UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 8-K

 

Current Report

 

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

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  May 8, 2013

 

PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

001-35916

(Commission File Number)

 

Delaware

 

80-0882793

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

incorporation)

 

 

 

6101 Condor Drive

Moorpark, CA 93021

(Address of principal executive offices, with zip code)

 

(818) 224-7442

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 



 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

In connection with the initial public offering by PennyMac Financial Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), of its Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), covered by the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-186495) (the “Registration Statement”), on May 8, 2013, the Company and Private National Mortgage Acceptance Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the Company’s principal subsidiary (“PNMAC”), consummated a recapitalization (the “Recapitalization”).  In connection with the Recapitalization, the Company, PNMAC and the existing unitholders of PNMAC entered into that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of PNMAC, dated as of May 8, 2013 (the “LLC Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Company became the managing member of PNMAC and the capital structure of PNMAC was modified by converting all existing classes of units into new Class A Units, with the allocation of Class A Units among PNMAC’s existing owners determined pursuant to the distribution provisions of its former limited liability company agreement based upon the liquidation value of PNMAC, assuming it was liquidated at the time of the initial public offering of Class A Common Stock with a value implied by the initial public offering price of the shares of Class A Common Stock sold in the initial public offering.

 

Also in connection with the Recapitalization, on May 8, 2013, the Company entered into: (i) an Exchange Agreement with PNMAC and the then-existing unitholders of PNMAC (the “Exchange Agreement”); (ii) a Tax Receivable Agreement with PNMAC and the then-existing unitholders of PNMAC (the “Tax Receivable Agreement”); (iii) a Registration Rights Agreement with the then-existing unitholders of PNMAC (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) and (iv) separate Stockholder Agreements (the “Stockholder Agreements”) with each of BlackRock Mortgage Ventures, LLC (“BlackRock”) and HC Partners LLP, formerly known as Highfields Capital Investments LLC (“Highfields”).

 

The LLC Agreement, the Exchange Agreement, the Tax Receivable Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Stockholder Agreements are filed as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, and 10.5 and 10.6, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.  The terms of these agreements are substantially the same as the terms set forth in the forms of such agreements filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement and as described therein.

 

BlackRock and Highfields are significant owners of PNMAC and are parties to the LLC Agreement, Exchange Agreement, Tax Receivable Agreement, Registration Rights Agreement and, as applicable, the Stockholder Agreements.  For further information concerning the other material relationships between the Company, BlackRock, Highfields and their affiliates, see the section entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” in the Registration Statement.

 

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

On May 8, 2013, the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in the form previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement (the “Amended Charter”), and the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, in the form previously filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement (the “Amended Bylaws”), became effective. A description of the Amended Charter and the Amended Bylaws has previously been disclosed by the Company in the Registration Statement.  The Amended Charter and the Amended Bylaws are filed herewith as Exhibit 3.1 and Exhibit 3.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Item 8.01 Other Events.

 

In connection with the initial public offering, the Company’s board of directors and stockholders approved and adopted the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).  The Plan is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.  The terms of the Plan are substantially the same as the terms set forth in the form of the Plan filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and as described therein.

 

On May 14, 2013, the Company completed its initial public offering by issuing 12,777,777 shares of Class A Common Stock for cash consideration of $16.875 per share (net of underwriting discounts) to a syndicate of underwriters led by Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., BofA Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co., as joint book-running managers for the offering. Barclays Capital Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC acted as co-managers.  The Company’s net proceeds from the offering were approximately $215.6 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions.  As contemplated in the Company’s Registration Statement, the Company has used the net proceeds from the offering to purchase 12,777,777 newly issued Class A Units of PNMAC at a price per Class A Unit of $16.875.

 

Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit

 

 

No.

 

Description

 

 

 

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.

 

 

 

3.2

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.

 

 

 

10.1

 

Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Private National Mortgage Acceptance Company, LLC, dated as of May 8, 2013.

 

 

 

10.2

 

Exchange Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2013, among PennyMac Financial Services, Inc., Private National Mortgage Acceptance Company, LLC and the unitholders from time to time party thereto.

 

 

 

10.3

 

Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2013, among PennyMac Financial Services, Inc., Private National Mortgage Acceptance Company, LLC and the unitholders from time to time party thereto.

 

 

 

10.4

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2013, among PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. and the unitholders from time to time party thereto.

 

 

 

10.5

 

Stockholder Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2013, by and between PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. and BlackRock Mortgage Ventures, LLC.

 

 

 

10.6

 

Stockholder Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2013, by and between PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. and HC Partners LLC.

 

 

 

99.1

 

PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

 

PENNYMAC FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

 

 

 

 

Date: May 14, 2013

By:

/s/ Jeffrey Grogin

 

 

Jeffrey Grogin

 

 

Chief Administrative and Legal Officer and Secretary

 

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Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit

 

 

No.

 

Description

 

 

 

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.

 

 

 

3.2

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.

 

 

 

10.1

 

Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Private National Mortgage Acceptance Company, LLC, dated as of May 8, 2013.

 

 

 

10.2

 

Exchange Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2013, among PennyMac Financial Services, Inc., Private National Mortgage Acceptance Company, LLC and the unitholders from time to time party thereto.

 

 

 

10.3

 

Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2013, among PennyMac Financial Services, Inc., Private National Mortgage Acceptance Company, LLC and the unitholders from time to time party thereto.

 

 

 

10.4

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2013, among PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. and the unitholders from time to time party thereto.

 

 

 

10.5

 

Stockholder Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2013, by and between PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. and BlackRock Mortgage Ventures, LLC.

 

 

 

10.6

 

Stockholder Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2013, by and between PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. and HC Partners LLC.

 

 

 

99.1

 

PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

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Exhibit 3.1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

PENNYMAC FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

 

The present name of the corporation is PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”). The Corporation was incorporated under the name “ PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. ” by the filing of its original certificate of incorporation (the “ Original Certificate of Incorporation ”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on December 31, 2012. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, which amends and restates the provisions of the Original Certificate of Incorporation, was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and by the written consent of the stockholders in accordance with Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The Original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

Section 1.1.                                  Name . The name of the Corporation is PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”).

 

ARTICLE II

 

Section 2.1.                                  Address . The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801; and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

 

ARTICLE III

 

Section 3.1.                                  Purpose . 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 (the “ DGCL ”); provided, however, that at any time during which the Corporation is deemed to be a subsidiary of a bank holding company for purposes of any applicable laws or regulations that would limit the activities of such a subsidiary, the Corporation shall not engage in any business or other activity that would be prohibited by such laws or regulations.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Section 4.1.                                  Capitalization . The total number of shares of all classes of stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is 210,001,000 shares, consisting of (i) 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“ Preferred Stock ”), (ii) 200,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“ Class A Common Stock ”), and (iii) 1,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“ Class B Common Stock ” and, together with the Class A Common Stock, the “ Common Stock ”). The number of authorized shares of any of the Class A Common Stock, Class B 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 in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto), and no vote of the holders of any of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Preferred Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor.

 



 

Section 4.2.                                  Preferred Stock .

 

(A)                                The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board ”) is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions, at any time and from time to time, to provide, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for one or more series of Preferred Stock and, with respect to each such series, by filing a certificate pursuant to the DGCL (a “ Preferred Stock Designation ”), to establish the rights, powers and preferences of each such series of Preferred Stock, including the following:

 

(1)                                  the number of shares of that series, which may subsequently be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares of that series then outstanding) by resolution of the Board, and the distinctive serial designation thereof;

 

(2)                                  the voting powers, full or limited, if any, of the shares of that series and the number of votes per share;

 

(3)                                  the rights in respect of dividends on the shares of that series, whether dividends shall be cumulative and, if so, from which date or dates and the relative rights or priority, if any, of payment of dividends on shares of that series and any limitations, restrictions or conditions on the payment of dividends;

 

(4)                                  the relative amounts, and the relative rights or priority, if any, of payment in respect of shares of that series, which the holders of the shares of that series shall be entitled to receive upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation;

 

(5)                                  the terms and conditions (including the price or prices, which may vary under different conditions and at different redemption or purchase dates), if any, upon which all or any part of the shares of that series may be redeemed or purchased by the Corporation, and any limitations, restrictions or conditions on such redemption or purchase;

 

(6)                                  the terms, if any, of any purchase, retirement or sinking fund to be provided for the shares of that series;

 

(7)                                  the terms, if any, upon which the shares of that series shall be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of any other class, classes or series, or other securities, whether or not issued by the Corporation;

 

(8)                                  the restrictions, limitations and conditions, if any, upon issuance of indebtedness of the Corporation so long as any shares of that series are outstanding; and

 

(9)                                  any other preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights and limitations not inconsistent with law, this Article IV or any resolution of the Board in accordance with this Article IV.

 

All shares of any one series of the Preferred Stock shall be alike in all respects. Except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in the Preferred Stock Designation for a series of Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of such series shall have no voting rights except as may be required by the laws of the DGCL. Further, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Preferred Stock Designation for a series of Preferred Stock, no consent or vote of the holders of shares of Preferred Stock or any series thereof shall be required for any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation that would increase the number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock or the number of authorized shares of any series thereof or decrease the number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock or the number of authorized

 

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shares of any series thereof (but not below the number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock of such series, as the case may be, then outstanding). Except as may be provided by the Board in a Preferred Stock Designation or by applicable law, shares of any series of Preferred Stock that have been redeemed (whether through the operation of a sinking fund or otherwise) or purchased by the Corporation, or which, if convertible or exchangeable, have been converted into or exchanged for shares of stock of any other class or series shall have the status of authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as a part of the series of which they were originally a part or may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board or as part of any other series of Preferred Stock.

 

Section 4.3.                                  Common Stock .

 

(A)                                Voting Rights .

 

(1)                                  Each holder of Class A Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Class A Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote; provided , however , that to the fullest extent permitted by law, holders of Class A Common Stock, as such, shall have no voting power with respect to, and shall not be entitled to vote on, any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or pursuant to the DGCL.

 

(2)                                  Each holder of Class B Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled, without regard to the number of shares of Class B Common Stock (or fraction thereof) held by such holder, to a number of votes that is equal to the product of (x) the total number of Company Units (as defined in the Exchange Agreement dated on or about the date hereof as amended from time to time (the “ Exchange Agreement ”), by and among the Corporation and the holders of Company Units from time to time party thereto), held of record by such holder multiplied by (y) the Exchange Rate (as defined in the Exchange Agreement) on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote; provided , however , that to the fullest extent permitted by law, holders of Class B Common Stock, as such, shall have no voting power with respect to, and shall not be entitled to vote on, any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or pursuant to the DGCL.

 

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

 

(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 and other distributions in cash, stock of any corporation or property of the Corporation, such dividends and other distributions may be declared and paid on the Class A Common Stock out of the assets of the

 

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Corporation that are by law available therefor at such times and in such amounts as the Board in its discretion shall determine. Dividends and other distributions shall not be declared or paid on the Class B Common Stock.

 

(C)                                Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up . In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and of the preferential and other amounts, if any, to which the holders of Preferred Stock shall be entitled, the holders of all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by each such stockholder. The holders of shares of Class B Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to receive any assets of the Corporation in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation or otherwise.

 

(D)                                Retirement of Class B Common Stock . In the event that any outstanding share of Class B Common Stock shall cease to be held by a holder of a Company Unit, such share shall automatically and without further action on the part of the Corporation or any holder of Class B Common Stock be transferred to the Corporation and thereupon shall be retired.

 

ARTICLE V

 

Section 5.1.                                  By-Laws . In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the DGCL, the Board is expressly authorized to make, amend, alter, change, add to or repeal the by-laws of the Corporation without the assent or vote of the stockholders in any manner not inconsistent with the law of the State of Delaware, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any restriction relating thereto set forth in any contract to which the Corporation is subject.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

Section 6.1.                                  Board of Directors .

 

(A)                                The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, with the exact number of directors to be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by affirmative vote of a majority of the Board.

 

(B)                                Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more such other series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, removal and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) applicable thereto. The number of directors, if any, that may be elected by the holders of any such series of Preferred Stock shall be in addition to the number fixed pursuant to Section 6.1(A) hereof.

 

(C)                                Directors of the Corporation need not be elected by written ballot unless the by-laws of the Corporation shall so provide.

 

(D)                                The Corporation shall not take any of the following actions without the approval of a majority of those directors of the Corporation who are not also officers of the Corporation:

 

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(i)                                      sell, license or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation in a single transaction or series of related transactions,

 

(ii)                                   effect a merger, share exchange, consolidation, or other business combination involving the Corporation if holders who, immediately prior to such transaction, held shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors do not, immediately after such transaction, hold a majority of the outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the surviving entity (or the entity owning 100% of such surviving entity) of such transaction,

 

(iii)                                liquidate, dissolve or wind-up the affairs of the Corporation,

 

(iv)                               make any filing, or take any other action, to voluntarily commence any bankruptcy or similar proceeding in respect of the Corporation or substantially all of its assets,

 

(v)                                  acquire or sell any business or group of related assets in a single transaction or series of related transactions in which the fair value of the aggregate consideration paid by the Corporation or other acquiror in connection with such transaction or transactions is reasonably expected to exceed 20% of the Fair Market Value of the Corporation’s subsidiary, Private National Mortgage Acceptance Company, LLC (“ PNMAC ”), as determined on the fifth day prior to the date on which the definitive agreement relating to such acquisition or sale is executed.  “ Fair Market Value ” shall mean (i) if the Class A Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange as of the date of determination, (A) the average of the closing sales price per share of Class A Common Stock over the twenty (20) consecutive trading days immediately preceding such date, multiplied by (B) the sum of (I) the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock as of such date plus (II) the product obtained by multiplying the number of outstanding Common Units (as defined in the Exchange Agreement) as of such date by the Exchange Rate (as defined in the Exchange Agreement), and (ii) if the Class A Common Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange as of the date of determination, the fair value of PNMAC as determined in good faith by the Board.

 

(vi)                               remove the existing, or appoint any new, chief executive officer of the Corporation, or

 

(vii)                            conduct any business or operations (other than through PNMAC or its subsidiaries or their respective successor entities), or create any new direct subsidiary for the purpose of conducting any business or operations.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

Section 7.1.                                  Meetings of Stockholders . Any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of stock of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of such holders and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such holders; provided, however, that (i) any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of stock of the Corporation with respect to any matter that has been approved by the Board, and (ii) any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of Class B Common Stock, voting separately as a class, or, to the extent expressly permitted by the certificate of designation relating to one or more series of Preferred Stock, by the holders of such series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more other such series, 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 shares of the relevant class or series 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

 

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voted and shall be 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. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by or at the direction of the Board, two or more directors, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, or any one or more holders of at least the Minimum Voting Percentage.  The “ Minimum Voting Percentage ” shall initially be 25% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation with respect to matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote, and will automatically increase to 51% of such voting power on the first date on which all of the holders of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (other than any holder that was, or whose affiliate was, a member of PNMAC immediately prior to the consummation of the initial public offering of the Corporation) hold more than 51% of such voting power.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

Section 8.1.                                  Limited Liability of Directors . No director of the Corporation will have any personal liability to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or hereafter may be amended. Neither the amendment nor the repeal of this Article VIII shall eliminate or reduce the effect thereof in respect of any matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article VIII, would accrue or arise, prior to such amendment or repeal.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

Section 9.1.                                  Certain Acknowledgment .  In recognition and anticipation that: (i) the partners, principals, directors, officers, members, managers or employees of Blackrock and Highfields and their affiliates may serve as directors or officers of the Corporation, (ii) BlackRock and Highfields and their affiliates may engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation or its subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, may engage, and (iii) the Corporation and its subsidiaries may engage in material business transactions with BlackRock and Highfields and their affiliates, the provisions of this Article IX are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Corporation with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities as they may involve BlackRock and Highfields and their affiliates and their respective directors, officers, members, managers or employees, and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Corporation and its officers, directors and shareholders in connection therewith.

 

Section 9.2.                                  Competition and Corporate Opportunities .  BlackRock and Highfields and their affiliates shall not have any duty (fiduciary or otherwise) to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Corporation or its subsidiaries.  In the event that BlackRock or Highfields or their affiliates acquire knowledge of a potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for itself and the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, neither the Corporation, its subsidiaries nor the shareholders of the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have any expectancy in such corporate opportunity, and none of BlackRock,  Highfields or any of their affiliates shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have any duty to communicate or offer such corporate opportunity to the Corporation, any of its subsidiaries or the shareholders of the Corporation and may pursue or acquire such corporate opportunity for itself or direct such corporate opportunity to another person or entity unless such corporate opportunity is expressly offered to such affiliate in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation.

 

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Section 9.3.                                  Allocation of Corporate Opportunities .  In the event that a director or officer of the Corporation who is also a partner, principal, director, officer, member, manager or employee of BlackRock or Highfields or any of their affiliates acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries and BlackRock or Highfields or any of their affiliates, neither the Corporation, its subsidiaries or any shareholder of the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have any expectancy in such corporate opportunity unless such corporate opportunity is expressly offered to such person in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation.

 

Section 9.4.                                  Certain Matters Deemed Not Corporate Opportunities .  In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article IX, a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to belong to the Corporation if it is a business opportunity that the Corporation is not contractually permitted or legally able to undertake, or that is, from its nature, not in the line of the Corporation’s business or that is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.

 

Section 9.5.                                  Renouncement .  In connection with the foregoing, the Corporation renounces any interest or expectancy in, or being offered an opportunity to participate in, the business opportunities not allocated to the Corporation or deemed to belong to the Corporation as set forth in this Article IX.

 

ARTICLE X

 

Section 10.1.                           Amendments .  Amendments to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be subject to all restrictions relating thereto that are set forth in any contract to which the Corporation is subject.

 

Section 10.2.                           Severability . 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 circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) 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 paragraph 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) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service to or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

*                                          *                                          *

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed as of May 8, 2013.

 

 

PENNYMAC FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jeffrey P. Grogin

 

Name: Jeffrey P. Grogin

 

Title: Chief Administrative and Legal Officer and Secretary

 

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Exhibit 3.2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

BYLAWS

 

OF

 

PENNYMAC FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.,

a Delaware corporation

 



 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

BYLAWS

OF

PENNYMAC FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

 

ARTICLE I

 

STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 1.                                            The annual meeting of the stockholders of PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. (the “Corporation”) for the purpose of electing directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting shall be held on such date, and at such time and place, if any, within or without the State of Delaware as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”).

 

Section 2.                                            Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by or at the direction of the Board, two or more of the directors on the Board, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or by one or more stockholders of the Corporation for so long as such stockholders collectively beneficially own at least the Minimum Percentage (as defined below) of the total voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.  The “Minimum Percentage” shall initially be 25% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation with respect to matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote, and will automatically increase to 51% of such voting power on the first date on which all of the holders of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock of the Corporation (other than any holder that was, or whose affiliate was, a member of Private National Mortgage Acceptance Company immediately prior to the consummation of the initial public offering of the Corporation) hold more than 51% of such voting power.

 

Section 3.                                            Except as otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation or these Bylaws, notice of the date, time, place (if any), 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 of the meeting of stockholders shall be given not more than sixty (60), nor less than ten (10), days previous thereto, to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting as of the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting at such address as appears on the records of the Corporation.

 

Section 4.                                            The holders of a majority in voting power of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business, except as otherwise provided herein, by statute or by the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation; but if at any meeting of stockholders there shall be less than a quorum present, the chairman of the meeting or, by a majority in voting power thereof, the stockholders present may, to the extent permitted by law, adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice other than announcement at the meeting of the date, time and place, if any, of the adjourned meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented.  At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented any business may be transacted 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

 

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adjournment a new record date for stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date for notice of such adjourned meeting.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series is required, a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of such class or series or classes or series, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter.

 

Section 5.                                            The Chairman of the Board, or in the Chairman’s absence or at the Chairman’s direction, the Chief Executive Officer, or in the Chief Executive Officer’s absence or at the Chief Executive Officer’s direction, any officer of the Corporation shall call all meetings of the stockholders to order and shall act as chairman of any such meetings.  The Secretary of the Corporation or, in such officer’s absence, an Assistant Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting.  If neither the Secretary nor an Assistant Secretary is present, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint a secretary of the meeting.  The Board may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate.  Unless otherwise determined by the Board prior to the meeting, the chairman of the meeting shall determine the order of business and shall have the authority in his or her discretion to regulate the conduct of any such meeting, including, without limitation, convening the meeting and adjourning the meeting (whether or not a quorum is present), announcing the date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote, imposing restrictions on the persons (other than stockholders of record of the Corporation or their duly appointed proxies) who may attend any such meeting, establishing procedures for the dismissal of business not properly presented, maintaining order at the meeting and safety of those present, restricting entry to the meeting after the time fixed for commencement thereof and limiting the circumstances in which any person may make a statement or ask questions at any meeting of stockholders.

 

Section 6.

 

(a)                                  At all meetings of stockholders, any stockholder entitled to vote thereat shall be entitled to vote in person or by proxy, but no proxy shall be voted after three years from its date, unless such proxy provides for a longer period.  Without limiting the manner in which a stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for the stockholder as proxy pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), the following shall constitute a valid means by which a stockholder may grant such authority: (1) a stockholder may execute a writing authorizing another person or persons to act for the stockholder as proxy, and execution of the writing may be accomplished by the stockholder or the stockholder’s authorized officer, director, employee or agent signing such writing or causing his or her signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means including, but not limited to, by facsimile signature; or (2) a stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for the stockholder as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission by means of electronic transmission to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such transmission, provided that any such electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder.  If it is determined that such electronic transmissions are valid, the inspector or inspectors of stockholder votes or, if there are no such inspectors, such other persons making that determination shall specify the information upon which they relied.

 

(b)                                  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

 

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delivering to the Secretary of the Corporation a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date.

 

(c)                                   Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to the preceding paragraph of this Section 6 may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.

 

(d)                                  Proxies shall be filed with the secretary of the meeting prior to or at the commencement of the meeting to which they relate.

 

Section 7.                                            When a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the votes cast shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which by express provision of the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, these Bylaws or the DGCL a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series is required and a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by shares of such class or series or classes or series shall be the act of such class or series or classes or series, unless the question is one upon which by express provision of the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, these Bylaws or the DGCL a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.

 

Section 8.                                            (a)                                  In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board 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, 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 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 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, 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 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 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 adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

Section 9.                                            At any time when the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation permits action by one or more classes of stockholders of the Corporation to be taken by written consent, the provisions of this section shall apply.  All consents properly delivered in accordance with the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, this section and the DGCL shall be deemed to be recorded when so

 

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delivered.  No written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within sixty (60) days of the earliest dated consent delivered to the Corporation as required by this section, written consents signed by the holders of a sufficient number of shares to take such corporate action are so recorded.  Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall 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.  Any action taken pursuant to such written consent or consents of the stockholders shall have the same force and effect as if taken by the stockholders at a meeting thereof.  In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board 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, and which 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.  If no record date has been fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board is required by statute, 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 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 proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded.  If no record date has been fixed by the Board and prior action by the Board is required by statute, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

 

Section 10.                                     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 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) 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 for a period of 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 the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation.  In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders 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 inspected 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.

 

Section 11.                                     The Board, in advance of all meetings of the stockholders, may appoint one or more inspectors of stockholder votes, who may be employees or agents of the Corporation or stockholders or their proxies, but not directors of the Corporation or candidates for election as directors.  In the event that the Board fails to so appoint one or more inspectors of stockholder votes or, in the event that one or more inspectors of stockholder votes previously designated by the Board fails to appear or act at the meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting may appoint one or more inspectors of stockholder votes to fill such vacancy or vacancies.  Inspectors of stockholder votes appointed to act at any meeting of the stockholders, before entering upon the discharge of their duties, shall take and sign an oath to

 

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faithfully execute the duties of inspector of stockholder votes with strict impartiality and according to the best of their ability and the oath so taken shall be subscribed by them.  Inspectors of stockholder votes shall, subject to the power of the chairman of the meeting to open and close the polls, take charge of the polls, and, after the voting, shall make a certificate of the result of the vote taken.

 

Section 12.

 

(a)                                  Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

 

(1)                                  Nominations of persons for election to the Board 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) delivered pursuant to Article I, Section 3 of these Bylaws, (b) by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof, (c) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote on such election or such other business at the meeting, who complied with the notice procedures set forth in subparagraphs (2) and (3) of this Section 12(a) and who was a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation or (d) pursuant to the Stockholder Agreement, to be dated on or about May 8, 2013, by and between the Corporation and Blackrock Mortgage Ventures, LLC, or the Stockholder Agreement, to be dated on or about May 8, 2013, by and between the Corporation and HC Partners LLC (collectively, the “Stockholder Agreements”).

 

(2)                                  For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, and, in the case of business other than nominations of persons for election to the Board, such other business must be 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 less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than twenty (20) days, or delayed by more than seventy (70) days, from such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made; and provided further, that for purposes of the application of Rule 14a-4(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (or any successor provision), the date for notice specified in this Section 12(a)(2) shall be the earlier of the latest date calculated as hereinbefore provided or the date specified in paragraph (c)(1) of Rule 14a-4.  For purposes of the first annual meeting following the adoption of these Bylaws, the date of the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting shall be deemed to be May 8, 2014.

 

Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; (b) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, 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; (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on

 

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whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (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 the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, (iii) a representation that the stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination, (iv) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends (A) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or (B) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination and (v) 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; (d) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination or proposal and/or the voting of shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation between or among the stockholder giving the notice, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, any of their respective affiliates or associates and/or any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing (collectively, “proponent persons”); and (e) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including, without limitation any contract to purchase or sell, acquisition or grant of any option, right or warrant to purchase or sell, swap or other instrument) the intent or effect of which may be (i) to transfer to or from any proponent person, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security of the Corporation, (ii) to increase or decrease the voting power of any proponent person with respect to shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation and/or (iii) to provide any proponent person, directly or indirectly, with the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from, or to otherwise benefit economically from, any increase or decrease in the value of any security of the Corporation.  A stockholder providing notice of a proposed nomination for election to the Board or other business proposed to be brought before a meeting (whether given pursuant to this Section 12(a)(2) or Section 12(b)) shall update and supplement such notice from time to time to the extent necessary so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof; such update and supplement shall be delivered in writing to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) days after the record date for the meeting (in the case of any update and supplement required to be made as of the record date), and not later than ten (10) days prior to the date for the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of any update and supplement required to be made as of fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).  The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation.

 

(3)                                  Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of Section12(a)(2) to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board is increased, effective after the time period for which nominations would otherwise be due under Section 12(a)(2), and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board made by the Corporation at least eighty (80) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Bylaw shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, 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 day following the day on which a public announcement of such increase is first made by the Corporation; provided that, if no such announcement is made at least ten (10) days before the meeting, then no such notice shall be required.

 

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(b)                                  Special Meetings of Stockholders.   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 pursuant to Article I, Section 3 of these Bylaws. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (a) by or at the direction of the Board or a committee thereof or (b) provided that the Board has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote on such election at the meeting, who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Bylaw and who is a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board, 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 (i) the stockholder’s notice as required by Section 12(a)(2) shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the tenth 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 to be elected at such meeting, or (ii) such nomination is made pursuant to the terms of an applicable Stockholder Agreement.

 

(c)                                   General.

 

(1)                                  Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Bylaw shall be eligible 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 Bylaw. Except as otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation or these Bylaws, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Bylaw and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Bylaw, to declare that such defective nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted.

 

(2)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 12, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or 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, unless such nomination has been made pursuant to the terms of an applicable Stockholder Agreement. For purposes of this Section 12, 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 reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.

 

(3)                                  For purposes of this Bylaw, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed or furnished by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

(4)                                  For purposes of this Bylaw, no adjournment or postponement or notice of adjournment or postponement of any meeting shall be deemed to constitute a new notice of such meeting for purposes of this Section 12, and in order for any notification required to be delivered by a stockholder

 

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pursuant to this Section 12 to be timely, such notification must be delivered within the periods set forth above with respect to the originally scheduled meeting.

 

(5)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Bylaw, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Bylaw; 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 Bylaw (including Section 12(a)(1)(c) and Section 12(b) hereof), and compliance with Section 12(a)(1)(c), Section 12(a)(1)(d) and Section 12(b) of this Bylaw shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business. Nothing in this Bylaw shall apply to the right, if any, of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock (as defined in the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation) to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE II

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 1.                                            The Board shall consist, subject to the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation and the Stockholder Agreements, of such number of directors as shall from time to time be fixed exclusively by resolution adopted by affirmative vote of the majority of the Board, provided that such number of directors shall not exceed ten (10).  Directors shall (except as hereinafter provided for the filling of vacancies and newly created directorships and as set forth in the Stockholder Agreements) be elected by the holders of a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of shares present in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders held to elect directors and entitled to vote on such election of directors.  A majority of the total number of directors then in office (but not less than one-third of the number of directors constituting the entire Board) shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except as otherwise provided by law, these Bylaws or by the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board.  Directors need not be stockholders.

 

Section 2.                                            Subject to the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation and the Stockholder Agreements, unless otherwise required by law, any newly created directorship on the Board that results from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancy occurring in the Board shall be filled only by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director.

