Election and Contribution of the Corporation

 

44

Section 11.03

Exchange Right of the Corporation

 

45

Section 11.04

Reservation of shares of Class A Common Stock; Listing; Certificate of the Corporation

 

45

Section 11.05

Effect of Exercise of Redemption or Exchange Right

 

46

Section 11.06

Tax Treatment

 

46

 

 

 

 

Article XII. ADMISSION OF MEMBERS

 

46

 

 

 

 

Section 12.01

Substituted Members

 

46

Section 12.02

Additional Members

 

46

 

 

 

 

Article XIII. WITHDRAWAL AND RESIGNATION; TERMINATION OF RIGHTS

 

46

 

 

 

 

Section 13.01

Withdrawal and Resignation of Members

 

46

 

 

 

 

Article XIV. DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

 

47

 

 

 

 

Section 14.01

Dissolution

 

47

Section 14.02

Winding up and Termination

 

47

Section 14.03

Deferment; Distribution in Kind

 

48

Section 14.04

Cancellation of Certificate

 

48

Section 14.05

Reasonable Time for Winding Up

 

48

Section 14.06

Return of Capital

 

49

 

 

 

 

Article XV. VALUATION

 

49

 

 

 

 

Section 15.01

Determination

 

49

 

 

 

 

Article XVI. GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

49

 

 

 

 

Section 16.01

Power of Attorney

 

49

Section 16.02

Confidentiality

 

50

Section 16.03

Amendments

 

51

Section 16.04

Title to Company Assets

 

51

Section 16.05

Addresses and Notices

 

52

Section 16.06

Binding Effect; Intended Beneficiaries

 

52

Section 16.07

Creditors

 

52

Section 16.08

Waiver

 

53

Section 16.09

Counterparts

 

53

Section 16.10

Applicable Law

 

53

Section 16.11

Severability

 

53

Section 16.12

Further Action

 

53

Section 16.13

Delivery by Electronic Transmission

 

53

Section 16.14

Right of Offset

 

54

Section 16.15

Entire Agreement

 

54

Section 16.16

Remedies

 

54

Section 16.17

Descriptive Headings; Interpretation

 

54

 

iv



 

Schedules

 

Schedule 1

 

Schedule of Pre-IPO Members

Schedule 2

 

 

Schedule of Effective Date Members

 

Exhibits

 

Exhibit A

 

Form of Joinder Agreement

 

v


 

CWGS ENTERPRISES, LLC

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

 

This AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “ Agreement ”), dated as of [•], 2016 (the “ Effective Time ”), is entered into by and among CWGS Enterprises, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), and its Members (as defined herein).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, unless the context otherwise requires, capitalized terms have the respective meanings ascribed to them in Section 1.1 ;

 

WHEREAS, the Company was formed as a limited liability company with the name “CWGS Enterprises, LLC”, pursuant to and in accordance with the Delaware Act by the filing of the Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to Section 18-201 of the Delaware Act on February 9, 2011;

 

WHEREAS, the Company entered into a Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated as of March 2, 2011, as amended by (i) the First Amendment to the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated as of August 12, 2013, (ii) the Second Amendment to the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated as of September 30, 2014, (iii) the Third Amendment to the Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2015 and (iv) the Fourth Amendment to the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated as of April 15, 2016 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, together with all schedules, exhibits and annexes thereto, the “ Initial LLC Agreement ”), which the parties listed on Schedule 1 hereto have executed in their capacity as members (including pursuant to consent and joinders thereto) (collectively, the “ Pre-IPO Members ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Pre-IPO Members, prior to the date hereof, hold Common Units, Preferred Units and Profits Units (each as defined in Section 3.3 of the Initial LLC Agreement, respectively, the “ Original Common Units ”, the “ Original Preferred Units ” and the “ Original Profit Units ”, and collectively, the “ Original Units ”) of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Pre-IPO Members desire to have Camping World Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), effect an initial public offering (the “ IPO ”) of shares of its Class A common stock, par value $0.01 (the “ Class A Common Stock ”), and in connection therewith, to amend and restate the Initial LLC Agreement as of the Effective Time to reflect (a) a recapitalization of the Company and the associated split in the number of Units then outstanding (the “ Recapitalization ”), (b) the addition of the Corporation as a Member in the Company and its designation as sole Manager of the Company, and (c) the rights and

 



 

obligations of the Members of the Company that are enumerated and agreed upon in the terms of this Agreement effective as of the Effective Time, at which time the Initial LLC Agreement shall be superseded entirely by this Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Recapitalization and as of the Effective Time, the Original Units of each Pre-IPO Member will be converted into Common Units as set forth herein;

 

WHEREAS, the parties listed on the Schedule of Members are the Members as of the Effective Time and after giving effect to the Recapitalization (the “ Effective Date Members ”);

 

WHEREAS, after the Effective Time and the recapitalization contemplated hereby, and prior to the IPO, (i) (1) Crestview will distribute a portion of its Common Units to the Crestview Equityholders and each of the Crestview Equityholders will be admitted as a Substituted Member with respect to the Common Units it received in such distribution, (2) the Crestview Equityholders in turn will distribute the Common Units so received to the Crestview GP and to the Blocker Corps, and the Crestview GP and each of the Blocker Corps will be admitted each as a Substituted Member with respect to the Common Units, (3) the Crestview Parents will contribute all of their respective interests in the Blocker Corps to the Crestview Equityholders and (4) the Crestview Equityholders will contribute their respective interests in the Blocker Corps to Crestview II, (ii) immediately after the transfer described in paragraph (i) above, a subsidiary of the Corporation will merge with and into each Blocker Corp, with each Blocker Corp surviving and Crestview II receiving Class A Common Stock in exchange for all of its equity interests in the Blocker Corps, and thereafter each Blocker Corp will merge with and into a wholly-owned limited liability company subsidiary of the Corporation (the “ LLC Holdco ”) pursuant to which the LLC Holdco will survive and will be admitted as a Substitute Member with respect to the Common Units held by the Blocker Corps immediately prior to such merger, in each case, pursuant to an integrated plan that is intended to be treated as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and (iii) the Crestview GP will exchange its Common Units for shares of Class A Common Stock, and will contribute such shares of Class A Common Stock to the Crestview Equityholders, which in turn will contribute such shares of Class A Common Stock to Crestview II (the transactions described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), collectively, the “ Blocker Roll Up ”);

 

WHEREAS, except for the Over-Allotment Option, the Corporation will sell shares of its Class A Common Stock to public investors in the IPO and will use the net proceeds received from the IPO (the “ IPO Net Proceeds ”) to purchase newly issued Common Units from the Company pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement and Common Units from the Selling Members pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Purchase Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, the Corporation may issue additional shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with the IPO as a result of the exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option (the “ Over-Allotment Option ”) and, if the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in whole or in part, any additional net proceeds (the “ Over-Allotment Option Net Proceeds ”) shall be used by the Corporation to purchase additional newly issued Common Units from the Company pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement.

 

2



 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Members, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS

 

The following definitions shall be applied to the terms used in this Agreement for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary.

 

Additional Member ” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.02 .

 

Adjusted Capital Account Deficit ” means with respect to the Capital Account of any Member as of the end of any Taxable Year, the amount by which the balance in such Capital Account is less than zero.  For this purpose, such Member’s Capital Account balance shall be:

 

(a)                                  reduced for any items described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704- 1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5), and (6); and

 

(b)                                  increased for any amount such Member is obligated to contribute or is treated as being obligated to contribute to the Company pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) (relating to partner liabilities to a partnership) or 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i) (relating to minimum gain).

 

Admission Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.06 .

 

Affiliate ” (and, with a correlative meaning, “ Affiliated ”) means, with respect to a specified Person, each other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Person specified.  As used in this definition, “control” (including with correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of voting securities or by contract or other agreement).

 

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Approved Qualified Transaction ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.09(a) .

 

Assignee ” means a Person to whom a Company Interest has been transferred but who has not become a Member pursuant to Article XII .

 

Assumed Tax Liability ” means, with respect to any Member, an amount equal to the excess of (i) the product of (A) the Distribution Tax Rate multiplied by (B) the estimated or actual cumulative taxable income or gain of the Company, as determined for federal income tax purposes, allocated to such Member for full or partial Fiscal Years commencing on or after January 1, 2016, less prior losses of the Company allocated to such Member for full or partial Fiscal Years commencing on or after January 1, 2016, in each case, as determined by the

 

3



 

Manager over (ii) the sum of (A) the cumulative Tax Distributions made to such Member after the closing date of the IPO pursuant to Sections 4.01(b)(i), 4.01(b)(ii) and 4.01(b)(iii) and (B) tax distributions made to such Member (or such Member’s predecessor) pursuant to the Initial LLC Agreement with respect to the Fiscal Year commencing on January 1, 2016 (without regard to any adjustments to such tax distributions relating to tax distributions made with respect to any Fiscal Year ending prior the January 1, 2016), including such tax distributions made pursuant to Section 4.01(b)(v) ; provided that, in the case of the Corporation, such Assumed Tax Liability (x) shall be computed without regard to any increases to the tax basis of the Company’s property pursuant to Section 743(b) of the Code and (y) shall in no event be less than an amount that will enable the Corporation to meet both its tax obligations and its obligations pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement for the relevant Taxable Year.

 

Base Rate ” means, on any date, a variable rate per annum equal to the rate of interest most recently published by The Wall Street Journal as the “prime rate” at large U.S. money center banks.

 

Binding Sale Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(b) .

 

Black-Out Period ” means any “black-out” or similar period under the Corporation’s policies covering trading in the Corporation’s securities to which the applicable Redeeming Member is subject (or will be subject at such time as it owns Class A Common Stock), which period restricts the ability of such Redeeming Member to immediately resell shares of Class A Common Stock to be delivered to such Redeeming Member in connection with a Share Settlement.

 

Blocker Corps ” means [Crestview II CWGS (OS), LLC, Crestview II CWGS (FF OS), LLC, Crestview II CWGS (TE), LLC and Crestview Partners II CWGS (892), LLC, each of them, a Delaware limited liability company].

 

Blocker Roll Up ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Book Value ” means, with respect to any Company property, the Company’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, adjusted from time to time to reflect the adjustments required or permitted by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(d)-(g).

 

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday or a day on which banks located in New York City, New York generally are authorized or required by Law to close.

 

Capital Account ” means the capital account maintained for a Member in accordance with Section 5.01 .

 

Capital Contribution ” means, with respect to any Member, the amount of any cash, cash equivalents, promissory obligations or the Fair Market Value of other property that such Member contributes (or is deemed to contribute) to the Company pursuant to Article III hereof.

 

Cash Settlement ” means immediately available funds in U.S. dollars in an amount equal to the Redeemed Units Equivalent.

 

4



 

Certificate ” means the Company’s Certificate of Formation as filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware, as amended or amended and restated from time to time.

 

Class A Common Stock ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Class B Common Stock ” means the shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation.

 

Code ” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Common Unit ” means a Unit representing a fractional part of the Company Interests of the Members and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to the Common Units in this Agreement.

 

Common Unit Redemption Price ” means the arithmetic average of the volume weighted average prices for a share of Class A Common Stock (or any class of stock into which it has been converted) on the principal U.S. securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system on which the Class A Common Stock trades, as reported by Bloomberg, L.P., or its successor, for each of the five (5) consecutive full Trading Days ending on and including the last full Trading Day immediately prior to the Redemption Date, subject to appropriate and equitable adjustment for any stock splits, reverse splits, stock dividends or similar events affecting the Class A Common Stock.  If the Class A Common Stock no longer trades on a securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system, then the Manager shall determine the Common Unit Redemption Price in good faith.

 

Common Unitholder ” means a Member who is the registered holder of Common Units.

 

Company ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Company Interest ” means the interest of a Member in Profits, Losses and Distributions.

 

Contribution Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(b) .

 

Corporate Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 

Corporate Incentive Award Plan ” means the 2016 Incentive Award Plan, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Corporation ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement, together with its successors and assigns.

 

Credit Agreements ” means any promissory note, mortgage, loan agreement, indenture or similar instrument or agreement to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or becomes a borrower, as such instruments or agreements may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and including any one or more refinancing or replacements thereof, in whole or in part, with any other debt facility or debt

 

5



 

obligation, for as long as the payee or creditor to whom the Company or any of its Subsidiaries owes such obligation is not an Affiliate of the Company.

 

Crestview ” means CVRV Acquisition LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its Permitted Transferees.

 

Crestview II ” means CVRV Acquisition II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its Permitted Transferees.

 

Crestview Equityholders ” means Crestview Offshore Holdings II (Cayman), L.P., Crestview Offshore Holdings II (FF Cayman), L.P., Crestview Holdings II (TE 2), L.P. and Crestview Offshore Holdings II (892 Cayman), L.P.

 

Crestview GP ” means Crestview Partners II GP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

 

Crestview Parent ” means Crestview Partners II CWGS (Cayman), L.P., Crestview Partners II CWGS (FF Cayman), L.P., Crestview Partners II (TE), L.P. and Crestview Partners II (892), L.P.

 

Delaware Act ” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del.C. § 18-101, et seq. , as it may be amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.

 

Direct Exchange ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.03(a) .

 

Distributable Cash ” means, as of any relevant date on which a determination is being made by the Manager regarding a potential distribution pursuant to Section 4.01(a) , the amount of cash that could be distributed by the Company for such purposes in accordance with the Credit Agreements (and without otherwise violating any applicable provisions of any of the Credit Agreements).

 

Distribution ” (and, with a correlative meaning, “ Distribute ”) means each distribution made by the Company to a Member with respect to such Member’s Units, whether in cash, property or securities of the Company and whether by liquidating distribution or otherwise; provided, however , that none of the following shall be a Distribution: (a) any recapitalization that does not result in the distribution of cash or property to Members or any exchange of securities of the Company, and any subdivision (by Unit split or otherwise) or any combination (by reverse Unit split or otherwise) of any outstanding Units or (b) any other payment made by the Company to a Member that is not properly treated as a “distribution” for purposes of Sections 731, 732, or 733 or other applicable provisions of the Code.

 

Distribution Tax Rate ” means a rate equal to the highest effective marginal combined federal, state and local income tax rate for a Fiscal Year applicable to corporate or individual taxpayers that may potentially apply to any Member for such Fiscal Year, taking into account the character of the relevant tax items (e.g., ordinary or capital) and the deductibility of state and local income taxes for federal income tax purposes, as reasonably determined by the Manager.

 

Drag-Along Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.09(b) .

 

6



 

Drag-Along Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.09(b) .

 

Drag-Along Right ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.09(a) .

 

Drag Price ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.09(a) .

 

Effective Date Members ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Effective Time ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Equity Plan ” means any stock or equity purchase plan, restricted stock or equity plan or other similar equity compensation plan now or hereafter adopted by the Company or the Corporation.

 

Equity Securities ” means (a) Units or other equity interests in the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (including other classes or groups thereof having such relative rights, powers and duties as may from time to time be established by the Manager pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including rights, powers and/or duties senior to existing classes and groups of Units and other equity interests in the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company), (b) obligations, evidences of indebtedness or other securities or interests convertible or exchangeable into Units or other equity interests in the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, and (c) warrants, options or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire Units or other equity interests in the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.

 

Event of Withdrawal ” means the expulsion, bankruptcy or dissolution of a Member or the occurrence of any other event that terminates the continued membership of a Member in the Company.  “Event of Withdrawal” shall not include an event that (a) terminates the existence of a Member for income tax purposes (including, without limitation, (i) a change in entity classification of a Member under Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3, (ii) termination of a partnership pursuant to Code Section 708(b)(1)(B), (iii) a sale of assets by, or liquidation of, a Member pursuant to an election under Code Sections 336 or 338, or (iv) merger, severance, or allocation within a trust or among sub-trusts of a trust that is a Member) but that (b) does not terminate the existence of such Member under applicable state law (or, in the case of a trust that is a Member, does not terminate the trusteeship of the fiduciaries under such trust with respect to all the Company Interests of such trust that is a Member).

 

Exchange Election Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.03(b) .

 

Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to any asset, its fair market value determined according to Article XV .

 

Fiscal Period ” means any interim accounting period within a Taxable Year established by the Manager and which is permitted or required by Section 706 of the Code.

 

Fiscal Year ” means the Company’s annual accounting period established pursuant to Section 8.02 .

 

7


 

Governmental Entity ” means (a) the United States of America, (b) any other sovereign nation, (c) any state, province, district, territory or other political subdivision of (a) or (b) of this definition, including any county, municipal or other local subdivision of the foregoing, or (d) any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of government on behalf of (a), (b) or (c) of this definition.

 

Indemnified Person ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.04(a) .

 

Initial LLC Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Investment Company Act ” means the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time.

 

IPO ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

IPO Common Unit Purchase ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(b) .

 

IPO Common Unit Subscription ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(b) .

 

IPO Common Unit Purchase Agreement ” means that certain Common Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Corporation and the Selling Members.

 

IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement ” means that certain Common Unit Subscription Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Corporation and the Company.

 

IPO Net Proceeds ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Joinder ” means a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance substantially similar to Exhibit A to this Agreement.

 

Law ” means all laws, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations of the United States, any foreign country and each state, commonwealth, city, county, municipality, regulatory body, agency or other political subdivision thereof.

 

liquidator ” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.02 .

 

LLC Employee ” means an employee of, or other service provider to, the Company or any Subsidiary, in each case acting in such capacity.

 

LLC Holdco ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Losses ” means items of Company loss or deduction determined according to Section 5.01(b) .

 

Manager ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01 .

 

Market Price ” means, with respect to a share of Class A Common Stock as of a specified date, the last sale price per share of Class A Common Stock, regular way, or if no such

 

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sale took place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices per share of Class A Common Stock, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the Stock Exchange or, if the Class A Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the Stock Exchange, as reported on the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Class A Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price, or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System or, if such system is no longer in use, the principal other automated quotation system that may then be in use or, if the Class A Common Stock is not quoted by any such system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in shares of Class A Common Stock selected by the Corporate Board or, in the event that no trading price is available for the shares of Class A Common Stock, the fair market value of a share of Class A Common Stock, as determined in good faith by the Corporate Board.

 

Member ” means, as of any date of determination, (a) each of the members named on the Schedule of Members and (b) any Person admitted to the Company as a Substituted Member or Additional Member in accordance with Article XII and the Delaware Act, but in each case only so long as such Person is shown on the Company’s books and records as the owner of one or more Units.  The Members shall constitute a single class or group of members for purposes of the Delaware Act.

 

Minimum Gain ” means “partnership minimum gain” determined pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(d).

 

ML Related Parties ” has the meaning set forth in the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation, as amended.

 

ML RV Group ” has the meaning set forth in the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation, as amended.

 

Net Loss ” means, with respect to a Fiscal Year, the excess if any, of Losses for such Fiscal Year over Profits for such Fiscal Year (excluding Profits and Losses specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.03 and Section 5.04 ).

 

Net Profit ” means, with respect to a Fiscal Year, the excess if any, of Profits for such Fiscal Year over Losses for such Fiscal Year (excluding Profits and Losses specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.03 and Section 5.04 ).

 

Officer ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(b) .

 

Optionee ” means a Person to whom a stock option is granted under any Stock Option Plan.

 

Original Common Units ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

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Original Preferred Units ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Original Profit Units ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Original Units ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Other Agreements ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.04 .

 

Over-Allotment Option ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Over-Allotment Option Net Proceeds ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Partnership Representative ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03(b) .

 

Percentage Interest ” means, as among an individual class of Units and with respect to a Member at a particular time, such Member’s percentage interest in the Company determined by dividing such Member’s Units of such class by the total Units of all Members of such class at such time.  The Percentage Interest of each member shall be calculated to the 4 th  decimal place.

 

Permitted Transfer ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.02 .

 

Permitted Transferee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.02 .

 

Person ” means an individual or any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, association, joint venture or any other organization or entity, whether or not a legal entity.

 

Pre-IPO Members ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Pro rata ,” “ pro rata portion ,” “ according to their interests ,” “ ratably ,” “ proportionately ,” “ proportional ,” “ in proportion to ,” “ based on the number of Units held ,” “ based upon the percentage of Units held ,” “ based upon the number of Units outstanding ,” and other terms with similar meanings, when used in the context of a number of Units of the Company relative to other Units, means as amongst an individual class of Units, pro rata based upon the number of such Units within such class of Units.

 

Profits ” means items of Company income and gain determined according to Section 5.01(b) .

 

Qualified Transaction ” means a bona fide negotiated transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which the Corporation consolidates with or merges into any other Person or any other Person consolidates with or merges into the Corporation or any tender offer or share issuance or similar business combination transaction involving the Corporation, unless (i) after the consummation of such transaction, the ML Related Parties and the ML RV Group will continue to be entitled to the number of votes necessary such that each of the ML Related Parties, in the aggregate, and the ML RV Group cast forty seven percent (47%) and five percent (5%), respectively, of the total votes eligible to be cast by all stockholders of the Corporation on

 

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all matters presented to a vote of the stockholder of the Corporation generally or (ii) in the event that at the time of the approval of such transaction the ML Related Parties and the ML RV Group are no longer entitled to the number of votes necessary such that each of the ML Related Parties, in the aggregate, and the ML RV Group cast forty seven percent (47%) and five percent (5%), respectively, of the total votes eligible to be cast by all stockholders of the Corporation on all matters presented to a vote of the stockholder of the Corporation generally, holders of shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or any other equity securities issued by the Corporation, immediately before such transaction continue to own, directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Person resulting from such transaction in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in elections of directors of the Corporation immediately before such transaction.

 

Quarterly Tax Distribution ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b)(i) .

 

Recapitalization ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Redeemed Units ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a) .

 

Redeemed Units Equivalent ” means the product of (a) the applicable number of Redeemed Units, times (b) the Common Unit Redemption Price.

 

Redeeming Member ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a) .

 

Redemption ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a) .

 

Redemption Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a) .

 

Redemption Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a) .

 

Redemption Right ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a) .

 

Registration Rights Agreement ” means that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Corporation and the Effective Date Members (together with any joinder thereto from time to time by any successor or assign to any party to such agreement).

 

Required Member ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.09 .

 

Retraction Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(c) .

 

Revised Partnership Audit Provisions ” means Section 1101 of Title XI (Revenue Provisions Related to Tax Compliance) of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, H.R. 1314, Public Law Number 114-74.

 

Schedule of Members ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(b) .

 

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SEC ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including any governmental body or agency succeeding to the functions thereof.

 

Securities Act ” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable rules and regulations thereunder, and any successor to such statute, rules or regulations.  Any reference herein to a specific section, rule or regulation of the Securities Act shall be deemed to include any corresponding provisions of future Law.

 

Selling Members ” means those Pre-IPO Members selling Common Units to the Corporation pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Purchase Agreement.

 

Share Settlement ” means a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the number of Redeemed Units.

 

Sponsor Person ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.04(d) .

 

Stock Exchange ” means the New York Stock Exchange.

 

Stock Option Plan ” means any stock option plan now or hereafter adopted by the Company or by the Corporation, including the Corporate Incentive Award Plan.

 

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or business entity of which (a) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (b) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity (other than a corporation), a majority of the voting interests thereof are at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof.  For purposes hereof, references to a “Subsidiary” of the Company shall be given effect only at such times that the Company has one or more Subsidiaries, and, unless otherwise indicated, the term “Subsidiary” refers to a Subsidiary of the Company.

 

Substituted Member ” means a Person that is admitted as a Member to the Company pursuant to Section 12.01 .

 

Tax Distributions ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b)(i) .

 

Tax Matters Partner ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03(a) .

 

Tax Receivable Agreement ” means that certain Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as the date hereof, by and among the Corporation, on the one hand, and the Effective Date Members, on the other hand (together with any joinder thereto from time to time by any successor or assign to any party to such agreement).

 

Taxable Year ” means the Company’s accounting period for U.S. federal income tax purposes determined pursuant to Section 9.02 .

 

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Trading Day ” means a day on which the Stock Exchange or such other principal United States securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business (unless such trading shall have been suspended for the entire day).

 

Transfer ” (and, with a correlative meaning, “ Transferring ”) means any sale, transfer, assignment, redemption, pledge, encumbrance or other disposition of (whether directly or indirectly, whether with or without consideration and whether voluntarily or involuntarily or by operation of Law) (a) any interest (legal or beneficial) in any Equity Securities or (b) any equity or other interest (legal or beneficial) in any Member if substantially all of the assets of such Member consist solely of Units.

 

Treasury Regulations ” means the tax regulations promulgated under the Code and any corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations.

 

Underwriting Agreement ” means the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of [•], 2016, by and among the Corporation, the Company and Goldman, Sachs & Co. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representative of the several underwriters named therein

 

Unit ” means a Company Interest of a Member or a permitted Assignee in the Company representing a fractional part of the Company Interests of all Members and Assignees as may be established by the Manager from time to time in accordance with Section 3.02 ; provided, however , that any class or group of Units issued shall have the relative rights, powers and duties set forth in this Agreement, and the Company Interest represented by such class or group of Units shall be determined in accordance with such relative rights, powers and duties.

 

Unitholder ” means a Common Unitholder and any Member who is the registered holder of any other class of Units, if any.

 

Unvested Corporate Shares ” means shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to awards granted under the Corporate Incentive Award Plan that are not Vested Corporate Shares.

 

Value ” means (a) for any Stock Option Plan, the Market Price for the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of exercise of a stock option under such Stock Option Plan and (b) for any Equity Plan other than a Stock Option Plan, the Market Price for the Trading Day immediately preceding the Vesting Date.

 

Vested Corporate Shares ” means the shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to awards granted under the Corporate Incentive Award Plan that are vested pursuant to the terms thereof or any award or similar agreement relating thereto.

 

Vesting Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(c)(ii) .

 

Voting Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02 .

 

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ARTICLE II.
ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

 

Section 2.01                              Formation of Company .  The Company was formed on February 9, 2011 pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware Act.

 

Section 2.02                              Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement .  The Members hereby execute this Agreement for the purpose of establishing the affairs of the Company and the conduct of its business in accordance with the provisions of the Delaware Act.  The Members hereby agree that during the term of the Company set forth in Section 2.06 the rights and obligations of the Members with respect to the Company will be determined in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Delaware Act.  No provision of this Agreement shall be in violation of the Delaware Act and to the extent any provision of this Agreement is in violation of the Delaware Act, such provision shall be void and of no effect to the extent of such violation without affecting the validity of the other provisions of this Agreement. Neither any Member nor the Manager nor any other Person shall have appraisal rights with respect to any Company Interests (including any Units).

 

Section 2.03                              Name .  The name of the Company shall be “CWGS Enterprises, LLC.” The Manager in its sole discretion may change the name of the Company at any time and from time to time.  Notification of any such change shall be given to all of the Members and, to the extent practicable, to all of the holders of any Equity Securities then outstanding.  The Company’s business may be conducted under its name and/or any other name or names deemed advisable by the Manager.

 

Section 2.04                              Purpose .  The primary business and purpose of the Company shall be to engage in such activities as are permitted under the Delaware Act and determined from time to time by the Manager in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

Section 2.05                              Principal Office; Registered Office .  The principal office of the Company shall be at 250 Parkway Drive, Suite 270, Lincolnshire, IL 60048 or such other place as the Manager may from time to time designate.  The address of the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be c/o The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19801, and the registered agent for service of process on the Company in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be The Corporation Trust Company.  The Manager may from time to time change the Company’s registered agent and registered office in the State of Delaware.

 

Section 2.06                              Term .  The term of the Company commenced upon the filing of the Certificate in accordance with the Delaware Act and shall continue in existence until dissolution of the Company in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV .

 

Section 2.07                              No State-Law Partnership .  The Members intend that the Company not be a partnership (including, without limitation, a limited partnership) or joint venture, and that no Member be a partner or joint venturer of any other Member by virtue of this Agreement, for any purposes other than as set forth in the last sentence of this Section 2.07 , and neither this Agreement nor any other document entered into by the Company or any Member relating to the

 

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subject matter hereof shall be construed to suggest otherwise.  The Members intend that the Company shall be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal and, if applicable, state or local income tax purposes, and that each Member and the Company shall file all tax returns and shall otherwise take all tax and financial reporting positions in a manner consistent with such treatment.

 

ARTICLE III.
MEMBERS; UNITS; CAPITALIZATION

 

Section 3.01                              Members .

 

(a)                                  At the Effective Time and concurrently with the IPO Common Unit Purchase and the Blocker Roll Up, the Corporation shall be automatically admitted to the Company as a Member.

 

(b)                                  The Company shall maintain a schedule setting forth: (i) the name and address of each Member; (ii) the aggregate number of outstanding Units and the number and class of Units held by each Member; (iii) the aggregate amount of cash Capital Contributions that has been made by the Members with respect to their Units; and (iv) the Fair Market Value of any property other than cash contributed by the Members with respect to their Units (including, if applicable, a description and the amount of any liability assumed by the Company or to which contributed property is subject) (such schedule, the “ Schedule of Members ”).  The applicable Schedule of Members in effect as of the Effective Time is set forth as Schedule 2 to this Agreement.  The Schedule of Members shall be the definitive record of ownership of each Unit of the Company and all relevant information with respect to each Member.  The Company shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a Person registered on its records as the owner of Units for all purposes and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in Units on the part of any other Person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the Delaware Act.

 

(c)                                   No Member shall be required or, except as approved by the Manager pursuant to Section 6.01 and in accordance with the other provisions of this Agreement, permitted to (i) loan any money or property to the Company, (ii) borrow any money or property from the Company or (iii) make any additional Capital Contributions.

 

Section 3.02                              Units .  Interests in the Company shall be represented by Units, or such other securities of the Company, in each case as the Manager may establish in its discretion in accordance with the terms and subject to the restrictions hereof.  At the Effective Time, the Units will be comprised of a single class of Common Units.  To the extent required pursuant to Section 3.04(a) , the Manager may create one or more classes or series of Common Units or preferred Units solely to the extent such new Common Units or preferred Units are in the aggregate substantially equivalent to a class of common stock of the Corporation or class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation; provided that as long as there are any Members (other than the Corporation) (i) no such new class or series of Units may deprive such Members of, or dilute or reduce, the allocations and distributions they would have received, and the other rights and benefits to which they would have been entitled, in respect of their Company Interest if such new class or series of Units had not been created and (ii) no such new class or series of Units may be

 

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issued, in each case, except to the extent (and solely to the extent) the Company actually receives cash in an aggregate amount, or other property with a Fair Market Value in an aggregate amount, equal to the aggregate distributions that would be made in respect of such new class or series of Units if the Company were liquidated immediately after the issuance of such new class or series of Units.  To the extent required pursuant to Section 3.04(a) or Section 3.10 , as applicable, the Manager may amend this Agreement, without the consent of any Member or any other Person, in connection with the creation and issuance of such classes or series of Units, subject to Sections 16.03(b) and 16.03(d) hereof and Section 4 of that certain voting agreement, dated as of [ · ], 2016, by and among the Corporation and the other Persons party thereto (the “Voting Agreement ”).

 

Section 3.03                              Recapitalization; the Corporation’s Capital Contribution; the Corporation’s Purchase of Common Units; Member Distribution .

 

(a)                                  Recapitalization .  In connection with the Recapitalization, immediately prior to the Effective Time, the number of Original Common Units, Original Preferred Units and Original Profits Units that were issued and outstanding and held by the Pre-IPO Members prior to the execution and effectiveness of this Agreement set forth opposite to the respective Pre-IPO Member in Schedule 1 are hereby converted into the number of Common Units set forth opposite to the respective Effective Date Member on the Schedule of Members, and such Common Units are hereby issued and outstanding as of the Effective Time and the holders of such Common Units hereby continue as Members.

 

(b)                                  The Corporation’s Common Unit Agreements .  Following the Recapitalization, immediately upon the Effective Time, the Corporation will contribute a portion of the IPO Net Proceeds to the Company in exchange for [ · ] newly issued Common Units pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement with the Company (the “ IPO Common Unit Subscription ”), and use the remaining portion of the IPO Net Proceeds to pay the Selling Members for the number of Common Units owned by such Selling Members as set forth opposite such Selling Member’s name on Schedule [ · ] pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Purchase Agreement (the “ IPO Common Unit Purchase ”).  The IPO Common Unit Subscription and the IPO Common Unit Purchase shall be reflected on the Schedule of Members.  In addition, to the extent the underwriters in the IPO exercise the Over-Allotment Option in whole or in part, upon the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, the Corporation will contribute the Over-Allotment Option Net Proceeds to the Company in exchange for a number of newly issued Common Units equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued by the Corporation in such exercise of the Over-Allotment Option pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement, and such issuance of additional Common Units shall be reflected on the Schedule of Members.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Corporation shall be admitted as a Member with respect to all Common Units it holds from time to time.

 

Section 3.04                              Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units .

 

(a)                                  The Company shall undertake all actions, including, without limitation, an issuance, reclassification, distribution, division or recapitalization, with respect to the Common Units, to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock,

 

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disregarding, for purposes of maintaining the one-to-one ratio, (i) Unvested Corporate Shares, (ii) treasury stock or (iii) preferred stock or other debt or equity securities (including without limitation warrants, options or rights) issued by the Corporation that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock (except to the extent the net proceeds from such other securities, including any exercise or purchase price payable upon conversion, exercise or exchange thereof, has been contributed by the Corporation to the equity capital of the Company).  In the event the Corporation issues, transfers or delivers from treasury stock or repurchases Class A Common Stock in a transaction not contemplated in this Agreement, the Manager shall take all actions such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries or repurchases, the number of outstanding Common Units owned by the Corporation will equal on a one-for-one basis the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock.  In the event the Corporation issues, transfers or delivers from treasury stock or repurchases or redeems the Corporation’s preferred stock in a transaction not contemplated in this Agreement, the Manager shall have the authority to take all actions such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries, repurchases or redemptions, the Corporation holds (in the case of any issuance, transfer or delivery) or ceases to hold (in the case of any repurchase or redemption) equity interests in the Company which (in the good faith determination by the Manager) are in the aggregate substantially equivalent to the outstanding preferred stock of the Corporation so issued, transferred, delivered, repurchased or redeemed.  The Company shall not undertake any subdivision (by any Common Unit split, Common Unit distribution, reclassification, recapitalization or similar event) or combination (by reverse Common Unit split, reclassification, recapitalization or similar event) of the Common Units that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of Class A Common Stock to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, unless such action is necessary to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock as contemplated by the first sentence of this Section 3.04(a) .

 

(b)                                  The Company shall only be permitted to issue additional Units or other Equity Securities in the Company to the Persons and on the terms and conditions provided for in Section 3.02 , this Section 3.04 , Section 3.10 and Section 3.11 .  Subject to the foregoing, the Manager may cause the Company to issue additional Common Units authorized under this Agreement at such times and upon such terms as the Manager shall determine and the Manager shall amend this Agreement as necessary in connection with the issuance of additional Common Units and admission of additional Members under this Section 3.04 without the requirement of any consent or acknowledgement of any other Member.

 

Section 3.05                              Repurchase or Redemption of shares of Class A Common Stock .  If, at any time, any shares of Class A Common Stock are repurchased or redeemed (whether by exercise of a put or call, automatically or by means of another arrangement) by the Corporation for cash, then the Manager shall cause the Company, immediately prior to such repurchase or redemption of Class A Common Stock, to redeem a corresponding number of Common Units held by the Corporation, at an aggregate redemption price equal to the aggregate purchase or redemption price of the shares of Class A Common Stock being repurchased or redeemed by the Corporation (plus any expenses related thereto) and upon such other terms as are the same for the shares of Class A Common Stock being repurchased or redeemed by the Corporation.

 

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Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not make any repurchase or redemption if such repurchase or redemption would violate any applicable Law.

 

Section 3.06                              Certificates Representing Units; Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates; Registration and Transfer of Units .

 

(a)                                  Units shall not be certificated unless otherwise determined by the Manager.  If the Manager determines that one or more Units shall be certificated, each such certificate shall be signed by or in the name of the Company, by the Chief Executive Officer and any other officer designated by the Manager, representing the number of Units held by such holder.  Such certificate shall be in such form (and shall contain such legends) as the Manager may determine.  Any or all of such signatures on any certificate representing one or more Units may be a facsimile, engraved or printed, to the extent permitted by applicable Law.  The Manager agrees that it shall not elect to treat any Unit as a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code unless thereafter all Units then outstanding are represented by one or more certificates.

 

(b)                                  If Units are certificated, the Manager may direct that a new certificate representing one or more Units be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Company alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon delivery to the Manager of an affidavit of the owner or owners of such certificate, setting forth such allegation.  The Manager may require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Company a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of any such new certificate.

 

(c)                                   Upon surrender to the Company or the transfer agent of the Company, if any, of a certificate for one or more Units, duly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, in compliance with the provisions hereof, the Company shall issue a new certificate representing one or more Units to the Person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books.  Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Manager may prescribe such additional rules and regulations as it may deem appropriate relating to the issue, Transfer and registration of Units.

 

Section 3.07                              Negative Capital Accounts .  No Member shall be required to pay to any other Member or the Company any deficit or negative balance which may exist from time to time in such Member’s Capital Account (including upon and after dissolution of the Company).

 

Section 3.08                              No Withdrawal .  No Person shall be entitled to withdraw any part of such Person’s Capital Contribution or Capital Account or to receive any Distribution from the Company, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

 

Section 3.09                              Loans From Members .  Loans by Members to the Company shall not be considered Capital Contributions.  Subject to the provisions of Section 3.01(c) , the amount of any such advances shall be a debt of the Company to such Member and shall be payable or collectible in accordance with the terms and conditions upon which such advances are made.

 

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Section 3.10                              Corporate Stock Option Plans and Equity Plans .

 

(a)                                  Options Granted to Persons other than LLC Employees .  If at any time or from time to time, in connection with any Stock Option Plan, a stock option granted over shares of Class A Common Stock to a Person other than an LLC Employee is duly exercised:

 

(i)                                      The Corporation shall, as soon as practicable after such exercise, make a Capital Contribution to the Company in an amount equal to the exercise price paid to the Corporation by such exercising Person in connection with the exercise of such stock option.

 

(ii)                                   Notwithstanding the amount of the Capital Contribution actually made pursuant to Section 3.10(a)(i) , the Corporation shall be deemed to have contributed to the Company as a Capital Contribution, in lieu of the Capital Contribution actually made and in consideration of additional Common Units, an amount equal to the Value of a share of Class A Common Stock as of the date of such exercise multiplied by the number of shares of Class A Common Stock then being issued by the Corporation in connection with the exercise of such stock option.

 

(iii)                                The Corporation shall receive in exchange for such Capital Contributions (as deemed made under Section 3.10(a)(ii) ), a corresponding number of Units of a class correlative to the class of Equity Securities for which such stock options were granted.

 

(b)                                  Options Granted to LLC Employees .  If at any time or from time to time, in connection with any Stock Option Plan, a stock option granted over shares of Class A Common Stock to an LLC Employee is duly exercised:

 

(i)                                      The Corporation shall sell to the Optionee, and the Optionee shall purchase from the Corporation, for a cash price per share equal to the Value of a share of Class A Common Stock at the time of the exercise, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the quotient of (x) the exercise price payable by the Optionee in connection with the exercise of such stock option divided by (y) the Value of a share of Class A Common Stock at the time of such exercise.

 

(ii)                                   The Corporation shall sell to the Company (or if the Optionee is an employee of, or other service provider to, a Subsidiary, the Corporation shall sell to such Subsidiary), and the Company (or such Subsidiary, as applicable) shall purchase from the Corporation, a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the excess of (x) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock as to which such stock option is being exercised over (y) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock sold pursuant to Section 3.10(b)(i) hereof.  The purchase price per share of Class A Common Stock for such sale of shares of Class A Common Stock to the Company (or such Subsidiary) shall be the Value of a share of Class A Common Stock as of the date of exercise of such stock option.

 

(iii)                                The Company shall transfer to the Optionee (or if the Optionee is an employee of, or other service provider to, a Subsidiary, the Subsidiary shall transfer to the Optionee) at no additional cost to such LLC Employee and as additional

 

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compensation (and not a distribution) to such LLC Employee, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock described in Section 3.10(b)(ii) .

 

(iv)                               The Corporation shall, as soon as practicable after such exercise, make a Capital Contribution to the Company in an amount equal to all proceeds received (from whatever source, but excluding any payment in respect of payroll taxes or other withholdings) by the Corporation in connection with the exercise of such stock option.  The Corporation shall receive for such Capital Contribution, a number of Units equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock for which such option was exercised.

 

(c)                                   Restricted Stock Granted to LLC Employees .  If at any time or from time to time, in connection with any Equity Plan (other than a Stock Option Plan), any shares of Class A Common Stock are issued to an LLC Employee (including any shares of Class A Common Stock that are subject to forfeiture in the event such LLC Employee terminates his or her employment with the Company or any Subsidiary) in consideration for services performed for the Company or any Subsidiary:

 

(i)                                      The Corporation shall issue such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as are to be issued to such LLC Employee in accordance with the Equity Plan;

 

(ii)                                   On the date (such date, the “ Vesting Date ”) that the Value of such shares is includible in taxable income of such LLC Employee, the following events will be deemed to have occurred: (1) the Corporation shall be deemed to have sold such shares of Class A Common Stock to the Company (or if such LLC Employee is an employee of, or other service provider to, a Subsidiary, to such Subsidiary) for a purchase price equal to the Value of such shares of Class A Common Stock, (2) the Company (or such Subsidiary) shall be deemed to have delivered such shares of Class A Common Stock to such LLC Employee, (3) the Corporation shall be deemed to have contributed the purchase price for such shares of Class A Common Stock to the Company as a Capital Contribution, and (4) in the case where such LLC Employee is an employee of a Subsidiary, the Company shall be deemed to have contributed such amount to the capital of the Subsidiary; and

 

(iii)                                The Company shall issue to the Corporation on the Vesting Date a number of Units equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued under Section 3.10(c)(i) in consideration for a Capital Contribution that the Corporation is deemed to make to the Company pursuant to clause (3) of Section 3.10(c)(ii) above.

 

(d)                                  Future Stock Incentive Plans .  Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed or applied to preclude or restrain the Corporation from adopting, modifying or terminating stock incentive plans for the benefit of employees, directors or other business associates of the Corporation, the Company or any of their respective Affiliates.  The Members acknowledge and agree that, in the event that any such plan is adopted, modified or terminated by the Corporation, amendments to this Section 3.10 may become necessary or advisable and that any approval or consent to any such amendments requested by the Corporation shall be deemed granted by the Manager and the Members, as applicable, without the requirement of any further consent or acknowledgement of any other Member.

 

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(e)                                   Anti-dilution adjustments.   For all purposes of this Section 3.10 , the number of shares of Class A Common Stock and the corresponding number of Common Units shall be determined after giving effect to all anti-dilution or similar adjustments that are applicable, as of the date of exercise or vesting, to the option, warrant, restricted stock or other equity interest that is being exercised or becomes vested under the applicable Stock Option Plan or other Equity Plan and applicable award or grant documentation.

 

Section 3.11                              Dividend Reinvestment Plan, Cash Option Purchase Plan, Stock Incentive Plan or Other Plan .  Except as may otherwise be provided in this Article III , all amounts received or deemed received by the Corporation in respect of any dividend reinvestment plan, cash option purchase plan, stock incentive or other stock or subscription plan or agreement, either (a) shall be utilized by the Corporation to effect open market purchases of shares of Class A Common Stock, or (b) if the Corporation elects instead to issue new shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to such amounts, shall be contributed by the Corporation to the Company in exchange for additional Units.  Upon such contribution, the Company will issue to the Corporation a number of Units equal to the number of new shares of Class A Common Stock so issued.

 

ARTICLE IV.
DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 4.01                              Distributions .

 

(a)                                  Distributable Cash; Other Distributions .  To the extent permitted by applicable Law and hereunder, Distributions to Members may be declared by the Manager out of Distributable Cash or other funds or property legally available therefor in such amounts and on such terms (including the payment dates of such Distributions) as the Manager shall determine using such record date as the Manager may designate; such Distributions shall be made to the Members as of the close of business on such record date on a pro rata basis in accordance with each Member’s Percentage Interest (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, any distributions made pursuant to Section 4.01(b)(v) ) as of the close of business on such record date; provided, however , that the Manager shall have the obligation to make Distributions as set forth in Sections 4.01(b) and 14.02 ; and provided further that, notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, no Distributions shall be made to any Member to the extent such Distribution would render the Company insolvent.  For purposes of the foregoing sentence, insolvency means the inability of the Company to meet its payment obligations when due.  Promptly following the designation of a record date and the declaration of a Distribution pursuant to this Section 4.01(a) , the Manager shall give notice to each Member of the record date, the amount and the terms of the Distribution and the payment date thereof.  In furtherance of the foregoing, it is intended that the Manager shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law and hereunder, have the right in its sole discretion to make Distributions to the Members pursuant to this Section 4.01(a) in such amounts as shall enable the Corporation to pay dividends or to meet its obligations, including its obligations pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement (to the extent such obligations are not otherwise able to be satisfied as a result of Tax Distributions required to be made pursuant to Section 4.01(b) ).

 

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(b)                                  Tax Distributions .

 

(i)                                      With respect to each Fiscal Year, the Company shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, make cash distributions (“ Tax Distributions ”) to each Member in accordance with, and to the extent of, such Member’s Assumed Tax Liability.  Tax Distributions pursuant to this Section 4.01(b)(i) shall be estimated by the Company on a quarterly basis and, to the extent feasible, shall be distributed to the Members (together with a statement showing the calculation of such Tax Distribution and an estimate of the Company’s net taxable income allocable to each Member for such period) on a quarterly basis on April 15th, June 15th, September 15th and January 15th (of the succeeding year) (or such other dates for which individuals are required to make quarterly estimated tax payments for U.S. federal income tax purposes) (each, a “ Quarterly Tax Distribution ”); provided that the foregoing shall not restrict the Company from making a Tax Distribution on any other date. Quarterly Tax Distributions shall take into account the estimated taxable income or loss of the Company for the Fiscal Year through the end of the relevant quarterly period.  A final accounting for Tax Distributions shall be made for each Fiscal Year after the allocation of the Company’s actual net taxable income or loss has been determined and any shortfall in the amount of Tax Distributions a Member received for such Fiscal Year based on such final accounting shall promptly be distributed to such Member.  For the avoidance of doubt, any excess Tax Distributions a Member receives with respect to any Fiscal Year shall reduce future Tax Distributions otherwise required to be made to such Member with respect to any subsequent Fiscal Year.

 

(ii)                                   To the extent a Member otherwise would be entitled to receive less than its Percentage Interest of the aggregate Tax Distributions to be paid pursuant to this Section 4.01(b) (other than any distributions made pursuant to Section 4.01(b)(v) ) on any given date, the Tax Distributions to such Member shall be increased to ensure that all Distributions made pursuant to this Section 4.01(b) are made pro rata in accordance with the Members’ respective Percentage Interests.  If, on a Tax Distribution Date, there are insufficient funds on hand to distribute to the Members the full amount of the Tax Distributions to which such Members are otherwise entitled, Distributions pursuant to this Section 4.01(b) shall be made to the Members to the extent of available funds in accordance with their Percentage Interests and the Company shall make future Tax Distributions as soon as funds become available sufficient to pay the remaining portion of the Tax Distributions to which such Members are otherwise entitled.

 

(iii)                                In the event of any audit by, or similar event with, a taxing authority that affects the calculation of any Member’s Assumed Tax Liability for any taxable year (other than an audit conducted pursuant to the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions for which no election is made pursuant to Section 6226 thereof), or in the event the Company files an amended tax return, each Member’s Assumed Tax Liability with respect to such year shall be recalculated by giving effect to such event (for the avoidance of doubt, taking into account interest or penalties).  Any shortfall in the amount of Tax Distributions the Members and former Members received for the relevant taxable years based on such recalculated Assumed Tax Liability promptly shall be distributed to such Members and the successors of such former Members, except, for the avoidance of doubt, to the extent Distributions were made to such Members and former Members pursuant to

 

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Section 4.01(a) and this Section 4.01(b) in the relevant taxable years sufficient to cover such shortfall.

 

(iv)                               Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tax Distributions pursuant to this Section 4.01(b ) (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, any distributions made pursuant to Section 4.01(b)(v)) , if any, shall be made to a Member only to the extent all previous Tax Distributions to such Member pursuant to Section 4.01(b) with respect to the Fiscal Year are less than the Tax Distributions such Member otherwise would have been entitled to receive with respect to such Fiscal Year pursuant to this Section 4.01(b) .

 

(v)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing and anything to the contrary in this Agreement, a final accounting for tax distributions under the Initial LLC Agreement in respect of the taxable income of the Company for the portion of the Fiscal Year of the Company that ends on closing date of the IPO shall be made by the Company following the closing date of the IPO and, based on such final accounting, the Company shall make a tax distribution to the Pre-IPO Members (or in the case of any Pre-IPO Member that no longer exists, the successor of such Pre-IPO Member) in accordance with the applicable terms of the Initial LLC Agreement to the extent of any shortfall in the amount of tax distributions the Pre-IPO Members received prior to the closing date of the IPO with respect to taxable income of the Company for such portion of such Fiscal Year that will be allocated to the Pre-IPO Members pursuant to Section 706 of the Code.

 

ARTICLE V.
CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS

 

Section 5.01                              Capital Accounts .

 

(a)                                  The Company shall maintain a separate Capital Account for each Member according to the rules of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv).  For this purpose, the Company may (in the discretion of the Manager), upon the occurrence of the events specified in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), increase or decrease the Capital Accounts in accordance with the rules of such Treasury Regulation and Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g) to reflect a revaluation of Company property.

 

(b)                                  For purposes of computing the amount of any item of Company income, gain, loss or deduction to be allocated pursuant to this Article V and to be reflected in the Capital Accounts of the Members, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for U.S. federal income tax purposes (including any method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for this purpose); provided, however , that:

 

(i)                                      The computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall include those items described in Code Section 705(a)(l)(B) or Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) and Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), without regard to the fact that such items are not includable in gross income or are not deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

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(ii)                                   If the Book Value of any Company property is adjusted pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(e) or (f), the amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such property.

 

(iii)                                Items of income, gain, loss or deduction attributable to the disposition of Company property having a Book Value that differs from its adjusted basis for tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the Book Value of such property.

 

(iv)                               Items of depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions with respect to Company property having a Book Value that differs from its adjusted basis for tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the property’s Book Value in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g).

 

(v)                                  To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to Code Sections 732(d), 734(b) or 743(b) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis).

 

Section 5.02                              Allocations .  Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.03 and Section 5.04 , Net Profits and Net Losses for any Fiscal Year or Fiscal Period shall be allocated among the Capital Accounts of the Members pro rata in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

 

Section 5.03                              Regulatory Allocations .

 

(a)                                  Losses attributable to partner nonrecourse debt (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(4)) shall be allocated in the manner required by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i).  If there is a net decrease during a Taxable Year in partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(3)), Profits for such Taxable Year (and, if necessary, for subsequent Taxable Years) shall be allocated to the Members in the amounts and of such character as determined according to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(i)(4).

 

(b)                                  Nonrecourse deductions (as determined according to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(b)(1)) for any Taxable Year shall be allocated pro rata among the Members in accordance with their Percentage Interests.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.03(a) , if there is a net decrease in the Minimum Gain during any Taxable Year, each Member shall be allocated Profits for such Taxable Year (and, if necessary, for subsequent Taxable Years) in the amounts and of such character as determined according to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f).  This Section 5.03(b) is intended to be a minimum gain chargeback provision that complies with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-2(f), and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.

 

(c)                                   If any Member that unexpectedly receives an adjustment, allocation or Distribution described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6) has an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit as of the end of any Taxable Year, computed after the

 

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application of Sections 5.03(a) and 5.03(b) but before the application of any other provision of this Article V , then Profits for such Taxable Year shall be allocated to such Member in proportion to, and to the extent of, such Adjusted Capital Account Deficit.  This Section 5.03(c) is intended to be a qualified income offset provision as described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.

 

(d)                                  If the allocation of Net Losses to a Member as provided in Section 5.02 would create or increase an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit, there shall be allocated to such Member only that amount of Losses as will not create or increase an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit.  The Net Losses that would, absent the application of the preceding sentence, otherwise be allocated to such Member shall be allocated to the other Members in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, subject to this Section 5.03(d) .

 

(e)                                   Profits and Losses described in Section 5.01(b)(v) shall be allocated in a manner consistent with the manner that the adjustments to the Capital Accounts are required to be made pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(j), (k) and (m).

 

(f)                                    The allocations set forth in Section 5.03(a) through and including Section 5.03(e) (the “ Regulatory Allocations ”) are intended to comply with certain requirements of Sections 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2 of the Treasury Regulations.  The Regulatory Allocations may not be consistent with the manner in which the Members intend to allocate Profit and Loss of the Company or make Distributions.  Accordingly, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article V , but subject to the Regulatory Allocations, income, gain, deduction and loss shall be reallocated among the Members so as to eliminate the effect of the Regulatory Allocations and thereby cause the respective Capital Accounts of the Members to be in the amounts (or as close thereto as possible) they would have been if Profit and Loss (and such other items of income, gain, deduction and loss) had been allocated without reference to the Regulatory Allocations.  In general, the Members anticipate that this will be accomplished by specially allocating other Profit and Loss (and such other items of income, gain, deduction and loss) among the Members so that the net amount of the Regulatory Allocations and such special allocations to each such Member is zero.  In addition, if in any Fiscal Year or Fiscal Period there is a decrease in partnership minimum gain, or in partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain, and application of the minimum gain chargeback requirements set forth in Section 5.03(a) or Section 5.03(b) would cause a distortion in the economic arrangement among the Members, the Members may, if they do not expect that the Company will have sufficient other income to correct such distortion, request the Internal Revenue Service to waive either or both of such minimum gain chargeback requirements.  If such request is granted, this Agreement shall be applied in such instance as if it did not contain such minimum gain chargeback requirement.

 

Section 5.04                              Final Allocations .  Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement except Section 5.03 , the Manager shall make appropriate adjustments to allocations of Profits and Losses to (or, if necessary, allocate items of gross income, gain, loss or deduction of the Company among) the Members upon the liquidation of the Company (within the meaning of Section 1.704 1(b)(2)(ii)(g) of the Treasury Regulations), the transfer of substantially all the Units (whether by sale or exchange or merger) or sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Company, such that, to the maximum extent possible, the Capital Accounts of the Members are proportionate to their Percentage Interests.  In each case, such adjustments or allocations shall

 

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occur, to the maximum extent possible, in the Fiscal Year of the event requiring such adjustments or allocations.

 

Section 5.05                              Tax Allocations .

 

(a)                                  The income, gains, losses, deductions and credits of the Company will be allocated, for federal, state and local income tax purposes, among the Members in accordance with the allocation of such income, gains, losses, deductions and credits among the Members for computing their Capital Accounts; provided that if any such allocation is not permitted by the Code or other applicable Law, the Company’s subsequent income, gains, losses, deductions and credits will be allocated among the Members so as to reflect as nearly as possible the allocation set forth herein in computing their Capital Accounts.

 

(b)                                  Items of Company taxable income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to any property contributed to the capital of the Company shall be allocated among the Members in accordance with Code Section 704(c) so as to take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such property to the Company for federal income tax purposes and its Book Value using the traditional method, as described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(b).

 

(c)                                   If the Book Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.01(b) , subsequent allocations of items of taxable income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such asset shall take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such asset for federal income tax purposes and its Book Value in the same manner as under Code Section 704(c) using the traditional method, as described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(b).

 

(d)                                  Allocations of tax credits, tax credit recapture, and any items related thereto shall be allocated to the Members as determined by the Manager taking into account the principles of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(ii).

 

(e)                                   For purposes of determining a Member’s pro rata share of the Company’s “excess nonrecourse liabilities” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.752-3(a)(3), each Member’s interest in income and gain shall be in proportion to the Units held by such Member.

 

(f)                                    Allocations pursuant to this Section 5.05 are solely for purposes of federal, state and local taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account in computing, any Member’s Capital Account or share of Profits, Losses, Distributions or other Company items pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.

 

Section 5.06                              Indemnification and Reimbursement for Payments on Behalf of a Member .  If the Company is obligated to pay any amount to a Governmental Entity (or otherwise makes a payment to a Governmental Entity) that is specifically attributable to a Member or a Member’s status as such (including federal income taxes as a result of Company obligations pursuant to the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions, federal withholding taxes, state personal property taxes and state unincorporated business taxes, but excluding payments such as payroll taxes, withholding taxes, benefits or professional association fees and the like required to be made or made voluntarily by the Company on behalf of any Member based upon such Member’s status as an employee of the Company), then such Person shall indemnify the Company in full for the entire amount paid (including interest, penalties and related expenses).  The Manager may

 

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offset Distributions to which a Person is otherwise entitled under this Agreement against such Person’s obligation to indemnify the Company under this Section 5.06 .  In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, each Member agrees that any Cash Settlement such Member is entitled to receive pursuant to Article XI may be offset by an amount equal to such Member’s obligation to indemnify the Company under this Section 5.06 and that such Member shall be treated as receiving the full amount of such Cash Settlement and paying to the Company an amount equal to such obligation.  A Member’s obligation to make payments to the Company under this Section 5.06 shall survive the termination, dissolution, liquidation and winding up of the Company.  In the event that the Company has been terminated prior to the date such payment is due, such Member shall make such payment to the Manager (or its designee), which shall distribute such funds in accordance with this Agreement.  The Company may pursue and enforce all rights and remedies it may have against each Member under this Section 5.06 , including instituting a lawsuit to collect such contribution with interest calculated at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Base Rate plus 300 basis points (but not in excess of the highest rate per annum permitted by Law).  Each Member hereby agrees to furnish to the Company such information and forms as required or reasonably requested in order to comply with any Laws and regulations governing withholding of tax or in order to claim any reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding to which the Member is legally entitled.

 

ARTICLE VI.
MANAGEMENT

 

Section 6.01                              Authority of Manager .

 

(a)                                  Except for situations in which the approval of any Member(s) is specifically required by this Agreement, (i) all management powers over the business and affairs of the Company shall be exclusively vested in the Corporation, as the sole managing member of the Company (the Corporation, in such capacity, the “ Manager ”) and (ii) the Manager shall conduct, direct and exercise full control over all activities of the Company, subject to Sections 2(a) and (b) , 4 and 5(a) of Voting Agreement.  The Manager shall be the “manager” of the Company for the purposes of the Delaware Act.  Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Members hereby consent to the exercise by the Manager of all such powers and rights conferred on the Members by the Delaware Act with respect to the management and control of the Company.  Any vacancies in the position of Manager shall be filled in accordance with Section 6.04 .

 

(b)                                  The day-to-day business and operations of the Company shall be overseen and implemented by officers of the Company (each, an “ Officer ” and collectively, the “ Officers ”), subject to the limitations imposed by the Manager.  An Officer may, but need not, be a Member.  Each Officer shall be appointed by the Manager and shall hold office until his or her successor shall be duly designated and shall qualify or until his or her death or until he shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided.  Any one Person may hold more than one office.  Subject to the other provisions in this Agreement (including in Section 6.07 below), the salaries or other compensation, if any, of the Officers of the Company shall be fixed from time to time by the Manager.  The authority and responsibility of the Officers shall include, but not be limited to, such duties as the Manager may, from time to time, delegate to them and the carrying out of the Company’s business and affairs on a day-to-day basis.  The existing Officers

 

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of the Company as of the Effective Time shall remain in their respective positions and shall be deemed to have been appointed by the Manager.  All Officers shall be, and shall be deemed to be, officers and employees of the Company.  An Officer may also perform one or more roles as an officer of the Manager.  Any Officer may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Manager.

 

(c)                                   The Manager shall have the power and authority to effectuate the sale, lease, transfer, exchange or other disposition of any, all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (including the exercise or grant of any conversion, option, privilege or subscription right or any other right available in connection with any assets at any time held by the Company) or the merger, consolidation, reorganization or other combination of the Company with or into another entity, for the avoidance of doubt, without the prior consent of any Member or any other Person being required, subject to Sections 4(b)(i) and (b)(ii) of the Voting Agreement.

 

Section 6.02                              Actions of the Manager .  The Manager may act through any Officer or through any other Person or Persons to whom authority and duties have been delegated pursuant to Section 6.07 .

 

Section 6.03                              Resignation; No Removal .  The Manager may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Members.  Unless otherwise specified in the notice, the resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the Members, and the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Members have no right under this Agreement to remove or replace the Manager.

 

Section 6.04                              Vacancies .  Vacancies in the position of Manager occurring for any reason shall be filled by the Corporation (or, if the Corporation has ceased to exist without any successor or assign, then by the holders of a majority in interest of the voting capital stock of the Corporation immediately prior to such cessation).  For the avoidance of doubt, the Members have no right under this Agreement to fill any vacancy in the position of Manager.

 

Section 6.05                              Transactions Between Company and Manager .  The Manager may cause the Company to contract and deal with the Manager, or any Affiliate of the Manager, provided such contracts and dealings (other than contracts and dealings between the Company and its Subsidiaries) are on terms comparable to and competitive with those available to the Company from others dealing at arm’s length or are approved by the Members and otherwise are permitted by the Credit Agreements.  The Members hereby approve each of the contracts or agreements between or among the Manager, the Company and their respective Affiliates entered into on or prior to the date hereof in accordance with the Initial LLC Agreement or that the board of managers has approved in connection with the IPO as of the date hereof, including the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement and the IPO Common Unit Purchase Agreement.

 

Section 6.06                              Reimbursement for Expenses .  The Manager shall not be compensated for its services as Manager of the Company except as expressly provided in this Agreement.  The Members acknowledge and agree that, upon consummation of the IPO, the Manager’s Class A Common Stock will be publicly traded and therefore the Manager will have access to the public capital markets and that such status and the services performed by the Manager will inure to the benefit of the Company and all Members; therefore, the Manager shall be reimbursed by the

 

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Company for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the Company, including without limitation all fees, expenses and costs associated with the IPO and all fees, expenses and costs of being a public company (including without limitation public reporting obligations, proxy statements, stockholder meetings, stock exchange fees, transfer agent fees, SEC and FINRA filing fees and offering expenses) and maintaining its corporate existence.  In the event that shares of Class A Common Stock are sold to underwriters in the IPO (or in any subsequent public offering) at a price per share that is lower than the price per share for which such shares of Class A Common Stock are sold to the public in the IPO (or in such subsequent public offering, as applicable) after taking into account underwriters’ discounts or commissions and brokers’ fees or commissions (such difference, the “ Discount ”) (i) the Manager shall be deemed to have contributed to the Company in exchange for newly issued Common Units the full amount for which such shares of Class A Common Stock were sold to the public and (ii) the Company shall be deemed to have paid the Discount as an expense.  To the extent practicable, expenses incurred by the Manager on behalf of or for the benefit of the Company shall be billed directly to and paid by the Company and, if and to the extent any reimbursements to the Manager or any of its Affiliates by the Company pursuant to this Section 6.06 constitute gross income to such Person (as opposed to the repayment of advances made by such Person on behalf of the Company), such amounts shall be treated as “guaranteed payments” within the meaning of Code Section 707(c) and shall not be treated as distributions for purposes of computing the Members’ Capital Accounts.

 

Section 6.07                              Delegation of Authority .  The Manager (a) may, from time to time, delegate to one or more Persons such authority and duties as the Manager may deem advisable, and (b) may assign titles (including, without limitation, chief executive officer, president, chief executive officer, chief financial officers, chief operating officer, vice president, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer or assistant treasurer) and delegate certain authority and duties to such Persons as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.  Any number of titles may be held by the same individual.  The salaries or other compensation, if any, of such agents of the Company shall be fixed from time to time by the Manager, subject to the other provisions in this Agreement.

 

Section 6.08                              Limitation of Liability of Manager .

 

(a)                                  Except as otherwise provided herein or in an agreement entered into by such Person and the Company, neither the Manager nor any of the Manager’s Affiliates or Manager’s officers, employees or other agents shall be liable to the Company,  to any Member that is not the Manager or to any other Person bound by this Agreement for any act or omission performed or omitted by the Manager in its capacity as the sole managing member of the Company pursuant to authority granted to the Manager by this Agreement; provided, however , that, except as otherwise provided herein, such limitation of liability shall not apply to the extent the act or omission was attributable to the Manager’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or knowing violation of Law or for any present or future breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by the Manager or its Affiliates contained herein or in the other agreements with the Company.  The Manager may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent (so long as such agent was selected in good faith and with reasonable care).  The Manager shall be

 

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entitled to rely upon the advice of legal counsel, independent public accountants and other experts, including financial advisors, and any act of or failure to act by the Manager in good faith reliance on such advice shall in no event subject the Manager to liability to the Company or any Member that is not the Manager.

 

(b)                                  Whenever this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein provides that the Manager shall act in a manner which is, or provide terms which are, “fair and reasonable” to the Company or any Member that is not the Manager, the Manager shall determine such appropriate action or provide such terms considering, in each case, the relative interests of each party to such agreement, transaction or situation and the benefits and burdens relating to such interests, any customary or accepted industry practices, and any applicable United States generally accepted accounting practices or principles, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at Law or in equity.

 

(c)                                   Whenever in this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein, the Manager is permitted or required to take any action or to make a decision in its “sole discretion” or “discretion,” with “complete discretion” or under a grant of similar authority or latitude, the Manager shall be entitled to consider such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law and notwithstanding any duty otherwise existing at Law or in equity, have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Company, other Members or any other Person.

 

(d)                                  Whenever in this Agreement the Manager is permitted or required to take any action or to make a decision in its “good faith” or under another express standard, the Manager shall act under such express standard and, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement or duty otherwise, existing at Law or in equity, and, notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, so long as the Manager acts in good faith, the resolution, action or terms so made, taken or provided by the Manager shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein or impose liability upon the Manager or any of the Manager’s Affiliates and shall be deemed approved by all Members.

 

Section 6.09                              Investment Company Act .  The Manager shall use its best efforts to ensure that the Company shall not be subject to registration as an investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act.

 

Section 6.10                              Outside Activities of the Manager .  The Manager shall not, directly or indirectly, enter into or conduct any business or operations, other than in connection with (a) the ownership, acquisition and disposition of Common Units, (b) the management of the business and affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (c) the operation of the Manager as a reporting company with a class (or classes) of securities registered under Section 12 of  the Exchange Act and listed on a securities exchange, (d) the offering, sale, syndication, private placement or public offering of stock, bonds, securities or other interests of the Corporation or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (e) financing or refinancing of any type related to the Corporation or the Company, its Subsidiaries or their assets or activities, (f) treasury and treasury management, (g) stock repurchases, and (h) such activities as are incidental to the foregoing; provided, however ,

 

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that, except as otherwise provided herein, the net proceeds of any financing raised by the Manager pursuant to the preceding clauses (d) and (e) shall be made available to the Company, whether as Capital Contributions, loans or otherwise, as appropriate, and, provided further , that the Manager may, in its sole and absolute discretion, from time to time hold or acquire assets in its own name or otherwise other than through the Company and its Subsidiaries so long as the Manager takes commercially reasonable measures to ensure that the economic benefits and burdens of such assets are otherwise vested in the Company or its Subsidiaries, through assignment, mortgage loan or otherwise or, if it is not commercially reasonable to vest such economic interests in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Members shall negotiate in good faith to amend this Agreement to reflect such activities and the direct ownership of assets by the Manager.  Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to prohibit the Manager from executing any guarantee of indebtedness of the Company or its Subsidiaries.

 

ARTICLE VII.
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS AND MANAGER

 

Section 7.01                              Limitation of Liability and Duties of Members .

 

(a)                                  Except as provided in this Agreement or in the Delaware Act, the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company and no Member (including without limitation, the Manager) shall be obligated personally for any such debts, obligations, contracts or liabilities of the Company solely by reason of being a Member or the Manager (except to the extent and under the circumstances set forth in any non-waivable provision of the Act).  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the failure of the Company to observe any formalities or requirements relating to the exercise of its powers or management of its business and affairs under this Agreement or the Delaware Act shall not be grounds for imposing personal liability on the Members for liabilities of the Company.

 

(b)                                  In accordance with the Delaware Act and the laws of the State of Delaware, a Member may, under certain circumstances, be required to return amounts previously distributed to such Member.  It is the intent of the Members that no Distribution to any Member pursuant to Articles IV or XIV shall be deemed a return of money or other property paid or distributed in violation of the Delaware Act.  The payment of any such money or Distribution of any such property to a Member shall be deemed to be a compromise within the meaning of Section 18-502(b) of the Delaware Act, and, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any Member receiving any such money or property shall not be required to return any such money or property to the Company or any other Person, unless such distribution was made by the Company to its Members in clerical error.  However, if any court of competent jurisdiction holds that, notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, any Member is obligated to make any such payment, such obligation shall be the obligation of such Member and not of any other Member.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (subject to Section 6.08 with respect to the Manager), to the extent that, at Law or in equity, any Member (or any Member’s Affiliate or any manager, managing member, general partner, director, officer, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee of any Member or of any Affiliate of a Member) has duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Company, to the Manager, to another Member, to any Person

 

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who acquires an interest in a Company Interest or to any other Person bound by this Agreement, all such duties (including fiduciary duties) are hereby eliminated, to the fullest extent permitted by law, and replaced with the duties or standards expressly set forth herein, if any.  The elimination of duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Company, the Manager, each of the Members, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Company Interest and each other Person bound by this Agreement and replacement thereof with the duties or standards expressly set forth herein, if any, are approved by the Company, the Manager, each of the Members, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Company Interest and each other Person bound by this Agreement.

 

Section 7.02                              Lack of Authority .  No Member, other than the Manager or a duly appointed Officer, in each case in its capacity as such, has the authority or power to act for or on behalf of the Company, to do any act that would be binding on the Company or to make any expenditure on behalf of the Company.  The Members hereby consent to the exercise by the Manager of the powers conferred on them by Law and this Agreement.

 

Section 7.03                              No Right of Partition .  No Member, other than the Manager, shall have the right to seek or obtain partition by court decree or operation of Law of any Company property, or the right to own or use particular or individual assets of the Company.

 

Section 7.04                              Indemnification .

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 5.06 , the Company hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any Person (each an “ Indemnified Person ”) to the fullest extent permitted under the Delaware Act, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, substituted or replaced (but, in the case of any such amendment, substitution or replacement only to the extent that such amendment, substitution or replacement permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than the Company is providing immediately prior to such amendment), against all expenses, liabilities and losses (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Person (or one or more of such Person’s Affiliates) by reason of the fact that such Person is or was a Member or an Affiliate thereof (other than as a result of an ownership interest in the Corporation) or is or was serving as the Manager or a director, officer, employee or other agent of the Manager, or a director, manager, Officer, employee or other agent of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a manager, officer, director, principal, member, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other enterprise; provided, however , that no Indemnified Person shall be indemnified for any expenses, liabilities and losses suffered that are attributable to such Indemnified Person’s or its Affiliates’ gross negligence, willful misconduct or knowing violation of Law or for any present or future breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by such Indemnified Person or its Affiliates contained herein or in the other agreements with the Company.  Expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by any such Indemnified Person in defending a proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding, including any appeal therefrom, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.

 

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(b)                                  The right to indemnification and the advancement of expenses conferred in this Section 7.04 shall not be exclusive of any other right which any Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, agreement, bylaw, action by the Manager or otherwise.

 

(c)                                   The Company shall maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, or substantially equivalent insurance, at its expense, to protect any Indemnified Person (and the investment funds, if any, they represent) against any expense, liability or loss described in Section 7.04(a)  whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such Indemnified Person against such expense, liability or loss under the provisions of this Section 7.04 .  The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to purchase and maintain property, casualty and liability insurance in types and at levels customary for companies of similar size engaged in similar lines of business, as determined in good faith by the Manager, and the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to purchase directors’ and officers’ liability insurance (including employment practices coverage) with a carrier and in an amount determined necessary or desirable as determined in good faith by the Manager.

 

(d)                                  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary (including in this Section 7.04 ), the Company agrees that any indemnification and advancement of expenses available to any current or former Indemnified Person from (i) Crestview or (ii) any investment fund that is an Affiliate of Crestview or of the Company, in each case, who was appointed to serve as a director of the Company or served as a Member of the Company by virtue of such Person’s service as a member, director, partner or employee of any such fund prior to or following the Effective Time (any such Person, a “ Sponsor Person ”) shall be secondary to the indemnification and advancement of expenses to be provided by the Company pursuant to this Section 7.04 which shall be provided out of and to the extent of Company assets only and no Member (unless such Member otherwise agrees in writing or is found in a final decision by a court of competent jurisdiction to have personal liability on account thereof) shall have personal liability on account thereof or shall be required to make additional Capital Contributions to help satisfy such indemnity of the Company and the Company (i) shall be the primary indemnitor of first resort for such Sponsor Person pursuant to this Section 7.04 and (ii) shall be fully responsible for the advancement of all expenses and the payment of all damages or liabilities with respect to such Sponsor Person which are addressed by this Section 7.04 .

 

(e)                                   If this Section 7.04 or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Company shall nevertheless indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Person pursuant to this Section 7.04 to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Section 7.04 that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law.

 

Section 7.05                              Members Right to Act .  For matters that require the approval of the Members, the Members shall act through meetings and written consents as described in paragraphs (a) and (b) below:

 

(a)                                  Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Agreement, acts by the Members holding a majority of the Units, voting together as a single class, shall be the acts of the Members.  Any Member entitled to vote at a meeting of Members or to express consent or dissent to Company action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons

 

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to act for it by proxy.  An electronic mail, telegram, telex, cablegram or similar transmission by the Member, or a photographic, photostatic, facsimile or similar reproduction of a writing executed by the Member shall (if stated thereon) be treated as a proxy executed in writing for purposes of this Section 7.05(a) .  No proxy shall be voted or acted upon after eleven (11) months from the date thereof, unless the proxy provides for a longer period.  A proxy shall be revocable unless the proxy form conspicuously states that the proxy is irrevocable and that the proxy is coupled with an interest.  Should a proxy designate two or more Persons to act as proxies, unless that instrument shall provide to the contrary, a majority of such Persons present at any meeting at which their powers thereunder are to be exercised shall have and may exercise all the powers of voting or giving consents thereby conferred, or, if only one be present, then such powers may be exercised by that one; or, if an even number attend and a majority do not agree on any particular issue, the Company shall not be required to recognize such proxy with respect to such issue if such proxy does not specify how the votes that are the subject of such proxy are to be voted with respect to such issue.

 

(b)                                  The actions by the Members permitted hereunder may be taken at a meeting called by the Manager or by the Members holding a majority of the Units entitled to vote on such matter on at least 120 hours’ prior written notice to the other Members entitled to vote, which notice shall state the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is being called.  The actions taken by the Members entitled to vote or consent at any meeting (as opposed to by written consent), however called and noticed, shall be as valid as though taken at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice if (but not until), either before, at or after the meeting, the Members entitled to vote or consent as to whom it was improperly held signs a written waiver of notice or a consent to the holding of such meeting or an approval of the minutes thereof.  The actions by the Members entitled to vote or consent may be taken by vote of the Members entitled to vote or consent at a meeting or by written consent, so long as such consent is signed by Members having not less than the minimum number of Units that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all Members entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.  Prompt notice of the action so taken, which shall state the purpose or purposes for which such consent is required and may be delivered via email, without a meeting shall be given to those Members entitled to vote or consent who have not consented in writing; provided, however , that the failure to give any such notice shall not affect the validity of the action taken by such written consent.  Any action taken pursuant to such written consent of the Members shall have the same force and effect as if taken by the Members at a meeting thereof.

 

Section 7.06                              Inspection Rights .  The Company shall permit each Member and each of its designated representatives to examine the books and records of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at the principal office of the Company or such other location as the Manager shall reasonably approve during reasonable business hours for any purpose reasonably related to such Member’s Company Interest; provided that Manager has a right to keep confidential from the Members certain information in accordance with Section 18-305 of the Delaware Act.