 

Section 3.                                            Meetings of the Board shall be held at such place, if any, within or without the State of Delaware as may from time to time be fixed by resolution of the Board or as may be specified in the notice of any meeting.  Regular meetings of the Board shall be held at such times as may from time to time be fixed by resolution of the Board and special meetings may be held at any time upon the call of the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, by oral or written notice, including facsimile, e-mail or other means of electronic transmission, duly served on or sent and delivered to each director to such director’s address, e-mail address or telephone or telecopy number as shown on the books of the Corporation not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting.  The notice of any meeting need not specify the purposes thereof.  A meeting of the Board may be held without notice immediately after the annual meeting of stockholders at the same place, if any, at which such meeting is held.  Notice need not be given of regular meetings of the Board held at times fixed by resolution of the Board.  Notice of any meeting need not be given to any director who shall attend such meeting (except when the director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any

 

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business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened), or who shall waive notice thereof, before or after such meeting, in writing (including by electronic transmission).

 

Section 4.                                            Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more such other series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, removal, and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) applicable thereto.  The number of directors that may be elected by the holders of any such series of Preferred Stock shall be in addition to the number fixed pursuant to the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation and these Bylaws.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in the terms of such series, the number of directors that may be so elected by the holders of any such series of stock shall be elected for terms expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders, and vacancies among directors so elected by the separate vote of the holders of any such series of Preferred Stock shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors elected by such series, or, if there are no such remaining directors, by the holders of such series in the same manner in which such series initially elected a director.

 

Section 5.                                            If at any meeting for the election of directors, the Corporation has outstanding more than one class of stock, and one or more such classes or series thereof are entitled to vote separately as a class to elect directors, and there shall be a quorum of only one such class or series of stock, that class or series of stock shall be entitled to elect its quota of directors notwithstanding absence of a quorum of the other class or series of stock.

 

Section 6.                                            The Board may from time to time establish one or more committees of the Board to serve at the pleasure of the Board, which shall be comprised of such members of the Board and have such duties as the Board shall from time to time determine; provided, however, that for so long as any stockholder that is party to a Stockholder Agreement has at least one (1) designee serving as a director on the Board pursuant to the applicable Stockholder Agreement, any one (1) of such stockholder’s designees serving as a director on the Board shall serve on each committee or subcommittee of the Board established pursuant to this Section 6 provided that such director is qualified to serve on such committee or subcommittee under the laws and regulations application to the Corporation, including, without limitation, the independence requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Any director may belong to any number of committees of the Board.  The Board may also establish such other committees with such members (whether or not directors and subject to the first sentence of this Section 6) and with such duties as the Board may from time to time determine.  The Board 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 a committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.  Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, these Bylaws or the resolution of the Board 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, subject to the first sentence of this Section 6.

 

Section 7.                                            Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing (including by electronic transmission), and the writing or writings (including any electronic transmissions) are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board.

 

9



 

Section 8.                                            The members of the Board or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee, as the case may be, 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 subsection shall constitute presence in person at such a meeting.

 

Section 9.                                            The Board may establish policies for the compensation of directors and for the reimbursement of the expenses of directors, in each case, in connection with services provided by directors to the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE III

 

OFFICERS

 

Section 1.                                            The Board, at its next meeting following each annual meeting of the stockholders, shall elect officers of the Corporation, including a Chief Executive Officer and a Secretary.  The Board may also from time to time elect such other officers (including, without limitation, a Chief Operating Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, a Chief Servicing Officer, a Chief Business Development Officer, a Chief Capital Markets Officer, a Chief Administrative and Legal Officer, a Chief Correspondent Lending Officer, a Chief Credit Officer, one or more Presidents, Vice Presidents, a Treasurer, one or more Assistant Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries and one or more Assistant Treasurers) as it may deem proper or may delegate to any elected officer of the Corporation the power to appoint and remove any such other officers and to prescribe their respective terms of office, authorities and duties.  Any Vice President may be designated Executive, Senior or Corporate, or may be given such other designation or combination of designations as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer may determine.  Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.  The Board may also elect or appoint a Chairman of the Board, who may or may not also be an officer of the Corporation.  The Board may elect or appoint co-Chairmen of the Board, co-Presidents or co-Chief Executive Officers and, in such case, references in these Bylaws to the Chairman of the Board, the President or the Chief Executive Officer shall refer to either such co-Chairman of the Board, co-President or co-Chief Executive Officer, as the case may be.

 

Section 2.                                            All officers of the Corporation elected by the Board shall hold office for such terms as may be determined by the Board or, except with respect to his or her own office, the Chief Executive Officer, or until their respective successors are chosen and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal.  Any officer may be removed from office at any time either with or without cause by affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Board then in office, or, in the case of appointed officers, by any elected officer upon whom such power of removal shall have been conferred by the Board.

 

Section 3.                                            Each of the officers of the Corporation elected by the Board or appointed by an officer in accordance with these Bylaws shall have the powers and duties prescribed by law, by these Bylaws or by the Board and, in the case of appointed officers, the powers and duties prescribed by the appointing officer, and, unless otherwise prescribed by these Bylaws or by the Board or such appointing officer, shall have such further powers and duties as ordinarily pertain to that office.  The Chief Executive Officer shall have authority over the general direction of the affairs of the Corporation.

 

Section 4.                                            Unless otherwise provided in these Bylaws, in the absence or disability of any officer of the Corporation, the Board or the Chief Executive Officer may, during such period, delegate such officer’s powers and duties to any other officer or to any director and the person to whom such powers and duties are delegated shall, for the time being, hold such office.

 

10



 

ARTICLE IV

 

INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 1.                                            To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, the Corporation shall indemnify any person (and such person’s heirs, executors or administrators) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other threatened or actual proceeding (brought in the right of the Corporation or otherwise), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal, including any appeals therefrom, by reason of the fact that such person, or a person for whom such person was 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, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company, nonprofit entity or other enterprise, for and against all loss and liability suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred by such person or such heirs, executors or administrators in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, including appeals. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 4 of this Article IV, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a person described in such sentence in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by such person was authorized by the Board.

 

Section 2.                                            Any person serving as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other enterprise, at least fifty percent (50%) of whose equity interests are owned by the Corporation (a “subsidiary” for this Article IV) shall be conclusively presumed to be serving in such capacity at the request of the Corporation.

 

Section 3.                                            To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Corporation shall promptly pay expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by any person described in Section 1 of this Article IV in appearing at, participating in or defending any action, suit or proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding, including appeals, upon presentation of an undertaking on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article IV or otherwise. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 4 of this Article IV, the Corporation shall be required to pay expenses of a person described in such sentence in connection with any action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by such person was authorized by the Board. Advances shall be unsecured and interest free.

 

Section 4.                                            If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding) or advancement of expenses under this Article IV is not paid in full within thirty (30) days after a written claim therefor by any person described in Section 1 of this Article IV has been received by the Corporation, such person may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that such person is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law.

 

11



 

Section 5.                                            To the fullest extent permitted by the law of the State of Delaware, the Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person described in Section 1 of this Article IV against any liability asserted against such person, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article IV or otherwise.

 

Section 6.                                            The rights of indemnification provided in this Article IV shall neither be exclusive of, nor be deemed in limitation of, any rights to which any person may otherwise be or become entitled or permitted by contract, the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, the bylaws of the Corporation, vote of stockholders or directors or otherwise, or as a matter of law, both as to actions in such person’s official capacity and actions in any other capacity, it being the policy of the Corporation that indemnification of any person whom the Corporation is obligated to indemnify pursuant to Section 1 of this Article IV shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law. This Article IV 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, and purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of, persons other than persons described in Section 1 of this Article IV.

 

Section 7.                                            The provisions of this Article IV shall be applicable to all actions, claims, suits or proceedings made or commenced after the adoption hereof, whether arising from acts or omissions to act occurring before or after its adoption, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors or administrators of such person. The provisions of this Article IV shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each director or officer (or legal representative thereof) who serves in such capacity at any time while this Article IV and the relevant provisions of the law of the State of Delaware and other applicable law, if any, are in effect, and any alteration, amendment or repeal of this Article IV shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts existing or act or omission occurring prior to such alteration, amendment or repeal, or any action, suit or proceeding then or theretofore existing, or any action, suit or proceeding thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part on any such state of facts, act or omission.

 

Section 8.                                            If any provision of this Article IV shall be found to be invalid or limited in application by reason of any law or regulation, it shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions hereof, and this Article IV shall be construed as if such invalid or unenforceable provisions had been omitted therefrom.

 

Section 9.                                            For purposes of this Article IV, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and references to “expenses” shall include attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a proceeding, including, in the case of an appeal resulting from any proceeding, the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent.

 

12



 

ARTICLE V

 

CORPORATE BOOKS

 

The books of the Corporation may be kept inside or outside of the State of Delaware at such place or places as the Board may from time to time determine.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

CHECKS, NOTES, PROXIES, ETC.

 

All checks and drafts on the Corporation’s bank accounts and all bills of exchange and promissory notes, and all acceptances, obligations and other instruments for the payment of money, shall be signed by such officer or officers or agent or agents as shall be authorized from time to time by the Board or such officer or officers who may be delegated such authority.  Proxies to vote and consents with respect to securities of other corporations owned by or standing in the name of the Corporation may be executed and delivered from time to time on behalf of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or by such officers as the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Board may from time to time determine.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

FISCAL YEAR

 

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day of January in each year and end on the thirty-first day of December following.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 1.                                            Whenever notice is required to be given by law or under any provision of the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation or these Bylaws, notice of any meeting need not be given to any person who shall attend 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), or who shall waive notice thereof, before or after such meeting, in writing (including by electronic transmission).

 

Section 2.                                            Section headings in these Bylaws are for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.

 

Section 3.                                            In the event that any provision of these Bylaws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation or the DGCL, the provision of these Bylaws shall not be given any effect to the extent of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be given full force and effect.

 

13



 

ARTICLE IX

 

AMENDMENTS

 

These Bylaws may be made, amended, altered, changed, added to or repealed as set forth in the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation.

 

14



 

CERTIFICATE OF ADOPTION OF AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

 

The undersigned hereby certifies that he is the duly elected, qualified, and acting Secretary of PennyMac Financial Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and that the foregoing Bylaws were adopted by the board of directors of the corporation on May 8, 2013.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate as of May 8, 2013.

 

 

 

/s/ Jeffrey P. Grogin

 

Jeff Grogin, Secretary

 


Exhibit 10.1

 

 

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

 

OF

 

PRIVATE NATIONAL MORTGAGE ACCEPTANCE COMPANY, LLC

 

 

Effective May 8, 2013

 

THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS IN PRIVATE NATIONAL MORTGAGE ACCEPTANCE COMPANY, LLC HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS AND ARE BEING ISSUED IN RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTIONS FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH LAWS. SUCH INTERESTS MUST BE ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED, SOLD, ASSIGNED OR TRANSFERRED (EACH, A “TRANSFER”) AT ANY TIME EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH (I) THE SECURITIES ACT, ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS; (II) THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE “LLC AGREEMENT”); AND (III) ANY OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS AGREED TO IN WRITING BETWEEN THE MANAGING MEMBER AND THE APPLICABLE MEMBER.  THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH LAWS, THE LLC AGREEMENT, AND ANY OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS AGREED TO IN WRITING BY THE MANAGING MEMBER AND THE APPLICABLE MEMBER.  THEREFORE, PURCHASERS AND OTHER TRANSFEREES OF SUCH LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE RISK OF THEIR INVESTMENT OR ACQUISITION FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME.

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINED TERMS

1

 

 

 

1.1.

Defined Terms

1

 

 

 

1.2.

Terms Defined Elsewhere

8

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

FORMATION AND NAME; OFFICE; PURPOSE; TERM

8

 

 

 

2.1.

Organization

8

 

 

 

2.2.

Name of the Company

9

 

 

 

2.3.

Purpose

9

 

 

 

2.4.

Term

9

 

 

 

2.5.

Registered Office; Principal Place of Business; Other Offices

9

 

 

 

2.6.

Registered Agent

9

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

UNITS

10

 

 

 

3.1.

Units; Initial Capitalization; Schedule of Members

10

 

 

 

3.2.

Continued Vesting and Restrictions

11

 

 

 

3.3.

Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units

12

 

 

 

3.4.

Member’s Interest

13

 

 

 

3.5.

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

13

 

 

 

3.6.

Transfer Agent, Exchange Agent and Registrar

14

 

 

 

3.7.

Interest as a Security

14

 

 

 

3.8.

Spousal Consent

14

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS

14

 

 

 

4.1.

Capital Contributions

14

 

 

 

4.2.

No Interest on Capital Contributions

14

 

 

 

4.3.

Return of Capital Contributions

14

 

 

 

4.4.

Redemption of Class A Common Stock

14

 

 

 

4.5.

Withdrawal of Funds or Loans

15

 

 

 

4.6.

Capital Accounts

15

 

 

 

ARTICLE V

ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

16

 

 

 

5.1.

Allocations of Net Income and Net Losses

16

 

 

 

5.2.

Book/Tax Disparities

16

 

 

 

5.3.

Allocation of Nonrecourse Deductions

16

 

 

 

5.4.

Allocation of Partner Nonrecourse Deductions

16

 

i



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

5.5.

Minimum Gain Chargeback

17

 

 

 

5.6.

Member Minimum Gain Chargeback

17

 

 

 

5.7.

Qualified Income Offset

17

 

 

 

5.8.

Excess Nonrecourse Liabilities

17

 

 

 

5.9.

Allocations and Distributions to Transferred Interests

17

 

 

 

5.10.

Distributions

17

 

 

 

5.11.

Distributions In-Kind

19

 

 

 

5.12.

Restricted Distributions

19

 

 

 

5.13.

No Recourse

19

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI

EXCULPATION; INDEMNIFICATION

20

 

 

 

6.1.

Exculpation and Indemnification

20

 

 

 

6.2.

Corporate Opportunities

22

 

 

 

6.3.

Duties

23

 

 

 

6.4.

D&O Insurance

24

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII

BOARD AND OFFICERS

24

 

 

 

7.1.

Management of the Company

24

 

 

 

7.2.

Officers

25

 

 

 

7.3.

Certain Costs and Expenses

26

 

 

 

7.4.

Negative Covenants

26

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

MEMBERS

26

 

 

 

8.1.

Limitations

26

 

 

 

8.2.

No Voting Rights

26

 

 

 

8.3.

Liability

27

 

 

 

8.4.

Meetings of Members and Voting

27

 

 

 

8.5.

Return of Distribution

28

 

 

 

8.6.

Representations and Warranties

29

 

 

 

8.7.

No State Law Partnership

30

 

 

 

8.8.

Additional Members

31

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

TRANSFER OF INTERESTS

32

 

 

 

9.1.

Restrictions on Transfers of Interests by Members

32

 

 

 

9.2.

Effect of Assignment

33

 

 

 

9.3.

Overriding Provisions

33

 

ii



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

9.4.

Substitute Members

34

 

 

 

9.5.

Mandatory Exchange

34

 

 

 

9.6.

Multiple Sponsor Members

35

 

 

 

ARTICLE X

DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION, AND TERMINATION OF THE COMPANY

36

 

 

 

10.1.

Events of Dissolution

36

 

 

 

10.2.

Procedure for Winding Up and Dissolution

36

 

 

 

10.3.

Hart Scott Rodino

36

 

 

 

10.4.

Deficit Capital Accounts

36

 

 

 

10.5.

Termination

36

 

 

 

10.6.

Filing of Certificate of Cancellation

37

 

 

 

ARTICLE XI

BOOKS, RECORDS, INFORMATION RIGHTS, ACCOUNTING AND TAX MATTERS

37

 

 

 

11.1.

Books and Records

37

 

 

 

11.2.

Budget

37

 

 

 

11.3.

Financial Reports

38

 

 

 

11.4.

Annual Accounting Period; Accounting Method

38

 

 

 

11.5.

Tax Matters

38

 

 

 

ARTICLE XII

AMENDMENTS

39

 

 

 

12.1.

Approval of Amendments

39

 

 

 

12.2.

Amendment of Certificate of Formation

40

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIII

COVENANTS OF EMPLOYEE MEMBERS

40

 

 

 

13.1.

Non- Solicitation

40

 

 

 

13.2.

Non-Compete

40

 

 

 

13.3.

Non-Disparagement

42

 

 

 

13.4.

Work Product

42

 

 

 

13.5.

Survival

44

 

 

 

13.6.

Injunction

44

 

 

 

13.7.

Blue Pencil

44

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIV

GENERAL PROVISIONS

45

 

 

 

14.1.

Confidentiality

45

 

 

 

14.2.

Further Assurances

47

 

iii



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

14.3.

Notifications

47

 

 

 

14.4.

Specific Performance

47

 

 

 

14.5.

Complete Agreement

48

 

 

 

14.6.

Power of Attorney

48

 

 

 

14.7.

Applicable Law; Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial

48

 

 

 

14.8.

References to this Agreement; Headings

49

 

 

 

14.9.

Binding Provisions

49

 

 

 

14.10.

Construction

49

 

 

 

14.11.

Severability

49

 

 

 

14.12.

Counterparts

50

 

 

 

14.13.

No Third Party Beneficiaries

50

 

 

 

14.14.

Mutual Drafting

50

 

 

 

14.15.

Waiver of Partition

50

 

 

 

14.16.

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

51

 

iv



 

Schedule 3.3(b) Prior Inventions

 

v



 

This FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT of Private National Mortgage Acceptance Company, LLC (the “ Company ”), is entered into as of May 8, 2013 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and among each of the Members, and such other Persons as may become parties to this Agreement and be admitted as Members in accordance with the provisions hereof from time to time (each a “ Member ” and collectively, the “ Members ”). Certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in Article I below.

 

Explanatory Statement

 

The Company was formed as a limited liability company under the Act pursuant to the filing of the Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State on January 9, 2008;

 

The then members of the Company entered into a Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, effective as of February 25, 2008, which was amended and restated on September 22, 2009, March 9, 2011 and October 17, 2011 and amended on December 31, 2012 (as amended and restated, the “ Prior Operating Agreement ”);

 

The Company and the Members desire to have PennyMac Financial Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Parent Member ”), effect an initial public offering of shares of Class A Common Stock and in connection therewith to effect a recapitalization of the Company and Parent Member (collectively, the “ IPO ”) and to amend and restate the Prior Operating Agreement in its entirety as set forth herein, including to convert all outstanding limited liability company interests in the Company into Class A Units, to distribute shares of Class B Common Stock to the Members other than the Parent Member and to admit Parent Member as the sole Managing Member of the Company;

 

NOW , THEREFORE , for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

Article I
Defined Terms

 

1.1.         Defined Terms . The following capitalized terms shall have the meanings specified in this Section 1.1 . Other terms are defined in the text of this Agreement and those terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them.

 

Act ” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as amended from time to time.

 

Adjusted Capital Account ” means, with respect to any Member, the balance, if any, in such Member’s Capital Account as of the end of the relevant taxable year or other relevant period, after (i) crediting to such Capital Account any amounts that such Member is obligated to restore pursuant to Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) of the Regulations (or is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5) of the Regulations) and (ii) debiting to such Capital Account the items described in Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6) of the Regulations.

 



 

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 Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of equity interests, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have correlative meanings to the foregoing. For purposes of the definition of “control,” a general partner or the managing member of a Person shall always be considered to control such Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of this Agreement, none of the Members or their Affiliates, solely by virtue of being Members of the Company, shall be considered Affiliates of any other Members or the Company; provided that the Managing Member shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Company.

 

Agreement ” means this Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, including the Schedules and Exhibits attached hereto, as the same may be further amended or restated from time to time.

 

Assumed Tax Rate ” means such rate as the Managing Member reasonably determines to be necessary to result in a tax distribution in respect of each Unit under Section 5.10(b) sufficient for each Member to satisfy its U.S. federal, state, and local income tax liability in respect of that Member’s allocable share of the Company’s taxable income for the applicable calendar year (taking into account the impact of Section 704(c) of the Code), it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that the tax distribution in respect of each Unit will be equal in amount.

 

BlackRock Charitable Entity ” means each tax-exempt private foundation or public charity created by BlackRock Mortgage Ventures, LLC or any of its Affiliates, or with respect to which BlackRock Mortgage Ventures, LLC or any of its Affiliates is a disqualified person, and each sponsoring organization which maintains a donor advised fund which is separately identified by reference to contributions of BlackRock Mortgage Ventures, LLC or any of its Affiliates (as such terms are defined in the Code).

 

BlackRock Member ” or “ BlackRock Members ” means, without duplication, (i) BlackRock Mortgage Ventures, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, (ii) each current or former member or other owner or Affiliate of BlackRock Mortgage Ventures, LLC, and (iii) each BlackRock Charitable Entity, in each case that beneficially owns one or more Class A Units.

 

Business Day ” means any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks located in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by Law or executive order to close.

 

Capital Account ” means the account maintained by the Company with respect to a Member in accordance with Section 4.6 .

 

Capital Contribution ” means any contribution of cash or other assets to the Company by a Member.

 

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Capital Stock ” means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all ownership interests in a limited liability company, partnership or other Person (other than a corporation), and any and all securities, warrants, options or other rights to purchase or acquire or that are convertible into any of the foregoing.

 

Certificate of Formation ” means the certificate of formation of the Company as in effect on the Effective Date, as the same may be amended or restated from time to time.

 

Change of Control ” has the meaning set forth for such term under the Exchange Agreement.

 

Class A Common Stock ” means Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Parent Member.

 

Class A Unit ” means a Class A Unit of the Company.

 

Class B Common Stock ” means Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Parent Member.

 

Client ” means any Person to whom the Managing Member, the Company or any Subsidiary supplies (or supplied during the one-year period prior to the date an Employee Member ceased to be an employee or Member of the Company or any Subsidiary) services, products or professional advice, including investors in any investment product managed, offered or sponsored by the Managing Member, the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

Code ” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any corresponding provision of any succeeding Law.

 

Company Minimum Gain ” means the amount determined by computing, with respect to each Nonrecourse Liability of the Company, the amount of book gain, if any, that would be realized by the Company if it disposed of the property securing such liability in full satisfaction thereof, determined in accordance with Section 1.704-2(d) of the Regulations.

 

Company Property ” means all interests in properties, whether real or personal, and rights of any type owned thereon or held by the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

Confidential Information ” means any confidential, non-public or proprietary information (whether received before or after the Effective Date and whether transmitted orally or in writing or stored electronically) relating to the business or the affairs of the Managing Member, the Company, the Subsidiaries or its or their respective clients, officers, directors, Members or Principals of Members and identified (orally or in writing), or otherwise known by (or should reasonably be known by) the recipient, as being confidential. The following information (which list is not intended to be exhaustive) shall be considered “Confidential Information” without the need for identification as such: the information provided to a Member pursuant to Article XI , future transactions (regardless of whether such transactions are consummated), customer lists, employee lists, salary and other compensation or benefits of employees, financial data, financial or strategic plans, forecasts, records and other business

 

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information, plans, reports or data, client lists, information encompassed in drawings, designs, plans, proposals, reports, research, marketing and sales plans, costs, quotations, specification sheets, recording media, information which relates, directly or indirectly, to the computer systems and computer technology, including source codes, object codes, reports, flow charts, screens, algorithms, use manuals, installation or operation manuals, computer software, spreadsheets, data computations, formulas, techniques, databases, and any other form or compilation of computer-related information and other confidential, non-public or proprietary information relating to the business or the affairs of the Managing Member, the Company, the Subsidiaries or its or their respective clients, directors, officers, Members or Principals of Members.  Confidential Information shall not, however, include any information that: (i) is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by any Member or officer in breach of this Agreement; (ii) was or becomes available on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company or any Member, officer or director; provided that such source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement with or other contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation of confidentiality to the Managing Member, the Company or any other Person with respect to such information; (iii) is or was developed by the receiving Person independently of (other than by any Employee Member in connection with his or her services to the Managing Member, the Company or any Subsidiary), or was known by the receiving Person prior to, any disclosure of such information made by the disclosing Person; (iv) is required to be disclosed by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, administrative agency or governmental body, or by any Law, or by subpoena, summons or any other administrative or legal process, or by applicable regulatory standards, after notice of such requirement has been given to the Company or the disclosing Person (except as prohibited by Law) and the Company or the disclosing Person has had a reasonable opportunity to oppose such disclosure; or (v) is disclosed with the written consent of the Person for which such Confidential Information relates or, with respect to any Confidential Information concerning the Company or any Subsidiary, the consent of the Managing Member.

 

Covered Person ” means: (i) a current or former Member; (ii) any former manager of the Company; (iii) any Affiliate of a current or former Member or manager; (iv) any current or former officer, manager, stockholder, partner, member, employee, advisor, representative or agent of a current or former Member or any of their respective Affiliates; (v) except as otherwise determined by the Managing Member, any current or former officer of the Company; or (vi) if so determined by the Managing Member, any employee, advisor, representative or agent of the Company.

 

Economic Capital Account ” means, with respect to any Member, such Member’s Capital Account as of the date of determination, after crediting to such Capital Account any amount that such Member is deemed obligated to restore under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2.

 

Employee Member ” means each Member designated as an Employee Member in Schedule 3.1(b) , and shall include any Person to whom the Member Transfers all or a portion of its Interests (excluding any Transfers to the Managing Member or Affiliates of the Managing Member) in compliance with Article IX.

 

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Exchange Agreement ” means the Exchange Agreement, dated on or about the Effective Date, among the Company, Parent Member and the Company Unitholders (as defined therein) from time to time party thereto, as the same may be further amended or restated from time to time.

 

Exchange Ratio ” means the quotient of (x) one (1) divided by (y) the Exchange Rate, as defined in the Exchange Agreement.

 

Fair Market Value ” means, except as otherwise provided for herein, as of any given date of determination, the cash price, as determined in good faith by the Managing Member using any reasonable method of valuation and taking into account any relevant facts and circumstances then prevailing and in accordance with this Agreement at which a willing seller would sell, and a willing buyer would buy, each being apprised of all relevant facts and neither acting under compulsion, such assets or properties in an arm’s-length negotiated transaction with an unaffiliated third party without time constraints.

 

Fiscal Year ” means the taxable year of the Company, which shall be the twelve (12) month period commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31, or such other period as may be required by the Code or the Regulations.

 

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

 

Highfields Charitable Entity ” means each tax-exempt private foundation or public charity created by HC Partners LLC or any of its Affiliates or principals, or with respect to which HC Partners LLC or any of its Affiliates or principals is a disqualified person, and each sponsoring organization which maintains a donor advised fund which is separately identified by reference to contributions of HC Partners LLC or any of its Affiliates or principals (as such terms are defined in the Code).

 

Highfields Member ” or “ Highfields Members ” means, without duplication, (i) HC Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, (ii) each current or former member or other owner or Affiliate of HC Partners LLC, and (iii) each Highfields Charitable Entity, in each case that beneficially owns one or more Class A Units.

 

Interest ” means a limited liability interest in the Company, represented by the ownership of Units, which represents, to the extent applicable, such Member’s rights in and to Net Income, Net Losses, and other items of Company income, gain, loss, expense or deduction, distributions of Company assets, Voting Rights and such other rights to which a Member is entitled under the Act and that are not inconsistent with the provisions of 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.

 

Management Member ” means each Member designated as a Management Member in Schedule 3.1(b) , and shall include any Person to whom any Management Member Transfers all or a portion of its Interests (excluding any Transfers to the Managing Member or Affiliates of the Managing Member) in compliance with Article IX.

 

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Managing Member ” means Parent Member, and any assignee to which Parent Member Transfers all Units and other Capital Stock in the Company it holds and which assignee is admitted to the Company as the “Managing Member” of the Company.

 

Member ” has the meaning set forth in the introduction to this Agreement and shall include any additional Person admitted as a Member of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and who holds Units.

 

Member Nonrecourse Debt ” means any liability (or portion thereof) of the Company for which one or more Members or related persons bear the economic risk of loss, as determined under Section 1.752-2 of the Regulations.

 

Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain ” has the meaning ascribed to “partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain” under Section 1.704-2(i)(2) and 1.704-2(i)(3) of the Regulations.

 

Net Income and Net Loss ” means the net taxable income or net taxable loss of the Company, respectively, as determined for federal income tax purposes, for each Fiscal Year of the Company, taking into account the following adjustments, and any other adjustments necessary in order to comply with Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) of the Regulations: (a) any income that is exempt from federal income tax and not otherwise taken into account shall be added to such taxable income or loss; (b) any expenditure that is not deductible in computing federal taxable income and not properly chargeable to capital accounts and not otherwise taken into account shall be subtracted from such taxable income or loss; (c) any adjustments to the “book values” of Company Property pursuant to Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) shall be treated as an item of gain or loss; (d) other than for federal income tax purposes, depreciation with respect to, and gain or loss from the disposition of, Company Property shall be computed by reference to the adjusted “book values” of the Company Property, rather than their adjusted tax bases; and (e) notwithstanding any other provision of this definition, any items of income, gain, loss, expense or deduction that are specially allocated pursuant to this Agreement shall not be taken into account in computing Net Income and Net Loss.

 

Nonrecourse Liability ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.704-2(b)(3) of the Regulations.

 

Percentage Interest ” means, with respect to any Member, as of a given date of determination, a fraction (expressed as a percentage), the numerator of which is the number of Units (including both vested and unvested Class A Units) held by such Member and the denominator of which is the total number of Units held by all Members (including both vested and unvested Class A Units).

 

Person ” means and includes any individual, corporation, partnership, association, limited liability company, trust, estate or other entity.

 

Principal ” means, with respect to a specified Person that is not an entity whose securities are publicly traded, any manager, officer or partner of such Person or any other Person that owns directly more than twenty percent (20%) of the Capital Stock of such specified Person.

 

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Prior Equity Incentive Plans ” mean the Equity Incentive Plan of the Company and the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan of the Company, in each case, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Date.

 

Prospective Client ” mean any Person with whom the Managing Member, the Company or any Subsidiary has had negotiations or discussions regarding the possible supply of services, products or advice, or with respect to whom the Managing Member, the Company or any Subsidiary has expended significant time, effort or money in developing a bid or proposal for the supply of services, products or advice.

 

Quarterly Estimated Tax Periods ” means the two, three, and four calendar month periods with respect to which federal quarterly estimated tax payments are made.  The first such period begins on January 1 and ends on March 31.  The second such period begins on April 1 and ends on May 31.  The third such period begins on June 1 and ends on August 31.  The fourth such period begins on September 1 and ends on December 31.

 

Registration Rights Agreement ” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated on or about the Effective Date, among Parent Member and the Holders (as defined therein) from time to time party thereto, as the same may be further amended or restated from time to time.

 

Regulations ” means the income tax regulations, including any temporary regulations, from time to time promulgated under the Code.

 

Secretary of State ” means the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

 

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

 

Sponsor Members ” means, collectively, BlackRock Members and Highfields Members and “Sponsor Member” means, individually, any BlackRock Member or Highfields Member.

 

Subsidiary ” means (a) any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity a majority of the Capital Stock of which having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other Persons performing similar functions is at the time owned, directly or indirectly, with power to vote, by the Company or any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company, (b) a partnership in which the Company or any direct or indirect Subsidiary is a general partner or (c) a limited liability company in which the Company or any director or indirect Subsidiary is a managing member or manager.

 

Tax Receivable Agreement ” means the Tax Receivable Agreement, dated on or about the Effective Date, among the Company, Parent Member and the Members (as defined therein) from time to time party thereto, as the same may be further amended or restated from time to time.

 

Transfer ” means, when used as a noun, any direct or indirect, voluntary or involuntary, sale, hypothecation, mortgage, gift, pledge, assignment, attachment or other transfer (including the creation of any derivative or synthetic interest, including a participation or other

 

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similar interest) and, when used as a verb, voluntarily or involuntarily to sell, hypothecate, mortgage, gift, pledge, assign, attach or otherwise transfer, in any case, whether by operation of law or otherwise.

 

Unit ” means a Class A Unit or a Unit of any other class or series of Interests authorized by the Managing Member pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

Voting Rights ” means, subject to Section 8.2 and Section 9.6 , any right to vote, consent or approve provided by this Agreement on any matter to be decided by the Members (including any amendment to this Agreement).

 

1.2.         Terms Defined Elsewhere . The following terms have been defined in the locations set forth below:

 

Defined Term

 

Section

Additional Member

 

8.8(a)

BlackRock Designee

 

9.6(b)

Budget

 

11.2

Charitable Transfer

 

9.1(a)(iv)

Company

 

Preamble

Effective Date

 

Preamble

ERISA

 

9.3(b)(iii)

Fund Indemnitors

 

6.1(i)(i)

Highfields Designee

 

9.6(c)

HSR Act

 

10.3

Indemnifiable Losses

 

6.1(d)

IPO

 

Recitals

Notice

 

14.3

Parent Member

 

Recitals

Prior Inventions

 

13.4(b)

Prior Operating Agreement

 

Recitals

Rule 144

 

8.6(e)

Schedule of Members

 

3.1(d)

Tax Advances

 

5.10(c)

Tax Audit

 

11.5(e)

Tax Distribution

 

5.10(b)(i)

Tax Matters Person

 

11.5(c)

Third Party Confidential Information

 

14.1(c)

Work Product

 

13.4(a)

 

Article II
Formation and Name; Office; Purpose; Term

 

2.1.         Organization . The Company was organized as a limited liability company pursuant to the Act and the provisions of the Prior Operating Agreement, and the Certificate of Formation was executed and filed with the Secretary of State on January 9, 2008. Except to the

 

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extent, and for the limited purpose, specifically stated in Section 3.2(a), this Agreement supersedes and replaces in its entirety the Prior Operating Agreement.  The Members agree to continue the Company as a limited liability company under the Act, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.  The rights, powers, duties, obligations and liabilities of the Members shall be determined pursuant to the Act and this Agreement.  To the extent the rights, powers, duties, obligations and liabilities of any Member are different by reason of any provision of this Agreement than they would be in the absence of such provision, this Agreement shall, to the extent permitted by the Act, control.

 

2.2.         Name of the Company . The name of the Company shall be “Private National Mortgage Acceptance Company, LLC.” The Company may do business under that name and under any other name or names which the Managing Member may select from time to time. If the Company does business under a name other than that set forth in the Certificate of Formation, the Company shall comply with any requirements of the Act or applicable Law.

 

2.3.         Purpose . The business and purpose of the Company will be to (a) serve as an investment advisor and manager of one or more investment funds established from time to time with the principal objective of acquiring whole loans or other mortgage-related and real estate assets, (b) acquire or build, own and operate a mortgage servicing, mortgage origination, and correspondent lending company, (c) conduct such other businesses as determined by the Managing Member from to time, and (d) engage in any and all lawful acts or activities for which a limited liability company may be organized under the Act and engage in all acts or activities as the Company deems necessary, advisable or incidental to the furtherance of the foregoing.

 

2.4.         Term . The term of the Company began upon the acceptance of the Certificate of Formation by the Secretary of State and shall continue in existence until terminated pursuant to Article X .

 

2.5.         Registered Office; Principal Place of Business; Other Offices .

 

(a)           The registered office of the Company is as set forth in the Certificate of Formation or at any other place within the State of Delaware that the Managing Member selects. The principal office and principal place of business of the Company shall be located at 6101 Condor Drive, Suite 200, Moorpark, California 93021 or at such other place as the Managing Member may determine.

 

(b)           The Company shall establish and maintain such offices from time to time as the Managing Member may determine.

 

(c)           Any authorized Person of the Company may execute, deliver and file any certificates (and any amendments or restatements thereto) necessary for the Company to qualify to do business in a jurisdiction in which the Company may wish to conduct business.

 

2.6.         Registered Agent . The registered agent of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be the initial registered agent named in the Certificate of Formation or such other Person as the Managing Member may designate from time to time in the manner provided by Law.

 

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Article III
Units

 

3.1.         Units; Initial Capitalization; Schedule of Members .

 

(a)           Interests in the Company shall be represented by Units, such other Capital Stock of the Company, or such other securities of the Company, in each case as the Managing Member may establish in its discretion in accordance with the terms and subject to the restrictions hereof. As of the date hereof, the Units are comprised of one class: “Class A Units.”  As of the date hereof, the number of authorized Class A Units is 200,000,000.

 

(b)           The Preferred Units (as defined in the Prior Operating Agreement), the Common Units (as defined in the Prior Operating Agreement), the Class B Common Units (as defined in the Prior Operating Agreement), and the Class C Common Units (as defined in the Prior Operating Agreement) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Date are hereby converted into Class A Units as set forth, with respect to each Member, on Schedule 3.1(b) , and substantially concurrently with such conversion and in connection therewith, the Company has distributed one share of Class B Common Stock to each Member other than the Managing Member.  The Class B Common Stock was issued by the Managing Member to the Company in exchange for Class A Units and its rights as Managing Member transferred to it by the Company.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein or in any document, agreement or instrument to the contrary, no Member (other than the Managing Member) shall be entitled to any information concerning any other Member, including the number of Class A Units held by such Member, the Capital Account of such Member or other information concerning such Member.

 

(c)           In the event of a dividend, split, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange of all or any class of Units or other Capital Stock of the Company, liquidation, spin-off, or other change in organizational structure affecting the Units (including any conversion of the Company to a corporation, whether by merger, filing of a certificate of conversion or otherwise), the number and class of Units shall be appropriately adjusted by the Managing Member.

 

(d)           The aggregate number of outstanding Units and the aggregate amount of cash Capital Contributions that have been made by the Members and the Fair Market Value of any property other than cash contributed by the Members with respect to the Units (including, if applicable, a description and the amount of any liability assumed by the Company or to which contributed property is subject) shall be set forth on a schedule maintained by the Company.  The Company shall also maintain a schedule setting forth the name and address of each Member, the number and class of Units owned by such Member and the aggregate Capital Contributions that have been made by such Member with respect to such Member’s Units (such schedule, the “ Schedule of Members ”).  The Schedule of Members shall be the definitive record of ownership of each Unit or other Capital Stock 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 or other Capital Stock of the Company for all purposes and shall not be

 

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bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in Units or other Capital Stock of the Company on the part of any other Person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the Act.

 

3.2.         Continued Vesting and Restrictions .

 

(a)           Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Class A Units held by any Member as a result of the conversion of any Common Units (as defined in the Prior Operating Agreement), any Class B Common Units (as defined in the Prior Operating Agreement), any Class C Common Units (as defined in the Prior Operating Agreement) or any Preferred Units (as defined in the Prior Operating Agreement) held by such Member immediately prior to the Effective Time that were subject to any vesting, forfeiture, repurchase or similar provisions as of that time pursuant to the Prior Operating Agreement, the Prior Equity Incentive Plans or any agreement pursuant to which such Units were awarded shall, except to the extent otherwise provided for in any employment agreement with such Member, continue to be subject to such vesting, forfeiture or similar provisions, but shall not be subject to any such repurchase provisions other than:

 

(i)            the repurchase provisions of Section 14.1(c), (e), (f) and (h) of the Prior Operating Agreement in connection with a termination for Cause (as defined in the Prior Operating Agreement), which shall continue to apply from and after the Effective Date to the number of Class A Units indicated on Schedule 3.1(b)  across from such Member’s name as “Prior Preferred Units,” which Units shall be deemed to be Preferred Units for purposes of such Section, and

 

(ii)           with respect to any Employee Member or Management Member whose employment with the Company or the Subsidiaries was terminated prior to the Effective Date or who otherwise ceased to be engaged to provide services to the Company or the Subsidiaries prior to the Effective Date (including due to death or disability), the repurchase provisions of the Prior Operating Agreement (including Section 14.1 and Exhibit C of the Prior Operating Agreement) and the Prior Equity Incentive Plans (including Section 2.2 of each of the Prior Equity Incentive Plans), which shall continue to apply from and after the Effective Date to (x) the number of Class A Units indicated on Schedule 3.1(b)  across such Member’s name as “Prior Preferred Units,” which Units shall be deemed to be Preferred Units for purposes of Section 14.1 of the Prior Operating Agreement and (y) the number of Class A Units indicated on Schedule 3.1(b)  across such Member’s name as “Prior Common Units,” which Units shall be deemed to be Common Units for purposes of the applicable Prior Equity Incentive Plan and Exhibit C of the Prior Operating Agreement.

 

(b)           The Members acknowledge and agree that as a result of the recapitalization of the Company effected by this Agreement, the Unreturned Face Amount (as defined in the Prior Operating Agreement) of all Preferred Units for purposes of the repurchase provisions of the Prior Operating Agreement shall be zero dollars.

 

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(c)           Notwithstanding Section 12.1 , an Employee Member shall have no rights (including Voting Rights) under this Agreement other than rights under Section 5.10 with respect to the Class A Units held by such Employee Member.

 

3.3.         Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units .

 

(a)           The Managing Member is authorized to (i) create additional classes of Units or create any Capital Stock, (ii) subdivide the Units or Capital Stock of any such class into one or more series, (iii) fix the designations, powers, preferences and rights of the Units or Capital Stock of each such class or series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, and (iv) subject to Article XII , amend this Agreement to reflect such actions and the resulting designations, powers, and relative preferences and rights of all the classes and series thereafter authorized under this Agreement; provided that the Managing Member shall not issue additional Units or issue any Capital Stock to any Person other than the Managing Member without the approval of BlackRock Member or Highfields Member so long as such Member holds any Class A Units.

 

(b)           The authority of the Managing Member with respect to each such class and series created in accordance with this Section 3.3 shall include establishing the following: (i) the number of Units or securities constituting that class or series and the distinctive designation thereof, (ii) whether or not that class or series shall have Voting Rights and, if so, the terms of such Voting Rights, (iii) whether or not the Units or securities of such class or series shall be redeemable, and if so, the terms and conditions of such redemption, including the date or dates upon or after which they shall be redeemable and the amount per Unit or security payable in case of redemption, which amount may vary under different conditions and at different redemption dates, (iv) the rights and preferences of the Units or securities of that class or series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, (v) the relative rights of priority, if any, of allocations of income or loss or of payment with respect to Units or securities of that class or series and (vi) any other relative rights, preferences and limitation of that class or series.

 

(c)           At any time that the Managing Member issues a share of Class A Common Stock or a share of other Capital Stock of the Managing Member (other than Class B Common Stock and other than Class A Common Stock issued in connection with an Exchange (as defined in the Exchange Agreement)) for cash or other consideration, the net proceeds received by the Managing Member with respect to such share, if any, shall be concurrently transferred to the Company and, (i) with respect to issuances of Class A Common Stock, the Company shall issue to the Managing Member, for each share of Class A Common Stock issued, a number of Class A Units registered in the name of the Managing Member that is equal to the Exchange Ratio, or (ii) with respect to issuances of Capital Stock of the Managing Member (other than Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock), the Company shall issue to the Managing Member, for each such share of such Capital Stock issued by the Managing Member, one (1) unit of Capital Stock of the Company registered in the name of the Managing Member on substantially equivalent terms.

 

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(d)           Any issuance of Units to the Managing Member other than pursuant to Section 3.1(c)  or Section 3.3(c)  (a “ Dilutive Issuance ”) shall be at a purchase price equal to the Fair Market Value of such Unit; provided , however , that with respect to any Dilutive Issuance of Class A Units, the Fair Market Value shall be equal to (i) the average of the closing prices of the Class A Common Stock for each of the consecutive ten (10) trading days ended on the second Business Day prior to such issuance of Units, multiplied by (ii) the then-applicable Exchange Ratio.

 

(e)           So long as a Sponsor Member holds at least three percent (3%) of the number of Class A Units outstanding immediately following the closing of the IPO and related purchase of Class A Units by the Managing Member with the proceeds therefrom, the Company shall not make any Dilutive Issuance of any Units other than Class A Units to the Managing Member , and so long as a Sponsor Member holds any Class A Units, the Company shall not make any Dilutive Issuance of any Units to the Managing Member if such issuance, together with all other such issuances made during the 365 day period ending on the date of such issuance, would cause the percentage of Class A Units (together with all other common equity securities of the Company) held by all Members other than the Managing Member to decrease by more than 0.5% during such period (ignoring, for the purposes of this calculation, Units purchased by Members pursuant to the following sentence).  Concurrently with each Dilutive Issuance, each Member shall have the right to purchase, at the same price and on the same terms on which the Managing Member is purchasing Units in such Dilutive Issuance, up to (at the discretion of such Member) such number of the same type of Units as would be necessary for such Member to beneficially own the same percentage of all such Units outstanding immediately after such Dilutive Issuance as such Member beneficially owned immediately prior to such Dilutive Issuance.

 

3.4.         Member’s Interest . A Member’s Units shall for all purposes be personal property. A Member has no interest in specific Company property.

 

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

 

(a)           Units shall not be certificated unless otherwise determined by the Managing Member.  If the Managing Member 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 Managing Member, representing the number of Units held by such holder. Such certificate shall be in such form (and shall contain such legends) as the Managing Member 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.

 

(b)           If Units are certificated, the Managing Member 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 Managing Member of an affidavit of the owner or owners of such certificate, setting forth such allegation. The Managing Member may require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the

 

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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 Managing Member may prescribe such additional rules and regulations as it may deem appropriate relating to the issue, Transfer and registration of Units.

 

3.6.         Transfer Agent, Exchange Agent and Registrar . The Managing Member may appoint one or more transfer agents, one or more exchange agents and one or more registrars, and may require all certificates representing one or more Units, if any to bear the signature of any such transfer agents, exchange agents or registrars.

 

3.7.         Interest as a Security . An Interest in the Company shall constitute a security for all purposes of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code promulgated by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, as in effect in Delaware or any other applicable jurisdiction. Delaware law shall constitute the local law of the Company’s jurisdiction in its capacity as the issuer of Interests.

 

3.8.         Spousal Consent . Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, except as otherwise determined by the Managing Member, it shall be a condition precedent for admittance (and continued admittance) of any natural person as a Member of the Company that the spouse of such natural person, if any, execute and deliver to the Company a spousal consent in the form provided by the Managing Member.

 

Article IV
Capital Contributions; Capital Accounts

 

4.1.         Capital Contributions .  The Schedule of Members sets forth the Capital Contribution made by each Member as of the Effective Date.  Subject to Section 3.3(c) , no Member shall be required to make any additional Capital Contributions without such Member’s consent.

 

4.2.         No Interest on Capital Contributions . Members shall not be paid interest on their Capital Contributions or amounts attributable to their respective Capital Accounts.

 

4.3.         Return of Capital Contributions . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Member shall have the right to receive the return of any Capital Contribution until the Company has been dissolved or terminated, and then only in accordance with Section 10.2 .

 

4.4.         Redemption of Class A Common Stock .  If, at any time, any shares of Class A Common Stock are redeemed (whether by exercise of a put or call, automatically, through a repurchase or by means of another arrangement) by the Managing Member for cash, the

 

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Company shall, unless the Managing Member elects to instead allow such redemption to result in an adjustment of the Exchange Rate (as defined in the Exchange Agreement) pursuant to Section 2.2(b) of the Exchange Agreement, immediately prior to or concurrently with such redemption of Class A Common Stock, redeem a number of Class A Units held by the Managing Member equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock so redeemed multiplied by the Exchange Ratio, upon the same terms and for the same aggregate price, as such shares of Class A Common Stock are redeemed.

 

4.5.         Withdrawal of Funds or Loans .

 

(a)           No Member shall be permitted to make a loan to the Company without the prior approval of the Managing Member. Any loan made by a Member to the Company shall not be considered a Capital Contribution, shall not result in any increase in the amount of the Capital Account of such Member, and the amounts of any such loan shall be returned to the Member in accordance with the terms of such loan.

 

(b)           Without the prior approval of the Managing Member, no Member shall be entitled to borrow or withdraw any amount from the Company.

 

4.6.         Capital Accounts .

 

(a)           A separate Capital Account shall be maintained for each Member on the books of the Company, and adjustments to such Capital Accounts shall be made as follows:

 

(i)            A Member’s Capital Account shall be credited with any amounts of money contributed by the Member to the Company, the Fair Market Value of any other property contributed to the Company (net of liabilities secured by the property that the Company is considered to assume or take subject to under Section 752 of the Code), the amount of any Company liabilities assumed by the Member (other than liabilities that are secured by any Company Property distributed to such Member), and the Member’s allocable share of any Net Income and items of income or gain specially allocated to that Member; and

 

(ii)           A Member’s Capital Account shall be debited with the amount of money distributed to the Member, the Fair Market Value of other Company Property distributed to the Member (net of liabilities secured by such property that the Member is considered to assume or take subject to under Section 752 of the Code), the amount of any liabilities of the Member assumed by the Company (other than liabilities that are secured by property contributed by such Members), and the Member’s allocable share of Net Losses and items of loss, expense, or deduction specially allocated to that Member.

 

(b)           Upon the Transfer of Units after the Effective Date, so much of the Capital Account of the Transferor Member as is attributable to the Transferred Interest will be carried over to the Transferee Member.

 

(c)           The foregoing provisions of this Section 4.6 and Sections 5.1 through 5.7 are intended to comply with Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) of the Regulations and

 

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shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such Regulations. If the Managing Member, with the advice of the Company’s tax advisors, shall determine that it is prudent to modify the manner in which the Capital Accounts are computed in order to comply with Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) of the Regulations, the Managing Member may make such modification; provided that the Members are notified in writing of such modification prior to its effective date; provided , further , that the Managing Member shall have no liability to any Member for any exercise of or failure to exercise any such discretion to make any modifications permitted under this Section 4.6 .

 

Article V
Allocations and Distributions

 

5.1.         Allocations of Net Income and Net Losses . Except as otherwise provided in Sections 5.2 through 5.7 , Net Income and Net Losses for any Fiscal Year (or other applicable period) shall be allocated among the Members in a manner such that the Economic Capital Account of each Member, immediately after giving effect to such allocation, is, as nearly as possible, equal (proportionately) to the amount of the distributions that would be made to such Member during such Fiscal Year (or other applicable period) pursuant to Section 5.10(a) , based on the assumptions that (i) the Company is dissolved and terminated, (ii) its affairs are wound-up and each asset of the Company is sold for cash equal to its book value (as maintained by the Company for purposes of, and as maintained pursuant to, the capital account maintenance provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)), (iii) all Company liabilities are satisfied (limited with respect to each nonrecourse liability to the book value of the asset(s) securing such liability), (iv) the net assets of the Company are distributed in accordance with Section 5.10(a)  to the Members immediately after giving effect to such allocation (taking into account distributions made during such Fiscal Year or other applicable period), and (v) for purposes of applying this Section 5.1 , all unvested Units are vested.

 

5.2.         Book/Tax Disparities . For federal income tax purposes and Section 1.704-3 of the Regulations, items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit shall be allocated in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 704(c) of the Code to take into account the difference between the “book value” of such property and its adjusted tax basis. Subject to Section 11.5(a) , the method under Section 704(c) of the Code and the Regulations thereunder shall be determined by the Managing Member.

 

5.3.         Allocation of Nonrecourse Deductions . Nonrecourse deductions, within the meaning of Section 1.704-2(b)(1) of the Regulations and as determined under Section 1.704-2(d) of the Regulations, shall be allocated to the Members in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

 

5.4.         Allocation of Partner Nonrecourse Deductions . Any “partner nonrecourse deductions,” within the meaning of Section 1.704-2(i) of the Regulations, shall be allocated to the Members as provided in Section 1.704-2(i) of the Regulations in accordance with the ratios in which they bear the economic risk of loss under Section 1.752-2 of the Regulations for the Member Nonrecourse Debt to which such partner nonrecourse deductions relate.

 

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5.5.         Minimum Gain Chargeback . If there is a net decrease in the Company’s Minimum Gain during a taxable year of the Company, the minimum gain chargeback described in Sections 1.704-2(f) and (g) of the Regulations shall apply.

 

5.6.         Member Minimum Gain Chargeback . Except as otherwise required by Section 1.704-2(i)(4) of the Regulations, if there is a net decrease in Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain, any Member with a share of that Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain (determined under Section 1.704-2(i)(5) of the Regulations) as of the beginning of the year must be allocated items of income and gain for the year (and, if necessary, for succeeding years) equal to that Member’s share of such net decrease in accordance with Section 1.704-2(i) of the Regulations.

 

5.7.         Qualified Income Offset . To the extent required by Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) of the Regulations, income of the Company shall be allocated, after the allocations required by Sections 5.5 and 5.6 but before any other allocation required by this Article V , to the Members with deficit balances in their Adjusted Capital Accounts in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate such deficit balances as quickly as possible. This Section 5.7 is intended to satisfy the provisions of Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) of the Regulations and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

5.8.         Excess Nonrecourse Liabilities . Pursuant to, and to the extent relevant under, Section 1.752-3(a)(3) of the Regulations, Members’ interests in the Company profits for purposes of determining the Members’ proportionate shares of the excess nonrecourse liabilities (as defined in Section 1.752-3(a)(3) of the Regulations) of the Company shall be determined in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

 

5.9.         Allocations and Distributions to Transferred Interests .

 

(a)           If any Units in the Company are Transferred, increased or decreased during a Fiscal Year, all items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit recognized by the Company for such Fiscal Year shall be allocated among the Members to take into account their varying interests during the Fiscal Year in any manner approved by the Managing Member, as then permitted by the Code.

 

(b)           Distributions under Sections 5.10 and 10.2 shall be made only to Members and assignees that, according to the books and records of the Company, are Members or assignees on the actual date of distribution. Neither the Company nor the Managing Member shall incur any liability for making distributions in accordance with this Section 5.9(b) .

 

5.10.       Distributions .

 

(a)           Distributions shall be made to the Members, after distributions are made pursuant to Section 5.10(b) , as and when determined by the Managing Member in its sole discretion, in accordance with their respective then-outstanding Percentage Interests; provided that any distributions pursuant to this Section 5.10(a)  (but not Section 5.10(b) ) otherwise payable to any holders of unvested Units shall be withheld and set aside to be payable to any such holder if (and only if) and when such issued but unvested Units vest,

 

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and if (and only if) such Units are forfeited, the amounts so set aside with respect to such forfeited Units shall be available for distribution to the Members in proportion to their then-outstanding Percentage Interests.

 

(b)           Tax Distributions .

 

(i)            Subject to Section 5.12 and the terms of any credit, financing and warehousing or similar agreement entered into in compliance with the terms of this Agreement, no later than the tenth (10th) day following the end of each Quarterly Estimated Tax Period of each calendar year, the Company shall, to the extent of available cash of the Company, make a distribution in cash (each, a “ Tax Distribution ”), pro rata in accordance with the Percentage Interests in effect with respect to such Quarterly Estimated Tax Period, in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the product of (x) the taxable income of the Company attributable to such Quarterly Estimated Tax Period and all prior Quarterly Estimated Tax Periods in such calendar year, based upon (I) the information returns filed by the Company, as amended or adjusted to date, and (II) estimated amounts, in the case of periods for which the Company has not yet filed information returns, multiplied by (y) the Assumed Tax Rate, over (ii) distributions made by the Company pursuant to this Section 5.10(b)  with respect to such calendar year.  The Managing Member shall use conventions similar to those adopted pursuant to Section 5.9(a)  to determine the Percentage Interests of the Members with respect to a Quarterly Estimated Tax Period for purposes of applying this Section 5.10(b) .  For purposes of the computations required by clause (i)(x) above, the taxable income of the Company shall be determined by disregarding any adjustment to the taxable income of any Member that arises under Section 743(b) of the Code and is attributable to the acquisition by such Member of an interest in the Company in a transaction described in Section 743(a) of the Code.  For the avoidance of doubt, Tax Distributions shall be made to all Members in respect to the Units that they hold, including on account of unvested Class A Units..

 

(ii)           Tax Distributions pursuant to this Section 5.10(b) , if any, shall be made in respect of a Quarterly Estimated Tax Period only to the extent that all previous distributions from the Company in respect of the applicable Fiscal Year (as determined by the Managing Member) to such Member are less than the Tax Distributions that such Member would otherwise be entitled to receive for such Quarterly Estimated Tax Period and all prior Quarterly Estimated Tax Periods during such Fiscal Year pursuant to Section 5.10(b)(i).

 

(iii)          Neither the Managing Member nor the Company shall take any action or enter into any agreement that has the effect of limiting the Company’s ability to make distributions under this Section 5.10(b) , other than pursuant to credit, financing, warehousing or similar agreements that only prohibit or restrict the ability to make distributions under this Section 5.10(b)  (x) upon the occurrence of a default or event of default or (y) where the making of such distributions would result in a default or event of default (other than a default or event of default resulting solely from the breach of a covenant that prevents the making of such distributions other than upon the existence of, or where such distribution would result in, a separate default or event of default) on the

 

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making of such distribution, without the consent of BlackRock Member or Highfields Member so long as such Member holds any Class A Units.

 

(c)           Tax Withholding . To the extent the Company is required by applicable Law to withhold or to make tax payments on behalf of or with respect to any Member (“ Tax Advances ”), the Managing Member is hereby authorized to withhold such amounts and make such tax payments as so required. All amounts withheld pursuant to applicable Law with respect to any Member (and not paid to the Company by such Member pursuant to the immediately following sentence) shall be treated as distributed to such Member pursuant to Section 5.10(a)  or Section 5.10(b) , as reasonably determined by the Managing Member, for all purposes of this Agreement and shall reduce amounts such Member would otherwise be entitled to receive under Section 5.10(a)  or Section 5.10(b) , as applicable. To the extent that at any time any such withheld amounts exceeds the distributions that such Member would have received but for such withholding, such Member shall, upon demand by the Company, as determined by the Managing Member, promptly pay to the Company the amount of such excess. Each Member hereby agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the other Members from and against any liability (including any liability for taxes, penalties, additions to tax or interest) with respect to income attributable to or distributions or other payments to such Member.

 

(d)           Conventions and Special Rules .  For purposes of calculating allocations for GAAP book purposes and amounts to be distributed under Section 5.10 , all Units shall participate in allocations for GAAP book purposes and distributions of such income only for each interim fiscal period that such Units were outstanding at the end of such interim fiscal period (it being understood that the forfeiture of any Units to or buy back of any Units by the Company shall mark the beginning of a new fiscal period and amounts payable with respect to Units redeemed by the Company shall be determined as the amount payable if such Units were redeemed by the Company as of the last day of the month immediately prior to the date of the redemption), and such obligation shall continue even as to a Person who ceases to be a Member.