 

ARTICLE VIII.
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS, AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

Section 8.01                              Records and Accounting .  The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, appropriate books and records with respect to the Company’s business, including all books and

 

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records necessary to provide any information, lists and copies of documents required to be provided pursuant to Section 8.03 or pursuant to applicable Laws.  All matters concerning (a) the determination of the relative amount of allocations and Distributions among the Members pursuant to Articles III and IV and (b) accounting procedures and determinations, and other determinations not specifically and expressly provided for by the terms of this Agreement, shall be determined by the Manager, whose determination shall be final and conclusive as to all of the Members absent manifest clerical error.

 

Section 8.02                              Fiscal Year .  The Fiscal Year of the Company shall end on December 31 of each year or such other date as may be established by the Manager.

 

ARTICLE IX.
TAX MATTERS

 

Section 9.01                              Preparation of Tax Returns .  The Manager shall arrange for the preparation and timely filing of all tax returns required to be filed by the Company.  On or before March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15 of each Fiscal Year, the Company shall send to each Person who was a Member at any time during the prior quarter, an estimate of such Member’s state tax apportionment information and allocations to the Members of taxable income, gains, losses, deductions and credits for the prior quarter, which estimate shall have been reviewed by the Company’s outside tax accountants.  In addition, no later than (i) April 5 following the end of the prior Fiscal Year, the Company shall provide to each Person that was a Member at any time during such Fiscal Year a statement showing an estimate of such Member’s state tax apportionment information and such Member’s estimated allocations of taxable income, gains, losses, deductions and credits for such Fiscal Year and (ii) July 31 following the end of the prior Fiscal Year, the Company shall send to each Person who was a Member at any time during such Fiscal Year, a statement showing such Member’s final state tax apportionment information and allocations to the Members of taxable income, gains, losses, deductions and credits for such Fiscal Year and a completed IRS Schedule K-1.  Each Member shall notify the other Members upon receipt of any notice of tax examination of the Company by federal, state or local authorities.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in its capacity as Tax Matters Partner, the Corporation shall have the authority to prepare the tax returns of the Company using such permissible methods and elections as it determines in its reasonable discretion, including without limitation the use of any permissible method under Section 706 of the Code for purposes of determining the varying Company Interests of its Members.

 

Section 9.02                              Tax Elections .  The Taxable Year shall be the Fiscal Year set forth in Section 8.02 .  The Company and any eligible Subsidiary shall make an election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code, shall not thereafter revoke such election and shall make a new election pursuant to Section 754 to the extent necessary following any “termination” of the Company or the Subsidiary under Section 708 of the Code.  Each Member will upon request supply any information reasonably necessary to give proper effect to any such elections.

 

Section 9.03                              Tax Controversies .

 

(a)                                  With respect to Tax Years beginning on or before December 31, 2017, the Corporation is hereby designated the Tax Matters Partner of the Company within the meaning

 

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given to such term in Section 6231 of the Code (the Corporation, in such capacity, the “ Tax Matters Partner ”) and is authorized and required to represent the Company (at the Company’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Company’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Company funds for professional services reasonably incurred in connection therewith.  Each Member agrees to cooperate with the Company and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably requested by the Company with respect to the conduct of such proceedings.  The Tax Matters Partners shall keep all Members reasonably informed of the progress of any examinations, audits or other proceedings, and all Members shall have the right to observe and participate at their sole expense in any tax proceedings.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Tax Matters Partners shall not settle or otherwise compromise any issue in any such examination, audit or other proceeding without first obtaining approval of the Manager.  Nothing set forth in this Agreement shall diminish, limit or restrict the rights of any Member under Subchapter C, Chapter 63, Subtitle F of the Code (Code Sections 6221 et seq.).

 

(b)                                  With respect to Tax Years beginning after December 31, 2017, pursuant to the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions, the Corporation shall be designated and may, on behalf of the Company, at any time, and without further notice to or consent from any Member, act as the “partnership representative” of the Company (within the meaning given to such term in Section 6223 of the Code) (the “ Partnership Representative ”) for purposes of the Code. The Partnership Representative shall have the right and obligation to take all actions authorized and required, respectively, by the Code for the Partnership Representative and is authorized and required to represent the Company (at the Company’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Company’s affairs by tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Company funds for professional services reasonably incurred in connection therewith. Each Member agrees to cooperate with the Company and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably requested by the Company with respect to the conduct of such proceedings. The Partnership Representative shall keep all Members fully advised on a current basis of any contacts by or discussions with the tax authorities, and the Members shall have the right to observe and participate through representatives of their own choosing (at their sole expense) in any tax proceedings. Nothing herein shall diminish, limit or restrict the rights of any Member under the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions.

 

ARTICLE X.
RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF UNITS; PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS

 

Section 10.01                       Transfers by Members .  No holder of Units shall Transfer any interest in any Units, except Transfers (a) pursuant to and in accordance with Sections 10.02 and 10.09 or (b) approved in writing by the Manager, in the case of Transfers by any Member other than the Manager, or (c) in the case of Transfers by the Manager, to any Person who succeeds to the Manager in accordance with Section 6.04 .  Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Transfer” shall not include an event that terminates the existence of a Member for income tax purposes (including, without limitation, a change in entity classification of a Member under Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3, termination of a partnership pursuant to Code Section 708(b)(1)(B), a sale of assets by, or liquidation of, a Member pursuant to an election under Code Sections 336 or 338, or merger, severance, or allocation within a trust or among sub-trusts of a trust that is a Member), but that does not terminate the existence of such Member under applicable state Law (or, in the

 

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case of a trust that is a Member, does not terminate the trusteeship of the fiduciaries under such trust with respect to all the Company Interests of such trust that is a Member).

 

Section 10.02                       Permitted Transfers .  The restrictions contained in Section 10.01 shall not apply to any Transfer (each, a “ Permitted Transfer ” and each transferee, a “ Permitted Transferee ”) pursuant to (i)(A) a Redemption or Exchange in accordance with Article XI hereof or (B) a Transfer by a Member to the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) a Transfer by any Member to such Member’s spouse, any lineal ascendants or descendants or trusts or other entities in which such Member or Member’s spouse, lineal ascendants or descendants hold (and continue to hold while such trusts or other entities hold Units) 50% or more of such entity’s beneficial interests, (iii) pursuant to the Laws of descent and distribution and (iv) a Transfer to a partner, shareholder, member or Affiliated investment fund of such Member (which may include special purpose investment vehicles wholly owned by one or more Affiliated investment funds but shall not include portfolio companies); provided, however , that (A) the restrictions contained in this Agreement will continue to apply to Units after any Permitted Transfer of such Units, and (B) in the case of the foregoing clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), the Permitted Transferees of the Units so Transferred shall agree in writing to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and, the transferor will deliver a written notice to the Company and the Members, which notice will disclose in reasonable detail the identity of the proposed Permitted Transferee.  In the case of a Permitted Transfer of any Common Units by any Effective Date Member that is authorized to hold Class B Common Stock in accordance with the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation to a Permitted Transferee in accordance with this Section 10.02 , such Member (or any subsequent Permitted Transferee of such Member) shall be required to also transfer an equal number of shares of Class B Common Stock corresponding to the proportion of such Member’s (or subsequent Permitted Transferee’s) Common Units that were transferred in the transaction to such Permitted Transferee.  All Permitted Transfers are subject to the additional limitations set forth in Section 10.07(b) .

 

Section 10.03                       Restricted Units Legend .  The Units have not been registered under the Securities Act and, therefore, in addition to the other restrictions on Transfer contained in this Agreement, cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is then available.  To the extent such Units have been certificated, each certificate evidencing Units and each certificate issued in exchange for or upon the Transfer of any Units (if such securities remain Units as defined herein after such Transfer) shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ORIGINALLY ISSUED ON [ · ], 2016, AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER.  THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SPECIFIED IN THE AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF CWGS ENTERPRISES, LLC, AS MAY BE AMENDED AND MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND CWGS ENTERPRISES, LLC RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE THE TRANSFER OF

 

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SUCH SECURITIES UNTIL SUCH CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED WITH RESPECT TO ANY TRANSFER.  A COPY OF SUCH CONDITIONS SHALL BE FURNISHED BY CWGS ENTERPRISES, LLC TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE.”

 

The Company shall imprint such legend on certificates (if any) evidencing Units.  The legend set forth above shall be removed from the certificates (if any) evidencing any units which cease to be Units in accordance with the definition thereof.

 

Section 10.04                       Transfer .  Prior to Transferring any Units (other than pursuant to Section 10.09 ), the Transferring holder of Units shall cause the prospective Permitted Transferee to be bound by this Agreement as provided in Section 10.02 and any other agreements executed by the holders of Units and relating to such Units in the aggregate (collectively, the “ Other Agreements ”), and shall cause the prospective Permitted Transferee to execute and deliver to the Company and the other holder of Units counterparts of this Agreement and any applicable Other Agreements.  Any Transfer or attempted Transfer of any Units in violation of any provision of this Agreement (including any prohibited indirect Transfers) (a) shall be void, and (b) the Company shall not record such Transfer on its books or treat any purported Permitted Transferee of such Units as the owner of such securities for any purpose.

 

Section 10.05                       Assignee’s Rights .

 

(a)                                  The Transfer of a Company Interest in accordance with this Agreement shall be effective as of the date of its assignment (assuming compliance with all of the conditions to such Transfer set forth herein), and such Transfer shall be shown on the books and records of the Company.  Profits, Losses and other Company items shall be allocated between the Transferor and the Assignee according to Code Section 706, using any permissible method as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Manager.  Distributions made before the effective date of such Transfer shall be paid to the Transferor, and Distributions made on or after such date shall be paid to the Assignee.

 

(b)                                  Unless and until an Assignee becomes a Member pursuant to Article XII , the Assignee shall not be entitled to any of the rights granted to a Member hereunder or under applicable Law, other than the rights granted specifically to Assignees pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however , that, without relieving the Transferring Member from any such limitations or obligations as more fully described in Section 10.06 , such Assignee shall be bound by any limitations and obligations of a Member contained herein that a Member would be bound on account of the Assignee’s Company Interest (including the obligation to make Capital Contributions on account of such Company Interest).

 

Section 10.06                       Assignor’s Rights and Obligations .  Any Member who shall Transfer any Company Interest in a manner in accordance with this Agreement shall cease to be a Member with respect to such Units or other interest and shall no longer have any rights or privileges, or, except as set forth in this Section 10.06 , duties, liabilities or obligations, of a Member with respect to such Units or other interest (it being understood, however, that the applicable provisions of Sections 6.08 and 7.04 shall continue to inure to such Person’s benefit), except that unless and until the Assignee (if not already a Member) is admitted as a Substituted Member in

 

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accordance with the provisions of Article XII (the “ Admission Date ”), (i) such assigning Member shall retain all of the duties, liabilities and obligations of a Member with respect to such Units or other interest, and (ii) the Manager may, in its sole discretion, reinstate all or any portion of the rights and privileges of such Member with respect to such Units or other interest for any period of time prior to the Admission Date.  Nothing contained herein shall relieve any Member who Transfers any Units or other interest in the Company from any liability of such Member to the Company with respect to such Company Interest that may exist on the Admission Date or that is otherwise specified in the Delaware Act and incorporated into this Agreement or for any liability to the Company or any other Person for any materially false statement made by such Member (in its capacity as such) or for any present or future breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by such Member (in its capacity as such) contained herein or in the other agreements with the Company.

 

Section 10.07                       Overriding Provisions .

 

(a)                                  Any Transfer in violation of this Article X shall be null and void ab initio, and the provisions of Sections 10.05 and 10.06 shall not apply to any such Transfers.  For the avoidance of doubt, any Person to whom a Transfer is made or attempted in violation of this Article X shall not become a Member, shall not be entitled to vote on any matters coming before the Members and shall not have any other rights in or with respect to any rights of a Member of the Company.  The approval of any Transfer in any one or more instances shall not limit or waive the requirement for such approval in any other or future instance.  The Manager shall promptly amend the Schedule of Members to reflect any Permitted Transfer pursuant to this Article X .

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Section 10.01 and Article XI and Article XII ), in no event shall any Member Transfer any Units to the extent such Transfer would:

 

(i)                                      result in the violation of the Securities Act, or any other applicable federal, state or foreign Laws;

 

(ii)                                   cause an assignment under the Investment Company Act;

 

(iii)                                in the reasonable determination of the Manager, be a violation of or a default (or an event that, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in an acceleration of any indebtedness under, any promissory note, mortgage, loan agreement, indenture or similar instrument or agreement to which the Company or the Manager is a party; provided that (x) the payee or creditor to whom the Company or the Manager owes such obligation is not an Affiliate of the Company or the Manager and (y) such indebtedness, individually or in the aggregate, has an aggregate principal amount of loans or revolving commitments then outstanding that is greater than $25,000,000.00;

 

(iv)                               cause the Company to lose its status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes or, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such Transfer to be effected on or through an “established securities market” or a “secondary market or the

 

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substantial equivalent thereof,” as such terms are used in Section 1.7704-1 of the Treasury Regulations;

 

(v)                                  be a Transfer to a Person who is not legally competent or who has not achieved his or her majority of age under applicable Law (excluding trusts for the benefit of minors);

 

(vi)                               cause the Company to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” or to be taxed as a corporation pursuant to Section 7704 of the Code or successor provision of the Code; or

 

(vii)                            result in the Company having more than one hundred (100) partners, within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(1) (determined pursuant to the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(3)).

 

Section 10.08                       Spousal Consent .  In connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any Member who is a natural person will deliver to the Company an executed consent from such Member’s spouse (if any) in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto.  If, at any time subsequent to the date of this Agreement such Member becomes legally married (whether in the first instance or to a different spouse), such Member shall cause his or her spouse to execute and deliver to the Company a consent in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto.  Such Member’s non-delivery to the Company of an executed consent in the form of Exhibit B at any time shall constitute such Member’s continuing representation and warranty that such Member is not legally married as of such date.

 

Section 10.09                       Drag-Along Rights .

 

(a)                                  In the event that the Corporate Board and the holders of a majority of the voting power of all outstanding capital stock of the Corporation approve a Qualified Transaction (the “ Approved Qualified Transaction ”), each Member (each, a “ Required Member ”) agrees to Transfer all of such Required Member’s Units in connection with such Approved Qualified Transaction (the “ Drag-Along Right ”) for an amount of consideration per Unit equal (before taking into account any rights such Required Member may have under the Tax Receivable Agreement) to the amount of consideration to be received per share of Class A Common Stock by the holders thereof (the “ Drag Price ”), and otherwise with respect to such Units on the same terms and conditions as apply to the shares of Class A Common Stock in such Approved Qualified Transaction, with such modifications as are appropriate, as determined in good faith by the Manager, to reflect the fact that Units rather than shares of Class A Common Stock will be Transferred in the first instance by such Member.  Such Transfer shall be structured in the sole discretion of the Manager and, without limitation to any other structure, the Manager will use its reasonable best efforts expeditiously and in good faith to take all such actions and do all such things as are necessary or desirable to enable and permit the Members to participate in such Approved Qualified Transaction to the same extent or on an economically equivalent basis as the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock without discrimination; provided that, without limiting the generality of this sentence, the Manager will use its reasonable best efforts expeditiously and in good faith to ensure that such Members may participate in each such Approved Qualified Transaction without being required to have their Common Units and shares

 

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of Class B Common Stock redeemed (or, if so required, to ensure that any such redemption shall be effective only upon, and shall be conditional upon, the closing of such Approved Qualified Transaction, or, as applicable, to the extent necessary to exchange the number of Common Units being repurchased).

 

(b)                            The Corporation shall send written notice (the “ Drag-Along Notice ”) to the Company and the Required Members at least thirty (30) days prior to the closing of the Approved Qualified Transaction notifying them that such Required Members will be required to sell all (but not less than all) of their Units in such sale (the “ Drag-Along Amount ”), and setting forth (i) a copy of the written proposal or agreement pursuant to which the Approved Qualified Transaction will be effected, (ii) the Drag Price, (iii) the terms and conditions of transfer and payment and (iv) the date and location of and procedures for selling the Units.  In the event that the information set forth in the Drag-Along Notice changes from that set forth in the initial Drag-Along Notice, a subsequent Drag-Along Notice shall be delivered by the Corporation no less than seven (7) days prior to the closing of the Approved Qualified Transaction.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any of the foregoing information to be included in the Drag-Along Notice is publicly available, the Corporation shall not be required to include such information in the Drag-Along Notice or deliver a subsequent Drag-Along Notice. Each Required Member shall thereafter be obligated to sell their Units on the terms set forth in the Drag-Along Notice.

 

(c)                                   Upon receipt of a Drag-Along Notice, each Required Member receiving such notice shall be obligated to sell all of its Units in the Approved Qualified Transaction as contemplated by the Drag-Along Notice for the Drag Price, on the terms and conditions described in this Section 10.09 , including by executing any document containing customary representations, warranties and agreements with respect to itself and its ownership of the Units or shares of Class A Common Stock, as applicable, as requested by the Manager in connection with the Approved Qualified Transaction, which representations, warranties, indemnities and agreements shall be substantially the same as those contained in any letter of transmittal to be executed by the holders of Class A Common Stock with such modifications as are appropriate, as determined in good faith by the Manager, to reflect the fact that Units rather than shares of Class A Common Stock will be transferred by such Required Member. The Company and each Member shall cooperate in good faith in connection with the consummation of the Approved Qualified Transaction.

 

ARTICLE XI.
REDEMPTION AND EXCHANGE RIGHTS

 

Section 11.01                       Redemption Right of a Member.

 

(a)                                  Each Member (other than the Corporation) shall be entitled to cause the Company to redeem (a “ Redemption ”) its Common Units in whole or in part (the “ Redemption Right ”) at any time and from time to time following the expiration of any contractual lock-up period relating to the shares of the Corporation that may be applicable to such Member.  A Member desiring to exercise its Redemption Right (each, a “ Redeeming Member ”) shall exercise such right by giving written notice (the “ Redemption Notice ”) to the Company with a copy to the Corporation.  The Redemption Notice shall specify the number of Common Units (the “ Redeemed Units ”) that the Redeeming Member intends to have the Company redeem and a

 

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date, not less than seven (7) Business Days nor more than ten (10) Business Days after delivery of such Redemption Notice (unless and to the extent that the Manager in its sole discretion agrees in writing to waive such time periods), on which exercise of the Redemption Right shall be completed (the “ Redemption Date ”); provided that the Company, the Corporation and the Redeeming Member may change the number of Redeemed Units and/or the Redemption Date specified in such Redemption Notice to another number and/or date by mutual agreement signed in writing by each of them; provided, further, that a Redemption may be conditioned on the closing of an underwritten distribution of the shares of Class A Common Stock that may be issued in connection with such proposed Redemption.  Unless the Redeeming Member timely has delivered a Retraction Notice as provided in Section 11.01(c)  or has revoked or delayed a Redemption as provided in Section 11.01(b ) or ( d) , on the Redemption Date (to be effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Redemption Date):

 

(i)                                      the Redeeming Member shall transfer and surrender, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances (x) the Redeemed Units to the Company, and (y) a number of shares of Class B Common Stock equal to the number of Redeemed Units to the Corporation to the extent applicable;

 

(ii)                                   the Company shall (x) cancel the Redeemed Units, (y) transfer to the Redeeming Member the consideration to which the Redeeming Member is entitled under Section 11.01(b) , and (z) if the Units are certificated, issue to the Redeeming Member a certificate for a number of Common Units equal to the difference (if any) between the number of Common Units evidenced by the certificate surrendered by the Redeeming Member pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 11.01(a)  and the Redeemed Units; and

 

(iii)                                the Corporation shall cancel for no consideration the shares of Class B Common Stock (and the Corporation shall take all actions necessary to retire such share transferred to the Corporation and such share shall not be re-issued by the Corporation) upon a transfer of such shares of Class B Common Stock that were Transferred pursuant to Section 11.01(a)(i)(y)  above.

 

(b)                                  In exercising its Redemption Right, a Redeeming Member shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, be entitled to receive the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement; provided that the Corporation shall have the option (as determined solely by its independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the New York Stock Exchange) who are disinterested)  as provided in Section 11.02 and subject to Section 11.01(e)  to select whether the redemption payment is made by means of a Share Settlement or a Cash Settlement; provided , further , that the ML Related Parties shall only be entitled to receive the Share Settlement if the ML Related Parties have entered into a valid and binding agreement with a third party for the sale of all (and not less than all) of the shares of Class A Common Stock that the ML Related Parties are entitled to receive pursuant to a Share Settlement and such agreement is subject to customary closing conditions for agreements of this kind and the delivery of the Class A Common Stock by the Corporation to the ML Related Parties (a “ Binding Sale Agreement ”). If the Company has opted for a Share Settlement and the ML Related Parties have not entered into a Binding Sale Agreement, the ML Related Parties shall be deemed to have revoked their Redemption Notice.  Within three (3) Business Days of delivery of the Redemption Notice, the Corporation shall give written notice (the “ Contribution Notice ”) to the Company (with a copy

 

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to the Redeeming Member) of its intended settlement method; provided that if the Corporation does not timely deliver a Contribution Notice, the Corporation shall be deemed to have elected the Share Settlement method.

 

(c)                                   If the Corporation elects the Cash Settlement method, the Redeeming Member may retract its Redemption Notice by giving written notice (the “ Retraction Notice ”) to the Company (with a copy to the Corporation) within two (2) Business Days of delivery of the Contribution Notice.  The timely delivery of a Retraction Notice shall terminate all of the Redeeming Member’s, Company’s and the Corporation’ rights and obligations under this Section 11.01 arising from the Redemption Notice.

 

(d)                                  In the event the Corporation elects a Share Settlement in connection with a Redemption, a Redeeming Member shall be entitled to revoke its Redemption Notice or delay the consummation of a Redemption if any of the following conditions exists:

 

(i)                                      any registration statement pursuant to which the resale of the Class A Common Stock to be registered for such Redeeming Member at or immediately following the consummation of the Redemption shall have ceased to be effective pursuant to any action or inaction by the SEC or no such resale registration statement has yet become effective;

 

(ii)                                   the Corporation shall have failed to cause any related prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement necessary to effect such Redemption;

 

(iii)                                the Corporation shall have exercised its right to defer, delay or suspend the filing or effectiveness of a registration statement and such deferral, delay or suspension shall affect the ability of such Redeeming Member to have its Class A Common Stock registered at or immediately following the consummation of the Redemption;

 

(iv)                               the Corporation shall have disclosed to such Redeeming Member any material non-public information concerning the Corporation, the receipt of which results in such Redeeming Member being prohibited or restricted from selling Class A Common Stock at or immediately following the Redemption without disclosure of such information (and the Corporation does not permit disclosure);

 

(v)                                  any stop order relating to the registration statement pursuant to which the Class A Common Stock was to be registered by such Redeeming Member at or immediately following the Redemption shall have been issued by the SEC;

 

(vi)                               there shall have occurred a material disruption in the securities markets generally or in the market or markets in which the Class A Common Stock is then traded;

 

(vii)                            there shall be in effect an injunction, a restraining order or a decree of any nature of any Governmental Entity that restrains or prohibits the Redemption;

 

(viii)                         the Corporation shall have failed to comply in all material respects with its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, and such failure shall have affected

 

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the ability of such Redeeming Member to consummate the resale of Class A Common Stock to be received upon such redemption pursuant to an effective registration statement; or

 

(ix)                               the Redemption Date would occur three (3) Business Days or less prior to, or during, a Black-Out Period;

 

If a Redeeming Member delays the consummation of a Redemption pursuant to this Section 11.01(d) , the Redemption Date shall occur on the fifth Business Day following the date on which the conditions giving rise to such delay cease to exist (or such earlier day as the Corporation, the Company and such Redeeming Member may agree in writing).

 

(e)                                   The number of shares of Class A Common Stock or the Redeemed Units Equivalent that a Redeeming Member is entitled to receive under Section 11.01(b)  (whether through a Share Settlement or Cash Settlement) shall not be adjusted on account of any Distributions previously made with respect to the Redeemed Units or dividends previously paid with respect to Class A Common Stock; provided, however , that if a Redeeming Member causes the Company to redeem Redeemed Units and the Redemption Date occurs subsequent to the record date for any Distribution with respect to the Redeemed Units but prior to payment of such Distribution, the Redeeming Member shall be entitled to receive such Distribution with respect to the Redeemed Units on the date that it is made notwithstanding that the Redeeming Member transferred and surrendered the Redeemed Units to the Company prior to such date.

 

(f)                                    In the case of a Share Settlement, in the event of a reclassification or other similar transaction as a result of which the shares of Class A Common Stock are converted into another security, then in exercising its Redemption Right a Redeeming Member shall be entitled to receive the amount of such security that the Redeeming Member would have received if such Redemption Right had been exercised and the Redemption Date had occurred immediately prior to the record date of such reclassification or other similar transaction.

 

Section 11.02                       Election and Contribution of the Corporation .  In connection with the exercise of a Redeeming Member’s Redemption Rights under Section 11.01(a) , the Corporation shall contribute to the Company the consideration the Redeeming Member is entitled to receive under Section 11.01(b) .  The Corporation, at its option (as determined solely by its independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the New York Stock Exchange) who are disinterested), shall determine whether to contribute, pursuant to Section 11.01(b) , the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement.  Unless the Redeeming Member has timely delivered a Retraction Notice as provided in Section 11.01(c) , or has revoked or delayed a Redemption as provided in Section 11.01 (b ) or ( d) , on the Redemption Date (to be effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Redemption Date) (i) the Corporation shall make its Capital Contribution to the Company (in the form of the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement) required under this Section 11.02 , and (ii) in the event of a Share Settlement, the Company shall issue to the Corporation a number of Common Units equal to the number of Redeemed Units surrendered by the Redeeming Member.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Corporation elects a Cash Settlement, the Corporation shall only be obligated to contribute to the Company an amount in respect of such Cash Settlement equal to the net proceeds (after deduction of any  Discounts) from the sale by

 

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the Corporation of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the number of Redeemed Units to be redeemed with such Cash Settlement, which in no event shall exceed the amount paid by the Company to the Redeeming Member as Cash Settlement; provided that (i) the Discount shall be an expense of the Company as described in Section 6.06 and (ii) for the avoidance of doubt, if the Cash Settlement to which the Redeeming Member is entitled exceeds the amount that is contributed to the Company by the Corporation, the Company shall still be required to pay the Redeeming Member the full amount of the Cash Settlement.  The timely delivery of a Retraction Notice shall terminate all of the Company’s and the Corporation’ rights and obligations under this Section 11.02 arising from the Redemption Notice.

 

Section 11.03                       Exchange Right of the Corporation .

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article XI , the Corporation may, in its sole and absolute discretion (as determined solely by its independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the New York Stock Exchange) who are disinterested), elect to effect on the Redemption Date the exchange of Redeemed Units for the Share Settlement or Cash Settlement, as the case may be, through a direct exchange of such Redeemed Units and such consideration between the Redeeming Member and the Corporation (a “ Direct Exchange ”).  Upon such Direct Exchange pursuant to this Section 11.03 , the Corporation shall acquire the Redeemed Units and shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as the owner of such Units.

 

(b)                                  The Corporation may, at any time prior to a Redemption Date, deliver written notice (an “ Exchange Election Notice ”) to the Company and the Redeeming Member setting forth its election to exercise its right to consummate a Direct Exchange; provided that such election does not prejudice the ability of the parties to consummate a Redemption or Direct Exchange on the Redemption Date.  An Exchange Election Notice may be revoked by the Corporation at any time; provided that any such revocation does not prejudice the ability of the parties to consummate a Redemption or Direct Exchange on the Redemption Date.  The right to consummate a Direct Exchange in all events shall be exercisable for all the Redeemed Units that would have otherwise been subject to a Redemption.  Except as otherwise provided by this Section 11.03 , a Direct Exchange shall be consummated pursuant to the same timeframe and in the same manner as the relevant Redemption would have been consummated if the Corporation had not delivered an Exchange Election Notice.

 

Section 11.04                       Reservation of shares of Class A Common Stock; Listing; Certificate of the Corporation .  At all times the Corporation shall reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issuance upon a Redemption or Direct Exchange, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as shall be issuable upon any such Redemption or Direct Exchange pursuant to Share Settlements; provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Corporation from satisfying its obligations in respect of any such Redemption or Direct Exchange by delivery of purchased Class A Common Stock (which may or may not be held in the treasury of the Corporation) or the delivery of cash pursuant to a Cash Settlement.  The Corporation shall deliver Class A Common Stock that has been registered under the Securities Act with respect to any Redemption or Direct Exchange to the extent a registration statement is effective and available for such shares.  The Corporation shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to list the Class A Common Stock

 

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required to be delivered upon any such Redemption or Direct Exchange prior to such delivery upon each national securities exchange upon which the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock are listed at the time of such Redemption or Direct Exchange (it being understood that any such shares may be subject to transfer restrictions under applicable securities Laws).  The Corporation covenants that all Class A Common Stock issued upon a Redemption or Direct Exchange will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.  The provisions of this Article XI shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with the corresponding provisions of the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation.

 

Section 11.05                       Effect of Exercise of Redemption or Exchange Right .  This Agreement shall continue notwithstanding the consummation of a Redemption or Direct Exchange and all governance or other rights set forth herein shall be exercised by the remaining Members and the Redeeming Member (to the extent of such Redeeming Member’s remaining interest in the Company).  No Redemption or Direct Exchange shall relieve such Redeeming Member of any prior breach of this Agreement.

 

Section 11.06                       Tax Treatment .  Unless otherwise required by applicable Law, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree a Redemption or a Direct Exchange, as the case may be, shall be treated as a direct exchange between the Corporation and the Redeeming Member for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes.

 

ARTICLE XII.
ADMISSION OF MEMBERS

 

Section 12.01                       Substituted Members .  Subject to the provisions of Article X hereof, in connection with the Permitted Transfer of a Company Interest hereunder, the Permitted Transferee shall become a Substituted Member on the effective date of such Transfer, which effective date shall not be earlier than the date of compliance with the conditions to such Transfer, and such admission shall be shown on the books and records of the Company.

 

Section 12.02                       Additional Members .  Subject to the provisions of Article X hereof, any Person that is not an Effective Date Member may be admitted to the Company as an additional Member (any such Person, an “ Additional Member ”) only upon furnishing to the Manager (a) duly executed Joinder and counterparts to any applicable Other Agreements and (b) such other documents or instruments as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to effect such Person’s admission as a Member (including entering into such documents as may reasonably be requested by the Manager).  Such admission shall become effective on the date on which the Manager determines in its sole discretion that such conditions have been satisfied and when any such admission is shown on the books and records of the Company.

 

ARTICLE XIII.
WITHDRAWAL AND RESIGNATION; TERMINATION OF RIGHTS

 

Section 13.01                       Withdrawal and Resignation of Members .  Except in the event of Transfers pursuant to Section 10.06, no Member shall have the power or right to withdraw or otherwise resign as a Member from the Company prior to the dissolution and winding up of the Company pursuant to Article XIV .  Any Member, however, that attempts to withdraw or

 

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otherwise resign as a Member from the Company without the prior written consent of the Manager upon or following the dissolution and winding up of the Company pursuant to Article XIV , but prior to such Member receiving the full amount of Distributions from the Company to which such Member is entitled pursuant to Article XIV , shall be liable to the Company for all damages (including all lost profits and special, indirect and consequential damages) directly or indirectly caused by the withdrawal or resignation of such Member.  Upon a Transfer of all of a Member’s Units in a Transfer permitted by this Agreement, subject to the provisions of Section 10.06 , such Member shall cease to be a Member.

 

ARTICLE XIV.
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

 

Section 14.01                       Dissolution .  The Company shall not be dissolved by the admission of Additional Members or Substituted Members or the attempted withdrawal, removal, dissolution, bankruptcy or resignation of a Member.  The Company shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, upon:

 

(a)                                  the decision of the Manager together with holders of a majority of the Common Units entitled to vote then outstanding to dissolve the Company;

 

(b)                                  a dissolution of the Company under Section 18-801(4) of the Delaware Act, unless the Company is continued without dissolution pursuant thereto; or

 

(c)                                   the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 18-802 of the Delaware Act.

 

Except as otherwise set forth in this Article XIV , the Company is intended to have perpetual existence.  An Event of Withdrawal shall not in and of itself cause a dissolution of the Company and the Company shall continue in existence subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

Section 14.02                       Winding up and Termination .  Subject to Section 14.05, on dissolution of the Company, the Manager shall act as liquidating trustee or may appoint one or more Persons as liquidating trustee (each such Person, a “liquidator”).  The liquidators shall proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Company and make final distributions as provided herein and in the Delaware Act.  The costs of liquidation shall be borne as a Company expense.  Until final distribution, the liquidators shall continue to operate the Company properties with all of the power and authority of the Manager.  The steps to be accomplished by the liquidators are as follows:

 

(a)                                  as promptly as possible after dissolution and again after final liquidation, the liquidators shall cause a proper accounting to be made by a recognized firm of certified public accountants of the Company’s assets, liabilities and operations through the last day of the calendar month in which the dissolution occurs or the final liquidation is completed, as applicable;

 

(b)                                  the liquidators shall pay, satisfy or discharge from Company funds, or otherwise make adequate provision for payment and discharge thereof (including, without limitation, the

 

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establishment of a cash fund for contingent, conditional and unmatured liabilities in such amount and for such term as the liquidators may reasonably determine)all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company; and

 

(c)                                   all remaining assets of the Company shall be distributed to the Members in accordance with Article IV by the end of the Taxable Year during which the liquidation of the Company occurs (or, if later, by ninety (90) days after the date of the liquidation).

 

The distribution of cash and/or property to the Members in accordance with the provisions of this Section 14.02 and Section 14.03 below constitutes a complete return to the Members of their Capital Contributions, a complete distribution to the Members of their interest in the Company and all the Company’s property and constitutes a compromise to which all Members have consented within the meaning of the Delaware Act.  To the extent that a Member returns funds to the Company, it has no claim against any other Member for those funds.

 

Section 14.03                       Deferment; Distribution in Kind .  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 14.02 , but subject to the order of priorities set forth therein, if upon dissolution of the Company the liquidators determine that an immediate sale of part or all of the Company’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss (or would otherwise not be beneficial) to the Members, the liquidators may, in their sole discretion, defer for a reasonable time the liquidation of any assets except those necessary to satisfy Company liabilities (other than loans to the Company by Members) and reserves.  Subject to the order of priorities set forth in Section 14.02 , the liquidators may, in their sole discretion, distribute to the Members, in lieu of cash, either (a) all or any portion of such remaining Company assets in-kind in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.02(d) , (b) as tenants in common and in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.02(d) , undivided interests in all or any portion of such Company assets or (c) a combination of the foregoing.  Any such Distributions in kind shall be subject to (y) such conditions relating to the disposition and management of such assets as the liquidators deem reasonable and equitable and (z) the terms and conditions of any agreements governing such assets (or the operation thereof or the holders thereof) at such time.  Any Company assets distributed in kind will first be written up or down to their Fair Market Value, thus creating Profit or Loss (if any), which shall be allocated in accordance with Article V .  The liquidators shall determine the Fair Market Value of any property distributed in accordance with the valuation procedures set forth in Article XV .

 

Section 14.04                       Cancellation of Certificate .  On completion of the winding up of the Company as provided herein, the Manager (or such other Person or Persons as the Delaware Act may require or permit) shall file a certificate of cancellation of the Certificate with the Secretary of State of Delaware, cancel any other filings made pursuant to this Agreement that are or should be canceled and take such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Company.  The Company shall continue in existence for all purposes of this Agreement until it is terminated pursuant to this Section 14.04 .

 

Section 14.05                       Reasonable Time for Winding Up .  A reasonable time shall be allowed for the orderly winding up of the business and affairs of the Company and the liquidation of its assets pursuant to Sections 14.02 and 14.03 in order to minimize any losses otherwise attendant upon such winding up.

 

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Section 14.06                       Return of Capital .  The liquidators shall not be personally liable for the return of Capital Contributions or any portion thereof to the Members (it being understood that any such return shall be made solely from Company assets).

 

ARTICLE XV.
VALUATION

 

Section 15.01                       Determination .  “ Fair Market Value ” of a specific Company asset will mean the amount which the Company would receive in an all-cash sale of such asset in an arms-length transaction with a willing unaffiliated third party, with neither party having any compulsion to buy or sell, consummated on the day immediately preceding the date on which the event occurred which necessitated the determination of the Fair Market Value (and after giving effect to any transfer taxes payable in connection with such sale), as such amount is determined by the Manager (or, if pursuant to Section 14.02 , the liquidators) in its good faith judgment using all factors, information and data it deems to be pertinent.

 

ARTICLE XVI.
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 16.01                       Power of Attorney .

 

(a)                                  Each Member who is a natural person hereby constitutes and appoints the Manager (or the liquidator, if applicable) with full power of substitution, as his or her true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in his or her name, place and stead, to:

 

(i)                                      execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices (A) this Agreement, all certificates and other instruments and all amendments thereof which the Manager deems appropriate or necessary to form, qualify, or continue the qualification of, the Company as a limited liability company in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Company may conduct business or own property; (B) all instruments which the Manager deems appropriate or necessary to reflect any amendment, change, modification or restatement of this Agreement in accordance with its terms; (C) all conveyances and other instruments or documents which the Manager deems appropriate or necessary to reflect the dissolution and winding up of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including a certificate of cancellation; and (D) all instruments relating to the admission, withdrawal or substitution of any Member pursuant to Article XII or XIII ; and

 

(ii)                                   sign, execute, swear to and acknowledge all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates and other instruments appropriate or necessary, in the reasonable judgment of the Manager, to evidence, confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action which is made or given by the Members hereunder or is consistent with the terms of this Agreement, in the reasonable judgment of the Manager, to effectuate the terms of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  The foregoing power of attorney is irrevocable and coupled with an interest, and shall survive the death, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy, insolvency or termination

 

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of any Member and the transfer of all or any portion of his or her Company Interest and shall extend to such Member’s heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives.

 

Section 16.02                       Confidentiality .

 

(a)                                  Each of the Members agrees to hold the Company’s Confidential Information in confidence and may not disclose such information except as otherwise authorized separately in writing by the Manager.  “ Confidential Information ” as used herein includes all information concerning the Company or its Subsidiaries in the possession of or furnished to any Member, but is not limited to ideas, financial product structuring, business strategies, innovations and materials, all aspects of the Company’s business plan, proposed operation and products, corporate structure, financial and organizational information, analyses, proposed partners, software code and system and product designs, employees and their identities, equity ownership, the methods and means by which the Company plans to conduct its business, all trade secrets, trademarks, tradenames and all intellectual property associated with the Company’s business.  With respect to each Member, Confidential Information does not include information or material that: (a) is rightfully in the possession of such Member at the time of disclosure by the Company; (b) before or after it has been disclosed to such Member by the Company, becomes part of public knowledge, not as a result of any action or inaction of such Member in violation of this Agreement; (c) is approved for release by written authorization of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating and Legal Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company or of the Corporation; (d) is disclosed to such Member or their representatives by a third party not, to the knowledge of such Member in violation of any obligation of confidentiality owed to the Company with respect to such information; or (e) is or becomes independently developed by such Member or their respective representatives without use or reference to the Confidential Information.

 

(b)                                  Each of the Members may disclose Confidential Information to its Subsidiaries, Affiliates, partners, directors, officers, employees, counsel, advisers, consultants, outside contractors and other agents, on the condition that such Persons keep the Confidential Information confidential to the same extent as such disclosing party is required to keep the Confidential Information confidential, solely to the extent it is reasonably necessary or appropriate to fulfill its obligations or to exercise its rights under this Agreement; provided that the disclosing party shall remain liable with respect to any breach of this Section 16.02 by any such Subsidiaries, Affiliates, partners, directors, officers, employees, counsel, advisers, consultants, outside contractors and other agents.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding Section 16.02(a)  or Section 16.02(b) , each of the Members may disclose Confidential Information (i) to the extent that such party is legally compelled (by oral questions, interrogatories, request for information or documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process) to disclose any of the Confidential Information, (ii) for purposes of reporting to its stockholders and direct and indirect equity holders the performance of the Company and its Subsidiaries and for purposes of including applicable information in its financial statements to the extent required by applicable Law or applicable accounting standards; (iii) to any bona fide prospective purchaser of the equity or assets of a Member, or the Common Units held by such Member, or a prospective merger partner of such Member ( provided , that (i) such Persons will be informed by such Member of the confidential nature of such information

 

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and shall agree in writing to keep such information confidential in accordance with the contents of this Agreement and (ii) each Member will be liable for any breaches of this Section 16.02 by any such Persons), or (iv) to the extent required to be disclosed by applicable Law. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, nothing in this Section 16.02 will restrict in any manner the ability of the Corporation to comply with its disclosure obligations under Law, and the extent to which any Confidential Information is necessary or desirable to disclose.

 

Section 16.03                       Amendments .  This Agreement may be amended or modified upon the consent of the Manager and a majority of the Common Units entitled to vote then outstanding, which shall include Crestview so long as Crestview owns seven and a half percent (7.5%) of the Common Units and/or the ML Related Parties so long as the ML Related Parties owns seven and a half percent (7.5%) of the Common Units.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment or modification:

 

(a)                                  to this Section 16.03 may be made without the prior written consent of the Manager and each of the Members;

 

(b)                                  to any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement which terms and conditions expressly require the approval or action of certain Persons may be made without obtaining the consent of the requisite number or specified percentage of such Persons who are entitled to approve or take action on such matter;

 

(c)                                   to any of the terms and conditions of Article VI (and related definitions as used directly or indirectly therein) may be made without the prior written consent of the Manager; and

 

(d)                                  to any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement which would (A) reduce the amounts distributable to such Member pursuant to Articles IV and XIV in a manner that is not pro rata with respect to all Members, (B) increase the liabilities of such Member hereunder, or (C) otherwise materially and adversely affect a holder of Units in a manner materially different than any other holder of Units of the same class or series (other than amendments, modifications and waivers (x) necessary to implement the provisions of Article XII or (y) relate to the rights and responsibilities of the Manager in its capacity as such under this Agreement) shall be effective against such disparately affected holder of Units without the prior written consent of such holder of Units.

 

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the Manager may make any amendment (i) of an administrative nature that is necessary in order to implement the substantive provisions hereof, without the consent of any other Member; provided that any such amendment does not adversely change the rights of the Members hereunder in any respect, or (ii) to reflect any changes to the Class A Common Stock.

 

Section 16.04                       Title to Company Assets .  Company assets shall be owned by the Company as an entity, and no Member, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such Company assets or any portion thereof.  The Company shall hold title to all of its property in the name of the Company and not in the name of any Member.  All Company assets shall be recorded as the property of the Company on its books and records, irrespective of the name in which legal title to such Company assets is held.  The Company’s credit and assets shall

 

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be used solely for the benefit of the Company, and no asset of the Company shall be transferred or encumbered for, or in payment of, any individual obligation of any Member.

 

Section 16.05                       Addresses and Notices .  Any notice, request, demand or instruction specified or permitted by this Agreement will be in writing and will be either personally delivered, or received by certified mail, return receipt requested, or sent by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) to the Company or by electronic mail at the address set forth below and to any other recipient and to any Member at such address as indicated by the Company’s records, or at such address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party.  Notices will be deemed to have been given hereunder when delivered personally or sent by telecopier ( provided confirmation of transmission is received), three (3) days after deposit in the U.S. mail and one (1) day after deposit with a reputable overnight courier service or if sent by electronic mail, upon confirmed receipt. Whenever any notice is required to be given by Law or this Agreement, a written waiver thereof signed by the Person entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated at which such notice is required to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.

 

To the Company:

 

CWGS Enterprises, LLC
250 Parkway Drive, Suite 270,

Lincolnshire, IL 60048
Attn: Thomas F. Wolfe, Chief Financial Officer
          Brent Moody, Chief Operating and Legal Officer
E-mail:

 

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

 

Latham & Watkins LLP
885 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attn:  Marc Jaffe

Ian Schuman
Facsimile:
E-mail:

 

Section 16.06                       Binding Effect; Intended Beneficiaries .  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

 

Section 16.07                       Creditors .  None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of or enforceable by any creditors of the Company or any of its Affiliates, and no creditor who makes a loan to the Company or any of its Affiliates may have or acquire (except pursuant to the terms of a separate agreement executed by the Company in favor of such creditor) at any

 

52



 

time as a result of making the loan any direct or indirect interest in Company Profits, Losses, Distributions, capital or property other than as a secured creditor.

 

Section 16.08                       Waiver .  No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute a waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

 

Section 16.09                       Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which will be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement binding on all the parties hereto.

 

Section 16.10                       Applicable Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.  Any suit, dispute, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement shall be heard in the state or federal courts of the State of Delaware, and the parties hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of such court (and of the appropriate appellate courts) in any such suit, action or proceeding and waives any objection to venue laid therein. PROCESS IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE SERVED ON ANY PARTY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHETHER WITHIN OR WITHOUT THE JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT (INCLUDING BY PREPAID CERTIFIED MAIL WITH A VALIDATED PROOF OF MAILING RECEIPT) AND SHALL HAVE THE SAME LEGAL FORCE AND EFFECT AS IF SERVED UPON SUCH PARTY PERSONALLY WITHIN THE STATE OF DELAWARE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THE PARTIES AGREE THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON SUCH PARTY AT THE ADDRESS REFERRED TO IN SECTION 16.05 (INCLUDING BY PREPAID CERTIFIED MAIL WITH A VALIDATED PROOF OF MAILING RECEIPT), TOGETHER WITH WRITTEN NOTICE OF SUCH SERVICE TO SUCH PARTY, SHALL BE DEEMED EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON SUCH PARTY.

 

Section 16.11                       Severability .  Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable Law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or the effectiveness or validity of any provision in any other jurisdiction, and this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

 

Section 16.12                       Further Action .  The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.

 

Section 16.13                       Delivery by Electronic Transmission .  This Agreement and any signed agreement or instrument entered into in connection with this Agreement or contemplated hereby,

 

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and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of an electronic transmission, including by a facsimile machine or via email, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person.  At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties.  No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of electronic transmission by a facsimile machine or via email to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through such electronic transmission as a defense to the formation of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.

 

Section 16.14                       Right of Offset .  Whenever the Company is to pay any sum (other than pursuant to Article IV ) to any Member, any amounts that such Member owes to the Company which are not the subject of a good faith dispute may be deducted from that sum before payment.  For the avoidance of doubt, the distribution of Units to the Corporation shall not be subject to this Section 16.14 .

 

Section 16.15                       Entire Agreement .  This Agreement, those documents expressly referred to herein (including the Registration Rights Agreement and the Tax Receivable Agreement), any indemnity agreements entered into in connection with the Initial LLC Agreement with any member of the board of managers at that time and other documents of even date herewith embody the complete agreement and understanding among the parties and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Initial LLC Agreement is superseded by this Agreement as of the Effective Time and shall be of no further force and effect thereafter.

 

Section 16.16                       Remedies .  Each Member shall have all rights and remedies set forth in this Agreement and all rights and remedies which such Person has been granted at any time under any other agreement or contract and all of the rights which such Person has under any Law.  Any Person having any rights under any provision of this Agreement or any other agreements contemplated hereby shall be entitled to enforce such rights specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights granted by Law.

 

Section 16.17                       Descriptive Headings; Interpretation .  The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a substantive part of this Agreement.  Whenever required by the context, any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa.  The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation.  Reference to any agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, and if applicable hereof.  Without limiting the generality of the immediately preceding sentence, no amendment or other modification to any agreement, document or instrument that requires the consent of any Person pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other agreement will be given effect hereunder unless such Person has consented in writing to such amendment or modification. 

 

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Wherever required by the context, references to a Fiscal Year shall refer to a portion thereof.  The use of the words “or,” “either” and “any” shall not be exclusive.  The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement.  In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

55


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed or caused to be executed on their behalf this Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

COMPANY:

 

 

 

 

CWGS ENTERPRISES, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

MEMBERS:

 

[ Signature Page to Amended and Restated Operating Agreement ]

 



 

SCHEDULE 1

 

SCHEDULE OF PRE-IPO MEMBERS

 

Member

 

Original
Common Units

 

Original
Preferred Units

 

Original Profit
Units

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

SCHEDULE 2 *

 

SCHEDULE OF EFFECTIVE DATE MEMBERS

 

Member

 

Common Units

 

Percentage Interest

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 


* This Schedule of Members shall be updated from time to time to reflect any adjustment with respect to any subdivision (by Unit split or otherwise) or any combination (by reverse Unit split or otherwise) of any outstanding Common Units, or to reflect any additional issuances of Common Units pursuant to this Agreement.

 



 

Exhibit A

 

FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT

 

This JOINDER AGREEMENT, dated as of                  , 20    (this “ Joinder ”), is delivered pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as of [ · ], 2016 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ LLC Agreement ”) by and among CWGS Enterprises, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), Camping World Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation and the managing member of the Company (“ Holdings ”), and each of the Members from time to time party thereto.  Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the LLC Agreement.

 

1.               Joinder to the LLC Agreement .  Upon the execution of this Joinder by the undersigned and delivery hereof to Holdings, the undersigned hereby is and hereafter will be a Member under the LLC Agreement and a party thereto, with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of a Member thereunder.  The undersigned hereby agrees that it shall comply with and be fully bound by the terms of the LLC Agreement as if it had been a signatory thereto as of the date thereof.

 

2.               Incorporation by Reference .  All terms and conditions of the LLC Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference in this Joinder as if set forth herein in full.

 

3.               Address .  All notices under the LLC Agreement to the undersigned shall be direct to:

 

[Name]
[Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Attn:
Facsimile:
E-mail:

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed and delivered this Joinder as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

[NAME OF NEW MEMBER]

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 



 

Acknowledged and agreed
as of the date first set forth above:

 

CWGS ENTERPRISES, LLC

 

By: CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC., its Managing Member

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 




Exhibit 10.4

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of [  ·  ], 2016 by and among Camping World Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), and each Person identified on the Schedule of Investors attached hereto as of the date hereof (such Persons, collectively, the “ Original Equity Owners ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Corporation is contemplating an offer and sale of its shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Class A Common Stock ” and such shares, the “ Shares ”), to the public in an underwritten initial public offering (the “ IPO ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Corporation desires to use a portion of the net proceeds from the IPO to purchase Common Units (as defined below) of CWGS Enterprises, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), and the Company desires to issue its Common Units to the Corporation in exchange for such portion of the net proceeds from the IPO;

 

WHEREAS, immediately prior to the consummation of the issuance of Common Units by the Company to the Corporation, the Original Equity Owners are the sole members of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, immediately prior to or simultaneous with the purchase by the Corporation of the Common Units, the Corporation, the Company and the Original Equity Owners will enter into that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company (such agreement, as it may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified form time to time, the “ LLC Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the closing of the IPO, (i) the Corporation will become the sole managing member of the Company, (ii) under the LLC Agreement the membership interests of the Original Equity Owners will be cancelled and Common Units will be issued, (iii) each Person identified on the Schedule of Investors attached hereto as a “Former Equity Owner” (such Persons, collectively, the “ Former Equity Owners ”) will exchange their indirect interest in the Common Units for shares of Class A Common Stock, (iv) each Person identified on the Schedule of Investors attached hereto as a “Continuing Equity Owner” (such Persons, collectively, the “ Continuing Equity Owners ”) will become a non-managing member of the Company, but otherwise retain their Common Units in the Company, and (iv) in consideration of the Corporation acquiring the Common Units and becoming the managing member of the Company and for other good consideration, the Company has provided the Continuing Equity Owners with a redemption right pursuant to which the Continuing Equity Owners may be able to require redemption of their Common Units and the Corporation may, at the Corporation’s option, redeem or exchange their Common Units for shares of Class A Common Stock or in cash on the terms set forth in the LLC Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO and the transactions described above, the Corporation has agreed to grant to the Holders (as defined below) certain rights with respect to the registration of the Registrable Securities (as defined below) on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 



 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:

 

Section 1.              Definitions .  For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings specified in this Section 1 :

 

Acquired Common ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9 .

 

Additional Investor ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9 , and shall be deemed to include each such Person’s Affiliates, immediate family members, heirs, successors and assigns who may succeed to such Person as a Holder hereunder.

 

Affiliate ” of any Person means any other Person controlled by, controlling or under common control with such Person; provided that the Corporation and its Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of any Holder.  As used in this definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities, by contract or otherwise).

 

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Automatic Shelf Registration Statement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) .

 

Business Day ” means any day of the year on which national banking institutions in New York are open to the public for conducting business and are not required or authorized to close.

 

Capital Stock ” means (i) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares, interests or equivalents in capital stock of such corporation (whether voting or nonvoting and whether common or preferred), (ii) with respect to any Person that is not a corporation, individual or governmental entity, any and all partnership, membership, limited liability company or other equity interests of such Person that confer on the holder thereof the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or the distribution of assets of the issuing Person, and (iii) any and all warrants, rights (including conversion and exchange rights) and options to purchase any security described in the clause (i)  or (ii)  above.

 

Class A Common Stock ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Class B Common Stock ” means the Corporation’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

 

Common Units ” means the “Common Units” of the Company as defined in the LLC Agreement.

 

Company ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

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Continuing Equity Owners ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals, and shall be deemed to include their respective Affiliates, immediate family members, heirs, successors and assigns who may succeed to such Person as a Holder hereunder.

 

Controlling Holder ” means each of the Controlling Holders as identified on the Schedule of Investors, so long as such Holders continue to hold Registrable Securities.

 

Corporation ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Demand Registrations ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) .

 

End of Suspension Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(ii) .

 

Exchange Act ” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor federal law then in force, together with all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

FINRA ” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

 

Follow-On Holdback Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)(ii) .

 

Former Equity Owners ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals, and shall be deemed to include their respective Affiliates, immediate family members, heirs, successors and assigns who may succeed to such Person as a Holder hereunder.

 

Free Writing Prospectus ” means a free-writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.

 

Holdback Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)(i) .

 

Holder ” means any Person that is a party to this Agreement from time to time, as set forth on the signature pages hereto.

 

Holder Indemnified Parties ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a) .

 

IPO ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Joinder ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9 .

 

LLC Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Long-Form Registrations ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) .

 

MNPI ” means material non-public information within the meaning of Regulation FD promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

Original Equity Owners ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble, and shall be deemed to include their respective Affiliates, immediate family members, heirs, successors and assigns who may succeed to such Person as a Holder hereunder.

 

3



 

Person ” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization and a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Piggyback Registrations ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) .

 

Public Offering ” means any sale or distribution to the public of Capital Stock of the Corporation pursuant to an offering registered under the Securities Act, whether by the Corporation, by Holders and/or by any other holders of the Corporation’s Capital Stock.

 

Registrable Securities ” means (i) any Class A Common Stock (A) issued by the Corporation in connection with the IPO in exchange for the Common Units of the Former Equity Owners or (B) issued by the Corporation in a Share Settlement in connection with (x) the redemption by the Company of Common Units owned by any Continuing Equity Owner or (y) at the election of the Corporation, in a direct exchange for Common Units owned by any Continuing Equity Owner, in each case in accordance with the terms of the LLC Agreement, (ii) any common Capital Stock of the Corporation or of any Subsidiary of the Corporation issued or issuable with respect to the securities referred to in clause (i)  above by way of dividend, distribution, split or combination of securities, or any recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization, and (iii) any other Shares owned, directly or indirectly, by Holders.  As to any particular Registrable Securities owned by any Person, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities on the date such securities  (a) have been sold or distributed pursuant to a Public Offering, (b) have been sold in compliance with Rule 144 following the consummation of the IPO, (c) have been repurchased by the Corporation or a Subsidiary of the Corporation or (d) may be disposed of pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act in a single transaction without volume limitation or other restrictions on transfer thereunder.  For purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to be a Holder, and the Registrable Securities shall be deemed to be in existence, whenever such Person has the right to acquire, directly or indirectly, such Registrable Securities (upon conversion or exercise in connection with a transfer of securities or otherwise, but disregarding any restrictions or limitations upon the exercise of such right), whether or not such acquisition has actually been effected, and such Person shall be entitled to exercise the rights of a holder of Registrable Securities hereunder; provided a holder of Registrable Securities may only request that Registrable Securities in the form of Capital Stock of the Corporation that is registered or to be registered as a class under Section 12 of the Exchange Act be registered pursuant to this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, while Common Units and/or shares of Class B Common Stock may constitute Registrable Securities, under no circumstances shall the Corporation be obligated to register Common Units or shares of Class B Common Stock, and only Shares issuable upon redemption or exchange of Common Units will be registered.

 

Registration Expenses ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a) .

 

Rule 144 ,” “ Rule 158 ,” “ Rule 405 ” and “ Rule 415 ” mean, in each case, such rule promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor provision) by the Securities and Exchange Commission, as the same shall be amended from time to time, or any successor rule then in force.

 

Sale Transaction ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)(i) .

 

4



 

Schedule of Investors ” means the schedule attached to this Agreement entitled “Schedule of Investors,” which shall reflect each Holder from time to time party to this Agreement.

 

Securities ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)(i) .

 

Securities Act ” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, or any successor federal law then in force, together with all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Share Settlement ” means “Share Settlement” as defined in the LLC Agreement.

 

Shares ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Shelf Offering ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii) .

 

Shelf Offering Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii) .

 

Shelf Offering Request ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii) .

 

Shelf Registrable Securities ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii) .

 

Shelf Registration ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) .

 

Shelf Registration Statement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i) .

 

Short-Form Registrations ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) .

 

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to the Corporation, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of Capital Stock of such Person entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, or (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity, either (x) a majority of the Capital Stock of such Person entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of managers, general partners or other oversight board vested with the authority to direct management of such Person is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation or (y) the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries is the sole manager or general partner of such Person.

 

Suspension Event ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(ii) .

 

Suspension Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(ii) .

 

Suspension Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(i) .

 

Underwritten Takedown ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii) .

 

Violation ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(a) .

 

5



 

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

 

Section 2.              Demand Registrations .

 

(a)           Requests for Registration .  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at any time from and after 180 days following the IPO, each Controlling Holder may request registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of their Registrable Securities on Form S-1 or any similar long-form registration (“ Long-Form Registrations ”), and each Controlling Holder may request registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of their Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration (“ Short-Form Registrations ”) if available; provided that the Company shall not be obligated to file registration statements relating to any Long-Form Registration or Short-Form Registration under this Section 2(a) unless the anticipated aggregate offering price of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering, net of underwriting discounts and commissions, is reasonably expected to exceed $10 million.  All registrations requested pursuant to this Section 2(a)  are referred to herein as “ Demand Registrations .”  The Controlling Holder making a Demand Registration may request that the registration be made pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (a “ Shelf Registration ”) and, if the Corporation is a WKSI at the time any request for a Demand Registration is submitted to the Corporation, that such Shelf Registration be an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (an “ Automatic Shelf Registration Statement ”).  Except to the extent that Section 2(d)  applies, upon receipt of the request for the Demand Registration, the Corporation shall as promptly as reasonably practicable (but in no event later than two Business Days after receipt of the request for the Demand Registration) give written notice of the Demand Registration to all other Holders and, subject to the terms of Section 2(e) , shall include in such Demand Registration (and in all related registrations and qualifications under state blue sky laws and in any related underwriting) all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Corporation has received written requests for inclusion therein within ten Business Days after the receipt of the Corporation’s notice; provided that the Corporation shall provide notice of the Demand Registration to all other Holders prior to the filing of the registration statement with respect to the Demand Registration.  Each Holder agrees that such Holder shall treat as confidential the receipt of the notice of Demand Registration and shall not disclose or use the information contained in such notice of Demand Registration without the prior written consent of the Corporation or until such time as the information contained therein is or becomes available to the public generally, other than as a result of disclosure by the Holder in breach of the terms of this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not be required to take any action that would otherwise be required under this Section 2 if such action would violate Section 4(a)  hereof or any similar provision contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with any underwritten Public Offering.

 

(b)           Long-Form Registrations .  Each Controlling Holder shall be entitled to three Long-Form Registrations in which the Corporation shall pay all Registration Expenses, regardless of whether any registration statement is filed or any such Demand Registration is consummated.  All Long-Form Registrations shall be underwritten registrations unless otherwise approved by the applicable Controlling Holder.

 

(c)           Short-Form Registrations .  In addition to the Long-Form Registrations described in Section 2(b) , each Controlling Holder shall be entitled to request an unlimited number of

 

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Short-Form Registrations in which the Corporation shall pay all Registration Expenses, regardless of whether any registration statement is filed or any such Demand Registration is consummated.  Demand Registrations shall be Short-Form Registrations whenever the Corporation is permitted to use any applicable short form and if the managing underwriters (if any) agree to the use of a Short-Form Registration.  After the Corporation has become subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to make Short-Form Registrations available for the sale of Registrable Securities.

 

(d)           Shelf Registrations .

 

(i)            Subject to the availability of required financial information, as promptly as practicable after the Corporation receives written notice of a request for a Shelf Registration, the Corporation shall file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act for the Shelf Registration (a “ Shelf Registration Statement ”).  The Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause any Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as soon as practicable after the initial filing of such Shelf Registration Statement, and once effective, the Corporation shall cause such Shelf Registration Statement to remain continuously effective for such time period as is specified in the request by the Holders, but for no time period longer than the period ending on the earliest of (A) the third anniversary of the initial effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement, (B) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, and (C) the date as of which there are no longer any Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement in existence.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to prepare a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to all of the Registrable Securities owned by or issuable to the Original Equity Owners in accordance with the terms of the LLC Agreement (or such other number of Registrable Securities specified in writing by the Holder with respect to the Registrable Securities owned by or issuable to such Holder) to enable and cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be filed and maintained with the Securities and Exchange Commission as soon as practicable after the later to occur of (i) the expiration of the Holdback Period and (ii) the Corporation becoming eligible to file a Shelf Registration Statement for a Short-Form Registration; provided that any of the Original Equity Owners may, with respect to itself, instruct the Corporation in writing not to include in such Shelf Registration Statement the Registrable Securities owned by or issuable to such Holder. In order for any of the Original Equity Owners to be named as a selling securityholder in such Shelf Registration Statement, the Corporation may require such Holder to deliver all information about such Holder that is required to be included in such Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with applicable law, including Item 507 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act, as amended from time to time, or any similar successor rule thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 2(d)(ii) , any Holder that is named as a selling securityholder in such Shelf Registration Statement may make a secondary resale under such Shelf Registration Statement without the consent of the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities or any other Holder if such resale does not require a supplement to the Shelf Registration Statement.

 

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(ii)           In the event that a Shelf Registration Statement is effective, Holders representing the Registrable Securities with a market value of at least $10 million shall have the right at any time or from time to time to elect to sell pursuant to an offering (including an underwritten offering (an “ Underwritten Takedown ”)) Registrable Securities available for sale pursuant to such registration statement (“ Shelf Registrable Securities ”), so long as the Shelf Registration Statement remains in effect, and the Corporation shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection therewith; provided that each Controlling Holder shall have the right at any time and from time to time to elect to sell pursuant to an offering (including an Underwritten Takedown) pursuant to a Shelf Offering Request (as defined below) made by such Controlling Holder so long as the anticipated aggregate offering price of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering, net of underwriting discounts and commissions, is reasonably expected to exceed $10 million. The applicable Holders shall make such election by delivering to the Corporation a written request (a “ Shelf Offering Request ”) for such offering specifying the number of Shelf Registrable Securities that such Holders desire to sell pursuant to such offering (the “ Shelf Offering ”).  In the case of an Underwritten Takedown, as promptly as practicable, but no later than two Business Days after receipt of a Shelf Offering Request, the Corporation shall give written notice (the “ Shelf Offering Notice ”) of such Shelf Offering Request to all other holders of Shelf Registrable Securities.  The Corporation, subject to Sections 2(e)  and 8 hereof, shall include in such Shelf Offering the Shelf Registrable Securities of any other Holder that shall have made a written request to the Corporation for inclusion in such Shelf Offering (which request shall specify the maximum number of Shelf Registrable Securities intended to be sold by such Holder) within five days after the receipt of the Shelf Offering Notice.  The Corporation shall, as expeditiously as possible (and in any event within ten Business Days after the receipt of a Shelf Offering Request, unless a longer period is agreed to by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities that made the Shelf Offering Request), use its reasonable best efforts to facilitate such Shelf Offering.  Each Holder agrees that such Holder shall treat as confidential the receipt of the Shelf Offering Notice and shall not disclose or use the information contained in such Shelf Offering Notice without the prior written consent of the Corporation or until such time as the information contained therein is or becomes available to the public generally, other than as a result of disclosure by the Holder in breach of the terms of this Agreement.

 

(iii)          Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Holder desires to effect a sale of Shelf Registrable Securities that does not constitute an Underwritten Takedown, the Holder shall deliver to the Corporation a Shelf Offering Request no later than two Business Days prior to the expected date of the sale of such Shelf Registrable Securities, and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2(d)(i), the Corporation shall file and effect an amendment or supplement to its Shelf Registration Statement for such purpose as soon as reasonably practicable.

 

(iv)          Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Controlling Holder wishes to engage in an underwritten block trade off of a Shelf Registration Statement (either through filing an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement or through a take-down from an existing Shelf Registration Statement), then notwithstanding the foregoing time periods, such Holders only need to notify the Corporation of the block trade Shelf Offering three Business Days

 

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prior to the day such offering is to commence (unless a longer period is agreed to by Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the underwritten block trade) and the Corporation shall promptly notify other Holders and such other Holders must elect whether or not to participate by the next Business Day (i.e., two Business Days prior to the day such offering is to commence) (unless a longer period is agreed to by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the underwritten block trade) and the Corporation shall as expeditiously as possible use its reasonable best efforts to facilitate such offering (which may close as early as three Business Days after the date it commences); provided that Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the underwritten block trade shall use commercially reasonable efforts to work with the Corporation and the underwriters prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of the registration statement, prospectus and other offering documentation related to the underwritten block trade.

 

(v)           The Corporation shall, at the request of Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, file any prospectus supplement or, if the applicable Shelf Registration Statement is an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, any post-effective amendments and otherwise take any action necessary to include therein all disclosure and language deemed necessary or advisable by such Holders to effect such Shelf Offering.

 

(e)           Priority on Demand Registrations and Shelf Offerings .  The Corporation shall not include in any Demand Registration or Shelf Offering any securities that are not Registrable Securities without the prior written consent of Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such registration or offering.  If a Demand Registration or a Shelf Offering is an underwritten offering and the managing underwriters advise the Corporation in writing that in their opinion the number of Registrable Securities and, if permitted hereunder, other securities requested to be included in such offering exceeds the number of Registrable Securities and other securities, if any, that can be sold therein without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Corporation shall include in such registration or offering, as applicable, (i) first, the Registrable Securities of Holders requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the such Holders on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder that such Holder of Registrable Securities shall have requested to be included therein, (ii) second, other securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, and (iii) third, securities the Corporation requested to be included in such registration for its own account which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect.  Alternatively, if the number of Registrable Securities which can be included on a Shelf Registration Statement is otherwise limited by Instruction I.B.6 to Form S-3 (or any successor provision thereto), the Corporation shall include in such registration or offering prior to the inclusion of any securities which are not Registrable Securities the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included which can be included on such Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Form S-3, pro rata among the respective Holders thereof on the basis of the amount of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder that such Holder of Registrable Securities shall have requested to be included therein.

 

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(f)            Restrictions on Demand Registration and Shelf Offerings .

 

(i)            The Corporation shall not be obligated to effect any Demand Registration within 90 days after the effective date of a previous Demand Registration or a previous registration in which Registrable Securities were included pursuant to Section 3 .  The Corporation may postpone, for up to 60 days from the date of the request, the filing or the effectiveness of a registration statement for a Demand Registration or suspend the use of a prospectus that is part of a Shelf Registration Statement for up to 60 days from the date of the Suspension Notice (as defined below) and therefore suspend sales of the Shelf Registrable Securities (such period, the “ Suspension Period ”) by providing written notice to the Holders if (A) the Corporation’s board of directors determines in its reasonable good faith judgment that the offer or sale of Registrable Securities would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on any proposal or plan by the Corporation or any Subsidiary to engage in any material acquisition of assets or stock (other than in the ordinary course of business) or any material merger, consolidation, tender offer, recapitalization, reorganization or other transaction involving the Corporation or any Subsidiary, (B) upon advice of counsel, the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement would require disclosure of MNPI not otherwise required to be disclosed under applicable law, and (C) either (x) the Corporation has a bona fide business purpose for preserving the confidentiality of such transaction or (y) disclosure of such MNPI would have a material adverse effect on the Corporation or the Corporation’s ability to consummate such transaction; provided that in such event, the Holders shall be entitled to withdraw such request for a Demand Registration or underwritten Shelf Offering and the Corporation shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with such Demand Registration or Shelf Offering.  The Corporation may delay a Demand Registration hereunder only twice in any twelve-month period, except with the consent of each Controlling Holder.  The Corporation also may extend the Suspension Period with the consent of each Controlling Holder.

 

(ii)           In the case of an event that causes the Corporation to suspend the use of a Shelf Registration Statement as set forth in paragraph (f)(i) above or pursuant to applicable subsections of Section 5(a)(vi)  (a “ Suspension Event ”), the Corporation shall give a notice to the Holders of Registrable Securities registered pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (a “ Suspension Notice ”) to suspend sales of the Registrable Securities and such notice shall state generally the basis for the notice and that such suspension shall continue only for so long as the Suspension Event or its effect is continuing.  If the basis of such suspension is nondisclosure of MNPI, the Corporation shall not be required to disclose the subject matter of such MNPI to Holders.  A Holder shall not effect any sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (or such filings) at any time after it has received a Suspension Notice from the Corporation and prior to receipt of an End of Suspension Notice (as defined below).  Each Holder agrees that such Holder shall treat as confidential the receipt of the Suspension Notice and shall not disclose or use the information contained in such Suspension Notice without the prior written consent of the Corporation or until such time as the information contained therein is or becomes available to the public generally, other than as a result of disclosure by the Holder in breach of the terms of this Agreement.  Holders may recommence effecting sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the

 

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Shelf Registration Statement (or such filings) following further written notice to such effect (an “ End of Suspension Notice ”) from the Corporation, which End of Suspension Notice shall be given by the Corporation to the Holders and their counsel, if any, promptly following the conclusion of any Suspension Event; provided that in no event shall an End of Suspension Notice be given after the end of the Suspension Period unless with the consent of each Controlling Holder.

 

(iii)          Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if the Corporation gives a Suspension Notice with respect to any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 2(f) , the Corporation agrees that it shall (A) extend the period of time during which such Shelf Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from the date of receipt by the Holders of the Suspension Notice to and including the date of receipt by the Holders of the End of Suspension Notice, and (B) provide copies of any supplemented or amended prospectus necessary to resume sales, with respect to each Suspension Event; provided that such period of time shall not be extended beyond the date that there are no longer Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement.

 

(g)           Selection of Underwriters .  Controlling Holder(s) initiating any Demand Registration representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such Demand Registration shall have the right to select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) to administer the offering (including assignment of titles), subject to the Corporation’s approval not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.  If any Shelf Offering is an Underwritten Takedown, the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities participating in such Underwritten Takedown shall have the right to select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) to administer the offering relating to such Shelf Offering (including assignment of titles), subject to the Corporation’s approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

 

(h)           Fulfillment of Registration Obligations .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, a registration requested pursuant to this Section 2 shall not be deemed to have been effected and the Holder that made the Demand Registration shall not be deemed to have used one of its Demand Registrations for purposes of Section 2(b) : (i) if the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in a Long-Form Registration by the initiating Controlling Holder is cut back by the managing underwriters pursuant to Section 2(e) by more than twenty percent (20%); (ii) if the registration statement is withdrawn without becoming effective in accordance with Section 2(f)  or otherwise without the consent of the initiating Controlling Holder; (iii) if after it has become effective such registration is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental authority for any reason other than a misrepresentation or an omission by the Holder making such Demand Registration, or an Affiliate of such Holder (other than the Corporation and its controlled Affiliates), and, as a result thereof, the Registrable Securities requested to be registered cannot be completely distributed in accordance with the plan of distribution set forth in the related registration statement; (iv) if the registration does not contemplate an underwritten offering, if it does not remain effective for at least 180 days (or such shorter period as will terminate when all securities covered by such registration statement have been sold or withdrawn); or if such registration statement contemplates an underwritten offering, if it does not remain effective for at least 180 days plus such longer period as, in the

 

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opinion of counsel for the underwriter or underwriters, a prospectus is required by applicable law to be delivered in connection with the sale of Registrable Securities by an underwriter or dealer; or (v) in the event of an underwritten offering, if the conditions to closing (including any condition relating to an overallotment option) specified in the purchase agreement or underwriting agreement entered into in connection with such registration are not satisfied or waived other than by reason of some wrongful act or omission by the Holder that made the Demand Registration, or an Affiliate of such Holder.

 

(i)            Other Registration Rights .  The Corporation represents and warrants that it is not a party to, or otherwise subject to, any other agreement granting registration rights to any other Person with respect to any securities of the Corporation.  Except as provided in this Agreement, the Corporation shall not grant to any Persons the right to request the Corporation or any Subsidiary to register any Capital Stock of the Corporation or of any Subsidiary, or any securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for such securities, without the prior written consent of the applicable Controlling Holder.

 

Section 3.              Piggyback Registrations .

 

(a)           Right to Piggyback .  Following the IPO, whenever the Corporation proposes to register any of its securities under the Securities Act (other than (i) pursuant to a Demand Registration, (ii) in connection with registrations on Form S-4 or S-8 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor or similar forms or (iii) a registration on any form that does not include substantially the same information as would be required to be included in a registration statement covering the sale of Registrable Securities) and the registration form to be used may be used for the registration of Registrable Securities (a “ Piggyback Registration ”), the Corporation shall give prompt written notice (in any event within three Business Days after its receipt of notice of any request for registration on behalf of holders of the Company’s securities (other than under the Holders) to all Holders of its intention to effect such Piggyback Registration and, subject to the terms of Section 3(c) , shall include in such Piggyback Registration (and in all related registrations or qualifications under blue sky laws and in any related underwriting) all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Corporation has received written requests for inclusion therein within ten days after delivery of the Corporation’s notice.

 

(b)           Piggyback Expenses .  The Registration Expenses of the Holders shall be paid by the Corporation in all Piggyback Registrations, whether or not any such registration became effective.

 

(c)           Priority on Primary Registrations .  If a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten primary registration on behalf of the Corporation, and the managing underwriters advise the Corporation in writing that in their opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Corporation shall include in such registration (i) first, the securities the Corporation proposes to sell, (ii) second, the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the Holders on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities owned by

 

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each such Holder that such Holder of Registrable Securities shall have requested to be included therein, and (iii) third, other securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect.

 

(d)           Selection of Underwriters .  If any Piggyback Registration is an underwritten offering, the selection of investment banker(s) and manager(s) for the offering shall be at the election of the Corporation (in the case of a primary registration) or at the election of the holders of other Corporation securities requesting such registration (in the case of a secondary registration); provided that Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such Piggyback Registration may request that one or more investment banker(s) or manager(s) be included in such offering (such request not to be binding on the Corporation or such other initiating holders of Corporation securities).

 

(e)           Right to Terminate Registration .  The Corporation shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section 3 whether or not any Holder has elected to include securities in such registration.  The Registration Expenses of such withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Corporation in accordance with Section 6 .

 

Section 4.              Holdback Agreements .