 

5.11.       Distributions In-Kind . If any distribution of the Company’s assets is to be made in-kind, as determined by the Managing Member, such assets shall be valued on the basis of their Fair Market Value. No Member shall be entitled to the distribution of any specific Company Property, and the Managing Member may liquidate any Company property, within its sole discretion, for the purpose of making a cash distribution in lieu of an in-kind distribution.

 

5.12.       Restricted Distributions . Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not make a distribution to any Member on account of such Member’s Interest in the Company if such distribution would violate Section 18-607 of the Act or other applicable Law.

 

5.13.       No Recourse .  Each Member shall look solely to the assets of the Company for all distributions with respect to the Company and shall have no recourse, upon dissolution or otherwise, against any Member or the Managing Member, except to the extent provided in this Agreement.

 

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Article VI
Exculpation; Indemnification

 

6.1.         Exculpation and Indemnification .

 

(a)           Liability . Except as otherwise provided by the non-waivable provisions of the 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 Covered Person shall be obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Company solely by reason of being a Covered Person.

 

(b)           Exculpation . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, no Covered Person shall be liable to the Company or any other Person who has an interest in or claim against the Company for any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Covered Person in good faith on behalf of the Company and in a manner reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such Covered Person by this Agreement; provided that a Covered Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of (i) acts or omissions by such Covered Person not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of Law, or (ii) any transaction from which such Covered Person derived an improper personal benefit. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 6.1 shall not exculpate a Member from a breach of this Agreement by such Member or any other agreement between such Member and the Company or any Affiliates of the Company.

 

(c)           Advancement of Expenses . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees, disbursements, fines and amounts paid in settlement) incurred by a Covered Person defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding for which the indemnification provisions under this Section 6.1 are applicable shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Company prior to the final disposition of such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding upon receipt by the Company of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Covered Person to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized by this Article VI .

 

(d)           Indemnification . In addition to the advancement of expenses pursuant to Section 6.1(c) , to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the Company agrees to indemnify, pay and hold each Covered Person harmless from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, claims, costs, expenses and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any interest and penalties, out-of-pocket expenses and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for such Covered Person in connection with any investigative, administrative or judicial proceedings, whether or not such Covered Person shall be designated a party thereto), whether absolute, accrued, conditional or otherwise and whether or not resulting from third party claims (collectively, “ Indemnifiable Losses ”), which may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against any such Covered Person, in any manner relating to or arising out of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Covered Person on behalf of the Company; provided that no Covered Person shall be entitled to be indemnified in respect of

 

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any Indemnifiable Losses incurred by such Covered Person by reason of (i) acts or omissions by such Covered Person not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of Law, or (ii) any transaction from which such Covered Person derived an improper personal benefit; provided , further , that any indemnity payment under this Section 6.1(d)  shall be provided out of and to the extent of Company assets only (including available insurance), and no Member shall have any personal liability on account thereof.  For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 6.1(d)  shall not provide indemnification to a Member resulting from a breach of this Agreement by such Member or any other agreement between such Member and the Company or any Affiliates of the Company or with respect to any action or proceeding brought by such Covered Person against the Company, its Members, Affiliates or officers without the consent of the Managing Member (other than a proceeding to enforce the rights of such Covered Person under Section 6.1 ).

 

(e)           Good Faith Reliance . A Covered Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Company and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Company by any Person as to matters the Covered Person reasonably believes are within such other Person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which distributions to the Members might properly be paid.

 

(f)            Severability . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, if any portion of this Section 6.1 shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Company shall nevertheless indemnify each Covered Person and may indemnify each employee or agent of the Company as to costs, charges and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including an action by or in the right of the Company, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law.

 

(g)           Survival . The provisions of this Section 6.1 shall survive any termination of this Agreement and shall continue as to a Person who has ceased to be a Covered Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns of such Covered Person.

 

(h)           Indemnification Not Exclusive . The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Section 6.1 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which a Covered Person may be entitled at Law or in equity, including common law rights to indemnification or contribution (if any). Nothing in this Section 6.1 shall affect the rights or obligations of any Covered Person (or the limitations on those rights or obligations) under any other agreement or instrument to which such Covered Person is a party.

 

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(i)            Primacy of Indemnification; Subrogation .

 

(i)            The Company hereby acknowledges that certain Covered Persons have certain rights to indemnification or insurance provided by the Sponsors Members and certain of their Affiliates (collectively, the “ Fund Indemnitors ”). The Company hereby agrees that it is the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to each Covered Person are primary and those of the Fund Indemnitors are secondary), it shall be liable for the full amount of all Indemnifiable Losses to the extent legally permitted and that it irrevocably waives any claims against the Fund Indemnitors for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. The Company further agrees that no advancement or payment by the Fund Indemnitors on behalf of any Covered Person with respect to any claim for which such Covered Person has sought indemnification from the Company shall affect the foregoing and the Fund Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution or be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of such Covered Person against the Company.

 

(ii)           Except as provided in paragraph (i) above, in the event of any payment of Indemnifiable Losses under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of contribution or recovery of the Covered Person against other persons (other than the Fund Indemnitors), and the Covered Person shall take, at the request of the Company, all reasonable action necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

6.2.         Corporate Opportunities .

 

(a)           Certain Acknowledgment .  In recognition and anticipation that: (i) the partners, principals, directors, officers, members, managers or employees of BlackRock Members and the Highfields Members and their respective Affiliates may serve as directors or officers of the Managing Member, (ii) the BlackRock Members and the Highfields Members and their respective Affiliates may engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Managing Member, the Company or the Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, may engage or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Managing Member, the Company or the Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, may engage, and (iii) the Company and the Subsidiaries may engage in material business transactions with BlackRock Members and the Highfields Members and their respective Affiliates, the provisions of this Section 6.2 are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Company with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities as they may involve BlackRock Members and the Highfields Members and their respective Affiliates and their respective directors, officers, members, managers or employees, and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Company and its officers, directors and Members in connection therewith.

 

(b)           Competition and Corporate Opportunities .  The BlackRock Members and Highfields Members and their respective Affiliates shall not have any duty (fiduciary or otherwise) to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Managing Member, the Company or the Subsidiaries.  In the event that BlackRock Members or Highfields Members or any of their respective

 

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Affiliates acquire knowledge of a potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for itself and the Managing Member, the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, neither the Company, the Subsidiaries nor the Members shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have any expectancy in such corporate opportunity, and none of the BlackRock Members, the Highfields Members or any of their respective Affiliates shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have any duty to communicate or offer such corporate opportunity to the Company, any of the Subsidiaries or the Members and may pursue or acquire such corporate opportunity for itself or direct such corporate opportunity to another Person unless such corporate opportunity is expressly offered to such Person in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Company or the Managing Member.

 

(c)           Allocation of Corporate Opportunities .  In the event that a director or officer of the Managing Member or the Company who is also a partner, principal, director, officer, member, manager or employee of a BlackRock Member or a Highfields Member or any of their respective Affiliates acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for the Managing Member, the Company or any of the Subsidiaries and a BlackRock Member or a Highfields Member or any of their respective Affiliates, neither the Company, the Subsidiaries or any Member shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have any expectancy in such corporate opportunity unless such corporate opportunity is expressly offered to such person in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Company or the Managing Member.

 

(d)           Certain Matters Deemed Not Corporate Opportunities .  In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.2 , a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to belong to the Managing Member or the Company, respectively, if it is a business opportunity that the Managing Member or the Company, respectively, is not contractually permitted or legally able to undertake, or that is, from its nature, not in the line of the Managing Member’s or the Company’s respective businesses or that is one in which the Managing Member or the Company, respectively, has no interest or reasonable expectancy.

 

(e)           Renouncement .  In connection with the foregoing, the Managing Member and the Company renounce any interest or expectancy in, or being offered an opportunity to participate in, the business opportunities not allocated to the Managing Member or the Company or deemed to belong to the Managing Member or the Company as set forth in this Section 6.2 .

 

6.3.         Duties .

 

(a)           Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (other than Section 6.3(b)) or any duty otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, the parties hereby agree that the Members, shall, to the maximum extent permitted by law, including Section 18-1101(c) of the Act, owe no duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Company, the other Members or any other Person who is a party to or otherwise bound by this Agreement; provided that nothing contained in this Section 6.3 shall eliminate the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing.  To the extent that, at law or in equity, any Member has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the

 

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Company, to another Member or to another Person who is a party to or otherwise bound by this Agreement, the Members acting under this Agreement will not be liable to the Company, to any such other Member or to any such other Person who is a party to or otherwise bound by this Agreement, for their good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement.  The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict or eliminate the duties and liabilities relating thereto of any Member otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise, are agreed by the parties hereto to replace to that extent such other duties and liabilities of the Members relating thereto.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding Section 6.3(a) , the Managing Member shall owe fiduciary duties to the Company and the other Members of the type owed by directors of a Delaware corporation pursuant to the laws of the State of Delaware, and shall be entitled to the exceptions and protections afforded to the directors, in each case by Delaware statutory and common law (including Section 141(e) of the Delaware General Corporate Law).  For the avoidance of doubt, the Managing Member shall be deemed to act through the actions of its directors, officers and employees.

 

6.4.         D&O Insurance . The Company shall at all times maintain or cause to be maintained a customary “directors’ and officers’ insurance” policy in respect of the Covered Persons who are directors, officers or managers of the Company or the Managing Member in a face amount determined by the Managing Member.

 

Article VII
Board and Officers

 

7.1.         Management of the Company .

 

(a)           Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the business, property and affairs of the Company shall be managed under the sole, absolute and exclusive direction of the Managing Member, which may from time to time delegate authority to officers or to others to act on behalf of the Company.  Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.1(a)  and subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Managing Member shall have the sole power to manage or cause the management of the Company, including 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.  Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, in all matters relating to or arising out of the conduct of the operation of the Company, the decision of the Managing Member shall be the decision of the Company.  The Managing Member shall conduct all of its business activities through the Company and the Subsidiaries.

 

(b)           The Managing Member is an agent of the Company for the purpose of its business, and any act of the Managing Member, or any officer or employee to whom the Managing Member has delegated such authority, taken in its or his capacity as such, including the execution in the name and on behalf of the Company of any contract,

 

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agreement or instrument or the making in the name and on behalf of the Company of any expenditures or the incurrence in the name and on behalf of the Company of any indebtedness shall bind the Company unless such act is in contravention of the Certificate of Formation or this Agreement or unless the Managing Member or such other Person otherwise lacks the authority to act for the Company in respect of such matter and the Person with whom the Managing Member or such other Person is dealing has knowledge of the fact that it or he does not have such authority.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, as long as BlackRock Member or Highfields Member holds any Class A Units, the Company shall not (i) enter into any transaction with the Managing Member (other than the issuance of Units by the Company to the Managing Member as contemplated under Section 3.1(c)  or Section 3.3 or as otherwise contemplated under this Agreement) or (ii) convert the legal form of the Company into a corporation, in each case, without the consent of BlackRock Member and Highfields Member, as applicable, so long as such Sponsor Member holds any Class A Units.

 

7.2.         Officers .

 

(a)           Designation and Appointment .  The Managing Member may, from time to time, employ and retain Persons as the Managing Member deems necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the Company’s business, including employees, agents and other Persons (any of whom may be a Member) who may be designated as officers of the Company, with such titles as and to the extent authorized by the Managing Member.  Any number of offices may be held by the same Person.  In its discretion, the Managing Member may choose not to fill any office for any period as it may deem advisable.  Officers need not be residents of the State of Delaware or Members.  Any officers so designated shall have such authority and perform such duties as the Managing Member may from time to time delegate to them.  Unless otherwise determined by the Managing Member, officers shall have such authority and perform such duties that a person holding the comparable office in a Delaware corporation customarily has.  Each officer shall hold office until his successor shall be duly designated and qualified or until his death or until he shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided.  The salaries or other compensation, if any, of the officers of the Company shall be fixed from time to time by the Managing Member.  Designation of an officer shall not of itself create any right of employment.

 

(b)           Resignation and Removal .  Any officer may resign as such at any time.  Such resignation shall be made in writing and shall take effect at the time specified therein, or if no time is specified, at the time of its receipt by the Managing Member.  The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective, unless expressly so provided in the resignation.  All employees, agents and officers shall be subject to the supervision and direction of the Managing Member and may be removed, with or without cause, from such office by the Managing Member and the authority, duties or responsibilities of any employee, agent or officer may be suspended by or altered the Managing Member from time to time, in each case in the discretion of the Managing Member.

 

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(c)           Duties of Officers .  The officers, in the performance of their duties as such, shall owe to the Company and the Members fiduciary duties of the type owed by officers of a Delaware corporation pursuant to the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

7.3.         Certain Costs and Expenses .  The Company shall (i) pay, or cause to be paid, (A) all costs, fees, operating expenses and other expenses of the Company (including the costs, fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants or other professionals and the compensation of all personnel providing services to the Company) incurred in pursuing and conducting, or otherwise related to, the activities of the Company, (B) all costs, fees or expenses incurred by the Managing Member in connection with the IPO, other than the payment obligations of the Managing Member under the Tax Receivable Agreement (which, for purposes of clarity, shall not include the costs to administer the Tax Receivable Agreement but shall include the costs, if any, incurred in connection with any dispute that arises under the Tax Receivable Agreement) and the income, or similar franchise, tax obligations of the Managing Member, and (ii) bear or reimburse the Managing Member for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by it in connection with serving as the Managing Member.  To the extent that the Managing Member determines in good faith that such expenses are related to the business and affairs of the Company or the Subsidiaries (including expenses that relate to the business and affairs of the Company or the Subsidiaries and that also relate to other activities of the Managing Member), the Managing Member may cause the Company to pay or bear all expenses of the Managing Member, including costs of securities offerings not borne directly by Members, board of directors compensation and meeting costs, cost of periodic reports to its stockholders, litigation costs and damages arising from litigation, accounting and legal costs and franchise taxes, provided that the Company shall not pay or bear any income tax obligations of the Managing Member.

 

7.4.         Negative Covenants . Neither the Company, the Managing Member, nor any officer, employee, agent or representative of the Company, shall take any action, or omit to take action, the result of which would, or would reasonably be likely, to cause the Company to be in violation of any provision of the Bank Holding Company Act.

 

Article VIII
Members

 

8.1.         Limitations . Subject to the terms of this Agreement, no Member who is not also the Managing Member, in its capacity as such, shall participate in or have any control over the business of the Company. Except as required law or by separate agreement with the Company, no Member who is not also the Managing Member (and acting in such capacity) shall have any right, authority or power to act for or on behalf of or bind the Company in its capacity as a Member in any respect or assume any obligation or responsibility of the Company or of any other Member.

 

8.2.         No Voting Rights .  Except as set forth in Section 3.3(a) , Section 5.10(b)(vi)  and Section 12.1 , no Member who is not also the Managing Member shall have any right to vote on any matter involving the Company.  In no manner limiting the foregoing, the Members acknowledge that no Member shall be permitted to vote on the removal or replacement of the Managing Member.  Notwithstanding anything in this Section 8.2 to the contrary, in no event shall any Employee Member have any right to vote, consent or approve under this Agreement.

 

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8.3.         Liability . Subject to the provisions of the Act, and except as set forth herein, no Member shall be personally liable for any obligations or liabilities of the Company or any other Member solely by reason of being a Member.   Prior to the dissolution and winding up of the Company, no Member may resign or withdraw from the Company without the consent of the Managing Member except pursuant to a Transfer in accordance with Article IX.

 

8.4.         Meetings of Members and Voting .

 

(a)           Call of a Meeting . A meeting of the Members entitled to vote on any matter for which voting is permitted hereunder as provided in Section 8.2 may be called at any time by the Managing Member or by a BlackRock Member or Highfields Member provided that such Member holds Class A Units representing at least five percent (5%) of the Class A Units outstanding immediately following the closing of the IPO and related purchase of Class A Units by the Managing Member with the proceeds therefrom.

 

(b)           Notice . Meetings of the Members shall be held at the Company’s principal place of business or at any other place, within or without the State of Delaware, designated by the Managing Member. In the alternative, meetings may be held by conference telephone; provided that each of the Members participating can hear the others. Not less than ten (10) nor more than thirty (30) days before each meeting, the Person(s) validly calling the meeting shall give notice of the meeting to each Member entitled to vote at the meeting. The notice shall state the time, place and purpose(s) of the meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, each Member who is entitled to notice waives notice if, before or after the meeting, the Member signs a waiver of notice which is then filed among the records of Members’ meetings, or the Member is present at the meeting in person or by proxy, other than for the express limited purpose of objecting to the notice provided. Each meeting of Members shall be conducted by such Person as the Members may designate by a majority vote of the Members having Voting Rights attending the meeting.

 

(c)           Quorum . Unless this Agreement provides otherwise, at a meeting of Members entitled to vote on any matter, a quorum is constituted by the presence, in person or by proxy, of Members holding a majority of the then outstanding vested Class A Units that have Voting Rights, which majority shall include the Class A Units held by each Sponsor Member so long as such Sponsor Member holds at least five percent (5%) of the Class A Units outstanding immediately following the closing of the IPO and related purchase of Class A Units by the Managing Member with the proceeds therefrom; provided that all of the Class A Units held by a Sponsor Member shall be deemed to be present at such meeting if holders of a majority of the Class A Units held by such Sponsor Member are present at such meeting.

 

(d)           Proxies . Each Member may authorize any Person to act for such Member by proxy on all matters in which a Member is entitled to participate, including waiving notice of any meeting, or voting or participating at a meeting. Every proxy must be signed by the Member or such Member’s attorney-in-fact. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of three (3) years from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the Member executing it unless otherwise

 

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provided in such proxy; provided , that such right to revocation shall not invalidate or otherwise affect actions taken under such proxy prior to such revocation.

 

(e)           Voting . If the Managing Member has fixed a record date, each Member holding vested Class A Units is entitled to one (1) vote for each vested Class A Unit outstanding in such Member’s name at the close of business on such record date provided such votes shall be subject to Section 8.2 .  If no record date has been so fixed, then every Member holding such vested Class A Unit shall be entitled to one (1) vote as provided in the preceding sentence for each vested Class A Unit outstanding in such Member’s name on the close of business on (i) the day next preceding the day on which notice of the meeting is given, (ii) for actions taken in lieu of a meeting, the day on which the first consent in respect of the applicable action is executed and delivered to the Company or (iii) if notice is waived, the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.  Such decisions of the Members holding Class A Units within the scope of their authority shall be binding upon the Company, the Managing Member, the officers of the Company and each Member.

 

(f)            Actions Without a Meeting . In lieu of holding a meeting, the Members entitled to vote on any matter may vote or otherwise take action by a written instrument indicating the consent of (i) the Members holding no less than the minimum number of Class A Units required to approve such action at a meeting and (ii) each Sponsor Member if so required under this Agreement for such vote or action; and all Members entitled to vote but not executing the consent shall receive prompt notice after the minimum number of Members holding Class A Units required to approve such action have executed the consent.

 

(g)           Record Date .  Unless a record date has been set by the Managing Member, for the purpose of determining Members entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of Members or any adjournment thereof, the date on which notice of the meeting is mailed shall be the record date for such determination of Members. When a determination of Members entitled to vote at any meeting of Members has been made as provided in this subsection, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof.

 

8.5.         Return of Distribution .  In accordance with the 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 Article V shall be deemed a return of money or other property paid or distributed in violation of the 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 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.  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.

 

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8.6.         Representations and Warranties . Each Member (as to itself only) upon its execution of this Agreement and upon becoming a Member, represents and warrants to the Company and each other Member, individually (on a several and not joint basis), as follows:

 

(a)           such Member has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to become a Member of the Company as provided in this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder as a Member, and the execution, delivery and performance by such Member of this Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary action (including all necessary notices, consents, approvals and filings);

 

(b)           this Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by such Member and constitutes the binding obligation of such Member, enforceable against such Member in accordance with its terms;

 

(c)           the execution, delivery and performance by such Member of this Agreement will not, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, (i) violate any provision of Law to which such Member is subject, (ii) violate any order, judgment, or decree applicable to such Member or (iii) conflict with, or result in a breach or default under, any term or condition of its certificate of incorporation or by-laws, certificate of limited partnership or partnership agreement, certificate of formation or limited liability company agreement, as applicable, or any agreement or other instrument to which such Member is a party, which conflict, breach or default would have a material adverse change in, or effect upon, the financial condition or results of operation on the Member or the Company;

 

(d)           such Member: (i) is acquiring its Interests solely for such Member’s own account for investment and not with a view to resale in connection with any distribution thereof; (ii) agrees not to, directly or indirectly, Transfer any of the Interests (or solicit any offers to buy, purchase or otherwise acquire or take a pledge of any of the Interests) or any interest therein or any rights relating thereto or offer to Transfer, except in compliance with the Securities Act, all applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws and this Agreement; and (iii) acknowledges that any attempt, directly or indirectly, to Transfer, or offer to Transfer, any Interests or any interest therein or any rights relating thereto without complying with the provisions of this Agreement shall be void and of no effect;

 

(e)           such Member acknowledges that: (i) the Interests have not been registered under the Securities Act or qualified under any state securities or “blue sky” laws; (ii) it is not anticipated that there will be any public market for the Interests; (iii) the Interests must be held indefinitely and such Member must continue to bear the economic risk of the investment in the Interests unless the Interests are subsequently registered under the Securities Act and such state laws or an exemption from registration is available; (iv) Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (“ Rule 144 ”) is not presently available with respect to sales of any securities of the Company and the Company has made no covenant to make Rule 144 available and Rule 144 is not anticipated to be available in the foreseeable future; (v) when and if the Interests may be disposed of without registration in reliance upon Rule 144, such disposition can be made, if at all, only in accordance with the terms and conditions of Rule 144 (which may include limitations in the amount of Interests

 

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that may be Transferred) and the provisions of this Agreement; (vi) if the exemption afforded by Rule 144 is not available, public sale of the Interests without registration will require the availability of an exemption under the Securities Act; (vii) restrictive legends shall be placed on any certificate representing the Interests; and (viii) a notation shall be made in the appropriate records of the Company indicating that the Interests are subject to restrictions on transfer and, if the Company should in the future engage the services of a transfer agent, appropriate stop-transfer instructions will be issued to such transfer agent with respect to the Interests;

 

(f)            such Member’s financial situation is such that such Member can afford to: (i) bear the economic risk of holding the Interests for an indefinite period; and (ii) suffer the complete loss of such Member’s investment in the Interests;

 

(g)           such Member:  (i) is familiar with the business and financial condition, properties, operations and prospects of the Company and has been granted the opportunity to ask questions of, and receive answers from, representatives of the Company concerning the Company and the terms and conditions of the acquisition of the Interests and to obtain any additional information that such Member deems necessary to evaluate whether or not to make an investment in the Company; (ii) has the knowledge and experience in financial and business matters (or has relied upon the advice of an advisor who qualifies as a “Purchaser Representative” pursuant to Regulation D of the Securities Act who is not an Affiliate of the Company) to be able to evaluate the merits and risk of the investment in the Interests; and (iii) has carefully reviewed the terms and provisions of this Agreement and has evaluated the restrictions and obligations contained herein and therein;

 

(h)           such Member:  (i) has relied upon such Member’s own independent appraisal and investigation, and the advice of such Member’s own counsel, tax advisors and other advisors, regarding the risks of an investment in the Company; and (ii) will continue to bear sole responsibility for making its own independent evaluation and monitoring of the risks of its investment in the Company;

 

(i)            unless such Member is an Employee Member (solely in respect of such Employee Member’s receipt of Class A Units), such Member is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act and, in connection with the execution of this Agreement, agrees to deliver such certificates to that effect as the Managing Member may request; and

 

(j)            such Member’s principal place of business or principal residence is as set forth on such Member’s signature page hereto.

 

8.7.         No State Law Partnership .

 

(a)           The Members intend that the Company shall not be a partnership (including a limited partnership) or joint venture, and that no Member shall be a partner or joint venturer of any other Member, for any purpose other than federal and state tax purposes, and this Agreement shall not be construed to the contrary. The Members intend that the Company shall be treated as a partnership for federal and, if applicable, state and

 

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local income tax purposes, and 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.

 

(b)           So long as the Company is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, to ensure that Units are not traded on an established securities market within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(b) or readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.7704-1(c), notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,

 

(i)            the Company shall not participate in the establishment of any such market or the inclusion of its Units thereon, and

 

(ii)           the Company shall not recognize any Transfer made on any such market by:

 

(A)          redeeming the Transferor Member (in the case of a redemption or repurchase by the Company); or

 

(B)          admitting the Transferee as a Member or otherwise recognizing any rights of the Transferee, such as a right of the Transferee to receive Company distributions (directly or indirectly) or to acquire an interest in the capital or profits of the Company.

 

8.8.         Additional Members .

 

(a)           Except as otherwise provided herein (including Article IX ), the Company, if approved by the Managing Member, may admit one or more additional Members (each an “ Additional Member ”) to be treated as a “Member” for all purposes under this Agreement.

 

(b)           Each Person shall be admitted as an Additional Member at the time such Person (i) executes a joinder agreement to this Agreement in a form provided by the Managing Member, (ii) except with respect to any Transfer pursuant to Section 9.1(a), complies with any requirements imposed by the Managing Member with respect to such admission and (iii) complies with any other provision of this Agreement applicable to the admittance of a Person as a Member.

 

(c)           Each Additional Member shall have the rights and obligations hereunder as apply generally to holders of the type or types of Units or other Interests issued to such Member.

 

(d)           The Managing Member is authorized (without the consent of any Member) to amend the Schedule of Members and any other relevant provision of this Agreement to reflect any such admission and the Transfer of any such rights.

 

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Article IX
Transfer of Interests

 

9.1.         Restrictions on Transfers of Interests by Members .  No Member (excluding the Managing Member) may Transfer, directly or indirectly, all or any portion of its Interests or any rights therein (economic or otherwise) to any other Person without the prior written consent of the Managing Member, which consent may not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.  Notwithstanding the foregoing:

 

(a)           the prior written consent of the Managing Member shall not be required in connection with a Transfer that is made (i) with respect to any Transfer to the Company or the Managing Member (including pursuant to the Exchange Agreement), (ii) with respect to a Transfer by a BlackRock Member, a Transfer to any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. or an Affiliate of BlackRock, Inc., (iii) with respect to a Transfer by a Highfields Member, a Transfer to a Member or other owner of HC Partners, LLC or an Affiliate of HC Partners, LLC, (iv) with respect to BlackRock Member or Highfields Member, a Transfer to any entity described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code that is a bona fide gift without consideration (a “ Charitable Transfer ”), or (v) at any time six (6) months after the Effective Date, during any time period when the Managing Member is in material breach of its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement or during any period when the Managing Member has delayed the filing of a registration statement or the registration statement is otherwise not available for use pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement ( provided that such Member complies with all confidentiality obligations hereunder with respect to such Transfer); provided that, except as provided in Section 12.1 and except for Transferees that are Blackrock Members or Highfields Members, any such Transferee in any transfer that is the subject of this clause (a) shall acquire Class A Units without Voting Rights and, in all cases, the Transferring Member shall not retain the Voting Rights with respect to such Transferred Units;

 

(b)           with respect to any Management Member, the consent of the Managing Member shall not be unreasonably withheld in connection with Transfers of Units (excluding unvested Units) desired to be made by a Management Member solely for estate planning purposes; and

 

(c)           with respect to any Member to whom a BlackRock Member or Highfields Member Transfers any of its Interests in compliance with this Section 9.1 , the prior written consent of the Managing Member shall not be required in connection with a Transfer to an Affiliate of such Member.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary (including this Section 9.1 ), a Member may not Transfer any unvested Units without the prior consent of the Managing Member, which consent may be withheld in its sole discretion.  To the extent that any Class A Units are Transferred in accordance with this Article IX to a Person that was not an existing Member immediately prior to such Transfer, the Company shall transfer or cause the issuance of one share of Class B Common Stock to such Person effective as of the date of such Transfer.

 

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9.2.         Effect of Assignment . The Company shall, from the effective date of any permitted Transfer of an Interest (or part thereof), thereafter pay all further distributions on account of the Interest (or part thereof) so Transferred to the assignee of such Interest (or part thereof).

 

9.3.         Overriding Provisions .

 

(a)           Any Transfer in violation of this Article IX shall be null and void ab initio , and the provisions of Section 9.2 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 Article IX 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 Managing Member shall promptly amend the Schedule of Members to reflect any permitted Transfer of Interests pursuant to this Article IX .