 

(a)           Holders of Registrable Securities .  If requested by the Corporation or the managing underwriter(s), each Holder participating in an underwritten Public Offering shall enter into customary lock-up agreements with the managing underwriter(s) of such Public Offering.  In the absence of any such lock-up agreement, each Holder agrees as follows:

 

(i)            in connection with the IPO, such Holder shall not (A) offer, sell, pledge, contract to sell or grant any option to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of (including sales pursuant to Rule 144), directly or indirectly, any shares of Capital Stock of the Corporation (including Capital Stock of the Corporation that may be deemed to be owned beneficially by such Holder in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission) (collectively, “ Securities ”), (B) enter into a transaction which would have the same effect as described in clause (A)  above, (C) enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Securities, whether such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such Securities, in cash or otherwise (each of (A), (B) and (C) above, a “ Sale Transaction ”), or (D) publicly disclose the intention to enter into any Sale Transaction, commencing on the earlier of the date on which the Corporation gives notice to the Holders that a preliminary prospectus has been circulated for the IPO or the “pricing” of such offering and continuing to the date that is 180 days following the date of the final prospectus for the IPO (the “ Holdback Period ”), unless the underwriters managing the IPO otherwise agree in writing; provided, however , that if the Holdback Period is shortened or terminated early for any Holder that together with its Affiliates holds one percent (1%) or more of the outstanding Registrable Securities, the Holdback period for each other Holder also shall be shortened or terminated to the same extent;

 

(ii)           in connection with all underwritten Public Offerings (other than the IPO), such Holder shall not effect any Sale Transaction commencing on the earlier of the date

 

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on which the Corporation gives notice to the Holders of the circulation of a preliminary or final prospectus for such Public Offering or the “pricing” of such offering and continuing to the date that is 90 days following the date of the final prospectus for such Public Offering (a “ Follow-On Holdback Period ”), unless, if an underwritten Public Offering, the underwriters managing the Public Offering otherwise agree in writing; and

 

(iii)          The foregoing clauses (i)  through (ii)  shall not apply to (A) the sale of Capital Stock pursuant to the terms of the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with such underwritten Public Offering, or (B) transactions relating to shares of Capital Stock or other securities acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the Public Offering, provided that no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with transfers or dispositions of such shares of Capital Stock or other securities acquired in such open market transactions (other than a filing on Form 5 made after the expiration of the Holdback Period), or (C) transfers of Capital Stock or any security convertible into Capital Stock to the spouse, domestic partner, parent, sibling, child or grandchild (each an “ immediate family member ”) of such Holder or to a trust formed for the benefit of such Holder or of an immediate family member of a Holder, or (D) transfers of Capital Stock or any security convertible into Capital Stock as a bona fide gift, or (E) distributions of shares of Capital Stock or any security convertible into Capital Stock to limited partners, members, stockholders or affiliates of a Holder or to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed by, or under common control or management with, such holder, or (F) as a distribution by a trust to its beneficiaries, provided that in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (C) , (D) , (E)  or (F) , (1) each donee or distributee shall sign and deliver a lock-up agreement substantially in the form of the lock-up agreement entered into by such Holder and (2) no such transfer or distribution in (C), (D), (E) or (F) shall be permitted if it shall require a filing under Section 16(a) or Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Capital Stock, and no such filing under Section 16(a) or Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act shall be voluntarily made during the Holdback Period, or (G) the receipt by a Holder from the Corporation of Capital Stock upon a vesting event of Capital Stock or rights to acquire Capital stock pursuant to the Corporation’s equity incentive plans or the exercise by such Holder of options to purchase Capital Stock issued pursuant to the Corporation’s equity incentive plans (including, in each case, by way of net exercise, but for the avoidance of doubt, excluding all manners of exercise that would involve a sale of any securities relating to such options, whether to cover the applicable aggregate exercise price, withholding tax obligations or otherwise), provided that (1) any securities received upon such vesting event or exercise will also be subject to the terms of such holder’s lock-up agreement and (2) no such vesting event or exercise shall be permitted if it shall require a filing under Section 16(a) or Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Capital Stock, and no such filing under Section 16(a) or Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act shall be voluntarily made during the Holdback Period in connection with such vesting event or exercise, or (H) transfers of Capital Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Capital Stock to the Corporation, pursuant to agreements under which the Corporation has the option to repurchase such shares or securities or a right of first refusal with respect to transfers of such shares or securities, provided that unless such

 

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transfers are pursuant to the Corporation’s option to repurchase in the event such holder is terminated or resigns as an employee of the Corporation, no transfer shall be permitted if it shall require a filing under Section 16(a) or Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Capital Stock, and no such filing under Section 16(a) or Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act shall be voluntarily made during the Holdback Period in connection with such transfer (other than a filing on Form 5 pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of shares of Capital Stock, provided that (1) such plan does not provide for the transfer of Capital Stock during the Holdback Period and (2) to the extent a public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act, if any, is required of or voluntarily made by or on behalf of such holder or the Corporation regarding the establishment of such plan, such announcement or filing shall include a statement to the effect that no transfer of Capital Stock may be made under such plan during the Holdback Period).

 

The Corporation may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the shares of Capital Stock (or other securities) subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section 4(a)  until the end of such period.

 

(b)           Exceptions .  The foregoing holdback agreements in Section 4(a)  shall not apply to a registration in connection with an employee benefit plan or in connection with any registration on form S-4 or similar form in connection with any type of acquisition transaction or exchange offer.

 

Section 5.              Registration Procedures .

 

(a)           Whenever the Holders have requested that any Registrable Securities be registered pursuant to this Agreement or have initiated a Shelf Offering, (i) such Holders shall, if applicable, cause such Registrable Securities to be exchanged into shares of Class A Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the LLC Agreement prior to sale of such Registrable Securities and (ii) the Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration and the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto the Corporation shall as expeditiously as possible:

 

(i)            in accordance with the Securities Act and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement, and all amendments and supplements thereto and related prospectuses, with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective (provided that before filing a registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Corporation shall furnish to the counsel selected by the Controlling Holder(s) initiating a Demand Registration or, in all other cases, the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents shall be subject to the review and comment of such counsel);

 

(ii)           notify each holder of Registrable Securities of (A) the issuance by the Securities and Exchange Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of

 

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any registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (B) the receipt by the Corporation or its counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and (C) the effectiveness of each registration statement filed hereunder;

 

(iii)          prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective for a period ending when all of the securities covered by such registration statement have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement (but in any event not before the expiration of any longer period required under the Securities Act or, if such registration statement relates to an underwritten Public Offering, such longer period as in the opinion of counsel for the underwriters a prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sale of Registrable Securities by an underwriter or dealer) and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement during such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement;

 

(iv)          furnish to each seller of Registrable Securities thereunder such number of copies of such registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus), each Free Writing Prospectus and such other documents as such seller may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller;

 

(v)           use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Securities under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any seller reasonably requests and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such seller to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller (provided 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 or (C) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction);

 

(vi)          notify each seller of such Registrable Securities (A) promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the date and time when such registration statement and each post-effective amendment thereto has become effective or a prospectus or supplement to any prospectus relating to a registration statement has been filed and when any registration or qualification has become effective under a state securities or blue sky law or any exemption thereunder has been obtained, (B) promptly after receipt thereof, of any request by the Securities and Exchange Commission for the amendment or supplementing of such registration statement or prospectus or for additional information and (C) at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus

 

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included in such registration statement contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and, subject to Section 2(f) , at the request of any such seller, the Corporation shall prepare a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

 

(vii)         use reasonable best efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Corporation are then listed and, if not so listed, to be listed on a securities exchange and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to arrange for at least two market markers to register as such with respect to such Registrable Securities with FINRA;

 

(viii)        use reasonable efforts to provide a transfer agent and registrar for all such Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of such registration statement;

 

(ix)          enter into and perform such customary agreements (including underwriting agreements in customary form) and take all such other actions as the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold or the underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities (including, without limitation, effecting a stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or reorganization);

 

(x)           make available for inspection by any seller of Registrable Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such seller or underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate and business documents and properties of the Corporation as shall be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Corporation’s officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives and independent accountants to supply all information reasonably requested by any such seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such registration statement;

 

(xi)          take all reasonable actions to ensure that any Free-Writing Prospectus utilized in connection with any Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration hereunder complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, is filed in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby, is retained in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby and, when taken together with the related prospectus, shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

(xii)         otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve months beginning with the first day of the Corporation’s first full

 

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calendar quarter after the effective date of the registration statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158;

 

(xiii)        to the extent that a Holder, in its sole and exclusive judgment, might be deemed to be an underwriter of any Registrable Securities or a controlling person of the Corporation, permit such Holder to participate in the preparation of such registration or comparable statement and allow such Holder to provide language for insertion therein, in form and substance satisfactory to the Corporation, which in the reasonable judgment of such Holder and its counsel should be included;

 

(xiv)        in the event of the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement, or the issuance of any order suspending or preventing the use of any related prospectus or suspending the qualification of any Class A Common Stock included in such registration statement for sale in any jurisdiction use reasonable efforts promptly to obtain the withdrawal of such order;

 

(xv)         use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

 

(xvi)        cooperate with the Holders of Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement and the managing underwriter or agent, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing securities to be sold under the registration statement and enable such securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriter, or agent, if any, or such Holders may request;

 

(xvii)       cooperate with each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement and each underwriter or agent participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA;

 

(xviii)      use its reasonable best efforts to make available the executive officers of the Corporation to participate with the Holders of Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement and any underwriters in any “road shows” or other selling efforts that may be reasonably requested by the Holders in connection with the methods of distribution for the Registrable Securities;

 

(xix)        in the case of any underwritten Public Offering, use its reasonable best efforts to obtain one or more cold comfort letters from the Corporation’s independent public accountants in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by cold comfort letters as the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold reasonably request;

 

(xx)         in the case of any underwritten Public Offering, use its reasonable best efforts to provide a legal opinion of the Corporation’s outside counsel, dated the closing date of the Public Offering, in customary form and covering such matters of the type

 

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customarily covered by legal opinions of such nature, which opinion shall be addressed to the underwriters and the Holders of such Registrable Securities being sold;

 

(xxi)        if the Corporation files an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement covering any Registrable Securities, use its reasonable best efforts to remain a WKSI (and not become an ineligible issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act)) during the period during which such Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is required to remain effective;

 

(xxii)       if the Corporation does not pay the filing fee covering the Registrable Securities at the time an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is filed, pay such fee at such time or times as the Registrable Securities are to be sold; and

 

(xxiii)      if the Automatic Shelf Registration Statement has been outstanding for at least three (3) years, at the end of the third year, file a new Automatic Shelf Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities, and, if at any time when the Corporation is required to re-evaluate its WKSI status the Corporation determines that it is not a WKSI, use its reasonable efforts to refile the Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 and, if such form is not available, Form S-1 and keep such registration statement effective during the period during which such registration statement is required to be kept effective.

 

(b)           Any officer of the Corporation who is a Holder agrees that if and for so long as he or she is employed by the Corporation or any Subsidiary thereof, he or she shall participate fully in the sale process in a manner customary and reasonable for persons in like positions and consistent with his or her other duties with the Corporation and in accordance with applicable law, including the preparation of the registration statement and the preparation and presentation of any road shows.

 

(c)           The Corporation may require each Holder requesting, or electing to participate in, any registration to furnish the Corporation such information regarding such Holder and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as the Corporation may from time to time reasonably request in writing.

 

(d)           If the Original Equity Owners or any of their respective Affiliates seek to effectuate an in-kind distribution of all or part of their respective Registrable Securities to their respective direct or indirect equityholders, the Corporation shall, subject to any applicable lock-ups, work with the foregoing persons to facilitate such in-kind distribution in the manner reasonably requested and such distributees shall have the right to become a party to this Agreement by the joinder in the form of Exhibit A hereto and thereby have all of the rights of such Original Equity Owners under this Agreement, other than the Demand Registration rights of a Controlling Holder.

 

Section 6.              Registration Expenses .

 

(a)           The Corporation’s Obligation .  All expenses incident to the Corporation’s performance of or compliance with this Agreement (including, without limitation, all registration, qualification and filing fees, fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue

 

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sky laws, printing expenses, messenger and delivery expenses, fees and disbursements of custodians, and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Corporation and all independent certified public accountants, underwriters (excluding underwriting discounts and commissions) and other Persons retained by the Corporation) (all such expenses being herein called “ Registration Expenses ”), shall be borne as provided in this Agreement, except that the Corporation shall, in any event, pay its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit or quarterly review, the expense of any liability insurance and the expenses and fees for listing the securities to be registered on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Corporation are then listed.  Each Person that sells securities pursuant to a Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration hereunder shall bear and pay all underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the securities sold for such Person’s account.

 

(b)           Counsel Fees and Disbursements .  In connection with each Demand Registration, each Piggyback Registration and each Shelf Offering, the Corporation shall reimburse the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel of each Controlling Holder participating in the registration.

 

Section 7.              Indemnification and Contribution .

 

(a)           By the Corporation .  The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder, such Holder’s officers, directors, managers, employees, partners, stockholders, members, trustees, Affiliates, agents and representatives, and each Person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) (the “ Holder Indemnified Parties ”) against all losses, claims, actions, damages, liabilities and expenses (including with respect to actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, and including reasonable attorney fees and expenses) caused by, resulting from, arising out of, based upon or related to any of the following statements, omissions or violations (each a “ Violation ”) by the Corporation: (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in (A) any registration statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free-Writing Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or (B) any application or other document or communication (in this Section 7 , collectively called an “ application ”) executed by or on behalf of the Corporation or based upon written information furnished by or on behalf of the Corporation filed in any jurisdiction in order to qualify any securities covered by such registration under the securities laws thereof, (ii) any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Corporation of the Securities Act or any other similar federal or state securities laws or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Corporation and relating to action or inaction required of the Corporation in connection with any such registration, qualification or compliance.  In addition, the Corporation will reimburse such Holder Indemnified Party for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such losses.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such losses result from, arise out of, are based upon, or relate to an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission, made in such registration statement, any such prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free-Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any application, in

 

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reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information prepared and furnished in writing to the Corporation by such Holder Indemnified Party expressly for use therein or by such Holder Indemnified Party’s failure to deliver a copy of the registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto after the Corporation has furnished such Holder Indemnified Party with a sufficient number of copies of the same.  In connection with an underwritten offering, the Corporation shall indemnify such underwriters, their officers and directors, and each Person who controls such underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holder Indemnified Parties.

 

(b)           By Each Holder .  In connection with any registration statement in which a Holder is participating, each such Holder shall furnish to the Corporation in writing such information and affidavits as the Corporation reasonably requests for use in connection with any such registration statement or prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Corporation, its officers, directors, managers, employees, agents and representatives, and each Person who controls the Corporation (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in the registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder; provided that the obligation to indemnify shall be individual, not joint and several, for each Holder and shall be limited to the net amount of proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement.

 

(c)           Claim Procedure .  Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall impair any Person’s right to indemnification hereunder only to the extent such failure has prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party.  If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).  An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim.  In such instance, the conflicted indemnified parties shall have a right to retain one separate counsel, chosen by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the registration if such Holders are indemnified parties, at the expense of the indemnifying party.

 

(d)           Contribution .  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to, or is insufficient to hold harmless, an

 

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indemnified party or is otherwise unenforceable with respect to any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to herein, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amounts paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided that the maximum amount of liability in respect of such contribution shall be limited, in the case of each seller of Registrable Securities, to an amount equal to the net proceeds actually received by such seller from the sale of Registrable Securities effected pursuant to such registration.  The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  The parties hereto agree that it would not be just or equitable if the contribution pursuant to this Section 7(d)  were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account such equitable considerations.  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to herein shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending against any action or claim which is the subject hereof.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(t) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

(e)           Release .  No indemnifying party shall, except with the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 7 , an indemnifying party shall not be liable for any amounts paid in settlement of any loss, claim, damage, liability, or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the indemnifying party, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

 

(f)            Non-exclusive Remedy; Survival .  The indemnification and contribution provided for under this Agreement shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution that any indemnified party may have pursuant to law or contract and shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling Person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of Registrable Securities and the termination or expiration of this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the underwritten public offering are in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the provisions in the underwriting agreement shall control.

 

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Section 8.              Underwritten Registrations .

 

(a)           Participation .  No Person may participate in any Public Offering hereunder which is underwritten unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Person or Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements (including, without limitation, pursuant to any over-allotment or “green shoe” option requested by the underwriters; provided that no Holder shall be required to sell more than the number of Registrable Securities such Holder has requested to include) and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, custody agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.  Each Holder shall execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Corporation and the lead managing underwriter(s) that are consistent with such Holder’s obligations under Section 4 , Section 5 and this Section 8(a)  or that are necessary to give further effect thereto.  To the extent that any such agreement is entered into pursuant to, and consistent with, Section 4 and this Section 8(a) , the respective rights and obligations created under such agreement shall supersede the respective rights and obligations of the Holders, the Corporation and the underwriters created pursuant to this Section 8(a) .

 

(b)           Price and Underwriting Discounts .  In the case of an underwritten Demand Registration or Underwritten Takedown requested by Holders pursuant to this Agreement, the price, underwriting discount and other financial terms of the related underwriting agreement for the Registrable Securities shall be determined by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such underwritten offering.

 

(c)           Suspended Distributions .  Each Person that is participating in any registration under this Agreement, upon receipt of any notice from the Corporation of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 5(a)(vi)(B)  or (C) , shall immediately discontinue the disposition of its Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement until such Person’s receipt of the copies of a supplemented or amended prospectus as contemplated by Section 5(a)(vi) .  In the event the Corporation has given any such notice, the applicable time period set forth in Section 5(a)(iii)  during which a Registration Statement is to remain effective shall be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to this Section 8(c)  to and including the date when each seller of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 5(a)(vi) .

 

Section 9.              Additional Parties; Joinder .  Subject to the prior written consent of each Controlling Holder, the Corporation may make any Person who acquires Class A Common Stock or rights to acquire Class A Common Stock from the Corporation after the date hereof (including without limitation any Person who acquires Common Units) a party to this Agreement (each such Person, an “ Additional Investor ”) and to succeed to all of the rights and obligations of a Holder under this Agreement by obtaining an executed joinder to this Agreement from such Additional Investor in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (a “ Joinder ”).  Upon the execution and delivery of a Joinder by such Additional Investor, the Class A Common Stock of the Corporation acquired by such Additional Investor or issuable upon redemption or exchange of Common Units acquired by such Additional Investor (the “ Acquired Common ”) shall be Registrable Securities to the extent provided herein, such Additional Investor shall be a Holder under this Agreement with respect to the Acquired Common, and the Corporation shall add such

 

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Additional Investor’s name and address to the Schedule of Investors and circulate such information to the parties to this Agreement.

 

Section 10.            Current Public Information .  At all times after the Corporation has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the requirements of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, the Corporation shall file all reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required to enable such Holders to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144.  Upon request, the Corporation shall deliver to any Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

 

Section 11.            Subsidiary Public Offering .  If, after an initial Public Offering of the Capital Stock of one of its Subsidiaries (including the Company), the Corporation distributes securities of such Subsidiary to its equityholders, then the rights and obligations of the Corporation pursuant to this Agreement shall apply, mutatis mutandis , to such Subsidiary, and the Corporation shall cause such Subsidiary to comply with such Subsidiary’s obligations under this Agreement.

 

Section 12.            Transfer of Registrable Securities .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, except in the case of (i) a transfer to the Corporation, (ii) a transfer by any Original Equity Owners or any of its Affiliates to its respective equityholders, (iii) a Public Offering, (iv) a sale pursuant to Rule 144 after the completion of the IPO or (v) a transfer in connection with a sale of the Corporation, prior to transferring any Registrable Securities to any Person (including, without limitation, by operation of law), the transferring Holder shall cause the prospective transferee to execute and deliver to the Corporation a Joinder agreeing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.  Any transfer or attempted transfer of any Registrable Securities in violation of any provision of this Agreement shall be void, and the Corporation shall not record such transfer on its books or treat any purported transferee of such Registrable Securities as the owner thereof for any purpose.

 

Section 13.            MNPI Provisions .

 

(a)           Each Holder acknowledges that the provisions of this Agreement that require communications by the Corporation or other Holders to such Holder may result in such Holder and its Representatives (as defined below) acquiring MNPI (which may include, solely by way of illustration, the fact that an offering of the Corporation’s securities is pending or the number of Corporation securities or the identity of the selling Holders).

 

(b)           Each Holder agrees that it will maintain the confidentiality of such MNPI and, to the extent such Holder is not a natural person, such confidential treatment shall be in accordance with procedures adopted by it in good faith to protect confidential information of third parties delivered to such Holder (“ Policies ”); provided that a holder may deliver or disclose MNPI to (i) its directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, affiliates and financial and other advisors (collectively, the “ Representatives ”), but solely to the extent such disclosure reasonably relates to its evaluation of exercise of its rights under this Agreement and the sale of any Registrable Securities in connection with the subject of the notice, (ii) any federal or state regulatory

 

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authority having jurisdiction over such Holder, (iii) any Person if necessary to effect compliance with any law, rule, regulation or order applicable to such Holder, (iv) in response to any subpoena or other legal process, or (v) in connection with any litigation to which such Holder is a party; provided further , that in the case of clause (i) , the recipients of such MNPI are subject to the Policies or agree to hold confidential the MNPI in a manner substantially consistent with the terms of Section 13 and that in the case of clauses (ii)  through (v) , such disclosure is required by law and such Holder shall promptly notify the Corporation of such disclosure to the extent such Holder is legally permitted to give such notice.

 

(c)           Each Holder shall have the right, at any time and from time to time (including after receiving information regarding any potential Public Offering), to elect to not receive any notice that the Corporation or any other Holders otherwise are required to deliver pursuant to this Agreement by delivering to the Corporation a written statement signed by such Holder that it does not want to receive any notices hereunder (an “ Opt-Out Request ”); in which case and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement the Corporation and other Holders shall not be required to, and shall not, deliver any notice or other information required to be provided to Holders hereunder to the extent that the Corporation or such other Holders reasonably expect would result in a Holder acquiring MNPI.  An Opt-Out Request may state a date on which it expires or, if no such date is specified, shall remain in effect indefinitely.  A Holder who previously has given the Corporation an Opt-Out Request may revoke such request at any time, and there shall be no limit on the ability of a Holder to issue and revoke subsequent Opt-Out Requests; provided that each Holder shall use commercially reasonable efforts to minimize the administrative burden on the Corporation arising in connection with any such Opt-Out Requests.

 

Section 14.            General Provisions .

 

(a)           Amendments and Waivers .  Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Agreement may be amended, modified or waived only with the prior written consent of the Corporation and each Controlling Holder; provided that no such amendment, modification or waiver that would materially and adversely affect a Holder in a manner materially different than any other Holder ( provided that the accession by Additional Investors to this Agreement pursuant to Section 9 shall not be deemed to adversely affect any Holder), shall be effective against such Holder without the consent of such Holder that is materially and adversely affected thereby.  The failure or delay of any Person to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and shall not affect the right of such Person thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.  A waiver or consent to or of any breach or default by any Person in the performance by that Person of his, her or its obligations under this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by that Person of the same or any other obligations of that Person under this Agreement.

 

(b)           Remedies .  The parties to this Agreement shall be entitled to enforce their rights under this Agreement specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages caused by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing in their favor.  The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that a breach of this Agreement would cause irreparable harm and money damages would not be an adequate remedy

 

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for any such breach and that, in addition to any other rights and remedies existing hereunder, any party shall be entitled to specific performance and/or other injunctive relief from any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction (without posting any bond or other security) in order to enforce or prevent violation of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(c)           Severability .  Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited, invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or regulation in any jurisdiction, such prohibition, invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement in such jurisdiction or in any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such prohibited, invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

 

(d)           Entire Agreement .  Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement contains the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.

 

(e)           Successors and Assigns .  This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit and be enforceable by the Corporation and its successors and assigns and the Holders and their respective successors and assigns (whether so expressed or not).  In addition, whether or not any express assignment has been made, the provisions of this Agreement which are for the benefit Holders are also for the benefit of, and enforceable by, any subsequent or successor Holder.

 

(f)            Notices .  Any notice, demand or other communication to be given under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given (i) when delivered personally to the recipient, (ii) when sent by confirmed electronic mail or facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient but; if not, then on the next Business Day, (iii) one Business Day after it is sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) or (iv) three Business Days after it is mailed to the recipient by first class mail, return receipt requested.  Such notices, demands and other communications shall be sent to the Corporation at the address specified below and to any Original Equity Owner or to any other party subject to this Agreement at such address as indicated on the Schedule of Investors, or at such address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party.  Any party may change such party’s address for receipt of notice by providing prior written notice of the change to the sending party as provided herein.  The Corporation’s address is:

 

Camping World Holdings, Inc.
250 Parkway Drive, Suite 270

Lincolnshire, IL 60069
Attn: General Counsel

 

With a copy to:

 

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Latham & Watkins LLP
885 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attn: Marc D. Jaffe, Esq.
Facsimile:

 

or to such other address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party.

 

(g)           Business Days .  If any time period for giving notice or taking action hereunder expires on a day that is not a Business Day, the time period shall automatically be extended to the immediately following Business Day.

 

(h)           Governing Law .  The corporate law of the State of Delaware shall govern all issues and questions concerning the relative rights of the Corporation and its stockholders.  All other issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforcement of this Agreement and the exhibits and schedules hereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.

 

(i)            MUTUAL WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .  AS A SPECIFICALLY BARGAINED FOR INDUCEMENT FOR EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT (AFTER HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL), EACH PARTY HERETO EXPRESSLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LAWSUIT OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO OR ARISING IN ANY WAY FROM THIS AGREEMENT OR THE MATTERS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

(j)            CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS .  EACH OF THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, FOR THE PURPOSES OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO FURTHER AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ANY PROCESS, SUMMONS, NOTICE OR DOCUMENT BY U.S. REGISTERED MAIL TO SUCH PARTY’S RESPECTIVE ADDRESS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL BE EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS FOR ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTERS TO WHICH IT HAS SUBMITTED TO JURISDICTION IN THIS PARAGRAPH.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE, AND HEREBY AND THEREBY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH COURT THAT ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING

 

27



 

BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

 

(k)           No Recourse .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Corporation and each Holder agrees and acknowledges that no recourse under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement, shall be had against any current or future director, officer, employee, general or limited partner or member of any Holder or of any Affiliate or assignee thereof, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other applicable law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any current or future officer, agent or employee of any Holder or any current or future member of any Holder or any current or future director, officer, employee, partner or member of any Holder or of any Affiliate or assignee thereof, as such for any obligation of any Holder under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation.

 

(l)            Descriptive Headings; Interpretation .  The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.  The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation.

 

(m)          No Strict Construction .  The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.

 

(n)           Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, any one of which need not contain the signature of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

(o)           Electronic Delivery .  This Agreement, the agreements referred to herein, and each other agreement or instrument entered into in connection herewith or therewith or contemplated hereby or thereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent executed and delivered by means of a photographic, photostatic, facsimile or similar reproduction of such signed writing using a facsimile machine or electronic mail shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person.  At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties.  No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of a facsimile machine or electronic mail to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine or electronic mail as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.

 

(p)           Further Assurances .  In connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, each Holder shall execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and perform the provisions of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

28



 

(q)           No Inconsistent Agreements .  The Corporation shall not hereafter enter into any agreement with respect to its securities which is inconsistent with or violates the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement.

 

* * * * *

 

29


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

Marcus A. Lemonis

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]

 



 

 

CWGS HOLDING, LLC

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]

 



 

 

CVRV ACQUISITION LLC

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]

 



 

 

CVRV ACQUISITION II LLC

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]

 



 

 

Andris A. Baltins

 

 

 

By:

 

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]

 



 

 

K. Dillon Schickli

 

 

 

By:

 

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]

 



 

 

Thomas F. Wolfe

 

 

 

By:

 

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]

 



 

 

Brent L. Moody

 

 

 

By:

 

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]

 


 

 

Roger L. Nuttall

 

 

 

By:

 

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]

 



 

 

Mark J. Boggess

 

 

 

By:

 

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]

 



 

 

Matthew Baden

 

 

 

By:

 

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]

 



 

 

John Sirpilla

 

 

 

By:

 

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]

 



 

 

Prabhuling Patel

 

 

 

By:

 

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]

 



 

 

Tamara Ward

 

 

 

By:

 

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]

 



 

 

Mike Siemens

 

 

 

By:

 

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]

 



 

 

Steve Hedlund

 

 

 

By:

 

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]

 



 

 

Brock Whinnery

 

 

 

By:

 

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]

 



 

 

Ann Jackson

 

 

 

By:

 

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]

 


 

 

 

Lisa L. Marshall Revocable Living Trust

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]

 



 

 

Dale Hendrix

 

 

 

By:

 

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]

 



 

 

Karin Bell

 

 

 

By:

 

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]

 



 

 

Seth Rosenberg

 

 

 

By:

 

 

[ Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement ]

 



 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTORS

 

Holder

 

Controlling
Holder?

 

Continuing Equity Owner/
Former Equity Owner

CWGS Holding, LLC

 

Yes

 

Continuing Equity Owner

CVRV Acquisition LLC

 

Yes

 

Continuing Equity Owner

CVRV Acquisition II LLC

 

Yes

 

Former Equity Owner

Andris A. Baltins

 

No

 

Continuing Equity Owner

K. Dillon Schickli

 

No

 

Continuing Equity Owner

Thomas F. Wolfe

 

No

 

Continuing Equity Owner

Brent L. Moody

 

No

 

Continuing Equity Owner

Roger L. Nuttall

 

No

 

Continuing Equity Owner

Mark J. Boggess

 

No

 

Continuing Equity Owner

Matthew Baden

 

No

 

Continuing Equity Owner

John Sirpilla

 

No

 

Continuing Equity Owner

Prabhuling Patel

 

No

 

Continuing Equity Owner

Tamara Ward

 

No

 

Continuing Equity Owner

Mike Siemens

 

No

 

Continuing Equity Owner

Steve Hedlund

 

No

 

Continuing Equity Owner

Brock Whinnery

 

No

 

Continuing Equity Owner

Ann Jackson

 

No

 

Continuing Equity Owner

Lisa L. Marshall Revocable Living Trust

 

No

 

Continuing Equity Owner

Dale Hendrix

 

No

 

Continuing Equity Owner

Karin Bell

 

No

 

Continuing Equity Owner

Seth Rosenberg

 

No

 

Continuing Equity Owner

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT JOINDER

 

The undersigned is executing and delivering this Joinder pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of [ · ], 2016 (as the same may hereafter be amended, the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), among Camping World Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), and the other person named as parties therein.

 

By executing and delivering this Joinder to the Corporation, and upon acceptance hereof by the Corporation upon the execution of a counterpart hereof, the undersigned hereby agrees to become a party to, to be bound by, and to comply with the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement as a Holder of Registrable Securities in the same manner as if the undersigned were an original signatory to the Registration Rights Agreement, and the undersigned’s shares of Class A Common Stock shall be included as Registrable Securities under the Registration Rights Agreement to the extent provided therein.  The Corporation is directed to add the address below the undersigned’s signature on this Joinder to the Schedule of Investors attached to the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Accordingly, the undersigned has executed and delivered this Joinder as of the                          day of                           , 20     .

 

 

 

 

Signature of Stockholder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Print Name of Stockholder

 

Its:

 

 

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

Agreed and Accepted as of

 

                               , 20

 

 

 

 

 

Camping World Holdings, Inc.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Its:

 

 




Exhibit 10.11

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) dated as of November [ ], 2011 between CWGS Enterprises, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ CWGS ”), FreedomRoads, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company (together with CWGS, the “ Company ”), and Marcus Lemonis (“ Executive ”).

 

WHEREAS, CWGS was formed in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by that certain Securities Purchase Agreement (the “ Securities Purchase Agreement ”), dated as of February 15, 2011, by and among AGI Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation, CWGS Holding, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Parent ”), the Company, Stephen Adams, an individual (“ Adams ”), and CVRV Acquisition LLC (“ Crestview ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to enter into this Agreement with Executive pursuant to which the Company will employ Executive as its Chief Executive Officer on the terms set forth in this Agreement, and Executive is willing to serve the Company in such capacity for the period and upon such other terms and conditions of this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Executive previously entered into an employment agreement dated as of February 15, 2011 (the “ Prior Agreement ”), and wish to amend and restate the Prior Agreement as set forth herein to reflect a mutually agreed revised compensation arrangement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as set forth below:

 

1.                                       Term; Effectiveness. (a) The term of Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall commence as of the “Closing Date” (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) (the “ Effective Date ”), and shall continue until the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date (the “ Initial Expiration Date ”); provided, however, that Executive’s employment shall automatically renew for an additional period of one year on the Initial Expiration Date and each one year anniversary of the Initial Expiration Date thereafter, unless and until either the Company or Executive provides written notice of non-renewal to the other party at least 90 days before the Initial Expiration Date or such applicable anniversary thereof; provided, further, that Executive’s employment under this Agreement may be terminated at any time pursuant to the provisions of Section 4. The period of time from the Effective Date through the termination of this Agreement and Executive’s employment hereunder pursuant to its terms is herein referred to as the “ Term .”

 

(b)                                  Executive agrees and acknowledges that, should Executive and the Company mutually agree to continue Executive’s employment for any period of time following the Initial Expiration Date notwithstanding the expiration or termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms and without entering into a new written employment agreement,

 



 

Executive’s employment with the Company shall be “at will”, such that the Company may terminate Executive’s employment at any time, with or without reason and with or without notice, and Executive may resign at any time, with or without reason and with or without notice.

 

(c)                                   [Intentionally Omitted.]

 

(d)                                  For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms, as used herein, shall have the definitions set forth below.

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such specified Person, provided that, in any event, any business in which the Company has any direct ownership interest shall be treated as an Affiliate of the Company.

 

Annual EBITDA ” means, with respect to any fiscal year, CWGS’s earnings on a consolidated basis before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and before Monitoring Fees and Expense Amount (each as defined in the Monitoring Agreement) paid to Adams and Crestview for such fiscal year, and after reflecting add-backs for one-time non-recurring charges to the extent any are so approved by the Board in its sole discretion, all as determined by the Board based on CWGS’s audited financial results for such fiscal year.

 

Board ” means the Board of Directors of CWGS.

 

Control ” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “Controlled by” and “under common Control with”), as used with respect to any Person, means the direct or indirect possession of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Crestview Group ” means (i) Crestview, (ii) any member of Crestview or any Affiliate of such member or Crestview, including Crestview Partners II, L.P. and their Affiliates (collectively, the “ Crestview Affiliates ”) and (iii) any officer or employee of Crestview or any Crestview Affiliate.

 

Governmental Entity ” means any national, state, county, local, municipal or other government or any court of competent jurisdiction, administrative agency or commission or other governmental authority or instrumentality.

 

LLC Agreement ” has the definition ascribed to it in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

Monitoring Agreement ” has the definition ascribed to it in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

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

 

2



 

other entity.

 

2.                                       Duties and Responsibilities. (a) During the Term, Executive agrees to be employed by and, subject to Section 2(b), devote all of Executive’s business time and attention to the Company and the promotion of its interests and the performance of Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder, upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Executive shall render Executive’s services hereunder as Chief Executive Officer of the Company with such duties and responsibilities commensurate with his title and position as directed from time to time by the Board.

 

(b)                                  During the Term, Executive shall use Executive’s best efforts to faithfully and diligently serve the Company and shall not act in any capacity that is in conflict with Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder; provided, however, that Executive may manage Executive’s personal investments and affairs and participate in non-profit, educational, community or philanthropic activities, in each case to the extent that such activities do not interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties under this Agreement and are not in conflict with the business interests of the Company or otherwise compete with the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, during the Term, Executive shall not be permitted to become engaged in or render services for any Person other than the Company and its Affiliates, and shall not be permitted to be a member of the board of directors of any Person, in any case without the consent of the Board.

 

3.                                       Compensation and Related Matters. (a)  Base Salary. During the Term, for all services rendered under this Agreement, Executive shall receive an aggregate annual base salary (“ Base Salary ”) at the rate of $1,500,000, payable in accordance with the Company’s applicable payroll practices, which shall not be reduced without the consent of Executive. References in this Agreement to “Base Salary” shall be deemed to refer to the most recently effective annual base salary rate. Executive shall not receive any additional compensation as a member of the Board.

 

(b)                                  Annual Bonus . During the Term, subject to Section 4(b), for each fiscal year, Executive shall have the opportunity to earn an annual bonus (“ Annual Bonus ”) in accordance with the following:

 

(i)                                      For each fiscal year, Executive’s target annual bonus (“ Target Bonus ”) shall be determined as the amount equal to the excess of (A) 1.75% of the budgeted Annual EBITDA for such fiscal year over (B) the Base Salary actually payable to Executive in respect of such fiscal year; provided that the Target Bonus for the 2011 fiscal year shall equal $556,250.

 

(ii)                                   Budgeted Annual EBITDA for each fiscal year shall be established by the Board prior to or as soon as practicable following such fiscal year; provided, that for the 2011 fiscal year, budgeted Annual EBITDA shall equal $117,500,000.

 

3



 

(iii)                                For each fiscal year, the Annual Bonus payable to Executive shall be an amount equal to a specified percentage of the Target Bonus for such fiscal year, determined based on the following chart:

 

Percentage of

 

Percentage of

 

Budgeted Annual EBITDA Attained

 

Target Bonus Payable

 

Less than 90%

 

0

%

At least 90% but less than 92.5%

 

20

%

At least 92.5% but less than 95.0%

 

40

%

At least 95.0% but less than 97.5%

 

60

%

At least 97.5% but less than 100.0%

 

80

%

At least 100.0% but less than 102.5%

 

100

%

102.5% or more

 

110

%

 

The Annual Bonus that Executive shall actually become entitled to receive hereunder for any fiscal year will be payable by the Company in the following fiscal year at such time and in such manner that annual bonuses are paid to other senior executives of the Company after results have been determined for the fiscal year to which the Annual Bonus relates, provided that, except as set forth in Section 4(c), Executive remains employed with the Company through the end of such fiscal year.

 

(c)                                   Adjustment for Compensation Overpayments . To the extent that payments of compensation to Executive made by the Company hereunder through December 31, 2011, exceed $1,500,000 (any such excess, the “ 2011 Excess Payments ”), Executive hereby authorizes the Company to reduce the amount of the Annual Bonus for the 2011 fiscal year (the “ 2011 Annual Bonus ”) by the amount of the 2011 Excess Payments. If the amount of the 2011 Excess Payments exceeds the amount of the 2011 Annual Bonus, then Executive hereby authorizes the Company to reduce the amount of future payments of Base Salary in respect of the 2012 calendar year until such time as such excess has been collected by the Company.

 

(d)                                  [Intentionally deleted.]

 

(e)                                   Profits Interest Award . Immediately following the time at which CWGS begins to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal tax purposes, CWGS or the Parent shall grant Executive an award (the “ Profits Units Award ”) of 8,784 Profits Units (as defined in the LLC Agreement) pursuant to the Equity Incentive Plan (as defined in the LLC Agreement) in accordance with the terms of the LLC Agreement. The Profits Units Award shall vest as to one-third of the Profits Units underlying the Profits Units Award on the date of grant and, subject to Executive’s continued employment with the Company through each applicable vesting date, as to one-sixth of the Profits Units underlying the Profits Units Award on each of the first four anniversaries of the Effective Date or, if sooner, upon an Exit Event (as defined in the LLC Agreement), provided that, if Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 4(c)(i) of this Agreement prior to the first anniversary of the Effective Date, one-half of the Profits Units underlying the Profits Units Award (i.e., the cumulative total of one-third of the Profits Units that vest upon issuance and one-sixth of the Profits Units that would have otherwise vested on the first anniversary) shall be deemed vested

 

4



 

upon the date of such termination. Upon any termination of Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason other than a Company Property Cause, any vested Profits Units as of the date of such termination shall be retained by Executive. The parties acknowledge that upon entry by Executive and CWGS (or the Parent) into a definitive agreement evidencing the Profits Units Award, such agreement, together with the Equity Incentive Plan, and not this Agreement, shall govern the terms and condition relating to the Profits Units Award in all respects.

 

(f)                                    Benefits. During the Term, Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Company’s benefit plans and programs that are in effect for its employees from time to time, subject to the terms and conditions of such plans.

 

(g)                                   Business Expense Reimbursements. During the Term, the Company shall promptly reimburse Executive for Executive’s reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred in connection with performing Executive’s duties hereunder in accordance with its then-prevailing policies and procedures for expense reimbursement (which shall include appropriate itemization and substantiation of expenses incurred).

 

4.                                       Termination of Employment. (a) Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment at any time and for any reason upon at least 30 days advance written notice to the Company. The Board may, in its sole discretion, terminate Executive’s employment at any time and for any reason. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive’s employment shall automatically terminate upon Executive’s death.

 

(b)                                  Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 4, following any termination of Executive’s employment, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, the obligations of the Company to pay or provide Executive with compensation and benefits under Section 3 shall cease, and the Company shall have no further obligations to provide compensation or benefits to Executive hereunder except (i) for payment of any accrued but unpaid Base Salary and vacation time and for payment of any accrued obligations and unreimbursed expenses under Section 3(g) in each case accrued or incurred through the date of termination of employment, (ii) as explicitly set forth in any other benefit plans, programs or arrangements applicable to terminated employees in which Executive participates, other than severance plans or policies but including under the Profits Units Award agreement and the Equity Incentive Plan and (iii) as otherwise expressly required by applicable law. The payments referred to in clause (ii) of this Section 4(b) shall be paid in accordance with such benefit plan, program or arrangement. Any other payment under this Section 4(b) shall be paid as soon as practicable, and in all events within 30 days following termination of employment.

 

(c)                                   (i) If Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (other than due to Executive’s death or disability or due to the Company’s nonrenewal pursuant to Section 1), Executive shall be entitled to receive (A) severance pay in an aggregate amount equal to $2,250,000 (the “ Severance Amount ”), payable during the 18 month period immediately following such termination in substantially equal installments consistent with the Company’s payroll practices; and (B) payment of any Annual Bonus earned in respect of the fiscal year prior to the fiscal year in which termination of employment occurs but unpaid as of the date of termination of employment, payable within 30 days following the date of termination of employment. If Executive’s employment is terminated for Cause, Executive expressly

 

5



 

acknowledges the he shall not be entitled to receive any Severance Amount or other amounts payable hereunder, including any accrued but unpaid Annual Bonus, any amount payable in respect of the Profits Units Award, whether vested or unvested, or in respect to any longer-term equity type incentives; provided, however, that unless Executive’s employment is terminated for Company Property Cause, Executive shall be entitled to receive (A) Annual Bonus amounts that have been accrued prior to the date of termination but have not been paid as of that date and (B) payments with respect to the Profits Units Award. Executive expressly acknowledges that any severance payments under this Section 4(c)(i) are in lieu of any other payments or benefits that Executive may otherwise be eligible to receive under any plan, policy or program of the Company or its Affiliates providing for severance, separation pay or salary continuation payments or benefits.

 

(ii)                                   Any severance payments under Section 4(c)(i) shall be (A) conditioned upon Executive having provided, within sixty (60) days of his termination of employment, an irrevocable waiver and general release of claims in favor of the Company, each member of the Crestview Group, their respective subsidiaries and Affiliates, their respective predecessors and successors, and all of the respective current or former directors, officers, employees, shareholders, partners, members, agents or representatives of any of the foregoing (collectively, the “ Released Parties ”), in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that has become effective in accordance with its terms, and (B) subject to Executive’s continued compliance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(iii)                                For purposes of this Agreement, “ Cause ” means: (A) Executive’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, or willful failure to substantially perform Executive’s duties hereunder (other than due to physical or mental illness or incapacity), (B) Executive’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, or confession to, (1) a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or (2) a felony (or the equivalent of a misdemeanor or felony in a jurisdiction other than the United States), (C) Executive’s willful breach of a material provision of this Agreement, (D) Executive’s willful violation of the Company’s written policies that the Board determines is detrimental to the best interests of the Company; (E) Executive’s fraud or misappropriation, embezzlement or material misuse of funds or property belonging to the Company; or (F) Executive’s use of alcohol or drugs that interferes with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder; provided , however , that Executive shall be provided a 10-day period to cure any of the events or occurrences described in the immediately preceding clauses (A), (C), (D) or (F) hereof, to the extent curable. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Company Property Cause ” means Executive’s fraud or misappropriation, embezzlement or material misuse of funds or property belonging to the Company.

 

(d)                                  Upon termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, and regardless of whether Executive continues as a consultant to the Company, upon the Company’s request, Executive agrees to resign, as of the date of such termination of employment or such other date requested, from the Board and any committees thereof (and, if applicable, from the board of directors (and any committees thereof) of any Affiliate of the Company) to the extent Executive is then serving thereon.

 

6



 

(e)                                   The payment of any amounts accrued under any benefit plan, program or arrangement in which Executive participates shall be subject to the terms of the applicable plan, program or arrangement, and any elections Executive has made thereunder. Subject to Section 19(f) and except as prohibited under the terms of any benefit plan, program or arrangement, the Company may offset any amounts due and payable by Executive to the Company (including, without limitation, any true-up amount Executive owes the Company under Section 3(c) of this Agreement) against any amounts the Company owes Executive hereunder.

 

5.                                       Acknowledgments . (a) Executive acknowledges that the Company has expended and shall continue to expend substantial amounts of time, money and effort to develop business strategies, employee and customer relationships and goodwill and build an effective organization. Executive acknowledges that Executive is and shall become familiar with the Company’s Confidential Information (as defined below), including trade secrets, and that Executive’s services are of special, unique and extraordinary value to the Company, its subsidiaries and Affiliates. Executive acknowledges that the Company has a legitimate business interest and right in protecting its Confidential Information, business strategies, employee and customer relationships and goodwill, and that the Company would be seriously damaged by the disclosure of Confidential Information and the loss or deterioration of its business strategies, employee and customer relationships and goodwill.

 

(b)                                  Executive acknowledges (i) that the business of the Company, its subsidiaries and Affiliates is national in scope and without geographical limitation within the United States and (ii) notwithstanding the jurisdiction of formation or principal office of the Company, its subsidiaries and Affiliates, or the location of any of their respective executives or employees (including, without limitation, Executive), it is expected that the Company and its subsidiaries and Affiliates will have business activities and have valuable business relationships within their respective industries throughout the United States.

 

(c)                                   Executive acknowledges that Executive has carefully read this Agreement and has given careful consideration to the restraints imposed upon Executive by this Agreement, and is in full accord as to the necessity of such restraints for the reasonable and proper protection of the Confidential Information, business strategies, employee and customer relationships and goodwill of the Company and its subsidiaries and Affiliates now existing or to be developed in the future. Executive expressly acknowledges and agrees that each and every restraint imposed by this Agreement is reasonable with respect to subject matter, time period and geographical area. Executive further acknowledges that although Executive’s compliance with the covenants contained in Sections 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 may prevent Executive from earning a livelihood in a business similar to the business of the Company, Executive’s experience and capabilities are such that Executive has other opportunities to earn a livelihood and adequate means of support for Executive and Executive’s dependents.

 

6.                                       Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation . (a) Executive agrees that Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company:

 

(i)                                      while an employee of the Company and during the 18-month period following termination of employment (the “ Non-Compete Period ”), (A) engage in activities or businesses (including without limitation by owning any interest in,

 

7



 

managing, controlling, participating in, consulting with, advising, rendering services for, or in any manner engaging in the business of owning, operating or managing any business) in any geographic location in which the Company, its subsidiaries or Affiliates engage in (other than automobile businesses), whether through selling, distributing, manufacturing, marketing, purchasing, or otherwise, that compete directly or indirectly with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates (“ Competitive Activities ”), it being understood that Competitive Activities as of the date hereof include, without limitation, the publication and membership businesses of the Company or any subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company; the sale, repair or service of recreational vehicles or parts and accessories for recreational vehicles or the sale of any ancillary products that are sold in connection with the sale of recreational vehicles, including but not limited to credit life insurance, roadside assistance programs and extended service warranties, in the recreational vehicle, camping and outdoor living markets; the business of developing, marketing, providing and implementing products and services (including insurance, financing, warranties and road-side assistance) to owners of recreational vehicles and motorcycles; the business of providing consumer shows to owners of recreational vehicles and boats; and the business of publishing magazines directed to owners of recreational vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, boats and outdoor enthusiasts; or (B) assist any Person in any way to do, or attempt to do, anything prohibited by Section 6(a)(i)(A) above; or

 

(ii)                                   while an employee of the Company and during the 18-month period following termination of employment (the “ Non-Solicitation Period ”), (A) solicit or attempt to solicit any customer, client, supplier, licensee, licensor or other business relation (or any actively sought prospective customer, client, supplier, licensee, licensor or other business relation) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates, to purchase any goods or services manufactured, sold or provided by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or its Affiliates from anyone other than the Company or any of its subsidiaries or such Affiliates; or (B) assist any Person in any way to do, or attempt to do, anything prohibited by Section 6(a)(ii)(A) above; or

 

(iii)                                while an employee of the Company and during the Non-Solicitation Period, knowingly perform any action, activity or course of conduct which is substantially detrimental to the businesses or business reputations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates, including (A) soliciting, recruiting or hiring (or attempting to solicit, recruit or hire) any employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates or Persons who have worked for the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates (x) during the 12-month period immediately preceding such solicitation, recruitment or hiring or attempt thereof if the business for which such employee has been solicited, recruited or hired is a Competitive Activity or (y) during the 6-month period immediately preceding such solicitation, recruitment or hiring or attempt thereof if the business for which such employee has been solicited, recruited or hired is not a Competitive Activity; (B) intentionally interfering with the relationship of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates with any Person who or which is employed by or otherwise engaged to perform services for, or any customer, client, supplier, licensee, licensor or other business relation of, the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates; or (C) assisting any Person in any way to do, or attempt to do,

 

8



 

anything prohibited by Section 6(a)(iii)(A) or (B) above.

 

The Non-Compete Period and Non-Solicitation Period shall be tolled during (and shall be deemed automatically extended by) any period in which Executive is in violation of the provisions of this Section 6(a).

 

(b)                                  The provisions of Section 6(a) shall not be deemed breached as a result of Executive’s passive ownership of: (i) less than an aggregate of 5% of any class of securities of a Person engaged, directly or indirectly, in Competitive Activities, so long as Executive does not actively participate in the business of such Person; provided, however, that such stock is listed on a national securities exchange; or (ii) less than an aggregate of 5% in value of any instrument of indebtedness of a Person engaged, directly or indirectly, in Competitive Activities.

 

(c)                                   If a final and non-appealable judicial determination is made that any of the provisions of this Section 6 constitutes an unreasonable or otherwise unenforceable restriction against Executive, the provisions of this Section 6 will not be rendered void but will be deemed to be modified to the minimum extent necessary to remain in force and effect for the longest period and largest geographic area that would not constitute such an unreasonable or unenforceable restriction. Moreover, and without limiting the generality of Section 12, notwithstanding the fact that any provision of this Section 6 is determined to not be enforceable through specific performance, the Company will nevertheless be entitled to recover monetary damages as a result of Executive’s breach of such provision.

 

7.                                       Nondisclosure of Confidential Information . (a) Executive acknowledges that the Confidential Information obtained by Executive while employed by the Company and its subsidiaries and Affiliates is the property of the Company or its subsidiaries and Affiliates, as applicable. Therefore, Executive agrees that Executive shall not disclose to any unauthorized Person or use for Executive’s own purposes any Confidential Information without the prior written consent of the Company, unless and to the extent that the aforementioned matters become generally known to and available for use by the public other than as a result of Executive’s acts or omissions in violation of this Agreement; provided, however, that if Executive receives a request to disclose Confidential Information pursuant to a deposition, interrogation, request for information or documents in legal proceedings, subpoena, civil investigative demand, governmental or regulatory process or similar process, (A) Executive shall promptly notify in writing the Company, and consult with and assist the Company in seeking a protective order or request for other appropriate remedy, (B) in the event that such protective order or remedy is not obtained, or if the Company waives compliance with the terms hereof, Executive shall disclose only that portion of the Confidential Information which, based on the written advice of Executive’s legal counsel, is legally required to be disclosed and shall exercise reasonable best efforts to provide that the receiving Person shall agree to treat such Confidential Information as confidential to the extent possible (and permitted under applicable law) in respect of the applicable proceeding or process and (C) the Company shall be given an opportunity to review the Confidential Information prior to disclosure thereof.

 

(b)                                  For purposes of this Agreement, “ Confidential Information ” means information, observations and data concerning the business or affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries and Affiliates, including, without limitation, all business information (whether or not

 

9



 

in written form) which relates to the Company, its subsidiaries or Affiliates, or their customers, suppliers or contractors or any other third parties in respect of which the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates has a business relationship or owes a duty of confidentiality, or their respective businesses or products, and which is not known to the public generally other than as a result of Executive’s breach of this Agreement, including but not limited to: technical information or reports; formulas; trade secrets; unwritten knowledge and “know-how”; operating instructions; training manuals; customer lists; customer buying records and habits; product sales records and documents, and product development, marketing and sales strategies; market surveys; marketing plans; profitability analyses; product cost; long-range plans; information relating to pricing, competitive strategies and new product development; information relating to any forms of compensation or other personnel-related information; contracts; and supplier lists. Confidential Information will not include such information known to Executive prior to Executive’s involvement with the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates or information rightfully obtained from a third party (other than pursuant to a breach by Executive of this Agreement). Without limiting the foregoing, Executive and the Company each agrees to keep confidential the existence of, and any information concerning, any dispute between Executive and the Company or its subsidiaries and Affiliates, except that Executive and the Company each may disclose information concerning such dispute to the court that is considering such dispute or to their respective legal counsel (provided that such counsel agrees not to disclose any such information other than as necessary to the prosecution or defense of such dispute).

 

(c)                                   Except as expressly set forth otherwise in this Agreement, Executive agrees that Executive shall not disclose the terms of this Agreement, except to Executive’s immediate family and Executive’s financial and legal advisors, or as may be required by law or ordered by a court. Executive further agrees that any disclosure to Executive’s financial and legal advisors will only be made after such advisors acknowledge and agree to maintain the confidentiality of this Agreement and its terms.

 

(d)                                  Executive further agrees that Executive will not improperly use or disclose any confidential information or trade secrets, if any, of any former employers or any other Person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality, and will not bring onto the premises of the Company, its subsidiaries or Affiliates any unpublished documents or any property belonging to any former employer or any other Person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality unless consented to in writing by the former employer or other Person.

 

8.                                       Return of Property . Executive acknowledges that all notes, memoranda, specifications, devices, formulas, records, files, lists, drawings, documents, models, equipment, property, computer, software or intellectual property relating to the businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries and Affiliates, in whatever form (including electronic), and all copies thereof, that are received or created by Executive while an employee of the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates (including but not limited to Confidential Information and Inventions (as defined below)) are and shall remain the property of the Company and its subsidiaries and Affiliates, and Executive shall immediately return such property to the Company upon the termination of Executive’s employment and, in any event, at the Company’s request. Executive further agrees that any property situated on the premises of, and owned by, the Company or its subsidiaries or

 

10


 

Affiliates, including disks and other storage media, filing cabinets or other work areas, is subject to inspection by Company’s personnel at any time with or without notice.

 

9.                                       Intellectual Property Rights . (a) Executive agrees that the results and proceeds of Executive’s services for the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates (including, but not limited to, any trade secrets, products, services, processes, know-how, designs, developments, innovations, analyses, drawings, reports, techniques, formulas, methods, developmental or experimental work, improvements, discoveries, inventions, ideas, source and object codes, programs, matters of a literary, musical, dramatic or otherwise creative nature, writings and other works of authorship) resulting from services performed while an employee of the Company and any works in progress, whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar statutes, that were made, developed, conceived or reduced to practice or learned by Executive, either alone or jointly with others (collectively, “ Inventions ”), shall be works-made-for-hire and the Company (or, if applicable or as directed by the Company, any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates) shall be deemed the sole owner throughout the universe of any and all trade secret, patent, copyright and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “ Proprietary Rights ”) of whatsoever nature therein, whether or not now or hereafter known, existing, contemplated, recognized or developed, with the right to use the same in perpetuity in any manner the Company determines in its sole discretion, without any further payment to Executive whatsoever. If, for any reason, any of such results and proceeds shall not legally be a work-made-for-hire and/or there are any Proprietary Rights which do not accrue to the Company (or, as the case may be, any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates) under the immediately preceding sentence, then Executive hereby irrevocably assigns and agrees to assign any and all of Executive’s right, title and interest thereto, including any and all Proprietary Rights of whatsoever nature therein, whether or not now or hereafter known, existing, contemplated, recognized or developed, to the Company (or, if applicable or as directed by the Company, any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates), and the Company or such subsidiaries or Affiliates shall have the right to use the same in perpetuity throughout the universe in any manner determined by the Company or such subsidiaries or Affiliates without any further payment to Executive whatsoever. As to any Invention that Executive is required to assign, Executive shall promptly and fully disclose to the Company all information known to Executive concerning such Invention.

 

(b)                                  Executive agrees that, from time to time, as may be requested by the Company and at the Company’s sole cost and expense, Executive shall do any and all things that the Company may reasonably deem useful or desirable to establish or document the Company’s exclusive ownership throughout the United States of America or any other country of any and all Proprietary Rights in any such Inventions, including the execution of appropriate copyright and/or patent applications or assignments. To the extent Executive has any Proprietary Rights in the Inventions that cannot be assigned in the manner described above, Executive unconditionally and irrevocably waives the enforcement of such Proprietary Rights. This Section 9(b) is subject to and shall not be deemed to limit, restrict or constitute any waiver by the Company of any Proprietary Rights of ownership to which the Company may be entitled by operation of law by virtue of the Company’s being Executive’s employer. Executive further agrees that, from time to time, as may be requested by the Company and at the Company’s sole cost and expense, Executive shall assist the Company in every proper and lawful way to obtain and from time to time enforce Proprietary Rights relating to Inventions in any and all countries. To this end,

 

11



 

Executive shall execute, verify and deliver such documents and perform such other acts (including appearances as a witness) as the Company may reasonably request for use in applying for, obtaining, perfecting, evidencing, sustaining, and enforcing such Proprietary Rights and the assignment thereof. In addition, Executive shall execute, verify, and deliver assignments of such Proprietary Rights to the Company or its designees. Executive’s obligation to assist the Company with respect to Proprietary Rights relating to such Inventions in any and all countries shall continue beyond the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company.

 

(c)                                   Executive hereby waives and quitclaims to the Company any and all claims, of any nature whatsoever, that Executive now or may hereafter have for infringement of any Proprietary Rights assigned hereunder to the Company.

 

10.                                Nondisparagement . Neither party hereto shall, whether in writing or orally, malign, denigrate or disparage Executive, the Company, any member of the Crestview Group, their respective subsidiaries or Affiliates, their respective predecessors and successors, or any of the current or former directors, officers, employees, shareholders, partners, members, agents or representatives of any of the foregoing, with respect to any of their respective past or present activities, or otherwise publish (whether in writing or orally) statements that tend to portray any of the aforementioned parties in an unfavorable light. The Company’s obligations under the preceding sentence shall be limited to instructing its and its direct subsidiaries’ senior corporate executives having the rank of Senior Vice President or above to refrain from, whether in writing or orally, maligning, denigrating or disparaging Executive with respect to any of his past or present activities, or otherwise publish (whether in writing or orally) statements that tend to portray Executive in an unfavorable light.

 

11.                                Notification of Subsequent Employer . Executive hereby agrees that prior to accepting employment with, or agreeing to provide services to, any other Person during any period during which Executive remains subject to any of the covenants set forth in Section 6, Executive shall provide such prospective employer with written notice of such provisions of this Agreement, with a copy of such notice delivered simultaneously to the Company; provided, however, that Executive shall not be required to provide a prospective employer with such written notice if such employer engages in a business completely unrelated to the Competitive Activities.

 

12.                                Remedies and Injunctive Relief . Executive acknowledges that a violation by Executive of any of the covenants contained in Section 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 would cause irreparable damage to the Company in an amount that would be material but not readily ascertainable, and that any remedy at law (including the payment of damages) would be inadequate. Accordingly, Executive agrees that, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall be entitled (without the necessity of showing economic loss or other actual damage) to injunctive relief (including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and/or permanent injunctions) in any court of competent jurisdiction for any actual or threatened breach of any of the covenants set forth in Section 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 in addition to any other legal or equitable remedies they may have. The preceding sentence shall not be construed as a waiver of the rights that the Company may have for damages under this Agreement or otherwise, and all of the Company’s rights shall be unrestricted.

 

12



 

13.                                Representations of Executive; Advice of Counsel . (a) Executive represents, warrants and covenants that as of the date hereof and as of the Effective Date: (i) Executive has the full right, authority and capacity to enter into this Agreement and perform Executive’s obligations hereunder, (ii) Executive is not bound by any agreement that conflicts with or prevents or restricts the full performance of Executive’s duties and obligations to the Company hereunder during or after the Term, (iii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement shall not result in any breach or violation of, or a default under, any existing obligation, commitment or agreement to which Executive is subject and (iv) Executive is not a party to any agreement with Adams or any Affiliate of Adams providing for the employment or services of Executive, or any compensation in respect thereof (other than this Agreement and the Profits Units Award).

 

(b)                                  Prior to execution of this Agreement, Executive was advised by the Company of Executive’s right to seek independent advice from an attorney of Executive’s own selection regarding this Agreement. Executive acknowledges that Executive has entered into this Agreement knowingly and voluntarily and with full knowledge and understanding of the provisions of this Agreement after being given the opportunity to consult with counsel. Executive further represents that in entering into this Agreement, Executive is not relying on any statements or representations made by any of the Company’s directors, officers, employees or agents which are not expressly set forth herein, and that Executive is relying only upon Executive’s own judgment and any advice provided by Executive’s attorney.

 

14.                                Cooperation. Executive agrees that, upon reasonable notice and without the necessity of the Company obtaining a subpoena or court order, Executive shall provide reasonable cooperation in connection with any suit, action or proceeding (or any appeal from any suit, action or proceeding), and any investigation and/or defense of any claims asserted against any Released Parties, which relates to events occurring during Executive’s employment with the Company, its subsidiaries and Affiliates as to which Executive may have relevant information (including but not limited to furnishing relevant information and materials to the Company, or its designee and/or providing testimony at depositions and at trial), provided that with respect to such cooperation occurring following termination of employment, the Company shall reimburse Executive for expenses reasonably incurred in connection therewith, and further provided that any such cooperation occurring after the termination of Executive’s employment shall be scheduled to the extent reasonably practicable so as not to unreasonably interfere with Executive’s business or personal affairs.

 

15.                                Withholding; Taxes. The Company may deduct and withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other taxes as are required or permitted to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

 

16.                                Assignment. (a) This Agreement is personal to Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by Executive, except for the assignment by will or the laws of descent and distribution of any accrued pecuniary interest of Executive, and any assignment in violation of this Agreement shall be void.

 

(b)                                  This Agreement shall be binding on, and shall inure to the benefit of, the parties to it and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns

 

13



 

(including, without limitation, successors by merger, consolidation, sale or similar transaction and in the event of Executive’s death, Executive’s estate and heirs in the case of any payments due to Executive hereunder).

 

(c)                                   Executive acknowledges and agrees that all of Executive’s covenants and obligations to the Company and the Crestview Group, as well as the rights of the Company and the Crestview Group hereunder, shall run in favor of and shall be enforceable by the Company and the Crestview Group and any successor or assign to all or substantially all of the Company’s business or assets.

 

17.                                Governing Law; No Construction Against Drafter. This Agreement shall be deemed to be made in the State of Delaware, and the validity, interpretation, construction, and performance of this Agreement in all respects shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its principles of conflicts of law. No provision of this Agreement or any related document will be construed against or interpreted to the disadvantage of any party hereto by any court or other governmental or judicial authority by reason of such party having or being deemed to have structured or drafted such provision.

 

18.                                Mutual Agreement to Arbitrate . Subject to the provisions of Section 12 of this Agreement, the Company and Executive each hereby agree to use confidential, final and binding arbitration to resolve any and all disputes that they may have with one another or with any Affiliate of one another, excluding only those claims which are not, by law, subject to arbitration. This arbitration agreement applies to all matters relating to this Agreement, Executive’s employment with, and/or termination from the Company, and any claims or controversies arising out of or relating to Executive’s employment. The arbitration shall take place in Chicago, Illinois (unless the parties mutually agree to an alternative venue) before a single arbitrator selected by mutual agreement of the parties or, if the parties cannot mutually agree, in accordance with JAMS pursuant to its Employment Arbitration Rules & Procedures and subject to JAMS Policy on Employment Arbitration Minimum Standards of Procedural Fairness (the “ Rules ”). The arbitration will be conducted in accordance with Delaware law and the Rules. To the extent permitted by law, each party shall be responsible for its own expenses relating to the conduct of the arbitration or litigation (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) and shall share the fees of JAMS and the arbitrator, if applicable, equally. The arbitrator may not modify or change this Agreement in any way, unless any provision is found to be unenforceable, in which case the arbitrator may sever or “blue-pencil” it in the same manner as a Delaware State court would be able to do so, in accordance with the terms of Sections 6(c) and 20 of this Agreement. This arbitration provision shall be specifically enforceable. The parties understand and agree that the arbitrator’s decision shall be final and binding upon them. Judgment upon any arbitration award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.

 

19.                                Amendment; No Waiver; 409A. (a) No provisions of this Agreement may be amended, modified, waived or discharged except by a written document signed by Executive and a duly authorized officer of the Company (other than Executive).

 

(b)                                  The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver of such party’s rights or deprive such party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of

 

14



 

this Agreement. No failure or delay by either party in exercising any right or power hereunder will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment of any steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power.

 

(c)                                   For purposes of this Agreement, “ Section 409A ” means Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (and such other Treasury or Internal Revenue Service guidance) as in effect from time to time. The parties intend that any amounts payable hereunder that could constitute “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A will be compliant with Section 409A or exempt from Section 409A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall be solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on or for the account of Executive in connection with this Agreement (including any taxes and penalties under Section 409A of the Code), and neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates shall have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold Executive (or any beneficiary) harmless from any or all of such taxes or penalties.

 

(d)                                  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the following special rule shall apply, if and to the extent required by Section 409A, in the event that (i) Executive is deemed to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), (ii) amounts or benefits under this Agreement or any other program, plan or arrangement of the Company or a controlled group affiliate thereof are due or payable on account of “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(h) and (iii) Executive is employed by a public company or a controlled group affiliate thereof: no payments hereunder that are “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A shall be made to Executive prior to the date that is six (6) months after the date of Executive’s separation from service or, if earlier, Executive’s date of death; following any applicable six (6) month delay, all such delayed payments will be paid in a single lump sum on the earliest permissible payment date.

 

(e)                                   Each payment made under this Agreement (including each separate installment payment in the case of a series of installment payments) shall be deemed to be a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A. Amounts payable under this Agreement shall be deemed not to be a “deferral of compensation” subject to Section 409A to the extent provided in the exceptions in Treasury Regulation §§ 1.409A-1(b)(4) (“short-term deferrals”) and (b)(9) (“separation pay plans,” including the exception under subparagraph (iii)) and other applicable provisions of Section 409A. For purposes of this Agreement, with respect to payments of any amounts that are considered to be “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A, references to “termination of employment”, “termination”, or words and phrases of similar import, shall be deemed to refer to Executive’s “separation from service” as defined in Section 409A, and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner that is consistent with the requirements of Section 409A.

 

(f)                                    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any payment or benefit under this Agreement or otherwise that is exempt from Section 409A pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v)(A) or (C) (relating to certain reimbursements and in-kind benefits) shall be paid or provided to Executive only to the extent that the expenses are not incurred, or the benefits are not provided, beyond the last day of the second calendar year

 

15



 

following the calendar year in which Executive’s “separation from service” occurs; and provided further that such expenses are reimbursed no later than the last day of the third calendar year following the calendar year in which Executive’s “separation from service” occurs. To the extent any indemnification payment, expense reimbursement, or the provision of any in-kind benefit is determined to be subject to Section 409A (and not exempt pursuant to the prior sentence or otherwise), the amount of any such indemnification payment or expenses eligible for reimbursement, or the provision of any in-kind benefit, in one calendar year shall not affect the indemnification payment or provision of in-kind benefits or expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other calendar year (except for any life-time or other aggregate limitation applicable to medical expenses), and in no event shall any indemnification payment or expenses be reimbursed after the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which Executive incurred such indemnification payment or expenses, and in no event shall any right to indemnification payment or reimbursement or the provision of any in-kind benefit be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

 

20.                                Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any applicable law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nonetheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic and legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

 

21.                                Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the Company and Executive with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between Executive and the Company or any of its Affiliates relating to such subject matter, including the Prior Agreement and those agreements entered into before the Effective Date with an Affiliate of the Company, Adams or an Affiliate of Adams. None of the parties shall be liable or bound to any other party in any manner by any representations and warranties or covenants relating to such subject matter except as specifically set forth herein.

 

22.                                Survival. The rights and obligations of the parties under the provisions of this Agreement shall survive, and remain binding and enforceable, notwithstanding the expiration of the Term, the termination of this Agreement, the termination of Executive’s employment hereunder or any settlement of the financial rights and obligations arising from Executive’s employment hereunder, to the extent necessary to preserve the intended benefits of such provisions.

 

23.                                Notices. All notices or other communications required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or sent by facsimile or sent, postage prepaid, by registered, certified or express mail or overnight courier service and shall be deemed given when so delivered by hand or facsimile, or if mailed, three days after mailing (one business day in the case of express mail or overnight courier service) to the parties at the

 

16



 

following addresses or facsimiles (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

 

 

If to the Company:

CWGS Enterprises, LLC

 

 

2575 Vista Del Mar Drive

 

 

Ventura, CA 93001

 

 

Attention: Stephen Adams

 

 

 

 

With a copy to:

Robert T. York

 

 

Kaplan, Strangis and Kaplan, P.A.

 

 

5500 Wells Fargo Center

 

 

90 South 7 th  Street

 

 

Minneapolis, MN 55402

 

 

 

 

If to Executive:

At the last known address in the Company’s personnel records

 

Notices delivered by facsimile shall have the same legal effect as if such notice had been delivered in person.

 

24.                                Headings and References. The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and neither constitute a part of this Agreement nor affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. When a reference in this Agreement is made to a Section, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.

 

25.                                Third-Party Beneficiaries . The parties acknowledge and agree that Crestview and each member of the Crestview Group are intended third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by them and their successors and assigns.

 

26.                                Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (including via facsimile and electronic image scan (pdf)), each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties.

 

[remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the parties as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

CWGS Enterprises, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Brent Moody

 

Name:

Brent Moody

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FreedomRoads, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Brent Moody

 

Name:

Brent Moody

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Marcus Lemonis

 

Marcus Lemonis

 

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Exhibit 10.12

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This Employment Agreement (the “ Agreement ”) is entered into on June 10, 2016, by and between Marcus Lemonis (the “ Executive ”) and Camping World Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Camping World ”) and CWGS Enterprises, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Partnership ” and, together with Camping World and any of the Affiliates of Camping World and the Partnership as may employ the Executive from time to time, and any successor(s) thereto, the “ Company ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company is considering an initial public offering of Camping World common stock (the “ IPO ”); and

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the potential IPO, the Company desires to enter into this Agreement with Executive, pursuant to which following the IPO the Company will employ Executive as its Chief Executive Officer on the terms set forth in this Agreement, and Executive is willing to serve the Company following the IPO in such capacity for the period and upon such other terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as set forth below:

 

1.                                       Term; Effectiveness .

 

(a)                                  The term of Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall commence as of the date of consummation of an IPO (the “ Effective Date ”), and shall continue until the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “ Initial Expiration Date ”); provided, however, that Executive’s employment shall automatically renew for an additional period of one year on the Initial Expiration Date and each one year anniversary of the Initial Expiration Date thereafter, unless and until either the Company or Executive provides written notice of non-renewal to the other party at least 90 days before the Initial Expiration Date or such applicable anniversary thereof; provided, further, that Executive’s employment under this Agreement may be terminated at any time pursuant to the provisions of Section 4. The period of time from the Effective Date through the termination of this Agreement and Executive’s employment hereunder pursuant to its terms is herein referred to as the “ Term .” If the Company does not consummate an IPO prior to October 31, 2016, this Agreement shall be void ab initio.

 

(b)                                  For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms, as used herein, shall have the definitions set forth below.

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person where “control” shall have the meaning given such term under Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, provided that, in any event, any business in which the Company has any direct ownership interest shall be treated as an Affiliate of the Company.

 



 

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Competitive Activities ” means businesses primarily involved in (a) the publishing and distribution of recreational vehicle (“ RV ”) related magazines directed to owners of RV’s, (b) the operation of membership/affinity-based clubs for owners of RV’s, (c) the sale, repair or service of RV’s, (d) the retail sale or wholesale distribution of RV parts and accessories, (e) RV-related: (i) emergency roadside assistance, (ii) insurance products, (iii) extended warranties, (iv) financing or (v) travel assistance programs, in any such case directed toward owners of RV’s or (f) RV-related consumer shows directed toward owners of RV’s.

 

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

 

2.                                       Duties and Responsibilities .

 

(a)                                  During the Term, Executive shall serve as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company with such duties and responsibilities commensurate with his title and position as directed from time to time by the Board. Subject to Section 2(b), Executive agrees to devote such time and attention to the Company and the promotion of its interests as is reasonably necessary to effectuate the performance of Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder, upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  During the Term, Executive shall faithfully and diligently serve the Company and shall not engage in, provide services to (directly or indirectly), invest in or possess interests in other business ventures, independently or with others, that are Competitive Activities of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall be permitted to pursue other interests and opportunities during the Term, including, without limitation, (a) investments in and/or involvement with other businesses outside of the Company which are not involved in Competitive Activities, (b) reality television shows, (c) speaking and/or promotional engagements and (d) endorsement arrangements. For the avoidance of doubt, Executive shall have the right to invest in or be involved with any business which is not a Competitive Activity.

 

3.                                       Compensation and Related Matters .

 

(a)                                  No Base Salary or Incentive Compensation . During the Term, Executive shall not receive any base salary or incentive compensation, whether in the form of cash or equity awards, for his services rendered hereunder as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and he shall not receive any compensation for his services as a member of the Board.

 

(b)                                  Benefits . During the Term, Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Company’s benefit plans and programs that are in effect for its employees from time to time, subject to the terms and conditions of such plans. The Company shall pay on the Executive’s behalf the full premium cost of coverage under the Company’s benefit plans and programs; provided, however, that if such coverage would result in penalties under Section 4980D of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended then the Company may in its sole discretion provide that (i) Executive shall pay to the Company, on an after-tax basis, a monthly amount equal to the

 

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full premium cost of the coverage for such month and (ii) within 30 days of such premium payment, the Company shall reimburse Executive in cash (less required withholding) an amount equal to the sum of (A) the full premium cost of the coverage for such month and (B) an additional tax “gross up” payment to cover all estimated applicable local, state and federal income and payroll taxes imposed on the Executive with respect to the coverage.

 

(c)                                   Business Expense Reimbursements . During the Term, the Company shall promptly reimburse Executive for Executive’s reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred in connection with performing Executive’s duties hereunder in accordance with its then-prevailing policies and procedures for expense reimbursement (which shall include appropriate itemization and substantiation of expenses incurred).

 

4.                                       Termination of Employment .

 

(a)                                  Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment at any time and for any reason, and the Company may terminate Executive without Cause, upon at least 30 days advance written notice by the applicable party. The Board may, in its sole discretion, terminate Executive’s employment at any time and for any reason. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive’s employment shall automatically terminate upon Executive’s death.