 

(b)           Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Section 9.1), in no event shall any Member Transfer any Interests 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)           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 note, mortgage, loan agreement or similar instrument or document to which the Company or the Managing Member is a party;

 

(iii)          result in or create a “prohibited transaction” or cause the Company or a Member to be or become a “party in interest”, as such terms are defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or any successor law (“ ERISA ”), or a “disqualified person”, as defined in Section 4975 of the Code, with respect to any “plan,” as defined in Section 3(14) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code; or result in or cause the Company or any Member to be liable for tax under Chapter 42 of the Code;

 

(iv)          be a Transfer to a Person who is not legally competent or who has not achieved his or her majority under applicable Law (excluding trusts for the benefit of minors);

 

(v)           cause the Company or any Member (other than the transferee) to be subject to any excise tax pursuant to Chapter 42A of Subtitle D of the Code;

 

(vi)          cause the Company to be taxed as a corporation pursuant to Section 7704 of the Code;

 

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(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)); or

 

(viii)        occur prior to the 14th day following the Company’s receipt of notice of such Transfer from the transferor, provided that this clause (viii) shall only apply if either (a) the transferor beneficially owns more than 25% of all outstanding Class A Units immediately prior to such Transfer and less than 25% of all outstanding Class A Units immediately following such Transfer, and more than 5% of all outstanding Class A Units would be included in such Transfer, or (b) the Transfer involves greater than 10% of the outstanding Class A Units outstanding, or (c) the Transfer involves the transfer of 5% or more of outstanding Class A Units to a single party, or (d) the Transfer, together with all other Transfers made by such Member less than six months prior to such Transfer, involves 25% or more of the outstanding Class A Units.

 

The Managing Member may, in its sole discretion, waive any of the conditions set forth in clauses (i) through (viii) above or otherwise require that the Member Transferring its Interests deliver evidence in form and substance satisfactory to the Managing Member (which may include an opinion of counsel), that Transfer does not violate any of the provisions in clauses (i) through (viii) above.

 

(c)           In connection with any Transfer hereunder, the Member Transferring its Interests shall provide any information reasonably requested by the Managing Member in connection with an election made (or to be made) by the Company pursuant to Section 754 of the Code.

 

9.4.         Substitute Members . Subject to Section 9.1(a)(v) , if a Member Transfers any Interests in compliance with the other provisions of this Agreement, the Transferee shall have the right to become a substitute Member, but only upon satisfaction of the following: (a) execution of such instruments as the Managing Member deems reasonably necessary or desirable to effect such substitution; and (b) acceptance and agreement in writing by the transferee of the Member’s Interest to be bound by all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and assumption of all obligations under this Agreement (including any breaches hereof) applicable to the transferor; provided that such transferee shall not be deemed to assume the obligations of the transferor relating to the period prior to such assignment if such obligations are agreed in writing between the transferor and the transferee to remain the obligations of the transferor and the Managing Member consents in writing to such allocation of obligations.

 

9.5.         Mandatory Exchange .

 

(a)           Subject to the terms and conditions of the Exchange Agreement, the Managing Member may require all Members (other than the Managing Member) holding Class A Units to exchange all such Class A Units held by them pursuant to the Exchange Agreement or, if such Member is not a party to the Exchange Agreement, on terms substantially similar to the Exchange Agreement when no Member (other than the Managing Member) holds a number of outstanding Class A Units greater than three percent (3%) of the number of Class A Units outstanding immediately following the closing of the

 

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IPO and related purchase of Class A Units from the Company by the Managing Member with the proceeds therefrom.

 

(b)           The Managing Member may require all Members (other than the Managing Member) holding Class A Units to exchange all such Class A Units held by them pursuant to the Exchange Agreement or, if such Member is not a party to the Exchange Agreement, on terms substantially similar to the Exchange Agreement in connection with a Change of Control, subject to the terms and conditions of the Exchange Agreement.

 

(c)           If an Employee Member or Management Member ceases (either prior or after the Effective Date) to be employed by, or otherwise engaged to provide services to, the Company or the Subsidiaries for any reason (including because of death or disability), such Member shall exchange all Class A Units (excluding unvested Units or any other Units that are required to be forfeited, canceled or returned to the Company pursuant to the Prior Equity Incentive Plans or any other agreement to which such Member is a party) held by such Member pursuant to the Exchange Agreement or, if such Member is not a party to the Exchange Agreement, on terms substantially similar to the Exchange Agreement.

 

(d)           Notwithstanding anything in this Section 9.5 to the contrary, with respect to any exchange of unvested Units, such unvested Units shall be exchanged for Class A Common Stock or any other Capital Stock of Parent Member on terms determined by the Managing Member in good faith to be reasonably equivalent to such unvested Units, including with respect to vesting and forfeiture.

 

9.6.         Multiple Sponsor Members .

 

(a)           Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if there is more than one BlackRock Member or Highfields Member, then all actions, consents, votes, approvals, waivers or amendments to be taken, given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be taken, given or made by BlackRock Members or Highfields Members, respectively (including in the capacity as a Sponsor Member) by BlackRock Members holding a majority of the Class A Units held in the aggregate by BlackRock Members (other than the BlackRock Charitable Entities), or by Highfields Members holding a majority of the Class A Units held in the aggregate by Highfields Members (other than Highfields Charitable Entities), respectively.  The Company and the Managing Member shall be entitled to rely on any amendment, approval, waiver, amendment, certificate, consent, instructions or other document without inquiry and without requiring substantiating evidence of any kind if executed by either (i) Members holding such majority or (ii) by (A) the BlackRock Designee, or (B) the Highfields Designee, in each case if such designee certifies that the requisite approval of such BlackRock Members or such Highfields Members, respectively, has been obtained.

 

(b)           BlackRock Members hereby appoint Matthew Botein as the “ BlackRock Designee .”  The Person appointed as the BlackRock Designee may be changed upon notice to the Company by BlackRock Mortgage Ventures, LLC or its designee.

 

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(c)           HC Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, shall initially be the “ Highfields Designee .”  The Person acting as the Highfields Designee may be changed upon notice to the Company by HC Partners LLC.

 

Article X
Dissolution, Liquidation, and Termination of the Company

 

10.1.       Events of Dissolution . The Company shall be dissolved and its affairs wound up upon earliest to occur of: (a) the determination of the Managing Member; (b) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution under Section 18-802 of the Act; or (c) any other event which under applicable Law would cause the dissolution of the Company, provided that unless required by applicable Law, the Company shall not be wound up as a result of such event and the business of the Company shall be continued.  The bankruptcy, death, dissolution, expulsion, incapacity or withdrawal of any Member, or the occurrence of any other event that terminates the continued membership of any Member in the Company, shall not cause a dissolution of the Company, and the Company thereafter shall continue in existence subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

10.2.       Procedure for Winding Up and Dissolution . If the Company is dissolved, the Managing Member shall direct the winding up of the Company’s affairs. On winding up of the Company, the assets of the Company shall be distributed in the following order of priority: (a)  first , to pay the costs and expenses of the winding up, liquidation and termination of the Company; (b)  second , to creditors of the Company, including Members who are creditors, to the extent otherwise permitted by applicable Law, in satisfaction of the liabilities of the Company; (c)  third , to establish reserves reasonably adequate to meet any and all contingent or unforeseen liabilities or obligations of the Company (including to purchase customary tail coverage on customary terms for any officers or errors and omissions coverage maintained by the Company as of immediately prior to such dissolution); and (d)  fourth the balance to the Members in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.10(a) .

 

10.3.       Hart Scott Rodino .  Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, in the event the Hart Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “ HSR Act ”), is applicable to any Member by reason of the fact that any assets of the Company will be distributed to such Member in connection with the dissolution of the Company, the distribution of any assets of the Company shall not be consummated until such time as the applicable waiting periods (and extensions thereof) under the HSR Act have expired or otherwise been terminated with respect to each such Member.

 

10.4.       Deficit Capital Accounts . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, and notwithstanding any custom or rule of law to the contrary, to the extent that there exists a deficit in the Capital Account of any Member, upon dissolution of the Company such deficit shall not be an asset of the Company and such Members shall not be obligated to contribute such amount to the Company to bring the balance of such Member’s Capital Account to zero.

 

10.5.       Termination . The Company shall terminate when all assets of the Company have been sold or distributed and all affairs of the Company have been wound up.

 

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10.6.       Filing of Certificate of Cancellation . If the Company is dissolved or terminated, an officer appointed by the Managing Member to act as attorney-in-fact shall promptly file a certificate of cancellation as provided in Section 18-203 of the Act with the Secretary of State. If there is no such officer, then a certificate of cancellation shall be filed by the Managing Member; if there is no Managing Member, the certificate of cancellation shall be filed by the last Person to be a Member; if there are no officers, Managing Member or a Person who last was a Member and is willing to sign, a certificate of cancellation shall be filed by the legal successor or personal representative of the Person who last was a Member.

 

Article XI
Books, Records, Information Rights, Accounting and Tax Matters

 

11.1.       Books and Records .

 

(a)           An officer of the Company, at the direction of the Managing Member, shall keep or cause to be kept separate, complete and accurate books and records of the Company and supporting documentation of the transactions with respect to the Company’s business.  The records shall include, but not be limited to, (i) true and correct information regarding the state of the business and financial condition of the Company and in compliance with past custom and practice, (ii) a copy of the Certificate of Formation and this Agreement and all applicable amendments to the Certificates of Formation and this Agreement, (iii) a current list of the names and last known business, residence or mailing addresses of all Members, (iv) minutes of the meetings of all Members and (v) the Company’s federal, state and local tax returns.

 

(b)           In addition to any other method that the Managing Member may deem appropriate, the books and records shall be maintained in accordance with, and for such length of time as is required by, applicable state and federal tax laws and regulations (including the Regulations under Section 704(b) of the Code). The books and records shall be available at the Company’s principal office for examination by any Member, or any Member’s duly authorized representative, at all reasonable times during normal business hours.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee Members shall not be entitled to review any of the Company’s books and records except as approved by the Managing Member.

 

(c)           Each Member shall reimburse the Company for all costs and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the Member’s inspection and copying of the Company’s books and records.

 

11.2.       Budget . The Company shall prepare a draft budget for the Company’s upcoming Fiscal Year (the “ Budget ”), including projected income statements, cash flows and balance sheets, on a quarterly basis for the ensuing Fiscal Year, together with underlying assumptions and a qualitative description of the Company’s business plan by the Chief Executive Officer in support of the Budget. The Budget will also include the aggregate amount of employee and member compensation. The Company shall provide each Management Member with all such additional information as it may reasonably request in order to evaluate the Budget.  Each of BlackRock Member and Highfields Member shall be entitled to receive, after written request to the Company, those portions of the Budget that they wish to receive.

 

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11.3.       Financial Reports . BlackRock Member and Highfields Member shall be entitled to receive, after written request to the Company specifying the information they wish to receive, the following information from the Company:

 

(a)           Within thirty (30) days after the end of each month, an unaudited balance sheet as of the end of such month and an unaudited related income statement, and statement of cash flows for such month including any footnotes thereto (if any) prepared in accordance with GAAP (with the exception of normal year end adjustments), consistently applied, together with a comparison of such statements to the Budget for such periods (with variances delineated); and

 

(b)           Within ninety (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year (or such longer period of time but not in excess of one hundred eighty (180) days after the end of the Fiscal Year if approved by the Board), an audited balance sheet as of the end of such Fiscal Year and the related income statement, statement of members’ equity, and statement of cash flows for such fiscal year prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied and a signed audit letter from the Company’s auditors who shall be selected by the Audit Committee from among the “Big 4” nationally recognized accounting firms, to the extent independent of and not Affiliated with any Sponsor Member or Stanford L. Kurland, or its or their respective Affiliates, or another firm approved by a Sponsor Manager Vote of the Board.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding Section 18-305 of the Act and subject to Section 14.1 , no Member (other than the Managing Member and BlackRock Member and Highfields Member) shall have any rights to obtain information from the Company, including any right to access, review or copy the books or records of the Company; provided that the Company shall provide the Members with information relating to the Company that is reasonable necessary to enable each Member to prepare its federal, state and local income tax returns.

 

(d)           The rights of BlackRock Member and Highfields Member under this Section 11.3 and under Section 11.2 shall terminate at such time as BlackRock Member or Highfields Member holds less than three percent (3%) of Class A Units after consummation of the IPO, and related purchase of Class A Units by the Managing Member with the proceeds therefrom.

 

11.4.       Annual Accounting Period; Accounting Method . The annual accounting period of the Company shall be its Fiscal Year. The Company shall use the accrual method of accounting applied in a consistent manner using GAAP.

 

11.5.       Tax Matters .

 

(a)           The Managing Member shall not, pursuant to Section 5.2, select a method other than the “traditional method” of Section 1.704-3(b) of the Regulations without the consent of the Blackrock Member and the Highfields Member so long as such Member holds any Class A Units.  The Company shall make, and keep in effect, a valid election under Section 754 of the Code.

 

(b)           Subject to paragraph (a), the Managing Member shall have the authority to make any and all tax elections and other decisions relating to tax matters for federal, state and local purposes.

 

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(c)           The Managing Member shall act as the “tax matters partner” of the Company under the Code (the “ Tax Matters Person ”) and in any similar capacity under state or local law. The Tax Matters Person shall have the power and authority to perform in such capacity those duties as may be required to be performed by a “tax matters partner” under the Code.  The Tax Matters Person shall take such reasonable steps as are necessary to make the Sponsor Members “notice partners” within the meaning of Section 6231(a)(8) of the Code.

 

(d)           The Company shall prepare or cause there to be prepared all federal, state and local income and other tax returns that the Company is required to file. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to send or deliver to each Person who was a Member at any time during a taxable year of the Company such tax information (including Schedule K-1’s) within ninety (90) days after the end of such taxable year as shall be reasonably necessary for the preparation by such Person of such Person’s federal income tax return and state income and other tax returns.

 

(e)           If the Company becomes the subject of any audit, assessment or other examination relating to taxes by any tax authority or any judicial or administrative proceedings relating to taxes (a “ Tax Audit ”), the Managing Member shall promptly notify the Members of the existence of, and the issues involved in, such Tax Audit, and, if requested by the Managing Member, the Members shall cooperate in good faith to resolve any issues that arise during the course of such Tax Audit.  The Members shall keep each other reasonably informed of all material matters arising in connection with such Tax Audit.

 

Article XII
Amendments

 

12.1.       Approval of Amendments . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or as otherwise required by Law, any amendment to this Agreement and the Schedules hereto may be made only pursuant to an agreement in writing signed by (a) the Company and (b) the Managing Member; provided , however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) as long as BlackRock Member or Highfields Member holds a number of Class A Units that is equal to or greater than 10% of the Class A Units outstanding immediately following the closing of the IPO and related purchase of Class A Units from the Company by the Managing Member with the proceeds therefrom, any amendments to this Agreement shall require the approval of BlackRock Member and Highfields Member, as applicable, (ii) as long as a BlackRock Member or Highfields Members holds any Class A Units, amendments to Sections 3.2(a) (but only if such amendments are not approved by the compensation committee of the Managing Member), 3.2(b), 3.3(a), 3.3(c), 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7.1, 7.2(c), 9.1, 11.2, 11.3 and 14.1(e)(iii) and this Section 12.1 shall require the approval of BlackRock Member and Highfields Member, as applicable, and any amendment to Section 7.4 shall require the approval of BlackRock Member, and (iii) any amendment which would materially and adversely affect the rights or duties of a Member on a discriminatory and non-pro rata basis shall require the consent of such Member; provided that the foregoing clause (iii) shall not apply with respect to (x) any disproportionate effect on a Member of any issuance of New Interests made in compliance with the terms of this Agreement resulting solely from the number or type of Units held by such Member compared to the number or type of Units held by

 

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other Members, (y) any effect on a Member holding any unvested Units with respect to such unvested Units, and (z) any amendments to the Schedule of Members to reflect any change in the Members, Interests or the Capital Accounts of the Members.  In addition, the amendment of any specific approval, consent, voting right, or Transfer rights of a Sponsor Member or other specified Member shall require the approval of such Sponsor Member or Member, provided that the Sponsor Member or such Member holds the number of Class A Units, if applicable, required to exercise such right.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in addition to any other consent that may be required, the consent of each Sponsor Member and any other Member to whom any Sponsor Member Transfers Class A Units in compliance with Article IX shall also be required, for so long as such Member continues to hold Class A Units, for any amendment of this Agreement that (i) reduces the right of such holder of Class A Units to receive distributions pursuant to Section 5.10(b), (ii) precludes or limits the rights of such holder of Class A Units to exercise its rights under the Exchange Agreement, (iii) requires such holder of Class A Units to make a Capital Contribution (including as a condition to maintaining any rights necessary to permit such holders to exercise their rights under the Exchange Agreement), (iv) increases the obligations of such holder of Class A Units, (v) permits the appointment of a substitute Managing Member other than as expressly provided pursuant to the definition of “Managing Member” or (vi) amends Section 11.5(a) or otherwise permits or authorizes the conversion of the legal form of the Company into a corporation.

 

12.2.       Amendment of Certificate of Formation . If this Agreement shall be amended pursuant to this Article XII , an officer approved by the Managing Member shall, to the extent necessary, cause the Certificate of Formation to be amended to reflect such change.

 

Article XIII
Covenants of Employee Members

 

13.1.       Non- Solicitation .

 

(a)           In order to protect their mutual interests as owners of the Company and to induce the making of additional investments in the Company, and recognizing that the business of the Company in which the Members have a mutual interest (which interest exists irrespective of the identities and locations of the particular clients with whom any Employee Member may have a direct working relationship) is nationwide in scope, each Employee Member acknowledges that (i) such Employee Member’s association with the Company has been and is expected to continue to be critical to the success of the Company and its Affiliates, (ii) the restrictive covenants and other agreements contained in Section 13.1 and elsewhere in this Agreement are an essential part of this Agreement, and (iii) such restrictive covenants and agreements are reasonable and it would not be reasonable for the other Employee Members to enter into this Agreement without obtaining such restrictive covenants and agreements. Accordingly, each Employee Member agrees with the restrictions set forth in this Section 13.1 .

 

(b)           An Employee Member shall not, during his or her employment and for a period of one (1) year following the termination of such employment, either on his or her own account or in conjunction with or on behalf of any other Person, directly or

 

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indirectly induce, solicit, entice, participate in or procure any Person who is an employee of the Managing Member, the Company or any Subsidiary to leave such employment.

 

13.2.       Non-Compete .

 

(a)           Each Employee Member acknowledges that the Company expends considerable time, money and resources in recruiting, training and developing the unique and extraordinary skills and abilities of its employees and agents, developing business relationships with Clients so as to improve the business and goodwill of the Company, establishing and maintaining close business relationships between employees and Clients and staff, and obtaining, compiling and developing confidential Client and prospect lists, various internal computer reports and other proprietary business information and Confidential Information not readily available to the public or through other sources. Each Employee Member acknowledges that the Company is entitled to protect its investment in the foregoing and to keep the results of its efforts for its exclusive use. The Company will suffer substantial and irreparable harm in the event that any Employee Member should enter into competition with the Company in breach of this Section 13.2 .

 

(b)           Except as otherwise provided in Section 13.1(a) , each Employee Member acknowledges and agrees that such Employee Member shall not, during his or her employment and for a period of one (1) year following the termination of such employment, without the prior written consent of the Managing Member, for any reason, directly or indirectly:

 

(i)            other than the ownership of Interests, acquire, control or own in any manner any interest (whether through a debt or equity instrument or otherwise) in any Person which engages or, to the actual knowledge of the Employee Member has firm plans to engage, in a material way in any facet of the business of the Company or which competes or, to the actual knowledge of the Employee Member, has firm plans to compete with the business of the Company;

 

(ii)           be employed by, associated with or serve as an employee, agent, officer, manager, partner, independent contractor, manager of, or as a consultant to, or otherwise manage, operate, aid or assist (financially or otherwise), any such Person which engages or, to the actual knowledge of the Employee Member, has firm plans to engage, in a material way in any facet of the business of the Company or which competes or, to the actual knowledge of the Employee Member has firm plans to compete, with the business of the Company; or

 

(iii)          utilize the Employee Member’s special knowledge of the business of the Company and his or her relationships with Clients and others to compete with the Company;

 

provided , however , that for the avoidance of doubt, the restrictions imposed by this Section 13.2 shall not be applicable to, and may not be enforced by the Company against, any Employee Member that is an employee of the Company located in the State of California or in any other jurisdiction in which such provisions are not enforceable against employees of the Company; provided , further , that the foregoing shall not prevent the Company from entering into a separate

 

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written agreement to enforce the restrictions set forth in this Section 13.2 with one or more Employee Members to the extent that such agreement would otherwise be enforceable under the laws of the State of California or in any other jurisdiction in which such provisions are generally not enforceable against employees of the Company; and provided , further , that nothing herein shall be deemed to prevent the Employee Member from acquiring through market purchases and owning, solely as a passive investment, five percent (5%) or less in the aggregate of the equity securities of any class of any issuer whose shares are registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are listed or admitted for trading on any United States national securities exchange or are quoted on any system of automated dissemination of quotations of securities prices in common use, so long as the Employee Member is not a member of any “control group” (within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission) of any such issuer and as long as the Employee Member does not actively participate in, or disclose Confidential Information to, any such issuer.

 

13.3.       Non-Disparagement . Each Employee Member agrees that such Employee Member shall not at any time during or subsequent to his or her employment, criticize, speak ill of, make false statements in respect of, disparage or impugn the reputation or damage the goodwill or the business of the Company, any Sponsor Member or any Affiliate of the Company or such Sponsor Member, or any employee or Principal of the Company, any Sponsor Member or an Affiliate of the Company or such Sponsor Member; provided that such obligations with respect to a Sponsor Member or any employee, Principal or Affiliate of the Sponsor Member shall terminate with respect to such Persons when such Sponsor Member does not hold any Class A Units.  Each Employee Member also agrees not to take any action, or omit to take any action, which conflicts with (or appears to conflict with) the business interests of the Managing Member, the Company or any Subsidiary except if ordered to do so by a court or government agency.

 

13.4.       Work Product .

 

(a)           In return for continuing employment with the Company and other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged and agreed, each Employee Member agrees that he or she shall not have any proprietary interest in any work product developed or used by such Employee Member, either prior to or after the Effective Date, and arising out of his or her status as a Member or employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates whether prior to or after the Effective Date or otherwise.  Each Employee Member agrees to assign and hereby irrevocably assigns to the Company, without further consideration, all right, title, and interest that such Employee Member has, may presently have or acquire (throughout the United States and in all foreign countries), free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, in and to each Work Product (as defined herein), which Work Product shall be the sole property of the Company, whether or not patentable. “ Work Product ” as used herein shall mean all ideas, processes, trademarks, service marks, inventions, technology, computer programs, radio and television infomercials and the scripts related thereto, computer software (including object code and source code), original works of authorship, designs, formulas, discoveries, patents, copyrights, moral rights (including but not limited to rights to attribution or integrity) and all improvements, rights, and claims related to the foregoing that are conceived, created, developed, or reduced to practice by such Employee Member alone or with others while he or she was a Member or an employee of the Company or

 

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any of its Affiliates.  In addition, to the extent not assigned, each Employee Member hereby irrevocably waives any moral rights (including rights of attribution and integrity) that such Employee Member had, has or may have with respect to the Work Product.  Each Employee Member acknowledges that all original works of authorship which are made by such Employee Member (solely or jointly with others) while he or she was a Member or an employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates and which are protectable by copyright are “Works Made For Hire” as defined in the United States Copyright Act (17 USCA, § 101) and are included in the definition of Work Product.

 

(b)           Each Employee Member has attached hereto on Schedule 13.4(b)  a list describing all Work Product made or developed by him or her prior to the Effective Date which relates to the Company’s or its Affiliates’ business or proposed business, products or research and development, and which are not assigned to the Company hereunder (collectively referred to as “ Prior Inventions ”).  If no such list is attached, such Employee Member represents that no such Prior Inventions exist or that any such Prior Invention has already been assigned to the Company by him or her.  If, while the Employee Member is a Member or employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates, such Employee Member incorporates into a product of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company, process or machine a Prior Invention owned by such Employee Member or in which such Employee Member has an interest, the Company is hereby granted and shall have a nonexclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide license to make, have made, reproduce, modify, adapt, distribute, display, perform, use, import, offer to sell and sell such Prior Invention as part of or in connection with such product, process or machine.

 

(c)           Each Employee Member agrees to assist the Company, or its designee, at the Company’s expense, in securing the Company’s rights in and to the Work Product and any copyrights, patents, trademarks, service marks, mask work rights or other intellectual property rights relating thereto in any and all countries.  Such assistance shall include the disclosure to the Company of all pertinent information and data with respect thereto, the execution of all applications, specifications, oaths, assignments and all other instruments which the Company shall deem necessary in order to apply for and obtain such rights, and in order to assign and convey to the Company, its successors, assigns and nominees the sole and exclusive rights, title and interest in and to such Inventions, and any copyrights, patents, trademarks, service marks, mask work rights or other intellectual property rights relating thereto.  Each Employee Member further agrees that his or her obligation to execute or cause to be executed, when it is in his or her power to do so, any such instrument or papers, shall continue after the termination of his or her employment or Member status or this Agreement.  If the Company is unable because of an Employee Member’s mental or physical incapacity or for any other reason to secure his or her signature to apply for or to pursue any application for any United States or foreign intellectual property rights including patents or copyright registrations covering Work Product or original works of authorship assigned to the Company as provided herein, then such Employee Member hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as such Employee Member’s agent and attorney in fact, to act for and in such Employee Member’s behalf to execute and file any such applications and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the prosecution and issuance of such intellectual property rights including letters patent or copyright registrations thereon with the same legal force and effect as if executed by him or her.

 

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(d)           Each Employee Member agrees to maintain adequate and current written records on the development of all Work Product and to disclose promptly to the Company all Work Product and relevant records, which records will remain the sole property of the Company.  The records will be in the form of notes, sketches, drawings, and any other format that may be specified by the Company.  Each Employee Member further agrees that all information and records pertaining to any idea, process, trademark, service mark, invention, discovery, improvement, technology, computer program, original work of authorship, design formula, discovery, patent, or copyright that he or she does not believe to be Work Product, but is conceived, developed, or reduced to practice by him or her (alone or with others) while he or she was a Member or an employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates shall be promptly disclosed to the Company (such disclosure to be received in confidence).

 

(e)           Each Employee Member knows of no existing agreement to which he or she is a party that would conflict with this Section 13.4 of the Agreement.  Each Employee Member understands and acknowledges that he or she has been advised, pursuant to Section 2872 of the California Labor Code, that the provisions of this Agreement requiring the assignment of inventions do not apply to any invention that qualifies fully under Section 2870 of the California Labor Code, which provides:

 

“(a)                            Any provision in an employment agreement which provides that an employee shall assign, or offer to assign, any of his or her rights in an invention to his or her employer shall not apply to an invention that the employee developed entirely on his or her own time without using the employer’s equipment, supplies, facilities, or trade secret information except for those inventions that either:

 

(1)           Relate at the time of conception or reduction to practice of the invention to the employer’s business, or actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of the employer; or

 

(2)           Result from any work performed by the employee for the employer.”

 

13.5.       Survival . The covenants set forth in this Article XIII shall survive the termination of this Agreement and shall continue to be binding on an Employee Member or Management Member in his or her personal capacity after such Member ceases to hold any Interests.

 

13.6.       Injunction . It is agreed by all parties to this Agreement that a breach of any provision contained in this Article XIII will result in irreparable harm and continuing damages to the Company and its business, and that the Company’s remedy at Law for any such breach or threatened breach will be inadequate. Accordingly, it is agreed that, in addition to such other remedies at Law or in equity as may be available to the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction may issue an immediate injunction or other equitable relief (without bond and without the necessity of showing actual monetary damages) enjoining and restricting any breach or threatened breach of this Article XIII .

 

13.7.       Blue Pencil . If any provision of this Article XIII is found by a court to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, including the geographic or business scope or the duration of

 

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the covenants herein, such provision shall be construed, reduced or reformulated by the court in such a way as to make it valid and enforceable to the maximum extent possible. Any invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Article XIII shall attach only to such provision and shall not affect or render invalid or unenforceable any other provisions of this Article XIII , this Agreement or any other agreement or instrument.

 

Article XIV
General Provisions

 

14.1.       Confidentiality .

 

(a)           Confidential Information of the Company . Each Member (excluding the Managing Member) agrees (as to itself only) that such Member will at all times:

 

(i)            hold in the strictest confidence and shall neither use in any manner detrimental to the Company or any Subsidiary, or disclose, publish, divulge or make accessible, directly or indirectly, to any Person, any Confidential Information of the Managing Member, the Company or any Subsidiary, without the prior written consent of the Managing Member;

 

(ii)           exercise all reasonable efforts to prevent third parties from gaining access to such Confidential Information of the Managing Member, the Company or any Subsidiary;

 

(iii)          inform all other employees and agents, to whom such Member discloses Confidential Information of the Managing Member, the Company or any Subsidiary, of the proprietary interest and nature of such Confidential Information and of the recipient’s obligations under Company policy to keep such information confidential; and

 

(iv)          take such other protective measures as may be or become reasonably necessary to preserve the confidentiality of such Confidential Information of the Managing Member, the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(b)           Confidential Information of Members . Each Member (excluding the Managing Member) and each Principal of a Member (excluding the Managing Member) agrees at all times not to disclose, publish, divulge or make accessible, directly or indirectly, to any Person, any Confidential Information of any Member or any Affiliate of such Member to any Person without the prior written consent of such Member.

 

(c)           Confidential Information of Third Parties . The Company may, from time to time, enter into agreements or business relationships with third party vendors or suppliers of information as a result of which Employee Members may have access to Confidential Information proprietary to such third parties (“ Third Party Confidential Information ”). The use and disclosure by Employee Members of Third Party Confidential Information shall be governed by the terms and conditions of this Section 14.1 and shall be in strict compliance with any existing agreement between the Company and the third parties to hold such information confidential. From time to time, the Company enters into

 

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such agreements with third parties. Prior to using any Third Party Confidential Information, Employee Members are required to inquire whether and to what extent the use of such Third Party Confidential Information is governed by an existing agreement and must comply with the terms of any such agreement.

 

(d)           Restricted Information . In addition to the foregoing, the Company may at times develop appropriate information barriers to assure that restricted information related to Clients and Prospective Clients is not improperly communicated or disclosed to other Employee Members within the Company; provided that any such barriers shall require the approval of the Managing Member.  Employee Members who have reason to believe that they may be subject to an information barrier are required to inquire of with the General Counsel of the Company as to the applicability and terms of any such barrier.

 

(e)           Exceptions to Disclosure of Confidential Information . Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 14.1 , each Member (and each Principal of a Member) may divulge or communicate Confidential Information: (i) to officers, directors, stockholders, partners, members, interest holders or employees of the Company or such Member or Principals (or their respective Affiliates) and, with respect to any Sponsor Member and its Affiliates, to any investors or prospective investors of such Sponsor Member or its Affiliates, and to auditors, counsel and other professional advisors to such Persons and the Company; provided , however , that such Persons have a need to know and have been informed of the confidential nature of the information, and, in any event, the Person disclosing such information shall be liable for any failure by such Persons to abide by the provisions of this Section 14.1 ; (ii) where the disclosure of Confidential Information is required to be disclosed by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, administrative agency or governmental body, or by any Law, or by subpoena, summons or any other administrative or legal process, or by applicable regulatory standards, in which case the disclosing party will (except as prohibited by Law) provide the Company or the Person whose Confidential Information is required to be disclosed, as applicable, with prompt, prior written notice of such compelled disclosure and the opportunity to prevent or limit such disclosure; or (iii) to any Person in connection with the proposed transfer of all or any portion of such Member’s Class A Units in compliance with Article IX of this Agreement; provided , however , that such Person either (x) agrees to keep such Confidential Information confidential in accordance with this Section 14.1 and such transferring Member shall be liable for such Person’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 14.1 , or (y) signs a confidentiality agreement with the Company with respect to any such Confidential Information.

 

(f)            Return of Confidential Information . Upon an Employee Member ceasing to be an employee or a Member of the Company, at the request of the Company, such Person and each Principal of such Person shall deliver to the Company only, and shall not retain for such Person’s or anyone else’s use, any and all records, files, memoranda, documents and materials of any type, and all copies, excerpts and notes thereof containing (in whole or in part) any Confidential Information or in any way relating to the employee or Member’s relationship with the Managing Member, the Company, any Subsidiaries or any Clients, customers, prospective customers or Clients, services, projects, programs or

 

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business of the Managing Member, the Company or any Subsidiary of which such employee, Member or Principal obtains knowledge during the term of this Agreement.

 

(g)           The covenants set forth in this Section 14.1 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and shall continue to be binding on a Member in its, his or her personal capacity after such Member ceases to hold any Interests.

 

14.2.       Further Assurances . Each Member shall execute all such certificates and other documents and shall do all such filing, recording, publishing and other acts as the Managing Member or an officer of the Company reasonably deems appropriate to comply with the requirements of Law for the formation and operation of the Company and to comply with any Laws relating to the acquisition, operation or holding of the Company Property, including (a) any documents that the Managing Member deems necessary or appropriate to continue the Company as a limited liability company in all jurisdictions in which the Company or any Subsidiary conducts or plans to conduct business and (b) all such agreements, certificates, tax statements and other documents as may be required to be filed in respect of the Company.

 

14.3.       Notifications . Any notice, demand, consent, election, offer, approval, request, or other communication (collectively, a “ notice ”) required or permitted under this Agreement must be in writing and either delivered personally, sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested or sent by recognized overnight delivery service, electronic mail (e-mail) or by facsimile transmittal. Any notice sent by confirmed e-mail or facsimile must be sent simultaneously by another method described in the prior sentence. A notice must be addressed: (a) if to a Member, to such Member’s last known address as set forth on such Member’s signature page hereto or at such other address as such party may designate from time to time by written notice to the Company; and (b) if to the Company, to the Managing Member. A notice delivered personally will be deemed given only when accepted or refused by the Person to whom it is delivered. A notice that is sent by mail will be deemed given: (i) three (3) Business Days after such notice is mailed to an address within the United States of America or (ii) seven (7) Business Days after such notice is mailed to an address outside of the United States of America. A notice sent by recognized overnight delivery service will be deemed given when received or refused. A notice sent by e-mail or facsimile shall be deemed given upon receipt of a confirmation of such transmission, unless such receipt occurs after normal business hours, in which case such notice shall be deemed given as of the next Business Day. Any party may designate, by notice to all of the others, substitute addresses or addressees for notices; thereafter, notices are to be directed to those substitute addresses or addressees.

 

14.4.       Specific Performance . The parties recognize that irreparable injury will result from a breach of any provision of this Agreement and that money damages will be inadequate to fully remedy the injury. Accordingly, in the event of a breach or threatened breach of one or more of the provisions of this Agreement, any party which may be injured (in addition to any other remedies which may be available to that party) shall be entitled to one or more preliminary or permanent orders (a) restraining and enjoining any act which would constitute a breach or (b) compelling the performance of any obligation which, if not performed, would constitute a breach.

 

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14.5.       Complete Agreement . This Agreement, together with the Exchange Agreement, the Tax Receivable Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement and understanding among the Members with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersedes all prior agreements or arrangements (written and oral), including any prior representation, statement, condition or warranty between the Members relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof, including the Prior Operating Agreement and the Prior Equity Incentive Plans (except to the extent, and for the limited purpose, specifically stated in Section 3.2(a)).

 

14.6.       Power of Attorney .  Each Member (other than BlackRock Member and Highfields Member) hereby irrevocably appoints the Managing Member as such Member’s true and lawful representative and attorney-in-fact, each acting alone, in such Member’s name, place and stead, (a) to make, execute, sign and file all instruments, documents and certificates which, from time to time, may be required to set forth any amendment to this Agreement or which may be required by this Agreement or by the laws of the United States of America, the State of Delaware or any other state in which the Company shall determine to do business, or any political subdivision or agency thereof, and (b) to execute, implement and continue the valid and subsisting existence of the Company or to qualify and continue the Company as a foreign limited liability company in all jurisdictions in which the Company may conduct business. Such power of attorney is coupled with an interest and shall survive and continue in full force and effect notwithstanding the subsequent withdrawal from the Company of any Member for any reason and shall survive and shall not be affected by the disability or incapacity of such Member.

 

14.7.       Applicable Law; Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial .

 

(a)           The Members hereby agree that all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement and the performance of the obligations imposed by this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule, notwithstanding that public policy in Delaware or any other forum jurisdiction might indicate that the Laws of that or any other jurisdiction should otherwise apply based on contacts with such state or otherwise.

 

(b)           Each of the parties hereto submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and agrees that all claims in respect of the action or proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court. Each party hereto also agrees not to bring any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any other court. Each of the parties hereto waives any defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any action or proceeding so brought and waives any bond, surety, or other security that might be required of any other party hereto with respect thereto. The parties hereto each agree that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court shall be conclusive and binding on it and may be enforced in any court to the jurisdiction of which it is subject by a suit upon such judgment.

 

(c)           EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS

 

48



 

LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE BREACH, TERMINATION OR VALIDITY OF THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY HERETO CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (B) EACH SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (C) EACH SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (D) EACH SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 14.7(c) .

 

14.8.       References to this Agreement; Headings . Unless otherwise indicated, “Articles,” “Sections,” “Subsections”, “Clauses”, “Exhibits” and “Schedules” mean and refer to designated Articles, Sections, Subsections, Clauses, Exhibits and Schedules of this Agreement. Words such as “herein,” “hereby,” “hereinafter,” “hereof,” “hereto,” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole, unless the context indicates otherwise. All headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not intended to define or limit the scope or intent of this Agreement. All exhibits and schedules referred to herein, and as the same may be amended from time to time, are by this reference made a part hereof as though fully set forth herein.

 

14.9.       Binding Provisions . This Agreement is binding upon, and inures to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective personal and legal representatives, heirs, executors, successors and permitted assigns.

 

14.10.     Construction . Common nouns and pronouns and any variations thereof shall be deemed to refer to masculine, feminine, or neuter, singular or plural, as the identity of the Person, Persons or other reference in the context requires. Every covenant, term and provision of this Agreement shall be construed simply according to its fair meaning and not strictly for or against any Member. Any reference to the Act, Code or other statutes, laws, or regulations (including the Regulations), forms or schedules shall include any amendments, modifications, or replacements thereof.   Any reference to any agreement, contract or schedule, unless otherwise stated, shall include any amendments, modifications, or replacements thereof.  Whenever used herein, “or” shall include both the conjunctive and disjunctive unless the context requires otherwise, “any” shall mean “one or more,” and “including” shall mean “including without limitation.” “Member” or “members” and “limited liability company” or “limited liability companies” shall be substituted in and for references to “partner” or “partners” and “partnership” or “partnerships,” respectively, in the Code, Regulations and any pronouncements by the Internal Revenue Service.

 

14.11.     Severability . It is expressly understood and agreed that although the parties consider the restrictions contained in this Agreement to be reasonable and necessary for the

 

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purpose of, among other things, preserving the goodwill, proprietary rights and going concern value of the Company, if any provision of this Agreement or the application of any such provision to any party or circumstance shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such provision to any party or circumstance other than those to which it is so determined to be invalid or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each provision hereof shall be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by Law so long as the economic or legal substance of the matters contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party.  If the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares or finds that any term or provision hereof is invalid or unenforceable, the parties hereto agree that the court making the determination of invalidity or unenforceability shall have the power to reduce the scope, duration or area of the term or provision, or to delete specific words or phrases, and to replace any invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be enforceable as so modified.  If such court of competent jurisdiction does not so replace an invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto will 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 to the end that the matters contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the fullest extent possible.

 

14.12.     Counterparts . This Agreement and any amendments may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts and delivered via facsimile or .pdf, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same document. The signature of any party to any counterpart shall be deemed a signature to, and may be appended to, any other counterpart.

 

14.13.     No Third Party Beneficiaries . Except for Covered Persons, who shall be intended third party beneficiaries of this Agreement with the right to directly enforce this Agreement as if signatories hereto, this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, provide or create any rights or benefits of any Person other than the parties hereto and their successors and permitted assigns.  Without limiting the foregoing, this Agreement shall not be construed as conferring any benefit upon any creditor of the Company or any creditor of a Member (and no such creditor shall be a third party beneficiary of this Agreement).

 

14.14.     Mutual Drafting . The parties hereto are sophisticated and have been represented by attorneys throughout the transactions contemplated hereby who have carefully negotiated the provisions hereof. As a consequence, the parties do not intend that the presumptions of Laws or rules relating to the interpretation of contracts against the drafter of any particular clause should be applied to this Agreement or any agreement or instrument executed in connection herewith, and therefore waive their effects.

 

14.15.     Waiver of Partition . No Member or any successor-in-interest to any Member shall have the right while this Agreement remains in effect to have any Company assets partitioned, and each Member, on behalf of itself, its successors, representatives, heirs and assigns, hereby waives any such right. It is the intention of the Members that during the term of this Agreement the rights of the Members and their successors-in-interest, as among themselves, shall be governed by the terms of this Agreement, and that the rights of any Member or successor-in-

 

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interest to Transfer of any interest in the Company shall be subject to the limitations and restrictions of this Agreement.

 

14.16.     Rights and Remedies Cumulative . The rights and remedies provided by this Agreement are cumulative and the use of any one right or remedy by any party shall not preclude or waive the right to use any or all other remedies. Such rights and remedies are given in addition to any other rights the parties may have by Law, statute, ordinance or otherwise.  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.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered, all as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

COMPANY:

 

 

 

Private National Mortgage Acceptance

 

Company, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jeffrey P. Grogin

 

 

Name:

Jeffrey P. Grogin

 

 

Title:

Chief Administrative and Legal Officer

 

 

 

and Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

MANAGING MEMBER:

 

 

 

Private National Mortgage Acceptance

 

Company, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jeffrey P. Grogin

 

 

Name:

Jeffrey P. Grogin

 

 

Title:

Chief Administrative and Legal Officer

 

 

 

and Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MEMBERS:

 

 

 

PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jeffrey P. Grogin

 

 

Name:

Jeffrey P. Grogin

 

 

Title:

Chief Administrative and Legal Officer

 

 

 

and Secretary

 

COUNTERPART SIGNATURE PAGE TO

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED LLC AGREEMENT

PRIVATE NATIONAL MORTGAGE ACCEPTANCE COMPANY, LLC

 


Exhibit 10.2

 

EXCHANGE AGREEMENT

 

EXCHANGE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of May 8, 2013, among PennyMac Financial Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), Private National Mortgage Acceptance Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), and the Company Unitholders (as defined herein).

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to provide for the exchange of Company Units for shares of Class A Common Stock (as defined herein), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and undertakings contained herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

Section 1.1  Definitions .

 

The following capitalized terms shall have the meanings specified in this Section 1.1. Other terms are defined in the text of this Agreement and those terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them.

 

Business Day ” means any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks located in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following events after the date hereof:

 

(i)            both the stockholders of the Corporation and the board of directors of the Corporation approve, in accordance with the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation and applicable law, the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets (determined on a consolidated basis), including a sale of all of the equity interests in the Company, to any Person or group (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), and such sale, lease or transfer is consummated;

 

(ii)           both the stockholders of the Corporation and the board of directors of the Corporation approve, in accordance with the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation and applicable law, a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any other Person, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the Voting Securities of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into Voting Securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the total voting power represented by the Voting Securities of the Corporation or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, and such merger or consolidation is consummated; or

 

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(iii)          both the stockholders of the Corporation and the board of directors of the Corporation approve, in accordance with the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation and applicable law, the adoption of a plan the consummation of which would result in the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation.

 

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 (x) the beneficial holders of the shares of the Corporation immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate beneficial ownership of all of the equity in an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation immediately following such transaction or series of transactions, or (y) the Corporation is the surviving entity and its shares of Class A Common Stock continue to be registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act and continue to be publicly traded.

 

Class A Common Stock ” means the Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporation.

 

Class A Unit ” has the meaning given to such term in the LLC Agreement.

 

Class B Common Stock ” means the Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporation.

 

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

 

Company ” has the meaning set forth in Preamble.

 

Company Unit ” means (i) each Class A Unit issued as of the date hereof and (ii) each Class A Unit or other interest in the Company that may be issued by the Company in the future or for which a Class A Unit has been converted or exchanged, excluding in each case any unvested Class A Unit.

 

Company Unitholder ” means each holder of one or more Company Units that is a party hereto as of the date hereof or which becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 4.1 .

 

Corporation ” has the meaning set forth in Preamble.

 

Excess Distributed Cash Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(d)  of this Agreement.

 

Exchange ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(i) .

 

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

 

Exchange Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(ii).

 

Exchange Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(ii) .

 

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Exchange Rate ” means the number of shares of Class A Common Stock for which 1 Company Unit is entitled to be Exchanged.  On the date of this Agreement, the Exchange Rate shall be 1, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 2.2 .

 

LLC Agreement ” means the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated as of the date hereof, as the same may be further amended or restated from time to time.

 

Member ” has the meaning set forth for such term under the LLC Agreement.

 

Per-Share Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(d)  of this Agreement.

 

Permitted Transferee ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.1 .

 

Person ” means and includes any individual, corporation, partnership, association, limited liability company, trust, estate or other entity.

 

Subsidiary ” has the meaning given to such term in the LLC Agreement.

 

Takeover Law ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1 of this Agreement.

 

Tax Receivable Agreement ” means that certain Tax Receivable Agreement, dated on or about the date hereof, among the Corporation, the Company and the Members (as defined therein).

 

Voting Securities ” shall mean any securities of the Corporation which are entitled to vote generally in matters submitted for a vote of the Corporation’s stockholders or generally in the election of the Corporation’s board of directors.

 

ARTICLE II

 

Section 2.1  Exchange of Company Units for Class A Common Stock .

 

(a)           Elective Exchanges .

 

(i)            Each Company Unitholder shall be entitled at any time and from time to time, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof and the LLC Agreement, to surrender Company Units to the Company in exchange for the delivery to the exchanging Company Unitholder of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock that is equal to the product of the number of Company Units surrendered multiplied by the Exchange Rate (an exchange of Company Units for Class A Common Stock, an “ Exchange ”); provided that any such Exchange is for a minimum of the lesser of (i) 5,000 Company Units, (ii) such other number of Company Units as may be determined by the Managing Member with respect to any particular Exchange, and (iii) all of the Company Units held by such Company Unitholder.

 

(ii)           A Company Unitholder shall exercise its right to Exchange Company Units as set forth in Section 2.1(a)  by delivering to the Company, with a contemporaneous copy delivered to the Corporation, in each case during normal business hours

 

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at the principal executive offices of the Company and the Corporation, respectively, (A) a written election of exchange in respect of the Company Units to be exchanged substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (an “ Exchange Notice ”), duly executed by such holder, (B) any certificates representing such Company Units, (C) if all of the Company Units then held by such Company Unitholder are being surrendered, all stock certificates representing all shares of Class B Common Stock issued to such Company Unitholder according to the books and records of the Corporation and (D)  if the Corporation or the Company requires the delivery of the certification contemplated by Section 2.4(b), such certification or written notice from such Company Unitholder that it is unable to provide such certification.  Upon a Company Unitholder exercising its right to Exchange, the Corporation shall take such actions as (x) may be required to ensure that such Company Unitholder receives the shares of Class A Common Stock that such exchanging Company Unitholder is entitled to receive in connection with such Exchange pursuant to this Section 2.1(a), and (y) may be reasonably within its control that would cause such Exchange to be treated for purposes of the Tax Receivable Agreement as an “Exchange” (as such term is defined in the Tax Receivable Agreement).  With respect to any Company Unitholder exercising its right to Exchange, the Corporation shall have the right but not the obligation to acquire the Company Units such Company Unitholder is requesting to be exchanged directly from such Company Unitholder in exchange for shares of Class A Common Stock.  If an exchanging Company Unitholder receives the shares of Class A Common Stock that it is entitled to receive in connection with an Exchange pursuant to this Section 2.1(a) from the Corporation pursuant to this Section 2.1(a)(ii), the Company Unitholder shall have no further right to receive shares of Class A Common Stock from the Company in connection with that Exchange, and the Corporation shall be deemed to have satisfied its obligations under the second sentence of this Section 2.1(a)(ii).  An Exchange pursuant to this Section 2.1(a) shall be deemed to have been effected on the Business Day (such Business Day, the “ Exchange Date ”) immediately following the earliest Business Day as of which the Corporation and the Company have received the items specified in clauses (A)-(D) of the first sentence of this Section 2.1(a)(ii).  On the Exchange Date, all rights of the exchanging Company Unitholder as a holder of the Company Units that are subject to the Exchange shall cease, and such Company Unitholder shall be treated for all purposes as having become the record holder of the shares of Class A Common Stock to be received by the exchanging Company Unitholder in respect of such Exchange.

 

(iii)          On the date hereof, a Company Unitholder may exercise its right to Exchange Company Units for an equivalent number of shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to this Section 2.1(a).  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Corporation shall acquire any such Company Units directly from the Company Unitholder in exchange for such shares of Class A Common Stock.  Notwithstanding anything herein or in the Tax Receivable Agreement to the contrary, the Corporation, the Company and such Company Unitholder all intend to treat such Exchange as a transfer described in section 351 of the Code.

 

(b)           Mandatory Exchanges .

 

(i)            The Corporation shall have the right to require each Company Unitholder to Exchange all of such Company Unitholder’s Company Units and shares of Class B Common Stock in consideration for the issuance by the Corporation to such Company Unitholder of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock that is equal to the product of the

 

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number of Company Units surrendered multiplied by the Exchange Rate (or, at the election of the Corporation pursuant to clause (II) of Section 2.1(b)(ii) below, a rate equal to 110% of the Exchange Rate) under any of the following circumstances: (A) in connection with a Change of Control, (B) from or after the time when no Member (other than the Corporation) holds a number of outstanding Class A Units greater than three percent (3%) of the number of Class A Units outstanding immediately following the closing of the IPO (as defined in the LLC Agreement) and related purchase of Class A Units by the Corporation with the proceeds therefrom, and (C) with respect to any Employee Member (as defined in the LLC Agreement) or Management Member (as defined in the LLC Agreement), at any time after (whether prior to or after the IPO) such Person ceases to be employed by, or otherwise engaged to provide services to, the Corporation, the Company or the Subsidiaries for any reason (including because of death or disability), provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to foregoing clause (C), a Member shall not be required to Exchange any unvested Company Units or Company Units that are required to be forfeited, canceled or returned to the Company pursuant to the Equity Incentive Plans (as defined in the LLC Agreement) or any other agreement to which such Member is a party.

 

(ii)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing clause (i), a Company Unitholder shall not be required to Exchange such Company Unitholder’s Company Units and shares of Class B Common Stock pursuant to clause (A) or clause (B) of the foregoing clause (i) unless (I) the sum of the amount of (x) if applicable, cash to be received by such Member as consideration in any Change of Control with respect to shares of Class A Common Stock for which such Company Unitholder’s Company Units are to be Exchanged, (y) the after-tax benefit to the Company Unitholder of all cash amounts payable to such Member under the Tax Receivable Agreement, and (z) any cash advance made to such Member by the Company or the Corporation for the purpose of paying such Member’s tax liability attributable to the Exchange (which advance may, by its terms, require that it be repaid in full upon the sale by such Member of the rights or securities received by such Member in the Exchange), in each case within sixty (60) days of the Change of Control, is sufficient to pay such Member’s tax liability (taking into account any withholding) attributable to the Exchange, or (II) in the case of clause (B) of the foregoing clause (i), the Corporation elects to Exchange all of such Company Unitholder’s Company Units and shares of Class B Common Stock in consideration for the issuance by the Corporation to such Company Unitholder of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock that is equal to the product of the number of Company Units surrendered multiplied by a rate equal to 110% of the Exchange Rate.  The election of the Corporation pursuant to clause (II) of the preceding sentence shall be at the sole discretion of the Corporation upon the approval thereof by a majority of the directors of the Corporation that do not have an interest in the Company Units being Exchanged, and such election may be made with respect to Exchanges by certain Company Unitholders without being made with respect to Exchanges by other Company Unitholders. For purposes of this provision, securities that are received in a Change of Control with respect to the Class A Units or the shares of Class A Common Stock for which they are exchanged and which may be sold into the public market without restriction as to timing or volume (including, without limitation, restrictions as a result of securities laws or applicable insider trading policies or blackout periods) by a Member as the holder of such securities immediately following the Change of Control shall be deemed to be cash consideration received by such Member.  For purposes of this provision, the “after-tax benefit” of a payment to a Person means (i) the amount of such payment, minus (ii) the federal, state, and local income

 

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tax liability of such Person resulting from that Person’s receipt of (or entitlement to receive) such payment, which income tax liability will be determined by the Corporation in good faith by assuming the receipt of such payment is fully taxable to the recipient (without any offsets of any tax attributes), taking into account the identity of the recipient and the character of the income resulting from such payment.

 

(iii)          The Corporation shall exercise its right to require an Exchange of Company Units as set forth in Section 2.1(b)(i)  by delivering to the Company Unitholder written notice of such election and the date the Exchange shall be deemed to occur, which date may not be earlier than the date of such written notice (the “ Mandatory Exchange Date ”), provided that with respect to any Change of Control, such date may be described as immediately prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control and the Corporation shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide such notice at least ten (10) calendar days before the proposed date upon which the contemplated Change of Control is to be effected.  From and after the Mandatory Exchange Date, (x) the Company Units shall be deemed to be transferred to the Corporation on the Mandatory Exchange Date, (y) the Company Unitholder shall cease to have any rights with respect to the Company Units other than the right to receive shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(i)  upon compliance with its obligations under Section 2.1(b)(iv)  and (z) all shares of Class B Common Stock held of record by such Company Unitholder shall automatically be deemed cancelled without any action on the part of any Person.

 

(iv)          On or prior to the Mandatory Exchange Date (or if less than ten (10) calendar days’ notice of the Mandatory Exchange Date is given, within five (5) Business Days of such notice), the Company Unitholder shall deliver during normal business hours at the principal executive offices of the Corporation: (A) an Exchange Notice, duly executed by such Company Unitholder, (B) any certificates representing all Company Units held by the Company Unitholder, (C) all stock certificates representing all shares of Class B Common Stock issued to the Company Unitholder according to the books and records of the Corporation and (D) if the Corporation or the Company requires the delivery of the certification contemplated by Section 2.4(b), such certification or written notice from such Company Unitholder that it is unable to provide such certification.

 

(c)           Issuance of Class A Common Stock .  As promptly as practicable following satisfaction of such Company Unitholder’s obligations under Section 2.1(a)(ii)  or Section 2.1(b)(iv) , as applicable, and in any event no later than three (3) Business Days after such obligations are satisfied, the Corporation or the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to such Company Unitholder, at the address set forth on such Unitholder’s signature page to the LLC Agreement (or at such other address as such party may designate to the Corporation), the number of shares of Class A Common Stock deliverable upon such Exchange, registered in the name of the relevant exchanging Company Unitholder.  To the extent the Class A Common Stock is settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, the Company will upon the written instruction of an exchanging Company Unitholder, deliver the shares of Class A Common Stock deliverable to such exchanging Company Unitholder, through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, to the account of the participant of The Depository Trust Company designated by such exchanging Company Unitholder in the Exchange Notice.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no fractional shares of Class A Common Stock shall be issued as a result of any Exchange.  In lieu of any

 

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fractional share of Class A Common Stock to which a Company Unitholder would otherwise be entitled in any Exchange, the Company or the Corporation shall pay to such Company Unitholder cash equal to such fraction multiplied by the closing price of a share of Class A Common Stock on the most recent trading day preceding the date on which the shares of Class A Common Stock otherwise deliverable in such Exchange are delivered.

 

(d)           Cancellation of Class B Common Stock .  Any shares of Class B Common Stock surrendered in an Exchange shall automatically be deemed cancelled without any action on the part of any Person, including the Corporation.  Any such cancelled shares of Class B Common Stock shall no longer be outstanding, and all rights with respect to such shares shall automatically cease and terminate.

 

(e)           Expenses .  The Corporation, the Company, and each exchanging Company Unitholder shall bear their own expenses in connection with the consummation of any Exchange, whether or not any such Exchange is ultimately consummated, except that the Corporation shall bear any transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties, or other similar taxes in connection with, or arising by reason of, any Exchange; provided , however , that if any shares of Class A Common Stock are to be delivered in a name other than that of the Company Unitholder that requested the Exchange, then such Company Unitholder or the Person in whose name such shares are to be delivered shall pay to the Corporation the amount of any transfer taxes, stamp taxes or duties, or other similar taxes in connection with, or arising by reason of, such Exchange or shall establish to the reasonable satisfaction of the Corporation that such tax has been paid or is not payable.

 

(f)            Publicly Traded Partnership .  Each of the Corporation and the Company covenants and agrees that, prior to taking or causing to be taken any action that would cause interests in the Company to not meet the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.7704-1(h), including issuing any Company Units in a transaction required to be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, it will provide at least fifteen (15) Business Days advance written notice describing the proposed action in reasonable detail to the Company Unitholders and provide each Company Unitholder with the opportunity to effect an Exchange of all such Company Unitholder’s Company Units in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; provided , however , that in no event will the Corporation take or cause to be taken any action that would cause interests in the Company to not meet the requirements of Treasury Regulation section 1.7704-1(h) prior to the first anniversary of the date hereof.  Provided that the notice and opportunity to Exchange contemplated by the previous sentence has been provided to the Company Unitholders, then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the board of directors of the Corporation or the board of managers of the Company, as applicable, after consultation with its outside legal counsel and tax advisor, shall determine in good faith that interests in the Company do not meet the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.7704-1(h), the Corporation or the Company, as applicable, may impose such restrictions on Exchange, as the Corporation or the Company, as applicable, may reasonably determine to be necessary or advisable so that the Company is not treated as a “publicly traded partnership” under Section 7704 of the Code.