 

(b)                                  Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 4, following any termination of Executive’s employment, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, the obligations of the Company to pay or provide Executive with compensation and benefits under Section 3 shall cease, and the Company shall have no further obligations to provide compensation or benefits to Executive hereunder except (i) for payment of any accrued obligations and unreimbursed expenses under Section 3(c) through the date of termination of employment, (ii) as explicitly set forth in any other benefit plans, programs or arrangements applicable to terminated employees in which Executive participates, other than severance plans or policies and (iii) as otherwise expressly required by applicable law. The payments referred to in clause (ii) of this Section 4(b) shall be paid in accordance with such benefit plan, program or arrangement. Any other payment under this Section 4(b) shall be paid as soon as practicable, and in all events within 30 days following termination of employment.

 

(i)             If Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (other than due to Executive’s death or disability), the Company shall pay, if Executive timely elects continued coverage under federal COBRA laws or comparable state insurance laws (“ COBRA ”), the COBRA premiums necessary to continue Executive’s medical and dental insurance coverage in effect for the Executive and his or her eligible dependents on the termination date for the first eighteen (18) months of such coverage (“ COBRA Payments ”) (provided that such reimbursement shall terminate on such earlier date as the Executive is no longer eligible for COBRA coverage or the Executive becomes eligible for group health insurance benefits through a new employer). If Executive’s employment is terminated for Cause, Executive expressly acknowledges that he shall not be entitled to receive any COBRA Payments. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Cause ” means: (A) Executive’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, or willful failure to substantially perform Executive’s duties

 

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hereunder (other than due to physical or mental illness or incapacity), (B) Executive’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, or confession to, (1) a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or (2) a felony (or the equivalent of a misdemeanor or felony in a jurisdiction other than the United States), (C) Executive’s willful breach of a material provision of this Agreement, (D) Executive’s willful violation of the Company’s written policies that the Board determines is detrimental to the best interests of the Company; (E) Executive’s fraud or misappropriation, embezzlement or material misuse of funds or property belonging to the Company; or (F) Executive’s use of alcohol or drugs that interferes with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder; provided , however , that Executive shall be provided a 10-day period to cure any of the events or occurrences described in the immediately preceding clauses (A), (C), (D) or (F) hereof, to the extent curable.

 

(c)                                   The payment of any amounts accrued under any benefit plan, program or arrangement in which Executive participates shall be subject to the terms of the applicable plan, program or arrangement, and any elections Executive has made thereunder.

 

5.                                       Acknowledgments .

 

(a)                                  Executive acknowledges that the Company has expended and shall continue to expend substantial amounts of time, money and effort to develop business strategies, employee and customer relationships and goodwill and build an effective organization. Executive acknowledges that Executive is and shall become familiar with the Company’s Confidential information (as defined below), including trade secrets, and that Executive’s services are of special, unique and extraordinary value to the Company, its subsidiaries and Affiliates. Executive acknowledges that the Company has a legitimate business interest and right in protecting its Confidential Information, business strategies, employee and customer relationships and goodwill, and that the Company would be seriously damaged by the disclosure of Confidential Information and the loss or deterioration of its business strategies, employee and customer relationships and goodwill.

 

(b)                                  Executive acknowledges (i) that the business of the Company, its subsidiaries and Affiliates is national in scope and without geographical limitation within the United States and (ii) notwithstanding the jurisdiction of formation or principal office of the Company, its subsidiaries and Affiliates, or the location of any of their respective executives or employees (including, without limitation, Executive), it is expected that the Company and its subsidiaries and Affiliates will have business activities and have valuable business relationships within their respective industries throughout the United States.

 

(c)                                   Executive acknowledges that Executive has carefully read this Agreement and has given careful consideration to the restraints imposed upon Executive by this Agreement, and is in full accord as to the necessity of such restraints for the reasonable and proper protection of the Confidential Information, business strategies, employee and customer relationships and goodwill of the Company and its subsidiaries and Affiliates now existing or to be developed in the future. Executive expressly acknowledges and agrees that each and every restraint imposed by this Agreement is reasonable with respect to subject matter, time period and geographical

 

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area. Executive further acknowledges that although Executive’s compliance with the covenants contained in Sections 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 may prevent Executive from earning a livelihood in a business similar to the business of the Company, Executive’s experience and capabilities are such that Executive has other opportunities to earn a livelihood and adequate means of support for Executive and Executive’s dependents.

 

6.                                       Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation .

 

(a)                                  Executive agrees that Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company:

 

(i)                                      (A) while an employee of the Company and during the 12-month period following termination of employment (the “ Non-Compete Period ”) (i) engage in, provide services to (directly or indirectly), invest in or possess interest in, independently or with others, any Competitive Activities in any geographic location in which the Company, its subsidiaries or Affiliates engage in; or (ii) assist any Person in any way to do, or attempt to do, anything prohibited by Section 6(a)(i)(A)(i) above; or

 

(ii)                                   while an employee of the Company and during the Non-Compete Period, knowingly perform any action, activity or course of conduct which is substantially detrimental to the businesses or business reputations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates, including (A) soliciting, recruiting or hiring (or attempting to solicit, recruit or hire) any employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates or Persons who have worked for the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates for a Competitive Activity; (B) intentionally interfering with the relationship of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates with any Person who or which is employed by or otherwise engaged to perform services for, or any customer, client, supplier, licensee, licensor or other business relation of, the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates; or (C) assisting any Person in any way to do, or attempt to do, anything prohibited by Section 6(a)(iii)(A) or (B) above.

 

The Non-Compete Period shall be tolled during (and shall be deemed automatically extended by) any period in which Executive is in violation of the provisions of this Section 6(a).

 

(b)                                  The provisions of Section 6(a) shall not be deemed breached as a result of Executive’s passive ownership of: (i) less than an aggregate of 5% of any class of securities of a Person engaged, directly or indirectly, in Competitive Activities, so long as Executive does not actively participate in the business of such Person; provided, however, that such stock is listed on a national securities exchange; or (ii) less than an aggregate of 5% in value of any instrument of indebtedness of a Person engaged, directly or indirectly, in Competitive Activities.

 

(c)                                   If a final and non-appealable judicial determination is made that any of the provisions of this Section 6 constitutes an unreasonable or otherwise unenforceable restriction against Executive, the provisions of this Section 6 will not be rendered void but will be deemed to be modified to the minimum extent necessary to remain in force and effect for the longest period and largest geographic area that would not constitute such an unreasonable or unenforceable restriction. Moreover, and without limiting the generality of Section 12,

 

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notwithstanding the fact that any provision of this Section 6 is determined to not be enforceable through specific performance, the Company will nevertheless be entitled to recover monetary damages as a result of Executive’s breach of such provision.

 

7.                                       Nondisclosure of Confidential Information .

 

(a)                                  Executive acknowledges that the Confidential Information obtained by Executive while employed by the Company and its subsidiaries and Affiliates is the property of the Company or its subsidiaries and Affiliates, as applicable. Therefore, Executive agrees that Executive shall not disclose to any unauthorized Person or use for Executive’s own purposes any Confidential Information without the prior written consent of the Company, unless and to the extent that the aforementioned matters become generally known to and available for use by the public other than as a result of Executive’s acts or omissions in violation of this Agreement; provided, however, that if Executive receives a request to disclose Confidential Information pursuant to a deposition, interrogation, request for information or documents in legal proceedings, subpoena, civil investigative demand, governmental or regulatory process or similar process, (A) Executive shall promptly notify in writing the Company, and consult with and assist the Company in seeking a protective order or request for other appropriate remedy, (B) in the event that such protective order or remedy is not obtained, or if the Company waives compliance with the terms hereof, Executive shall disclose only that portion of the Confidential Information which, based on the written advice of Executive’s legal counsel, is legally required to be disclosed and shall exercise reasonable best efforts to provide that the receiving Person shall agree to treat such Confidential Information as confidential to the extent possible (and permitted under applicable law) in respect of the applicable proceeding or process and (C) the Company shall be given an opportunity to review the Confidential Information prior to disclosure thereof.

 

(b)                                  For purposes of this Agreement, “ Confidential Information ” means information, observations and data concerning the business or affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries and Affiliates, including, without limitation, all business information (whether or not in written form) which relates to the Company, its subsidiaries or Affiliates, or their customers, suppliers or contractors or any other third parties in respect of which the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates has a business relationship or owes a duty of confidentiality, or their respective businesses or products, and which is not known to the public generally other than as a result of Executive’s breach of this Agreement, including but not limited to: technical information or reports; formulas; trade secrets; unwritten knowledge and “know-how”; operating instructions; training manuals; customer lists; customer buying records and habits; product sales records and documents, and product development, marketing and sales strategies; market surveys; marketing plans; profitability analyses; product cost; long-range plans; information relating to pricing, competitive strategies and new product development; information relating to any forms of compensation or other personnel-related information; contracts; and supplier lists. Confidential Information will not include such information known to Executive prior to Executive’s involvement with the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates or information rightfully obtained from a third party (other than pursuant to a breach by Executive of this Agreement). Without limiting the foregoing, Executive and the Company each agrees to keep confidential the existence of, and any information concerning, any dispute between Executive and the Company or its subsidiaries and Affiliates, except that Executive and the Company each may disclose information concerning such dispute to the court that is considering such dispute or

 

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to their respective legal counsel (provided that such counsel agrees not to disclose any such information other than as necessary to the prosecution or defense of such dispute).

 

(c)                                   Executive further agrees that Executive will not improperly use or disclose any confidential information or trade secrets, if any, of any former employers or any other Person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality, and will not bring onto the premises of the Company, its subsidiaries or Affiliates any unpublished documents or any property belonging to any former employer or any other Person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality unless consented to in writing by the former employer or other Person.

 

8.                                       Return of Property . Executive acknowledges that all notes, memoranda, specifications, devices, formulas, records, files, lists, drawings, documents, models, equipment, property, computer, software or intellectual property relating to the businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries and Affiliates, in whatever form (including electronic), and all copies thereof, that are received or created by Executive while an employee of the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates (including but not limited to Confidential Information and Inventions (as defined below)) are and shall remain the property of the Company and its subsidiaries and Affiliates, and Executive shall immediately return such property to the Company upon the termination of Executive’s employment and, in any event, at the Company’s request. Executive further agrees that any property situated on the premises of, and owned by, the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates, including disks and other storage media, filing cabinets or other work areas, is subject to inspection by Company’s personnel at any time with or without notice.

 

9.                                       Intellectual Property Rights .

 

(a)                                  Executive agrees that the results and proceeds of Executive’s services for the Company or its subsidiaries or Affiliates (including, but not limited to, any trade secrets, products, services, processes, know-how, designs, developments, innovations, analyses, drawings, reports, techniques, formulas, methods, developmental or experimental work, improvements, discoveries, inventions, ideas, source and object codes, programs, matters of a literary, musical, dramatic or otherwise creative nature, writings and other works of authorship) resulting from services performed while an employee of the Company and any works in progress, whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar statutes, that were made, developed, conceived or reduced to practice or learned by Executive, either alone or jointly with others (collectively, “ Inventions ”), shall be works-made-for-hire and the Company (or, if applicable or as directed by the Company, any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates) shall be deemed the sole owner throughout the universe of any and all trade secret, patent, copyright and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “ Proprietary Rights ”) of whatsoever nature therein, whether or not now or hereafter known, existing, contemplated, recognized or developed, with the right to use the same in perpetuity in any manner the Company determines in its sole discretion, without any further payment to Executive whatsoever. If, for any reason, any of such results and proceeds shall not legally be a work-made-for-hire and/or there are any Proprietary Rights which do not accrue to the Company (or, as the case may be, any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates) under the immediately preceding sentence, then Executive hereby irrevocably assigns and agrees to assign any and all of Executive’s right, title and interest thereto, including any and all Proprietary Rights of whatsoever nature therein, whether or not

 

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now or hereafter known, existing, contemplated, recognized or developed, to the Company (or, if applicable or as directed by the Company, any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates), and the Company or such subsidiaries or Affiliates shall have the right to use the same in perpetuity throughout the universe in any manner determined by the Company or such subsidiaries or Affiliates without any further payment to Executive whatsoever. As to any Invention that Executive is required to assign, Executive shall promptly and fully disclose to the Company all information known to Executive concerning such Invention.

 

(b)                                  Executive agrees that, from time to time, as may be requested by the Company and at the Company’s sole cost and expense, Executive shall do any and all things that the Company may reasonably deem useful or desirable to establish or document the Company’s exclusive ownership throughout the United States of America or any other country of any and all Proprietary Rights in any such Inventions, including the execution of appropriate copyright and/or patent applications or assignments. To the extent Executive has any Proprietary Rights in the Inventions that cannot be assigned in the manner described above, Executive unconditionally and irrevocably waives the enforcement of such Proprietary Rights. This Section 9(b) is subject to and shall not be deemed to limit, restrict or constitute any waiver by the Company of any Proprietary Rights of ownership to which the Company may be entitled by operation of law by virtue of the Company’s being Executive’s employer. Executive further agrees that, from time to time, as may be requested by the Company and at the Company’s sole cost and expense, Executive shall assist the Company in every proper and lawful way to obtain and from time to time enforce Proprietary Rights relating to Inventions in any and all countries. To this end, Executive shall execute, verify and deliver such documents and perform such other acts (including appearances as a witness) as the Company may reasonably request for use in applying for, obtaining, perfecting, evidencing, sustaining, and enforcing such Proprietary Rights and the assignment thereof. In addition, Executive shall execute, verify, and deliver assignments of such Proprietary Rights to the Company or its designees. Executive’s obligation to assist the Company with respect to Proprietary Rights relating to such Inventions in any and all countries shall continue beyond the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company.

 

(c)                                   Executive shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law. Executive shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.

 

(d)                                  Executive hereby waives and quitclaims to the Company any and all claims, of any nature whatsoever, that Executive now or may hereafter have for infringement of any Proprietary Rights assigned hereunder to the Company.

 

10.                                Nondisparagement . Neither party hereto shall, whether in writing or orally, malign, denigrate or disparage Executive, the Company, its subsidiaries or Affiliates, predecessors and successors, or any of the current or former directors, officers, employees, shareholders, partners, members, agents or representatives of any of the foregoing, with respect to any of their respective past or present activities, or otherwise publish (whether in writing or

 

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orally) statements that tend to portray any of the aforementioned parties in an unfavorable light. The Company’s obligations under the preceding sentence shall be limited to instructing its and its direct subsidiaries’ senior corporate executives having the rank of Senior Vice President or above to refrain from, whether in writing or orally, maligning, denigrating or disparaging Executive with respect to any of his past or present activities, or otherwise publish (whether in writing or orally) statements that tend to portray Executive in an unfavorable light.

 

11.                                Notification of Subsequent Employer . Executive hereby agrees that prior to accepting employment with, or agreeing to provide services to, any other Person during any period during which Executive remains subject to any of the covenants set forth in Section 6, Executive shall provide such prospective employer with written notice of such provisions of this Agreement, with a copy of such notice delivered simultaneously to the Company; provided, however, that Executive shall not be required to provide a prospective employer with such written notice if such employer engages in a business which is not one of the Competitive Activities.

 

12.                                Remedies and Injunctive Relief . Executive acknowledges that a violation by Executive of any of the covenants contained in Section 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 would cause irreparable damage to the Company in an amount that would be material but not readily ascertainable, and that any remedy at law (including the payment of damages) would be inadequate. Accordingly, Executive agrees that, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall be entitled (without the necessity of showing economic loss or other actual damage) to injunctive relief (including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and/or permanent injunctions) in any court of competent jurisdiction for any actual or threatened breach of any of the covenants set forth in Section 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 in addition to any other legal or equitable remedies they may have. The preceding sentence shall not be construed as a waiver of the rights that the Company may have for damages under this Agreement or otherwise, and all of the Company’s rights shall be unrestricted.

 

13.                                Representations of Executive; Advice of Counsel .

 

(a)                                  Executive represents, warrants and covenants that as of the date hereof and as of the Effective Date: (i) Executive has the full right, authority and capacity to enter into this Agreement and perform Executive’s obligations hereunder, (ii) Executive is not bound by any agreement that conflicts with or prevents or restricts the full performance of Executive’s duties and obligations to the Company hereunder during or after the Term and (iii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement shall not result in any breach or violation of, or a default under, any existing obligation, commitment or agreement to which Executive is subject.

 

(b)                                  Prior to execution of this Agreement, Executive was advised by the Company of Executive’s right to seek independent advice from an attorney of Executive’s own selection regarding this Agreement. Executive acknowledges that Executive has entered into this Agreement knowingly and voluntarily and with full knowledge and understanding of the provisions of this Agreement after being given the opportunity to consult with counsel. Executive further represents that in entering into this Agreement, Executive is not relying on any statements or representations made by any of the Company’s directors, officers, employees or

 

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agents which are not expressly set forth herein, and that Executive is relying only upon Executive’s own judgment and any advice provided by Executive’s attorney.

 

14.                                Cooperation . Executive agrees that, upon reasonable notice and without the necessity of the Company obtaining a subpoena or court order, Executive shall provide reasonable cooperation in connection with any suit, action or proceeding (or any appeal from any suit, action or proceeding), and any investigation and/or defense of any claims asserted against the Company, its subsidiaries and Affiliates, its predecessors and successors, and all of the respective current or former directors, officers, employees, shareholders, partners, members, agents or representatives of any of the foregoing, which relates to events occurring during Executive’s employment with the Company, its subsidiaries and Affiliates as to which Executive may have relevant information (including but not limited to furnishing relevant information and materials to the Company, or its designee and/or providing testimony at depositions and at trial), provided that with respect to such cooperation occurring following termination of employment, the Company shall reimburse Executive for expenses reasonably incurred in connection therewith, and further provided that any such cooperation occurring after the termination of Executive’s employment shall be scheduled to the extent reasonably practicable so as not to unreasonably interfere with Executive’s business or personal affairs.

 

15.                                Withholding; Taxes . The Company may deduct and withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other taxes as are required or permitted to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

 

16.                                Assignment .

 

(a)                                  This Agreement is personal to Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by Executive, except for the assignment by will or the laws of descent and distribution of any accrued pecuniary interest of Executive, and any assignment in violation of this Agreement shall be void.

 

(b)                                  This Agreement shall be binding on, and shall inure to the benefit of, the parties to it and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns (including, without limitation, successors by merger, consolidation, sale or similar transaction and in the event of Executive’s death, Executive’s estate and heirs in the case of any payments due to Executive hereunder).

 

(c)                                   Executive acknowledges and agrees that all of Executive’s covenants and obligations to the Company, as well as the rights of the Company hereunder, shall run in favor of and shall be enforceable by the Company and any successor or assign to all or substantially all of the Company’s business or assets.

 

17.                                Governing Law; No Construction Against Drafter . This Agreement shall be deemed to be made in the State of Delaware, and the validity, interpretation, construction, and performance of this Agreement in all respects shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to its principles of conflicts of law. No provision of this Agreement or any related document will be construed against or interpreted to the disadvantage of any party hereto by any court or other governmental or judicial authority by reason of such party having or

 

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being deemed to have structured or drafted such provision.

 

18.                                Mutual Agreement to Arbitrate . Subject to the provisions of Section 12 of this Agreement, the Company and Executive each hereby agree to use confidential, final and binding arbitration to resolve any and all disputes that they may have with one another or with any Affiliate of one another, excluding only those claims which are not, by law, subject to arbitration. This arbitration agreement applies to all matters relating to this Agreement, Executive’s employment with, and/or termination from the Company, and any claims or controversies arising out of or relating to Executive’s employment. The arbitration shall take place in Chicago, Illinois (unless the parties mutually agree to an alternative venue) before a single arbitrator selected by mutual agreement of the parties or, if the parties cannot mutually agree, in accordance with JAMS pursuant to its Employment Arbitration Rules & Procedures and subject to JAMS Policy on Employment Arbitration Minimum Standards of Procedural Fairness (the “ Rules ”). The arbitration will be conducted in accordance with Delaware law and the Rules. To the extent permitted by law, each party shall be responsible for its own expenses relating to the conduct of the arbitration or litigation (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) and shall share the fees of JAMS and the arbitrator, if applicable, equally. The arbitrator may not modify or change this Agreement in any way, unless any provision is found to be unenforceable, in which case the arbitrator may sever or “blue-pencil” it in the same manner as a Delaware State court would be able to do so, in accordance with the terms of Sections 6(c) and 20 of this Agreement. This arbitration provision shall be specifically enforceable. The parties understand and agree that the arbitrator’s decision shall be final and binding upon them. Judgment upon any arbitration award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.

 

19.                                Amendment; No Waiver; 409A .

 

(a)                                  No provisions of this Agreement may be amended, modified, waived or discharged except by a written document signed by Executive and a duly authorized officer of the Company (other than Executive).

 

(b)                                  The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver of such party’s rights or deprive such party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement. No failure or delay by either party in exercising any right or power hereunder will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment of any steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power.

 

(c)                                   For purposes of this Agreement, “ Section 409A ” means Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (and such other Treasury or Internal Revenue Service guidance) as in effect from time to time. The parties intend that any amounts payable hereunder that could constitute “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A will be compliant with Section 409A or exempt from Section 409A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall be solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on or for the account of Executive in connection with this Agreement (including any taxes and penalties under Section 409A of the Code), and neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates

 

11


 

shall have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold Executive (or any beneficiary) harmless from any or all of such taxes or penalties. No provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted or construed to transfer any liability for failure to comply with the requirements of Section 409A from the Executive or any other individual to the Company or any of its affiliates, employees or agents.

 

(d)                                  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the following special rule shall apply, if and to the extent required by Section 409A, in the event that (i) Executive is deemed to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), (ii) amounts or benefits under this Agreement or any other program, plan or arrangement of the Company or a controlled group affiliate thereof are due or payable on account of “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(h) and (iii) Executive is employed by a public company or a controlled group affiliate thereof: no payments hereunder that are “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A shall be made to Executive prior to the date that is six (6) months after the date of Executive’s separation from service or, if earlier, Executive’s date of death; following any applicable six (6) month delay, all such delayed payments will be paid in a single lump sum on the earliest permissible payment date.

 

(e)                                   Each payment made under this Agreement (including each separate installment payment in the case of a series of installment payments) shall be deemed to be a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A. Amounts payable under this Agreement shall be deemed not to be a “deferral of compensation” subject to Section 409A to the extent provided in the exceptions in Treasury Regulation §§ 1.409A-1(b)(4) (“short-term deferrals”) and (b)(9) (“separation pay plans,” including the exception under subparagraph (iii)) and other applicable provisions of Section 409A. For purposes of this Agreement, with respect to payments of any amounts that are considered to be “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A, references to “termination of employment,” “termination,” or words and phrases of similar import, shall be deemed to refer to Executive’s “separation from service” as defined in Section 409A, and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner that is consistent with the requirements of Section 409A.

 

(f)                                    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any payment or benefit under this Agreement or otherwise that is exempt from Section 409A pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v)(A) or (C) (relating to certain reimbursements and in-kind benefits) shall be paid or provided to Executive only to the extent that the expenses are not incurred, or the benefits are not provided, beyond the last day of the second calendar year following the calendar year in which Executive’s “separation from service” occurs; and provided further that such expenses are reimbursed no later than the last day of the third calendar year following the calendar year in which Executive’s “separation from service” occurs. To the extent any indemnification payment, expense reimbursement, or the provision of any in-kind benefit is determined to be subject to Section 409A (and not exempt pursuant to the prior sentence or otherwise), the amount of any such indemnification payment or expenses eligible for reimbursement, or the provision of any in-kind benefit, in one calendar year shall not affect the indemnification payment or provision of in-kind benefits or expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other calendar year (except for any life-time or other aggregate limitation applicable to medical expenses), and in no event shall any indemnification payment or expenses be reimbursed after the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which Executive incurred

 

12



 

such indemnification payment or expenses, and in no event shall any right to indemnification payment or reimbursement or the provision of any in-kind benefit be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

 

20.                                280G Parachute Payments .

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by Executive (including any payment or benefit received in connection with a Change in Control or the termination of your employment, whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement) (all such payments and benefits being hereinafter referred to as the “ Total Payments ”) would be subject (in whole or part), to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code (the “ Excise Tax ”), then, after taking into account any reduction in the Total Payments provided by reason of Section 280G of the Code in such other plan, arrangement or agreement, the cash severance payments shall first be reduced, and the noncash severance payments shall thereafter be reduced, to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Payments is subject to the Excise Tax but only if (i) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such reduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such reduced Total Payments) is greater than or equal to (ii) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such Total Payments and the amount of Excise Tax to which the Executive would be subject in respect of such unreduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such unreduced Total Payments).

 

(b)                                  For purposes of determining whether and the extent to which the Total Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax, (i) no portion of the Total Payments the receipt or enjoyment of which the Executive shall have waived at such time and in such manner as not to constitute a “payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code shall be taken into account, (ii) no portion of the Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the written opinion of independent auditors or consultants of nationally recognized standing (“ Independent Advisors ”) selected by the Company, does not constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code (including by reason of Section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code) and, in calculating the Excise Tax, no portion of such Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the opinion of the Independent Advisors, constitutes reasonable compensation for services actually rendered, within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code, in excess of the Base Amount (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) allocable to such reasonable compensation, and (iii) the value of any non-cash benefit or any deferred payment or benefit included in the Total Payments shall be determined by the Independent Advisors in accordance with the principles of Section 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code.

 

21.                                Compensation Recovery Policy . The Executive acknowledges and agrees that, to the extent the Company adopts any clawback or similar policy pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or otherwise, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, he shall take all action necessary or appropriate to comply with such policy (including, without limitation, entering into any further agreements,

 

13



 

amendments or policies necessary or appropriate to implement and/or enforce such policy with respect to past, present and future compensation, as appropriate).

 

22.                                Severability . If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any applicable law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nonetheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic and legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

 

23.                                Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the Company and Executive with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between Executive and the Company or any of its Affiliates relating to such subject matter, including the previously entered into an employment agreement with the Partnership and FreedomRoads, LLC, dated as of February 15, 2011 and amended and restated November 2011 and those agreements entered into before the Effective Date with an Affiliate of the Company, Adams or an Affiliate of Adams. None of the parties shall be liable or bound to any other party in any manner by any representations and warranties or covenants relating to such subject matter except as specifically set forth herein.

 

24.                                Survival . The rights and obligations of the parties under the provisions of this Agreement shall survive, and remain binding and enforceable, notwithstanding the expiration of the Term, the termination of this Agreement, the termination of Executive’s employment hereunder or any settlement of the financial rights and obligations arising from Executive’s employment hereunder, to the extent necessary to preserve the intended benefits of such provisions.

 

25.                                Notices . All notices or other communications required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or sent by facsimile or sent, postage prepaid, by registered, certified or express mail or overnight courier service and shall be deemed given when so delivered by hand or facsimile, or if mailed, three days after mailing (one business day in the case of express mail or overnight courier service) to the parties at the following addresses or facsimiles (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

 

 

If to the Company:

Camping World Holdings, Inc.

 

 

250 Parkway Drive, Suite 277

 

 

Lincolnshire, IL 60069

 

 

Attention: Chief Legal Officer

 

 

 

 

With a copy to:

Latham & Watkins LLP

 

 

885 Third Avenue

 

14



 

 

 

New York, NY 10022-4802

 

 

Attention:                           Marc D. Jaffe

 

 

Bradd L. Williamson

 

 

Facsimile:

 

 

 

 

If to Executive:

At the last known address in the Company’s personnel records

 

Notices delivered by facsimile shall have the same legal effect as if such notice had been delivered in person.

 

26.                                Headings and References . The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and neither constitute a part of this Agreement nor affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. When a reference in this Agreement is made to a Section, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.

 

27.                                Third-Party Beneficiaries . The parties acknowledge and agree that Crestview and each member of the Crestview Group are intended third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by them and their successors and assigns.

 

28.                                Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (including via facsimile and electronic image scan (pdf)), each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties.

 

[remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

15



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , this Agreement has been duly executed by the parties as of the date first written above.

 

 

Camping World Holdings, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Brent Moody

 

Name:

Brent Moody

 

Title:

Chief Operating and Legal Officer

 

 

 

 

 

CWGS Enterprises, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Brent Moody

 

Name:

Brent Moody

 

Title:

Chief Operating and Legal Officer

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Marcus Lemonis

 

Marcus Lemonis

 

16




Exhibit 10.13

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into effective as of the 1 st  day of January, 2013 (the “Effective Date”) between Good Sam Enterprises, LLC, a limited liability company (the “Company”) and Thomas F. Wolfe, a California resident (“Employee”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Employee and Employee desires to be employed by Company pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Employment . The Company agrees to employ Employee as the Company’s Executive Vice President of Operations and Chief Financial Officer on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and Employee accepts such employment and agrees to perform the services and duties for the Company as herein provided for the period and upon the other terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Employee shall be subject to the direction of the Company’s Chairman, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Board of Governors.

 

2.                                       Term . Subject to termination of Employee’s employment pursuant to Section 7 below, this Agreement shall be effective as of the Effective Date and Employee’s employment hereunder shall be for a period of five (5) years commencing as of the Effective Date. The term of Employee’s employment under this Agreement shall be defined as the “Term.”

 

3.                                       Position, Duties .

 

3.01                         Title . During the Term, Employee agrees to serve as the Company’s Executive Vice President of Operations and Chief Financial Officer and undertake such other or additional duties as may be directed by the Board of Governors or Chief Executive Officer.

 

3.02                         Duties . During the term of this Agreement, Employee agrees to serve the Company and Employee will faithfully and to the best of his ability discharge his duties and will devote his full time during business hours for the Company and to the business and affairs of the Company, its direct and indirect subsidiaries and certain Affiliates (as defined below) of the Company. Employee hereby confirms that during the term of this Agreement, he will not render or perform services for any other corporation, firm, entity or person. In addition, Employee understands that the Company’s Board of Governors or Chief Executive Officer may, from time to time, direct that Employee assist and provide services to one or more other entities directly or indirectly owned or controlled by, or under common ownership or control with, the Company (“Affiliates”). Employee recognizes that he will be required to travel to perform certain of his duties.

 

1



 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall be permitted to participate in, and be involved with, such community, educational, charitable, professional, and religious organizations so long as such participation does not, in the judgment of the Company’s Board of Governors, interfere with the performance of or create a potential conflict with Employee’s duties hereunder.

 

4.                                       Compensation .

 

4.01                         Intentionally Omitted .

 

4.02                         Base Salary . During the term of this Agreement, the Company shall pay to Employee base compensation (“Base Salary”) equal to the following percentages (the “Applicable Percentage”) of the combined annual EBITDA (as defined below) of the Company and FreedomRoads, LLC (“FR”), so long as FR remains an Affiliate of the Company, for each calendar year or portion thereof during the Term of this Agreement:

 

EBITDA Amount

 

Applicable Percentage

 

To the extent the EBITDA is less than $105 million

 

.35

%

In the event EBITDA is equal to or greater than $105 million and less than $110 million

 

.37

%

In the event EBITDA is equal to or greater than $110 million and less than $115 million

 

.40

%

In the event EBITDA is equal to or greater than $115 million

 

.45

%

 

As used herein, “EBITDA” shall mean the combined net income of the Company and FR, as applicable, and each of their respective subsidiaries derived from the ongoing business operations of each such entity for the applicable period plus, to the extent deducted in the determination of net income, interest (other than interest for floor plan financing), federal and state income taxes (or any provision for such taxes), depreciation and amortization. Net income shall be determined on the accrual method of accounting and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, provided that (i) extraordinary items of revenue or expense, as determined by the chief financial officer and/or board of directors (including revenue or expense from non-operating investments, revenue or expense from the sale or purchase of assets not in the ordinary course of business or revenue or expense not derived from normal business operations), shall not be reflected in net income and (ii) amounts paid or received in settlement of (or payment of judgments in respect of) litigation which did not arise in the ordinary course of the business operations of such entity or entities or any of their respective subsidiaries, shall not be reflected in net income. The Base Salary shall be paid in monthly draws based on the estimated combined EBITDA for the applicable calendar year, subject to adjustment up or down from time to time by the Company based on actual results compared to estimates and anticipated underpayments or overpayments of monthly draws. Monthly payments of Base Salary shall be subject to “true up” following the completion of the audited financial statements of the Company and FR. In the event of any

 

2



 

underpayment, the Company shall pay such underpayment within thirty (30) days following the completion of such audited financial statements. In the event of any overpayment, the amount of such overpayment(s) shall be deducted from Employee’s Base Salary for the next succeeding payments of Base Salary until such overpayment has been absorbed by such deductions. In the event any overpayments have not been fully recovered upon the expiration or termination of the Term of this Agreement, the amount of such un-recovered overpayment(s) shall be deducted from any amounts payable by the Company pursuant to Section 7.05 of this Agreement or, if no amounts are payable by Company pursuant to Section 7.05, the amount of such un-recovered overpayments shall be paid by Employee to the Company within thirty (30) days following the Company’s written request therefore. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Employee’s Base Salary for any calendar year shall not be less than Three Hundred Fifty Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($350,000.00) (the “Guaranteed Minimum”); provided, however, in the event of any partial calendar year during the Term, the Guaranteed Minimum for such partial calendar year shall be prorated based on the actual number of days in such partial calendar year.

 

4.03                         Benefits . Employee may participate in all employee benefit plans or programs of Company consistent with such plans and programs of the Company. The Company does not guarantee the adoption or continuance of any particular employee benefit plan or program during the term of this Agreement, and Employee’s participation in any such plan or program shall be subject to the provisions, rules and regulations applicable thereto.

 

4.04                         Expenses; Contributions . Company agrees to reimburse all reasonable business expenses incurred by Employee consistent with the Company’s policies regarding reimbursement in the performance of Employee’s duties under this Agreement.

 

4.05                         Vacation and Sick leave . The Employee shall be entitled to five (5) weeks of vacation during each year of employment. Such vacation shall be taken at such times as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall agree. Any unused vacation for any year shall not accumulate or carry over to the subsequent year and shall be lost if not used by Employee during the respective years during the term of this Agreement. The Employee shall be entitled to sick leave and holidays in accordance with the policy of the Company as to its employees.

 

4.06                         Indemnification and Additional Insurance . The Company shall indemnify Employee with respect to matters relating to Employee’s services as an officer of the Company, or any of its Affiliates, occurring during the course and scope of Employee’s employment with the Company to the extent and pursuant to the provisions in the Illinois law. The Company may also cover Employee under a policy of officers’ and directors’ liability insurance providing coverage that is comparable to that provided now or hereafter to other senior executives of the Company.

 

5.                                       Confidential Information and Proprietary Information .

 

5.01                         Confidential Information . During the Term and at all times thereafter, Employee shall not divulge, furnish or make accessible to anyone or use in any way (other than in the ordinary course of the business of the Company or any of its Affiliates) any confidential or secret knowledge or information of the Company or any of its Affiliates which Employee has acquired or become acquainted with prior to the termination of the period of his employment by

 

3



 

the Company (including employment by the Company or any affiliated companies prior to the date of this Agreement), whether developed by himself or by others, including, without limitation, any trade secrets, confidential or secret designs, processes, formulae, plans, devices or material (whether or not patented or patentable) directly or indirectly useful in any aspect of the business of the Company or any of the Affiliates, any customer or supplier lists of the Company or any of the Affiliates, any confidential or secret development or research work of the Company or any of the Affiliates, or any other confidential information or secret aspect of the business of the Company or any of the Affiliates (collectively, “Confidential Information”). Employee acknowledges that (a) the Company and its Affiliates have expended and shall continue to expend substantial amounts of time, money and effort to develop business strategies, employee and customer relationships and goodwill and build an effective organization, (b) Employee is and shall become familiar with the Company’s and its Affiliate’s Confidential Information, including trade secrets, and that Employee’s services are of special, unique and extraordinary value to the Company and its Affiliates, (c) the above-described knowledge or information constitutes a unique and valuable asset of the Company and its Affiliates and the Company and its Affiliates have a legitimate business interest and right in protecting its Confidential Information, business strategies, employee and customer relationships and goodwill and (d) any disclosure or other use of such knowledge or information other than for the sole benefit of the Company and any of the Affiliates would be wrongful and would cause irreparable harm to the Company and any of the Affiliates. However, the foregoing shall not apply to any knowledge or information which is now published or which subsequently becomes generally publicly known in the form in which it was obtained from the Company or any of the Affiliates, other than as a direct or indirect result of the breach of this Agreement by Employee.

 

5.02                 Proprietary Information . Employee agrees that the results and proceeds of Employee’s services for the Company or its Affiliates (including, but not limited to, any trade secrets, products, services, processes, know-how, designs, developments, innovations, analyses, drawings, reports, techniques, formulas, methods, developmental or experimental work, improvements, discoveries, inventions, ideas, source and object codes, programs, matters of a literary, musical, dramatic or otherwise creative nature, writings and other works of authorship) resulting from services performed while an employee of the Company and any works in progress, whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar statutes, that were made, developed, conceived or reduced to practice or learned by Employee, either alone or jointly with others (collectively, “ Inventions ”), shall be works-made-for-hire and the Company (or, if applicable or as directed by the Company or any of its Affiliates) shall be deemed the sole owner throughout the universe of any and all trade secret, patent, copyright and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “ Proprietary Rights ”) of whatsoever nature therein, whether or not now or hereafter known, existing, contemplated, recognized or developed, with the right to use the same in perpetuity in any manner the Company determines in its sole discretion, without any further payment to Employee whatsoever. If, for any reason, any of such results and proceeds shall not legally be a work-made-for-hire and/or there are any Proprietary Rights which do not accrue to the Company (or, as the case may be, any of its Affiliates) under the immediately preceding sentence, then Employee hereby irrevocably assigns and agrees to assign any and all of Employee’s right, title and interest thereto, including any and all Proprietary Rights of whatsoever nature therein, whether or not now or hereafter known, existing, contemplated, recognized or developed, to the Company (or, if applicable or as directed by the Company or any of its Affiliates), and the Company or its Affiliates shall have the right to use the same in perpetuity throughout the universe in any manner determined by the Company or such Affiliates

 

4



 

without any further payment to Employee whatsoever. As to any Invention that Employee is required to assign, Employee shall promptly and fully disclose to the Company all information known to Employee concerning such Invention.

 

Employee agrees that, from time to time, as may be requested by the Company and at the Company’s sole cost and expense, Employee shall do any and all things that the Company may reasonably deem useful or desirable to establish or document the Company’s exclusive ownership throughout the United States of America or any other country of any and all Proprietary Rights in any such Inventions, including the execution of appropriate copyright and/or patent applications or assignments. To the extent Employee has any Proprietary Rights in the Inventions that cannot be assigned in the manner described above, Employee unconditionally and irrevocably waives the enforcement of such Proprietary Rights. This Section 5.02 is subject to and shall not be deemed to limit, restrict or constitute any waiver by the Company of any Proprietary Rights of ownership to which the Company may be entitled by operation of law by virtue of the Company’s being Employee’s employer. Employee further agrees that, from time to time, as may be requested by the Company and at the Company’s sole cost and expense, Employee shall assist the Company in every proper and lawful way to obtain and from time to time enforce Proprietary Rights relating to Inventions in any and all countries. To this end, Employee shall execute, verify and deliver such documents and perform such other acts (including appearances as a witness) as the Company may reasonably request for use in applying for, obtaining, perfecting, evidencing, sustaining, and enforcing such Proprietary Rights and the assignment thereof. In addition, Employee shall execute, verify, and deliver assignments of such Proprietary Rights to the Company or its designees. Employee’s obligation to assist the Company with respect to Proprietary Rights relating to such Inventions in any and all countries shall continue beyond the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company.

 

Employee hereby waives and quitclaims to the Company any and all claims, of any nature whatsoever, that Employee now or may hereafter have for infringement of any Proprietary Rights assigned hereunder to the Company.

 

6.                                       Non-competition and Non-solicitation Covenants and Adversarial Restrictions .

 

6.01                         Non-competition . Employee agrees that, during the Term and for eighteen months after the termination of Employee’s employment for any reason (the “Non-Compete Period”), other than by virtue of a breach by Company under Section 7.01(f) below, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, (a) engage in activities or businesses (including without limitation by owning any interest in, managing, controlling, participating in, consulting with, advising, rendering services for, or in any manner engaging in the business of owning, operating or managing any business) in any geographic location in which the Company, its subsidiaries or Affiliates engage in, whether through selling, distributing, manufacturing, marketing, purchasing, or otherwise, that compete directly or indirectly with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates (“ Competitive Activities ”), it being understood that Competitive Activities as of the date hereof include, without limitation, the publication and membership businesses of the Company or any subsidiary of Affiliate of the Company; the sale, repair or service of recreational vehicles or parts and accessories for recreational vehicles or the sale of any ancillary products that are sold in connection with the sale of recreational vehicles, including but not limited to credit life insurance, roadside assistance programs and extended service warranties, in the

 

5



 

recreational vehicle, camping and outdoor living markets; the business of developing, marketing, providing and implementing products and services (including insurance, financing, warranties and road-side assistance) to. owners of recreational vehicles and motorcycles; the business of providing consumer shows to owners of recreational vehicles and boats; and the business of publishing magazines directed to owners of recreational vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, boats and outdoor enthusiasts; or (B) assist any person in any way to do, or attempt to do, anything prohibited by Section 6.01(a) above. Employee acknowledges (i) that the business of the Company and its Affiliates is national in scope and without geographical limitation within the United States and (ii) notwithstanding the jurisdiction of formation or principal office of the Company and its Affiliates, or the location of any of their respective executives or employees (including, without limitation, Employee), it is expected that the Company and its Affiliates will have business activities and have valuable business relationships within their respective industries throughout the United States.

 

6.02                         Indirect Competition . Employee further agrees that, during the Term and the Non-Compete Period, he will not, directly or indirectly, assist or encourage any other person in carrying out, direct or indirectly, any activity that would be prohibited by the above provisions of this Section 6 if such activity were carried out by Employee, either directly or indirectly; and in particular Employee agrees that he will not, directly or indirectly, induce any employee of the Company to carry out, directly or indirectly, any such activity.

 

6.03                         Non-solicitation . Employee further agrees that, during the Term and for a period of one year after the termination of his employment (the “Non-Solicitation Period”), he will not, directly or indirectly, assist or encourage any other person in seeking to employ or hire any employee, consultant, advisor or agent of the Company or any of its Affiliates or encouraging any such employee, consultant, advisor or agent to discontinue employment with the Company or any of its Affilitates.

 

6.04                         Adversarial Restrictions . During the Term and at any time thereafter, Employee shall not voluntarily aid, assist, or cooperate with any actual or potential claimants or plaintiffs or their attorneys or agents in any claims or lawsuits proposed to be asserted, pending or commenced on the date hereof or in the future against the Company or any of the Affiliates; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 6.05 will be construed to prevent Employee from testifying at an administrative hearing, a deposition, or in court in response to a lawful subpoena in any litigation or proceeding involving the Company or any Affiliate.

 

6.05                         Tolling of Periods and Enforceability . The Non-Compete Period and Non-Solicitation Period shall be tolled during (and shall be deemed automatically extended by) any period in which Employee is in violation of the provisions of this Section 6. If a final and non-appealable judicial determination is made that any of the provisions of this Section 6 constitutes an unreasonable or otherwise unenforceable restriction against Employee, the provisions of this Section 6 will not be rendered void but will be deemed to be modified to the minimum extent necessary to remain in force and effect for the longest period and largest geographic area that would not constitute such an unreasonable or unenforceable restriction. Moreover, and without limiting the generality of Section 6, notwithstanding the fact that any provision of this Section 6 is determined to not be enforceable through specific performance, the Company will nevertheless be entitled to recover monetary damages as a result of Employee’s breach of such provision.

 

6



 

6.06                         Acknowledgement . Employee acknowledges that Employee has carefully read this Agreement and has given careful consideration to the restraints imposed upon Employee by this Agreement, and is in full accord as to the necessity of such restraints for the reasonable and proper protection of the Confidential Information, business strategies, employee and customer relationships and goodwill of the Company and its subsidiaries and Affiliates now existing or to be developed in the future. Employee expressly acknowledges and agrees that each and every restraint imposed by this Agreement is reasonable with respect to subject matter, time period and geographical area. Employee further acknowledges that although Employee’s compliance with the covenants contained in Sections 5 and 6 may prevent Employee from earning a livelihood in a business similar to the business of the Company, Employee’s experience and capabilities are such that Employee has other opportunities to earn a livelihood and adequate means of support for Employee and Employee’s dependents.

 

7.                                       Termination .

 

7.01                         Grounds for Termination . Employee’s employment with the Company shall terminate under any of the circumstances set forth below.

 

a.                                       If Employee shall die or become disabled (as defined in Section 7.03 below);

 

b.                                       By mutual agreement of the Company and Employee;

 

c.                                        By Employee for any reason upon notice to the Company;

 

d.                                       By the Company for cause (as defined in Section 7.02 below);

 

e.                                        By the Company without cause; provided that in such event and in exchange for a full release of claims from the Employee, the Company will pay Employee the amounts provided under Section 7.05 below;

 

f.                                         By Employee in the event of a material default of this Agreement by the Company, which default remains uncured for ten (10) days following written notice thereof.

 

Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement and Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee, in consideration of his employment hereunder to the date of such termination, shall remain bound by the provisions of this Agreement which specifically relate to periods, activities or obligations upon or subsequent to the termination of Employee’s employment including without limitation the provisions of Sections 5,6 and 8 hereof.

 

7.02                         For Cause Defined. Termination of Employee’s employment by the Company for any of the following reasons shall be deemed termination for cause:

 

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a.                                       Employee shall have breached this Agreement in any material respect, which breach in the case of this clause is not cured by, or is not capable of being cured, within ten (10) days after written notice of such breach is delivered to Employee; or

 

b.                                       Employee has engaged in misconduct (including violation of the Company’s policies) that is materially injurious to the Company as reasonably determined by the Company’s Board of Governors; or

 

c.                                        Employee has been convicted of (i) any felony or (ii) any misdemeanor involving a crime of moral turpitude, theft or fraud; or

 

d.                                       Employee uses illegal substances; or

 

e.                                        Employee knowingly falsifies or causes to be falsified, in any material respect, the financial records and financial statements of the Company.

 

7.03                         “Disability” Defined . The Company may determine that Employee is disabled if he shall fail, because of illness or incapacity, to render services of the character contemplated by this Agreement for a period of three (3) consecutive months.

 

7.04                         Surrender of Records and Property . Upon termination of his employment with the Company for any reason, Employee shall deliver promptly to the Company all records, manuals, books, blank forms, documents, letters, memoranda, notes, notebooks, reports, data, tables, calculations or copies thereof, which are the property of the Company or any of its Affiliates or which relate in any way to the business, products, practices or techniques of the Company or any of its Affiliates, and all other property, trade secrets and confidential information of the Company or any of its Affiliates, including, but not limited to, all documents which in whole or in part contain any trade secrets or confidential information of the Company or any of its Affiliates, which in any of these cases are in his possession or under his control.

 

7.05                         Payments Upon Termination . If this Agreement is terminated for any reason set forth in Section 7, then Employee shall be entitled to receive (a) his Base Salary for the applicable calendar year through the date of the termination at the Applicable Percentage times the combined EBITDA of the Company and FR for the twelve month period ending on the last day of the calendar month immediately preceding the date of termination multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which shall be the number of days Employee was employed during the then such current calendar year and (ii) the denominator of which shall be three hundred sixty-five (365) (for avoidance of doubt, the amount of draws paid by Company to Employee during such calendar year as contemplated by Section 4.02, shall be credited against such amount), (b) any accrued and unused vacation or paid time off time through the date of the termination, and (c) reimbursement of any business expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business through the date of termination that have not yet been reimbursed pursuant to Section 4.04. Any overpayments or underpayments shall be paid by one party to the other, as applicable, within thirty (30) days following the final calculation. If Employee’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 7.01(e) or (f) and provided that Employee shall have executed and delivered

 

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to the Company the Company’s standard form of release of claims and any period for rescission of such release shall have expired without Employee having rescinding such release, then Employee shall be entitled to receive the Severance Amount (as defined below), payment of which shall be made over a one (1) year period at the same times and in the same manner as his Base Salary had been paid to Employee prior to the termination of his employment hereunder. As used herein, the “Severance Amount” shall be equal to the combined EBITDA of the Company and FR for the twelve month period ending on the last day of the calendar month immediately preceding the date of termination multiplied by the Applicable Percentage.

 

8.                                       Miscellaneous .

 

8.01                         Governing Law; Venue . This Agreement is made under and shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.

 

8.02                         Prior Agreements . This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings with respect to such subject matter, and the parties hereto have made no agreement, representations or warranties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement which are not set forth herein.

 

8.03                         Withholding Taxes . The Company may withhold from any benefits payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes as shall be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling.

 

8.04                         Amendments . No amendments or modifications of this Agreement shall be deemed effective unless made in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

 

8.05                         No Waiver . No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been waived, nor shall there by an estoppel to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, except by a statement in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of the waiver or estoppel is sought. Any written waiver shall not be deemed a continuing waiver unless specifically stated, shall operate only as to the specific term or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of such term or condition for the future or as to any act other than that specifically waived.

 

8.06                         Severability . To the extent any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable, it shall be considered deleted herefrom and the remainder of such provision and of this Agreement shall be unaffected and shall continue in full force and effect. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, should the duration or geographical extent of, or business activities covered by, any provision of this Agreement be in excess of that which is valid and enforceable under applicable law, then such provision shall be construed to cover only that duration, extent or activities which may validly and enforceably be covered. Employee acknowledges the uncertainty of the law in this respect and expressly stipulates that this Agreement be given the construction which renders its provisions valid and enforceable to the maximum extent (not exceeding its express terms) possible under applicable law.

 

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8.07                         Assignment . This Agreement shall not be assignable, in whole or in part, by either party without the written consent of the other party. After any such assignment by the Company, the Company shall be discharged from all further liability hereunder and such assignee shall thereafter be deemed to be the Company for the purposes of all provisions of this Agreement including this Section 8.

 

8.08                         Injunctive Relief . Employee agrees that it would be difficult to compensate the Company fully for damages for any violation of the provisions of this Agreement, including without limitation the provisions of Sections 5 and 6. Accordingly, Employee specifically agrees that the Company shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief to enforce the provisions of this Agreement and that such relief may be granted without the necessity of proving actual damages. This provision with respect to injunctive relief shall not, however, diminish the right of the Company to claim and recover damages in addition to injunctive relief.

 

8.09                         Attorneys’ Fees and Costs . The Company and Employee agree that in the event any litigation arises out of this Agreement between Company and Employee, the prevailing party in such litigation shall be entitled to recover its attorney’s fees and costs brought relating to such litigation.

 

8.10                         No Mitigation Obligation . All amounts paid to Employee under this Agreement following Employee’s termination of employment and this Agreement are acknowledged by the Company and Employee to be reasonable and to be liquidated damages, and Employee will not be required to reduce the amount of such payments by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor will any profits, income, earnings or other benefits from any source whatsoever (including from other employment) create any mitigation, offset, reduction or any other obligation on the part of Employee under this Agreement.

 

8.11                         Notices . Any notice, payment, demand or communication required or permitted to be given by the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been effectively given and received on the date personally delivered to the respective party to whom it is directed, or five (5) days after the date when deposited by registered or certified mail, with postage and charges prepaid and addressed to such party at its address below its signature. Any party may change its address by delivering a written change of address to all of the other parties in the manner set forth in this Section 8.11.

 

8.12                         Administration . In the event Employee shall disagree with the amount of EBITDA, as determined by the Company (written notice of which shall be given by the Employee within thirty (30) days of the receipt of such determination by the Company), EBITDA shall be determined by the independent certified public accountants of the Company or, if the Company has not then engaged a firm of independent certified public accountants, any nationally recognized firm of public accountants selected by the Company (the “Independent Accountant”). The Independent Accountant shall determine the EBITDA within thirty (30) days after its appointment and shall be instructed to deliver to the Company and Employee a written report of its determination of the amount of EBITDA. The cost of the accounting services performed by the Independent Accountant shall be borne by the Company (but the cost thereof shall be considered a liability of the Company) unless the amount of the EBITDA as determined by the Independent Accountant is the same as the

 

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amount determined by the Company, in which event the entire cost of the services of the Independent Accountant shall be borne by the Employee.

 

[Signatures on following page]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date set forth in the first paragraph.

 

 

GOOD SAM ENTERPRISES, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Marcus Lemonis

 

 

Marcus Lemonis, Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Addresses: 250 Parkway Drive, Ste. 270

 

 

Lincolnshire, IL 60069

 

 

Attn: Marcus Lemonis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Thomas F. Wolfe

 

Thomas F. Wolfe

 

Address:

 

 

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Exhibit 10.14

 

FIRST AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is made and entered into effective as of the 16 th  day of February, 2015 (the “Amendment Effective Date”) between Good Sam Enterprises, LLC, a limited liability company (the “Company”) and Thomas F. Wolfe, a California resident (“Employee”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Employee entered into that certain Employment Agreement dated January 1, 2013 (the “Employment Agreement”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Employee desire to amend the Employment Agreement pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Amendment.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Section 1 of the Employment Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with the following:

 

Employment . The Company agrees to employ Employee as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and Employee accepts such employment and agrees to perform the services and duties for the Company as herein provided for the period and upon the other terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Employee shall be subject to the direction of the Company’s Chairman, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Board of Governors.”

 

2.                                       Section 2 of the Employment Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with the following:

 

Term . Subject to termination of Employee’s employment pursuant to Section 7 below, this Agreement shall be effective as of the Effective Date and Employee’s employment hereunder shall continue through February 15, 2020. The term of Employee’s employment under this Agreement shall be defined as the “Term.”

 

3.                                       Section 3.01 of the Employment Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with the following:

 

Title . During the Term, Employee agrees to serve as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and undertake such other or additional duties as may be directed by the Board of Governors or Chief Executive Officer.”

 

4.                                       Section 4.02 of the Employment Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with the following effective as of the Amendment Effective Date:

 

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Base Salary . During the term of this Agreement, the Company shall pay to Employee a base annual salary (“Base Salary”) of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($250,000.00), which salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll procedures and policies.”

 

5.                                       Effective as of the Amendment Effective Date, the Company shall pay to Employee incentive compensation (“Incentive Compensation”) equal to seventeen and one-half one hundredths of one percent (0.175%) (the “Incentive Percentage”) of the combined annual EBITDA (as defined below) of the Company and FreedomRoads, LLC (“FR”), so long as FR remains an Affiliate of the Company, for each calendar year or portion thereof commencing on the Amendment Effective Date and continuing through the remainder of the Term of this Agreement. As used herein, “EBITDA” shall mean the combined net income of the Company and FR, as applicable, and each of their respective subsidiaries derived from the ongoing business operations of each such entity for the applicable period plus, to the extent deducted in the determination of net income, interest (other than interest for floor plan financing), federal and state income taxes (or any provision for such taxes), depreciation and amortization. Net income shall be determined on the accrual method of accounting and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, provided that (i) extraordinary items of revenue or expense, as determined by the chief financial officer and/or board of directors (including revenue or expense from non-operating investments, revenue or expense from the sale or purchase of assets not in the ordinary course of business or revenue or expense not derived from normal business operations), shall not be reflected in net income and (ii) amounts paid or received in settlement of (or payment of judgments in respect of) litigation which did not arise in the ordinary course of the business operations of such entity or entities or any of their respective subsidiaries, shall not be reflected in net income. The Incentive Compensation shall be paid in monthly draws based on the estimated combined EBITDA for the applicable calendar year, subject to adjustment up or down from time to time by the Company based on actual results compared to estimates and anticipated underpayments or overpayments of monthly draws. Monthly payments of Incentive Compensation shall be subject to “true up” following the completion of the audited financial statements of the Company and FR. In the event of any underpayment, the Company shall pay such underpayment within thirty (30) days following the completion of such audited financial statements. In the event of any overpayment, the amount of such overpayment(s) shall be deducted from Employee’s Base Salary for the next succeeding payments of Base Salary until such overpayment has been absorbed by such deductions. In the event any overpayments have not been fully recovered upon the expiration or termination of the Term of this Agreement, the amount of such un-recovered overpayment(s) shall be deducted from any amounts payable by the Company pursuant to Section 7.05 of this Agreement or, if no amounts are payable by Company pursuant to Section 7.05, the amount of such un-recovered overpayments shall be paid by Employee to the Company within thirty (30) days following the Company’s written request therefore. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Employee’s combined Base Salary and Incentive Compensation for any calendar year shall not be less than Three Hundred Fifty Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($350,000.00) (the “Guaranteed Minimum”); provided, however, in the event of any partial calendar year during the Term, the Guaranteed Minimum for such partial calendar year shall be prorated based on the actual number of days in such partial calendar year.

 

6.                                       Section 7.05 of the Agreement is hereby terminated and replaced with the following:

 

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Payments Upon Termination . If this Agreement is terminated for any reason set forth in Section 7, then Employee shall be entitled to receive (a) his Base Salary for the applicable calendar year through the date of the termination, (b) any accrued and unused vacation or paid time off time through the date of the termination, (c) reimbursement of any business expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business through the date of termination that have not yet been reimbursed pursuant to Section 4.04, (d) any Incentive Compensation pursuant to Section 4.02 for the preceding calendar year to the extent not yet paid when due and the amount which would be payable pursuant to Section 4.02 as if his employment had not terminated and (e) any Incentive Compensation not yet paid for the calendar year in which Employee’s employment is terminated in an amount determined by multiplying EBITDA for the twelve month period immediately preceding the date of termination by the Incentive Percentage, and multiplying the product thereof by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which shall be the number of days in the period from the beginning of such calendar year to the date of the termination of Employee’s employment and (ii) the denominator of which shall be 365, which payment shall be made within 90 days following such termination of employee’s employment. If Employee’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 7.01(e) or (f) and provided that Employee shall have executed and delivered to the Company the Company’s standard form of release of claims and any period for rescission of such release shall have expired without Employee having rescinding such release, in addition to the foregoing, Employee shall be entitled to receive the Severance Amount (as defined below), which Severance Amount shall be paid in equal payments over a twelve (12) month period at the same times and in the same manner as Base Salary had been paid to Employee prior to the termination of his employment hereunder. As used herein, the “Severance Amount” shall be equal to (a) $879,570.00 in event such termination occurs on or before December 31, 2017 or (b) an amount equal to the Guaranteed Minimum in the event such termination occurs after December 31, 2017.”

 

7.                                       Upon full execution and delivery of this Amendment, Employee shall receive a one-time bonus in the amount of $250,000.

 

8.                                       Except as amended hereby the Agreement shall remain in full force and affect. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of this Amendment, the terms of this Amendment shall control.

 

9.                                       All initially capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning as affixed thereto in the Agreement.

 

10.                                This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed and original and all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. An electronic or faxed copy of this Amendment shall have the same force and effect as the original thereof.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date set forth in the first paragraph.

 

 

GOOD SAM ENTERPRISES, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Marcus Lemonis

 

 

Marcus Lemonis, Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Addresses: 250 Parkway Drive, Ste. 270

 

 

Lincolnshire, IL 60069

 

 

Attn: Marcus Lemonis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Thomas F. Wolfe

 

Thomas F. Wolfe

 

Address:

 

 

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Exhibit 10.15

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into effective as of the 10 th  day of June, 2016, by and between Thomas F. Wolfe, a California resident (“Employee”), Camping World Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Camping World”) and CWGS Enterprises, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Partnership” and, together with Camping World and any of the Affiliates of Camping World and the Partnership as may employ the Employee from time to time, and any successor(s) thereto, the “Company”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company is considering an initial public offering of Camping World common stock (the “IPO”); and

 

WHEREAS, in anticipation of the potential IPO, the Company desires to enter into this Agreement with Employee, pursuant to which the Company will employ Employee on the terms set forth in this Agreement, and Employee desires to be employed by Company pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Employment . The Company agrees to employ Employee as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and Employee accepts such employment and agrees to perform the services and duties for the Company as herein provided for the period and upon the other terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Employee shall be subject to the direction of the Company’s Chairman, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Board of Governors.

 

2.                                       Term . Subject to termination of Employee’s employment pursuant to Section 7 below, the initial term of Employee’s employment hereunder shall be for a period commencing as of the date of this Agreement and ending on February 15, 2020 and, upon the expiration of the initial term hereof, shall be automatically renewed for successive one (1) year periods unless either party desires to cancel this Agreement after the initial term or renewal periods, then it shall give the other party written notice of its intent to cancel at least 90 days prior to the expiration of the initial term or any renewal period thereof.

 

3.                                       Position and Duties .

 

3.01                         Title . During the Term, Employee agrees to serve as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and undertake such additional duties as may be directed by the Board of Governors or Chief Executive Officer.

 

3.02                         Duties . (a) During the term of this Agreement, Employee agrees to serve the Company and Employee will faithfully and to the best of his ability discharge his duties and will devote his full time during business hours for the Company and to the business and affairs of the Company, its direct and indirect subsidiaries and certain Affiliates (as defined below) of the

 

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Company. Employee hereby confirms that during the term of this Agreement, he will not render or perform services for any other corporation, firm, entity or person. In addition, Employee understands that the Company’s Board of Governors or Chief Executive Officer may, from time to time, direct that Employee assist and provide services to one or more other entities directly or indirectly owned or controlled by, or under common ownership or control with, the Company (“Affiliates”). Employee recognizes that he will be required to travel to perform certain of his duties.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall be permitted to participate in, and be involved with, such community, educational, charitable, professional, and religious organizations so long as such participation does not, in the judgment of the Company’s Board of Governors, interfere with the performance of or create a potential conflict with Employee’s duties hereunder.

 

4.                                       Compensation .

 

4.01                         Base Salary . During the term of this Agreement, the Company shall pay to Employee a base annual salary of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($250,000.00), (“Base Salary”), which salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll procedures and policies.

 

4.02                         During the term of this Agreement and subject to the continued employment of Employee by the Company through the date on which payment of the Incentive Compensation (as defined below) is due, the Company shall pay to Employee incentive compensation (“Incentive Compensation”) equal to seventeen and one-half one hundredths of one percent (0.175%) (the “Applicable Percentage”) of the Company’s consolidated EBITDA (as defined below). As used herein, “EBITDA” shall mean the combined net income of the Company, as applicable, and each of their respective subsidiaries derived from the ongoing business operations of each such entity for the applicable period plus, to the extent deducted in the determination of net income, interest (other than interest for floor plan financing), federal and state income taxes (or any provision for such taxes), depreciation and amortization. Net income shall be determined on the accrual method of accounting and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, provided that (i) extraordinary items of revenue or expense, as determined by the chief financial officer and/or board of directors (including revenue or expense from non-operating investments, revenue or expense from the sale or purchase of assets not in the ordinary course of business or revenue or expense not derived from normal business operations), shall not be reflected in net income and (ii) amounts paid or received in settlement of (or payment of judgments in respect of) litigation which did not arise in the ordinary course of the business operations of such entity or entities or any of their respective subsidiaries, shall not be reflected in net income. The Incentive Compensation shall be paid in monthly draws based on the estimated combined EBITDA for the applicable calendar year, subject to adjustment up or down from time to time by the Company based on actual results compared to estimates and anticipated underpayments or overpayments of monthly draws. Monthly payments of Incentive Compensation shall be subject to “true up” following the completion of the audited financial statements of the Company. In the event of any underpayment, the Company shall pay such underpayment within thirty (30) days following the completion of such audited financial statements. In the event of any overpayment, the amount of

 

2



 

such overpayment(s) shall be deducted from Employee’s Base Salary for the next succeeding payments of Base Salary until such overpayment has been absorbed by such deductions. In the event any overpayments have not been fully recovered upon the expiration or termination of the Term of this Agreement, the amount of such un-recovered overpayment(s) shall be deducted from any amounts payable by the Company pursuant to Section 7.05 of this Agreement or, if no amounts are payable by Company pursuant to Section 7.05, the amount of such un-recovered overpayments shall be paid by Employee to the Company within thirty (30) days following the Company’s written request therefore. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Employee’s combined Base Salary and Incentive Compensation for any calendar year shall not be less than Three Hundred Fifty Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($350,000.00) (the “Guaranteed Minimum”); provided, however, in the event of any partial calendar year during the Term, the Guaranteed Minimum for such partial calendar year shall be prorated based on the actual number of days in such partial calendar year.

 

4.03                         Benefits . Employee may participate in all employee benefit plans or programs of Company consistent with such plans and programs of the Company. The Company does not guarantee the adoption or continuance of any particular employee benefit plan or program during the term of this Agreement, and Employee’s participation in any such plan or program shall be subject to the provisions, rules and regulations applicable thereto.

 

4.04                         Expenses; Contributions . Company agrees to reimburse all reasonable business expenses incurred by Employee consistent with the Company’s policies regarding reimbursement in the performance of Employee’s duties under this Agreement.

 

4.05                         Vacation and Sick leave . The Employee shall be entitled to five (5) weeks of vacation during each year of employment. Such vacation shall be taken at such times as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall agree. Any unused vacation for any year shall not accumulate or carry over to the subsequent year and shall be lost if not used by Employee during the respective years during the term of this Agreement. The Employee shall be entitled to sick leave and holidays in accordance with the policy of the Company as to its employees.

 

4.06                         Indemnification and Additional Insurance . The Company shall indemnify Employee with respect to matters relating to Employee’s services as an officer of the Company, or any of its Affiliates, occurring during the course and scope of Employee’s employment with the Company to the extent and pursuant to the provisions in the Illinois law. The Company may also cover Employee under a policy of officers’ and directors’ liability insurance providing coverage that is comparable to that provided now or hereafter to other senior executives of the Company.

 

5.                                       Confidential Information and Proprietary Information .

 

5.01                         Confidential Information . During the Term and at all times thereafter, Employee shall not divulge, furnish or make accessible to anyone or use in any way (other than in the ordinary course of the business of the Company or any of its Affiliates) any confidential or secret knowledge or information of the Company or any of its Affiliates which Employee has acquired or become acquainted with prior to the termination of the period of his employment by the Company (including employment by the Company or any affiliated companies prior to the

 

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date of this Agreement), whether developed by himself or by others, including, without limitation, any trade secrets, confidential or secret designs, processes, formulae, plans, devices or material (whether or not patented or patentable) directly or indirectly useful in any aspect of the business of the Company or any of the Affiliates, any customer or supplier lists of the Company or any of the Affiliates, any confidential or secret development or research work of the Company or any of the Affiliates, or any other confidential information or secret aspect of the business of the Company or any of the Affiliates (collectively, “Confidential Information”). Employee acknowledges that (a) the Company and its Affiliates have expended and shall continue to expend substantial amounts of time, money and effort to develop business strategies, employee and customer relationships and goodwill and build an effective organization, (b) Employee is and shall become familiar with the Company’s and its Affiliate’s Confidential Information, including trade secrets, and that Employee’s services are of special, unique and extraordinary value to the Company and its Affiliates, (c) the above-described knowledge or information constitutes a unique and valuable asset of the Company and its Affiliates and the Company and its Affiliates have a legitimate business interest and right in protecting its Confidential Information, business strategies, employee and customer relationships and goodwill and (d) any disclosure or other use of such knowledge or information other than for the sole benefit of the Company and any of the Affiliates would be wrongful and would cause irreparable harm to the Company and any of the Affiliates. However, the foregoing shall not apply to any knowledge or information which is now published or which subsequently becomes generally publicly known in the form in which it was obtained from the Company or any of the Affiliates, other than as a direct or indirect result of the breach of this Agreement by Employee.

 

5.02                                 Proprietary Information . (a) Employee agrees that the results and proceeds of Employee’s services for the Company or its Affiliates (including, but not limited to, any trade secrets, products, services, processes, know-how, designs, developments, innovations, analyses, drawings, reports, techniques, formulas, methods, developmental or experimental work, improvements, discoveries, inventions, ideas, source and object codes, programs, matters of a literary, musical, dramatic or otherwise creative nature, writings and other works of authorship) resulting from services performed while an employee of the Company and any works in progress, whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar statutes, that were made, developed, conceived or reduced to practice or learned by Employee, either alone or jointly with others (collectively, “ Inventions ”), shall be works-made-for-hire and the Company (or, if applicable or as directed by the Company or any of its Affiliates) shall be deemed the sole owner throughout the universe of any and all trade secret, patent, copyright and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “ Proprietary Rights ”) of whatsoever nature therein, whether or not now or hereafter known, existing, contemplated, recognized or developed, with the right to use the same in perpetuity in any manner the Company determines in its sole discretion, without any further payment to Employee whatsoever. If, for any reason, any of such results and proceeds shall not legally be a work-made-for-hire and/or there are any Proprietary Rights which do not accrue to the Company (or, as the case may be, any of its Affiliates) under the immediately preceding sentence, then Employee hereby irrevocably assigns and agrees to assign any and all of Employee’s right, title and interest thereto, including any and all Proprietary Rights of whatsoever nature therein, whether or not now or hereafter known, existing, contemplated, recognized or developed, to the Company (or, if applicable or as directed by the Company or any of its Affiliates), and the Company or its Affiliates shall have the right to use the same in perpetuity throughout the universe in any manner determined by the Company or such Affiliates

 

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without any further payment to Employee whatsoever. As to any Invention that Employee is required to assign, Employee shall promptly and fully disclose to the Company all information known to Employee concerning such Invention.

 

(b) Employee agrees that, from time to time, as may be requested by the Company and at the Company’s sole cost and expense, Employee shall do any and all things that the Company may reasonably deem useful or desirable to establish or document the Company’s exclusive ownership throughout the United States of America or any other country of any and all Proprietary Rights in any such Inventions, including the execution of appropriate copyright and/or patent applications or assignments. To the extent Employee has any Proprietary Rights in the Inventions that cannot be assigned in the manner described above, Employee unconditionally and irrevocably waives the enforcement of such Proprietary Rights. This Section 5.02 is subject to and shall not be deemed to limit, restrict or constitute any waiver by the Company of any Proprietary Rights of ownership to which the Company may be entitled by operation of law by virtue of the Company’s being Employee’s employer. Employee further agrees that, from time to time, as may be requested by the Company and at the Company’s sole cost and expense, Employee shall assist the Company in every proper and lawful way to obtain and from time to time enforce Proprietary Rights relating to Inventions in any and all countries. To this end, Employee shall execute, verify and deliver such documents and perform such other acts (including appearances as a witness) as the Company may reasonably request for use in applying for, obtaining, perfecting, evidencing, sustaining, and enforcing such Proprietary Rights and the assignment thereof. In addition, Employee shall execute, verify, and deliver assignments of such Proprietary Rights to the Company or its designees. Employee’s obligation to assist the Company with respect to Proprietary Rights relating to such Inventions in any and all countries shall continue beyond the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company.

 

(c) Employee hereby waives and quitclaims to the Company any and all claims, of any nature whatsoever, that Employee now or may hereafter have for infringement of any Proprietary Rights assigned hereunder to the Company.

 

6.                                       Non-competition and Non-solicitation Covenants and Adversarial Restrictions .

 

6.01                         Non-competition . Employee agrees that, during the Term and for eighteen months after the termination of Employee’s employment for any reason (the “Non-Compete Period”), other than by virtue of a breach by Company under Section 7.01(f) below, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, (a) engage in activities or businesses (including without limitation by owning any interest in, managing, controlling, participating in, consulting with, advising, rendering services for, or in any manner engaging in the business of owning, operating or managing any business) in any geographic location in which the Company, its subsidiaries or Affiliates engage in, whether through selling, distributing, manufacturing, marketing, purchasing, or otherwise, that compete directly or indirectly with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates (“ Competitive Activities ”), it being understood that Competitive Activities as of the date hereof include, without limitation, the publication and membership businesses of the Company or any subsidiary of Affiliate of the Company; the sale, repair or service of recreational vehicles or parts and accessories for recreational vehicles or the sale of any ancillary products that are sold in connection with the sale of recreational vehicles, including but not limited to credit life insurance, roadside assistance programs and extended service

 

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warranties, in the recreational vehicle, camping and outdoor living markets; the business of developing, marketing, providing and implementing products and services (including insurance, financing, warranties and road-side assistance) to owners of recreational vehicles and motorcycles; the business of providing consumer shows to owners of recreational vehicles and boats; and the business of publishing magazines directed to owners of recreational vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, boats and outdoor enthusiasts; or (B) assist any person in any way to do, or attempt to do, anything prohibited by Section 6.01(a) above. Employee acknowledges (i) that the business of the Company and its Affiliates is national in scope and without geographical limitation within the United States and (ii) notwithstanding the jurisdiction of formation or principal office of the Company and its Affiliates, or the location of any of their respective executives or employees (including, without limitation, Employee), it is expected that the Company and its Affiliates will have business activities and have valuable business relationships within their respective industries throughout the United States.

 

6.02                         Indirect Competition . Employee further agrees that, during the Term and the Non-Compete Period, he will not, directly or indirectly, assist or encourage any other person in carrying out, direct or indirectly, any activity that would be prohibited by the above provisions of this Section 6 if such activity were carried out by Employee, either directly or indirectly; and in particular Employee agrees that he will not, directly or indirectly, induce any employee of the Company to carry out, directly or indirectly, any such activity.

 

6.03                         Non-solicitation . Employee further agrees that, during the Term and for a period of one year after the termination of his employment (the “Non-Solicitation Period”), he will not, directly or indirectly, assist or encourage any other person in seeking to employ or hire any employee, consultant, advisor or agent of the Company or any of its Affiliates or encouraging any such employee, consultant, advisor or agent to discontinue employment with the Company or any of its Affiliates.

 

6.04                         Adversarial Restrictions . During the Term and at any time thereafter, Employee shall not voluntarily aid, assist, or cooperate with any actual or potential claimants or plaintiffs or their attorneys or agents in any claims or lawsuits proposed to be asserted, pending or commenced on the date hereof or in the future against the Company or any of the Affiliates; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 6.05 will be construed to prevent Employee from testifying at an administrative hearing, a deposition, or in court in response to a lawful subpoena in any litigation or proceeding involving the Company or any Affiliate.

 

6.05                         Tolling of Periods and Enforceability . The Non-Compete Period and Non-Solicitation Period shall be tolled during (and shall be deemed automatically extended by) any period in which Employee is in violation of the provisions of this Section 6. If a final and non-appealable judicial determination is made that any of the provisions of this Section 6 constitutes an unreasonable or otherwise unenforceable restriction against Employee, the provisions of this Section 6 will not be rendered void but will be deemed to be modified to the minimum extent necessary to remain in force and effect for the longest period and largest geographic area that would not constitute such an unreasonable or unenforceable restriction. Moreover, and without limiting the generality of Section 6, notwithstanding the fact that any provision of this Section 6 is determined to not be enforceable through specific performance, the

 

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Company will nevertheless be entitled to recover monetary damages as a result of Employee’s breach of such provision.

 

6.06                                 Acknowledgement . Employee acknowledges that Employee has carefully read this Agreement and has given careful consideration to the restraints imposed upon Employee by this Agreement, and is in full accord as to the necessity of such restraints for the reasonable and proper protection of the Confidential Information, business strategies, employee and customer relationships and goodwill of the Company and its subsidiaries and Affiliates now existing or to be developed in the future. Employee expressly acknowledges and agrees that each and every restraint imposed by this Agreement is reasonable with respect to subject matter, time period and geographical area. Employee further acknowledges that although Employee’s compliance with the covenants contained in Sections 5 and 6 may prevent Employee from earning a livelihood in a business similar to the business of the Company, Employee’s experience and capabilities are such that Employee has other opportunities to earn a livelihood and adequate means of support for Employee and Employee’s dependents.

 

7.                                       Termination .

 

7.01                         Grounds for Termination . Employee’s employment with the Company shall terminate under any of the circumstances set forth below.

 

a.                                       If Employee shall die or become disabled (as defined in Section 7.03 below);

 

b.                                       By mutual agreement of the Company and Employee;

 

c.                                        By Employee for any reason upon notice to the Company;

 

d.                                       By the Company for cause (as defined in Section 7.02 below);

 

c.                                        By the Company without cause; provided that in such event and in exchange for a full release of claims from the Employee, the Company will pay Employee the amounts provided under Section 7.05 below;

 

f.                                         By Employee in the event of a material default of this Agreement by the Company, which default remains uncured for ten (10) days following written notice thereof.

 

Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement and Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee, in consideration of his employment hereunder to the date of such termination, shall remain bound by the provisions of this Agreement which specifically relate to periods, activities or obligations upon or subsequent to the termination of Employee’s employment including without limitation the provisions of Sections 5, 6 and 8 hereof.

 

7.02                         For Cause Defined . Termination of Employee’s employment by the Company for any of the following reasons shall be deemed termination for cause:

 

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a.                                       Employee shall have breached this Agreement in any material respect, which breach in the case of this clause is not cured by, or is not capable of being cured, within ten (10) days after written notice of such breach is delivered to Employee; or

 

b.                                       Employee has engaged in misconduct (including violation of the Company’s policies) that is materially injurious to the Company as reasonably determined by the Company’s Board of Governors; or

 

c.                                        Employee has been convicted of (i) any felony or (ii) any misdemeanor involving a crime of moral turpitude, theft or fraud; or

 

d.                                       Employee uses illegal substances; or

 

e.                                        Employee knowingly falsifies or causes to be falsified, in any material respect, the financial records and financial statements of the Company.

 

7.03                                 “Disability” Defined . The Company may determine that Employee is disabled if he shall fail, because of illness or incapacity, to render services of the character contemplated by this Agreement for a period of three (3) consecutive months.

 

7.04                                 Surrender of Records and Property . Upon termination of his employment with the Company for any reason, Employee shall deliver promptly to the Company all records, manuals, books, blank forms, documents, letters, memoranda, notes, notebooks, reports, data, tables, calculations or copies thereof, which are the property of the Company or any of its Affiliates or which relate in any way to the business, products, practices or techniques of the Company or any of its Affiliates, and all other property, trade secrets and confidential information of the Company or any of its Affiliates, including, but not limited to, all documents which in whole or in part contain any trade secrets or confidential information of the Company or any of its Affiliates, which in any of these cases are in his possession or under his control.

 

7.05                                 Payments Upon Termination . If this Agreement is terminated for any reason set forth in Section 7, then Employee shall be entitled to receive (a) his Base Salary for the applicable calendar year through the date of the termination, (b) any accrued and unused vacation or paid time off through the date of termination, (c) reimbursement of any business expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business through the date of termination that have not yet been reimbursed pursuant to Section 4.04, (d) any Incentive Compensation pursuant to Section 4.02 for the preceding calendar year to the extent not yet paid when due and the amount which would be payable pursuant to Section 4.02 as if his employment had not terminated and (e) any Incentive Compensation not yet paid for the calendar year in which the Employee’s employment is terminated in an amount determined by multiplying EBITDA for the twelve month period immediately preceding the date of termination by the Applicable Percentage, and multiplying the product thereof by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which shall be the number of days in the period from the beginning of such calendar year to the date of the termination of Employee’s employment and (ii) the denominator of which shall be three hundred sixty-five

 

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(365), which payment shall be made within 90 days following such termination of employee’s employment. If Employee’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 7.01(e) or (f) and provided that Employee shall have executed and delivered to the Company the Company’s standard form of release of claims and any period for rescission of such release shall have expired without Employee having rescinding such release, in addition to the foregoing, Employee shall be entitled to receive the Severance Amount (as defined below), payment of which shall be paid in equal installments over a one (1) year period at the same times and in the same manner as Base Salary had been paid to Employee prior to the termination of his employment hereunder. As used herein, the “Severance Amount” shall be equal to (a) $879,570 in the event such termination occurs on or before December 31, 2017 or (b) an amount equal to the Guaranteed Minimum in the event such termination occurs after December 31, 2017.

 

8.                                       Miscellaneous .

 

8.01                         Governing Law; Venue . This Agreement is made under and shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.

 

8.02                         Prior Agreements . This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings with respect to such subject matter, and the parties hereto have made no agreement, representations or warranties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement which are not set forth herein.

 

8.03                         Withholding Taxes . The Company may withhold from any benefits payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes as shall be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling.

 

8.04                         Amendments . No amendments or modifications of this Agreement shall be deemed effective unless made in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

 

8.05                         No Waiver . No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been waived, nor shall there by an estoppel to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, except by a statement in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of the waiver or estoppel is sought. Any written waiver shall not be deemed a continuing waiver unless specifically stated, shall operate only as to the specific term or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of such term or condition for the future or as to any act other than that specifically waived

 

8.06                         Section 409A . (a) For purposes of this Agreement, “ Section 409A ” means Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (and such other Treasury or Internal Revenue Service guidance) as in effect from time to time. The parties intend that any amounts payable hereunder that could constitute “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A will be compliant with Section 409A or exempt from Section 409A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall be solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on or for the account of Employee in connection with this Agreement (including any taxes and penalties under Section 409A of the Code), and neither the

 

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Company nor any of its Affiliates shall have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold Employee (or any beneficiary) harmless from any or all of such taxes or penalties. No provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted or construed to transfer any liability for failure to comply with the requirements of Section 409A from the Employee or any other individual to the Company or any of its affiliates, employees or agents.

 

(b)             Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the following special rule shall apply, if and to the extent required by Section 409A, in the event that (i) Employee is deemed to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), (ii) amounts or benefits under this Agreement or any other program, plan or arrangement of the Company or a controlled group affiliate thereof are due or payable on account of “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-l(h) and (iii) Employee is employed by a public company or a controlled group affiliate thereof: no payments hereunder that are “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A shall be made to Employee prior to the date that is six (6) months after the date of Employee’s separation from service or, if earlier, Employee’s date of death; following any applicable six (6) month delay, all such delayed payments will be paid in a single lump sum on the earliest permissible payment date.

 

(c)              Each payment made under this Agreement (including each separate installment payment in the case of a series of installment payments) shall be deemed to be a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A. Amounts payable under this Agreement shall be deemed not to be a “deferral of compensation” subject to Section 409A to the extent provided in the exceptions in Treasury Regulation §§ 1.409A-1(b)(4) (“short-term deferrals”) and (b)(9) (“separation pay plans,” including the exception under subparagraph (iii)) and other applicable provisions of Section 409A. For purposes of this Agreement, with respect to payments of any amounts that are considered to be “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A, references to “termination of employment,” “termination,” or words and phrases of similar import, shall be deemed to refer to Employee’s “separation from service” as defined in Section 409A, and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner that is consistent with the requirements of Section 409A.

 

(d)         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any payment or benefit under this Agreement or otherwise that is exempt from Section 409A pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-l(b)(9)(v)(A) or (C) (relating to certain reimbursements and in-kind benefits) shall be paid or provided to Employee only to the extent that the expenses are not incurred, or the benefits are not provided, beyond the last day of the second calendar year following the calendar year in which Employee’s “separation from service” occurs; and provided further that such expenses are reimbursed no later than the last day of the third calendar year following the calendar year in which Employee’s “separation from service” occurs. To the extent any indemnification payment, expense reimbursement, or the provision of any in-kind benefit is determined to be subject to Section 409A (and not exempt pursuant to the prior sentence or otherwise), the amount of any such indemnification payment or expenses eligible for reimbursement, or the provision of any in-kind benefit, in one calendar year shall not affect the indemnification payment or provision of in-kind benefits or expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other calendar year (except for any life-time or other aggregate limitation applicable to medical expenses), and in no event shall any indemnification payment or expenses be reimbursed after the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which Employee incurred

 

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such indemnification payment or expenses, and in no event shall any right to indemnification payment or reimbursement or the provision of any in-kind benefit be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

 

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent that any payments of “nonqualified deferred compensation” (within the meaning of Section 409A) due under this Agreement as a result of the Employee’s termination of employment with the Company are subject to the Employee’s execution and delivery and non-revocation of the Release, (i) no such payments shall be made on or prior to the sixtieth (60 th ) day immediately following the Termination Date (the “Release Expiration Date”), (ii) the Company shall deliver the Release to the Employee within seven (7) days immediately following the Termination Date, (iii) if, as of the Release Expiration Date, the Employee has failed to execute the Release or has timely revoked his acceptance of the Release thereafter, the Employee shall not be entitled to any payments or benefits otherwise conditioned on the Release, and (iv) any such payments that are delayed pursuant to this Section 8.06 shall be paid in a lump sum on the first payroll date following the Release Expiration Date. For purposes of this Section 8.06, “Release Expiration Date” shall mean the date that is twenty-one (21) days following the date upon which the Company timely delivers the Release to the Employee, or, in the event that the Employee’s termination of employment is “in connection with an exit incentive or other employment termination program” (as such phrase is defined in the Age Discrimination in Employment act of 1967), the date that is forty-five (45) days following such delivery date.

 

8.07                         280G Parachute Payments . (a) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by you (including any payment or benefit received in connection with a Change in Control or the termination of your employment, whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement) (all such payments and benefits being hereinafter referred to as the “ Total Payments ”) would be subject (in whole or part), to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code (the “ Excise Tax ”), then, after taking into account any reduction in the Total Payments provided by reason of Section 280G of the Code in such other plan, arrangement or agreement, the cash severance payments shall first be reduced, and the noncash severance payments shall thereafter be reduced, to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Payments is subject to the Excise Tax but only if (i) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such reduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such reduced Total Payments) is greater than or equal to (ii) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such Total Payments and the amount of Excise Tax to which the Employee would be subject in respect of such unreduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such unreduced Total Payments).

 

(b)         For purposes of determining whether and the extent to which the Total Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax, (i) no portion of the Total Payments the receipt or enjoyment of which the Employee shall have waived at such time and in such manner as not to constitute a “payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code shall be taken into account, (ii) no portion of the Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the written

 

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opinion of independent auditors or consultants of nationally recognized standing (“Independent Advisors”) selected by the Company, does not constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code (including by reason of Section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code) and, in calculating the Excise Tax, no portion of such Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the opinion of the Independent Advisors, constitutes reasonable compensation for services actually rendered, within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code, in excess of the Base Amount (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) allocable to such reasonable compensation, and (iii) the value of any non-cash benefit or any deferred payment or benefit included in the Total Payments shall be determined by the Independent Advisors in accordance with the principles of Section 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code.

 

8.08                         Compensation Recovery Policy . The Employee acknowledges and agrees that, to the extent the Company adopts any clawback or similar policy pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or otherwise, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, he shall take all action necessary or appropriate to comply with such policy (including, without limitation, entering into any further agreements, amendments or policies necessary or appropriate to implement and/or enforce such policy with respect to past, present and future compensation, as appropriate).

 

8.09                         Severability . To the extent any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable, it shall be considered deleted herefrom and the remainder of such provision and of this Agreement shall be unaffected and shall continue in full force and effect. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, should the duration or geographical extent of, or business activities covered by, any provision of this Agreement be in excess of that which is valid and enforceable under applicable law, then such provision shall be construed to cover only that duration, extent or activities which may validly and enforceably be covered. Employee acknowledges the uncertainty of the law in this respect and expressly stipulates that this Agreement be given the construction which renders its provisions valid and enforceable to the maximum extent (not exceeding its express terms) possible under applicable law.

 

8.10                         Assignment . This Agreement shall not be assignable, in whole or in part, by either party without the written consent of the other party. After any such assignment by the Company, the Company shall be discharged from all further liability hereunder and such assignee shall thereafter be deemed to be the Company for the purposes of all provisions of this Agreement including this Section 8.

 

8.11                         Injunctive Relief . Employee agrees that it would be difficult to compensate the Company fully for damages for any violation of the provisions of this Agreement, including without limitation the provisions of Sections 5 and 6. Accordingly, Employee specifically agrees that the Company shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief to enforce the provisions of this Agreement and that such relief may be granted without the necessity of proving actual damages. This provision with respect to injunctive relief shall not, however, diminish the right of the Company to claim and recover damages in addition to injunctive relief.

 

8.12                         Attorneys’ Fees and Costs . The Company and Employee agree that in the event any litigation arises out of this Agreement between Company and Employee, the prevailing

 

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party in such litigation shall be entitled to recover its attorney’s fees and costs brought relating to such litigation.

 

8.13                         No Mitigation Obligation . All amounts paid to Employee under this Agreement following Employee’s termination of employment and this Agreement are acknowledged by the Company and Employee to be reasonable and to be liquidated damages, and Employee will not be required to reduce the amount of such payments by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor will any profits, income, earnings or other benefits from any source whatsoever (including from other employment) create any mitigation, offset, reduction or any other obligation on the part of Employee under this Agreement.

 

8.14                         Notices . Any notice, payment, demand or communication required or permitted to be given by the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been effectively given and received on the date personally delivered to the respective party to whom it is directed, or five (5) days after the date when deposited by registered or certified mail, with postage and charges prepaid and addressed to such party at its address below its signature. Any party may change its address by delivering a written change of address to all of the other parties in the manner set forth in this Section 8.14.

 

8.15                         Notice of Immunity . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, (i) Employee shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; (ii) Employee shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal; and (iii) if Employee files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law, Employee may disclose the trade secret to Employee’s attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if Employee files any document containing the trade secret under seal; and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.

 

8.16                         Administration . In the event Employee shall disagree with the amount of EBITDA, as determined by the Company (written notice of which shall be given by the Employee within thirty (30) days of the receipt of such determination by the Company), EBITDA shall be determined by the independent certified public accountants of the Company or, if the Company has not then engaged a firm of independent certified public accountants, any nationally recognized firm of public accountants selected by the Company (the “Independent Accountant”). The Independent Accountant shall determine the EBITDA within thirty (30) days after its appointment and shall be instructed to deliver to the Company and Employee a written report of its determination of the amount of EBITDA. The cost of the accounting services performed by the Independent Accountant shall be borne by the Company (but the cost thereof shall be considered a liability of the Company) unless the amount of the EBITDA as determined by the Independent Accountant is the same as the amount determined by the Company, in which event the entire cost of the services of the Independent Accountant shall be borne by the Employee.

 

[ Signatures on following page ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date set forth in the first paragraph.

 

 

CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Marcus Lemonis

 

 

Marcus Lemonis

 

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CWGS ENTERPRISES, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Marcus Lemonis

 

 

Marcus Lemonis

 

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Thomas F. Wolfe

 

Thomas F. Wolfe

 

Address:

 

 

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Exhibit 10.16

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into effective as of the 1st day of December, 2012 among FREEDOMROADS, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company (the “Company”), and ROGER NUTTALL, an Illinois resident (“Employee”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, Employee and FR entered into that certain Employment Agreement (the “Prior Agreement”) dated as of January 1, 2010;

 

WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement the Prior Agreement is being terminated; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Employee and Employee desires to be employed by Company pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Employment . The Company agrees to employ Employee as the Company’s President and Chief Financial Officer or such other position as may be determined by the Company on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and Employee accepts such employment and agrees to perform the services and duties for the Company as herein provided for the period and upon the other terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Employee shall be subject to the direction of the Company’s Chairman, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors.

 

2.                                       Term . Subject to termination of Employee’s employment pursuant to Section 7 below, the initial term of Employee’s employment hereunder shall be for a period of five (5) years commencing as of the date of this Agreement and, upon the expiration of the initial term hereof, shall be automatically renewed for successive three (3) year periods unless either party desires to cancel this Agreement after the initial term or renewal periods, then it shall give the other party written notice of its intent to cancel at least 90 days prior to the expiration of the initial term or any renewal period thereof. The term of Employee’s employment under this Agreement shall be defined as the “Term.”

 

Position and Duties .

 

3.01                         Title . During the Term, Employee agrees to serve as the Company’s President and Chief Financial Officer or such other position as may be determined by the Company and undertake such additional duties as provided in Section 3.02 below.

 

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3.02                         Duties . During the term of this Agreement, Employee agrees to serve the Company, and the Company agrees to employ the Employee as President and Chief Financial Officer or such other position as may be determined by the Company, and Employee will faithfully and to the best of his ability discharge his duties and will devote his full time during business hours for the Company and to the business and affairs of the Company. Employee hereby confirms that during the term of this Agreement, he will not render or perform services for any other corporation, firm, entity or person. In addition, Employee understands that the Company’s Chairman, Vice Chairman or Board of Directors may, from time to time, direct that Employee assist and provide other services to the Company or one or more other entities (the “Affiliates”) directly or indirectly owned or controlled by Stephen Adams, whose trust is the indirect controlling shareholder of the Company on the date hereof, or their successors, heirs, beneficiaries or assigns (“Adams”). Employee recognizes that he will be required to travel to perform certain of his duties.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall be permitted to participate in, and be involved with, such community, educational, charitable, professional, and religious organizations so long as such participation does not, in the judgment of the Company’s Board of Governors, significantly interfere with the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder.

 

4.                                       Compensation .

 

4.01                         Base Salary . During the term of this Agreement, the Company shall pay to Employee a base annual salary of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($250,000) (“Base Salary”), which salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll procedures and policies.

 

4.02                         Incentive Compensation . During the term of this Agreement and subject to the continued employment of Employee by the Company through the date on which payment of the Incentive Compensation (as defined below) is due, the Company shall pay to Employee Incentive Compensation equal to seven tenths of one percent (.7%) (the “Applicable Percentage”) of the combined EBITDA (as defined below) of the Company and Good Sam Enterprises, LLC (“Good Sam”), an affiliate of Company, for each calendar year or portion thereof during the Term of this Agreement (“Incentive Compensation”). As used herein, “EBITDA” shall mean (i) the combined net income of the Company and Good Sam derived from the ongoing business operations of each such entity for such period plus, to the extent deducted in the determination of net income, interest (other than interest for floor plan financing), federal and state income taxes (or any provision for such taxes), depreciation and amortization and (ii) to the extent not otherwise reflected in net income for purposes of determining EBITDA, gains on the sale of real property by FR or Good Sam or any of their respective subsidiaries, including, without limitation, deferred gains on sale leaseback transactions. Net income shall be determined on the accrual method of accounting and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, provided that (i) extraordinary items of revenue or expense, as determined by the chief financial officer (including revenue or expense from non-operating investments, revenue or expense from the sale or purchase of assets not in the ordinary course of business or revenue or expense not derived from normal business operations), shall not be reflected in net income, and (ii) amounts paid or received in settlement of (or payment of judgments in respect of) litigation which did not arise in the ordinary course of the business operations of such entity or entities or any of

 

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their respective subsidiaries, shall not be reflected in net income. The Incentive Compensation will be paid in monthly draws based on the Company’s estimated combined EBITDA for the applicable calendar year, subject to adjustment up or down from time to time by the Company based on actual results compared to estimates and anticipated underpayments or overpayments of monthly draws. Monthly payments of Incentive Compensation shall be subject to “true up” following the completion of the audited financial statements of the Company and Good Sam. In the event of any underpayment, the Company shall pay such underpayment within thirty (30) days following the completion of such audited financial statements. In the event of any overpayment, the amount of such overpayment(s) shall be deducted from Employee’s Incentive Compensation for the next succeeding monthly Incentive Compensation payment(s) until such overpayment has been absorbed by such deductions. In the event any overpayments have not been fully recovered upon the expiration or termination of the Term of this Agreement, the amount of such un-recovered overpayment(s) shall be deducted from any amounts payable by the Company pursuant to Section 7.05 of this Agreement or, if no amounts are payable by Company pursuant to Section 7.05, the amount of such un-recovered overpayments shall be paid by Employee to the Company within thirty (30) days following the Company’s written request therefore.

 

4.03                         Benefits . Employee may participate in all employee benefit plans or programs (including vacation time) of Company consistent with such plans and programs of the Company; provided, however, that Company shall provide, and pay the premiums for, disability insurance coverage in an amount to which the Employee and the Company may mutually agree. The Company does not guarantee the adoption or continuance of any particular employee benefit plan or program during the term of this Agreement, and Employee’s participation in any such plan or program shall be subject to the provisions, rules and regulations applicable thereto.

 

4.04                         Expenses; Contributions . Company agrees to reimburse all reasonable business expenses incurred by Employee, including but not limited to personal credit card(s), gasoline and portable phone expenses, consistent with the Company’s policies regarding reimbursement in the performance of Employee’s duties under this Agreement.

 

4.05                         Vacation and Sick leave . The Employee shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of vacation during each year of employment. Such vacation shall be taken at such times as the Chairman, Vice Chairman or Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall agree. Any unused vacation for any year shall not accumulate or carry over to the subsequent year and shall be lost if not used by Employee during the respective years during the term of this Agreement. The Employee shall be entitled to sick leave and holidays in accordance with the policy of the Company as to its employees.

 

4.06                         Indemnification and Additional Insurance . The Company shall indemnify Employee with respect to matters relating to Employee’s services as an officer of the Company, or any of its affiliates, occurring during the course and scope of Employee’s employment with the Company to the extent and pursuant to the provisions in the Illinois law. The foregoing indemnity is contractual and will survive any adverse amendment to or repeal of this Agreement. The Company will also cover Employee under a policy of officers’ and directors’ liability insurance providing coverage that is comparable to that provided now or hereafter to other senior executives of the Company. The provisions of this Section will survive the termination of this Agreement for any reason; provided that the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence

 

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shall survive the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company for three years after such termination.

 

4.07                         Vehicle . During the Term, Employee shall receive a Company owned vehicle selected by the Company after consultation with Employee suitable for Employee’s position for his business and personal use, as mutually agreed by Employee. The Company shall pay the property taxes, insurance and any license fees or tags for such vehicles and, if possible, provide a dealer plate for the vehicle.

 

4.08                         Continuing Education . The Company shall reimburse Employee for continuing professional education required to maintain Employee’s license as a Certified Public Accountant and any time incurred in such continuing professional shall not be considered vacation time.

 

5.                                       Confidential Information . During the Term and at all times thereafter, Employee shall not divulge, furnish or make accessible to anyone or use in any way (other than in the ordinary course of the business of the Company) any confidential or secret knowledge or information of the Company or any other entity owned or controlled, whether directly or indirectly, by Adams which Employee has acquired or become acquainted with prior to the termination of the period of his employment by the Company (including employment by the Company or any affiliated companies prior to the date of this Agreement), whether developed by himself or by others, concerning any trade secrets, confidential or secret designs, processes, formulae, plans, devices or material (whether or not patented or patentable) directly or indirectly useful in any aspect of the business of the Company or any of the Affiliates, any customer or supplier lists of the Company or any of the Affiliates, any confidential or secret development or research work of the Company or any of the Affiliates, or any other confidential information or secret aspect of the business of the Company or any of the Affiliates. Employee acknowledges that the above-described knowledge or information constitutes a unique and valuable asset of the Company or any of the Affiliates and represents a substantial investment of time and expense by the Company or any of the Affiliates, and that any disclosure or other use of such knowledge or information other than for the sole benefit of the Company and any of the Affiliates would be wrongful and would cause irreparable harm to the Company and any of the Affiliates. However, the foregoing shall not apply to any knowledge or information which is now published or which subsequently becomes generally publicly known in the form in which it was obtained from the Company or any of the Affiliates, other than as a direct or indirect result of the breach of this Agreement by Employee.

 

6.                                       Non-competition and Non-solicitation Covenants and Adversarial Restrictions .

 

6.01                         Non-competition . Employee agrees that, during the Term and for two years after the termination of Employee’s employment for any reason, other than by virtue of a breach by Company under Section 7.01(f) below, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, engage in the sale, repair or service of recreational vehicles or parts and accessories for recreational vehicles or in the sale of any ancillary products that are sold in connection with the sale of recreational vehicles, including but not limited to credit life insurance, roadside assistance programs and extended service warranties, in any manner or capacity (e.g., as an advisor, principal, agent, partner, officer, director, stockholder, employee, member of any association, or otherwise) in the geographic area set forth in Section 6.02. In the event that, after the termination

 

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of Employee’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Company fails to pay Employee any amount payable to Employee under this Agreement and such failure continues for ten (10) business days after written notice by Employee to the Company, Employee shall be released and relieved from the provisions of this Section 6.01; provided that, in the event of a dispute as to whether any amount is payable, the provisions of this Section 6.01 shall continue to apply if the Company pays such disputed amounts into the escrow with the court, arbitrator or mediator having jurisdiction over such dispute and such amounts shall be disbursed in accordance with the provisions of the judgment, award, decision or settlement.

 

6.02                         Geographic Extent of Covenant . The obligations of Employee under Section 6.01 shall apply to the continental United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Employee is terminated pursuant to Section 7.01 (e) or (f) the obligations of Employee under Section 6.01 shall apply to any site located within one hundred (100) miles of any location where the Company or any of the Affiliates sells, repairs or services recreational vehicles or parts and accessories for recreational during the Term or, if applicable, the Non-Compete Period.

 

6.03                         Indirect Competition . Employee further agrees that, during the Term and the Non-Compete Period, he will not, directly or indirectly, assist or encourage any other person in carrying out, direct or indirectly, any activity that would be prohibited by the above provisions of this Section 6 if such activity were carried out by Employee, either directly or indirectly; and in particular Employee agrees that he will not, directly or indirectly, induce any employee of the Company to carry out, directly or indirectly, any such activity.

 

6.04                         Non-solicitation . Employee further agrees that, during the Term and for a period of one year after the termination of his employment, he will not, directly or indirectly, assist or encourage any other person in seeking to employ or hire any employee, consultant, advisor or agent of the Company or any other entity owned or controlled by Adams or encouraging any such employee, consultant, advisor or agent to discontinue employment with the Company or any other entity owned or controlled by Adams.

 

6.05                         Adversarial Restrictions . During the Term and at any time thereafter, Employee shall not voluntarily aid, assist, or cooperate with any actual or potential claimants or plaintiffs or their attorneys or agents in any claims or lawsuits proposed to be asserted, pending or commenced on the date hereof or in the future against the Company or any of the Affiliates; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 6.05 will be construed to prevent Employee from testifying at an administrative hearing, a deposition, or in court in response to a lawful subpoena in any litigation or proceeding involving the Company or any other entity owned or controlled by Adams.

 

7.                                       Termination .

 

7.01                         Grounds for Termination . Employee’s employment with the Company shall terminate under any of the circumstances set forth below.

 

a.                                       If Employee shall die or become disabled (as defined in Section 7.03 below);

 

b.                                       By mutual agreement of the Company and Employee;

 

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c.                                        By Employee for any reason upon notice to the Company;

 

d.                                       By the Company for cause (as defined in Section 7.02 below);

 

e.                                        By the Company without cause; provided that in such event and in exchange for a full release of claims from the Employee, the Company will pay Employee the amounts provided under Section 7.05 below;

 

f.                                         By Employee in the event of a material default of this Agreement by the Company, which default remains uncured for ten (10) days following written notice thereof.

 

Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement and Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee, in consideration of his employment hereunder to the date of such termination, shall remain bound by the provisions of this Agreement which specifically relate to periods, activities or obligations upon or subsequent to the termination of Employee’s employment including without limitation the provisions of Sections 5, 6 and 8 hereof.

 

7.02                         For Cause Defined . Termination of Employee’s employment by the Company for any of the following reasons shall be deemed termination for cause:

 

a.                                       Employee shall have breached this Agreement in any material respect (other than as provided in clause (e) below), which breach in the case of this clause is not cured by, or is not capable of being cured, within ten (10) days after written notice of such breach is delivered to Employee; or

 

b.                                       Employee has engaged in misconduct (including violation of the Company’s policies) that is materially injurious to the Company as reasonably determined by the Company’s Board of Governors; or

 

c.                                        Employee has been convicted of (i) any felony or (ii) any misdemeanor involving a crime of moral turpitude, theft or fraud; or

 

d.                                       Employee uses illegal substances; or

 

e.                                        Employee knowingly falsifies or causes to be falsified, in any material respect, the financial records and financial statements of the Company.

 

7.03                         “Disability” Defined . The Company may determine that Employee is disabled if Employee qualifies for, and receives, long-term disability income payments under the disability insurance provided in accordance with Section 4.03 of this Agreement. If no such disability insurance is in place, the Company may determine that Employee is disabled if he shall fail, because of illness or incapacity, to render services of the character contemplated by this Agreement for a period of three (3) consecutive months.

 

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7.04                         Surrender of Records and Property . Upon termination of his employment with the Company for any reason, Employee shall deliver promptly to the Company all records, manuals, books, blank forms, documents, letters, memoranda, notes, notebooks, reports, data, tables, calculations or copies thereof, which are the property of the Company or which relate in any way to the business, products, practices or techniques of the Company, and all other property, trade secrets and confidential information of the Company, including, but not limited to, all documents which in whole or in part contain any trade secrets or confidential information of the Company, which in any of these cases are in his possession or under his control. Further, Employee shall promptly return to the Company the vehicle described in Section 4.07.

 

7.05                         Payments Upon Termination . If this Agreement is terminated for any reason set forth in this Section 7, then Employee shall be entitled to receive (a) his base salary through the date of the termination, (b) any accrued and unused vacation or paid time off time through the date of the termination, and (c) reimbursement of any business expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business through the date of termination that have not yet been reimbursed pursuant to Section 4.04. If Employee’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 7.01(a) then Employee, or Employee’s heirs and assigns, as the case may be, shall be entitled to receive (a) any Incentive Compensation pursuant to Section 4.02 for the preceding calendar year to the extent not yet paid when due and (b) Incentive Compensation for the calendar year in which Employee’s employment is terminated which for purposes hereof shall be equal to the combined EBITDA of the Company and Good Sam for the twelve month period ending on the last day of the calendar month immediately preceding the date of termination times the Applicable Percentage, multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which shall be the number of days Employee was employed during the then such current calendar year and (ii) the denominator of which shall be three hundred sixty-five (365) (for avoidance of doubt, the amount of draws paid by Company to Employee for Incentive Compensation during such calendar year as contemplated by Section 4.02, shall be credited against such amount), which payment shall be made within 120 days following the end of such calendar year in which the Employee’s employment was so terminated. If Employee’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 7.01(e) or (f) and provided that Employee shall have executed and delivered to the Company a full release of claims in a form prepared by and acceptable to the Company and any period for rescission of such release shall have expired without Employee having rescinding such release, then Employee shall be entitled to receive: (a) any Incentive Compensation pursuant to Section 4.02 for the preceding calendar year to the extent not yet paid when such amount would have been payable pursuant to Section 4.02 if his employment had not terminated; (b) Incentive Compensation for the calendar year in which Employee’s employment is terminated which for purposes hereof shall be equal to the combined EBITDA of the Company and Good Sam for the twelve month period ending on the last day of the calendar month immediately preceding the date of termination times the Applicable Percentage, multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which shall be the number of days Employee was employed during the then such current calendar year and (ii) the denominator of which shall be three hundred sixty-five (365) (for avoidance of doubt, the amount of draws paid by Company to Employee for Incentive Compensation during such calendar year as contemplated by Section 4.02, shall be credited against such amount), which payment shall be made within 90 days following such termination of employee’s employment; and (c) the Severance Amount (as defined below), which Severance Amount shall be paid over a one (1) year period at the same times and in the same manner as base annual salary had been paid to Employee prior to the termination of his employment hereunder.. As used herein, the “Severance

 

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Amount” shall be equal to the sum of (a) Base Salary for one year and (b) Incentive Compensation for one year, which for purposes hereof shall be equal to the combined EBITDA of the Company and Good Sam for the twelve month period ending on the last day of the calendar month immediately preceding the date of termination, multiplied by the Applicable Percentage.

 

8.                                       Miscellaneous .

 

8.01                         Governing Law; Venue . This Agreement is made under and shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.

 

8.02                         Prior Agreements . This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings with respect to such subject matter, and the parties hereto have made no agreement, representations or warranties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement which are not set forth herein.

 

8.03                         Withholding Taxes . The Company may withhold from any benefits payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes as shall be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling.

 

8.04                         Amendments . No amendments or modifications of this Agreement shall be deemed effective unless made in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

 

8.05                         No Waiver . No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been waived, nor shall there by an estoppel to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, except by a statement in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of the waiver or estoppel is sought. Any written waiver shall not be deemed a continuing waiver unless specifically stated, shall operate only as to the specific term or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of such term or condition for the future or as to any act other than that specifically waived.

 

8.06                         Severability . To the extent any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable, it shall be considered deleted herefrom and the remainder of such provision and of this Agreement shall be unaffected and shall continue in full force and effect. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, should the duration or geographical extent of, or business activities covered by, any provision of this Agreement be in excess of that which is valid and enforceable under applicable law, then such provision shall be construed to cover only that duration, extent or activities which may validly and enforceability be covered. Employee acknowledges the uncertainty of the law in this respect and expressly stipulates that this Agreement be given the construction which renders its provisions valid and enforceable to the maximum extent (not exceeding its express terms) possible under applicable law.

 

8.07                         Assignment . This Agreement shall not be assignable, in whole or in part, by either party without the written consent of the other party. After any such assignment by the Company, the Company shall be discharged from all further liability hereunder and such assignee shall thereafter be deemed to be the Company for the purposes of all provisions of this Agreement including this Section 8.

 

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8.08                         Injunctive Relief . Employee agrees that it would be difficult to compensate the Company fully for damages for any violation of the provisions of this Agreement, including without limitation the provisions of Sections 5 and 6. Accordingly, Employee specifically agrees that the Company shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief to enforce the provisions of this Agreement and that such relief may be granted without the necessity of proving actual damages. This provision with respect to injunctive relief shall not, however, diminish the right of the Company to claim and recover damages in addition to injunctive relief.

 

8.09                         Attorneys’ Fees and Costs . The Company and Employee agree that in the event any litigation arises out of this Agreement between Company and Employee, the prevailing party in such litigation shall be entitled to recover its attorney’s fees and costs brought relating to such litigation.

 

8.10                         No Mitigation Obligation . All amounts paid to Employee under this Agreement following Employee’s termination of employment and this Agreement are acknowledged by the Company and Employee to be reasonable and to be liquidated damages, and Employee will not be required to reduce the amount of such payments by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor will any profits, income, earnings or other benefits from any source whatsoever (including from other employment) create any mitigation, offset, reduction or any other obligation on the part of Employee under this Agreement.

 

8.11                         Notices . Any notice, payment, demand or communication required or permitted to be given by the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been effectively given and received on the date personally delivered to the respective party to whom it is directed, or five (5) days after the date when deposited by registered or certified mail, with postage and charges prepaid and addressed to such party at its address below its signature. Any party may change its address by delivering a written change of address to all of the other parties in the manner set forth in this Section 8.11.

 

8.12                         Administration . In the event Employee shall disagree with the amount of EBITDA, as determined by the chief financial officer of the Company (written notice of which shall be given by the Employee within thirty (30) days of the receipt of such determination by the chief financial officer), EBITDA shall be determined by the independent certified public accountants of the Company or, if the Company has not then engaged a firm of independent certified public accountants, any nationally recognized firm of public accountants selected by the Company (the “Independent Accountant”). The Independent Accountant shall determine the EBITDA within thirty (30) days after its appointment and shall be instructed to deliver to the Company and Employee a written report of its determination of the amount of EBITDA.

 

The cost of the accounting services performed by the Independent Accountant shall be borne by the Company (but the cost thereof shall be considered a liability of the Company) unless the amount of the EBITDA as determined by the Independent Accountant is the same as the amount determined by the Company’s chief financial officer, in which event the entire cost of the services of the Independent Accountant shall be borne by the Employee.

 

[Signatures on following page]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date set forth in the first paragraph.

 

 

FREEDOMROADS, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Marcus Lemonis

 

Marcus Lemonis, Chairman

 

Addresses: 250 Parkway Drive, Ste. 160

 

Lincolnshire, IL 60069

 

Attn: Marcus Lemonis

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Roger Nuttall

 

Roger Nuttall

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 




Exhibit 10.17

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into effective as of the 10th day of June, 2016 by and between ROGER NUTTALL , an Illinois resident (“Employee”), Camping World Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Camping World”) and CWGS Enterprises, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Partnership” and, together with Camping World and any of the Affiliates of Camping World and the Partnership as may employ the Employee from time to time, and any successor(s) thereto, the “Company”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company is considering an initial public offering of Camping World common stock (the “IPO”); and

 

WHEREAS, in anticipation of the potential IPO, the Company desires to enter into this Agreement with Employee, pursuant to which the Company will employ Employee on the terms set forth in this Agreement, and Employee desires to be employed by Company pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Employment . The Company agrees to employ Employee as the President of Camping World on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and Employee accepts such employment and agrees to perform the services and duties for the Company as herein provided for the period and upon the other terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Employee shall be subject to the direction of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors.

 

2.                                       Term . Subject to termination of Employee’s employment pursuant to Section 7 below, the initial term of Employee’s employment hereunder shall be for a period commencing as of the date of this Agreement and ending December 31, 2020 and, upon the expiration of the initial term hereof, shall be automatically renewed for successive one (1) year periods unless either party desires to cancel this Agreement after the initial term or renewal periods, then it shall give the other party written notice of its intent to cancel at least 90 days prior to the expiration of the initial term or any renewal period thereof. The term of Employee’s employment under this Agreement shall be defined as the “Term.”

 

3.                                       Position and Duties .

 

3.01                         Title . During the Term, Employee agrees to serve as the President of Camping World and undertake such additional duties as provided in Section 3.02 below.

 

3.02                         Duties . During the term of this Agreement, Employee agrees to serve the Company, and the Company agrees to employ the Employee as the President of Camping World, and Employee will faithfully and to the best of his ability discharge his duties and will devote his full time during business hours for the Company and to the business and affairs of the Company.

 

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Employee hereby confirms that during the term of this Agreement, he will not render or perform services for any other corporation, firm, entity or person. Employee recognizes that he will be required to travel to perform certain of his duties.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall be permitted to participate in, and be involved with, such community, educational, charitable, professional, and religious organizations so long as such participation does not, in the judgment of the Company’s Board of Directors, significantly interfere with the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder.

 

4.                                       Compensation .

 

4.01                         Base Salary . During the term of this Agreement, the Company shall pay to Employee a base annual salary of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($250,000.00), (“Base Salary”), which salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll procedures and policies.

 

4.02                         Incentive Compensation . During the term of this Agreement and subject to the continued employment of Employee by the Company through the date on which payment of the Incentive Compensation (as defined below) is due, the Company shall pay to Employee incentive compensation (“Incentive Compensation”) equal to one-half of one percent (0.5%) (the “Applicable Percentage”) of the Company’s consolidated EBITDA (as defined below). As used herein, “EBITDA” shall mean (i) the consolidated net income of the Company derived from the ongoing consolidated business operations for such period plus, to the extent deducted in the determination of net income, interest (other than interest for floor plan financing), federal and state income taxes (or any provision for such taxes), depreciation and amortization and (ii) to the extent not otherwise reflected in net income for purposes of determining EBITDA, gains on the sale of real property, including, without limitation, deferred gains on sale leaseback transactions. Net income shall be determined on the accrual method of accounting and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, provided that (i) extraordinary items of revenue or expense, as determined by the chief financial officer (including revenue or expense from non-operating investments, revenue or expense from the sale or purchase of assets not in the ordinary course of business or revenue or expense not derived from normal business operations), shall not be reflected in net income, and (ii) amounts paid or received in settlement of (or payment of judgments in respect of) litigation which did not arise in the ordinary course of the business operations of such entity or entities or any of their respective subsidiaries, shall not be reflected in net income. The Incentive Compensation will be paid in monthly draws based on the Company’s estimated consolidated EBITDA for the applicable calendar year, subject to adjustment up or down from time to time based on actual results compared to estimates and anticipated underpayments or overpayments of monthly draws. Monthly payments of Incentive Compensation shall be subject to “true up” following the completion of the audited financial statements of the Company.. In the event of any underpayment, the Company shall pay such underpayment within thirty (30) days following the completion of such audited financial statements. In the event of any overpayment, the amount of such overpayment(s) shall be deducted from Employee’s Incentive Compensation for the next succeeding monthly Incentive Compensation payment(s) until such overpayment has been absorbed by such deductions. In the event any overpayments have not been fully recovered upon the expiration or termination of the Term of this Agreement, the amount of such un-recovered overpayment(s) shall be deducted from any amounts payable by the Company pursuant to Section 7.05 of this Agreement or, if no amounts are payable by

 

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Company pursuant to Section 7.05, the amount of such un-recovered overpayments shall be paid by Employee to the Company within thirty (30) days following the Company’s written request therefore.

 

4.03                         Benefits . Employee may participate in all employee benefit plans or programs (including vacation time) of Company consistent with such plans and programs of the Company. The Company does not guarantee the adoption or continuance of any particular employee benefit plan or program during the term of this Agreement, and Employee’s participation in any such plan or program shall be subject to the provisions, rules and regulations applicable thereto.

 

4.04                         Expenses; Contributions . Company agrees to reimburse all reasonable business expenses incurred by Employee, including but not limited to personal credit card(s), gasoline and portable phone expenses, consistent with the Company’s policies regarding reimbursement in the performance of Employee’s duties under this Agreement.

 

4.05                         Vehicle . During the Term, Employee shall receive a Company owned vehicle selected by the Company after consultation with Employee suitable for Employee’s position for his business and personal use, as mutually agreed by Employee. The Company shall pay the property taxes, insurance and any license fees or tags for such vehicles.

 

4.06                         Vacation and Sick leave . The Employee shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of vacation during each year of employment. Such vacation shall be taken at such times as the Chairman, Vice Chairman or Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall agree. Any unused vacation for any year shall not accumulate or carry over to the subsequent year and shall be lost if not used by Employee during the respective years during the term of this Agreement. The Employee shall be entitled to sick leave and holidays in accordance with the policy of the Company as to its employees.

 

4.07                         Indemnification and Additional Insurance . The Company shall indemnify Employee with respect to matters relating to Employee’s services as an officer of the Company, or any of its affiliates, occurring during the course and scope of Employee’s employment with the Company to the extent and pursuant to the provisions in the Illinois law. The foregoing indemnity is contractual and will survive any adverse amendment to or repeal of this Agreement. The Company will also cover Employee under a policy of officers’ and directors’ liability insurance providing coverage that is comparable to that provided now or hereafter to other senior executives of the Company. The provisions of this Section will survive the termination of this Agreement for any reason; provided that the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence shall survive the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company for three years after such termination.

 

4.08                         Continuing Education . The Company shall reimburse Employee for continuing professional education required to maintain Employee’s license as a Certified Public Accountant and any time incurred in such continuing professional shall not be considered vacation time.

 

4.09                         Incentive Plans . Employee shall be entitled to participate in any short term incentive or long term incentive plans adopted by the Company from time to time.

 

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5.                                       Confidential Information . During the Term and at all times thereafter, Employee shall not divulge, furnish or make accessible to anyone or use in any way (other than in the ordinary course of the business of the Company) any confidential or secret knowledge or information of the Company which Employee has acquired or become acquainted with prior to the termination of the period of his employment by the Company (including employment by the Company or any affiliated companies prior to the date of this Agreement), whether developed by himself or by others, concerning any trade secrets, confidential or secret designs, processes, formulae, plans, devices or material (whether or not patented or patentable) directly or indirectly useful in any aspect of the business of the Company, any customer or supplier lists of the Company, any confidential or secret development or research work of the Company, or any other confidential information or secret aspect of the business of the Company. Employee acknowledges that the above-described knowledge or information constitutes a unique and valuable asset of the Company and represents a substantial investment of time and expense by the Company, and that any disclosure or other use of such knowledge or information other than for the sole benefit of the Company would be wrongful and would cause irreparable harm to the Company. However, the foregoing shall not apply to any knowledge or information which is now published or which subsequently becomes generally publicly known in the form in which it was obtained from the Company, other than as a direct or indirect result of the breach of this Agreement by Employee.

 

6.                                       Non-competition and Non-Solicitation Covenants and Adversarial Restrictions .

 

6.01                         Non-competition . Employee agrees that, during the Term and for two years after the termination of Employee’s employment for any reason, other than by virtue of a breach by Company under Section 7.01(f) below, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, engage in the sale, repair or service of recreational vehicles or parts and accessories for recreational vehicles or in the sale of any ancillary products that are sold in connection with the sale of recreational vehicles, including but not limited to credit life insurance, roadside assistance programs and extended service warranties, in any manner or capacity (e.g., as an advisor, principal, agent, partner, officer, director, stockholder (other than as incidental ownership of publicly traded stock), employee, member of any association, or otherwise) in the geographic area set forth in Section 6.02. In the event that, after the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Company fails to pay Employee any amount payable to Employee under this Agreement and such failure continues for ten (10) business days after written notice by Employee to the Company, Employee shall be released and relieved from the provisions of this Section 6.01; provided that, in the event of a dispute as to whether any amount is payable, the provisions of this Section 6.01 shall continue to apply if the Company pays such disputed amounts into the escrow with the court, arbitrator or mediator having jurisdiction over such dispute and such amounts shall be disbursed in accordance with the provisions of the judgment, award, decision or settlement.

 

6.02                         Geographic Extent of Covenant . The obligations of Employee under Section 6.01 shall apply to the continental United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Employee is terminated pursuant to Section 7.01 (e) or (f) the obligations of Employee under Section 6.01 shall apply to any site located within one hundred (100) miles of any location where the Company sells, repairs or services recreational vehicles or parts and accessories for recreational during the Term or, if applicable, the Non-Compete Period.

 

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6.03                         Indirect Competition . Employee further agrees that, during the Term and the Non-Compete Period, he will not, directly or indirectly, assist or encourage any other person in carrying out, direct or indirectly, any activity that would be prohibited by the above provisions of this Section 6 if such activity were carried out by Employee, either directly or indirectly; and in particular Employee agrees that he will not, directly or indirectly, induce any employee of the Company to carry out, directly or indirectly, any such activity.

 

6.04                         Non-solicitation . Employee further agrees that, during the Term and for a period of one year after the termination of his employment, he will not, directly or indirectly, assist or encourage any other person in seeking to employ or hire any employee, consultant, advisor or agent of the Company or encouraging any such employee, consultant, advisor or agent to discontinue employment with the Company.

 

6.05                         Adversarial Restrictions . During the Term and at any time thereafter, Employee shall not voluntarily aid, assist, or cooperate with any actual or potential claimants or plaintiffs or their attorneys or agents in any claims or lawsuits proposed to be asserted, pending or commenced on the date hereof or in the future against the Company; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 6.05 will be construed to prevent Employee from testifying at an administrative hearing, a deposition, or in court in response to a lawful subpoena in any litigation or proceeding involving the Company.

 

7.                                       Termination .

 

7.01                         Grounds for Termination . Employee’s employment with the Company shall terminate under any of the circumstances set forth below.

 

a.                                       If Employee shall die or become disabled (as defined in Section 7.03 below);

 

b.                                       By mutual agreement of the Company and Employee;

 

c.                                        By Employee for any reason upon notice to the Company;

 

d.                                       By the Company for cause (as defined in Section 7.02 below);

 

e.                                        By the Company without cause; provided that in such event and in exchange for a full release of claims from the Employee, the Company will pay Employee the amounts provided under Section 7.05 below;

 

f.                                         By Employee in the event of a material default of this Agreement by the Company, which default remains uncured for ten (10) days following written notice thereof.

 

Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement and Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee, in consideration of his employment hereunder to the date of such termination, shall remain bound by the provisions of this Agreement which specifically relate to periods, activities or obligations upon or subsequent to the termination of Employee’s employment including without limitation the provisions of Sections 5, 6 and 8 hereof.

 

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7.02                         For Cause Defined . Termination of Employee’s employment by the Company for any of the following reasons shall be deemed termination for cause:

 

a.                                       Employee shall have breached this Agreement in any material respect (other than as provided in clause (e) below), which breach in the case of this clause is not cured by, or is not capable of being cured, within ten (10) days after written notice of such breach is delivered to Employee; or

 

b.                                       Employee has engaged in misconduct (including violation of the Company’s policies) that is materially injurious to the Company as reasonably determined by the Company’s Board of Governors; or

 

c.                                        Employee has been convicted of (i) any felony or (ii) any misdemeanor involving a crime of moral turpitude, theft or fraud; or

 

d.                                       Employee uses illegal substances; or

 

e.                                        Employee knowingly falsifies or causes to be falsified, in any material respect, the financial records and financial statements of the Company.

 

7.03                         “Disability” Defined . The Company may determine that Employee is disabled if he shall fail, because of illness or incapacity, to render services of the character contemplated by this Agreement for a period of three (3) consecutive months.

 

7.04                         Surrender of Records and Property . Upon termination of his employment with the Company for any reason, Employee shall deliver promptly to the Company all records, manuals, books, blank forms, documents, letters, memoranda, notes, notebooks, reports, data, tables, calculations or copies thereof, which are the property of the Company or which relate in any way to the business, products, practices or techniques of the Company, and all other property, trade secrets and confidential information of the Company, including, but not limited to, all documents which in whole or in part contain any trade secrets or confidential information of the Company, which in any of these cases are in his possession or under his control. Further, Employee shall promptly return to the Company the vehicle described in Section 4.05.

 

7.05                         Payments Upon Termination . If this Agreement is terminated for any reason set forth in this Section 7, then Employee shall be entitled to receive (a) his Base Salary through the date of the termination, (b) any accrued and unused vacation or paid time off time through the date of the termination, and (c) reimbursement of any business expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business through the date of termination that have not yet been reimbursed pursuant to Section 4.04. If Employee’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 7.01(a) then Employee, or Employee’s heirs and assigns, as the case may be, shall be entitled to receive any Incentive Compensation pursuant to Section 4.02 for the preceding calendar year to the extent not yet paid when due and the amount which would be payable pursuant to Section 4.02 as if his employment had not terminated and Incentive Compensation for the calendar year in which Employee’s employment is terminated which for purposes hereof shall be equal to the consolidated EBITDA of the Company for the twelve month period ending on the last day of the calendar month immediately preceding the date of termination times the Applicable Percentage,

 

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multiplied by a fraction, (a) the numerator of which shall be the number of days Employee was employed during the then such current calendar year and (b) the denominator of which shall be three hundred sixty-five (365) (for avoidance of doubt, the amount of draws paid by Company to Employee for Incentive Compensation during such calendar year as contemplated by Section 4.02, shall be credited against such amount), which payment shall be made within 120 days following the end of such calendar year in which the Employee’s employment was so terminated. If Employee’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 7.01(e) or (f) and provided that Employee shall have executed and delivered to the Company a full release of claims in a form prepared by and acceptable to the Company in accordance with Section 8.06 (a “Release”) and any period for rescission of such Release shall have expired without Employee having rescinded such Release, then Employee shall receive: (a) any Incentive Compensation pursuant to Section 4.02 for the preceding calendar year to the extent not yet paid when such amount would have been payable pursuant to Section 4.02 if his employment had not terminated; (b) Incentive Compensation for the calendar year in which Employee’s employment is terminated which for purposes hereof shall be equal to the combined EBITDA of the Company for the twelve month period ending on the last day of the calendar month immediately preceding the date of termination times the Applicable Percentage, multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which shall be the number of days Employee was employed during the then such current calendar year and (ii) the denominator of which shall be three hundred sixty-five (365) (for avoidance of doubt, the amount of draws paid by Company to Employee for Incentive Compensation during such calendar year as contemplated by Section 4.02, shall be credited against such amount), which payment shall be made within 90 days following such termination of employee’s employment; (c) payment by the Company for COBRA benefits for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination for Employee and any dependents covered immediately prior to termination and (d) the Severance Amount (as defined below), which Severance Amount shall be paid over a two (2) year period at the same times and in the same manner as base annual salary had been paid to Employee prior to the termination of his employment hereunder. As used herein, the “Severance Amount” shall be equal to two hundred percent (200%) of the sum of (a) Base Salary for one year and (b) Incentive Compensation for one year, which for purposes hereof shall be equal to the consolidated EBITDA of the Company for the twelve-month period ending on the last day of the calendar month immediately preceding the date of termination, multiplied by the Applicable Percentage.

 

8.                                       Miscellaneous .

 

8.01                         Governing Law; Venue . This Agreement is made under and shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.

 

8.02                         Prior Agreements . This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and replaces all prior agreements and understandings with respect to such subject matter, and the parties hereto have made no agreement, representations or warranties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement which are not set forth herein.

 

8.03                         Withholding Taxes . The Company may withhold from any benefits payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes as shall be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling.

 

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8.04                         Amendments . No amendments or modifications of this Agreement shall be deemed effective unless made in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

 

8.05                         No Waiver . No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been waived, nor shall there by an estoppel to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, except by a statement in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of the waiver or estoppel is sought. Any written waiver shall not be deemed a continuing waiver unless specifically stated, shall operate only as to the specific term or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of such term or condition for the future or as to any act other than that specifically waived.

 

8.06                         Section 409A . (a) For purposes of this Agreement, “ Section 409A ” means Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (and such other Treasury or Internal Revenue Service guidance) as in effect from time to time. The parties intend that any amounts payable hereunder that could constitute “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A will be compliant with Section 409A or exempt from Section 409A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall be solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on or for the account of Employee in connection with this Agreement (including any taxes and penalties under Section 409A of the Code), and neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates shall have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold Employee (or any beneficiary) harmless from any or all of such taxes or penalties. No provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted or construed to transfer any liability for failure to comply with the requirements of Section 409A from the Employee or any other individual to the Company or any of its affiliates, employees or agents.

 

(b)             Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the following special rule shall apply, if and to the extent required by Section 409A, in the event that (i) Employee is deemed to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), (ii) amounts or benefits under this Agreement or any other program, plan or arrangement of the Company or a controlled group affiliate thereof are due or payable on account of “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-l(h) and (iii) Employee is employed by a public company or a controlled group affiliate thereof: no payments hereunder that are “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A shall be made to Employee prior to the date that is six (6) months after the date of Employee’s separation from service or, if earlier, Employee’s date of death; following any applicable six (6) month delay, all such delayed payments will be paid in a single lump sum on the earliest permissible payment date.

 

(c)              Each payment made under this Agreement (including each separate installment payment in the case of a series of installment payments) shall be deemed to be a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A. Amounts payable under this Agreement shall be deemed not to be a “deferral of compensation” subject to Section 409A to the extent provided in the exceptions in Treasury Regulation §§ 1.409A-1(b)(4) (“short-term deferrals”) and (b)(9) (“separation pay plans,” including the exception under subparagraph (iii)) and other applicable provisions of Section 409A. For purposes of this Agreement, with respect to payments of any amounts that are considered to be “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A, references to “termination of employment,” “termination,” or words and phrases of similar import, shall be

 

8



 

deemed to refer to Employee’s “separation from service” as defined in Section 409A, and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner that is consistent with the requirements of Section 409A.

 

(d)         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any payment or benefit under this Agreement or otherwise that is exempt from Section 409A pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v)(A) or (C) (relating to certain reimbursements and in-kind benefits) shall be paid or provided to Employee only to the extent that the expenses are not incurred, or the benefits are not provided, beyond the last day of the second calendar year following the calendar year in which Employee’s “separation from service” occurs; and provided further that such expenses are reimbursed no later than the last day of the third calendar year following the calendar year in which Employee’s “separation from service” occurs. To the extent any indemnification payment, expense reimbursement, or the provision of any in-kind benefit is determined to be subject to Section 409A (and not exempt pursuant to the prior sentence or otherwise), the amount of any such indemnification payment or expenses eligible for reimbursement, or the provision of any in-kind benefit, in one calendar year shall not affect the indemnification payment or provision of in-kind benefits or expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other calendar year (except for any life-time or other aggregate limitation applicable to medical expenses), and in no event shall any indemnification payment or expenses be reimbursed after the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which Employee incurred such indemnification payment or expenses, and in no event shall any right to indemnification payment or reimbursement or the provision of any in-kind benefit be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

 

(e)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent that any payments of “nonqualified deferred compensation” (within the meaning of Section 409A) due under this Agreement as a result of the Employee’s termination of employment with the Company are subject to the Employee’s execution and delivery and non-revocation of the Release, (i) no such payments shall be made on or prior to the sixtieth (60 th ) day immediately following the Termination Date (the “Release Expiration Date”), (ii) the Company shall deliver the Release to the Employee within seven (7) days immediately following the Termination Date, (iii) if, as of the Release Expiration Date, the Employee has failed to execute the Release or has timely revoked his acceptance of the Release thereafter, the Employee shall not be entitled to any payments or benefits otherwise conditioned on the Release, and (iv) any such payments that are delayed pursuant to this Section 8.06 shall be paid in a lump sum on the first payroll date following the Release Expiration Date. For purposes of this Section 8.06, “Release Expiration Date” shall mean the date that is twenty-one (21) days following the date upon which the Company timely delivers the Release to the Employee, or, in the event that the Employee’s termination of employment is “in connection with an exit incentive or other employment termination program” (as such phrase is defined in the Age Discrimination in Employment act of 1967), the date that is forty-five (45) days following such delivery date.

 

8.07                         280G Parachute Payments . (a) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by you (including any payment or benefit received in connection with a Change in Control or the termination of your employment, whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement) (all such payments and benefits being hereinafter referred to as the “ Total Payments ”) would be subject (in whole or part), to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code (the “ Excise Tax ”), then, after taking into account any reduction in the Total Payments provided by reason of Section 280G of the Code in such other plan, arrangement

 

9



 

or agreement, the cash severance payments shall first be reduced, and the noncash severance payments shall thereafter be reduced, to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Payments is subject to the Excise Tax but only if (i) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such reduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such reduced Total Payments) is greater than or equal to (ii) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such Total Payments and the amount of Excise Tax to which the Employee would be subject in respect of such unreduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such unreduced Total Payments).

 

(b)         For purposes of determining whether and the extent to which the Total Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax, (i) no portion of the Total Payments the receipt or enjoyment of which the Employee shall have waived at such time and in such manner as not to constitute a “payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code shall be taken into account, (ii) no portion of the Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the written opinion of independent auditors or consultants of nationally recognized standing (“Independent Advisors”) selected by the Company, does not constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code (including by reason of Section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code) and, in calculating the Excise Tax, no portion of such Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the opinion of the Independent Advisors, constitutes reasonable compensation for services actually rendered, within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code, in excess of the Base Amount (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) allocable to such reasonable compensation, and (iii) the value of any non-cash benefit or any deferred payment or benefit included in the Total Payments shall be determined by the Independent Advisors in accordance with the principles of Section 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code.

 

8.08                         Compensation Recovery Policy . The Employee acknowledges and agrees that, to the extent the Company adopts any clawback or similar policy pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or otherwise, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, he shall take all action necessary or appropriate to comply with such policy (including, without limitation, entering into any further agreements, amendments or policies necessary or appropriate to implement and/or enforce such policy with respect to past, present and future compensation, as appropriate).

 

8.09                         Severability . To the extent any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable, it shall be considered deleted herefrom and the remainder of such provision and of this Agreement shall be unaffected and shall continue in full force and effect. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, should the duration or geographical extent of, or business activities covered by, any provision of this Agreement be in excess of that which is valid and enforceable under applicable law, then such provision shall be construed to cover only that duration, extent or activities which may validly and enforceably be covered. Employee acknowledges the uncertainty of the law in this respect and expressly stipulates that this Agreement be given the construction which renders its provisions valid and enforceable to the maximum extent (not exceeding its express terms) possible under applicable law.

 

8.10                         Assignment . This Agreement shall not be assignable, in whole or in part, by either party without the written consent of the other party. After any such assignment by the

 

10



 

Company, the Company shall be discharged from all further liability hereunder and such assignee shall thereafter be deemed to be the Company for the purposes of all provisions of this Agreement including this Section 8.

 

8.11                         Injunctive Relief . Employee agrees that it would be difficult to compensate the Company fully for damages for any violation of the provisions of this Agreement, including without limitation the provisions of Sections 5 and 6. Accordingly, Employee specifically agrees that the Company shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief to enforce the provisions of this Agreement and that such relief may be granted without the necessity of proving actual damages. This provision with respect to injunctive relief shall not, however, diminish the right of the Company to claim and recover damages in addition to injunctive relief.

 

8.12                         Attorneys’ Fees and Costs . The Company and Employee agree that in the event any litigation arises out of this Agreement between Company and Employee, the prevailing party in such litigation shall be entitled to recover its attorney’s fees and costs brought relating to such litigation.

 

8.13                         No Mitigation Obligation . All amounts paid to Employee under this Agreement following Employee’s termination of employment and this Agreement are acknowledged by the Company and Employee to be reasonable and to be liquidated damages, and Employee will not be required to reduce the amount of such payments by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor will any profits, income, earnings or other benefits from any source whatsoever (including from other employment) create any mitigation, offset, reduction or any other obligation on the part of Employee under this Agreement.

 

8.14                         Notices . Any notice, payment, demand or communication required or permitted to be given by the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been effectively given and received on the date personally delivered to the respective party to whom it is directed, or five (5) days after the date when deposited by registered or certified mail, with postage and charges prepaid and addressed to such party at its address below its signature. Any party may change its address by delivering a written change of address to all of the other parties in the manner set forth in this Section 8.14.

 

8.15                         Notice of Immunity . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, (i) Employee shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; (ii) Employee shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal; and (iii) if Employee files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law, Employee may disclose the trade secret to Employee’s attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if Employee files any document containing the trade secret under seal; and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.

 

8.16                         Administration . In the event Employee shall disagree with the amount of EBITDA, as determined by the chief financial officer of the Company (written notice of which shall be given by the Employee within thirty (30) days of the receipt of such determination by the chief financial

 

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officer), EBITDA shall be determined by the independent certified public accountants of the Company or, if the Company has not then engaged a firm of independent certified public accountants, any nationally recognized firm of public accountants selected by the Company (the “Independent Accountant”). The Independent Accountant shall determine the EBITDA within thirty (30) days after its appointment and shall be instructed to deliver to the Company and Employee a written report of its determination of the amount of EBITDA.

 

The cost of the accounting services performed by the Independent Accountant shall be borne by the Company (but the cost thereof shall be considered a liability of the Company) unless the amount of the EBITDA as determined by the Independent Accountant is the same as the amount determined by the Company’s chief financial officer, in which event the entire cost of the services of the Independent Accountant shall be borne by the Employee.

 

[Signatures on following page]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date set forth in the first paragraph.

 

 

CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Marcus Lemonis

 

 

Marcus Lemonis

 

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CWGS ENTERPRISES, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Marcus Lemonis

 

 

Marcus Lemonis

 

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Roger Nuttall

 

Roger Nuttall

 

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Exhibit 10.18

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into effective as of the 1 st  day of January, 2010 among FREEDOMROADS, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company (“FR”) and CWI, Inc., a Kentucky corporation (“Camping World” and together with FR, collectively, the “Company”), and BRENT MOODY, an Illinois resident (“Employee”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, Employee and FR entered into that certain Employment Agreement (the “Prior Agreement”) dated as of May 1, 2010;

 

WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement the Prior Agreement is being terminated; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Employee and Employee desires to be employed by Company pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Employment . The Company agrees to employ Employee as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative and Legal Officer on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and Employee accepts such employment and agrees to perform the services and duties for the Company as herein provided for the period and upon the other terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Employee shall be subject to the direction of the Company’s Chairman, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors.

 

2.                                       Term . Subject to termination of Employee’s employment pursuant to Section 7 below, the initial term of Employee’s employment hereunder shall be for a period of five (5) years commencing as of the date of this Agreement and, upon the expiration of the initial term hereof, shall be automatically renewed for successive three (3) year periods unless either party desires to cancel this Agreement after the initial term or renewal periods, then it shall give the other party written notice of its intent to cancel at least 90 days prior to the expiration of the initial term or any renewal period thereof. The term of Employee’s employment under this Agreement shall be defined as the “Term.”

 

3.                                       Position and Duties .

 

3.01                         Title . During the Term, Employee agrees to serve as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative and Legal Officer and undertake such additional duties as provided in Section 3.02 below.

 

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3.02                         Duties . During the term of this Agreement, Employee agrees to serve the Company, and the Company agrees to employ the Employee as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative and Legal Officer, and Employee will faithfully and to the best of his ability discharge his duties and will devote his full time during business hours for the Company and to the business and affairs of the Company.Employee hereby confirms that during the term of this Agreement, he will not render or perform services for any other corporation, firm, entity or person. In addition, Employee understands that the Company’s Chairman, Vice Chairman or Board of Directors may, from time to time, direct that Employee assist and provide services to one or more other entities (the “Affiliates”) directly or indirectly owned or controlled by Stephen Adams, whose trust is the indirect controlling shareholder of the Company on the date hereof, or their successors, heirs, beneficiaries or assigns (“Adams”). Employee’s duties shall be performed in Lincolnshire, Illinois. Employee recognizes that he will be required to travel outside of Chicago, Illinois to perform certain of his duties.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall be permitted to participate in, and be involved with, such community, educational, charitable, professional, and religious organizations so long as such participation does not, in the judgment of the Company’s Board of Governors, significantly interfere with the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder.

 

4.                                       Compensation .

 

4.01                         Base Salary . During the term of this Agreement, the Company shall pay to Employee a base annual salary of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($250,000.00), which salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll procedures and policies.

 

4.02                         Incentive Compensation .

 

(a)                                  During the term of this Agreement and subject to the continued employment of Employee by the Company through the date on which payment of the incentive compensation is due, the Company shall pay to Employee incentive compensation equal to the following percentages of the combined EBITDA (as defined below) of FR and Camping World and each of their respective subsidiaries for each calendar year or portion thereof during the Term of this Agreement :

 

EBITDA Amount

 

Applicable Percentage

 

Up to and including $60 million

 

.33

%

Amounts in excess of and up to and including $70 million

 

.40

%

Amounts in excess of and up to and including $80 million

 

.45

%

Amounts in excess of $80 million

 

.50

%

 

As used herein, “EBITDA” shall mean (i) the combined net income of the FR and Camping World and each of their respective subsidiaries derived from the ongoing business operations of

 

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each such entity for such period plus, to the extent deducted in the determination of net income, interest (other than interest for floor plan financing), federal and state income taxes (or any provision for such taxes), depreciation and amortization and (ii) to the extent not otherwise reflected in net income for purposes of determining EBITDA, gains on the sale of real property by FR or Camping World or any of their respective subsidiaries, including, without limitation, deferred gains on sale leaseback transactions. Net income shall be determined on the accrual method of accounting and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, provided that (i) extraordinary items of revenue or expense, as determined by the chief financial officer (including revenue or expense from non-operating investments, revenue or expense from the sale or purchase of assets not in the ordinary course of business or revenue or expense not derived from normal business operations), shall not be reflected in net income, and (ii) amounts paid or received in settlement of (or payment of judgments in respect of) litigation which did not arise in the ordinary course of the business operations of such entity or entities or any of their respective subsidiaries, shall not be reflected in net income. The incentive compensation will be paid in monthly draws based on the Company’s estimated combined EBITDA for the applicable calendar year, subject to adjustment up or down from time to time by the Company based on actual results compared to estimates and anticipated underpayments or overpayments of monthly draws. Monthly payments of incentive compensation shall be subject to “true up” following the completion of the audited financial statements of the Company. In the event of any underpayment, the Company shall pay such underpayment within thirty (30) days following the completion of such audited financial statements. In the event of any overpayment, the amount of such overpayment(s) shall be deducted from Employee’s incentive compensation for the next succeeding monthly incentive compensation payment(s) until such overpayment has been absorbed by such deductions. In the event any overpayments have not been fully recovered upon the expiration or termination of the Term of this Agreement, the amount of such un-recovered overpayment(s) shall be deducted from any amounts payable by the Company pursuant to Section 7.05 of this Agreement or, if no amounts are payable by Company pursuant to Section 7.05, the amount of such un-recovered overpayments shall be paid by Employee to the Company within thirty (30) days following the Company’s written request therefore. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Employee’s combined base salary and incentive compensation for any calendar year shall not be less than Three Hundred Sixty Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($360,000.00) (the “Guaranteed Minimum”); provided, however, in the event of any partial calendar year during the Term, the Guaranteed Minimum for such partial calendar year shall be prorated based on the actual number of days in such partial calendar year.

 

(b)                                  In the event the combined EBITDA of Camping World and FR is equal to or in excess of the “Target Amounts” (herein so called) set forth below during any calendar year the Company shall pay to Employee a “Bonus Payment” (herein so called) in the corresponding amount as follows:

 

Target Amount

 

Bonus Payment

 

$

55,000,000

 

$

50,000

 

$

60,000,000

 

$

50,000

 

$

70,000,000

 

$

50,000

 

 

3



 

For purposes of clarification, the Bonus Payment shall be paid for each Target Amount. By way of example, in the event (i) the combined EBITDA is equal to $56,000,000, the Bonus Payment would be equal to $50,000, (ii) in the event the combined EBITDA is equal to $63,000,000, the Bonus Payment would be equal to $100,000 and (iii) in the event the combined EBITDA is equal to $71,000,000 the Bonus Payment would be equal to $150,000. The Bonus Payment shall be paid with ten (10) days following the completion of the audited financial statements for the Company.

 

4.03                         Benefits . Employee may participate in all employee benefit plans or programs (including vacation time) of Company consistent with such plans and programs of the Company; provided, however, that Company shall provide, and pay the premiums for, disability insurance coverage in an amount to which the Employee and the Company may mutually agree. The Company does not guarantee the adoption or continuance of any particular employee benefit plan or program during the term of this Agreement, and Employee’s participation in any such plan or program shall be subject to the provisions, rules and regulations applicable thereto.

 

4.04                         Expenses; Contributions . Company agrees to reimburse all reasonable business expenses incurred by Employee, including but not limited to personal credit card(s), gasoline and portable phone expenses, consistent with the Company’s policies regarding reimbursement in the performance of Employee’s duties under this Agreement.

 

4.05                         Vehicle . During the Term, Employee shall receive a Company-owned vehicle selected by the Company after consultation with Employee suitable for Employee’s position for his business and personal use, as mutually agreed by Employee. The Company shall pay the property taxes, insurance and any license fees or tags for such vehicles and, if possible, provide a dealer plate for the vehicle.

 

4.06                         Vacation and Sick leave . The Employee shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of vacation during each year of employment. Such vacation shall be taken at such times as the Chairman, Vice Chairman or Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall agree. Any unused vacation for any year shall not accumulate or carry over to the subsequent year and shall be lost if not used by Employee during the respective years during the term of this Agreement. The Employee shall be entitled to sick leave and holidays in accordance with the policy of the Company as to its employees.

 

4.07                         Indemnification and Additional Insurance . The Company shall indemnify Employee with respect to matters relating to Employee’s services as an officer of the Company, or any of its affiliates, occurring during the course and scope of Employee’s employment with the Company to the extent and pursuant to the provisions in the Illinois law. The foregoing indemnity is contractual and will survive any adverse amendment to or repeal of this Agreement. The Company will also cover Employee under a policy of officers’ and directors’ liability insurance providing coverage that is comparable to that provided now or hereafter to other senior executives of the Company. The provisions of this Section will survive the termination of this Agreement for any reason; provided that the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence shall survive the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company for three years after such termination.

 

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5.                                       Confidential Information . During the Term and at all times thereafter, Employee shall not divulge, furnish or make accessible to anyone or use in any way (other than in the ordinary course of the business of the Company) any confidential or secret knowledge or information of the Company or any other entity owned or controlled, whether directly or indirectly, by Adams which Employee has acquired or become acquainted with prior to the termination of the period of his employment by the Company (including employment by the Company or any affiliated companies prior to the date of this Agreement), whether developed by himself or by others, concerning any trade secrets, confidential or secret designs, processes, formulae, plans, devices or material (whether or not patented or patentable) directly or indirectly useful in any aspect of the business of the Company or any of the Affiliates, any customer or supplier lists of the Company or any of the Affiliates, any confidential or secret development or research work of the Company or any of the Affiliates, or any other confidential information or secret aspect of the business of the Company or any of the Affiliates. Employee acknowledges that the above-described knowledge or information constitutes a unique and valuable asset of the Company or any of the Affiliates and represents a substantial investment of time and expense by the Company or any of the Affiliates, and that any disclosure or other use of such knowledge or information other than for the sole benefit of the Company and any of the Affiliates would be wrongful and would cause irreparable harm to the Company and any of the Affiliates. However, the foregoing shall not apply to any knowledge or information which is now published or which subsequently becomes generally publicly known in the form in which it was obtained from the Company or any of the Affiliates, other than as a direct or indirect result of the breach of this Agreement by Employee.

 

6.                                       Non-competition and Non-solicitation Covenants and Adversarial Restrictions .

 

6.01                         Non-competition . Employee agrees that, during the Term and for two years after the termination of Employee’s employment for any reason, other than by virtue of a breach by Company under Section 7.01(f) below, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, engage in the sale, repair or service of recreational vehicles or parts and accessories for recreational vehicles or in the sale of any ancillary products that are sold in connection with the sale of recreational vehicles, including but not limited to credit life insurance, roadside assistance programs and extended service warranties, in any manner or capacity (e.g., as an advisor, principal, agent, partner, officer, director, stockholder, employee, member of any association, or otherwise) in the geographic area set forth in Section 6.02. In the event that, after the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Company fails to pay Employee any amount payable to Employee under this Agreement and such failure continues for ten (10) business days after written notice by Employee to the Company, Employee shall be released and relieved from the provisions of this Section 6.01; provided that, in the event of a dispute as to whether any amount is payable, the provisions of this Section 6.01 shall continue to apply if the Company pays such disputed amounts into the escrow with the court, arbitrator or mediator having jurisdiction over such dispute and such amounts shall be disbursed in accordance with the provisions of the judgment, award, decision or settlement.

 

6.02                         Geographic Extent of Covenant . The obligations of Employee under Section 6.01 shall apply to the continental United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Employee is terminated pursuant to Section 7.01 (e) or (f) the obligations of Employee under Section 6.01 shall apply to any site located within one hundred (100) miles of any location where

 

5



 

the Company or any of the Affiliates sells, repairs or services recreational vehicles or parts and accessories for recreational during the Term or, if applicable, the Non-Compete Period.

 

6.03                         Indirect Competition . Employee further agrees that, during the Term and the Non-Compete Period, he will not, directly or indirectly, assist or encourage any other person in carrying out, direct or indirectly, any activity that would be prohibited by the above provisions of this Section 6 if such activity were carried out by Employee, either directly or indirectly; and in particular Employee agrees that he will not, directly or indirectly, induce any employee of the Company to carry out, directly or indirectly, any such activity.

 

6.04                         Non-solicitation . Employee further agrees that, during the Term and for a period of one year after the termination of his employment, he will not, directly or indirectly, assist or encourage any other person in seeking to employ or hire any employee, consultant, advisor or agent of the Company or any other entity owned or controlled by Adams or encouraging any such employee, consultant, advisor or agent to discontinue employment with the Company or any other entity owned or controlled by Adams.

 

6.05                         Adversarial Restrictions . During the Term and at any time thereafter, Employee shall not voluntarily aid, assist, or cooperate with any actual or potential claimants or plaintiffs or their attorneys or agents in any claims or lawsuits proposed to be asserted, pending or commenced on the date hereof or in the future against the Company or any of the Affiliates; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 6.05 will be construed to prevent Employee from testifying at an administrative hearing, a deposition, or in court in response to a lawful subpoena in any litigation or proceeding involving the Company or any other entity owned or controlled by Adams.

 

7.                                       Termination .

 

7.01                         Grounds for Termination . Employee’s employment with the Company shall terminate under any of the circumstances set forth below.

 

a.                                       If Employee shall die or become disabled (as defined in Section 7.03 below);

 

b.                                       By mutual agreement of the Company and Employee;

 

c.                                        By Employee for any reason upon notice to the Company;

 

d.                                       By the Company for cause (as defined in Section 7.02 below);

 

e.                                        By the Company without cause; provided that in such event and in exchange for a full release of claims from the Employee, the Company will pay Employee the incentive compensation as provided under Section 7.05 below;

 

f.                                         By Employee in the event of a material default of this Agreement by the Company, which default remains uncured for ten (10) days following written notice thereof.

 

6



 

Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement and Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee, in consideration of his employment hereunder to the date of such termination, shall remain bound by the provisions of this Agreement which specifically relate to periods, activities or obligations upon or subsequent to the termination of Employee’s employment including without limitation the provisions of Sections 5, 6 and 8 hereof.