 

(g)           Other Prohibitions on Exchange .  For the avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Company Unitholder shall not be entitled to

 

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Exchange Company Units to the extent that the Corporation or the Company reasonably determines in good faith that such Exchange (i) would be prohibited by law or regulation or (ii) would not be permitted under any other agreement with the Corporation, its subsidiaries, the Company or the Subsidiaries to which such Company Unitholder is then subject (including the LLC Agreement).  For the avoidance of doubt, no Exchange shall be deemed to be prohibited by any law or regulation pertaining to the registration of securities if such securities have been so registered or if any exemption from such registration requirements is reasonably available, and the parties hereto believe that there is currently no law or regulation, and acknowledge that there is no agreement of the type referred to in clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, that would, in either case, restrict the ability of a Company Unitholder to Exchange Company Units.

 

Section 2.2  Adjustment .

 

(a)           The Exchange Rate shall be adjusted accordingly if there is: (a) any subdivision (by any unit split, unit distribution, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse unit split, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) of the Company Units that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of the Class A Common Stock; or (b) any subdivision (by any stock split, stock dividend or distribution, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock split, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) of the Class A Common Stock that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of the Company Units.  For example, if there is a 2 for 1 stock split of Class A Common Stock and no corresponding split with respect to the Company Units, the Exchange Rate would be adjusted to be 2.  To the extent not reflected in an adjustment to the Exchange Rate, if there is any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction in which the Class A Common Stock are converted or changed into another security, securities or other property, then upon any subsequent Exchange, an exchanging Company Unitholder shall be entitled to receive the amount of such security, securities or other property that such exchanging Company Unitholder would have received if such Exchange had occurred immediately prior to the effective date of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction, taking into account any adjustment as a result of any subdivision (by any split, distribution or dividend, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of such security, securities or other property that occurs after the effective time of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, if there is any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction in which the Class A Common Stock are converted or changed into another security, securities or other property, this Section 2.2 shall continue to be applicable, mutatis mutandis , with respect to such security or other property.

 

(b)           Each time that the Corporation (i) purchases Company Units other than in connection with a corresponding issuance by the Corporation of the same number of shares of Class A Common Stock (whether as a result of an Exchange or otherwise) or a concurrent recapitalization of the Company that causes the number of Company Units held by the Corporation to equal the number of shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding immediately following such purchase of Company Units, or (ii) repurchases shares of Class A Common Stock without a corresponding redemption by the Company of Class A Units held by the Corporation

 

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pursuant to Section 4.4 of the LLC Agreement, then the Exchange Rate shall be adjusted immediately following such transaction, without any further action by the Corporation or any Company Unitholder, as follows:  the Exchange Rate shall first be set at a ratio, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Class A Common Stock of the Corporation then-outstanding and the denominator of which shall be the number of Company Units then-owned by the Corporation, in each case after giving effect to the transaction that gave rise to such Exchange Rate adjustment and prior to giving effect to any event that has occurred which would give rise to an adjustment to the Exchange Rate pursuant to Section 2.2(a) , and then that ratio shall be adjusted as set forth in Section 2.2(a)  for each event (if any) giving rise to such Section 2.2(a)  adjustment assuming that such event had occurred after the transaction that gave rise to the Exchange Ratio adjustment being made hereby.

 

(c)           If the Corporation pays a dividend or otherwise makes a distribution in respect of shares of Class A Common Stock, in each case of property other than cash and such property was not distributed to the Corporation from the Company, then, upon any Exchange that occurs subsequent to such dividend or distribution of property, the Corporation shall distribute to the Company Unitholder conducting such Exchange the property that such Company Unitholder would have received in such prior dividend or distribution in respect of the shares of Class A Common Stock received by such Company Unitholder in such Exchange if such Exchange had occurred immediately prior to the record date for such prior dividend or distribution.

 

(d)           Upon any Exchange that occurs when an Excess Distributed Cash Amount exists, the Corporation shall pay to the Company Unitholder conducting such Exchange, with respect to each share of Class A Common Stock received in such Exchange, the sum of all Per-Share Amounts previously paid by the Corporation that resulted in such Excess Distributed Cash Amount.  For the purposes of this Section 2.2(d) , “ Excess Distributed Cash Amount ” shall mean, with respect to any Exchange, the amount, if any, by which (i) the cumulative amount of all cash dividends paid, and other cash distributions made, by the Corporation in respect of shares of Class A Common Stock, exceeds (ii) an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the cumulative amount of all cash distributed to the Corporation by the Company, over (B) the cumulative amount of payments made by the Corporation for any purpose other than (I) the payment by the Corporation of such cash dividends or distributions and (II) the repayment of the principal amount of debt, if any, incurred by the Corporation, in each case as measured at the time of such Exchange.  “ Per-Share Amount ” shall mean, with respect to any prior dividend or distribution that created (or increased) an Excess Distributed Cash Amount, (x) the amount of (or increase in) such Excess Distributed Cash Amount divided by (y) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding at the time of such dividend or distribution.  If the Excess Distributed Cash Amount, as of the time of any determination, is less than it would have been immediately following the prior dividends or distributions that created (or increased) it, then the Per Share Amount with respect to the most recent such prior dividends or distributions shall be reduced to reflect the reduction in the Excess Distributed Cash Amount that exists as of such time of determination, with such Excess Distributed Cash Amount being matched against the most recent such dividend or distribution up to the entire amount of such dividend or distribution and any remaining amount of such Excess Distributed Cash Amount being matched against the most recent of each of the remaining prior dividends or distributions up to the entire amount of each such dividend or distribution until the entire amount of such Excess Distributed Cash Amount has been matched against prior dividends and distributions.

 

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Section 2.3  Class A Common Stock to be Issued .

 

(a)           The Corporation and the Company covenant and agree to deliver shares of Class A Common Stock that have been registered under the Securities Act with respect to any Exchange to the extent that a registration statement is effective and available for such shares.  In the event that any Exchange in accordance with this Agreement is to be effected at a time when any such registration has not become effective or otherwise is unavailable, the Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to promptly facilitate such Exchange pursuant to any reasonably available exemption from such registration requirements.  The Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to list the Class A Common Stock required to be delivered upon exchange prior to such delivery upon each national securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system upon which the outstanding Class A Common Stock may be listed or traded at the time of such delivery. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Corporation or the Company from satisfying their obligations in respect of the exchange of the Company Units by delivery of Class A Common Stock which are unregistered under the Securities Act or held in the treasury of the Corporation or the Company or any of their subsidiaries.  Nothing herein shall be construed as a requirement for the Corporation or the Company to settle the exchange for cash.  The Corporation shall not be required to comply with this Section 2.3(a)  in an Exchange in connection with a Change of Control.

 

(b)           The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issuance upon an Exchange, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as shall be deliverable upon any such Exchange; provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Corporation from satisfying its obligations in respect of any such Exchange by delivery of purchased shares of Class A Common Stock (which may or may not be held in the treasury of the Corporation or any subsidiary thereof).

 

(c)           Prior to the date of this Agreement, the Corporation has taken all such steps as may be required to cause to qualify for exemption under Rule 16b-3(d) or (e), as applicable, under the Exchange Act, and be exempt for purposes of Section 16(b) under the Exchange Act, any acquisitions or dispositions of equity securities of the Corporation (including derivative securities with respect thereto) and any securities which may be deemed to be equity securities or derivative securities of the Corporation for such purposes that result from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, by each director or officer of the Corporation who may reasonably be expected to be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to the Corporation upon the registration of any class of equity security of the Corporation pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act (with the authorizing resolutions specifying the name of each such officer or director whose acquisition or disposition of securities is to be exempted and the number of securities that may be acquired and disposed of by each such Person pursuant to this Agreement).

 

(d)           If any Takeover Law or other similar law or regulation becomes or is deemed to become applicable to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, the Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to render such law or regulation inapplicable to all of the foregoing.

 

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(e)           The Corporation covenants that all Class A Common Stock issued upon an Exchange will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to any preemptive right of stockholders of the Corporation or to any right of first refusal or other right in favor of any Person.

 

Section 2.4  Withholding; Certification of Non-Foreign Status .

 

(a)           If the Corporation or the Company shall be required to withhold any amounts by reason of any federal, state, local or foreign tax rules or regulations in respect of any Exchange, the Corporation or the Company, as the case may be, shall be entitled to take such action as it deems appropriate in order to ensure compliance with such withholding requirements, including at its option withholding shares of Class A Common Stock with a fair market value equal to the minimum amount of any taxes which the Corporation or the Company, as the case may be, may be required to withhold with respect to such Exchange.  To the extent that amounts are (or property is) so withheld and paid over to the appropriate taxing authority, such withheld amounts (or property) shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid (or delivered) to the applicable Company Unitholder.  The parties anticipate that, on the basis of current law, no federal income tax withholding would be required with respect to an Exchange by any Company Unitholder who is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code and who, if required, has properly certified that such holder is not subject to federal backup withholding.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, each of the Corporation and the Company may, at its own discretion, require as a condition to the effectiveness of an Exchange that an exchanging Company Unitholder deliver to the Corporation or the Company, as the case may be, a certification of non-foreign status in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.1445-2(b).  In the event the Corporation or the Company has required delivery of such certification but an exchanging Company Unitholder is unable to do so, the Corporation or the Company, as the case may be, shall nevertheless deliver or cause to be delivered to the exchanging Company Unitholder the Class A Common Stock in accordance with Section 2.1, but subject to withholding as provided in Section 2.4(a).

 

ARTICLE III

 

Section 3.1  Representations and Warranties of the Corporation .  The Corporation represents and warrants that (i) it is a corporation duly incorporated and is existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, (ii) it has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to issue the Class A Common Stock in accordance with the terms hereof, (iii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Corporation and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby (including the issuance of the Class A Common Stock) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Corporation, including all actions necessary to ensure that the acquisition of shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the transactions contemplated hereby, to the fullest extent of the Corporation’s board of directors’ power and authority and to the extent permitted by law, shall

 

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not be subject to any “moratorium,” “control share acquisition,” “business combination,” “fair price” or other form of anti-takeover laws and regulations” of any jurisdiction that may purport to be applicable to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (collectively, “ Takeover Laws ”), (iv) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Corporation enforceable against the Corporation in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by equitable principles or by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally, and (v) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Corporation and the consummation by the Corporation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (A) result in a violation of the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation or the bylaws of the Corporation or (B) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Corporation is a party, or (C) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to the Corporation or by which any property or asset of the Corporation is bound or affected, except with respect to clauses (B) or (C) for any conflicts, defaults, accelerations, terminations, cancellations or violations, that would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation or its business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

Section 3.2    Representations and Warranties of the Company .  The Company represents and warrants that (i) it is a limited liability company duly formed and is existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, (ii) it has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, (iv) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by equitable principles or by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally, and (v) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (A) result in a violation of the certificate of formation of the Company or the LLC Agreement or (B) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company is a party, or (C) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to the Company or by which any property or asset of the Company is bound or affected, except with respect to clauses (B) or (C) for any conflicts, defaults, accelerations, terminations, cancellations or violations, that would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company or its business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

Section 3.3  Representations and Warranties of the Company Unitholders .  Each Company Unitholder, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants that (i) if it is not a natural person, that it is duly incorporated or formed and, the extent such concept exists in its jurisdiction of organization, is in good standing under the laws of such jurisdiction, (ii) it has all

 

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requisite legal capacity and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) if it is not a natural person, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other entity action on the part of such Company Unitholder, (iv) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Company Unitholder enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by equitable principles or by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally, and (v) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such Company Unitholder and the consummation by such Company Unitholder of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (A) if it is not a natural person, result in a violation of the certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents of such Company Unitholder or (B) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which such Company Unitholder is a party, or (C) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable such Company Unitholder, except with respect to clauses (B) or (C) for any conflicts, defaults, accelerations, terminations, cancellations or violations, that would not in any material respect result in the unenforceability against such Company Unitholder of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Section 4.1  Additional Company Unitholders .  To the extent a Company Unitholder validly transfers any or all of such holder’s Company Units to another Person in a transaction in accordance with, and not in contravention of, the LLC Agreement, then such transferee (each, a “ Permitted Transferee ”) shall have the right to execute and deliver a joinder to this Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, whereupon such Permitted Transferee shall become a Company Unitholder hereunder.  To the extent the Company issues Company Units in the future, then the Corporation shall have the right to permit the holder of such Company Units to execute and deliver a joinder to this Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, whereupon such holder shall become a Company Unitholder hereunder.  Except as set forth in this Section 4.1, a Company Unitholder may not assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement.  In connection with a transfer of Company Units to a Permitted Transferee in accordance with, and not in contravention of, the LLC Agreement, that was not a Member immediately prior to such transfer, the Company shall issue one share of Class B Common Stock to such Permitted Transferee.

 

Section 4.2 Notifications . Any notice, demand, consent, election, offer, approval, request, or other communication (collectively, a “ notice ”) required or permitted under this Agreement must be in writing and either delivered personally, sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested or sent by recognized overnight delivery service, electronic mail (e-mail) or by facsimile transmittal.  Any notice sent by confirmed e-mail or facsimile must be sent simultaneously by another method described in the prior sentence.  A notice must be addressed:

 

(a)           If to the Corporation or the Company at:

 

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PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.

6101 Condor Drive
Moorpark, California 93021

Fax:  (818) 337-2138

E-mail:  jeff.grogin@pnmac.com
Attention:  Jeffrey Grogin

 

with a copy to:

 

Bingham McCutchen LLP

355 South Grand Avenue, Suite 4400

Los Angeles, CA 90071-3106

Fax: (213) 680-6499

E-mail:  rick.welch@bingham.com
Attention:  Richard Welch

 

and

 

Bingham McCutchen LLP

600 Anton Boulevard, Plaza Tower, 18th Floor

Costa Mesa, CA 92626-7653

Fax: (714) 830-0700

E-mail:  timothy.rupp@bingham.com
Attention:  Timothy Rupp

 

(b)           If to any Company Unitholder, to the address and other contact information set forth in the records of the Company from time to time.

 

A notice delivered personally will be deemed given only when accepted or refused by the Person to whom it is delivered.  A notice that is sent by mail will be deemed given: (i) 3 Business Days after such notice is mailed to an address within the United States of America or (ii) 7 Business Days after such notice is mailed to an address outside of the United States of America.  A notice sent by recognized overnight delivery service will be deemed given when received or refused.  A notice sent by e-mail or facsimile shall be deemed given upon receipt of a confirmation of such transmission, unless such receipt occurs after normal business hours, in which case such notice shall be deemed given as of the next Business Day.  Any party may designate, by notice to all of the others, substitute addresses or addressees for notices; thereafter, notices are to be directed to those substitute addresses or addressees.

 

Section 4.3  Complete Agreement . This Agreement, together with the LLC Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement and understanding among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersedes all prior agreements or arrangements (written and oral), including any prior representation, statement, condition or warranty between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof.

 

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Section 4.4  Applicable Law; Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial .

 

(c)           The parties hereto hereby agree that all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement and the performance of the obligations imposed by this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule, notwithstanding that public policy in Delaware or any other forum jurisdiction might indicate that the laws of that or any other jurisdiction should otherwise apply based on contacts with such state or otherwise.

 

(d)           Each of the parties hereto submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and agrees that all claims in respect of the action or proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court.  Each party hereto also agrees not to bring any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any other court.  Each of the parties hereto waives any defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any action or proceeding so brought and waives any bond, surety, or other security that might be required of any other party hereto with respect thereto.  The parties hereto each agree that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court shall be conclusive and binding on it and may be enforced in any court to the jurisdiction of which it is subject by a suit upon such judgment.

 

(e)           EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE BREACH, TERMINATION OR VALIDITY OF THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.  EACH PARTY HERETO CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (B) EACH SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (C) EACH SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (D) EACH SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 4.4 .

 

Section 4.5  References to this Agreement; Headings .  Unless otherwise indicated, “Articles,” “Sections,” “Subsections”, “Clauses”, “Exhibits” and “Schedules” mean and refer to designated Articles, Sections, Subsections, Clauses, Exhibits and Schedules of this Agreement.  Words such as “herein,” “hereby,” “hereinafter,” “hereof,” “hereto,” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole, unless the context indicates otherwise.  All headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not intended to define or limit the scope or intent of this Agreement.  All exhibits and schedules referred to herein, and as the same

 

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may be amended from time to time, are by this reference made a part hereof as though fully set forth herein.

 

Section 4.6  Binding Provisions .  This Agreement is binding upon, and inures to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective personal and legal representatives, heirs, executors, successors and permitted assigns.

 

Section 4.7  Construction .  Common nouns and pronouns and any variations thereof shall be deemed to refer to masculine, feminine, or neuter, singular or plural, as the identity of the Person, Persons or other reference in the context requires.  Every covenant, term and provision of this Agreement shall be construed simply according to its fair meaning and not strictly for or against any party hereto. Any reference to any statute, law, or regulation, form or schedule shall include any amendments, modifications, or replacements thereof.   Any reference to any agreement, contract or schedule, unless otherwise stated, shall include any amendments, modifications, or replacements thereof.  Whenever used herein, “or” shall include both the conjunctive and disjunctive unless the context requires otherwise, “any” shall mean “one or more,” and “including” shall mean “including without limitation.”

 

Section 4.8  Severability . It is expressly understood and agreed that if any provision of this Agreement or the application of any such provision to any party or circumstance shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such provision to any party or circumstance other than those to which it is so determined to be invalid or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each provision hereof shall be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law so long as the economic or legal substance of the matters contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party.  If the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares or finds that any term or provision hereof is invalid or unenforceable, the parties hereto agree that the court making the determination of invalidity or unenforceability shall have the power to reduce the scope, duration or area of the term or provision, or to delete specific words or phrases, and to replace any invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be enforceable as so modified.  If such court of competent jurisdiction does not so replace an invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto will 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 to the end that the matters contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the fullest extent possible.

 

Section 4.9  Counterparts . This Agreement and any amendments may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts and delivered via facsimile or .pdf, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same document.  The signature of any party to any counterpart shall be deemed a signature to, and may be appended to, any other counterpart.

 

Section 4.10  No Third Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement is not intended to, and does not, provide or create any rights or benefits of any Person other than the parties hereto and their successors and permitted assigns.

 

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Section 4.11  Mutual Drafting . The parties hereto are sophisticated and have been represented by attorneys throughout the transactions contemplated hereby who have carefully negotiated the provisions hereof.  As a consequence, the parties do not intend that the presumptions of laws or rules relating to the interpretation of contracts against the drafter of any particular clause should be applied to this Agreement or any agreement or instrument executed in connection herewith, and therefore waive their effects.

 

Section 4.12  Rights and Remedies Cumulative .  The rights and remedies provided by this Agreement are cumulative and the use of any one right or remedy by any party shall not preclude or waive the right to use any or all other remedies.  Such rights and remedies are given in addition to any other rights the parties may have by law, statute, ordinance or otherwise.  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 4.13  Amendment .  The provisions of this Agreement may be amended only by the affirmative vote or written consent of each of (i) the Corporation, (ii) the Company,  (iii) Company Unitholders holding at least 75% of the then outstanding Company Units (excluding Company Units held by the Corporation) and (iv) as long as BlackRock Member(s) (as defined in the LLC Agreement) or Highfields Member(s) (as defined in the LLC Agreement) hold a number of Class A Units that is equal to or greater than 10% of the Class A Units outstanding immediately following the closing of the IPO (as defined in the LLC Agreement) and related purchase of Class A Units by the Corporation with the proceeds therefrom, the consent of the BlackRock Member(s) holding a majority of the Class A Units held in the aggregate by the BlackRock Member(s) or Highfields Member(s) holding a majority of the Class A Units held in the aggregate by the Highfields Member(s), as applicable.  Without limiting the foregoing, as long as BlackRock Member(s) or Highfield Member(s) hold any Class A Units, any amendment, modification or change to this Agreement (x) that changes the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be delivered upon an Exchange, either through an amendment to the definition of “Exchange Rate” or otherwise, (y) to the ability of the Corporation to effect a mandatory exchange pursuant to Section 2.1(b) and the terms and conditions relating thereto or (z) that otherwise increases the obligations or decreases the benefits to the BlackRock Member(s) or the Highfields Member(s) shall require the consent of the BlackRock Member(s) holding a majority of the Class A Units held in the aggregate by the BlackRock Member(s) or Highfields Member(s) holding a majority of the Class A Units held in the aggregate by the Highfields Member(s), as applicable.

 

Section 4.14  Tax Treatment .  This Agreement shall be treated as part of the partnership agreement of Company 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 promulgated thereunder.

 

Section 4.15  Specific Performance .  The parties recognize that irreparable injury will result from a breach of any provision of this Agreement and that money damages will be inadequate to fully remedy the injury.  Accordingly, in the event of a breach or threatened breach of one or more of the provisions of this Agreement, any party which may be injured (in addition

 

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to any other remedies which may be available to that party) shall be entitled (without the need to post any bond, surety, or other security) to one or more preliminary or permanent orders (a) restraining and enjoining any act which would constitute a breach or (b) compelling the performance of any obligation which, if not performed, would constitute a breach.

 

Section 4.16  Independent Nature of Company Unitholders’ Rights and Obligations .  The obligations of each Company Unitholder hereunder are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Company Unitholder, and no Company Unitholder shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Company Unitholder under hereunder.  The decision of each Company Unitholder to enter into to this Agreement has been made by such Company Unitholder independently of any other Company Unitholder. Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any Company Unitholder pursuant hereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Company Unitholders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Company Unitholders are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby and the Corporation acknowledges that the Company Unitholders are not acting in concert or as a group, and the Corporation will not assert any such claim, with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 4.17  No Transfer of Class B Common Stock .  No Company Unitholder may Transfer (as defined in the LLC Agreement), directly or indirectly, all or any portion of its shares of Class B Common Stock or any rights therein (voting or otherwise) to any other Person  (it being understood that in connection with a Transfer of Company Units to a Permitted Transferee in accordance with, and not in contravention of, the LLC Agreement, the Company shall issue one share of Class B Common Stock to such Permitted Transferee in accordance with Section 4.1).

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered, all as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

PENNYMAC FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jeffrey P. Grogin

 

 

Name:

Jeffrey P. Grogin

 

 

Title:

Chief Administrative and Legal Officer

 

 

 

and Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRIVATE NATIONAL MORTGAGE ACCEPTANCE COMPANY, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jeffrey P. Grogin

 

 

Name:

Jeffrey P. Grogin

 

 

Title:

Chief Administrative and Legal Officer

 

 

 

and Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMPANY UNITHOLDERS

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

[FORM OF]
ELECTION OF EXCHANGE

 

PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.

6101 Condor Drive

Moorpark, CA 93021

Attention: Chief Administrative and Legal Officer

 

Reference is hereby made to the Exchange Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2013 (the “ Exchange Agreement ”), among PennyMac Financial Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Private National Mortgage Acceptance Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and the holders of Company Units (as defined herein) from time to time party thereto.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Exchange Agreement.

 

The undersigned Company Unitholder hereby transfers to the Company the number of Company Units set forth below in Exchange for shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued in its name as set forth below, as set forth in the Exchange Agreement.

 

Legal Name of Company Unitholder:

 

 

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

Number of Company Units to be Exchanged:

 

 

 

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that (i) the undersigned has full legal capacity to execute and deliver this Election of Exchange and to perform the undersigned’s obligations hereunder; (ii) this Election of Exchange has been duly executed and delivered by the undersigned and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the undersigned enforceable against it in accordance with the terms thereof or hereof, as the case may be, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and the availability of equitable remedies; (iii) the Company Units subject to this Election of Exchange are being transferred to the Company free and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest, encumbrance, equities or claim; and (iv) no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of any third party or with any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the undersigned or the Company Units subject to this Election of Exchange is required to be obtained by the undersigned for the transfer of such Company Units to the Company.

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints any officer of the Corporation as the attorney of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in the premises, to do any and all things and to take any and all actions that may be necessary to transfer to the Company the Company Units subject to this Election of Exchange and to deliver to the undersigned the shares of Class A Common Stock to be delivered in Exchange therefor.

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Election of Exchange to be executed and delivered by the undersigned or by its duly authorized attorney.

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:

 



 

EXHIBIT B

 

[FORM OF]
JOINDER AGREEMENT

 

This Joinder Agreement (“ Joinder Agreement ”) is a joinder to the Exchange Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2013 (the “ Agreement ”), among PennyMac Financial Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Private National Mortgage Acceptance Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and each of the Company Unitholders from time to time party thereto.  Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Joinder Agreement shall have their meanings given to them in the Agreement.  This Joinder Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Delaware.  In the event of any conflict between this Joinder Agreement and the Agreement, the terms of this Joinder Agreement shall control.

 

The undersigned hereby joins and enters into the Agreement having acquired Company Units in the Company.  By signing and returning this Joinder Agreement to the Corporation, the undersigned (i) accepts and agrees to be bound by and subject to all of the terms and conditions of and agreements of a Company Unitholder contained in the Agreement, with all attendant rights, duties and obligations of a Company Unitholder thereunder and (ii) makes each of the representations and warranties of a Company Unitholder set forth in Section 3.3 of the Agreement as fully as if such representations and warranties were set forth herein.  The parties to the Agreement shall treat the execution and delivery hereof by the undersigned as the execution and delivery of the Agreement by the undersigned and, upon receipt of this Joinder Agreement by the Corporation, the signature of the undersigned set forth below shall constitute a counterpart signature to the signature page of the Agreement.

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address for Notices:

 

With copies to:

 

 

 

Attention:

 

 

 

 

 

 


Exhibit 10.3

 

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 

This TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT (as amended from time to time, this “ Agreement ”), dated as of May 8, 2013, is hereby entered into by and among PennyMac Financial Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), Private National Mortgage Acceptance Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ PMLLC ”), and each of the Members.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Members hold membership interests (“ Units ”) in PMLLC, which is treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes;

 

WHEREAS, the Corporation is the managing member of, and holds and will hold Units in, PMLLC;

 

WHEREAS, as a result of the Members agreeing to retain Units rather than transferring all of their Units to the Corporation in exchange for Class A Shares in a transaction that would be subject to Section 351(a) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), the Corporation expects to incur significantly lower tax liabilities on an ongoing basis with respect to the operations of PMLLC;

 

WHEREAS, the Units held by the Members are exchangeable for Class A Shares pursuant to the Exchange Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, PMLLC and each of its direct and indirect subsidiaries treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes will have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Code for each Taxable Year in which an exchange of Units for Class A Shares occurs, which election is intended to result in an adjustment to the tax basis of the assets owned by PMLLC and such subsidiaries (solely with respect to the Corporation) at the time (such time, the “ Exchange Date ”) of an exchange of Units for Class A Shares or any other acquisition by the Corporation of Units for cash or otherwise in each case in a transaction that is a taxable exchange by the exchanging Member for federal income tax purposes, including such an exchange by a Member that is generally exempt from federal income taxation (collectively, an “ Exchange ”), by reason of such Exchange and the payments under this Agreement (such assets and any asset whose tax basis is determined, in whole or in part, by reference to the adjusted basis of any such asset, the “ Adjusted Assets ”);

 

WHEREAS, the income, gain, loss, expense and other Tax items of (i) the Corporation, as a member of PMLLC, may be affected by the Basis Adjustment with respect to the Adjusted Assets and (ii) the Corporation may be affected by the Imputed Interest; and

 

WHEREAS, the parties to this Agreement desire to make certain arrangements with respect to the effect of the Basis Adjustment and the Imputed Interest on the liability for Taxes of the Corporation.

 



 

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

 

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 the singular and plural forms of the terms defined).

 

Adjusted Asset ” is defined in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

Advisory Firm ” means any “big four” accounting firm or any other law or accounting firm that is nationally recognized as being expert in Tax matters and that is agreed to by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 

Advisory Firm Letter ” shall mean a letter from the Advisory Firm stating that the relevant schedule, notice or other information to be provided by the Corporation to the Applicable Member and all supporting schedules and work papers were prepared in a manner 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 schedule, notice or other information is delivered to the Applicable Member.

 

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.

 

Agreement ” is defined in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

Amended Schedule ” is defined in Section 2.04(b).

 

Amount Realized ” means, in respect of an Exchange by an Exchanging Member, the amount that is deemed for purposes of this Agreement to be the amount realized by the Exchanging Member on the Exchange, which shall be the sum of (i) the Market Value of the Class A Shares, the amount of cash and the amount or fair market value of other consideration received by the Exchanging Member in the Exchange other than under this Agreement and (ii) the Share of Liabilities attributable to the Units Exchanged.

 

Applicable Member ” means any present or former Member to whom any portion of a Realized Tax Benefit is attributable hereunder.

 

Available Cash ” means all cash and cash equivalents of the Corporation on hand, less (i) amounts reserved for the payment of Taxes and corporate overhead expenses, and (ii) the amount of cash reserves reasonably established in good faith by the Corporation.

 

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Basis Adjustment ” means the adjustment to the Tax basis of an Adjusted Asset, in each case, arising in respect of an Exchange, as calculated under Section 2.01 of this Agreement, under the principles of Section 732 of the Code (in a situation where, as a result of one or more Exchanges, PMLLC becomes an entity that is disregarded as separate from its owner for tax purposes) or Sections 743(b) and 754 of the Code (including in situations where, following an Exchange, PMLLC remains in existence as an entity for tax purposes) and, in each case, comparable sections of state, local and foreign Tax laws.  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.

 

Beneficial Owner ” means, with respect to a 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, such security and/or (ii) investment power, which includes the power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, such security.  The terms “ Beneficially Own ” and “ Beneficial Ownership ” shall have correlative meanings.