 

7.02                         For Cause Defined. Termination of Employee’s employment by the Company for any of the following reasons shall be deemed termination for cause:

 

a.                                       Employee shall have breached this Agreement in any material respect (other than as provided in clause (e) below), which breach in the case of this clause is not cured by, or is not capable of being cured, within ten (10) days after written notice of such breach is delivered to Employee; or

 

b.                                       Employee has engaged in misconduct (including violation of the Company’s policies) that is materially injurious to the Company as reasonably determined by the Company’s Board of Governors; or

 

c.                                        Employee has been convicted of (i) any felony or (ii) any misdemeanor involving a crime of moral turpitude, theft or fraud; or

 

d.                                       Employee uses illegal substances; or

 

e.                                        Employee falsifies or causes to be falsified, in any material respect, the financial records and financial statements of the Company.

 

7.03                         “Disability” Defined . The Company may determine that Employee is disabled if Employee qualifies for, and receives, long-term disability income payments under the disability insurance provided in accordance with Section 4.03 of this Agreement. If no such disability insurance is in place, the Company may determine that Employee is disabled if he shall fail, because of illness or incapacity, to render services of the character contemplated by this Agreement for a period of three (3) consecutive months.

 

7.04                         Surrender of Records and Property . Upon termination of his employment with the Company for any reason, Employee shall deliver promptly to the Company all records, manuals, books, blank forms, documents, letters, memoranda, notes, notebooks, reports, data, tables, calculations or copies thereof, which are the property of the Company or which relate in any way to the business, products, practices or techniques of the Company, and all other property, trade secrets and confidential information of the Company, including, but not limited to, all documents which in whole or in part contain any trade secrets or confidential information of the Company, which in any of these cases are in his possession or under his control. Further, Employee shall promptly return to the Company the vehicle described in Section 4.05.

 

7.05                         Payments Upon Termination . If this Agreement is terminated for any reason set forth in this Section 7, then Employee shall be entitled to receive (a) his base salary

 

7



 

through the date of the termination, (b) any accrued and unused vacation or paid time off time through the date of the termination, and (c) reimbursement of any business expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business through the date of termination that have not yet been reimbursed pursuant to Section 4.04. If Employee’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 7.01(a) then Employee, or Employee’s heirs and assigns, as the case may be, shall be entitled to receive any incentive compensation pursuant to Section 4.02 for the preceding calendar year to the extent not yet paid when due and the amount which would be payable pursuant to Section 4.02 as if his employment had not terminated and any incentive compensation for the entire calendar year in which Employee’s employment is terminated to the extent the results for such year were attributable to Employee, which amount shall not in any event exceed the incentive bonus for the calendar year immediately preceding such termination, which payment shall be made within 120 days following the end of such calendar year in which the Employee’s employment was so terminated. If Employee’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 7.01(e) or (f) and provided that Employee shall have executed and delivered to the Company a full release of claims in a form prepared by and acceptable to the Company and any period for rescission of such release shall have expired without Employee having rescinding such release, then Employee shall be entitled to receive: (a) any incentive compensation pursuant to Section 4.02 for the preceding calendar year to the extent not yet paid when such amount would have been payable pursuant to Section 4.02 if his employment had not terminated; (b) any incentive compensation for the calendar year in which Employee’s employment is terminated for the period from the beginning of such calendar year to the end of the month immediately preceding the date of the termination of Employee’s employment which payment shall be made within 90 days following such termination of employee’s employment; and (c) an amount equal to the Guaranteed Minimum for eighteen (18) months, payment of which shall be made over an eighteen (18) month period at the same times and in the same manner as base annual salary had been paid to Employee prior to the termination of his employment hereunder.

 

8.                                       Miscellaneous .

 

8.01                         Governing Law; Venue . This Agreement is made under and shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.

 

8.02                         Prior Agreements . This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings with respect to such subject matter, and the parties hereto have made no agreement, representations or warranties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement which are not set forth herein.

 

8.03                         Withholding Taxes . The Company may withhold from any benefits payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes as shall be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling.

 

8.04                         Amendments . No amendments or modifications of this Agreement shall be deemed effective unless made in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

 

8.05                         No Waiver . No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been waived, nor shall there by an estoppel to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, except by a statement in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of the waiver or

 

8



 

estoppel is sought. Any written waiver shall not be deemed a continuing waiver unless specifically stated, shall operate only as to the specific term or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of such term or condition for the future or as to any act other than that specifically waived.

 

8.06                         Severability . To the extent any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable, it shall be considered deleted herefrom and the remainder of such provision and of this Agreement shall be unaffected and shall continue in full force and effect. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, should the duration or geographical extent of, or business activities covered by, any provision of this Agreement be in excess of that which is valid and enforceable under applicable law, then such provision shall be construed to cover only that duration, extent or activities which may validly and enforceably be covered. Employee acknowledges the uncertainty of the law in this respect and expressly stipulates that this Agreement be given the construction which renders its provisions valid and enforceable to the maximum extent (not exceeding its express terms) possible under applicable law.

 

8.07                         Assignment . This Agreement shall not be assignable, in whole or in part, by either party without the written consent of the other party. After any such assignment by the Company, the Company shall be discharged from all further liability hereunder and such assignee shall thereafter be deemed to be the Company for the purposes of all provisions of this Agreement including this Section 8.

 

8.08                         Injunctive Relief . Employee agrees that it would be difficult to compensate the Company fully for damages for any violation of the provisions of this Agreement, including without limitation the provisions of Sections 5 and 6. Accordingly, Employee specifically agrees that the Company shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief to enforce the provisions of this Agreement and that such relief may be granted without the necessity of proving actual damages. This provision with respect to injunctive relief shall not, however, diminish the right of the Company to claim and recover damages in addition to injunctive relief.

 

8.09                         Attorneys’ Fees and Costs . The Company and Employee agree that in the event any litigation arises out of this Agreement between Company and Employee, the prevailing party in such litigation shall be entitled to recover its attorney’s fees and costs brought relating to such litigation.

 

8.10                         No Mitigation Obligation . All amounts paid to Employee under this Agreement following Employee’s termination of employment and this Agreement are acknowledged by the Company and Employee to be reasonable and to be liquidated damages, and Employee will not be required to reduce the amount of such payments by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor will any profits, income, earnings or other benefits from any source whatsoever (including from other employment) create any mitigation, offset, reduction or any other obligation on the part of Employee under this Agreement.

 

8.11                         Notices . Any notice, payment, demand or communication required or permitted to be given by the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been effectively given and received on the date personally delivered to the respective party to whom it is directed, or five (5) days after the date when deposited by registered or certified mail, with postage and charges prepaid and addressed to such party at its address below its signature. Any

 

9



 

party may change its address by delivering a written change of address to all of the other parties in the manner set forth in this Section 8.11.

 

8.12                         Administration . In the event Employee shall disagree with the amount of EBITDA, as determined by the chief financial officer of FR or Camping World, as applicable (written notice of which shall be given by the Employee within thirty (30) days of the receipt of such determination by the chief financial officer), EBITDA shall be determined by the independent certified public accountants of the Company or, if the Company has not then engaged a firm of independent certified public accountants, any nationally recognized firm of public accountants selected by the Company (the “Independent Accountant”). The Independent Accountant shall determine the EBITDA within thirty (30) days after its appointment and shall be instructed to deliver to the Company and Employee a written report of its determination of the amount of EBITDA.

 

The cost of the accounting services performed by the Independent Accountant shall be borne by the Company (but the cost thereof shall be considered a liability of the Company) unless the amount of the EBITDA as determined by the Independent Accountant is the same as the amount determined by the Company’s chief financial officer, in which event the entire cost of the services of the Independent Accountant shall be borne by the Employee.

 

8.13                         Joint and Several Obligations . The obligations of FR and Camping World hereunder shall be joint and several in nature.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date set forth in the first paragraph.

 

 

FREEDOMROADS, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Marcus Lemonis

 

 

Marcus Lemonis,

 

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CWI, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Marcus Lemonis

 

 

Marcus Lemonis,

 

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Brent Moody

 

Brent Moody

 

10




Exhibit 10.19

 

FIRST AMENDEMNT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is made and entered into effective as of the 1 st  day of January, 2011 among FREEDOMROADS, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company (“FR”) and CWI, Inc., a Kentucky corporation (“Camping World” and together with FR, collectively, the “Company”), and BRENT MOODY, an Illinois resident (“Employee”).

 

RECITALS

 

A.             Employee and the Company entered into that certain Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated as of January 1, 2010.

 

B.             The Company and Employee desire to amend the Agreement pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Amendment.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.               Section 2 of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirely and replaced with the following:

 

Term . Subject to termination of Employee’s employment pursuant to Section 7 below, the initial term of Employee’s employment hereunder shall terminate December 31, 2016 and, upon the expiration of the initial term hereof, shall be automatically renewed for successive three (3) year periods unless either party desires to cancel this Agreement after the initial term or renewal periods, then it shall give the other party written notice of its intent to cancel at least 90 days prior to the expiration of the initial term or any renewal period thereof. The term of Employee’s employment under this Agreement shall be defined as the “Term.”

 

2.               Section 4.02 of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

 

During the term of this Agreement and subject to the continued employment of Employee by the Company through the date on which payment of the incentive compensation is due, the Company shall pay to Employee incentive compensation equal to twenty-eight one hundredths of one percent (.28%) of the combined EBITDA (as defined below) of FR, Camping World and Good Sam Enterprises, LLC (“GSE”), the parent of Camping World and an affiliate of FR, and each of their respective subsidiaries for each calendar year or portion thereof during the Term of this Agreement. As used herein, “EBITDA” shall mean (i) the combined net income of the FR, Camping World and GSE and each of their respective subsidiaries derived from the ongoing business operations of each such entity for

 

1



 

such period plus, to the extent deducted in the determination of net income, interest (other than interest for floor plan financing), federal and state income taxes (or any provision for such taxes), depreciation and amortization and (ii) to the extent not otherwise reflected in net income for purposes of determining EBITDA, gains on the sale of real property by FR, Camping World or GSE or any of their respective subsidiaries, including, without limitation, deferred gains on sale leaseback transactions. Net income shall be determined on the accrual method of accounting and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, provided that (i) extraordinary items of revenue or expense, as determined by the chief financial officer (including revenue or expense from non-operating investments, revenue or expense from the sale or purchase of assets not in the ordinary course of business or revenue or expense not derived from normal business operations), shall not be reflected in net income, and (ii) amounts paid or received in settlement of (or payment of judgments in respect of) litigation which did not arise in the ordinary course of the business operations of such entity or entities or any of their respective subsidiaries, shall not be reflected in net income. The incentive compensation will be paid in monthly draws based on the estimated combined EBITDA for the applicable calendar year, subject to adjustment up or down from time to time based on actual results compared to estimates and anticipated underpayments or overpayments of monthly draws. Monthly payments of incentive compensation shall be subject to “true up” following the completion of the audited financial statements of the Company and GSE. In the event of any underpayment, the Company shall pay such underpayment within thirty (30) days following the completion of such audited financial statements. In the event of any overpayment, the amount of such overpayment(s) shall be deducted from Employee’s incentive compensation for the next succeeding monthly incentive compensation payment(s) until such overpayment has been absorbed by such deductions. In the event any overpayments have not been fully recovered upon the expiration or termination of the Term of this Agreement, the amount of such un-recovered overpayment(s) shall be deducted from any amounts payable by the Company pursuant to Section 7.05 of this Agreement or, if no amounts are payable by Company pursuant to Section 7.05, the amount of such un-recovered overpayments shall be paid by Employee to the Company within thirty (30) days following the Company’s written request therefore. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Employee’s combined base salary and incentive compensation for any calendar year shall not be less than Three Hundred Sixty Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($360,000.00) (the “Guaranteed Minimum”); provided, however, in the event of any partial calendar year during the Term, the Guaranteed Minimum for such partial calendar year shall be prorated based on the actual number of days in such partial calendar year.

 

3.               Except as modified hereby the Agreement is hereby ratified and confirmed and shall remain in full force and effect. In the event of any conflict between the terms and condition of this Amendment and the terms and conditions of the Agreement, the terms and conditions of this Amendment shall control.

 

2



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date set forth in the first paragraph.

 

 

FREEDOMROADS, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Marcus Lemonis

 

 

Marcus Lemonis,

 

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CWI, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Marcus Lemonis

 

 

Marcus Lemonis,

 

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Brent Moody

 

Brent Moody

 

3




Exhibit 10.20

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into effective as of the 10th day of June, 2016 by and between BRENT MOODY , an Illinois resident (“Employee”), Camping World Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Camping World”) and CWGS Enterprises, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Partnership” and, together with Camping World and any of the Affiliates of Camping World and the Partnership as may employ the Employee from time to time, and any successor(s) thereto, the “Company”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company is considering an initial public offering of Camping World common stock (the “IPO”); and

 

WHEREAS, in anticipation of the potential IPO, the Company desires to enter into this Agreement with Employee, pursuant to which the Company will employ Employee on the terms set forth in this Agreement, and Employee desires to be employed by Company pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Employment . The Company agrees to employ Employee as the Company’s Chief Operating and Legal Officer on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and Employee accepts such employment and agrees to perform the services and duties for the Company as herein provided for the period and upon the other terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Employee shall be subject to the direction of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors.

 

2.                                       Term . Subject to termination of Employee’s employment pursuant to Section 7 below, the initial term of Employee’s employment hereunder shall be for a period commencing as of the date of this Agreement and ending December 31, 2020 and, upon the expiration of the initial term hereof, shall be automatically renewed for successive one (1) year periods unless either party desires to cancel this Agreement after the initial term or renewal periods, then it shall give the other party written notice of its intent to cancel at least 90 days prior to the expiration of the initial term or any renewal period thereof. The term of Employee’s employment under this Agreement shall be defined as the “Term.”

 

3.                                       Position and Duties .

 

3.01                         Title . During the Term, Employee agrees to serve as the Company’s Chief Operating and Legal Officer and undertake such additional duties as provided in Section 3.02 below.

 

3.02                         Duties . During the Term, Employee agrees to serve the Company, and the Company agrees to employ the Employee as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating and Legal Officer, and Employee will faithfully and to the best of his ability discharge his duties and will devote his full time during business hours for the Company and to the business and affairs of

 

1



 

the Company. Employee hereby confirms that during the Term, he will not render or perform services for any other corporation, firm, entity or person. Employee recognizes that he will be required to travel outside of Chicago, Illinois to perform certain of his duties.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall be permitted to participate in, and be involved with, such community, educational, charitable, professional, and religious organizations so long as such participation does not, in the judgment of the Company’s Board of Directors, significantly interfere with the performance of Employee’s duties hereunder.

 

4.                                       Compensation .

 

4.01                         Base Salary . During the Term, the Company shall pay to Employee a base annual salary of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($250,000.00) (“Base Salary”), which salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll procedures and policies.

 

4.02                         Incentive Compensation . During the Term and subject to the continued employment of Employee by the Company through the date on which payment of the Incentive Compensation (as defined below) is due, the Company shall pay to Employee incentive compensation (“Incentive Compensation”) equal to twenty-eight one hundredths of one percent (0.28%) (the “Applicable Percentage”) of the Company’s consolidated EBITDA (as defined below). As used herein, “EBITDA” shall mean (i) the consolidated net income of the Company derived from the ongoing consolidated business operations for such period plus, to the extent deducted in the determination of net income, interest (other than interest for floor plan financing), federal and state income taxes (or any provision for such taxes), depreciation and amortization and (ii) to the extent not otherwise reflected in net income for purposes of determining EBITDA, gains on the sale of real property, including, without limitation, deferred gains on sale leaseback transactions. Net income shall be determined on the accrual method of accounting and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, provided that (i) extraordinary items of revenue or expense, as determined by the chief financial officer (including revenue or expense from non-operating investments, revenue or expense from the sale or purchase of assets not in the ordinary course of business or revenue or expense not derived from normal business operations), shall not be reflected in net income, and (ii) amounts paid or received in settlement of (or payment of judgments in respect of) litigation which did not arise in the ordinary course of the business operations of such entity or entities or any of their respective subsidiaries, shall not be reflected in net income. The Incentive Compensation will be paid in monthly draws based on the Company’s estimated consolidated EBITDA for the applicable calendar year, subject to adjustment up or down from time to time based on actual results compared to estimates and anticipated underpayments or overpayments of monthly draws. Monthly payments of Incentive Compensation shall be subject to “true up” following the completion of the audited financial statements of the Company. In the event of any underpayment, the Company shall pay such underpayment within thirty (30) days following the completion of such audited financial statements. In the event of any overpayment, the amount of such overpayment(s) shall be deducted from Employee’s Incentive Compensation for the next succeeding monthly Incentive Compensation payment(s) until such overpayment has been absorbed by such deductions. In the event any overpayments have not been fully recovered upon the expiration or termination of the Term of this Agreement, the amount of such un-recovered overpayment(s) shall be deducted from any amounts payable by the Company pursuant to Section 7.05 of this Agreement or, if no amounts are payable by Company pursuant to Section 7.05, the amount of such un-recovered

 

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overpayments shall be paid by Employee to the Company within thirty (30) days following the Company’s written request therefore.

 

4.03                         Benefits . Employee may participate in all employee benefit plans or programs (including vacation time) of Company consistent with such plans and programs of the Company; provided, however, that Company shall provide, and pay the premiums for, disability insurance coverage in an amount to which the Employee and the Company may mutually agree. The Company does not guarantee the adoption or continuance of any particular employee benefit plan or program during the term of this Agreement, and Employee’s participation in any such plan or program shall be subject to the provisions, rules and regulations applicable thereto.

 

4.04                         Expenses; Contributions . Company agrees to reimburse all reasonable business expenses incurred by Employee, including but not limited to personal credit card(s), gasoline and portable phone expenses, consistent with the Company’s policies regarding reimbursement in the performance of Employee’s duties under this Agreement.

 

4.05                         Vehicle . During the Term, Employee shall receive a Company owned vehicle selected by the Company after consultation with Employee suitable for Employee’s position for his business and personal use, as mutually agreed by Employee. The Company shall pay the property taxes, insurance and any license fees or tags for such vehicles.

 

4.06                         Vacation and Sick leave . The Employee shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of vacation during each year of employment. Such vacation shall be taken at such times as the Chairman, Vice Chairman or Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall agree. Any unused vacation for any year shall not accumulate or carry over to the subsequent year and shall be lost if not used by Employee during the respective years during the term of this Agreement. The Employee shall be entitled to sick leave and holidays in accordance with the policy of the Company as to its employees.

 

4.07                         Indemnification and Additional Insurance . The Company shall indemnify Employee with respect to matters relating to Employee’s services as an officer of the Company, or any of its affiliates, occurring during the course and scope of Employee’s employment with the Company to the extent and pursuant to the provisions in the Illinois law. The foregoing indemnity is contractual and will survive any adverse amendment to or repeal of this Agreement. The Company will also cover Employee under a policy of officers’ and directors’ liability insurance providing coverage that is comparable to that provided now or hereafter to other senior executives of the Company. The provisions of this Section will survive the termination of this Agreement for any reason; provided that the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence shall survive the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company for three years after such termination.

 

4.08                         Incentive Plans . Employee shall be entitled to participate in any short term incentive or long term incentive plans adopted by the Company from time to time.

 

5.                                       Confidential Information . During the Term and at all times thereafter, Employee shall not divulge, furnish or make accessible to anyone or use in any way (other than in the ordinary course of the business of the Company) any confidential or secret knowledge or information of the Company which Employee has acquired or become acquainted with prior to the termination of the period of his employment by the Company (including employment by the Company or any

 

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affiliated companies prior to the date of this Agreement), whether developed by himself or by others, concerning any trade secrets, confidential or secret designs, processes, formulae, plans, devices or material (whether or not patented or patentable) directly or indirectly useful in any aspect of the business of the Company, any customer or supplier lists of the Company, any confidential or secret development or research work of the Company, or any other confidential information or secret aspect of the business of the Company. Employee acknowledges that the above-described knowledge or information constitutes a unique and valuable asset of the Company and represents a substantial investment of time and expense by the Company, and that any disclosure or other use of such knowledge or information other than for the sole benefit of the Company would be wrongful and would cause irreparable harm to the Company. However, the foregoing shall not apply to any knowledge or information which is now published or which subsequently becomes generally publicly known in the form in which it was obtained from the Company, other than as a direct or indirect result of the breach of this Agreement by Employee.

 

6.                                       Non-competition and Non-Solicitation Covenants and Adversarial Restrictions .

 

6.01                         Non-competition . Employee agrees that, during the Term and for two years after the termination of Employee’s employment for any reason, other than by virtue of a breach by Company under Section 7.01(f) below, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, engage in the sale, repair or service of recreational vehicles or parts and accessories for recreational vehicles or in the sale of any ancillary products that are sold in connection with the sale of recreational vehicles, including but not limited to credit life insurance, roadside assistance programs and extended service warranties, in any manner or capacity (e.g., as an advisor, principal, agent, partner, officer, director, stockholder (other than as incidental ownership of publicly traded stock), employee, member of any association, or otherwise) in the geographic area set forth in Section 6.02. In the event that, after the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Company fails to pay Employee any amount payable to Employee under this Agreement and such failure continues for ten (10) business days after written notice by Employee to the Company, Employee shall be released and relieved from the provisions of this Section 6.01; provided that, in the event of a dispute as to whether any amount is payable, the provisions of this Section 6.01 shall continue to apply if the Company pays such disputed amounts into the escrow with the court, arbitrator or mediator having jurisdiction over such dispute and such amounts shall be disbursed in accordance with the provisions of the judgment, award, decision or settlement.

 

6.02                         Geographic Extent of Covenant . The obligations of Employee under Section 6.01 shall apply to the continental United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Employee is terminated pursuant to Section 7.01 (e) or (f) the obligations of Employee under Section 6.01 shall apply to any site located within one hundred (100) miles of any location where the Company sells, repairs or services recreational vehicles or parts and accessories for recreational during the Term or, if applicable, the Non-Compete Period.

 

6.03                         Indirect Competition . Employee further agrees that, during the Term and the Non-Compete Period, he will not, directly or indirectly, assist or encourage any other person in carrying out, direct or indirectly, any activity that would be prohibited by the above provisions of this Section 6 if such activity were carried out by Employee, either directly or indirectly; and in particular Employee agrees that he will not, directly or indirectly, induce any employee of the Company to carry out, directly or indirectly, any such activity.

 

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6.04                         Non-solicitation . Employee further agrees that, during the Term and for a period of one year after the termination of his employment, he will not, directly or indirectly, assist or encourage any other person in seeking to employ or hire any employee, consultant, advisor or agent of the Company or encouraging any such employee, consultant, advisor or agent to discontinue employment with the Company.

 

6.05                         Adversarial Restrictions . During the Term and at any time thereafter, Employee shall not voluntarily aid, assist, or cooperate with any actual or potential claimants or plaintiffs or their attorneys or agents in any claims or lawsuits proposed to be asserted, pending or commenced on the date hereof or in the future against the Company; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 6.05 will be construed to prevent Employee from testifying at an administrative hearing, a deposition, or in court in response to a lawful subpoena in any litigation or proceeding involving the Company.

 

7.                                       Termination .

 

7.01                         Grounds for Termination . Employee’s employment with the Company shall terminate under any of the circumstances set forth below.

 

a.                                       If Employee shall die or become disabled (as defined in Section 7.03 below);

 

b.                                       By mutual agreement of the Company and Employee;

 

c.                                        By Employee for any reason upon notice to the Company;

 

d.                                       By the Company for cause (as defined in Section 7.02 below);

 

e.                                        By the Company without cause; provided that in such event and in exchange for a full release of claims from the Employee, the Company will pay Employee the Incentive Compensation as provided under Section 7.05 below;

 

f.                                         By Employee in the event of a material default of this Agreement by the Company, which default remains uncured for ten (10) days following written notice thereof.

 

Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement and Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee, in consideration of his employment hereunder to the date of such termination, shall remain bound by the provisions of this Agreement which specifically relate to periods, activities or obligations upon or subsequent to the termination of Employee’s employment including without limitation the provisions of Sections 5, 6 and 8 hereof.

 

7.02                         For Cause Defined . Termination of Employee’s employment by the Company for any of the following reasons shall be deemed termination for cause:

 

a.                                       Employee shall have breached this Agreement in any material respect (other than as provided in clause (e) below), which breach in the case of

 

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this clause is not cured by, or is not capable of being cured, within ten (10) days after written notice of such breach is delivered to Employee; or

 

b.                                       Employee has engaged in misconduct (including violation of the Company’s policies) that is materially injurious to the Company as reasonably determined by the Company’s Board of Governors; or

 

c.                                        Employee has been convicted of (i) any felony or (ii) any misdemeanor involving a crime of moral turpitude, theft or fraud; or

 

d.                                       Employee uses illegal substances; or

 

e.                                        Employee knowingly falsifies or causes to be falsified, in any material respect, the financial records and financial statements of the Company.

 

7.03                         “Disability” Defined . The Company may determine that Employee is disabled if he shall fail, because of illness or incapacity, to render services of the character contemplated by this Agreement for a period of three (3) consecutive months.

 

7.04                         Surrender of Records and Property . Upon termination of his employment with the Company for any reason, Employee shall deliver promptly to the Company all records, manuals, books, blank forms, documents, letters, memoranda, notes, notebooks, reports, data, tables, calculations or copies thereof, which are the property of the Company or which relate in any way to the business, products, practices or techniques of the Company, and all other property, trade secrets and confidential information of the Company, including, but not limited to, all documents which in whole or in part contain any trade secrets or confidential information of the Company, which in any of these cases are in his possession or under his control. Further, Employee shall promptly return to the Company the vehicle described in Section 4.05.

 

7.05                         Payments Upon Termination . If this Agreement is terminated for any reason set forth in this Section 7, then Employee shall be entitled to receive (a) his Base Salary through the date of the termination, (b) any accrued and unused vacation or paid time off time through the date of the termination, and (c) reimbursement of any business expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business through the date of termination that have not yet been reimbursed pursuant to Section 4.04. If Employee’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 7.01(a) then Employee, or Employee’s heirs and assigns, as the case may be, shall be entitled to receive any Incentive Compensation pursuant to Section 4.02 for the preceding calendar year to the extent not yet paid when due and the amount which would be payable pursuant to Section 4.02 as if his employment had not terminated and Incentive Compensation for the calendar year in which Employee’s employment is terminated which for purposes hereof shall be equal to the consolidated EBITDA of the Company for the twelve month period ending on the last day of the calendar month immediately preceding the date of termination times the Applicable Percentage, multiplied by a fraction, (a) the numerator of which shall be the number of days Employee was employed during the then such current calendar year and (b) the denominator of which shall be three hundred sixty-five (365) (for avoidance of doubt, the amount of draws paid by Company to Employee for Incentive Compensation during such calendar year as contemplated by Section 4.02, shall be credited against such amount), which payment shall be made within 120 days following the end of such calendar year in which the Employee’s employment was so terminated. If Employee’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 7.01(e) or (f) and

 

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provided that Employee shall have executed and delivered to the Company a full release of claims in a form prepared by and acceptable to the Company in accordance with Section 8.06(e) (a “Release”) and any period for rescission of such Release shall have expired without Employee having rescinded such Release, then Employee shall receive: (a) any Incentive Compensation pursuant to Section 4.02 for the preceding calendar year to the extent not yet paid when such amount would have been payable pursuant to Section 4.02 if his employment had not terminated; (b) Incentive Compensation for the calendar year in which Employee’s employment is terminated which for purposes hereof shall be equal to the combined EBITDA of the Company for the twelve month period ending on the last day of the calendar month immediately preceding the date of termination times the Applicable Percentage, multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which shall be the number of days Employee was employed during the then such current calendar year and (ii) the denominator of which shall be three hundred sixty-five (365) (for avoidance of doubt, the amount of draws paid by Company to Employee for Incentive Compensation during such calendar year as contemplated by Section 4.02, shall be credited against such amount), which payment shall be made within 90 days following such termination of employee’s employment; (c) payment by the Company for COBRA benefits for a period of eighteen (18) months following termination for Employee and any dependents covered immediately prior to termination and (d) the Severance Amount (as defined below), which Severance Amount shall be paid over a two (2) year period at the same times and in the same manner as base annual salary had been paid to Employee prior to the termination of his employment hereunder. As used herein, the “Severance Amount” shall be equal to two hundred percent (200%) of the sum of (a) Base Salary for one year and (b) Incentive Compensation for one year, which for purposes hereof shall be equal to the consolidated EBITDA of the Company for the twelve-month period ending on the last day of the calendar month immediately preceding the date of termination, multiplied by the Applicable Percentage.

 

8.                                       Miscellaneous .

 

8.01                         Governing Law; Venue . This Agreement is made under and shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.

 

8.02                         Prior Agreements . This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and replaces all prior agreements and understandings with respect to such subject matter, and the parties hereto have made no agreement, representations or warranties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement which are not set forth herein.

 

8.03                         Withholding Taxes . The Company may withhold from any benefits payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes as shall be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling.

 

8.04                         Amendments . No amendments or modifications of this Agreement shall be deemed effective unless made in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

 

8.05                         No Waiver . No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been waived, nor shall there by an estoppel to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, except by a statement in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of the waiver or estoppel is sought. Any written waiver shall not be deemed a continuing waiver unless specifically stated, shall operate only as to the specific term or condition waived and shall not

 

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constitute a waiver of such term or condition for the future or as to any act other than that specifically waived.

 

8.06                         Section 409A . (a) For purposes of this Agreement, “ Section 409A ” means Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (and such other Treasury or Internal Revenue Service guidance) as in effect from time to time. The parties intend that any amounts payable hereunder that could constitute “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A will be compliant with Section 409A or exempt from Section 409A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall be solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on or for the account of Employee in connection with this Agreement (including any taxes and penalties under Section 409A of the Code), and neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates shall have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold Employee (or any beneficiary) harmless from any or all of such taxes or penalties. No provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted or construed to transfer any liability for failure to comply with the requirements of Section 409A from the Employee or any other individual to the Company or any of its affiliates, employees or agents.

 

(b)          Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the following special rule shall apply, if and to the extent required by Section 409A, in the event that (i) Employee is deemed to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), (ii) amounts or benefits under this Agreement or any other program, plan or arrangement of the Company or a controlled group affiliate thereof are due or payable on account of “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(h) and (iii) Employee is employed by a public company or a controlled group affiliate thereof: no payments hereunder that are “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A shall be made to Employee prior to the date that is six (6) months after the date of Employee’s separation from service or, if earlier, Employee’s date of death; following any applicable six (6) month delay, all such delayed payments will be paid in a single lump sum on the earliest permissible payment date.

 

(c)           Each payment made under this Agreement (including each separate installment payment in the case of a series of installment payments) shall be deemed to be a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A. Amounts payable under this Agreement shall be deemed not to be a “deferral of compensation” subject to Section 409A to the extent provided in the exceptions in Treasury Regulation §§ 1.409A-1(b)(4) (“short-term deferrals”) and (b)(9) (“separation pay plans,” including the exception under subparagraph (iii)) and other applicable provisions of Section 409A. For purposes of this Agreement, with respect to payments of any amounts that are considered to be “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A, references to “termination of employment,” “termination,” or words and phrases of similar import, shall be deemed to refer to Employee’s “separation from service” as defined in Section 409A, and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner that is consistent with the requirements of Section 409A.

 

(d)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any payment or benefit under this Agreement or otherwise that is exempt from Section 409A pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v)(A) or (C) (relating to certain reimbursements and in-kind benefits) shall be paid or provided to Employee only to the extent that the expenses are not incurred, or the benefits are not provided, beyond the last day of the second calendar year following the calendar year in which Employee’s “separation from service” occurs; and provided

 

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further that such expenses are reimbursed no later than the last day of the third calendar year following the calendar year in which Employee’s “separation from service” occurs. To the extent any indemnification payment, expense reimbursement, or the provision of any in-kind benefit is determined to be subject to Section 409A (and not exempt pursuant to the prior sentence or otherwise), the amount of any such indemnification payment or expenses eligible for reimbursement, or the provision of any in-kind benefit, in one calendar year shall not affect the indemnification payment or provision of in-kind benefits or expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other calendar year (except for any life-time or other aggregate limitation applicable to medical expenses), and in no event shall any indemnification payment or expenses be reimbursed after the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which Employee incurred such indemnification payment or expenses, and in no event shall any right to indemnification payment or reimbursement or the provision of any in-kind benefit be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

 

(e)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent that any payments of “nonqualified deferred compensation” (within the meaning of Section 409A) due under this Agreement as a result of the Employee’s termination of employment with the Company are subject to the Employee’s execution and delivery and non-revocation of the Release, (i) no such payments shall be made on or prior to the sixtieth (60 th ) day immediately following the Termination Date (the “Release Expiration Date”), (ii) the Company shall deliver the Release to the Employee within seven (7) days immediately following the Termination Date, (iii) if, as of the Release Expiration Date, the Employee has failed to execute the Release or has timely revoked his acceptance of the Release thereafter, the Employee shall not be entitled to any payments or benefits otherwise conditioned on the Release, and (iv) any such payments that are delayed pursuant to this Section 8.06(e) shall be paid in a lump sum on the first payroll date following the Release Expiration Date.

 

8.07                         280G Parachute Payments . (a) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by you (including any payment or benefit received in connection with a Change in Control or the termination of your employment, whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement) (all such payments and benefits being hereinafter referred to as the “ Total Payments ”) would be subject (in whole or part), to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code (the “ Excise Tax ”), then, after taking into account any reduction in the Total Payments provided by reason of Section 280G of the Code in such other plan, arrangement or agreement, the cash severance payments shall first be reduced, and the noncash severance payments shall thereafter be reduced, to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Payments is subject to the Excise Tax but only if (i) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such reduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such reduced Total Payments) is greater than or equal to (ii) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such Total Payments and the amount of Excise Tax to which the Employee would be subject in respect of such unreduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such unreduced Total Payments).

 

(b)          For purposes of determining whether and the extent to which the Total Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax, (i) no portion of the Total Payments the receipt or

 

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enjoyment of which the Employee shall have waived at such time and in such manner as not to constitute a “payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code shall be taken into account, (ii) no portion of the Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the written opinion of independent auditors or consultants of nationally recognized standing (“ Independent Advisors ”) selected by the Company, does not constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code (including by reason of Section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code) and, in calculating the Excise Tax, no portion of such Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the opinion of the Independent Advisors, constitutes reasonable compensation for services actually rendered, within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code, in excess of the Base Amount (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) allocable to such reasonable compensation, and (iii) the value of any non-cash benefit or any deferred payment or benefit included in the Total Payments shall be determined by the Independent Advisors in accordance with the principles of Section 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code.

 

8.08                         Compensation Recovery Policy . The Employee acknowledges and agrees that, to the extent the Company adopts any clawback or similar policy pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or otherwise, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, he shall take all action necessary or appropriate to comply with such policy (including, without limitation, entering into any further agreements, amendments or policies necessary or appropriate to implement and/or enforce such policy with respect to past, present and future compensation, as appropriate).

 

8.09                         Severability . To the extent any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable, it shall be considered deleted herefrom and the remainder of such provision and of this Agreement shall be unaffected and shall continue in full force and effect. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, should the duration or geographical extent of, or business activities covered by, any provision of this Agreement be in excess of that which is valid and enforceable under applicable law, then such provision shall be construed to cover only that duration, extent or activities which may validly and enforceably be covered. Employee acknowledges the uncertainty of the law in this respect and expressly stipulates that this Agreement be given the construction which renders its provisions valid and enforceable to the maximum extent (not exceeding its express terms) possible under applicable law.

 

8.10                         Assignment . This Agreement shall not be assignable, in whole or in part, by either party without the written consent of the other party. After any such assignment by the Company, the Company shall be discharged from all further liability hereunder and such assignee shall thereafter be deemed to be the Company for the purposes of all provisions of this Agreement including this Section 8.

 

8.11                         Injunctive Relief . Employee agrees that it would be difficult to compensate the Company fully for damages for any violation of the provisions of this Agreement, including without limitation the provisions of Sections 5 and 6. Accordingly, Employee specifically agrees that the Company shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief to enforce the provisions of this Agreement and that such relief may be granted without the necessity of proving actual damages. This provision with respect to injunctive relief shall not, however, diminish the right of the Company to claim and recover damages in addition to injunctive relief.

 

8.12                         Attorneys’ Fees and Costs . The Company and Employee agree that in the event any litigation arises out of this Agreement between Company and Employee, the prevailing party

 

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in such litigation shall be entitled to recover its attorney’s fees and costs brought relating to such litigation.

 

8.13                         No Mitigation Obligation . All amounts paid to Employee under this Agreement following Employee’s termination of employment and this Agreement are acknowledged by the Company and Employee to be reasonable and to be liquidated damages, and Employee will not be required to reduce the amount of such payments by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor will any profits, income, earnings or other benefits from any source whatsoever (including from other employment) create any mitigation, offset, reduction or any other obligation on the part of Employee under this Agreement.

 

8.14                         Notices . Any notice, payment, demand or communication required or permitted to be given by the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been effectively given and received on the date personally delivered to the respective party to whom it is directed, or five (5) days after the date when deposited by registered or certified mail, with postage and charges prepaid and addressed to such party at its address below its signature. Any party may change its address by delivering a written change of address to all of the other parties in the manner set forth in this Section 8.14.

 

8.15                         Notice of Immunity . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, (i) Employee shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; (ii) Employee shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any Federal or State trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal; and (iii) if Employee files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law, Employee may disclose the trade secret to Employee’s attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if Employee files any document containing the trade secret under seal; and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.

 

8.16                         Administration . In the event Employee shall disagree with the amount of EBITDA, as determined by the chief financial officer of the Company (written notice of which shall be given by the Employee within thirty (30) days of the receipt of such determination by the chief financial officer), EBITDA shall be determined by the independent certified public accountants of the Company or, if the Company has not then engaged a firm of independent certified public accountants, any nationally recognized firm of public accountants selected by the Company (the “Independent Accountant”). The Independent Accountant shall determine the EBITDA within thirty (30) days after its appointment and shall be instructed to deliver to the Company and Employee a written report of its determination of the amount of EBITDA.

 

The cost of the accounting services performed by the Independent Accountant shall be borne by the Company (but the cost thereof shall be considered a liability of the Company) unless the amount of the EBITDA as determined by the Independent Accountant is the same as the amount determined by the Company’s chief financial officer, in which event the entire cost of the services of the Independent Accountant shall be borne by the Employee.

 

[Signatures on following page]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date set forth in the first paragraph.

 

 

 

CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Marcus Lemonis

 

 

Marcus Lemonis

 

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CWGS ENTERPRISES, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Marcus Lemonis

 

 

Marcus Lemonis

 

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Brent Moody

 

BRENT MOODY

 

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Exhibit 10.21

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into effective as of the 1 st  day of December, 2012 between Good Sam Enterprises, LLC, a limited liability company (the “Company”) and Mark Boggess, a Kentucky resident (“Employee”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Employee and Employee desires to be employed by Company pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Employment . The Company agrees to employ Employee as the Company’s President of GS Media and Events on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and Employee accepts such employment and agrees to perform the services and duties for the Company as herein provided for the period and upon the other terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Employee shall be subject to the direction of the Company’s Chairman, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Board of Governors.

 

2.                                       Term . Subject to termination of Employee’s employment pursuant to Section 7 below, the initial term of Employee’s employment hereunder shall be for a period of five (5) years commencing as of the date of this Agreement. The term of Employee’s employment under this Agreement shall be defined as the “Term.”

 

3.                                       Position, Duties .

 

3.01                         Title . During the Term, Employee agrees to serve as the Company’s President of GS Media and Events and undertake such other or additional duties as may be directed by the Board of Governors or Chief Executive Officer.

 

3.02                         Duties . During the term of this Agreement, Employee agrees to serve the Company and Employee will faithfully and to the best of his ability discharge his duties and will devote his full time during business hours for the Company and to the business and affairs of the Company, its direct and indirect subsidiaries and certain Affiliates (as defined below) of the Company. Employee hereby confirms that during the term of this Agreement, she will not render or perform services for any other corporation, firm, entity or person. In addition, Employee understands that the Company’s Board of Governors or Chief Executive Officer may, from time to time, direct that Employee assist and provide services to one or more other entities directly or indirectly owned or controlled by, or under common ownership or control with, the Company (“Affiliates”). Employee recognizes that she will be required to travel to perform certain of his duties.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall be permitted to participate in, and be involved with, such community, educational, charitable, professional, and religious organizations so long as such participation does not, in the judgment of the Company’s Board of Governors, interfere with the performance of or create a potential conflict with Employee’s duties hereunder.

 

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4.                                       Compensation .

 

4.01                         Base Salary . During the term of this Agreement, the Company shall pay to Employee a base annual salary of Two Hundred Forty Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($240,000) (“Base Salary”), which salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll procedures and policies.

 

4.02                         Incentive Compensation . During the term of this Agreement and subject to the continued employment of Employee by the Company through the date on which payment of the incentive compensation is due, the Company shall pay to Employee incentive compensation equal to one tenth of one percent (.1%) of the combined annual EBITDA (as defined below) of the Company and FreedomRoads, LLC (“FR”), so long as FR remains an Affiliate of the Company, for each calendar year or portion thereof during the Term of this Agreement. As used herein, “EBITDA” shall mean the combined net income of the Company and FR, as applicable, and each of their respective subsidiaries derived from the ongoing business operations of each such entity for the applicable period plus, to the extent deducted in the determination of net income, interest (other than interest for floor plan financing), federal and state income taxes (or any provision for such taxes), depreciation and amortization. Net income shall be determined on the accrual method of accounting and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, provided that (i) extraordinary items of revenue or expense, as determined by the chief financial officer and/or board of directors (including revenue or expense from non-operating investments, revenue or expense from the sale or purchase of assets not in the ordinary course of business or revenue or expense not derived from normal business operations), shall not be reflected in net income and (ii) amounts paid or received in settlement of (or payment of judgments in respect of) litigation which did not arise in the ordinary course of the business operations of such entity or entities or any of their respective subsidiaries, shall not be reflected in net income. The incentive compensation may be paid in monthly draws based on the estimated combined EBITDA for the applicable calendar year, subject to adjustment up or down from time to time by the Company based on actual results compared to estimates and anticipated underpayments or overpayments of monthly draws. Monthly payments of incentive compensation shall be subject to “true up” following the completion of the audited financial statements of the Company and FR. In the event of any underpayment, the Company shall pay such underpayment within thirty (30) days following the completion of such audited financial statements. In the event of any overpayment, the amount of such overpayment(s) shall be deducted from Employee’s incentive compensation for the next succeeding monthly incentive compensation payment(s) until such overpayment has been absorbed by such deductions. In the event any overpayments have not been fully recovered upon the expiration or termination of the Term of this Agreement, the amount of such un-recovered overpayment(s) shall be deducted from any amounts payable by the Company pursuant to Section 7.05 of this Agreement or, if no amounts are payable by Company pursuant to Section 7.05, the amount of such un-recovered overpayments shall be paid by Employee to the Company within thirty (30) days following the Company’s written request therefore.

 

4.03                         Benefits . Employee may participate in all employee benefit plans or programs of Company consistent with such plans and programs of the Company. The Company does not guarantee the adoption or continuance of any particular employee benefit plan or program during the term of this Agreement, and Employee’s participation in any such plan or program shall be subject to the provisions, rules and regulations applicable thereto.

 

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4.04                         Expenses; Contributions . Company agrees to reimburse all reasonable business expenses incurred by Employee consistent with the Company’s policies regarding reimbursement in the performance of Employee’s duties under this Agreement.

 

4.05                         Vacation and Sick leave . The Employee shall be entitled to three (3) weeks of vacation during each year of employment. Such vacation shall be taken at such times as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall agree. Any unused vacation for any year shall not accumulate or cany over to the subsequent year and shall be lost if not used by Employee during the respective years during the term of this Agreement. The Employee shall be entitled to sick leave and holidays in accordance with the policy of the Company as to its employees.

 

4.06                         Indemnification and Additional Insurance . The Company shall indemnify Employee with respect to matters relating to Employee’s services as an officer of the Company, or any of its Affiliates, occurring during the course and scope of Employee’s employment with the Company to the extent and pursuant to the provisions in the Illinois law. The Company may also cover Employee under a policy of officers’ and directors’ liability insurance providing coverage that is comparable to that provided now or hereafter to other senior executives of the Company.

 

5.                                       Confidential Information and Proprietary Information .

 

5.01                         Confidential Information . During the Term and at all times thereafter, Employee shall not divulge, furnish or make accessible to anyone or use in any way (other than in the ordinary course of the business of the Company or any of its Affiliates) any confidential or secret knowledge or information of the Company or any of its Affiliates which Employee has acquired or become acquainted with prior to the termination of the period of his employment by the Company (including employment by the Company or any affiliated companies prior to the date of this Agreement), whether developed by himself or by others, including, without limitation, any trade secrets, confidential or secret designs, processes, formulae, plans, devices or material (whether or not patented or patentable) directly or indirectly useful in any aspect of the business of the Company or any of the Affiliates, any customer or supplier lists of the Company or any of the Affiliates, any confidential or secret development or research work of the Company or any of the Affiliates, or any other confidential information or secret aspect of the business of the Company or any of the Affiliates (collectively, “Confidential Information”). Employee acknowledges that (a) the Company and its Affiliates have expended and shall continue to expend substantial amounts of time, money and effort to develop business strategies, employee and customer relationships and goodwill and build an effective organization, (b) Employee is and shall become familiar with the Company’s and its Affiliate’s Confidential Information, including trade secrets, and that Employee’s services are of special, unique and extraordinary value to the Company and its Affiliates, (c) the above-described knowledge or information constitutes a unique and valuable asset of the Company and its Affiliates and the Company and its Affiliates have a legitimate business interest and right in protecting its Confidential Information, business strategies, employee and customer relationships and goodwill and (d) any disclosure or other use of such knowledge or information other than for the sole benefit of the Company and any of the Affiliates would be wrongful and would cause irreparable harm to the Company and any of the Affiliates. However, the foregoing shall not apply to any knowledge or information which is now published or which subsequently becomes generally publicly known in the form in which it was obtained from the Company or any of the Affiliates, other than as a direct or indirect result of the breach of this Agreement by Employee.

 

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5.02                         Proprietary Information . Employee agrees that the results and proceeds of Employee’s services for the Company or its Affiliates (including, but not limited to, any trade secrets, products, services, processes, know-how, designs, developments, innovations, analyses, drawings, reports, techniques, formulas, methods, developmental or experimental work, improvements, discoveries, inventions, ideas, source and object codes, programs, matters of a literary, musical, dramatic or otherwise creative nature, writings and other works of authorship) resulting from services performed while an employee of the Company and any works in progress, whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar statutes, that were made, developed, conceived or reduced to practice or learned by Employee, either alone or jointly with others (collectively, “ Inventions ”), shall be works-made-for-hire and the Company (or, if applicable or as directed by the Company or any of its Affiliates) shall be deemed the sole owner throughout the universe of any and all trade secret, patent, copyright and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “ Proprietary Rights ”) of whatsoever nature therein, whether or not now or hereafter known, existing, contemplated, recognized or developed, with the right to use the same in perpetuity in any manner the Company determines in its sole discretion, without any further payment to Employee whatsoever. If, for any reason, any of such results and proceeds shall not legally be a work-made-for-hire and/or there are any Proprietary Rights which do not accrue to the Company (or, as the case may be, any of its Affiliates) under the immediately preceding sentence, then Employee hereby irrevocably assigns and agrees to assign any and all of Employee’s right, title and interest thereto, including any and all Proprietary Rights of whatsoever nature therein, whether or not now or hereafter known, existing, contemplated, recognized or developed, to the Company (or, if applicable or as directed by the Company or any of its Affiliates), and the Company or its Affiliates shall have the right to use the same in perpetuity throughout the universe in any manner determined by the Company or such Affiliates without any further payment to Employee whatsoever. As to any Invention that Employee is required to assign, Employee shall promptly and fully disclose to the Company all information known to Employee concerning such Invention.

 

Employee agrees that, from time to time, as may be requested by the Company and at the Company’s sole cost and expense, Employee shall do any and all things that the Company may reasonably deem useful or desirable to establish or document the Company’s exclusive ownership throughout the United States of America or any other country of any and all Proprietary Rights in any such Inventions, including the execution of appropriate copyright and/or patent applications or assignments. To the extent Employee has any Proprietary Rights in the Inventions that cannot be assigned in the manner described above, Employee unconditionally and irrevocably waives the enforcement of such Proprietary Rights. This Section 5.02 is subject to and shall not be deemed to limit, restrict or constitute any waiver by the Company of any Proprietary Rights of ownership to which the Company may be entitled by operation of law by virtue of the Company’s being Employee’s employer. Employee further agrees that, from time to time, as may be requested by the Company and at the Company’s sole cost and expense, Employee shall assist the Company in every proper and lawful way to obtain and from time to time enforce Proprietary Rights relating to Inventions in any and all countries. To this end, Employee shall execute, verify and deliver such documents and perform such other acts (including appearances as a witness) as the Company may reasonably request for use in applying for, obtaining, perfecting, evidencing, sustaining, and enforcing such Proprietary Rights and the assignment thereof. In addition, Employee shall execute, verify, and deliver assignments of such Proprietary Rights to the Company or its designees. Employee’s obligation to assist the

 

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Company with respect to Proprietary Rights relating to such Inventions in any and all countries shall continue beyond the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company.

 

Employee hereby waives and quitclaims to the Company any and all claims, of any nature whatsoever, that Employee now or may hereafter have for infringement of any Proprietary Rights assigned hereunder to the Company.

 

6.                                       Non-competition and Non-solicitation Covenants and Adversarial Restrictions .

 

6.01                         Non-competition . Employee agrees that, during the Term and for two years after the termination of Employee’s employment for any reason (the “Non-Compete Period”), other than by virtue of a breach by Company under Section 7.01(f) below, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, (a) engage in activities or businesses (including without limitation by owning any interest in, managing, controlling, participating in, consulting with, advising, rendering services for, or in any manner engaging in the business of owning, operating or managing any business) in any geographic location in which the Company, its subsidiaries or Affiliates engage in, whether through selling, distributing, manufacturing, marketing, purchasing, or otherwise, that compete directly or indirectly with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates (“ Competitive Activities ”), it being understood that Competitive Activities as of the date hereof include, without limitation, the publication and membership businesses of the Company or any subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company; the sale, repair or service of recreational vehicles or parts and accessories for recreational vehicles or the sale of any ancillary products that are sold in connection with the sale of recreational vehicles, including but not limited to credit life insurance, roadside assistance programs and extended service warranties, in the recreational vehicle, camping and outdoor living markets; the business of developing, marketing, providing and implementing products and services (including insurance, financing, warranties and roadside assistance) to owners of recreational vehicles and motorcycles; the business of providing consumer shows to owners of recreational vehicles and boats; and the business of publishing magazines directed to owners of recreational vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, boats and outdoor enthusiasts; or (B) assist any person in any way to do, or attempt to do, anything prohibited by Section 6.01(a) above. Employee acknowledges (i) that the business of the Company and its Affiliates is national in scope and without geographical limitation within the United States and (ii) notwithstanding the jurisdiction of formation or principal office of the Company and its Affiliates, or the location of any of their respective executives or employees (including, without limitation, Employee), it is expected that the Company and its Affiliates will have business activities and have valuable business relationships within their respective industries throughout the United States.

 

6.02                         Indirect Competition . Employee further agrees that, during the Term and the Non-Compete Period, she will not, directly or indirectly, assist or encourage any other person in carrying out, direct or indirectly, any activity that would be prohibited by the above provisions of this Section 6 if such activity were carried out by Employee, either directly or indirectly; and in particular Employee agrees that she will not, directly or indirectly, induce any employee of the Company to carry out, directly or indirectly, any such activity.

 

6.03                         Non-solicitation . Employee further agrees that, during the Term and for a period of one year after the termination of his employment (the “Non-Solicitation Period”), she will not, directly or indirectly, assist or encourage any other person in seeking to employ or hire any

 

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employee, consultant, advisor or agent of the Company or any of its Affiliates or encouraging any such employee, consultant, advisor or agent to discontinue employment with the Company or any of its Affilitates.

 

6.04                         Adversarial Restrictions . During the Term and at any time thereafter, Employee shall not voluntarily aid, assist, or cooperate with any actual or potential claimants or plaintiffs or their attorneys or agents in any claims or lawsuits proposed to be asserted, pending or commenced on the date hereof or in the future against the Company or any of the Affiliates; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 6.05 will be construed to prevent Employee from testifying at an administrative hearing, a deposition, or in court in response to a lawful subpoena in any litigation or proceeding involving the Company or any Affiliate.

 

6.05                         Tolling of Periods and Enforceability . The Non-Compete Period and Non-Solicitation Period shall be tolled during (and shall be deemed automatically extended by) any period in which Employee is in violation of the provisions of this Section 6. If a final and non-appealable judicial determination is made that any of the provisions of this Section 6 constitutes an unreasonable or otherwise unenforceable restriction against Employee, the provisions of this Section 6 will not be rendered void but will be deemed to be modified to the minimum extent necessary to remain in force and effect for the longest period and largest geographic area that would not constitute such an unreasonable or unenforceable restriction. Moreover, and without limiting the generality of Section 6, notwithstanding the fact that any provision of this Section 6 is determined to not be enforceable through specific performance, the Company will nevertheless be entitled to recover monetary damages as a result of Employee’s breach of such provision.

 

6.06                         Acknowledgement . Employee acknowledges that Employee has carefully read this Agreement and has given careful consideration to the restraints imposed upon Employee by this Agreement, and is in full accord as to the necessity of such restraints for the reasonable and proper protection of the Confidential Information, business strategies, employee and customer relationships and goodwill of the Company and its subsidiaries and Affiliates now existing or to be developed in the future. Employee expressly acknowledges and agrees that each and every restraint imposed by this Agreement is reasonable with respect to subject matter, time period and geographical area. Employee further acknowledges that although Employee’s compliance with the covenants contained in Sections 5 and 6 may prevent Employee from earning a livelihood in a business similar to the business of the Company, Employee’s experience and capabilities are such that Employee has other opportunities to earn a livelihood and adequate means of support for Employee and Employee’s dependents.

 

7.                               Termination .

 

7.01                         Grounds for Termination . Employee’s employment with the Company shall terminate under any of the circumstances set forth below.

 

a.                                       If Employee shall die or become disabled (as defined in Section 7.03 below);

 

b.                                       By mutual agreement of the Company and Employee;

 

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c.                                        By Employee for any reason upon notice to the Company;

 

d.                                       By the Company for cause (as defined in Section 7.02 below);

 

e.                                        By the Company without cause; provided that in such event and in exchange for a full release of claims from the Employee, the Company will pay Employee the amounts provided under Section 7.05 below;

 

f.                                         By Employee in the event of a material default of this Agreement by the Company, which default remains uncured for ten (10) days following written notice thereof.

 

Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement and Employee’s employment by the Company, Employee, in consideration of his employment hereunder to the date of such termination, shall remain bound by the provisions of this Agreement which specifically relate to periods, activities or obligations upon or subsequent to the termination of Employee’s employment including without limitation the provisions of Sections 5, 6 and 8 hereof.

 

7.02                         For Cause Defined . Termination of Employee’s employment by the Company for any of the following reasons shall be deemed termination for cause:

 

a.                                       Employee shall have breached this Agreement in any material respect (other than as provided in clause (e) below), which breach in the case of this clause is not cured by, or is not capable of being cured, within ten (10) days after written notice of such breach is delivered to Employee; or

 

b.                                       Employee has engaged in misconduct (including violation of the Company’s policies) that is materially injurious to the Company as reasonably determined by the Company’s Board of Governors; or

 

c.                                        Employee has been convicted of (i) any felony or (ii) any misdemeanor involving a crime of moral turpitude, theft or fraud; or

 

d.                                       Employee uses illegal substances; or

 

e.                                        Employee falsifies or causes to be falsified, in any material respect, the financial records and financial statements of the Company.

 

7.03                         “Disability” Defined . The Company may determine that Employee is disabled if she shall fail, because of illness or incapacity, to render services of the character contemplated by this Agreement for a period of three (3) consecutive months.

 

7.04                         Surrender of Records and Property . Upon termination of his employment with the Company for any reason, Employee shall deliver promptly to the Company all records, manuals, books, blank forms, documents, letters, memoranda, notes, notebooks, reports, data, tables, calculations or copies thereof, which are the property of the Company or any of its Affiliates or which relate in any way to the business, products, practices or techniques of the

 

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Company or any of its Affiliates, and all other property, trade secrets and confidential information of the Company or any of its Affiliates, including, but not limited to, all documents which in whole or in part contain any trade secrets or confidential information of the Company or any of its Affiliates, which in any of these cases are in his possession or under his control.

 

7.05                         Payments Upon Termination . If this Agreement is terminated for any reason set forth in Section 7, then Employee shall be entitled to receive (a) his Base Salary through the date of the termination, (b) any accrued and unused vacation or paid time off time through the date of the termination, and (c) reimbursement of any business expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business through the date of termination that have not yet been reimbursed pursuant to Section 4.04. If Employee’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 7.01(a) then Employee, or Employee’s heirs and assigns, as the case may be, shall be entitled to receive any incentive compensation pursuant to Section 4.02 for the preceding calendar year, to the extent not yet paid, when due and any incentive compensation for the entire calendar year in which Employee’s employment is terminated to the extent the results for such year were attributable to Employee, which amount shall not in any event exceed the incentive bonus for the calendar year immediately preceding such termination, which payment shall be made within 120 days following the end of such calendar year in which the Employee’s employment was so terminated. If Employee’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 7.01(e) or (f) and provided that Employee shall have executed and delivered to the Company a full release of claims in a form prepared by and acceptable to the Company and any period for rescission of such release shall have expired without Employee having rescinding such release, then Employee shall be entitled to receive: (a) any incentive compensation pursuant to Section 4.02 for the preceding calendar year to the extent not yet paid when such amount would have been payable pursuant to Section 4.02 if his employment had not terminated; (b) any incentive compensation for the calendar year in which Employee’s employment is terminated for the period from the beginning of such calendar year to the end of the month immediately preceding the date of the termination of Employee’s employment which payment shall be made within 90 days following such termination of employee’s employment; and (c) an amount equal to the Base Salary for one (1) year, less the amount of any accrued and unpaid vacation, payment of which shall be made over a one (1) year period at the same times and in the same manner as his Base Salary had been paid to Employee prior to the termination of his employment hereunder.

 

8.                                       Miscellaneous .

 

8.01                         Governing Law; Venue . This Agreement is made under and shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.

 

8.02                         Prior Agreements . This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings with respect to such subject matter, and the parties hereto have made no agreement, representations or warranties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement which are not set forth herein.

 

8.03                         Withholding Taxes . The Company may withhold from any benefits payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes as shall be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling.

 

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8.04                         Amendments . No amendments or modifications of this Agreement shall be deemed effective unless made in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

 

8.05                         No Waiver . No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been waived, nor shall there by an estoppel to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, except by a statement in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of the waiver or estoppel is sought. Any written waiver shall not be deemed a continuing waiver unless specifically stated, shall operate only as to the specific term or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of such term or condition for the future or as to any act other than that specifically waived.

 

8.06                         Severability . To the extent any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable, it shall be considered deleted herefrom and the remainder of such provision and of this Agreement shall be unaffected and shall continue in full force and effect. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, should the duration or geographical extent of, or business activities covered by, any provision of this Agreement be in excess of that which is valid and enforceable under applicable law, then such provision shall be construed to cover only that duration, extent or activities which may validly and enforceably be covered. Employee acknowledges the uncertainty of the law in this respect and expressly stipulates that this Agreement be given the construction which renders its provisions valid and enforceable to the maximum extent (not exceeding its express terms) possible under applicable law.

 

8.07                         Assignment . This Agreement shall not be assignable, in whole or in part, by either party without the written consent of the other party. After any such assignment by the Company, the Company shall be discharged from all further liability hereunder and such assignee shall thereafter be deemed to be the Company for the purposes of all provisions of this Agreement including this Section 8.

 

8.08                         Injunctive Relief . Employee agrees that it would be difficult to compensate the Company fully for damages for any violation of the provisions of this Agreement, including without limitation the provisions of Sections 5 and 6. Accordingly, Employee specifically agrees that the Company shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief to enforce the provisions of this Agreement and that such relief may be granted without the necessity of proving actual damages. This provision with respect to injunctive relief shall not, however, diminish the right of the Company to claim and recover damages in addition to injunctive relief.

 

8.09                         Attorneys’ Fees and Costs . The Company and Employee agree that in the event any litigation arises out of this Agreement between Company and Employee, the prevailing party in such litigation shall be entitled to recover its attorney’s fees and costs brought relating to such litigation.

 

8.10                         No Mitigation Obligation . All amounts paid to Employee under this Agreement following Employee’s termination of employment and this Agreement are acknowledged by the Company and Employee to be reasonable and to be liquidated damages, and Employee will not be required to reduce the amount of such payments by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor will any profits, income, earnings or other benefits from any source whatsoever (including from other employment) create any mitigation, offset, reduction or any other obligation on the part of Employee under this Agreement.

 

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8.11                         Notices . Any notice, payment, demand or communication required or permitted to be given by the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been effectively given and received on the date personally delivered to the respective party to whom it is directed, or five (5) days after the date when deposited by registered or certified mail, with postage and charges prepaid and addressed to such party at its address below its signature. Any party may change its address by delivering a written change of address to all of the other parties in the manner set forth in this Section 8.11.

 

8.12                         Administration . In the event Employee shall disagree with the amount of EBITDA, as determined by the Company (written notice of which shall be given by the Employee within thirty (30) days of the receipt of such determination by the Company), EBITDA shall be determined by the independent certified public accountants of the Company or, if the Company has not then engaged a firm of independent certified public accountants, any nationally recognized firm of public accountants selected by the Company (the “Independent Accountant”). The Independent Accountant shall determine the EBITDA within thirty (30) days after its appointment and shall be instructed to deliver to the Company and Employee a written report of its determination of the amount of EBITDA. The cost of the accounting services performed by the Independent Accountant shall be borne by the Company (but the cost thereof shall be considered a liability of the Company) unless the amount of the EBITDA as determined by the Independent Accountant is the same as the amount determined by the Company, in which event the entire cost of the services of the Independent Accountant shall be borne by the Employee.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date set forth in the first paragraph.

 

 

FREEDOMROADS, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Marcus Lemonis

 

 

Marcus Lemonis, Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

Addresses: 250 Parkway Drive, Ste. 270

 

 

 

Lincolnshire, IL 60069

 

 

 

Attn: Marcus Lemonis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Mark Boggess

 

Mark Boggess

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

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Exhibit 10.22

 

Final Version

 

CWGS ENTERPRISES, LLC

EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.                                       Purpose; Eligibility.

 

1.1                                General . The name of this plan is the CWGS Enterprises, LLC Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”). The purposes of the Plan are to (a) enable CWGS Enterprises, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), and any Subsidiary (capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein are defined in Section 2 hereof) of the Company, to attract and retain the types of Employees and Directors who will contribute to the Company’s long range success; (b) provide incentives that align the interests of Employees and Directors with those of the members of the Company; and (c) promote the success of the Company’s business. This Plan is the Equity Incentive Plan as contemplated by and defined in the Company’s Limited Liability Company Agreement dated as of March 2, 2011, as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented (the “ LLC Agreement ”).

 

1.2                                Eligible Award Recipients . The persons eligible to receive Awards are the Employees and the Directors.

 

1.3                                Available Awards . The Awards that may be granted under the Plan are Profits Units as contemplated by and defined in the LLC Agreement. Except to the extent expressly set forth herein, the Plan, all Awards and all Profits Units are subject to the terms and limitations of the LLC Agreement.

 

1.4                                Definitions . Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the LLC Agreement. The following terms used herein have the following meanings:

 

Applicable Laws ” means the requirements related to or implicated by the administration of the Plan under applicable state corporate or limited liability company law, United States federal and state securities laws, and the Code.

 

Award ” means the issuance of a specified number of Profits Units under and in accordance with the Plan evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual award of Profits Units granted under the Plan which may, in the discretion of the Company, be transmitted electronically to any Participant. Each Award shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company designated by the Members pursuant to the terms of the LLC Agreement, as constituted at any time.

 

Cause ” means any of the following: (A) Grantee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, or willful failure to substantially perform Grantee’s duties to the Company or

 



 

any of its Subsidiaries (other than due to physical or mental illness or incapacity), (B) Grantee’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, or confession to, (1) a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or (2) a felony (or the equivalent of a misdemeanor or felony in a jurisdiction other than the United States), (C) Grantee’s willful breach of a material provision of the Plan or the Award, or any other agreement between Grantee and the Company or its Subsidiaries, (D) Grantee’s willful violation of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ written policies that the Board determines is detrimental to the best interests of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (E) Grantee’s fraud or misappropriation, embezzlement or material misuse of funds or property belonging to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (F) Grantee’s use of alcohol or drugs that interferes with the performance of Grantee’s duties to the Company; provided , however , that Grantee shall be provided a 10-day period to cure any of the events or occurrences described in the immediately preceding clauses (A), (C), (D) or (F) hereof, to the extent curable.

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as it may be amended from time to time. Any reference to a section of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Committee ” means a committee of one or more members of the Board appointed by the Board to administer the Plan in accordance with Section 2.3.

 

Company ” means CWGS Enterprises, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and any successor thereto.

 

Determination Date ” for any Grantee means, in the case of an Employee, the date of termination of the Grantee’s employment by the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, whether by death or otherwise and, in the case of a Director, the date of termination of the Grantee’s engagement as a director of the Company, whether by death or otherwise.

 

Director ” means a member of the Board.

 

Effective Date ” means the date as of which this Plan is adopted by the Board.

 

Employee ” means any person employed by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company.

 

Governing Documents ” means, with respect to any Award, the LLC Agreement, the Plan and the Award itself.

 

Grant Date ” means the date on which the Committee adopts a resolution, or takes other appropriate action, expressly granting an Award to a Participant that specifies the terms and conditions of the Award or, if a later date is set forth in such resolution, then such date as is set forth in such resolution.

 

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Grantee ” means the recipient of a grant of a Profits Unit pursuant to an Award and such Grantee’s heirs, administrators and permitted assigns.

 

Joinder Agreement ” means an agreement in substantially the form attached to the LLC Agreement as Exhibit A.

 

LLC Agreement ” means the Company’s Limited Liability Company Agreement dated as of March 2, 2011, as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented.

 

Members ” means a Member of the Company pursuant to the terms of the LLC Agreement.

 

Note ” means a promissory note of the Company delivered in redemption of a Profits Unit substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. Notes are unsecured obligations of the Company and subordinate to the obligations and other liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Notes are non-negotiable.

 

Participant ” means an eligible person to whom an Award is to be granted pursuant to the Plan. A Participant to whom an Award has been issued is a Grantee.

 

Plan ” means this CWGS Enterprises, LLC Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and/or amended and restated from time to time.

 

Person ” means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, joint stock company, limited liability company, governmental authority or other entity of any kind.

 

Redemption Value ” means, with respect to Call Interests, the Fair Market Value of such Call Interests as of the applicable Determination Date, taking into account the Threshold Amount of such Call Interests.

 

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

 

Subsidiary ” means any Person of which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, the majority of the outstanding ownership interests entitled to vote.

 

Termination without Cause ” means any termination of Grantee’s employment or engagement by the Company and its Subsidiaries other than for Cause (and other than due to death or disability).

 

Threshold Amount means $140 million or such other amount as may be set forth in an Award as the Threshold Amount less, in all cases, Distributions under Sections 5.1(a)(ii), (iii) and (iv) of the LLC Agreement, made by the Company to its Members after the date of such Award to the extent the Profits Units set forth in such

 

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Award have not participated in such distribution, as a result of failure to vest or otherwise.

 

2.                                       Administration .

 

2.1                                Authority of Committee . The Plan shall be administered by the Committee or, in the Board’s sole discretion, by the Board. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee’s charter and Applicable Laws, and in addition to other express powers and authorization conferred by the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority:

 

(a)                                  to construe and interpret the Plan and apply its provisions;

 

(b)                                  to promulgate, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to the administration of the Plan;

 

(c)                                   to authorize any person to execute, on behalf of the Company, any instrument required to carry out the purposes of the Plan;

 

(d)                                  to determine when Awards are to be granted under the Plan and the applicable Grant Date;

 

(e)                                   from time to time to select, subject to the limitations set forth in this Plan, those Participants to whom Awards shall be granted;

 

(f)                                    to determine the number Profits Units to be made subject to each Award;

 

(g)                                   to prescribe the terms and conditions of each Award and to specify the provisions of the Award relating to such grant;

 

(h)                                  to make decisions with respect to outstanding Awards that may become necessary upon a change in corporate control or an event that triggers anti-dilution adjustments;

 

(i)                                      to interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any defect in and/or supply any omission in the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award granted under, the Plan; and

 

(j)                                     to exercise discretion to make any and all other determinations which it determines to be necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.

 

2.2                                Committee Decisions Final . All decisions made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final and binding on the Company and the

 

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Participants, unless such decisions are determined by a court having jurisdiction to be arbitrary and capricious.

 

2.3                                Delegation . The Committee, or if no Committee has been appointed, the Board, may delegate administration of the Plan to a committee or committees of one or more members of the Board, and the term “ Committee ” shall apply to any person or persons to whom such authority has been delegated. The Committee shall have the power to delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board or the Committee shall thereafter be to the committee or subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Plan. The members of the Committee shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Board. From time to time, the Board may increase or decrease the size of the Committee, add additional members to, remove members (with or without cause) from, appoint new members in substitution therefor, and fill vacancies, however caused, in the Committee. The Committee shall act pursuant to a vote of the majority of its members or, in the case of a Committee comprised of only two members, the unanimous consent of its members, whether present or not, or by the written consent of the majority of its members and minutes shall be kept of all of its meetings and copies thereof shall be provided to the Board. Subject to the limitations prescribed by the Plan and the Board, the Committee may establish and follow such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as it may determine to be advisable.

 

2.4                                Indemnification . In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as Directors or members of the Committee, and to the extent allowed by Applicable Laws, the Committee shall be indemnified by the Company against the reasonable expenses, including attorney’s fees, actually incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding or in connection with any appeal therein, to which the Committee may be party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan, and against all amounts paid by the Committee in settlement thereof ( provided, however , that the settlement has been approved by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) or paid by the Committee in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such Committee did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Company, or in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reason to believe that the conduct complained of was unlawful; provided, however , that within 60 days after institution of any such action, suit or proceeding, such Committee shall, in writing, offer the Company the opportunity at its own expense to handle and defend such action, suit or proceeding.

 

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2.5                                Profits Units Subject to the Plan . Pursuant to the terms of the LLC Agreement, a total of Fifteen Thousand Five Hundred Fifty-six (15,556) Profits Units have been authorized for the grant of Awards under the Plan. Any Profits Units subject to an Award that is cancelled, forfeited or expires prior to exercise or realization, either in full or in part, shall again become available for issuance under the Plan.

 

3.                                       Eligibility . Awards may be granted only to Employees and Directors.

 

4.                                       Profits Units .

 

4.1                                General . Each Profits Unit awarded under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award. Each Profits Unit so awarded shall be subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan and the Award. The Award may set forth such terms and conditions as may be established by the Committee including, without limitation, provisions with respect to vesting and determination of the Threshold Amount. Except to the extent expressly set forth herein and in the Award, the terms and provisions of Profits Units awarded under the Plan shall be as set forth in the LLC Agreement.

 

4.2                                Vesting . Unless otherwise provided in Grantee’s employment or services agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company or in Grantee’s Award, Awards shall vest in four equal installments on the first four anniversaries of the Grant Date (provided that the initial Awards under the Plan to Grantees who were either a Director or Employee of the Company (a) holding such position on March 2, 2011, shall vest in four equal installments on the first four anniversaries of March 2, 2011 or (b) first holding such position after March 2, 2011, shall vest in four equal installments on the first four anniversaries of their date of hire). Upon the occurrence of the Determination Date, any Profits Units granted pursuant to the Award that have vested shall be subject to redemption by the Company as set forth in Section 4.6 below and any Profits Units granted pursuant to the Award that have not vested shall lapse and be forfeited to the Company. As a condition to the vesting of Profits Units, the Grantee shall execute and be bound by the terms of a joinder agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A to the LLC Agreement.

 

4.3                                Transfers . No Profits Unit may be sold, transferred or assigned except to the estate of the Grantee or a trust of which the Grantee (or the Grantee’s immediately family members) is (are) the sole beneficiary(ies), subject to and in accordance with the provisions of Article IX of the LLC Agreement..

 

4.4                                Transfers Pursuant to Article IX of the LLC Agreement . In the event of any Transfer of Membership Units pursuant to the terms of Section 9.2 of the LLC Agreement, as provided in the LLC Agreement, the Board is to take such actions as it shall determine to be fair and equitable to provide the Profits Members with substantially the same economic benefits as the Common Members in any such Transfer (taking into account the applicable Distribution Thresholds with respect to each Profits Member’s

 

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Profits Units). Each Award shall provide that the Grantee agrees to accept the economic benefits so determined by the Board and to sell, assign or transfer the Profits Units in connection with such Transfer as established by the Board.

 

4.5                                Exit Events . In the event of any Exit Event, all awarded Profits Units shall be subject to the terms of Article X of the LLC Agreement, and each Grantee shall comply with the requirements thereof.

 

4.6                                Company Call Right; Redemption . Except as otherwise provided in a Grantee’s employment or services agreement with the Company or in a Grantee’s Award:

 

(a)                                  Upon the occurrence of the Determination Date with respect to such Grantee, the Company shall have the right (but not the obligation) to elect, within 210 days following the Determination Date, to purchase (and in such case Grantee shall be obligated to sell to the Company) all or any portion of the outstanding vested Profits Units at the Redemption Value.

 

(b)                                  The vested Profits Units referred to in Section 4.6(a) are referred to as the “ Call Interests ”. The Company shall exercise the rights set forth in Section 4.6(a) by delivery to Grantee of a written notice (a “ Call Notice ”). The Call Notice shall set forth the Redemption Value and the proposed closing date of the purchase of such Call Interests; provided that such closing date shall be proposed to occur within ninety (90) days following such Call Notice. Following the delivery of a Call Notice in respect of Call Interests, Grantee shall no longer be entitled to any rights in respect of such Call Interests, including any distributions from the Company (other than the payment of the Redemption Value at such closing).

 

(c)                                   The determination of the Redemption Value by the Committee shall be conclusive and binding upon the Grantee provided that, if the Grantee shall disagree with the Redemption Value as determined by the Committee, Redemption Value of the vested Profits Units being redeemed shall be determined by the independent certified public accountants of the Company (the “ Independent Accountant ”). The Independent Accountant shall determine Redemption Value of the vested Profits Units being redeemed within 60 days after its appointment and shall be instructed to deliver to the Company and the Grantee a written report of its determination of the Redemption Value of the vested Profits Units being redeemed. The cost of the accounting services performed by the Independent Accountant shall be borne by the Grantee and shall be deducted by the Company from the Redemption Value payable hereunder, unless the Redemption Value as determined by the Independent Accountant exceeds by the greater of $250,000 or 10% the amount of the Redemption Value determined by the Committee, in which event the entire cost of the services of the Independent Accountant shall be borne by the Company.

 

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(d)                                  At the closing of any such sale, in exchange for the payment of the Redemption Value in cash, (A) Grantee shall deliver the Call Interests, duly endorsed, or accompanied by written instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, duly executed by Grantee and accompanied by all requisite transfer taxes, if any, (B) such Call Interests shall be free and clear of any liens or encumbrances and (C) Grantee shall so represent and warrant and further represent and warrant that it is the sole beneficial and record owner of such Call Interests free and clear of any liens or encumbrance. However, if (1) the Determination Date has occurred as a result of a resignation by Grantee, or (2) the Company is not permitted to pay the entire Redemption Value in cash pursuant to the then applicable terms and conditions of the agreements governing indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the Company is subject to liquidity constraints as reasonably determined in good faith by the Committee, then the Company shall have the option in its discretion (or shall be required in the case of the immediately preceding clause (2)) to settle its obligations to purchase all or any portion of the Call Interests by delivery to Grantee at the closing of the purchase of such Call Interests of a Note in the principal amount of the Redemption Value of the Call Interests on the proposed closing date (or, if later, within 30 days of the final determination of the Redemption Value).

 

4.7                                Termination for Cause . Upon the occurrence of a Determination Date resulting from a termination by the Company and its Subsidiaries for Cause with respect to a Grantee, all Profits Units granted to that Grantee, whether vested or unvested, shall, on the Determination Date, lapse and be forfeited to the Company without any consideration therefor.

 

4.8                                Legend . Each certificate, if any, representing Profits Units awarded under the Plan may bear a legend in such form as the Company deems appropriate.

 

5.                                       Adjustments upon Changes in Membership Interests . In the event of changes in the outstanding Membership Interests or in the capital structure of the Company by reason of any extraordinary corporate transaction such as any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange, or other relevant change in capitalization occurring after the Grant Date of any Award, Awards granted under the Plan and any Awards will be equitably adjusted or substituted, as to the number or percentage of a share of total Membership Interests or other consideration subject to such Awards to the extent necessary to preserve the economic intent of such Award. The Company shall give each Grantee notice of an adjustment hereunder and, upon notice, such adjustment shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes.

 

6.                                       Amendment of the Plan and Awards .

 

6.1                                Amendment of Plan . The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend or terminate the Plan.

 

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6.2                                No Impairment of Rights . Rights of a Grantee under any Award granted before amendment of the Plan shall not be adversely affected by any amendment of the Plan unless (a) the Company requests the consent of such Grantee and (b) such Grantee consents in writing.

 

6.3                                Amendment of Awards . The Committee at any time, and from time to time, may amend the terms of any one or more Awards; provided, however , that the Committee may not effect any amendment which would otherwise adversely affect the rights of a Grantee under any Award unless (a) the Company requests the consent of such Grantee and (b) such Grantee consents in writing.

 

7.                                       General Provisions .

 

7.1                                Forfeiture Events . The Committee may specify in an Award that the Grantee’s rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain events. Such events may include, without limitation, breach of non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality, or other restrictive covenants applicable to the Grantee, a termination of the Grantee’s employment for cause, or other conduct by the Grantee that is detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries.

 

7.2                                Other Compensation Arrangements . Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

 

7.3                                Other Provisions . The Awards authorized under the Plan may contain such other provisions not inconsistent with this Plan as the Committee may deem advisable.

 

7.4                                Section 83(b) . Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, it shall be a condition subsequent to any Grantee’s receipt of any Profits Units that such Grantee make an election under Section 83(b) of the Code within thirty days of the award of such Profits Units.

 

7.5                                Withholding Taxes . The Company may withhold from any payment to be made under this Plan (and transmit to the proper taxing authority) such amount as it may be required to withhold under any federal, state or other law.

 

7.6                                Administration . The Company and its executive officers shall have full power to interpret, construe and administer this Plan and any Award, including authority to determine any dispute or claim with respect thereto. The determination of the Company in any matter, made in good faith, shall be binding and conclusive upon the Grantee and all other persons having any right or benefit hereunder.

 

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7.7                                Affiliate Performance . Any of the obligations of the Company hereunder may be performed by an affiliate of the Company and such performance by an affiliate shall be deemed to satisfy any such obligation of the Company hereunder.

 

7.8                                Expenses . The costs of administering the Plan shall be paid by the Company, except as otherwise specifically provided herein.

 

7.9                                Severability . If any of the provisions of the Plan or any Award is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, whether in whole or in part, such provision shall be deemed modified to the extent, but only to the extent, of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability and the remaining provisions shall not be affected thereby.

 

7.10                         Plan Headings . The headings in the Plan are for purposes of convenience only and are not intended to define or limit the construction of the provisions hereof.

 

7.11                         Non-Uniform Treatment . The Committee’s determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made by it selectively among persons who are eligible to receive, or actually receive, Awards. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee shall be entitled to make non-uniform and selective determinations, amendments and adjustments, and to enter into non-uniform and selective Awards.

 

7.12                         Effective Date of Plan . The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date.

 

8.                                       Choice of Law . The law of the State of Delaware shall govern all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Plan, without regard to such state’s conflict of law rules.

 

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Exhibit 10.23

 

CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC.
2016 INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

 

ARTICLE 1.

 

PURPOSE

 

The purpose of the Camping World Holdings, Inc. 2016 Incentive Award Plan (as it may be amended or restated from time to time, the “ Plan ”) is to promote the success and enhance the value of Camping World Holdings, Inc. (the “ Company ”) by linking the individual interests of the members of the Board, Employees, and Consultants to those of Company stockholders and by providing such individuals with an incentive for outstanding performance to generate superior returns to Company stockholders. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of members of the Board, Employees, and Consultants upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the Company’s operation is largely dependent.

 

ARTICLE 2.

 

DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION

 

Wherever the following terms are used in the Plan they shall have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The singular pronoun shall include the plural where the context so indicates.

 

2.1              “ Administrator ” shall mean the entity that conducts the general administration of the Plan as provided in Article 12. With reference to the duties of the Committee under the Plan which have been delegated to one or more persons pursuant to Section 12.6, or as to which the Board has assumed, the term “Administrator” shall refer to such person(s) unless the Committee or the Board has revoked such delegation or the Board has terminated the assumption of such duties.

 

2.2              “ Affiliate ” shall mean (a) any Subsidiary, (b) any Parent, and (c) any domestic eligible entity that is disregarded, under Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-3, as an entity separate from either (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary or (iii) any Parent.

 

2.3              “ Applicable Accounting Standards ” shall mean Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States, International Financial Reporting Standards or such other accounting principles or standards as may apply to the Company’s financial statements under United States federal securities laws from time to time.

 

2.4              “ Applicable Law ” shall mean any applicable law, including without limitation: (a) provisions of the Code, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any rules or regulations thereunder; (b) corporate, securities, tax or other laws, statutes, rules, requirements or regulations, whether federal, state, local or foreign; and (c) rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded.

 



 

2.5              Intentionally omitted.

 

2.6              “ Award ” shall mean an Option, a Stock Appreciation Right, a Restricted Stock award, a Restricted Stock Unit award, an Other Stock or Cash Based Award or a Dividend Equivalent award, which may be awarded or granted under the Plan (collectively, “ Awards ”).

 

2.7              “ Award Agreement ” shall mean any written notice, agreement, terms and conditions, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award, including through electronic medium, which shall contain such terms and conditions with respect to an Award as the Administrator shall determine consistent with the Plan.

 

2.8              “ Award Limit ” shall mean with respect to Awards that shall be payable in Shares or in cash, as the case may be, the respective limit set forth in Section 3.2 .

 

2.9              “ Board ” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

2.10            “ Change in Control ” shall mean and includes each of the following:

 

(a)           A transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of Common Stock to the general public through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) whereby any “person” or related “group” of “persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries, any employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, any Significant Stockholder, or a “person” that, prior to such transaction, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition; provided , however , that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (i) any acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) any acquisition by an employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) any acquisition which complies with Sections 2.10(c)(i), 2.10(c)(ii) and 2.10(c)(iii); or (iv) in respect of an Award held by a particular Holder, any acquisition by the Holder or any group of persons including the Holder (or any entity controlled by the Holder or any group of persons including the Holder); or

 

(b)           The Incumbent Directors cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board;

 

(c)           The consummation by the Company (whether directly involving the Company or indirectly involving the Company through one or more intermediaries) of (x) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination, (y) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in any single transaction or series of related transactions or (z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity, in each case other than a transaction:

 

(i)            which results in the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Company or the person that, as a result of the

 

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transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Company or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company (the Company or such person, the “ Successor Entity ”)) directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction, and

 

(ii)           after which no person or group beneficially owns voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity; provided , however , that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this Section 2.10(c)(ii) as beneficially owning 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in the Company prior to the consummation of the transaction; and

 

(iii)          after which at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or the analogous governing body) of the Successor Entity were Board members at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such transaction; or

 

(d)           The consummation of a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award (or any portion of an Award) that provides for the deferral of compensation and is subject to Section 409A, to the extent required to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A, the transaction or event described in subsection (a), (b), (c) or (d) with respect to such Award (or portion thereof) shall only constitute a Change in Control for purposes of the payment timing of such Award if such transaction also constitutes a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).

 

The Administrator shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its sole discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to the above definition, and the date of the occurrence of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.

 

2.11            “ Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, together with the regulations and official guidance promulgated thereunder, whether issued prior or subsequent to the grant of any Award.

 

2.12            “ Committee ” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board, or another committee or subcommittee of the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board as described in Article 12 hereof.

 

2.13            “ Common Stock ” shall mean the Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share.

 

2.14            “ Company ” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 1.

 

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2.15            “ Consultant ” shall mean any consultant or adviser engaged to provide services to the Company or any Subsidiary who qualifies as a consultant under the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission for registration of shares on a Form S-8 Registration Statement.

 

2.16            “ Covered Employee ” shall mean any Employee who is, or could be, a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

2.17            “ Director ” shall mean a member of the Board, as constituted from time to time.

 

2.18            “ Director Limit ” shall  have the meaning set forth in Section 4.6.

 

2.19            “ Dividend Equivalent ” shall mean a right to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Shares) of dividends paid on Shares, awarded under Section 10.2.

 

2.20            “ DRO ” shall mean a domestic relations order as defined by the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, or the rules thereunder.

 

2.21            “ Effective Date ” shall mean the day immediately prior to the Public Trading Date.

 

2.22            “ Eligible Individual ” shall mean any person who is an Employee, a Consultant or a Non-Employee Director, as determined by the Administrator.

 

2.23            “ Employee ” shall mean any officer or other employee (as determined in accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder) of the Company or of any Subsidiary.

 

2.24            “ Equity Restructuring ” shall mean a nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and its stockholders, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, rights offering or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, that affects the number or kind of Shares (or other securities of the Company) or the share price of Common Stock (or other securities) and causes a change in the per-share value of the Common Stock underlying outstanding Awards.

 

2.25            “ Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

2.26            “ Expiration Date ” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 13.1.

 

2.27            “ Fair Market Value ” shall mean, as of any given date, the value of a Share determined as follows:

 

(a)           If the Common Stock is (i) listed on any established securities exchange (such as the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Capital Market, the NASDAQ Global Market and the NASDAQ Global Select Market), (ii) listed on any national market system or (iii) quoted or traded on any automated quotation system, its Fair Market Value shall be the

 

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closing sales price for a Share as quoted on such exchange or system for such date or, if there is no closing sales price for a Share on the date in question, the closing sales price for a Share on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

 

(b)           If the Common Stock is not listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system, but the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be the mean of the high bid and low asked prices for such date or, if there are no high bid and low asked prices for a Share on such date, the high bid and low asked prices for a Share on the last preceding date for which such information exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or

 

(c)           If the Common Stock is neither listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system nor regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be established by the Administrator in good faith.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Award granted after the effectiveness of the Company’s registration statement relating to its initial public offering and on or prior to the Public Trading Date, the Fair Market Value shall mean the initial public offering price of a Share as set forth in the Company’s final prospectus relating to its initial public offering filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

2.28            “ Greater Than 10% Stockholder” shall mean an individual then owning (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any subsidiary corporation (as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code) or parent corporation thereof (as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code).

 

2.29            “ Holder ” shall mean a person who has been granted an Award.

 

2.30            “ Incentive Stock Option ” shall mean an Option that is intended to qualify as an incentive stock option and conforms to the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code.

 

2.31            “ Incumbent Directors ’ shall mean for any period of 12 consecutive months, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new Director(s) (other than a Director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Section 2.10(a) or 2.10(c)) whose election or nomination for election to the Board was approved by a vote of at least a majority (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for Director without objection to such nomination) of the Directors then still in office who either were Directors at the beginning of the 12-month period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved.  No individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to Directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be an Incumbent Director.

 

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2.32            “ Non-Employee Director ” shall mean a Director of the Company who is not an Employee.

 

2.33            “ Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.6.

 

2.34            “ Non-Qualified Stock Option ” shall mean an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option or which is designated as an Incentive Stock Option but does not meet the applicable requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

 

2.35            “ Option ” shall mean a right to purchase Shares at a specified exercise price, granted under Article 6. An Option shall be either a Non-Qualified Stock Option or an Incentive Stock Option; provided , however , that Options granted to Non-Employee Directors and Consultants shall only be Non-Qualified Stock Options.

 

2.36            “ Option Term ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.4.

 

2.37            “ Organizational Documents ” shall mean, collectively, (a) the Company’s articles of incorporation, certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other similar organizational documents relating to the creation and governance of the Company, and (b) the Committee’s charter or other similar organizational documentation relating to the creation and governance of the Committee.

 

2.38            “ Other Stock or Cash Based Award ” shall mean a cash payment, cash bonus award, stock payment, stock bonus award, performance award or incentive award that is paid in cash, Shares or a combination of both, awarded under Section 10.1, which may include, without limitation, deferred stock, deferred stock units, retainers, committee fees, and meeting-based fees.

 

2.39            “ Performance-Based Compensation ” shall mean any compensation that is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code.

 

2.40            “ Performance Criteria ” shall mean the criteria (and adjustments) that the Administrator selects for an Award for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal or Performance Goals for a Performance Period, determined as follows:

 

(a)           The Performance Criteria that shall be used to establish Performance Goals are limited to the following: (i) net earnings or losses (either before or after one or more of the following: (A) interest, (B) taxes, (C) depreciation and (D) amortization); (ii) gross or net sales or revenue; (iii) revenue growth or product revenue growth; (iv) net income (either before or after taxes); (v) adjusted net income; (vi) operating earnings or profit (either before or after taxes); (vii) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow and free cash flow); (viii) return on assets or net assets; (ix) return on capital and cost of capital; (x) return on stockholders’ equity; (xi) total stockholder return; (xii) return on sales; (xiii) gross or net profit or operating margin; (xiv) costs, reductions in costs and cost control measures; (xv) funds from operations or funds available for distributions; (xvi) expenses; (xvii) working capital; (xviii) earnings or loss per share; (xix) adjusted earnings per share; (xx) price per share of Common

 

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Stock or appreciation in and/or maintenance of such price; (xxi) economic value added models or similar metrics; (xxii) regulatory achievements or compliance (including, without limitation, regulatory body approval for commercialization of a product); (xxiii) implementation or completion of critical projects or processes; (xxiv) sales or market share; (xxv) licensing revenue; (xxvi) brand recognition/acceptance, (xxvii) inventory turns or cycle time and supply chain achievements (including, without limitation, establishing relationships with manufacturers or suppliers of component materials and manufacturers of the Company’s products), (xxviii) strategic initiatives (including, without limitation, with respect to market penetration, geographic business expansion, manufacturing, commercialization, production and productivity, customer satisfaction and growth, employee satisfaction, recruitment and maintenance of personnel, human resources management, supervision of litigation and other legal matters, information technology, strategic partnerships and transactions (including acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, in-licensing and out-licensing of intellectual property, and establishment of relationships with commercial entities with respect to the marketing, distribution and sale of Company products, and factoring transactions, research and development and related activity, and financial or other capital raising transactions); (xxix) new or existing store results and operations and new store openings; and (xxx) financial ratios (including, without limitation, those measuring liquidity, activity, profitability or leverage), any of which may be measured either in absolute terms or as compared to any incremental increase or decrease or as compared to results of a peer group or to market performance indicators or indices.

 

(b)           The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may provide that one or more objectively determinable adjustments shall be made to one or more of the Performance Goals. Such adjustments may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: (i) items related to a change in Applicable Accounting Standards; (ii) items relating to financing activities; (iii) expenses for restructuring or productivity initiatives; (iv) other non-operating items; (v) items related to acquisitions; (vi) items attributable to the business operations of any entity acquired by the Company during the Performance Period; (vii) items related to the sale or disposition of a business or segment of a business; (viii) items related to discontinued operations that do not qualify as a segment of a business under Applicable Accounting Standards; (ix) items attributable to any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of stock occurring during the Performance Period; (x) any other items of significant income or expense which are determined to be appropriate adjustments; (xi) items relating to unusual or infrequent corporate transactions, events or developments, (xii) items related to amortization of acquired intangible assets; (xiii) items that are outside the scope of the Company’s core, on-going business activities; (xiv) items related to acquired in-process research and development; (xv) items relating to changes in tax laws; (xvi) items relating to major licensing or partnership arrangements; (xvii) items relating to asset impairment charges; (xviii) items relating to gains or losses for litigation, arbitration and contractual settlements; (xix) items attributable to expenses incurred in connection with a reduction in force or early retirement initiative; (xx) items relating to foreign exchange or currency transactions and/or fluctuations; or (xxi) items relating to any other unusual or nonrecurring events or changes in Applicable Law, Applicable Accounting Standards or business conditions. For all Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, such determinations shall be made within the time prescribed by, and otherwise in compliance with, Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

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2.41            “ Performance Goals ” shall mean, for a Performance Period, one or more goals established in writing by the Administrator for the Performance Period based upon one or more Performance Criteria. Depending on the Performance Criteria used to establish such Performance Goals, the Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of overall Company performance or the performance of a Subsidiary, division, business unit, or an individual. The achievement of each Performance Goal shall be determined, to the extent applicable, with reference to Applicable Accounting Standards.

 

2.42            “ Performance Period ” shall mean one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, as the Administrator may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Holder’s right to, vesting of, and/or the payment in respect of, an Award.

 

2.43            “ Permitted Transferee ” shall mean, with respect to a Holder, any “family member” of the Holder, as defined in the General Instructions to Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act (or any successor form thereto), or any other transferee specifically approved by the Administrator after taking into account Applicable Law.

 

2.44            “ Plan ” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 1.

 

2.45            “ Program ” shall mean any program adopted by the Administrator pursuant to the Plan containing the terms and conditions intended to govern a specified type of Award granted under the Plan and pursuant to which such type of Award may be granted under the Plan.

 

2.46            “ Public Trading Date ” shall mean the first date upon which Common Stock is listed (or approved for listing) upon notice of issuance on any securities exchange or designated (or approved for designation) upon notice of issuance as a national market security on an interdealer quotation system.

 

2.47            “ Restricted Stock ” shall mean Common Stock awarded under Article 8 that is subject to certain restrictions and may be subject to risk of forfeiture or repurchase.

 

2.48            “ Restricted Stock Units ” shall mean the right to receive Shares awarded under Article 9.

 

2.49            “ Section 409A ” shall mean Section 409A of the Code and the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including, without limitation, any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date.

 

2.50            “ Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

2.51            “ Shares ” shall mean shares of Common Stock.

 

2.52            “ Significant Stockholder ” shall mean any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) that, individually or as a part of any related “group” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) of “persons,” holds, immediately following the issuance (i) of Common Stock and Class B common stock to holders of equity interests in CWGS Enterprises, LLC and (ii) one share of Class C common

 

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stock to ML RV Group, LLC, in each case, in connection with the Company’s initial public offering, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of common stock of the Company (ignoring for purposes of such calculation any Common Stock issued in connection with the Company’s initial public offering to persons or entities other than the holders of equity interests in CWGS Enterprises, LLC).

 

2.53            “ Stock Appreciation Right ” shall mean an Award entitling the Holder (or other person entitled to exercise pursuant to the Plan) to exercise all or a specified portion thereof (to the extent then exercisable pursuant to its terms) and to receive from the Company an amount determined by multiplying the difference obtained by subtracting the exercise price per share of such Award from the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of such Award by the number of Shares with respect to which such Award shall have been exercised, subject to any limitations the Administrator may impose.

 

2.54            “ Stock Appreciation Right Term ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.4.

 

2.55            “ Subsidiary ” shall mean any entity (other than the Company), whether domestic or foreign, in an unbroken chain of entities beginning with the Company if each of the entities other than the last entity in the unbroken chain beneficially owns, at the time of the determination, securities or interests representing at least fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities or interests in one of the other entities in such chain.

 

2.56            “ Substitute Award ” shall mean an Award granted under the Plan upon the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding equity awards previously granted by a company or other entity in connection with a corporate transaction, such as a merger, combination, consolidation or acquisition of property or stock; provided , however , that in no event shall the term “Substitute Award” be construed to refer to an award made in connection with the cancellation and repricing of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right.

 

2.57            “ Termination of Service ” shall mean:

 

(a)           As to a Consultant, the time when the engagement of a Holder as a Consultant to the Company or a Subsidiary is terminated for any reason, with or without cause, including, without limitation, by resignation, expiration of term, discharge, death or retirement, but excluding terminations where the Consultant simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(b)           As to a Non-Employee Director, the time when a Holder who is a Non-Employee Director ceases to be a Director for any reason, including, without limitation, a termination by resignation, failure to be elected, death or retirement, but excluding terminations where the Holder simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(c)           As to an Employee, the time when the employee-employer relationship between a Holder and the Company or any Subsidiary is terminated for any reason, including, without limitation, a termination by resignation, discharge, death, disability or retirement; but

 

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excluding terminations where the Holder simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

The Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to any Termination of Service, including, without limitation, whether a Termination of Service has occurred, whether a Termination of Service resulted from a discharge for cause and all questions of whether particular leaves of absence constitute a Termination of Service; provided , however , that, with respect to Incentive Stock Options, unless the Administrator otherwise provides in the terms of any Program, Award Agreement or otherwise, or as otherwise required by Applicable Law, a leave of absence, change in status from an employee to an independent contractor or other change in the employee-employer relationship shall constitute a Termination of Service only if, and to the extent that, such leave of absence, change in status or other change interrupts employment for the purposes of Section 422(a)(2) of the Code and the then-applicable regulations and revenue rulings under said Section. For purposes of the Plan, a Holder’s employee-employer relationship or consultancy relations shall be deemed to be terminated in the event that the Subsidiary employing or contracting with such Holder ceases to remain a Subsidiary following any merger, sale of stock or other corporate transaction or event (including, without limitation, a spin-off).

 

ARTICLE 3.

 

SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

 

3.1          Number of Shares .

 

(a)           Subject to Sections 3.1(b) and 13.2, the aggregate number of Shares which may be issued or transferred pursuant to Awards (including, without limitation, Incentive Stock Options) under the Plan is 14,606,329. Any Shares distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Common Stock, treasury Common Stock or Common Stock purchased on the open market.

 

(b)           If any Shares subject to an Award are forfeited or expire, are converted to shares of another Person in connection with a spin-off or other similar event, or such Award is settled for cash (in whole or in part) (including Shares repurchased by the Company under Section 8.4 at the same price paid by the Holder), the Shares subject to such Award shall, to the extent of such forfeiture, expiration, conversion or cash settlement, again be available for future grants of Awards under the Plan. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the following Shares shall not be added to the Shares authorized for grant under Section 3.1(a) and shall not be available for future grants of Awards: (i) Shares tendered by a Holder or withheld by the Company in payment of the exercise price of an Option; (ii) Shares tendered by the Holder or withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to an Award; (iii) Shares subject to a Stock Appreciation Right that are not issued in connection with the stock settlement of the Stock Appreciation Right on exercise thereof; and (iv) Shares purchased on the open market with the cash proceeds from the exercise of Options. Any Shares repurchased by the Company under Section 8.4 at the same price paid by the Holder so that such Shares are returned to the Company shall again be available for Awards. The payment of Dividend Equivalents in cash in conjunction with any outstanding Awards shall not be counted against the Shares

 

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available for issuance under the Plan. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.1(b), no Shares may again be optioned, granted or awarded if such action would cause an Incentive Stock Option to fail to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.

 

(c)           Substitute Awards shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan, except as may be required by reason of Section 422 of the Code. Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan; provided that Awards using such available Shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not employed by or providing services to the Company or its Subsidiaries immediately prior to such acquisition or combination.

 

3.2              Limitation on Number of Shares Subject to Awards . Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, and subject to Section 13.2, the maximum aggregate number of Shares with respect to one or more Awards that may be granted to any one person during any calendar year shall be 4,868,776 and the maximum aggregate amount of cash that may be paid in cash to any one person during any calendar year with respect to one or more Awards payable in cash shall be $5,000,000; provided , however , that the foregoing limitations shall not apply prior to the Public Trading Date and, following the Public Trading Date, the foregoing limitations shall not apply until the earliest of: (a) the first material modification of the Plan (including any increase in the number of Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan in accordance with Section 3.1); (b) the issuance of all of the Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan; (c) the expiration of the Plan; (d) the first meeting of stockholders at which members of the Board are to be elected that occurs after the close of the third calendar year following the calendar year in which occurred the first registration of an equity security of the Company under Section 12 of the Exchange Act; or (e) such other date, if any, on which the “reliance period” described under U.S. Treasury Regulation 1.162-27(f)(2) expires pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Code and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. To the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code, Shares subject to Awards which are canceled shall continue to be counted against the Award Limit.

 

ARTICLE 4.

 

GRANTING OF AWARDS

 

4.1              Participation . The Administrator may, from time to time, select from among all Eligible Individuals, those to whom an Award shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award, which shall not be inconsistent with the requirements of the Plan. Except for any Non-Employee Director’s right to Awards that may be provided for pursuant to the Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy as described in Section 4.6, no Eligible

 

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Individual or other Person shall have any right to be granted an Award pursuant to the Plan and neither the Company nor the Administrator is obligated to treat Eligible Individuals, Holders or any other persons uniformly.  Participation by each Holder in the Plan shall be voluntary and nothing in the Plan or any Program shall be construed as mandating that any Eligible Individual or other Person shall participate in the Plan.

 

4.2              Award Agreement . Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that sets forth the terms, conditions and limitations for such Award as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion (consistent with the requirements of the Plan and any applicable Program). Award Agreements evidencing Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall contain such terms and conditions as may be necessary to meet the applicable provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code. Award Agreements evidencing Incentive Stock Options shall contain such terms and conditions as may be necessary to meet the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code.

 

4.3              Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Plan, and any Award granted or awarded to any individual who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act and any amendments thereto) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

 

4.4              At-Will Service . Nothing in the Plan or in any Program or Award Agreement hereunder shall confer upon any Holder any right to continue in the employ of, or as a Director or Consultant for, the Company or any Subsidiary, or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company and any Subsidiary, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge any Holder at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, and with or without notice, or to terminate or change all other terms and conditions of employment or engagement, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between the Holder and the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

4.5              Foreign Holders . Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or applicable Program to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in countries other than the United States in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate or have Employees, Non-Employee Directors or Consultants, or in order to comply with the requirements of any foreign securities exchange or other Applicable Law, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to: (a) determine which Subsidiaries shall be covered by the Plan; (b) determine which Eligible Individuals outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan; (c) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to Eligible Individuals outside the United States to comply with Applicable Law (including, without limitation, applicable foreign laws or listing requirements of any foreign securities exchange); (d) establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable; provided , however , that no such subplans and/or modifications shall increase the share limitation contained in Section 3.1, or the Award Limit or the Director Limit; and (e) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that it deems advisable to obtain approval or

 

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comply with any necessary local governmental regulatory exemptions or approvals or listing requirements of any such foreign securities exchange.

 

4.6              Non-Employee Director Awards .

 

(a)           Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy .  The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may provide that Awards granted to Non-Employee Directors shall be granted pursuant to a written nondiscretionary formula established by the Administrator (the “ Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy ”), subject to the limitations of the Plan. The Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy shall set forth the type of Award(s) to be granted to Non-Employee Directors, the number of Shares to be subject to Non-Employee Director Awards, the conditions on which such Awards shall be granted, become exercisable and/or payable and expire, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion. The Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy may be modified by the Administrator from time to time in its sole discretion.

 

(b)           Director Limit .  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Plan or in the Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy, the sum of the grant date fair value of equity-based Awards and the amount of any cash-based Awards granted to a Non-Employee Director during any calendar year shall not exceed $500,000 (the “ Director Limit ”).

 

ARTICLE 5.

 

PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS INTENDED TO QUALIFY AS PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION

 

5.1              Purpose . The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, (a) determine whether an Award is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation and (b) at any time after any such determination, alter such intent for any or no reason. If the Administrator, in its sole discretion, decides to grant an Award that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation (other than an Option or Stock Appreciation Right), then the provisions of this Article 5 shall control over any contrary provision contained in the Plan or any applicable Program;  provided that, if after such decision the Administrator alters such intention for any reason, the provisions of this Article 5 shall no longer control over any other provision contained in the Plan or any applicable Program. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may (i) grant Awards to Eligible Individuals that are based on Performance Criteria or Performance Goals or any such other criteria and goals as the Administrator shall establish, but that do not satisfy the requirements of this Article 5 and that are not intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation and (ii) subject any Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation to additional conditions and restrictions unrelated to any Performance Criteria or Performance Goals (including, without limitation, continued employment or service requirements) to the extent such Awards otherwise satisfy the requirements of this Article 5 with respect to the Performance Criteria and Performance Goals applicable thereto. Unless otherwise specified by the Administrator at the time of grant, the Performance Criteria with respect to an Award intended to be Performance-Based Compensation payable to a Covered Employee shall be determined on the basis of Applicable Accounting Standards.

 

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5.2              Procedures with Respect to Performance-Based Awards . To the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, with respect to any Award which is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, no later than 90 days following the commencement of any Performance Period or any designated fiscal period or period of service (or such earlier time as may be required under Section 162(m) of the Code), the Administrator shall, in writing, (a) designate one or more Eligible Individuals, (b) select the Performance Criteria applicable to the Performance Period, (c) establish the Performance Goals, and amounts of such Awards, as applicable, which may be earned for such Performance Period based on the Performance Criteria, and (d) specify the relationship between Performance Criteria and the Performance Goals and the amounts of such Awards, as applicable, to be earned by each Covered Employee for such Performance Period. Following the completion of each Performance Period, the Administrator shall certify in writing whether and the extent to which the applicable Performance Goals have been achieved for such Performance Period. In determining the amount earned under such Awards, the Administrator (i) shall, unless otherwise provided  in an Award Agreement, have the right to reduce or eliminate the amount payable at a given level of performance to take into account additional factors that the Administrator may deem relevant, including the assessment of individual or corporate performance for the Performance Period, but (ii) shall in no event have the right to increase the amount payable for any reason.

 

5.3              Payment of Performance-Based Awards . Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Program or Award Agreement and only to the extent otherwise permitted by Section 162(m) of the Code, as to an Award that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, the Holder must be employed by the Company or a Subsidiary throughout the Performance Period. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Program or Award Agreement, a Holder shall be eligible to receive payment pursuant to such Awards for a Performance Period only if and to the extent the Performance Goals for such Performance Period are achieved.

 

5.4              Additional Limitations . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan and except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, any Award which is granted to an Eligible Individual and is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in Section 162(m) of the Code or any regulations or rulings issued thereunder that are requirements for qualification as Performance-Based Compensation, and the Plan and the applicable Program and Award Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements.

 

ARTICLE 6.

 

GRANTING OF OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

6.1              Granting of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights to Eligible Individuals . The Administrator is authorized to grant Options and Stock Appreciation Rights to Eligible Individuals from time to time, in its sole discretion, on such terms and conditions as it may determine, which shall not be inconsistent with the Plan.

 

6.2              Qualification of Incentive Stock Options . The Administrator may grant Options intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options only to employees of the Company, any of the Company’s present or future “parent corporations” or “subsidiary corporations” as defined in

 

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Sections 424(e) or 424(f) of the Code, respectively, and any other entities the employees of which are eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options under the Code). No person who qualifies as a Greater Than 10% Stockholder may be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless such Incentive Stock Option conforms to the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code. To the extent that the aggregate fair market value of stock with respect to which “incentive stock options” (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, but without regard to Section 422(d) of the Code) are exercisable for the first time by a Holder during any calendar year under the Plan, and all other plans of the Company and any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation thereof (as defined in Section 424(e) and 424(f) of the Code, respectively), exceeds $100,000, the Options shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options to the extent required by Section 422 of the Code. The rule set forth in the immediately preceding sentence shall be applied by taking Options and other “incentive stock options” into account in the order in which they were granted and the fair market value of stock shall be determined as of the time the respective options were granted. Any interpretations and rules under the Plan with respect to Incentive Stock Options shall be consistent with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code.  Neither the Company nor the Administrator shall have any liability to a Holder, or any other Person, (a) if an Option (or any part thereof) which is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option fails to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option or (b) for any action or omission by the Company or the Administrator that causes an Option not to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, including without limitation, the conversion of an Incentive Stock Option to a Non-Qualified Stock Option or the grant of an Option intended as an Incentive Stock Option that fails to satisfy the requirements under the Code applicable to an Incentive Stock Option.

 

6.3              Option and Stock Appreciation Right Exercise Price . The exercise price per Share subject to each Option and Stock Appreciation Right shall be set by the Administrator, but shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, is granted (or, as to Incentive Stock Options, on the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code). In addition, in the case of Incentive Stock Options granted to a Greater Than 10% Stockholder, such price shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted (or the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that is a Substitute Award, the exercise price per share of the Shares subject to such Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, may be less than the Fair Market Value per share on the date of grant; provided that the exercise price of any Substitute Award shall be determined in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 424 and 409A of the Code.

 

6.4              Option and SAR Term . The term of each Option (the “ Option Term ”) and the term of each Stock Appreciation Right (the “ SAR Term ”) shall be set by the Administrator in its sole discretion; provided , however , that the Option Term or SAR Term, as applicable, shall not be more than (a) ten (10) years from the date the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, is granted to an Eligible Individual (other than, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, a Greater Than 10% Stockholder), or (b) five (5) years from the date an Incentive Stock Option is granted to a Greater Than 10% Stockholder. Except as limited by the requirements of Section 409A or Section 422 of the Code and regulations and rulings thereunder or the first sentence of this Section 6.4 and without limiting the Company’s rights under Section 11.7, the

 

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Administrator may extend the Option Term of any outstanding Option or the SAR Term of any outstanding Stock Appreciation Right, and may extend the time period during which vested Options or Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised, in connection with any Termination of Service of the Holder or otherwise, and may amend, subject to Section 11.7 and 13.1, any other term or condition of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right relating to such a Termination of Service of the Holder or otherwise.

 

6.5              Option and SAR Vesting .  The period during which the right to exercise, in whole or in part, an Option or Stock Appreciation Right vests in the Holder shall be set by the Administrator and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.  Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator in the Award Agreement, the applicable Program or by action of the Administrator following the grant of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, (a) no portion of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right which is unexercisable at a Holder’s Termination of Service  shall thereafter become exercisable and (b) the portion of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that is unexercisable at a Holder’s Termination of Service shall automatically expire thirty (30) days following the date of a Termination of Service due to death or disability and on the date of a Termination of Service for any other reason.

 

6.6              Substitute Awards . Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article 6 to the contrary, in the case of an Option that is a Substitute Award, the price per share of the Shares subject to such Option may be less than the Fair Market Value per share on the date of grant; provided that the excess of: (a) the aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date such Substitute Award is granted) of the Shares subject to the Substitute Award, over (b) the aggregate exercise price thereof does not exceed the excess of: (x) the aggregate fair market value (as of the time immediately preceding the transaction giving rise to the Substitute Award, such fair market value to be determined by the Administrator) of the shares of the predecessor entity that were subject to the grant assumed or substituted for by the Company, over (y) the aggregate exercise price of such shares.

 

ARTICLE 7.

 

EXERCISE OF OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

7.1              Exercise and Payment . An exercisable Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised in whole or in part. However, an Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall not be exercisable with respect to fractional Shares and the Administrator may require that, by the terms of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, a partial exercise must be with respect to a minimum number of Shares. Payment of the amounts payable with respect to Stock Appreciation Rights pursuant to this Article 7 shall be in cash, Shares (based on its Fair Market Value as of the date the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised), or a combination of both, as determined by the Administrator.

 

7.2              Manner of Exercise . Except as set forth in Section 7.3, all or a portion of an exercisable Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be deemed exercised upon delivery of all of the following to the Secretary of the Company, the stock plan administrator of the Company or such other person or entity designated by the Administrator, or his, her or its office, as applicable:

 

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(a)           A written or electronic notice complying with the applicable rules established by the Administrator stating that the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, or a portion thereof, is exercised. The notice shall be signed or otherwise acknowledged electronically by the Holder or other person then entitled to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right or such portion thereof;

 

(b)           Such representations and documents as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or advisable to effect compliance with Applicable Law;

 

(c)           In the event that the Option shall be exercised pursuant to Section 11.3 by any person or persons other than the Holder, appropriate proof of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator; and

 

(d)           Full payment of the exercise price and applicable withholding taxes for the Shares with respect to which the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, or portion thereof, is exercised, in a manner permitted by the Administrator in accordance with Sections 11.1 and 11.2.

 

7.3              Intentionally omitted .

 

7.4              Notification Regarding Disposition . The Holder shall give the Company prompt written or electronic notice of any disposition of Shares acquired by exercise of an Incentive Stock Option which occurs within (a) two years from the date of granting (including the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code) such Option to such Holder, or (b) one year after the date of transfer of such Shares to such Holder. Such notice shall specify the date of such disposition or other transfer and the amount realized, in cash, other property, assumption of indebtedness or other consideration, by the Holder in such disposition or other transfer.

 

ARTICLE 8.

 

AWARD OF RESTRICTED STOCK

 

8.1          Award of Restricted Stock .

 

(a)           The Administrator is authorized to grant Restricted Stock to Eligible Individuals, and shall determine the terms and conditions, including the restrictions applicable to each award of Restricted Stock, which terms and conditions shall not be inconsistent with the Plan or any applicable Program, and may impose such conditions on the issuance of such Restricted Stock as it deems appropriate.

 

(b)           The Administrator shall establish the purchase price, if any, and form of payment for Restricted Stock; provided , however , that if a purchase price is charged, such purchase price shall be no less than the par value, if any, of the Shares to be purchased, unless otherwise permitted by Applicable Law. In all cases, legal consideration shall be required for each issuance of Restricted Stock to the extent required by Applicable Law.

 

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8.2              Rights as Stockholders . Subject to Section 8.4, upon issuance of Restricted Stock, the Holder shall have, unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, all the rights of a stockholder with respect to said Shares, subject to the restrictions in the Plan, any applicable Program and/or the applicable Award Agreement, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions paid or made with respect to the Shares to the extent such dividends and other distributions have a record date that is on or after the date on which the Holder to whom such Shares are granted becomes the record holder of such Restricted Stock; provided , however , that, in the sole discretion of the Administrator, any extraordinary distributions with respect to the Shares may be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 8.3. In addition, with respect to a share of Restricted Stock with performance-based vesting, dividends which are paid prior to vesting shall only be paid out to the Holder to the extent that the performance-based vesting conditions are subsequently satisfied and the share of Restricted Stock vests.

 

8.3              Restrictions . All shares of Restricted Stock (including any shares received by Holders thereof with respect to shares of Restricted Stock as a result of stock dividends, stock splits or any other form of recapitalization) shall be subject to such restrictions and vesting requirements as the Administrator shall provide in the applicable Program or Award Agreement. By action taken after the Restricted Stock is issued, the Administrator may, on such terms and conditions as it may determine to be appropriate, accelerate the vesting of such Restricted Stock by removing any or all of the restrictions imposed by the terms of the applicable Program or Award Agreement.

 

8.4              Repurchase or Forfeiture of Restricted Stock . Except as otherwise determined by the Administrator if no price was paid by the Holder for the Restricted Stock, upon a Termination of Service during the applicable restriction period, the Holder’s rights in unvested Restricted Stock then subject to restrictions shall lapse, and such Restricted Stock shall be surrendered to the Company and cancelled without consideration. If a price was paid by the Holder for the Restricted Stock, upon a Termination of Service during the applicable restriction period, the Company shall have the right to repurchase from the Holder the unvested Restricted Stock then subject to restrictions at a cash price per share equal to the price paid by the Holder for such Restricted Stock or such other amount as may be specified in the applicable Program or Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may provide that upon certain events, including, without limitation, a Change in Control, the Holder’s death, retirement or disability or any other specified Termination of Service or any other event, the Holder’s rights in unvested Restricted Stock then subject to restrictions shall not lapse, such Restricted Stock shall vest and cease to be forfeitable and, if applicable, the Company shall cease to have a right of repurchase.

 

8.5              Section 83(b) Election . If a Holder makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed with respect to the Restricted Stock as of the date of transfer of the Restricted Stock rather than as of the date or dates upon which the Holder would otherwise be taxable under Section 83(a) of the Code, the Holder shall be required to deliver a copy of such election to the Company promptly after filing such election with the Internal Revenue Service along with proof of the timely filing thereof with the Internal Revenue Service.

 

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ARTICLE 9.

 

AWARD OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

 

9.1              Grant of Restricted Stock Units . The Administrator is authorized to grant Awards of Restricted Stock Units to any Eligible Individual selected by the Administrator in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Administrator.

 

9.2              Term . Except as otherwise provided herein, the term of a Restricted Stock Unit award shall be set by the Administrator in its sole discretion.

 

9.3              Purchase Price . The Administrator shall specify the purchase price, if any, to be paid by the Holder to the Company with respect to any Restricted Stock Unit award; provided , however , that value of the consideration shall not be less than the par value of a Share, unless otherwise permitted by Applicable Law.

 

9.4              Vesting of Restricted Stock Units . At the time of grant, the Administrator shall specify the date or dates on which the Restricted Stock Units shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable, and may specify such conditions to vesting as it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, vesting based upon the Holder’s duration of service to the Company or any Subsidiary, one or more Performance Criteria, Company performance, individual performance or other specific criteria, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods, as determined by the Administrator.

 

9.5              Maturity and Payment . At the time of grant, the Administrator shall specify the maturity date applicable to each grant of Restricted Stock Units, which shall be no earlier than the vesting date or dates of the Award and may be determined at the election of the Holder (if permitted by the applicable Award Agreement); provided that, except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, and subject to compliance with Section 409A, in no event shall the maturity date relating to each Restricted Stock Unit occur following the later of (a) the 15 th  day of the third month following the end of calendar year in which the applicable portion of the Restricted Stock Unit vests; or (b) the 15 th  day of the third month following the end of the Company’s fiscal year in which the applicable portion of the Restricted Stock Unit vests. On the maturity date, the Company shall, in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement and subject to Section 11.4(f), transfer to the Holder one unrestricted, fully transferable Share for each Restricted Stock Unit scheduled to be paid out on such date and not previously forfeited, or in the sole discretion of the Administrator, an amount in cash equal to the Fair Market Value of such Shares on the maturity date or a combination of cash and Common Stock as determined by the Administrator.

 

9.6              Payment upon Termination of Service . An Award of Restricted Stock Units shall only be payable while the Holder is an Employee, a Consultant or a member of the Board, as applicable; provided , however , that the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may provide (in an Award Agreement or otherwise) that a Restricted Stock Unit award may be paid subsequent to a Termination of Service in certain events, including a Change in Control, the Holder’s death, retirement or disability or any other specified Termination of Service.

 

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ARTICLE 10.

 

AWARD OF OTHER STOCK OR CASH BASED AWARDS AND DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS

 

10.1            Other Stock or Cash Based Awards .  The Administrator is authorized to (a) grant Other Stock or Cash Based Awards, including awards entitling a Holder to receive Shares or cash to be delivered immediately or in the future, to any Eligible Individual and (b) determine whether such Other Stock or Cash Based Awards shall be Performance-Based Compensation. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and any applicable Program, the Administrator shall determine the terms and conditions of each Other Stock or Cash Based Award, including the term of the Award, any exercise or purchase price, performance goals, including the Performance Criteria, transfer restrictions, vesting conditions and other terms and conditions applicable thereto, which shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Other Stock or Cash Based Awards may be paid in cash, Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares, as determined by the Administrator, and may be available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Awards granted under the Plan, as stand-alone payments, as a part of a bonus, deferred bonus, deferred  compensation or other arrangement, and/or as payment in lieu of compensation to which an Eligible Individual is otherwise entitled.

 

10.2            Dividend Equivalents .

 

(a)           Dividend Equivalents may be granted by the Administrator, either alone or in tandem with another Award, based on dividends declared on the Common Stock, to be credited as of dividend payment dates during the period between the date the Dividend Equivalents are granted to a Holder and the date such Dividend Equivalents terminate or expire, as determined by the Administrator. Such Dividend Equivalents shall be converted to cash or additional Shares by such formula and at such time and subject to such restrictions and limitations as may be determined by the Administrator. In addition, Dividend Equivalents with respect to an Award with performance-based vesting that are based on dividends paid prior to the vesting of such Award shall only be paid out to the Holder to the extent that the performance-based vesting conditions are subsequently satisfied and the Award vests.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Dividend Equivalents shall be payable with respect to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

ARTICLE 11.

 

ADDITIONAL TERMS OF AWARDS

 

11.1            Payment . The Administrator shall determine the method or methods by which payments by any Holder with respect to any Awards granted under the Plan shall be made, including, without limitation: (a) cash or check, (b) Shares (including, in the case of payment of the exercise price of an Award, Shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of the Award) held for any minimum period of time as may be established by the Administrator having a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the aggregate payments required, (c) delivery of a written or electronic notice that the Holder has placed a market sell order with a broker acceptable to the Company with respect to Shares then issuable upon exercise or vesting of an Award, and that the

 

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broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the aggregate payments required; provided that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company upon settlement of such sale, (d) other form of legal consideration acceptable to the Administrator in its sole discretion or (e) any combination of the above permitted forms of payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Holder who is a Director or an “executive officer” of the Company within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act shall be permitted to make payment with respect to any Awards granted under the Plan, or continue any extension of credit with respect to such payment, with a loan from the Company or a loan arranged by the Company in violation of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.

 

11.2            Tax Withholding . The Company or any Subsidiary shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Holder to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including the Holder’s FICA, employment tax or other social security contribution obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event concerning a Holder arising as a result of the Plan or any Award. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion and in satisfaction of the foregoing requirement, or in satisfaction of such additional withholding obligations as a Holder may have elected, allow a Holder to satisfy such obligations by any payment means described in Section 11.1 hereof, including without limitation, by allowing such Holder to elect to have the Company or any Subsidiary withhold Shares otherwise issuable under an Award (or allow the surrender of Shares). The number of Shares which may be so withheld or surrendered shall be no greater than the number of Shares which have a fair market value on the date of withholding or repurchase equal to the aggregate amount of such liabilities based on the maximum statutory withholding rates in such Holder’s applicable jurisdictions for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income. The Administrator shall determine the fair market value of the Shares, consistent with applicable provisions of the Code, for tax withholding obligations due in connection with a broker-assisted cashless Option or Stock Appreciation Right exercise involving the sale of Shares to pay the Option or Stock Appreciation Right exercise price or any tax withholding obligation.

 

11.3            Transferability of Awards .

 

(a)           Except as otherwise provided in Sections 11.3(b) and 11.3(c):

 

(i)            No Award under the Plan may be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner other than (A) by will or the laws of descent and distribution or (B) subject to the consent of the Administrator, pursuant to a DRO, unless and until such Award has been exercised, or the Shares underlying such Award have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such Shares have lapsed;

 

(ii)           No Award or interest or right therein shall be liable for or otherwise subject to the debts, contracts or engagements of the Holder or the Holder’s successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy) unless and until such Award has

 

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been exercised, or the Shares underlying such Award have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such Shares have lapsed, and any attempted disposition of an Award prior to satisfaction of these conditions shall be null and void and of no effect, except to the extent that such disposition is permitted by Section 11.3(a)(i); and

 

(iii)          During the lifetime of the Holder, only the Holder may exercise any exercisable portion of an Award granted to such Holder under the Plan, unless it has been disposed of pursuant to a DRO.  After the death of the Holder, any exercisable portion of an Award may, prior to the time when such portion becomes unexercisable under the Plan or the applicable Program or Award Agreement, be exercised by the Holder’s personal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Holder’s will or under the then-applicable laws of descent and distribution.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding Section 11.3(a), the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine to permit a Holder or a Permitted Transferee of such Holder to transfer an Award other than an Incentive Stock Option (unless such Incentive Stock Option is intended to become a Nonqualified Stock Option) to any one or more Permitted Transferees of such Holder, subject to the following terms and conditions: (i) an Award transferred to a Permitted Transferee shall not be assignable or transferable by the Permitted Transferee other than (A) to another Permitted Transferee of the applicable Holder or (B) by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the consent of the Administrator, pursuant to a DRO; (ii) an Award transferred to a Permitted Transferee shall continue to be subject to all the terms and conditions of the Award as applicable to the original Holder (other than the ability to further transfer the Award to any Person other than another Permitted Transferee of the applicable Holder); and (iii) the Holder (or transferring Permitted Transferee) and the receiving Permitted Transferee shall execute any and all documents requested by the Administrator, including, without limitation documents to (A) confirm the status of the transferee as a Permitted Transferee, (B) satisfy any requirements for an exemption for the transfer under Applicable Law and (C) evidence the transfer.  In addition, and further notwithstanding Section 11.3(a), hereof, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine to permit a Holder to transfer Incentive Stock Options to a trust that constitutes a Permitted Transferee if, under Section 671 of the Code and other Applicable Law, the Holder is considered the sole beneficial owner of the Incentive Stock Option while it is held in the trust.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding Section 11.3(a), a Holder may, in the manner determined by the Administrator, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Holder and to receive any distribution with respect to any Award upon the Holder’s death. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights pursuant to the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Program or Award Agreement applicable to the Holder and, any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Administrator. If the Holder is married or a domestic partner in a domestic partnership qualified under Applicable Law and resides in a community property state, a designation of a person other than the Holder’s spouse or domestic partner, as applicable, as the Holder’s beneficiary with respect to more than 50% of the Holder’s interest in the Award shall not be effective without the prior written or electronic consent of the Holder’s spouse or domestic partner. If no beneficiary has been designated or survives the Holder, payment shall be made to the person entitled thereto pursuant to the Holder’s will or the laws of descent and distribution. Subject to the foregoing, a

 

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beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a Holder at any time; provided that the change or revocation is delivered in writing to the Administrator prior to the Holder’s death.

 

11.4            Conditions to Issuance of Shares .

 

(a)           The Administrator shall determine the methods by which Shares shall be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Holders. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates or make any book entries evidencing Shares pursuant to the exercise of any Award, unless and until the Administrator has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance of such Shares is in compliance with Applicable Law and the Shares are covered by an effective registration statement or applicable exemption from registration. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Administrator may require that a Holder make such reasonable covenants, agreements and representations as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with Applicable Law.

 

(b)           All share certificates delivered pursuant to the Plan and all Shares issued pursuant to book entry procedures are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to comply with Applicable Law. The Administrator may place legends on any share certificate or book entry to reference restrictions applicable to the Shares (including, without limitation, restrictions applicable to Restricted Stock).

 

(c)           The Administrator shall have the right to require any Holder to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement, distribution or exercise of any Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the sole discretion of the Administrator.

 

(d)           No fractional Shares shall be issued and the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares shall be eliminated by rounding down.

 

(e)           The Company, in its sole discretion, may (i) retain physical possession of any stock certificate evidencing Shares until any restrictions thereon shall have lapsed and/or (ii) require that the stock certificates evidencing such Shares be held in custody by a designated escrow agent (which may but need not be the Company) until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that the Holder deliver a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to such Shares.

 

(f)            Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or required by Applicable Law, the Company shall not deliver to any Holder certificates evidencing Shares issued in connection with any Award and instead such Shares shall be recorded in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator).

 

11.5            Forfeiture and Claw-Back Provisions . All Awards (including any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by a Holder upon any receipt or exercise of any Award or upon the receipt or resale of any Shares underlying the Award and any payments of a portion of an incentive-based bonus pool allocated to a Holder) shall be

 

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subject to the provisions of any claw-back policy implemented by the Company, including, without limitation, any claw-back policy adopted to comply with the requirements of Applicable Law, including, without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, whether or not such claw-back policy was in place at the time of grant of an Award, to the extent set forth in such claw-back policy and/or in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

11.6            Prohibition on Repricing . Subject to Section 13.2, the Administrator shall not, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, (a) authorize the amendment of any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right to reduce its price per share, or (b) cancel any Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for cash or another Award when the Option or Stock Appreciation Right price per share exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares. Subject to Section 13.2, the Administrator shall have the authority, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, to amend any outstanding Award to increase the price per share or to cancel and replace an Award with the grant of an Award having a price per share that is greater than or equal to the price per share of the original Award. Furthermore, for purposes of this Section 11.6, except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares), the terms of outstanding Awards may not be amended to reduce the exercise price per share of outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or cancel outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights in exchange for cash, other Awards or Options or Stock Appreciation Rights with an exercise price per share that is less than the exercise price per share of the original Options or Stock Appreciation Rights without the approval of the stockholders of the Company.

 

11.7            Amendment of Awards .  Subject to Applicable Law, the Administrator may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award, including but not limited to, substituting therefor another Award of the same or a different type, changing the date of exercise or settlement, and converting an Incentive Stock Option to a Non-Qualified Stock Option.  The Holder’s consent to such action shall be required unless (a) the Administrator determines that the action, taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely affect the Holder, or (b) the change is otherwise permitted under the Plan (including, without limitation, under Section 13.2 or 13.10).

 

11.8            Data Privacy .  As a condition of receipt of any Award, each Holder explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of personal data as described in this Section 11.8 by and among, as applicable, the Company and its Subsidiaries for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Holder’s participation in the Plan.  The Company and its Subsidiaries may hold certain personal information about a Holder, including but not limited to, the Holder’s name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social security or insurance number or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title(s), any shares of stock held in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, details of all Awards, in each case, for the purpose of implementing, managing and administering the Plan and Awards (the “ Data ”).  The Company and its Subsidiaries may transfer the Data amongst themselves as necessary for the purpose of implementation, administration and management of a Holder’s participation in the Plan, and the Company and its Subsidiaries may

 

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each further transfer the Data to any third parties assisting the Company and its Subsidiaries in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan.  These recipients may be located in the Holder’s country, or elsewhere, and the Holder’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections than the recipients’ country.  Through acceptance of an Award, each Holder authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Holder’s participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries or the Holder may elect to deposit any Shares.  The Data related to a Holder will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer, and manage the Holder’s participation in the Plan.  A Holder may, at any time, view the Data held by the Company with respect to such Holder, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data with respect to such Holder, recommend any necessary corrections to the Data with respect to the Holder or refuse or withdraw the consents herein in writing, in any case without cost, by contacting his or her local human resources representative.  The Company may cancel Holder’s ability to participate in the Plan and, in the Administrator’s discretion, the Holder may forfeit any outstanding Awards if the Holder refuses or withdraws his or her consents as described herein.  For more information on the consequences of refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, Holders may contact their local human resources representative.

 

ARTICLE 12.

 

ADMINISTRATION

 

12.1            Administrator . The Committee shall administer the Plan (except as otherwise permitted herein). To the extent necessary to comply with Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, and with respect to Awards that are intended to be Performance-Based Compensation, including Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, then the Committee shall take all action with respect to such Awards, and the individuals taking such action shall consist solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors, each of whom is intended to qualify as both a “non-employee director” as defined by Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor rule and an “outside director” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code. Additionally, to the extent required by Applicable Law, each of the individuals constituting the Committee shall be an “independent director” under the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any action taken by the Committee shall be valid and effective, whether or not members of the Committee at the time of such action are later determined not to have satisfied the requirements for membership set forth in this Section 12.1 or the Organizational Documents. Except as may otherwise be provided in the Organizational Documents or as otherwise required by Applicable Law, (a) appointment of Committee members shall be effective upon acceptance of appointment, (b) Committee members may resign at any time by delivering written or electronic notice to the Board and (c) vacancies in the Committee may only be filled by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the full Board, acting by a majority of its members in office, shall conduct the general administration of the Plan with respect to Awards granted to Non-Employee Directors and, with respect to such Awards, the terms “Administrator” as used in the Plan shall be deemed to refer to the Board and (ii) the Board or Committee may delegate its authority hereunder to the extent permitted by Section 12.6.

 

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12.2            Duties and Powers of Administrator . It shall be the duty of the Administrator to conduct the general administration of the Plan in accordance with its provisions. The Administrator shall have the power to interpret the Plan, all Programs and Award Agreements, and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan and any Program as are not inconsistent with the Plan, to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules and to amend the Plan or any Program or Award Agreement; provided that the rights or obligations of the Holder of the Award that is the subject of any such Program or Award Agreement are not materially and adversely affected by such amendment, unless the consent of the Holder is obtained or such amendment is otherwise permitted under Section 11.5 or Section 13.10. In its sole discretion, the Board may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Committee in its capacity as the Administrator under the Plan except with respect to matters which under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or any successor rule, or Section 162(m) of the Code, or any regulations or rules issued thereunder, or the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded are required to be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.

 

12.3            Action by the Administrator . Unless otherwise established by the Board, set forth in any Organizational Documents or as required by Applicable Law, a majority of the Administrator shall constitute a quorum and the acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, and acts approved in writing by all members of the Administrator in lieu of a meeting, shall be deemed the acts of the Administrator. Each member of the Administrator is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to that member by any officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, the Company’s independent certified public accountants, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan.

 

12.4            Authority of Administrator . Subject to the Organizational Documents, any specific designation in the Plan and Applicable Law, the Administrator has the exclusive power, authority and sole discretion to:

 

(a)           Designate Eligible Individuals to receive Awards;

 

(b)           Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Eligible Individual (including, without limitation, any Awards granted in tandem with another Award granted pursuant to the Plan);

 

(c)           Determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of Shares to which an Award will relate;

 

(d)           Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted pursuant to the Plan, including, but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price, purchase price, any Performance Criteria or performance criteria, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule for vesting, lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability of an Award, and accelerations or waivers thereof, and any provisions related to non-competition and claw-back and recapture of gain on an Award, based in each case on such considerations as the Administrator in its sole discretion determines;

 

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(e)           Determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in cash, Shares, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;

 

(f)            Prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be identical for each Holder;

 

(g)           Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award;

 

(h)           Establish, adopt, or revise any Programs, rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;

 

(i)            Interpret the terms of, and any matter arising pursuant to, the Plan, any Program or any Award Agreement;

 

(j)            Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required pursuant to the Plan or as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan; and

 

(k)           Accelerate wholly or partially the vesting or lapse of restrictions of any Award or portion thereof at any time after the grant of an Award, subject to whatever terms and conditions it selects and Section 13.2.

 

12.5            Decisions Binding . The Administrator’s interpretation of the Plan, any Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, any Program, any Award Agreement and all decisions and determinations by the Administrator with respect to the Plan are final, binding and conclusive on all Persons.

 

12.6            Delegation of Authority . The Board or Committee may from time to time delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board or one or more officers of the Company the authority to grant or amend Awards or to take other administrative actions pursuant to this Article 12; provided , however , that in no event shall an officer of the Company be delegated the authority to grant Awards to, or amend Awards held by, the following individuals: (a) individuals who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, (b) Covered Employees with respect to Awards intended to constitute Performance Based Compensation, or (c) officers of the Company (or Directors) to whom authority to grant or amend Awards has been delegated hereunder; provided , further , that any delegation of administrative authority shall only be permitted to the extent it is permissible under any Organizational Documents and Applicable Law (including, without limitation, Section 162(m) of the Code). Any delegation hereunder shall be subject to the restrictions and limits that the Board or Committee specifies at the time of such delegation or that are otherwise included in the applicable Organizational Documents, and the Board or Committee, as applicable, may at any time rescind the authority so delegated or appoint a new delegatee. At all times, the delegatee appointed under this Section 12.6 shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Board or the Committee, as applicable, and the Board or the Committee may abolish any committee at any time and re-vest in itself any previously delegated authority.

 

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ARTICLE 13.

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

13.1            Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan .

 

(a)           Except as otherwise provided in Section 13.1(b), the Plan may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Board; provided that, except as provided in Section 11.5 and Section 13.10, no amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall, without the consent of the Holder, materially and adversely affect any rights or obligations under any Award theretofore granted or awarded, unless the Award itself otherwise expressly so provides.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding Section 1.3.1(a), the Board may not, except as provided in Section 13.1, take any of the following actions without approval of the Company’s stockholders given within twelve (12) months before or after such action: (i) increase the limit imposed in Section 3.1 on the maximum number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan or the Award Limit, (ii) reduce the price per share of any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan or take any action prohibited under Section 11.6, or (iii) cancel any Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for cash or another Award in violation of Section 11.6

 

(c)           No Awards may be granted or awarded during any period of suspension or after termination of the Plan, and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event may any Award be granted under the Plan after the tenth (10 th ) anniversary of the earlier of (i) the date on which the Plan was adopted by the Board or (ii) the date the Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders (such anniversary, the “ Expiration Date ”). Any Awards that are outstanding on the Expiration Date shall remain in force according to the terms of the Plan, the applicable Program and the applicable Award Agreement.

 

13.2            Changes in Common Stock or Assets of the Company, Acquisition or Liquidation of the Company and Other Corporate Events .

 

(a)           In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the shares of the Company’s stock or the share price of the Company’s stock other than an Equity Restructuring, the Administrator may make equitable adjustments, if any, to reflect such change with respect to: (i) the aggregate number and kind of Shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitation[s] in Section 3.1 on the maximum number and kind of Shares which may be issued under the Plan, adjustments of the Award Limit); (ii) the number and kind of Shares (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards; (iii) the terms and conditions of any outstanding Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect thereto); and (iv) the grant or exercise price per share for any outstanding Awards under the Plan; and (v) the number and kind of Shares (or other securities or property) for which automatic grants are subsequently to be made to new and continuing Non-Employee Directors pursuant to Section 4.6. Any adjustment affecting an Award

 

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intended as Performance-Based Compensation shall be made consistent with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code unless otherwise determined by the Administrator.

 

(b)           In the event of any transaction or event described in Section 13.2(a) or any unusual or nonrecurring transactions or events affecting the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, or the financial statements of the Company or any Subsidiary, or of changes in Applicable Law or Applicable Accounting Standards, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, either by the terms of the Award or by action taken prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event, is hereby authorized to take any one or more of the following actions whenever the Administrator determines that such action is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any Award under the Plan, to facilitate such transactions or events or to give effect to such changes in Applicable Law or Applicable Accounting Standards:

 

(i)            To provide for the termination of any such Award in exchange for an amount of cash and/or other property with a value equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Holder’s rights (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction or event described in this Section 13.2 the Administrator determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Holder’s rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment);

 

(ii)           To provide that such Award be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by similar options, rights or awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and applicable exercise or purchase price, in all cases, as determined by the Administrator;

 

(iii)          To make adjustments in the number and type of Shares of the Company’s stock (or other securities or property) subject to such Award and/or in the terms and conditions of (including the grant or exercise price), and the criteria included in, outstanding Awards and Awards which may be granted in the future;

 

(iv)          To provide that such Award shall be exercisable or payable or fully vested with respect to all Shares covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the applicable Program or Award Agreement;

 

(v)           To replace such Award with other rights or property selected by the Administrator; and/or

 

(vi)          To provide that the Award cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after such event.

 

(c)           In connection with the occurrence of any Equity Restructuring, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections 13.2(a) and 13.2(b):

 

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(i)            The number and type of securities subject to each outstanding Award and the exercise price or grant price thereof, if applicable, shall be equitably adjusted (and the adjustments provided under this Section 13.2(c)(i) shall be nondiscretionary and shall be final and binding on the affected Holder and the Company); and/or

 

(ii)           The Administrator shall make such equitable adjustments, if any, as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may deem appropriate to reflect such Equity Restructuring with respect to the aggregate number and kind of Shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitation in Section 3.1 on the maximum number and kind of Shares which may be issued under the Plan, and adjustments of the Award Limit.

 

(d)           In the event an Award continues in effect or is assumed or an equivalent Award substituted, and a Holder incurs Termination of Service without “cause” (as such term is defined in the sole discretion of the Administrator, or as set forth in the Award Agreement relating to such Award) upon or within twelve (12) months following the Change in Control, then such Holder shall be fully vested in such continued, assumed or substituted Award.

 

(e)           In the event that the successor corporation in a Change in Control refuses to assume or substitute for an Award, the Administrator may cause (i) any or all of such Award (or portion thereof) to terminate in exchange for cash, rights or other property pursuant to Section 13.2(b)(i) or (ii) any or all of such Award (or portion thereof) to become fully exercisable immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction and all forfeiture restrictions on any or all of such Award to lapse. If any such Award is exercisable in lieu of assumption or substitution in the event of a Change in Control, the Administrator shall notify the Holder that such Award shall be fully exercisable for a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice, contingent upon the occurrence of the Change in Control, and such Award shall terminate upon the expiration of such period.

 

(f)            For the purposes of this Section 13.2, an Award shall be considered assumed if, following the Change in Control, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Change in Control by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided , however , that if such consideration received in the Change in Control was not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of the Award, for each Share subject to an Award, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent equal in fair market value to the per-share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Change in Control.

 

(g)           The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may include such further provisions and limitations in any Award, agreement or certificate, as it may deem equitable and in the best interests of the Company that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.

 

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(h)           Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, no adjustment or action described in this Section 13.2 or in any other provision of the Plan shall be authorized to the extent it would (i) with respect to Awards which are granted to Covered Employees and are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, cause such Awards to fail to so qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, (ii) cause the Plan to violate Section 422(b)(1) of the Code, (iii) result in short-swing profits liability under Section 16 or violate the exemptive conditions of Rule 16b-3  of the Exchange Act, or (iv) cause an Award to fail to be exempt from or comply with such Section 409A.

 

(i)            The existence of the Plan, any Program, any Award Agreement and/or the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect or restrict in any way the right or power of the Company or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of stock or of options, warrants or rights to purchase stock or of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stocks whose rights are superior to or affect the Common Stock or the rights thereof or which are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

 

(j)            In the event of any pending stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the Shares or the share price of the Common Stock including any Equity Restructuring, for reasons of administrative convenience, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may refuse to permit the exercise of any Award during a period of up to thirty (30) days prior to the consummation of any such transaction.

 

13.3            Approval of Plan by Stockholders . The Plan shall be submitted for the approval of the Company’s stockholders within twelve (12) months after the date of the Board’s initial adoption of the Plan.

 

13.4            No Stockholders Rights . Except as otherwise provided herein, a Holder shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares covered by any Award until the Holder becomes the record owner of such Shares.

 

13.5            Paperless Administration . In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the documentation, granting or exercise of Awards, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response, then the paperless documentation, granting or exercise of Awards by a Holder may be permitted through the use of such an automated system.

 

13.6            Effect of Plan upon Other Compensation Plans . The adoption of the Plan shall not affect any other compensation or incentive plans in effect for the Company or any Subsidiary. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Company or any Subsidiary: (a) to establish any other forms of incentives or compensation for Employees, Directors or Consultants of the Company or any Subsidiary, or (b) to grant or assume options or

 

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other rights or awards otherwise than under the Plan in connection with any proper corporate purpose including without limitation, the grant or assumption of options in connection with the acquisition by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the business, stock or assets of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, firm or association.

 

13.7            Compliance with Laws . The Plan, the granting and vesting of Awards under the Plan and the issuance and delivery of Shares and the payment of money under the Plan or under Awards granted or awarded hereunder are subject to compliance with all Applicable Law (including but not limited to state, federal and foreign securities law and margin requirements), and to such approvals by any listing, regulatory or governmental authority as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be necessary or advisable in connection therewith. Any securities delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such restrictions, and the person acquiring such securities shall, if requested by the Company, provide such assurances and representations to the Company as the Company may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with all Applicable Law. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may take whatever actions it deems necessary or appropriate to effect compliance with Applicable Law, including, without limitation, placing legends on share certificates and issuing stop-transfer notices to agents and registrars.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Administrator may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate Applicable Law. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to Applicable Law.

 

13.8            Titles and Headings, References to Sections of the Code or Exchange Act . The titles and headings of the Sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and, in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control. References to sections of the Code or the Exchange Act shall include any amendment or successor thereto.

 

13.9            Governing Law . The Plan and any Programs and Award Agreements hereunder shall be administered, interpreted and enforced under the internal laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflicts of laws thereof or of any other jurisdiction.

 

13.10          Section 409A . To the extent that the Administrator determines that any Award granted under the Plan is subject to Section 409A, the Plan, the Program pursuant to which such Award is granted and the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall incorporate the terms and conditions required by Section 409A. In that regard, to the extent any Award under the Plan or any other compensatory plan or arrangement of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject to Section 409A, and such Award or other amount is payable on account of a Participant’s Termination of Service (or any similarly defined term), then (a) such Award or amount shall only be paid to the extent such Termination of Service qualifies as a “separation from service” as defined in Section 409A, and (b) if such Award or amount is payable to a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A then to the extent required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A, such Award or other compensatory payment shall not be payable prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six-month period measured from the date of the Participant’s Termination of Service, or (ii) the date of the Participant’s death.  To the extent applicable, the Plan, the Program and any Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the

 

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event that following the Effective Date the Administrator determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A, the Administrator may (but is not obligated to), without a Holder’s consent, adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Program and Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate to (A) exempt the Award from Section 409A and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (B) comply with the requirements of Section 409A and thereby avoid the application of any penalty taxes under Section 409A. The Company makes no representations or warranties as to the tax treatment of any Award under Section 409A or otherwise.  The Company shall have no obligation under this Section 13.10 or otherwise to take any action (whether or not described herein) to avoid the imposition of taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A with respect to any Award and shall have no liability to any Holder or any other person if any Award, compensation or other benefits under the Plan are determined to constitute non-compliant, “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to the imposition of taxes, penalties and/or interest under Section 409A.

 

13.11          Unfunded Status of Awards . The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Holder pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Program or Award Agreement shall give the Holder any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

13.12          Indemnification . To the extent permitted under Applicable Law and the Organizational Documents, each member of the Administrator shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act pursuant to the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her; provided he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled pursuant to the Organizational Documents, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

 

13.13          Relationship to other Benefits . No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.

 

13.14          Expenses . The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

* * * * *

 

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I hereby certify that the foregoing Plan was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of Camping World Holdings, Inc. on                         , 2016.

 

* * * * *

 

I hereby certify that the foregoing Plan was approved by the stockholders of Camping World Holdings, Inc. on                         , 2016.

 

Executed on this      day of                         , 2016.

 

 

 

 

Corporate Secretary

 




Exhibit 10.24

 

CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC.

SENIOR EXECUTIVE INCENTIVE BONUS PLAN

 

1.               Purpose

 

This Senior Executive Incentive Bonus Plan (the “ Bonus Plan ”) is intended to provide an incentive for superior work and to motivate eligible executives of Camping World Holdings, Inc. (the “ Company ”) and its subsidiaries toward even higher achievement and business results, to tie their goals and interests to those of the Company and its stockholders and to enable the Company to attract and retain highly qualified executives. The Bonus Plan is for the benefit of Covered Employees (as defined below).

 

2.               Administration

 

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Compensation Committee ”) shall have the sole discretion and authority to administer and interpret the Bonus Plan.

 

3.               Eligibility and Participation

 

The Compensation Committee shall select the persons eligible to participate in the Bonus Plan, which may include, without limitation, the executives of the Company and its subsidiaries who are or, as determined in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee, may become “covered employees” (as defined in Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”)) of the Company and its subsidiaries for the applicable taxable year of the Company (such selected persons, the “ Covered Employees ”).

 

4.               Bonus Determinations

 

(a)                                  A Covered Employee may receive a bonus payment under the Bonus Plan based upon the attainment of performance objectives which are established by the Compensation Committee and relate to financial, operational or other metrics with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries (the “ Performance Goals ”), including but not limited to:  (i) net earnings or losses (either before or after one or more of the following: (A) interest, (B) taxes, (C) depreciation and (D) amortization); (ii) gross or net sales or revenue; (iii) revenue growth or product revenue growth; (iv) net income (either before or after taxes); (v) adjusted net income; (vi) operating earnings or profit (either before or after taxes); (vii) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow and free cash flow); (viii) return on assets or net assets; (ix) return on capital and cost of capital; (x) return on stockholders’ equity; (xi) total stockholder return; (xii) return on sales; (xiii) gross or net profit or operating margin; (xiv) costs, reductions in costs and cost control measures; (xv) funds from operations or funds available for distributions; (xvi) expenses; (xvii) working capital; (xviii) earnings or loss per share; (xix) adjusted earnings per share; (xx) price per share of common stock of the Company or appreciation in and/or maintenance of such price; (xxi) economic value added models or similar metrics; (xxii) regulatory achievements or compliance (including, without limitation, regulatory body approval for commercialization of a product); (xxiii) implementation or completion of critical projects or processes; (xxiv) sales or market share; (xxv) licensing revenue; (xxvi) brand recognition/acceptance, (xxvii) inventory turns or cycle time and supply chain achievements

 

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(including, without limitation, establishing relationships with manufacturers or suppliers of component materials and manufacturers of the Company’s products), (xxviii) strategic initiatives (including, without limitation, with respect to market penetration, geographic business expansion, manufacturing, commercialization, production and productivity, customer satisfaction and growth, employee satisfaction, recruitment and maintenance of personnel, human resources management, supervision of litigation and other legal matters, information technology, strategic partnerships and transactions (including acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, in-licensing and out-licensing of intellectual property, and establishment of relationships with commercial entities with respect to the marketing, distribution and sale of Company products, and factoring transactions, research and development and related activity, and financial or other capital raising transactions); (xxix) new or existing store results and operations and new store openings; and (xxx) financial ratios (including, without limitation, those measuring liquidity, activity, profitability or leverage), any of which may be measured either in absolute terms or as compared to any incremental increase or decrease or as compared to results of a peer group or to market performance indicators or indices.

 

(b)                                  Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 4(b) :  (i) any bonuses paid to Covered Employees under the Bonus Plan shall be based upon objectively determinable bonus formulas that tie such bonuses to one or more performance objectives relating to the Performance Goals; (ii) bonus formulas for Covered Employees shall be adopted in each performance period by the Compensation Committee (generally, for performance periods of one year or more, no later than 90 days after the commencement of the performance period to which the Performance Goals relate); and (iii) no bonuses shall be paid to Covered Employees unless and until the Compensation Committee makes a certification with respect to the attainment of the performance objectives.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may pay bonuses (including, without limitation, discretionary bonuses) to Covered Employees under the Bonus Plan based upon such other terms and conditions as the Compensation Committee may in its sole discretion determine.

 

(c)                                   The payment of a bonus to a Covered Employee with respect to a performance period shall be conditioned upon the Covered Employee’s employment by the Company on the last day of the performance period; provided, however, that the Compensation Committee may make exceptions to this requirement, in its sole discretion, including, without limitation, in the case of a Covered Employee’s termination of employment, retirement, death or disability.

 

5.               Forfeiture and Claw-Back Provisions

 

The Compensation Committee may provide that any bonuses paid under the Bonus Plan shall be subject to the provisions of any claw-back policy implemented by the Company, including, without limitation, any claw-back policy adopted to comply with the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any rules, regulations or interpretations thereunder, to the extent set forth in such claw-back policy.

 

6.               Other Provisions

 

(a)                                  Neither the establishment of the Bonus Plan nor the selection of any individual as a Covered Employee shall give any individual any right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any subsidiary thereof, or any right whatsoever under the Bonus Plan other than to

 

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receive bonus payments awarded by the Compensation Committee.

 

(b)                                  No member of the Board of Directors of the Company or the Compensation Committee shall be liable to any individual in respect of the Bonus Plan for any act or omission of such member, any other member, or any officer, agent or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

(c)                                   The Company and its subsidiaries shall be entitled to withhold such amounts as may be required by federal, state or local law from all bonus payments under the Bonus Plan.

 

(d)                                  To the extent not preempted by federal law, the Bonus Plan shall be governed and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof or any other jurisdiction.

 

(e)                                   The Bonus Plan is intended to meet the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and will be interpreted and construed in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury Regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date.  Each bonus payable pursuant to the Bonus Plan shall be intended to comply with, or be exempt from, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code such that the bonus will not be subject to any penalty tax imposed under Section 409A of the Code and, unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee, each bonus under the Bonus Plan shall be paid subject to the applicable Covered Employee’s continued employment through the date of payment of such bonus.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Bonus Plan to the contrary, in the event that following the Effective Date the Company determines that any provision of the Bonus Plan could otherwise cause any person to be subject to the penalty taxes imposed under Section 409A of the Code, the Company may adopt such amendments to the Bonus Plan or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Company determines are necessary or appropriate to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance and thereby avoid the application of any penalty taxes under Section 409A of the Code.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall any liability for failure to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code be transferred from a Covered Employee or any other person to the Company or any of its affiliates, employees or agents pursuant to the terms of the Bonus Plan or otherwise.

 

7.               Amendment and Termination

 

The Company reserves the right to amend or terminate the Bonus Plan at any time in its sole discretion.  Any amendments to the Bonus Plan shall require stockholder approval only to the extent required by any applicable law, rule or regulation.

 

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8.               Stockholder Approval

 

No bonuses shall be paid under the Bonus Plan unless and until the Company’s stockholders shall have approved the Bonus Plan.  The Bonus Plan will be submitted for the approval of the Company’s stockholders after the initial adoption of the Bonus Plan by the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

9.               Term of Bonus Plan

 

The Bonus Plan shall become effective as of the day immediately prior to the first date upon which common stock of the Company is listed (or approved for listing) upon notice of issuance on any securities exchange or designated (or approved for designation) upon notice of issuance as a national market security on an interdealer quotation system (the “ Effective Date ”).  The Bonus Plan shall expire on the earliest to occur of: (a) the first material modification of the Bonus Plan (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(h)(1)(iii)); (b) the first meeting of the Company’s stockholders at which members of the Board of Directors of the Company are to be elected that occurs after the close of the third calendar year following the calendar year in which occurred the first registration of an equity security of the Company under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; or (c) such other date required by Section 162(m) of the Code, and the rules, regulations and interpretations thereunder (including without limitation Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(f)(2)).  The Bonus Plan is intended to be subject to the relief set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(f)(1) and shall be interpreted accordingly.

 

*  *  *  *  *

 

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I hereby certify that the Bonus Plan was duly authorized, approved and adopted by the Board of Directors of Camping World Holdings, Inc. as of     , 2016, effective as of the Effective Date.

 

I hereby certify that the Bonus Plan was approved by the stockholders of Camping World Holdings, Inc. as of     , 2016.

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 




Exhibit 10.25

 

CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC.

 

NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION POLICY

 

Non-employee members of the board of directors (the “ Board ”) of Camping World Holdings, Inc. (the “ Company ”) shall be eligible to receive cash and equity compensation as set forth in this Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy (this “ Policy ”).  The cash and equity compensation described in this Policy shall be paid or be made, as applicable, automatically and without further action of the Board, to each member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company (each, a “ Non-Employee Director ”), who may be eligible to receive such cash or equity compensation, unless such Non-Employee Director declines the receipt of such cash or equity compensation by written notice to the Company.  This Policy shall become effective on the date the price of the shares of the Company’s Class A common stock is established in connection with the Company’s initial public offering (the “ Pricing Date ”) and shall remain in effect until it is revised or rescinded by further action of the Board. This Policy may be amended, modified or terminated by the Board at any time in its sole discretion and if such an initial public offering does not occur on or prior to March 31, 2017 this Policy shall be void ab initio .  The terms and conditions of this Policy shall supersede any prior cash and/or equity compensation arrangements for service as a member of the Board between the Company and any of its Non-Employee Directors and between any subsidiary of the Company and any of its non-employee directors.  No Non-Employee Director shall have any rights hereunder, except with respect to restricted stock units granted pursuant to this Policy.

 

1.                                       Cash Compensation .

 

(a)                                  Annual Retainers .  Each Non-Employee Director shall receive an annual retainer of $70,000 for service on the Board.

 

(b)                                  Additional Annual Retainers .  In addition, a Non-Employee Director shall receive the following annual retainers:

 

(i)                                      (ii)                                   Audit Committee .  A Non-Employee Director serving as Chairperson of the Audit Committee shall receive an additional annual retainer of $20,000 for such service.  A Non-Employee Director serving as a member of the Audit Committee (other than the Chairperson) shall receive an additional annual retainer of $5,000 for such service.

 

(iii)                                Compensation Committee .  A Non-Employee Director serving as Chairperson of the Compensation Committee shall receive an additional annual retainer of $15,000 for such service.  A Non-Employee Director serving as a member of the Compensation Committee (other than the Chairperson) shall receive an additional annual retainer of $5,000 for such service.

 

(vi)                               Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee .  A Non-Employee Director serving as Chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall receive an additional annual retainer of $10,000 for such service.  A Non-Employee Director serving as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (other than the Chairperson) shall receive an additional annual retainer of $5,000 for such service.

 

(c)                                   Payment of Retainers .  The annual retainers described in Sections 1(a) and 1(b) shall be earned on a quarterly basis based on a calendar quarter and shall be paid by the Company in arrears not later than the fifteenth day following the end of each calendar quarter.  In the event a Non-Employee Director does not serve as a Non-Employee Director, or in the applicable positions described in

 

1



 

Section 1(b), for an entire calendar quarter, such Non-Employee Director shall receive a prorated portion of the retainer(s) otherwise payable to such Non-Employee Director for such calendar quarter pursuant to Section 1(b), with such prorated portion determined by multiplying such otherwise payable retainer(s) by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days during which the Non-Employee Director serves as a Non-Employee Director or in the applicable positions described in Section 1(b) during the applicable calendar quarter and the denominator of which is the number of days in the applicable calendar quarter.

 

2.                                       Equity Compensation .  Non-Employee Directors shall be granted the equity awards described below.  The awards described below shall be granted under and shall be subject to the terms and provisions of the Company’s 2016 Incentive Award Plan or any other applicable Company equity incentive plan then-maintained by the Company (such plan, as may be amended from time to time, the “ Equity Plan ”) and shall be granted subject to the execution and delivery of award agreements, including attached exhibits, in substantially the forms previously approved by the Board.  All applicable terms of the Equity Plan apply to this Policy as if fully set forth herein, and all equity grants hereunder are subject in all respects to the terms of the Equity Plan.

 

(a)  IPO Awards .  Each Non-Employee Director who (i) serves on the Board as of the Pricing Date and (ii) will continue to serve as a Non-Employee Director immediately following the Pricing Date shall be automatically granted, on the Pricing Date, restricted stock units that have an aggregate fair value on the date of grant of $105,000 (in each case, as determined in accordance with FASB Accounting Codification Topic 718) (“ ASC 718 ”) and subject to adjustment as provided in the Equity Plan in each case) (the “ IPO Awards ”).

 

(b)  Annual RSU Awards .  Each Non-Employee Director who (i) serves on the Board as of the date of any annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders (an “ Annual Meeting ”) after the Pricing Date and (ii) will continue to serve as a Non-Employee Director immediately following such Annual Meeting shall be automatically granted, on the date of such Annual Meeting, restricted stock units that have an aggregate fair value on the date of grant of $105,000 (as determined in accordance with ASC 718 and subject to adjustment as provided in the Equity Plan)(the “ Annual Awards ”).

 

(c)  Initial Awards .  Except as otherwise determined by the Board, each Non-Employee Director who is initially elected or appointed to the Board after the Pricing Date on any date other than the date of an Annual Meeting shall be automatically granted, on the date of such Non-Employee Director’s initial election or appointment (such Non-Employee Director’s “ Start Date ”), restricted stock units that have an aggregate fair value on such Non-Employee Director’s Start Date equal to the product of (i) $105,000 (as determined in accordance with ASC 718) and (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is (x) 365 minus (y) the number of days in the period beginning on the date of the Annual Meeting immediately preceding such Non-Employee Director’s Start Date (or, if no such Annual Meeting has occurred, the effective date of the Company’s initial public offering) and ending on such Non-Employee Director’s Start Date and the denominator of which is 365 (with the number of units or shares of Common Stock underlying each such award subject to adjustment as provided in the Equity Plan in each case).  The awards described in this Section 2(c) shall be referred to as “ Initial Awards . ”  For the avoidance of doubt, no Non-Employee Director shall be granted more than one Initial Award.

 

(d)                                  Termination of Employment of Employee Directors .  Members of the Board who are employees of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company who subsequently terminate their employment with the Company and any parent or subsidiary of the Company and remain on the Board will not receive an Initial Award pursuant to Section 2(c) above, but to the extent that they are otherwise eligible, will be eligible to receive, after termination from service with the Company and any parent or subsidiary of the Company, Annual Awards as described in Section 2(b) above.

 



 

(e)                                   Vesting of Awards Granted to Non-Employee Directors .  Each IPO Award, Initial Award and Annual Award shall vest in equal installments with respect to one-third of the total number of shares subject to the IPO Award, Initial Award or Annual Award, respectively, on each of the first through third anniversaries of the date of grant, subject in each case to the Non-Employee Director continuing in service through the applicable vesting date.  All of a Non-Employee Director’s IPO Award, Annual Award or Initial Award shall vest in full on the date such Non-Employee Director’s service is terminated due to a failure to be reelected, to the extent outstanding on the last date of such Non-Employee Director’s service on the Board. All of a Non-Employee Director’s IPO Award, Annual Awards and Initial Awards shall vest in full immediately prior to the occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined in the Equity Plan), to the extent outstanding at such time.

 

* * * * *

 




Exhibit 10.26

 

CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC.

 

DIRECTOR STOCK OWNERSHIP POLICY
as of [    ], 2016

 

Purpose

 

This Non-Employee Director Stock Ownership Policy (the “ Policy ”) of Camping World Holdings, Inc. (the “ Company ”), together with the equity awards granted to certain members of the board of directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) pursuant to the Company’s Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy, as may be amended from time to time (the “ Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy ”), is designed to align the interests of members of the Board with the interests of the Company’s Class A common stockholders. This Policy shall become effective as of the day prior to the first date upon which Class A common stock (“ Common Stock ”) is listed (or approved for listing) on any securities exchange or designated (or approved for designation) as a national market security on an interdealer quotation system (the “ Effective Date ”), provided if the Company’s initial public offering is not consummated on or prior to March 31, 2017 this policy shall be void ab initio .

 

Eligibility

 

This Policy shall apply to all members of the Board that are not employees of the Company or its subsidiaries (each, a “ Non-Employee Director ”).

 

Share Retention Policy

 

Effective as of the fifth anniversary of the later of (i) the Effective Date, (ii) the first date of a Non-Employee Director’s service on the Board, each Non-Employee Director is encouraged to hold, directly or indirectly, shares of Common Stock and/or membership interests in CWGS Enterprises, LLC (“ LLC Interests ”) and at all times make good faith progress towards holding Qualifying Shareholdings (as defined herein) equal to or in excess of the Non-Employee Director’s ownership threshold, as described under “Ownership Threshold” below, as such threshold may be amended by the Company’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the “ Committee ”) from time to time.

 

Ownership Threshold

 

Each Non-Employee Director’s ownership threshold is an amount equal to five times his or her annual base retainer fee.

 

The Company uses the closing price per share of the Common Stock on the applicable measurement date to determine the number of Qualifying Shareholdings required to meet the ownership threshold.

 



 

Qualifying Shareholdings

 

Securities that qualify in determining whether a Non-Employee Director has satisfied the shareholding requirements of this Policy (“ Qualifying Shareholdings ”) include:  (i) issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock held, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record by the Non-Employee Director that are not subject to transfer or other restrictions; (ii) issued and outstanding LLC Interests held, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record by the Non-Employee Director; (iii) issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock or LLC Interests held by a Qualifying Trust (as defined below); (iv) issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock or LLC Interests held by a 401(k) or other qualified pension or profit-sharing plan for the benefit of the Non-Employee Director (whether denominated in shares or units); and (v) shares of Common Stock underlying vested Company time-based stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units; provided that the number of shares of Common Stock underlying stock options, restricted stock or restricted stock units constituting Qualifying Shareholdings shall equal the number of shares of Common Stock that would be deliverable upon exercise or settlement in full of the respective awards, less (A) a number of shares of Common Stock with a value equal to any applicable income and employment taxes, utilizing an assumed tax rate equal to 40% (the “ Tax Amount ”), and (B) in the case of stock options, a number of shares of Common Stock with a value equal to the exercise price thereof.  The Company uses the closing price per share of Common Stock on the applicable measurement date to determine the number of shares needed to satisfy the Tax Amount and the exercise price.

 

For purposes of the foregoing paragraph, “ beneficial ownership ” shall mean the ownership or sharing, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship, or otherwise, of (i) voting power which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security; and/or (ii) investment power which includes the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition, of such security. “ Qualifying Trust ” means a trust created for the benefit of the Non-Employee Director, the Non-Employee Director’s spouse, or members of the Non-Employee Director’s immediate family.

 

Qualifying Shareholdings Reporting

 

Each Non-Employee Director shall report in such Non-Employee Director’s annual Director and Officer Questionnaire (“ D&O Questionnaire ”) his or her Qualifying Shareholdings as of the date the D&O Questionnaire is completed and, in the case of newly appointed Non-Employee Directors, such information shall also be reported in such Non-Employee Director’s initial D&O Questionnaire.

 

Remedies for Non-Compliance

 

The Committee has the authority to review each Non-Employee Director’s compliance (or progress towards compliance) with this Policy from time to time and, in its sole discretion, to impose such conditions, restrictions or limitations on any Non-Employee Director as the Committee determines to be necessary or appropriate in order to achieve the purposes of this Policy.  For example, the Committee may mandate that a Non-Employee Director retain (and not transfer) all or a portion of any shares delivered to the Non-Employee Director through the Company’s equity plans or otherwise restrict the Non-Employee Director’s transfer of previously owned shares.

 

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Undue Hardship

 

There may be instances in which this Policy would place a severe hardship on a Non-Employee Director or prevent the Non-Employee Director from complying with a court order, such as a divorce settlement, or other legal requirement.  In these instances, the Non-Employee Director must submit a request in writing to the Committee or its designee that summarizes the circumstances and describes the extent to which an exemption is being requested.  The Committee or its designee will make the final decision as to whether an exemption will be granted.  If such a request is granted in whole or part, the Committee or its designee will work with the Non-Employee Director to develop an alternative stock ownership plan that reflects both the intention of this Policy and the Non-Employee Director’s individual circumstances.

 

Administration

 

This Policy is administered and interpreted by the Committee.  The Committee retains the authority to make exceptions to or waivers of the Policy based upon changes in circumstances or to otherwise amend or alter the Policy as it may determine appropriate.  The Committee will review each Non-Employee Director’s compliance efforts with respect to this Policy no less than annually and will review this Policy from time to time as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate.

 

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Exhibit 10.27

 

CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC.

 

EXECUTIVE OFFICER STOCK OWNERSHIP POLICY
as of October [6], 2016

 

Purpose

 

This Executive Officer Stock Ownership Policy (the “ Policy ”) of Camping World Holdings, Inc. (“ Camping World ”) is designed to align the interests of executive officers of Camping World with the interests of Camping World’s common stockholders. This Policy shall become effective as of the day prior to the first date upon which Camping World’s Class A common stock (“ Common Stock ”) is listed (or approved for listing) on any securities exchange or designated (or approved for designation) as a national market security on an interdealer quotation system (the “ Effective Date ”) and if the Company’s initial public offering is not consummated on or prior to March 31, 2017 this policy shall be void ab initio .

 

Eligibility

 

This Policy shall apply to certain Executive Officers of Camping World. For purposes of this Policy, “ Executive Officer ” shall mean the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, and any other executive officer as determined by Camping World’s Board of Directors.

 

Share Retention Requirement

 

Following the Compliance Date (as defined below), the Executive Officers are encouraged to hold (and not transfer), a pre-defined percentage of all “net settled shares” (as defined below) received from the vesting, delivery or exercise of equity awards granted under the equity award plans of Camping World or CWGS Holdings, LLC (“ CWGS Holdings ”) or the redemption of membership interests in CWGS Holdings (“ LLC Interests ”), if the Executive Officer’s total Qualifying Shareholdings (as defined herein) are less in value than the Executive Officer’s applicable ownership threshold, as reflected under “Fixed Dollar Amount or Salary Multiple Used to Determine Ownership Threshold” below.  This share retention requirement applies to an Executive Officer only if such Executive Officer has not achieved his or her applicable ownership threshold at any time on or following such Executive Officer’s Compliance Date (as defined below).

 

For purposes of this Policy, “ net settled shares ” means those shares of Common Stock or LLC Interests that remain after payment of (i) the exercise price of stock options or purchase price of other awards and all applicable withholding taxes, and (ii) all applicable transaction costs.

 

The percentage of net settled shares required after the Compliance Date to be held if the Executive Officer’s Qualifying Shareholdings after the Compliance Date is less than his or her applicable ownership threshold is 50%.

 



 

Ownership Guidelines

 

Effective as of the fifth anniversary of the later of (i) the Effective Date, (ii) the date of an Executive Officer’s hire by Camping World and (iii) the date of an employee’s internal promotion to an Executive Officer position subject to the Policy (such later date, an Executive Officer’s “ Compliance Date ”), each Executive Officer is encouraged to hold Qualifying Shareholdings that are at least equal in value to the Executive Officer’s ownership threshold.

 

Camping World uses the closing price per share of Common Stock on the applicable measurement date to determine the number of Qualifying Shareholdings required to meet the following thresholds, which are calculated as a fixed dollar amount or multiple of the Executive Officer’s base salary in effect from time to time:

 

Executive

 

Fixed Dollar Amount or Salary Multiple
Used to Determine
Ownership Threshold

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

$

5,000,000

 

Executive Officers

 

3x

 

 

Any person who becomes subject to the Policy after the Effective Date will have his or her initial individual threshold established based upon his or her title and base salary in effect at the time he or she becomes subject to the Policy.

 

Once established, an Executive Officer’s fixed dollar amount or salary multiple used to determine the ownership threshold will not change as a result of fluctuations in Common Stock price, and will not change as a result of a change in his or her base salary that is not made in connection with a change in title, but may increase or decrease as a result of a change in title of the Executive Officer in accordance with the chart above; provided that an Executive Officer will not be required to hold the increased number of Qualified Shareholdings required as a result of a promotion until the second anniversary of such promotion.

 

Qualifying Shareholdings

 

Securities that qualify in determining whether an Executive Officer has satisfied the shareholding requirements of this Policy (“ Qualifying Shareholdings ”) include:  (i) issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock held, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record by the Executive Officer that are not subject to transfer or other restrictions; (ii) issued and outstanding LLC Interests held, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record by the Executive Officer; (iii) issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock or LLC Interests held by a Qualifying Trust (as defined below); (iv) issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock or LLC Interests held by a 401(k) or other qualified pension or profit-sharing plan for the benefit of the Executive Officer (whether denominated in shares or units); and (v) shares of Common Stock underlying vested Camping World time-based stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units; provided that the number of shares of Common Stock underlying stock options, restricted stock or restricted stock units constituting Qualifying Shareholdings shall equal the number of shares of Common Stock that would be deliverable upon exercise or settlement in full of the respective

 

2



 

awards, less (A) a number of shares of Common Stock with a value equal to any applicable withholding taxes, utilizing an assumed tax rate equal to 40% (the “ Tax Withholding Amount ”), and (B) in the case of stock options, a number of shares of Common Stock with a value equal to the exercise price thereof.  Camping World uses the closing price per share of Common Stock on the applicable measurement date to determine the number of shares needed to satisfy the Tax Withholding Amount and the exercise price.

 

For purposes of the foregoing paragraph, “ beneficial ownership ” shall mean the ownership or sharing, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship, position, or otherwise, of (i) voting power which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security; and/or (ii) investment power which includes the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition, of such security. “ Qualifying Trust ” means a trust created for the benefit of the Executive Officer, the Executive Officer’s spouse, or members of the Executive Officer’s immediate family.

 

Qualifying Shareholdings Reporting

 

Each Executive Officer shall report in such Executive Officer’s annual Director and Officer Questionnaire (“ D&O Questionnaire ”) his or her Qualifying Shareholdings as of the date the D&O Questionnaire is completed and, in the case of newly appointed (whether through promotion or new employment) Executive Officers, such information shall also be reported in such Executive Officer’s initial D&O Questionnaire.

 

Remedies for Non-Compliance

 

Any Executive Officer who does not comply with this Policy following his or her Compliance Date shall be subject to discipline by Camping World, up to and including termination of employment.  In addition, Camping World’s Compensation Committee (the “ Committee ”) has the authority to review each Executive Officer’s compliance (or progress towards compliance) with this Policy from time to time following such Executive Officer’s Compliance Date and, in its sole discretion, to impose such conditions, restrictions or limitations on any Executive Officer as the Committee determines to be necessary or appropriate in order to achieve the purposes of this Policy.  For example, the Committee may mandate that an Executive Officer retain (and not transfer) all or a portion of any shares or LLC Interests delivered to the participant through the equity plans of Camping World or CWGS Holdings (or any shares received upon redemption of LLC Interests) or otherwise restrict the Executive Officer’s transfer or redemption of previously owned shares or LLC Interests.  With regard to Executive Officers other than the CEO, the Committee may delegate this authority to the CEO as it deems appropriate from time to time.

 

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Undue Hardship

 

There may be instances in which this Policy would place a severe hardship on an Executive Officer or prevent the Executive Officer from complying with a court order, such as a divorce settlement, or other legal requirement.  In these instances, the Executive Officer must submit a request in writing to the Chairman of the Compensation Committee or his or her designee that summarizes the circumstances and describes the extent to which an exemption is being requested.  The Chairman of the Compensation Committee or his or her designee will make the final decision as to whether an exemption will be granted.  If such a request is granted in whole or part, the Chairman of the Compensation Committee or his or her designee will work with the Executive Officer to develop an alternative stock ownership plan that reflects both the intention of this Policy and the Executive Officer’s individual circumstances.

 

Administration

 

This Policy is administered and interpreted by the Committee.  The Committee retains the authority to make exceptions to or waivers of the Policy based upon changes in circumstances or to otherwise amend or alter the Policy as it may determine appropriate.  The Committee will review each Executive Officer’s compliance efforts with respect to this Policy no less than annually, and will review this Policy from time to time as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate.

 

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Exhibit 10.28

 

CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC.
2016 INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

 

STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE AND

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

Camping World Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), pursuant to its 2016 Incentive Award Plan, as amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”), hereby grants to the holder listed below (“ Participant ”) an option to purchase the number of shares of the Common Stock set forth below (the “ Option ”).  The Option is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Stock Option Grant Notice (this “ Grant Notice ”) and the Stock Option Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “ Agreement ”) and the Plan, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.  Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have the same defined meanings in this Grant Notice and the Option Agreement.

 

Participant:

 

 

Grant Date:

 

 

Exercise Price Per Share:

$

Total Exercise Price:

$

Total Number of Shares Subject to Option:

 

Expiration Date:

                ,

Type of Option:

o Incentive Stock Option o Non-Qualified Stock Option

 

 

Vesting Schedule:

The Option shall vest in equal installments with respect to 25% of the total number of shares subject to the Option on each of the first four anniversaries of the Grant Date.

 

By Participant’s signature below, Participant agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Agreement and the Grant Notice.  Participant has reviewed the Agreement, the Plan and the Grant Notice in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing the Grant Notice and fully understands all provisions of the Grant Notice, the Agreement and the Plan.  Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan, the Grant Notice or the Agreement.

 

CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC.

PARTICIPANT

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

By:

 

Print Name:

Marcus A. Lemonis

Print Name:

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

 



 

EXHIBIT A

TO STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE

 

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

Pursuant to the Grant Notice to which this Agreement is attached, the Company has granted to Participant an Option under the Plan to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock set forth in the Grant Notice.

 

ARTICLE I.
GENERAL

 

1.1                                Defined Terms .  Capitalized terms not specifically defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Plan or the Grant Notice. For purposes of this Agreement,

 

(a)                                  Cause ” shall mean (A) willful misconduct, gross negligence or an act of dishonesty of Participant with regard to the Company or any of its Affiliates, which in either case, results in or could reasonably be expected to result in material harm to the Company or such Affiliate; (B) the willful and continued failure of Participant to attempt to perform his or her duties with the Company or any of its Affiliates (other than any such failure resulting from Disability), which failure is not remedied within 30 days after receiving written notice thereof; (C) the conviction of Participant of (or the plea by Participant of guilty or nolo contendere to) any felony involving moral turpitude (other than traffic related offenses or as a result of vicarious liability); or (D) a material breach by Participant of any material provision of any written employment or consulting agreement, which breach is not remedied within 10 days after receiving written notice thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Participant is a party to a written employment or consulting agreement with the Company (or any of its Subsidiaries) in which the term “cause” is defined, then “Cause” shall be as such term is defined in the applicable written employment or consulting agreement.

 

(b)                                  CIC Qualifying Termination ” shall mean Termination of Service of Participant by the Company without Cause during the twelve (12) month period immediately following a Change in Control.

 

(c)                                   Disability ” shall mean Participant’s inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or that can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months.

 

1.2                                Incorporation of Terms of Plan .  The Option is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference.  In the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall control.

 

ARTICLE II.
GRANT OF OPTION

 

2.1                                Grant of Option .  In consideration of Participant’s past and/or continued employment with or service to the Company or a Subsidiary and for other good and valuable consideration, effective as of the grant date set forth in the Grant Notice (the “ Grant Date ”), the Company has granted to Participant the Option to purchase any part or all of an aggregate number of shares of Common Stock set forth in the Grant Notice, upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Grant Notice, the Plan and this Agreement, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3.1 hereof and Section 13.2 of the Plan.

 

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2.2                                Exercise Price .  The exercise price per share of the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option (the “ Exercise Price ”) shall be as set forth in the Grant Notice.

 

2.3                                Consideration to the Company .  In consideration of the grant of the Option by the Company, Participant agrees to render faithful and efficient services to the Company or any Subsidiary. Nothing in the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement shall confer upon Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any Subsidiary or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company and its Subsidiaries, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or terminate the services of Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between the Company or a Subsidiary and Participant.

 

ARTICLE III.
PERIOD OF EXERCISABILITY

 

3.1                                            Commencement of Exercisability .

 

(a)                                  Subject to Participant’s continued employment with or service to the Company or a Subsidiary on each applicable vesting date and subject to Sections 3.1(b) , 3.1(c) , 3.2 , 3.3 , 5.9 and 5.14 hereof, the Option shall become vested and exercisable in such amounts and at such times as are set forth in the Grant Notice.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding the Grant Notice or the provisions of Section 3.1(a), if the Participant incurs a Termination of Service due to the Participant’s death or Disability, the Option shall fully vest upon such Termination of Service.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding the Grant Notice or the provisions of Section 3.1(a), (b), (d) and (e), in the event of a CIC Qualifying Termination, the Option shall become vested and exercisable in full on the date of such CIC Qualifying Termination;

 

(d)                                  Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or as set forth in a written agreement between Participant and the Company, any portion of the Option that has not become vested and exercisable on or prior to the date of Participant’s Termination of Service other than a Termination of Service due to death or Disability (including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 3.1(c) or any employment or similar agreement by and between Participant and the Company) shall be forfeited on the date of Participant’s Termination of Service and shall not thereafter become vested or exercisable; and

 

(e)                                   In the event a successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the Option in connection with a Change in Control, the Option shall terminate in exchange for cash, rights or other property pursuant to Section 13.2(b)(i) of the Plan and shall not thereafter become vested or exercisable.

 

3.2                                            Duration of Exercisability .  The installments provided for in the vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice are cumulative.  Each such installment which becomes vested and exercisable pursuant to the vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice shall remain vested and exercisable until it becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3 hereof. Once the Option becomes unexercisable, it shall be forfeited immediately.

 

3.3                                            Expiration of Option .  The Option may not be exercised to any extent by anyone after the first to occur of the following events:

 

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(a)                                  The expiration date set forth in the Grant Notice;

 

(b)                                  Except as the Administrator may otherwise approve, in the event of Participant’s Termination of Service due to voluntary resignation, the expiration of three (3) months from the date of Participant’s Termination of Service;

 

(c)                                   Except as the Administrator may otherwise approve, the expiration of one (1) year from the date of Participant’s Termination of Service by reason of Participant’s death or Disability or Participant’s Termination of Service other than for Cause;

 

(d)                                  Except as the Administrator may otherwise approve, upon Participant’s Termination of Service for Cause; or

 

(e)                                   In the event of a Change in Control in which a successor corporation does not assume or substitute the Option, the date of such Change in Control.

 

3.4                                Tax Withholding .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement:

 

(a)                                  The Company and its Subsidiaries have the authority to deduct or withhold, or require Participant to remit to the Company or the applicable Subsidiary, an amount sufficient to satisfy any applicable federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including the employee portion of any FICA obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising pursuant to this Agreement.  The Company and its Subsidiaries may withhold or Participant may make such payment in one or more of the forms specified below:

 

(i)                                      by cash or check made payable to the Company or the Subsidiary with respect to which the withholding obligation arises;

 

(ii)                                   by the deduction of such amount from other compensation payable to Participant;

 

(iii)                                with respect to any withholding taxes arising in connection with the exercise of the Option, with the consent of the Administrator, by requesting that the Company withhold a net number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Option having a then current Fair Market Value not exceeding the amount necessary to satisfy the withholding obligation of the Company and its Subsidiaries based on the minimum applicable statutory withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes;

 

(iv)                               with respect to any withholding taxes arising in connection with the exercise of the Option, with the consent of the Administrator, by tendering to the Company shares of Common Stock having a then current Fair Market Value not exceeding the amount necessary to satisfy the withholding obligation of the Company and its Subsidiaries based on the minimum applicable statutory withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes;

 

(v)                                  with respect to any withholding taxes arising in connection with the exercise of the Option, through the delivery of a notice that Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker acceptable to the Company with respect to shares of Common Stock then issuable to Participant pursuant to the Option, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company or the Subsidiary with respect to which the withholding obligation arises in satisfaction of such withholding taxes; provided that payment of such proceeds is then made to

 

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the Company or the applicable Subsidiary at such time as may be required by the Administrator, but in any event not later than the settlement of such sale; or

 

(vi)                               in any combination of the foregoing.

 

(b)                                  With respect to any withholding taxes arising in connection with the Option, in the event Participant fails to provide timely payment of all sums required pursuant to Section 3.4(a) , the Company shall have the right and option, but not the obligation, to treat such failure as an election by Participant to satisfy all or any portion of Participant’s required payment obligation pursuant to Section 3.4(a)(ii)  or Section 3.4(a)(iii)  above, or any combination of the foregoing as the Company may determine to be appropriate. The Company shall not be obligated to deliver any certificate representing shares of Common Stock issuable with respect to the exercise of the Option to, or to cause any such shares of Common Stock to be held in book-entry form by, Participant or his or her legal representative unless and until Participant or his or her legal representative shall have paid or otherwise satisfied in full the amount of all federal, state, local and foreign taxes applicable with respect to the taxable income of Participant resulting from the exercise of the Option or any other taxable event related to the Option.

 

(c)                                   In the event any tax withholding obligation arising in connection with the Option will be satisfied under Section 3.4(a)(iii) , then the Company may elect to instruct any brokerage firm determined acceptable to the Company for such purpose to sell on Participant’s behalf a whole number of shares from those shares of Common Stock then issuable upon the exercise of the Option as the Company determines to be appropriate to generate cash proceeds sufficient to satisfy the tax withholding obligation and to remit the proceeds of such sale to the Company or the Subsidiary with respect to which the withholding obligation arises.  Participant’s acceptance of this Option constitutes Participant’s instruction and authorization to the Company and such brokerage firm to complete the transactions described in this Section 3.4(c) , including the transactions described in the previous sentence, as applicable.  The Company may refuse to issue any shares of Common Stock to Participant until the foregoing tax withholding obligations are satisfied, provided that no payment shall be delayed under this Section 3.4(c)  if such delay will result in a violation of Section 409A of the Code.

 

(d)                                  Participant is ultimately liable and responsible for all taxes owed in connection with the Option, regardless of any action the Company or any Subsidiary takes with respect to any tax withholding obligations that arise in connection with the Option.  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary makes any representation or undertaking regarding the treatment of any tax withholding in connection with the awarding, vesting or exercise of the Option or the subsequent sale of Common Stock.  The Company and the Subsidiaries do not commit and are under no obligation to structure the Option to reduce or eliminate Participant’s tax liability.

 

ARTICLE IV.
EXERCISE OF OPTION

 

4.1                                            Person Eligible to Exercise .  During the lifetime of Participant, only Participant may exercise the Option or any portion thereof.  After the death of Participant, any exercisable portion of the Option may, prior to the time when the Option becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3 hereof, be exercised by Participant’s personal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Participant’s will or under the then applicable laws of descent and distribution.

 

4.2                                            Partial Exercise .  Subject to Section 5.2 , any exercisable portion of the Option or the entire Option, if then wholly exercisable, may be exercised in whole or in part at any time prior to the time when the Option or portion thereof becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3 hereof.

 

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4.3                                            Manner of Exercise .  The Option, or any exercisable portion thereof, may be exercised solely by delivery to the Secretary of the Company (or any third party administrator or other person or entity designated by the Company), during regular business hours, of all of the following prior to the time when the Option or such portion thereof becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3 hereof.

 

(a)                                  An exercise notice in a form specified by the Administrator, stating that the Option or portion thereof is thereby exercised, such notice complying with all applicable rules established by the Administrator;

 

(b)                                  The receipt by the Company of full payment for the shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Option or portion thereof is exercised, in such form of consideration permitted under Section 4.4 hereof that is acceptable to the Administrator;

 

(c)                                   The payment of any applicable withholding tax in accordance with Section 3.4 ;

 

(d)                                  Any other written representations or documents as may be required in the Administrator’s sole discretion to effect compliance with Applicable Law; and

 

(e)                                   In the event the Option or portion thereof shall be exercised pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof by any person or persons other than Participant, appropriate proof of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option.

 

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the Administrator shall have the right to specify all conditions of the manner of exercise, which conditions may vary by country and which may be subject to change from time to time.

 

4.4                                            Method of Payment .  Payment of the exercise price shall be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of Participant:

 

(a)                                  Cash or check;

 

(b)                                  With the consent of the Administrator, surrender of shares of Common Stock (including, without limitation, shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon exercise of the Option) held for such period of time as may be required by the Administrator in order to avoid adverse accounting consequences and having a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Option or exercised portion thereof;

 

(c)                                   Through the delivery of a notice that Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker acceptable to the Company with respect to shares of Common Stock then issuable upon exercise of the Option, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the Option exercise price; provided that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company at such time as may be required by the Administrator, but in any event not later than the settlement of such sale; or

 

(d)                                  Any other form of legal consideration acceptable to the Administrator.

 

4.5                                            Conditions to Issuance of Common Stock .  The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any shares of Common Stock purchased upon the exercise of the Option or portion thereof prior to fulfillment of all of the following conditions: (a) the admission of such shares of Common Stock to listing on all stock exchanges on which such Common Stock is then listed, (b) the completion of any registration or other qualification of such shares of Common Stock under any state or federal law or under

 

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rulings or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or other governmental regulatory body, which the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, deem necessary or advisable, (c) the obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any state or federal governmental agency which the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable, (d) the receipt by the Company of full payment for such shares of Common Stock, which may be in one or more of the forms of consideration permitted under Section 4.4 hereof, and (e) the receipt of full payment of any applicable withholding tax in accordance with Section 3.4 by the Company or its Subsidiary with respect to which the applicable withholding obligation arises.

 

4.6                                Rights as Stockholder .  Neither Participant nor any person or entity claiming under or through Participant will have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company in respect of any shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of any part of the Option unless and until certificates representing such shares of Common Stock (which may be in book-entry form) will have been issued and recorded on the records of the Company or its transfer agents or registrars and delivered to Participant (including through electronic delivery to a brokerage account).  No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date of such issuance, recordation and delivery, except as provided in Section 13.2 of the Plan.  Except as otherwise provided herein, after such issuance, recordation and delivery, Participant will have all the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to such shares of Common Stock, including, without limitation, the right to receipt of dividends and distributions on such shares.

 

ARTICLE V.
OTHER PROVISIONS

 

5.1                                Administration .  The Administrator shall have the power to interpret the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules.  All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator will be final and binding upon Participant, the Company and all other interested persons.  To the extent allowable pursuant to Applicable Law, no member of the Committee or the Board will be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made with respect to the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement.

 

5.2                                Whole Shares .  The Option may only be exercised for whole shares of Common Stock.

 

5.3                                Option Not Transferable .  Subject to Section 4.1 hereof, the Option may not be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, unless and until the shares of Common Stock underlying the Option have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such Shares have lapsed.  Neither the Option nor any interest or right therein or part thereof shall be liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of Participant or his or her successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), and any attempted disposition thereof shall be null and void and of no effect, except to the extent that such disposition is permitted by the preceding sentence. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with the consent of the Administrator, Non-Qualified Stock Options may be transferred to Permitted Transferees pursuant to any conditions and procedures the Administrator may require.

 

5.4                                Adjustments .  The Administrator may accelerate the vesting of all or a portion of the Option in such circumstances as it, in its sole discretion, may determine.  In addition, upon the occurrence of certain events relating to the Common Stock contemplated by Section 13.2 of the Plan (including,

 

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without limitation, an extraordinary cash dividend on such Common Stock) (and subject to the terms of Section 3.1(c)), the Administrator may make such adjustments as the Administrator deems appropriate in the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Option, the exercise price of the Option and the kind of securities that may be issued upon exercise of the Option.   Participant acknowledges that the Option is subject to adjustment, modification and termination in certain events as provided in this Agreement and the Plan, including Section 13.2 of the Plan (subject to the terms of Section 3.1(c)).

 

5.5                                Notices .  Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company shall be addressed to the Company in care of the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal office, and any notice to be given to Participant shall be addressed to Participant at Participant’s last address reflected on the Company’s records.  By a notice given pursuant to this Section 5.5 , either party may hereafter designate a different address for notices to be given to that party.  Any notice shall be deemed duly given when sent via email or when sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) and deposited (with postage prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service.

 

5.6                                Titles .  Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

 

5.7                                Governing Law .   The laws of the State of Delaware shall govern the interpretation, validity, administration, enforcement and performance of the terms of this Agreement regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflicts of laws.

 

5.8                                Conformity to Securities Laws .  Participant acknowledges that the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement are intended to conform to the extent necessary with all Applicable Laws, including, without limitation, the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and any and all regulations and rules promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission and state securities laws and regulations.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan shall be administered, and the Option is granted and may be exercised, only in such a manner as to conform to Applicable Law.  To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to Applicable Law.

 

5.9                                Amendment, Suspension and Termination .  To the extent permitted by the Plan, this Agreement may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Administrator or the Board , provided that, except as may otherwise be provided by the Plan, no amendment, modification, suspension or termination of this Agreement shall adversely affect the Option in any material way without the prior written consent of Participant.

 

5.10                         Successors and Assigns .  The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company.  Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 5.3 and the Plan, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

 

5.11                         Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons .  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, if Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Plan, the Option, the Grant Notice and this Agreement shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule.  To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

 

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5.12                         Not a Contract of Employment .  Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon Participant any right to continue to serve as an employee or other service provider of the Company or any Subsidiary or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company and its Subsidiaries, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or terminate the services of Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between the Company or a Subsidiary and Participant.

 

5.13                         Entire Agreement .  The Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement (including any exhibit hereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

5.14                         Section 409A .  This Option is not intended to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (together with any Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the date hereof, “ Section 409A ”).  However, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement, if at any time the Administrator determines that this Option (or any portion thereof) may be subject to Section 409A, the Administrator shall have the right in its sole discretion (without any obligation to do so or to indemnify Participant or any other person for failure to do so) to adopt such amendments to the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement, or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, as the Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate for this Option either to be exempt from the application of Section 409A or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A.

 

5.15                         Agreement Severable .  In the event that any provision of the Grant Notice or this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, such provision will be severable from, and such invalidity or unenforceability will not be construed to have any effect on, the remaining provisions of the Grant Notice or this Agreement.

 

5.16                                     Limitation on Participant’s Rights .  Participation in the Plan confers no rights or interests other than as herein provided.  This Agreement creates only a contractual obligation on the part of the Company as to amounts payable and shall not be construed as creating a trust.  Neither the Plan nor any underlying program, in and of itself, has any assets.  Participant shall have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company with respect to amounts credited and benefits payable, if any, with respect to the Option, and rights no greater than the right to receive the Common Stock as a general unsecured creditor with respect to options, as and when exercised pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

5.17                                     Counterparts .  The Grant Notice may be executed in one or more counterparts, including by way of any electronic signature, subject to Applicable Law, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

 

5.18                                     Broker-Assisted Sales .  In the event of any broker-assisted sale of shares of Common Stock in connection with the payment of withholding taxes as provided in Section 3.4(a)(v)  or Section 3.4(c)  or the payment of the exercise price as provided in Section 4.4(c) : (a) any shares of Common Stock to be sold through a broker-assisted sale will be sold on the day the tax withholding obligation or exercise of the Option, as applicable, occurs or arises, or as soon thereafter as practicable; (b) such shares of Common Stock may be sold as part of a block trade with other participants in the Plan in which all participants receive an average price; (c) Participant will be responsible for all broker’s fees and other costs of sale, and Participant agrees to indemnify and hold the Company harmless from any losses, costs, damages, or expenses relating to any such sale; (d) to the extent the proceeds of such sale exceed the applicable tax withholding obligation or exercise price, the Company agrees to pay such

 

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excess in cash to Participant as soon as reasonably practicable; (e) Participant acknowledges that the Company or its designee is under no obligation to arrange for such sale at any particular price, and that the proceeds of any such sale may not be sufficient to satisfy the applicable tax withholding obligation or exercise price; and (f) in the event the proceeds of such sale are insufficient to satisfy the applicable tax withholding obligation, Participant agrees to pay immediately upon demand to the Company or its Subsidiary with respect to which the withholding obligation arises an amount in cash sufficient to satisfy any remaining portion of the Company’s or the applicable Subsidiary’s withholding obligation.

 

5.19                         Incentive Stock Options .  Participant acknowledges that to the extent the aggregate Fair Market Value of shares of Common Stock (determined as of the time the option with respect to the shares is granted) with respect to which Incentive Stock Options, including this Option (if applicable), are exercisable for the first time by Participant during any calendar year exceeds $100,000 or if for any other reason such Incentive Stock Options do not qualify or cease to qualify for treatment as “incentive stock options” under Section 422 of the Code, such Incentive Stock Options shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options.  Participant further acknowledges that the rule set forth in the preceding sentence shall be applied by taking the Option and other stock options into account in the order in which they were granted, as determined under Section 422(d) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.  Participant also acknowledges that an Incentive Stock Option exercised more than three (3) months after Participant’s Termination of Service, other than by reason of death or Disability, will be taxed as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

5.20                                     Notification of Disposition .  If this Option is designated as an Incentive Stock Option, Participant shall give prompt written notice to the Company of any disposition or other transfer of any shares of Common Stock acquired under this Agreement if such disposition or transfer is made (a) within two (2) years from the Grant Date or (b) within one (1) year after the transfer of such shares of Common Stock to Participant.  Such notice shall specify the date of such disposition or other transfer and the amount realized, in cash, other property, assumption of indebtedness or other consideration, by Participant in such disposition or other transfer.

 

* * * *

 

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Exhibit 10.29

 

CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC.
2016 INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

 

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD GRANT NOTICE

 

Camping World Holdings, Inc. , a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), pursuant to its 2016 Incentive Award Plan, as amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”), hereby grants to the holder listed below (“ Participant ”) the number of Restricted Stock Units (the “ RSUs ”) set forth below.  The RSUs are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice (the “ Grant Notice ”) and the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “ Agreement ”) and the Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference.  Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have the same defined meanings in the Grant Notice and the Agreement.

 

Participant:

 

 

Grant Date:

 

 

Number of RSUs:

 

 

Type of Shares Issuable:

Class A Common Stock

 

 

 

 

Vesting Schedule:

The RSUs subject hereto shall vest in equal installments with respect to 25% of the total number of shares subject to the RSU on each of the first through fourth anniversary dates of the Grant Date, subject to the Participant’s continued status as an Employee through the applicable vesting date.

 

By Participant’s signature below, Participant agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Agreement and the Grant Notice.  Participant has reviewed the Agreement, the Plan and the Grant Notice in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing the Grant Notice and fully understands all provisions of the Grant Notice, the Agreement and the Plan.  Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan, the Grant Notice or the Agreement.

 

 

CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC. HOLDER:

PARTICIPANT

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

By:

 

Print Name:

Marcus A. Lemonis

Print Name:

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

TO RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD GRANT NOTICE

 

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

 

Pursuant to the Grant Notice to which this Agreement is attached, the Company has granted to Participant the number of RSUs set forth in the Grant Notice.

 

ARTICLE I.

 

GENERAL

 

1.1                                Defined Terms .  Capitalized terms not specifically defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Plan or the Grant Notice.  For purposes of this Agreement,

 

(a)                                  Cause ” shall mean (A) willful misconduct, gross negligence or an act of dishonesty of Participant with regard to the Company or any of its Affiliates, which in either case, results in or could reasonably be expected to result in material harm to the Company or such Affiliate; (B) the willful and continued failure of Participant to attempt to perform his or her duties with the Company or any of its Affiliates (other than any such failure resulting from Disability), which failure is not remedied within 30 days after receiving written notice thereof; (C) the conviction of Participant of (or the plea by Participant of guilty or nolo contendere to) any felony involving moral turpitude (other than traffic related offenses or as a result of vicarious liability); or (D) a material breach by Participant of any material provision of any written employment or consulting agreement, which breach is not remedied within 10 days after receiving written notice thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Participant is a party to a written employment or consulting agreement with the Company (or any of its Subsidiaries) in which the term “cause” is defined, then “Cause” shall be as such term is defined in the applicable written employment or consulting agreement.

 

(b)                                  CIC Qualifying Termination ” shall mean Termination of Service of Participant by the Company without Cause during the twelve (12) month period immediately following a Change in Control.

 

(c)                                   Disability ” shall mean Participant’s inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or that can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months.

 

1.2                                Incorporation of Terms of Plan .  The RSUs and the shares of Class A Common Stock (“ Stock ”) issued to Participant hereunder (“ Shares ”) are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference.  In the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall control.

 

ARTICLE II.

 

AWARD OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

 

2.1                                Award of RSUs .  In consideration of Participant’s past and/or continued employment with or service to the Company or a Subsidiary and for other good and valuable consideration, effective as of the grant date set forth in the Grant Notice (the “ Grant Date ”), the Company has granted to Participant the number of RSUs set forth in the Grant Notice, upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Grant Notice, the Plan and this Agreement, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 13.2 of the

 



 

Plan.  Each RSU represents the right to receive one Share or, at the option of the Company, an amount of cash as set forth in Section 2.3(b), in either case, at the times and subject to the conditions set forth herein.  However, unless and until the RSUs have vested, Participant will have no right to the payment of any Shares subject thereto.  Prior to the actual delivery of any Shares, the RSUs will represent an unsecured obligation of the Company, payable only from the general assets of the Company.

 

2.2                                Vesting of RSUs .

 

(a)                                  Subject to Participant’s continued employment with or service to the Company or a Subsidiary on each applicable vesting date and subject to the terms of this Agreement (including Section 2.2(b)), the RSUs shall vest in such amounts and at such times as are set forth in the Grant Notice.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding the Grant Notice or the provisions of Section 2.2(a), if the Participant incurs a Termination of Service due to the Participant’s death or Disability, all RSUs that have not become vested on or prior to the date of such Termination of Service will fully vest upon such Termination of Service.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding the Grant Notice or the provisions of Section 2.2(a), (b) and (d), in the event of a CIC Qualifying Termination, the RSUs shall fully vest on the date of such CIC Qualifying Termination.

 

(d)                                  In the event Participant incurs a Termination of Service other than due to death or Disability, except as may be otherwise provided by the Administrator or as set forth in a written agreement between Participant and the Company, Participant shall immediately forfeit any and all RSUs granted under this Agreement which have not vested or do not vest on or prior to the date on which such Termination of Service occurs, and Participant’s rights in any such RSUs which are not so vested shall lapse and expire.

 

2.3                                Distribution or Payment of RSUs .

 

(a)                                  Participant’s RSUs shall be distributed in Shares (either in book-entry form or otherwise) or, at the option of the Company, paid in an amount of cash as set forth in Section 2.3(b), in either case, as soon as administratively practicable following the vesting of the applicable RSU pursuant to Section 2.2, and, in any event, within sixty (60) days following such vesting (for the avoidance of doubt, this deadline is intended to comply with the “short-term deferral” exemption from Section 409A of the Code).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may delay a distribution or payment in settlement of RSUs if it reasonably determines that such payment or distribution will violate Federal securities laws or any other Applicable Law, provided that such distribution or payment shall be made at the earliest date at which the Company reasonably determines that the making of such distribution or payment will not cause such violation, as required by Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(7)(ii), and provided further that no payment or distribution shall be delayed under this Section 2.3(a) if such delay will result in a violation of Section 409A of the Code.

 

(b)                                  In the event that the Company elects to make payment of Participant’s RSUs in cash, the amount of cash payable with respect to each RSU shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the day immediately preceding the applicable distribution or payment date set forth in Section 2.3(a).  All distributions made in Shares shall be made by the Company in the form of whole Shares, and any fractional share shall be distributed in cash in an amount equal to the value of such fractional share determined based on the Fair Market Value as of the date immediately preceding the date of such distribution.

 



 

2.4                                Conditions to Issuance of Certificates .  The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate or certificates for any Shares or to cause any Shares to be held in book-entry form prior to the fulfillment of all of the following conditions:  (A) the admission of the Shares to listing on all stock exchanges on which such Shares are then listed, (B) the completion of any registration or other qualification of the Shares under any state or federal law or under rulings or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or other governmental regulatory body, which the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, deem necessary or advisable, and (C) the obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any state or federal governmental agency that the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable.

 

2.5                                Tax Withholding .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement:

 

(a)                                  The Company and its Subsidiaries have the authority to deduct or withhold, or require Participant to remit to the Company or the applicable Subsidiary, an amount sufficient to satisfy any applicable federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including the employee portion of any FICA obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising pursuant to this Agreement.  The Company and its Subsidiaries may withhold or Participant may make such payment in one or more of the forms specified below:

 

(i)                                      by cash or check made payable to the Company or the Subsidiary with respect to which the withholding obligation arises;

 

(ii)                                   by the deduction of such amount from other compensation payable to Participant;

 

(iii)                                with respect to any withholding taxes arising in connection with the distribution of the RSUs, with the consent of the Administrator, by requesting that the Company and its Subsidiaries withhold a net number of vested shares of Stock otherwise issuable pursuant to the RSUs having a then current Fair Market Value not exceeding the amount necessary to satisfy the withholding obligation of the Company and its Subsidiaries based on the minimum applicable statutory withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes;

 

(iv)                               with respect to any withholding taxes arising in connection with the distribution of the RSUs, with the consent of the Administrator, by tendering to the Company vested shares of Stock having a then current Fair Market Value not exceeding the amount necessary to satisfy the withholding obligation of the Company and its Subsidiaries based on the minimum applicable statutory withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes;

 

(v)                                  with respect to any withholding taxes arising in connection with the distribution of the RSUs, through the delivery of a notice that Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker acceptable to the Company with respect to shares of Stock then issuable to Participant pursuant to the RSUs, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company or the Subsidiary with respect to which the withholding obligation arises in satisfaction of such withholding taxes; provided that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company or the applicable Subsidiary at such time as may be required by the Administrator, but in any event not later than the settlement of such sale; or

 

(vi)                               in any combination of the foregoing.

 

(b)                                  With respect to any withholding taxes arising in connection with the RSUs, in the event Participant fails to provide timely payment of all sums required pursuant to Section 2.5(a), the

 



 

Company shall have the right and option, but not the obligation, to treat such failure as an election by Participant to satisfy all or any portion of Participant’s required payment obligation pursuant to Section 2.5(a)(ii) or Section 2.5(a)(iii) above, or any combination of the foregoing as the Company may determine to be appropriate. The Company shall not be obligated to deliver any certificate representing shares of Stock issuable with respect to the RSUs to, or to cause any such shares of Stock to be held in book-entry form by, Participant or his or her legal representative unless and until Participant or his or her legal representative shall have paid or otherwise satisfied in full the amount of all federal, state, local and foreign taxes applicable with respect to the taxable income of Participant resulting from the vesting or settlement of the RSUs or any other taxable event related to the RSUs.

 

(c)                                   In the event any tax withholding obligation arising in connection with the RSUs will be satisfied under Section 2.5(a)(iii), then the Company may elect to instruct any brokerage firm determined acceptable to the Company for such purpose to sell on Participant’s behalf a whole number of shares from those shares of Stock then issuable to Participant pursuant to the RSUs as the Company determines to be appropriate to generate cash proceeds sufficient to satisfy the tax withholding obligation and to remit the proceeds of such sale to the Company or the Subsidiary with respect to which the withholding obligation arises.  Participant’s acceptance of this Award constitutes Participant’s instruction and authorization to the Company and such brokerage firm to complete the transactions described in this Section 2.5(c), including the transactions described in the previous sentence, as applicable.  The Company may refuse to issue any shares of Stock in settlement of the RSUs to Participant until the foregoing tax withholding obligations are satisfied, provided that no payment shall be delayed under this Section 2.5(c) if such delay will result in a violation of Section 409A of the Code.

 

(d)                                  Participant is ultimately liable and responsible for all taxes owed in connection with the RSUs, regardless of any action the Company or any Subsidiary takes with respect to any tax withholding obligations that arise in connection with the RSUs.  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary makes any representation or undertaking regarding the treatment of any tax withholding in connection with the awarding, vesting or payment of the RSUs or the subsequent sale of Shares.  The Company and the Subsidiaries do not commit and are under no obligation to structure the RSUs to reduce or eliminate Participant’s tax liability.

 

2.6                                Rights as Stockholder .  Neither Participant nor any person claiming under or through Participant will have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company in respect of any Shares deliverable hereunder unless and until certificates representing such Shares (which may be in book-entry form) will have been issued and recorded on the records of the Company or its transfer agents or registrars, and delivered to Participant (including through electronic delivery to a brokerage account).  Except as otherwise provided herein, after such issuance, recordation and delivery, Participant will have all the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to such Shares, including, without limitation, the right to receipt of dividends and distributions on such Shares.

 

ARTICLE III.

 

OTHER PROVISIONS

 

3.1                                Administration .  The Administrator shall have the power to interpret the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules.  All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator will be final and binding upon Participant, the Company and all other interested persons.  To the extent allowable pursuant to Applicable Law, no member of the Committee or the Board will be

 



 

personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made with respect to the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement.

 

3.2                                RSUs Not Transferable .  The RSUs may not be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, unless and until the Shares underlying the RSUs have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such Shares have lapsed.  No RSUs or any interest or right therein or part thereof shall be liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of Participant or his or her successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), and any attempted disposition thereof shall be null and void and of no effect, except to the extent that such disposition is permitted by the preceding sentence.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, with the consent of the Administrator, the RSUs may be transferred to Permitted Transferees pursuant to any conditions and procedures the Administrator may require.

 

3.3                                Adjustments .  The Administrator may accelerate the vesting of all or a portion of the RSUs in such circumstances as it, in its sole discretion, may determine.  Participant acknowledges that the RSUs and the Shares subject to the RSUs are subject to adjustment, modification and termination in certain events as provided in this Agreement and the Plan, including Section 13.2 of the Plan.

 

3.4                                Notices .  Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company shall be addressed to the Company in care of the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal office, and any notice to be given to Participant shall be addressed to Participant at Participant’s last address reflected on the Company’s records.  By a notice given pursuant to this Section 3.4, either party may hereafter designate a different address for notices to be given to that party.  Any notice shall be deemed duly given when sent via email or when sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) and deposited (with postage prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service.

 

3.5                                Titles .  Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

 

3.6                                Governing Law .   The laws of the State of Delaware shall govern the interpretation, validity, administration, enforcement and performance of the terms of this Agreement regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflicts of laws.

 

3.7                                Conformity to Securities Laws .  Participant acknowledges that the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement are intended to conform to the extent necessary with all Applicable Laws, including, without limitation, the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and any and all regulations and rules promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and state securities laws and regulations.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan shall be administered, and the RSUs are granted, only in such a manner as to conform to Applicable Law.  To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to Applicable Law.

 

3.8                                Amendment, Suspension and Termination .  To the extent permitted by the Plan, this Agreement may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Administrator or the Board , provided that, except as may otherwise be provided by the Plan, no amendment, modification, suspension or termination of this Agreement shall adversely affect the RSUs in any material way without the prior written consent of Participant.

 



 

3.9                                Successors and Assigns .  The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company.  Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 3.2 and the Plan, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

 

3.10                         Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons .  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, if Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Plan, the RSUs, the Grant Notice and this Agreement shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule.  To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

 

3.11                         Not a Contract of Employment .  Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon Participant any right to continue to serve as an employee or other service provider of the Company or any Subsidiary or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company and its Subsidiaries, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or terminate the services of Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between the Company or a Subsidiary and Participant.

 

3.12                         Entire Agreement .  The Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement (including any exhibit hereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

3.13                         Section 409A .  This Award is not intended to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (together with any Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the date hereof, “ Section 409A ”).  However, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement, if at any time the Administrator determines that this Award (or any portion thereof) may be subject to Section 409A, the Administrator shall have the right in its sole discretion (without any obligation to do so or to indemnify Participant or any other person for failure to do so) to adopt such amendments to the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement, or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, as the Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate for this Award either to be exempt from the application of Section 409A or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A.

 

3.14                         Agreement Severable .  In the event that any provision of the Grant Notice or this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, such provision will be severable from, and such invalidity or unenforceability will not be construed to have any effect on, the remaining provisions of the Grant Notice or this Agreement.

 

3.15                         Limitation on Participant’s Rights .  Participation in the Plan confers no rights or interests other than as herein provided.  This Agreement creates only a contractual obligation on the part of the Company as to amounts payable and shall not be construed as creating a trust.  Neither the Plan nor any underlying program, in and of itself, has any assets.  Participant shall have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company with respect to amounts credited and benefits payable, if any, with respect to the RSUs.

 



 

3.16                         Counterparts .  The Grant Notice may be executed in one or more counterparts, including by way of any electronic signature, subject to Applicable Law, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

 

3.17                                     Broker-Assisted Sales .  In the event of any broker-assisted sale of shares of Stock in connection with the payment of withholding taxes as provided in Section 2.5(a)(v) or Section 2.5(c): (A) any shares of Stock to be sold through a broker-assisted sale will be sold on the day the tax withholding obligation arises or as soon thereafter as practicable; (B) such shares of Stock may be sold as part of a block trade with other participants in the Plan in which all participants receive an average price; (C) Participant will be responsible for all broker’s fees and other costs of sale, and Participant agrees to indemnify and hold the Company harmless from any losses, costs, damages, or expenses relating to any such sale; (D) to the extent the proceeds of such sale exceed the applicable tax withholding obligation, the Company agrees to pay such excess in cash to Participant as soon as reasonably practicable; (E) Participant acknowledges that the Company or its designee is under no obligation to arrange for such sale at any particular price, and that the proceeds of any such sale may not be sufficient to satisfy the applicable tax withholding obligation; and (F) in the event the proceeds of such sale are insufficient to satisfy the applicable tax withholding obligation, Participant agrees to pay immediately upon demand to the Company or its Subsidiary with respect to which the withholding obligation arises an amount in cash sufficient to satisfy any remaining portion of the Company’s or the applicable Subsidiary’s withholding obligation.

 

* * * * *

 




Exhibit 10.30

 

CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC.
2016 INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

 

DIRECTOR RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD GRANT NOTICE

 

Camping World Holdings, Inc. , a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), pursuant to its 2016 Incentive Award Plan, as amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”), hereby grants to the holder listed below (“ Participant ”) the number of Restricted Stock Units (the “ RSUs ”) set forth below.  The RSUs are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice (the “ Grant Notice ”) and the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “ Agreement ”) and the Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference.  Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have the same defined meanings in the Grant Notice and the Agreement.

 

Participant:

 

 

Grant Date:

 

 

Number of RSUs:

 

 

Type of Shares Issuable:

Class A Common Stock

 

 

 

 

Vesting Schedule:

The RSUs shall vest in equal installments with respect to one-third of the total number of shares subject to the RSU on each of the first through third anniversary dates of the Grant Date.

 

By Participant’s signature below, Participant agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Agreement and the Grant Notice.  Participant has reviewed the Agreement, the Plan and the Grant Notice in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing the Grant Notice and fully understands all provisions of the Grant Notice, the Agreement and the Plan.  Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan, the Grant Notice or the Agreement.

 

CAMPING WORLD HOLDINGS, INC. HOLDER:

 

PARTICIPANT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

By:

 

Print Name:

Marcus A. Lemonis

 

Print Name:

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 



 

EXHIBIT A

TO DIRECTOR RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD GRANT NOTICE

 

DIRECTOR RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

 

Pursuant to the Grant Notice to which this Agreement is attached, the Company has granted to Participant the number of RSUs set forth in the Grant Notice.

 

ARTICLE I.

 

GENERAL

 

1.1                                Defined Terms .  Capitalized terms not specifically defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Plan or the Grant Notice.

 

1.2                                Incorporation of Terms of Plan .  The RSUs and the shares of Class A Common Stock (“ Stock ”) issued to Participant hereunder (“ Shares ”) are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference.  In the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall control.

 

ARTICLE II.

 

AWARD OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

 

2.1                                Award of RSUs .

 

(a)                                  In consideration of Participant’s past and/or continued employment with or service to the Company or a Subsidiary and for other good and valuable consideration, effective as of the grant date set forth in the Grant Notice (the “ Grant Date ”), the Company has granted to Participant the number of RSUs set forth in the Grant Notice, upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Grant Notice, the Plan and this Agreement, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 13.2 of the Plan.  Each RSU represents the right to receive one Share or, at the option of the Company, an amount of cash as set forth in Section 2.3(b), in either case, at the times and subject to the conditions set forth herein.  However, unless and until the RSUs have vested, Participant will have no right to the payment of any Shares subject thereto.  Prior to the actual delivery of any Shares, the RSUs will represent an unsecured obligation of the Company, payable only from the general assets of the Company.

 

2.2                                Vesting of RSUs .

 

(a)                                  Subject to Participant’s continued employment with or service to the Company or a Subsidiary on each applicable vesting date and subject to the terms of this Agreement, the RSUs shall vest in such amounts and at such times as are set forth in the Grant Notice.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding the Grant Notice or the provisions of Section 2.2(a), if the Participant incurs a Termination of Service due to the Participant’s death or Disability, the RSUs outstanding as of the date of such Termination of Service due to death or Disability shall become vested in full on the date of such Termination of Service.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding the Grant Notice or the provisions of Section 2.2(a), the RSUs outstanding as of the date of a Change in Control shall become vested in full on the date of such Change in Control.

 



 

(d)                                  In the event Participant incurs a Termination of Service (except for a Termination of Service due to death or Disability or a failure to be reelected) or as may be otherwise provided by the Administrator or as set forth in a written agreement between Participant and the Company, Participant shall immediately forfeit any and all RSUs granted under this Agreement which have not vested or do not vest on or prior to the date on which such Termination of Service occurs, and Participant’s rights in any such RSUs which are not so vested shall lapse and expire. In the event Participant incurs a Termination of Service due to a failure to be reelected, any and all RSUs granted under this Agreement which have not otherwise vested on or prior to the last date of Participant’s service on the Board shall thereupon become vested in full.

 

2.3                                Distribution or Payment of RSUs .

 

(a)                                  Participant’s RSUs shall be distributed in Shares (either in book-entry form or otherwise) or, at the option of the Company, paid in an amount of cash as set forth in Section 2.3(b), in either case, as soon as administratively practicable following the vesting of the applicable RSU pursuant to Section 2.2, and, in any event, within sixty (60) days following such vesting (for the avoidance of doubt, this deadline is intended to comply with the “short-term deferral” exemption from Section 409A of the Code).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may delay a distribution or payment in settlement of RSUs if it reasonably determines that such payment or distribution will violate Federal securities laws or any other Applicable Law, provided that such distribution or payment shall be made at the earliest date at which the Company reasonably determines that the making of such distribution or payment will not cause such violation, as required by Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(7)(ii), and provided further that no payment or distribution shall be delayed under this Section 2.3(a) if such delay will result in a violation of Section 409A of the Code.

 

(b)                                  In the event that the Company elects to make payment of Participant’s RSUs in cash, the amount of cash payable with respect to each RSU shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the day immediately preceding the applicable distribution or payment date set forth in Section 2.3(a).  All distributions made in Shares shall be made by the Company in the form of whole Shares, and any fractional share shall be distributed in cash in an amount equal to the value of such fractional share determined based on the Fair Market Value as of the date immediately preceding the date of such distribution.

 

2.4                                Conditions to Issuance of Certificates .  The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate or certificates for any Shares or to cause any Shares to be held in book-entry form prior to the fulfillment of all of the following conditions:  (A) the admission of the Shares to listing on all stock exchanges on which such Shares are then listed, (B) the completion of any registration or other qualification of the Shares under any state or federal law or under rulings or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or other governmental regulatory body, which the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, deem necessary or advisable, and (C) the obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any state or federal governmental agency that the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable.

 

2.5                                Tax Withholding .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement:

 

(a)                                  The Company and its Subsidiaries have the authority to deduct or withhold, or require Participant to remit to the Company or the applicable Subsidiary, an amount sufficient to satisfy any applicable federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including the employee portion of any FICA obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising pursuant to this Agreement.  The Company and its Subsidiaries may withhold or Participant may make such payment in one or more of the forms specified below:

 



 

(i)                                      by cash or check made payable to the Company or the Subsidiary with respect to which the withholding obligation arises;

 

(ii)                                   by the deduction of such amount from other compensation payable to Participant;

 

(iii)                                with respect to any withholding taxes arising in connection with the distribution of the RSUs, with the consent of the Administrator, by requesting that the Company and its Subsidiaries withhold a net number of vested shares of Stock otherwise issuable pursuant to the RSUs having a then current Fair Market Value not exceeding the amount necessary to satisfy the withholding obligation of the Company and its Subsidiaries based on the minimum applicable statutory withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes;

 

(iv)                               with respect to any withholding taxes arising in connection with the distribution of the RSUs, with the consent of the Administrator, by tendering to the Company vested shares of Stock having a then current Fair Market Value not exceeding the amount necessary to satisfy the withholding obligation of the Company and its Subsidiaries based on the minimum applicable statutory withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes;

 

(v)                                  with respect to any withholding taxes arising in connection with the distribution of the RSUs, through the delivery of a notice that Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker acceptable to the Company with respect to shares of Stock then issuable to Participant pursuant to the RSUs, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company or the Subsidiary with respect to which the withholding obligation arises in satisfaction of such withholding taxes; provided that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company or the applicable Subsidiary at such time as may be required by the Administrator, but in any event not later than the settlement of such sale; or

 

(vi)                               in any combination of the foregoing.

 

(b)                                  With respect to any withholding taxes arising in connection with the RSUs, in the event Participant fails to provide timely payment of all sums required pursuant to Section 2.5(a), the Company shall have the right and option, but not the obligation, to treat such failure as an election by Participant to satisfy all or any portion of Participant’s required payment obligation pursuant to Section 2.5(a)(ii) or Section 2.5(a)(iii) above, or any combination of the foregoing as the Company may determine to be appropriate. The Company shall not be obligated to deliver any certificate representing shares of Stock issuable with respect to the RSUs to, or to cause any such shares of Stock to be held in book-entry form by, Participant or his or her legal representative unless and until Participant or his or her legal representative shall have paid or otherwise satisfied in full the amount of all federal, state, local and foreign taxes applicable with respect to the taxable income of Participant resulting from the vesting or settlement of the RSUs or any other taxable event related to the RSUs.

 

(c)                                   In the event any tax withholding obligation arising in connection with the RSUs will be satisfied under Section 2.5(a)(iii), then the Company may elect to instruct any brokerage firm determined acceptable to the Company for such purpose to sell on Participant’s behalf a whole number of shares from those shares of Stock then issuable to Participant pursuant to the RSUs as the Company determines to be appropriate to generate cash proceeds sufficient to satisfy the tax withholding obligation and to remit the proceeds of such sale to the Company or the Subsidiary with respect to which the withholding obligation arises.  Participant’s acceptance of this Award constitutes Participant’s instruction and authorization to the Company and such brokerage firm to complete the transactions described in this Section 2.5(c), including the transactions described in the previous sentence, as applicable.  The Company

 



 

may refuse to issue any shares of Stock in settlement of the RSUs to Participant until the foregoing tax withholding obligations are satisfied, provided that no payment shall be delayed under this Section 2.5(c) if such delay will result in a violation of Section 409A of the Code.

 

(d)                                  Participant is ultimately liable and responsible for all taxes owed in connection with the RSUs, regardless of any action the Company or any Subsidiary takes with respect to any tax withholding obligations that arise in connection with the RSUs.  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary makes any representation or undertaking regarding the treatment of any tax withholding in connection with the awarding, vesting or payment of the RSUs or the subsequent sale of Shares.  The Company and the Subsidiaries do not commit and are under no obligation to structure the RSUs to reduce or eliminate Participant’s tax liability.

 

2.6                                Rights as Stockholder .  Neither Participant nor any person claiming under or through Participant will have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company in respect of any Shares deliverable hereunder unless and until certificates representing such Shares (which may be in book-entry form) will have been issued and recorded on the records of the Company or its transfer agents or registrars, and delivered to Participant (including through electronic delivery to a brokerage account).  Except as otherwise provided herein, after such issuance, recordation and delivery, Participant will have all the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to such Shares, including, without limitation, the right to receipt of dividends and distributions on such Shares.

 

ARTICLE III.

 

OTHER PROVISIONS

 

3.1                                Administration .  The Administrator shall have the power to interpret the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules.  All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator will be final and binding upon Participant, the Company and all other interested persons.  To the extent allowable pursuant to Applicable Law, no member of the Committee or the Board will be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made with respect to the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement.

 

3.2                                RSUs Not Transferable .  The RSUs may not be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, unless and until the Shares underlying the RSUs have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such Shares have lapsed.  No RSUs or any interest or right therein or part thereof shall be liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of Participant or his or her successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), and any attempted disposition thereof shall be null and void and of no effect, except to the extent that such disposition is permitted by the preceding sentence.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, with the consent of the Administrator, the RSUs may be transferred to certain persons or entities related to the Participant, including but not limited to members of Participant’s family, charitable institutions or trusts or other entities whose beneficiaries or beneficial owners are members of Participant’s family or to such other persons or entities as may be expressly approved by the Administrator, pursuant to any such conditions and procedures the Administrator may require.

 

3.3                                Adjustments .  Notwithstanding Section 2.2(d) herein, the Administrator may accelerate the vesting of all or a portion of the RSUs in such circumstances as it, in its sole discretion, may

 



 

determine.  Participant acknowledges that the RSUs and the Shares subject to the RSUs are subject to adjustment, modification and termination in certain events as provided in this Agreement and the Plan, including Section 13.2 of the Plan (subject to the terms of Section 2.1(b) hereof).

 

3.4                                Notices .  Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company shall be addressed to the Company in care of the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal office, and any notice to be given to Participant shall be addressed to Participant at Participant’s last address reflected on the Company’s records.  By a notice given pursuant to this Section 3.4, either party may hereafter designate a different address for notices to be given to that party.  Any notice shall be deemed duly given when sent via email or when sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) and deposited (with postage prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service.

 

3.5                                Titles .  Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

 

3.6                                Governing Law .   The laws of the State of Delaware shall govern the interpretation, validity, administration, enforcement and performance of the terms of this Agreement regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflicts of laws.

 

3.7                                Conformity to Securities Laws .  Participant acknowledges that the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement are intended to conform to the extent necessary with all Applicable Laws, including, without limitation, the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and any and all regulations and rules promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and state securities laws and regulations.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan shall be administered, and the RSUs are granted, only in such a manner as to conform to Applicable Law.  To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to Applicable Law.

 

3.8                                Amendment, Suspension and Termination .  To the extent permitted by the Plan, this Agreement may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Administrator or the Board , provided that, except as may otherwise be provided by the Plan, no amendment, modification, suspension or termination of this Agreement shall adversely affect the RSUs in any material way without the prior written consent of Participant.

 

3.9                                Successors and Assigns .  The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company.  Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 3.2 and the Plan, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

 

3.10                         Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons .  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, if Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Plan, the RSUs, the Grant Notice and this Agreement shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule.  To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

 

3.11                         Not a Contract of Employment .  Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon Participant any right to continue to serve as an employee or other service provider of the Company

 



 

or any Subsidiary or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company and its Subsidiaries, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or terminate the services of Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between the Company or a Subsidiary and Participant.

 

3.12                         Entire Agreement .  The Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement (including any exhibit hereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

3.13                         Section 409A .  This Award is not intended to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (together with any Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the date hereof, “ Section 409A ”).  However, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement, if at any time the Administrator determines that this Award (or any portion thereof) may be subject to Section 409A, the Administrator shall have the right in its sole discretion (without any obligation to do so or to indemnify Participant or any other person for failure to do so) to adopt such amendments to the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement, or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, as the Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate for this Award either to be exempt from the application of Section 409A or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A.

 

3.14                         Agreement Severable .  In the event that any provision of the Grant Notice or this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, such provision will be severable from, and such invalidity or unenforceability will not be construed to have any effect on, the remaining provisions of the Grant Notice or this Agreement.

 

3.15                         Limitation on Participant’s Rights .  Participation in the Plan confers no rights or interests other than as herein provided.  This Agreement creates only a contractual obligation on the part of the Company as to amounts payable and shall not be construed as creating a trust.  Neither the Plan nor any underlying program, in and of itself, has any assets.  Participant shall have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company with respect to amounts credited and benefits payable, if any, with respect to the RSUs.

 

3.16                         Counterparts .  The Grant Notice may be executed in one or more counterparts, including by way of any electronic signature, subject to Applicable Law, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

 

3.17                         Broker-Assisted Sales .  In the event of any broker-assisted sale of shares of Stock in connection with the payment of withholding taxes as provided in Section 2.5(a)(v) or Section 2.5(c): (A) any shares of Stock to be sold through a broker-assisted sale will be sold on the day the tax withholding obligation arises or as soon thereafter as practicable; (B) such shares of Stock may be sold as part of a block trade with other participants in the Plan in which all participants receive an average price; (C) Participant will be responsible for all broker’s fees and other costs of sale, and Participant agrees to indemnify and hold the Company harmless from any losses, costs, damages, or expenses relating to any such sale; (D) to the extent the proceeds of such sale exceed the applicable tax withholding obligation, the Company agrees to pay such excess in cash to Participant as soon as reasonably practicable; (E) Participant acknowledges that the Company or its designee is under no obligation to arrange for such sale at any particular price, and that the proceeds of any such sale may not be sufficient to satisfy the applicable tax withholding obligation; and (F) in the event the proceeds of such sale are insufficient to satisfy the applicable tax withholding obligation, Participant agrees to pay immediately upon demand to

 



 

the Company or its Subsidiary with respect to which the withholding obligation arises an amount in cash sufficient to satisfy any remaining portion of the Company’s or the applicable Subsidiary’s withholding obligation.

 

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