 

Board of Directors ” or “ Board ” means the board of directors of the Corporation.

 

Business Day ” means Monday through Friday of each week, except that a legal holiday recognized as such by the government of the United States of America or the State of California shall not be regarded as a Business Day.

 

Change of Control ” is defined in the Exchange Agreement.

 

Class A Shares ” means shares of Class A common stock of the Corporation.

 

Code ” is defined in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

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 otherwise.

 

Corporation ” is defined in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

Corporation Return ” means the United States federal, state, local and/or foreign Tax Return, as applicable, of the Corporation filed with respect to Taxes of any Taxable Year.

 

Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit ” for a Taxable Year means 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.

 

Default Rate ” means LIBOR plus 500 basis points.

 

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Deferral Rate ” means LIBOR plus 350 basis points.

 

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

 

Dispute ” is defined in Section 7.08(a).

 

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

 

Early Termination Notice ” is defined in Section 4.02.

 

Early Termination Payment ” is defined in Section 4.03(b).

 

Early Termination Rate ” means LIBOR plus 100 basis points.

 

Early Termination Schedule ” is defined in Section 4.02.

 

Exchange ” is defined in the Recitals of this Agreement, and “ Exchanged ” and “ Exchanging ” shall have correlative meanings.

 

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

 

Exchange Agreement ” means the Exchange Agreement by and among the Corporation, PMLLC, and the Members from time to time party hereto.

 

Exchange Basis Schedule ” is defined in Section 2.02.

 

Exchange Date ” is defined in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

Exchange Payment ” is defined in Section 5.01.

 

Exchanging Member ” means a Member that Exchanges some or all of its Units.

 

Expert ” is defined in Section 7.09.

 

Hypothetical Tax Liability ” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the liability for Taxes of the Corporation (and PMLLC, but only with respect to Taxes imposed on PMLLC and allocable to the Corporation) using the same methods, elections, conventions and similar practices used on the relevant Corporation Return, but using the Non-Stepped Up Tax Basis instead of the Tax basis reflecting the Basis Adjustments of the Adjusted Assets and excluding any deduction attributable to Imputed Interest.

 

Imputed Interest ” shall mean any interest imputed under Section 1272, 1274 or 483 or other provision of the Code and any similar provision of state, local and foreign Tax law with respect to the Corporation’s payment obligations under this Agreement.

 

4



 

Interest Amount ” is defined in Section 3.01(b).

 

IPO ” means the initial public offering of Class A Shares by the Corporation.

 

IPO Date ” means the date on which the Corporation contributes to PMLLC the net proceeds received by the Corporation in connection with the IPO.

 

IRS ” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

LIBOR ” means for each month (or portion thereof) during any period, an interest rate per annum equal to the rate per annum reported, on the date two days prior to the first day of such month, on the Telerate Page 3750 (or if such screen shall cease to be publicly available, as reported on Reuters Screen page “LIBO” or by any other publicly available source of such market rate) for London interbank offered rates for United States dollar deposits for such month (or portion thereof).

 

LLC Agreement ” means, with respect to PMLLC, the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of PMLLC, dated on or about the date hereof, as such agreement may be amended from time to time

 

Market Value ” shall mean the closing price of the Class A Shares on the applicable Exchange Date on the national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which such Class A Shares are then traded or listed; provided that if there is no such closing price of the Class A Shares for the applicable Exchange Date, then the Market Value shall mean the closing price of the Class A Shares on the most recent Business Day immediately preceding such Exchange Date for which there is a closing price of the Class A Shares on the national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which such Class A Shares are then traded or listed; provided further, that if the Class A Shares are not then listed on a national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system, “Market Value” shall mean the cash consideration paid for Class A Shares, or the fair market value of the other property delivered for Class A Shares, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation in good faith.

 

Material Objection Notice ” is defined in Section 4.02.

 

Members ” means the parties hereto, other than the Corporation and PMLLC, and each other Person who from time to time executes a Joinder Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A .

 

Net Tax Benefit ” is defined in Section 3.01(b).

 

Non-Stepped Up Tax Basis ” means, with respect to any asset at any time, the Tax basis that such asset would have had at such time if no Basis Adjustment had been made.

 

Objection Notice ” is defined in Section 2.04(a).

 

Original Members ” means the members of PMLLC on the date of, but immediately preceding, the IPO.

 

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Payment Date ” means any date on which a payment is required to be made pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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

 

PMLLC ” is defined in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

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

 

Realized Tax Benefit ” means, for a Taxable Year and for all Taxes collectively, the net excess, if any, of the Hypothetical Tax Liability over the liability for Taxes of the Corporation (and PMLLC, but only with respect to Taxes imposed on PMLLC and allocable to the Corporation for such Taxable Year), such liability to be computed taking into account the Basis Adjustments and, to the extent applicable under this Agreement, the Valuation Assumptions.  If all or a portion of the actual liability for Taxes of the Corporation (and PMLLC, but only with respect to Taxes imposed on PMLLC and allocable to the Corporation for such Taxable Year) for the Taxable Year arises or is proposed to be reduced as a result of an audit by a Taxing Authority of any Taxable Year, such liability shall not be included or eliminated, respectively, in determining the Realized Tax Benefit unless and until there has been a Determination.

 

Realized Tax Detriment ” means, for a Taxable Year and for all Taxes collectively, the net excess, if any, of the liability for Taxes of the Corporation (and PMLLC, but only with respect to Taxes imposed on PMLLC and allocable to the Corporation for such Taxable Year), such liability to be computed taking into account the Basis Adjustments and, to the extent applicable under this Agreement, the Valuation Assumptions, over the Hypothetical Tax Liability for such Taxable Year.  If all or a portion of the actual liability for Taxes of the Corporation (and PMLLC, but only with respect to Taxes imposed on PMLLC and allocable to the Corporation for such Taxable Year) for the Taxable Year arises or is proposed to be reduced as a result of an audit by a Taxing Authority of any Taxable Year, such liability shall not be included or eliminated, respectively, in determining the Realized Tax Detriment unless and until there has been a Determination.

 

Reconciliation Dispute ” is defined in Section 7.09.

 

Reconciliation Procedures ” shall mean those procedures set forth in Section 7.09.

 

Schedule ” means any Exchange Basis Schedule or Tax Benefit Schedule and the Early Termination Schedule.

 

Senior Obligations ” is defined in Section 5.01.

 

Share of Liabilities ”, means, as to any Unit at the time of an Exchange, the portion of PMLLC’s aggregate liabilities, as determined for purposes of Section 752 and Section 1001 of the Code, allocated to that Unit pursuant to Section 752 of the Code and the applicable Treasury Regulations.

 

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

 

Tax Benefit Payment ” is defined in Section 3.01(b).

 

Tax Benefit Schedule ” is defined in Section 2.03.

 

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 state, local or foreign Tax law, as applicable (and, therefore, for the avoidance of doubt, may include a period of less than twelve (12) months for which a Tax Return is prepared), ending on or after the IPO Date.

 

Taxes ” means any and all United States federal, state, local and foreign taxes, assessments or similar charges that are based on or measured with respect to net income or profits, whether as an exclusive or on an alternative basis, and any interest related to such Tax.

 

Taxing Authority ” shall mean any domestic, foreign, federal, national, state, county or municipal or other local government, any subdivision, agency, commission or authority thereof, or any quasi-governmental body exercising any taxing authority or any other authority exercising Tax regulatory authority.

 

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

 

Units ” is defined in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

Valuation Assumptions ” shall mean, as of an Early Termination Date, the assumptions that (1) in each Taxable Year ending on or after such Early Termination Date, the Corporation will be a regular “C corporation” for federal income tax purposes and will have taxable income sufficient to fully use the deductions arising during such Taxable Year from any Basis Adjustment and Imputed Interest, (2) the federal income tax rates and state, local and foreign 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 Date, (3) any loss carryovers generated by any Basis Adjustment or Imputed Interest and available as of the date of the Early Termination Schedule 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, (4) any non-amortizable assets will be disposed of on the fifteenth (15th) anniversary of the earlier of the Basis Adjustment and the Early Termination Date, provided, that in the event

 

7



 

of a Change of Control prior to the Early Termination Date, non-amortizable assets shall be deemed disposed of at the earlier of (i) the time of sale of the relevant asset or (ii) as generally provided in this Valuation Assumption (4) and (5) if, at the Early Termination Date, there are Units that have not been Exchanged, then each such Unit shall be deemed to be Exchanged for the Market Value of the Class A Shares and the amount of cash that would be transferred if the Exchange occurred on the Early Termination Date.

 

ARTICLE II  DETERMINATION OF CUMULATIVE REALIZED NET TAX BENEFIT

 

Section 2.01                              Basis Adjustment .

 

(a)                                  Adjusted Assets . For purposes of this Agreement, as a result of an Exchange, PMLLC shall be deemed to be entitled to a Basis Adjustment for each Adjusted Asset with respect to the Corporation, the amount of which Basis Adjustment shall be the excess, if any, of (i) the sum of (x) the Amount Realized by the Exchanging Member in the Exchange, to the extent attributable to such Adjusted Asset, plus (y) the amount of payments made pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such Exchange, to the extent attributable to such Adjusted Asset, over (ii) the Corporation’s share of PMLLC’s Tax basis for such Adjusted Asset immediately after the Exchange, attributable to the Units Exchanged, determined as if (x) PMLLC remains in existence as an entity for tax purposes, and (y) PMLLC had not made the election provided by Section 754 of the Code.

 

(b)                                  Imputed Interest .  For the avoidance of doubt, payments made under this Agreement shall not be treated as resulting in a Basis Adjustment to the extent such payments are treated as Imputed Interest.

 

Section 2.02                              Exchange Basis Schedule .  Within forty-five (45) calendar days after the filing of the United States federal income tax return of the Corporation for each Taxable Year, the Corporation shall deliver to each Exchanging Member a schedule (an “ Exchange Basis Schedule ”) that shows, in reasonable detail, for purposes of Taxes, (i) the actual unadjusted Tax basis of the Adjusted Assets as of each applicable Exchange Date, (ii) the Basis Adjustment with respect to the Adjusted Assets as a result of the Exchanges effected in such Taxable Year, calculated in the aggregate, (iii)  the period or periods, if any, over which the Adjusted Assets are amortizable and/or depreciable and (iv) the period or periods, if any, over which each Basis Adjustment is amortizable and/or depreciable (which, for non-amortizable assets shall be based on clause (4) of the Valuation Assumptions).

 

Section 2.03                              Tax Benefit Schedule .  Within forty-five (45) calendar days after the filing of the United States 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 each Applicable Member 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 Schedule will become final as provided in Section 2.04(a) and may be amended as provided in Section 2.04(b) (subject to the procedures set forth in Section 2.04(b)).

 

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Section 2.04                              Procedures, Amended Schedule .

 

(a)                                  Procedure . Every time the Corporation delivers to an Applicable Member an applicable Schedule under this Agreement, including any Amended Schedule delivered pursuant to Section 2.04(b), but excluding any Early Termination Schedule or amended Early Termination Schedule, the Corporation shall also (x) deliver to the Applicable Member schedules and work papers providing reasonable detail regarding the preparation of the Schedule and an Advisory Firm Letter supporting such Schedule and (y) allow the Applicable Member reasonable access at no cost to the appropriate representatives at the Corporation and the Advisory Firm in connection with a review of such Schedule. The applicable Schedule shall become final and binding on all parties unless the Applicable Member, within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving an Exchange Basis Schedule or amendment thereto or a Tax Benefit Schedule or amendment thereto, provides the Corporation with notice of a material objection to such Schedule (“ Objection Notice ”) made in good faith.  If the parties, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in such notice within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt by the Corporation of an Objection Notice with respect to an Exchange Basis Schedule or a Tax Benefit Schedule, the Corporation and the Applicable Member shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures as described in Section 7.09 of this Agreement.

 

(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 material 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 provided to the Applicable Member, (iii) to comply with the Expert’s determination under the Reconciliation Procedures, (iv) to reflect a material 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 material 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 the Exchange Basis Schedule to take into account payments made pursuant to this Agreement (such Schedule, an “ Amended Schedule ”). The Corporation shall provide any Amended Schedule to the Applicable Member within thirty (30) calendar days of the occurrence of an event referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) of the preceding sentence, and any such Amended Schedule shall be subject to approval procedures similar to those described in Section 2.04(a).

 

ARTICLE III  TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS

 

Section 3.01                              Payments .

 

(a)                                  Payments . Within five (5) Business Days of a Tax Benefit Schedule that was delivered to an Applicable Member becoming final in accordance with Section 2.04(a), the Corporation shall pay to such Applicable Member for such Taxable Year the Tax Benefit Payment determined pursuant to Section 3.01(b).  Each such Tax Benefit Payment shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account of the Applicable Member previously designated by such Member to the Corporation.  For the avoidance of doubt, no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of estimated tax payments, including, without limitation, federal income tax payments.

 

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(b)                                  A “ Tax Benefit Payment ” means an amount, not less than zero, equal to the sum of the Net Tax Benefit and the Interest Amount resulting from each Exchange by the Applicable Member.  The “ Net Tax Benefit ” for each Taxable Year shall be an amount equal to the excess, if any, of 85% of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit as of the end of such Taxable Year over the total amount of payments previously made under this Section 3.01 with respect to that Exchange, excluding payments attributable to Interest Amount; provided, however, that for the avoidance of doubt, no Member shall be required to return any portion of any previously made Tax Benefit Payment.  The “ Interest Amount ” for a given Taxable Year with respect to an Exchange shall equal the interest on the Net Tax Benefit for such Taxable Year calculated at the Agreed Rate from the due date (without extensions) for filing the Corporation Return with respect to Taxes for the most recently ended Taxable Year until the Payment Date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, for each Taxable Year ending on or after the date of a Change of Control, all Tax Benefit Payments, whether paid with respect to Units that were Exchanged (i) prior to the date of such Change of Control or (ii) on or after the date of such Change of Control, shall be calculated by using Valuation Assumptions (1), (3), and (4), substituting in each case the terms “the date on which a Change of Control becomes effective” for an “Early Termination Date.”  The Net Tax Benefit and the Interest Amount shall be determined separately with respect to each separate Exchange, on a Unit-by-Unit basis by reference to the Amount Realized by the Exchanging Member on the Exchange of a Unit and the resulting Basis Adjustment to the Corporation.

 

(c)                                   If on any Payment Date the Corporation does not have sufficient Available Cash to pay the Tax Benefit Payment that is due on such Payment Date as specified in Section 3.01(a), the Corporation may elect by written notice to the affected Members to defer payment of such Tax Benefit Payment that is in excess of the Available Cash for a period of time not to exceed two (2) years.  If the Corporation elects to defer payment of any amount pursuant to this Section 3.01(c), interest shall accrue on such amount at the Deferral Rate from the Payment Date specified in Section 3.01(a) until such amount is paid.  While any amounts are deferred pursuant to this Section 3.01(c), the Corporation shall be required, within ninety (90) calendar days of obtaining Available Cash, to make payments to Applicable Members with respect to such deferred amounts to the extent of such Available Cash.  Upon a Change in Control, any amounts then deferred pursuant to this Section 3.01(c) (and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon) shall become due, and no further amounts may be deferred pursuant to this Section 3.01(c).

 

(d)                                  The Corporation shall use good faith efforts to ensure that it has sufficient Available Cash to make all payments due under this Agreement without regard to Section 3.01(c), which good faith efforts shall include considering opportunities to obtain financing on commercially reasonable terms in order to obtain sufficient Available Cash for such purpose.

 

Section 3.02                              No Duplicative Payments .  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, it is intended that the provisions of this Agreement will not result in duplicative payment of any amount (including interest) required under this Agreement. It is also intended that the provisions of this Agreement will result in 85% of the Corporation’s Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit for each Exchange, and the Interest Amount thereon, being paid to the Applicable Members pursuant to this Agreement.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in the appropriate manner so that these fundamental results are achieved.

 

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Section 3.03                              Pro Rata Limitation on Deductions; Pro Rata Payments .  For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent that (i) the Corporation’s deductions with respect to any Basis Adjustment are limited in a particular Taxable Year or (ii) the Corporation lacks sufficient funds to satisfy its obligations to make all Tax Benefit Payments due in a particular Taxable Year, the limitation on the deductions, or the Tax Benefit Payments that may be made, as the case may be, shall be taken into account or made for the Applicable Member in the same proportion as Tax Benefit Payments would have been made absent the limitations in clauses (i) and (ii) of this paragraph, as applicable.

 

ARTICLE IV  TERMINATION

 

Section 4.01                              Early Termination and Breach of Agreement .

 

(a)                                  The Corporation may terminate this Agreement with respect to all of the Units held (or previously held and Exchanged) by all Members at any time by paying to the Members the Early Termination Payment; provided, however, that this Agreement shall only terminate upon the receipt of the Early Termination Payment by all Members, and provided, further, that the Corporation may withdraw any notice to execute its termination rights under this Section 4.01(a) prior to the time at which any Early Termination Payment has been paid.  Upon payment of the Early Termination Payments by the Corporation, neither the Members nor the Corporation shall have any further payment obligations under this Agreement, other than for any (a) Tax Benefit Payment agreed to by the Corporation and the Member as due and payable but unpaid as of the Early Termination Notice and (b) Tax Benefit Payment due for the Taxable Year ending with or including the date of the Early Termination Notice (except to the extent that the amount described in clause (b) is included in the Early Termination Payment).  For the avoidance of doubt, if an Exchange occurs after the Corporation makes the Early Termination Payments with respect to all Members, the Corporation shall have no obligations under this Agreement with respect to such Exchange, and its only obligations under this Agreement in such case shall be its obligations to all Members under Section 4.03(a).

 

(b)                                  In the event that the Corporation 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 such obligations shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of such breach and shall include, but shall not be limited to, (1) the Early Termination Payment calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of a breach, (2) any Tax Benefit Payment agreed to by the Corporation and any Members as due and payable but unpaid as of the date of a breach, and (3) any Tax Benefit Payment due for the Taxable Year ending with or including the date of a breach.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Corporation breaches this Agreement, the Members shall be entitled to elect to receive the amounts set forth in clauses (1), (2) and (3) above or to seek specific performance of the terms hereof.  The parties agree that the failure to make any payment due pursuant to this Agreement within ninety (90) calendar days of the date such payment is due (subject to the Corporation’s rights under Section 3.01(c)) shall be deemed to be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement for all purposes of this Agreement, and that it will not be considered to be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement to make a payment due pursuant to this Agreement within ninety (90) calendar days of the date such payment is due.

 

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(c)                                   The Corporation, PMLLC and each of the Members hereby acknowledge that, as of the date of this Agreement, the aggregate value of the Tax Benefit Payments cannot reasonably be ascertained for United States federal income tax or other applicable Tax purposes.

 

Section 4.02                              Early Termination Notice .  If the Corporation chooses to exercise its right of early termination under Section 4.01 above, the Corporation shall deliver to each present or former Member notice of such intention to exercise such right (“ Early Termination Notice ”) and a schedule (the “ Early Termination Schedule ”) specifying the Corporation’s intention to exercise such right and showing in reasonable detail the calculation of the Early Termination Payment for that Member.  The Early Termination Schedule shall become final and binding on all parties unless the Member, within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving the Early Termination Schedule, provides the Corporation with notice of a material objection to such Schedule made in good faith (“ Material Objection Notice ”).  If the parties, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in such notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporation of the Material Objection Notice, the Corporation and the Member shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures as described in Section 7.09 of this Agreement.

 

Section 4.03                              Payment upon Early Termination .

 

(a)                                  Within five (5) Business Days after agreement between the Member and the Corporation of the Early Termination Schedule, the Corporation shall pay to the Member an amount equal to the Early Termination Payment.  Such payment shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Member.

 

(b)                                  The “ Early Termination Payment ” as of the date of the delivery of an Early Termination Schedule shall equal with respect to any Member the present value, discounted at the Early Termination Rate as of such date, of all Tax Benefit Payments that would be required to be paid by the Corporation to the Member beginning from the Early Termination Date and assuming that the Valuation Assumptions are applied.

 

ARTICLE V  SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS

 

Section 5.01                              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 (an “ Exchange Payment ”) shall rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to any principal, interest or other amounts due and payable in respect of any obligations in respect of indebtedness for borrowed money of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries (“ Senior Obligations ”) and shall rank pari passu with all current or future unsecured obligations of the Corporation that are not Senior Obligations.

 

Section 5.02                              Late Payments by the Corporation .  The amount of all or any portion of any Exchange Payment not made to any Member when due (subject to the Corporation’s rights under Section 3.01(c)) under the terms of this Agreement shall be payable together with any interest thereon, computed at the Default Rate and commencing from the date on which such Exchange Payment was due and payable.

 

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ARTICLE VI  NO DISPUTES; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION

 

Section 6.01                              Original Member Participation in the Corporation’s and PMLLC’s Tax Matters . Except as otherwise provided herein, the Corporation shall have full responsibility for, and sole discretion over, all Tax matters concerning the Corporation and PMLLC, 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 the applicable Original Member of, and keep the applicable Original Member reasonably informed with respect to, the portion of any audit of the Corporation and PMLLC by a Taxing Authority the outcome of which is reasonably expected to affect the applicable Original Member’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, and shall provide to the applicable Original Member reasonable opportunity to provide information and other input to the Corporation, PMLLC and their respective advisors concerning the conduct of any such portion of such audit; provided, however, that the Corporation and PMLLC shall not be required to take any action that is inconsistent with any provision of the LLC Agreement or applicable law; and, provided, further, that any BlackRock Member or Highfields Member (as those terms are defined in the LLC Agreement) that, in each case, is an Original Member shall be entitled to participate, at such Original Member’s own expense, in the conduct of the portion of any audit of the Corporation and PMLLC by a Taxing Authority the outcome of which is reasonably expected to affect the applicable Original Member’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

 

Section 6.02                              Consistency .  Except upon the written advice of an Advisory Firm, and except for items that are explicitly described as “deemed” or in similar manner by the terms of this Agreement, the Corporation and the Exchanging Member agree to report and cause to be reported for all purposes, including federal, state, local and foreign Tax purposes and financial reporting purposes, all Tax-related items (including without limitation the Basis Adjustment and each Tax Benefit Payment) in a manner consistent with that specified by the Corporation in any Schedule required to be provided by or on behalf of the Corporation under this Agreement.  Any dispute concerning such advice shall be subject to the Reconciliation Procedures of Section 7.09; provided, however, that only an Original Member shall have the right to object to such advice pursuant to this Section 6.02.  In the event that an Advisory Firm is replaced with another firm acceptable to the Corporation and the Exchanging Member, such replacement Advisory Firm shall be required to perform its services under this Agreement using procedures and methodologies consistent with the previous Advisory Firm, unless otherwise required by law or the Corporation and the Exchanging Member agree to the use of other procedures and methodologies.

 

Section 6.03                              Cooperation . The Members shall each (a) 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, (b) 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 (a) above, and (c) reasonably cooperate in connection with any such matter, and the Corporation shall reimburse each Member for any reasonable third-party costs and expenses incurred pursuant to this Section.

 

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ARTICLE VII  MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 7.01                              Notices . All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given and received (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally, or by facsimile upon confirmation of transmission by the sender’s fax machine if sent on a Business Day (or otherwise on the next Business Day) or (b) on the first Business Day following the date of dispatch if delivered by a recognized next-day courier service.  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:

 

PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.

6101 Condor Drive Moorpark, CA 93021

Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Fax: (818) 337-7182

 

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

 

Bingham McCutchen LLP

One Federal Street

Boston, Massachusetts  02110

Attention:  Daniel A. Nelson, Esq.

Fax: (617) 951-8736

 

if to PMLLC, to:

 

Private National Mortgage Acceptance Company, LLC

6101 Condor Drive Moorpark, CA 93021

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Fax:  (818) 337-7182

 

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

 

Bingham McCutchen LLP

One Federal Street

Boston, Massachusetts  02110

Attention:  Daniel A. Nelson, Esq.

Fax:  (617) 951-8736

 

If to any Member, to:

 

The address and facsimile number set forth for such Member in the records of PMLLC.

 

Any party may change its address or fax number by giving the other party written notice of its new address or fax number in the manner set forth above.

 

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Section 7.02                              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 7.03                              Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement, together with the LLC Agreement and the Exchange Agreement, and the exhibits and schedules referenced herein and therein, constitute  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 7.04                              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 7.05                              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 7.06                              Successors; Assignment; Amendments; Waivers . No Member may assign this Agreement to any person without the prior written consent of the Corporation; provided, however, that (i) to the extent Units are effectively transferred in accordance with the terms of the LLC Agreement, the transferring Member shall have the option to assign to the transferee of such Units the transferring Member’s rights under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Units, as long as such transferee has executed and delivered, or, in connection with such transfer, executes and delivers, a joinder to this Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, and (ii) once an Exchange has occurred, any and all payments that may become payable to a Member pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Exchanged Units may be assigned to any Person or Persons, including a liquidating trust, as long as any such Person has executed and delivered, or, in connection with such assignment, executes and delivers, a joinder to this Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A; provided, further, however, that no such assignment or transfer shall relieve any party hereto of any of its obligations hereunder.  For the avoidance of doubt, if a Person transfers Units but does not assign to the transferee of such Units such Person’s rights, if any, under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Units, such Person shall be entitled to receive the Tax Benefit Payments, if any, due hereunder with respect to such Units, including any Tax Benefit Payments

 

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arising in respect of a subsequent Exchange of such Units, and shall be deemed to be the “Applicable Member” to the extent necessary to effectuate that result, including with respect to the right to receive Tax Benefit Payments, Schedules, and Amended Schedules, and to dispute the same.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.06, no transferee described in clause (i) of the immediately preceding paragraph shall have the right to enforce the provisions of Section 2.04, 4.02, 6.01 or 6.02 of this Agreement, and no assignee described in clause (ii) of the immediately preceding paragraph shall have any rights under this Agreement except for the right to enforce its right to receive payments under this Agreement.

 

No provision of this Agreement may be amended unless such amendment is approved in writing by each of the Corporation and PMLLC and by Original Members who would be entitled to receive at least two-thirds of the Early Termination Payments payable to all Original Members hereunder if the Corporation had exercised its right of early termination on the date of the most recent Exchange prior to such amendment (excluding, for purposes of this sentence, all payments made to any Original Member pursuant to this Agreement since the date of such most recent Exchange); provided, that no such amendment shall be effective if such amendment will have a disproportionate effect on the payments certain Members will or may receive under this Agreement unless all such Members disproportionately affected consent in writing to such amendment.  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.

 

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 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.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event an Original Member transfers his Units to a Person referred to clause (x)(ii), (x)(iii), or (x)(iv) of Section 9.1 of the LLC Agreement, excluding any other Original Member, such Original Member shall have the right, on behalf of such transferee, to enforce the provisions of Sections 2.04, 4.02, 6.01, or 6.02 with respect to such transferred Units.

 

Section 7.07                              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 7.08                              Resolution of Disputes .

 

(a)                                  Any and all disputes which are not governed by Section 7.09, including but not limited to 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 settled by arbitration conducted by a single arbitrator in Los Angeles

 

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in accordance with the then-existing Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce.  If the parties to the Dispute fail to agree on the selection of an arbitrator within ten (10) calendar days of the receipt of the request for arbitration, the International Chamber of Commerce shall make the appointment.  The arbitrator shall be a lawyer admitted to the practice of law in the State of California and shall conduct the proceedings in the English language. Performance under this Agreement shall continue if reasonably possible during any arbitration proceedings.  In addition to monetary damages, the arbitrator shall be empowered to award equitable relief, including, but not limited to an injunction and specific performance of any obligation under this Agreement.  The arbitrator is not empowered to award damages in excess of compensatory damages, and each party hereby irrevocably waives any right to recover punitive, exemplary or similar damages with respect to any Dispute.  The award shall be final and binding upon the parties as from the date rendered, and shall be the sole and exclusive remedy between the parties regarding any claims, counterclaims, issues, or accounting presented to the arbitral tribunal.  Judgment upon any award may be entered and enforced in any court having jurisdiction over a party or any of its assets.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a), the Corporation may bring an action or special proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of compelling a 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 Member (i) expressly consents to the application of paragraph (c) of this Section 7.08 to any such action or proceeding, (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, and (iii) irrevocably appoints the Corporation as such Member’s agent for service of process in connection with any such action or proceeding and agrees that service of process upon such agent, who shall promptly advise such Member of any such service of process, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Member in any such action or proceeding.

 

(c)

 

(i)                                      EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF COURTS LOCATED IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION 7.08, OR ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING ANCILLARY TO AN ARBITRATION OR CONTEMPLATED ARBITRATION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO OR CONCERNING THIS AGREEMENT.  Such ancillary judicial proceedings include any suit, action or proceeding to compel arbitration, to obtain temporary or preliminary judicial relief in aid of arbitration, or to confirm an arbitration award.  The parties acknowledge that the fora designated by this paragraph (c) have a reasonable relation to this Agreement, and to the parties’ relationship with one another; and

 

(ii)                                   The parties hereby waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which they now or hereafter may have to personal jurisdiction or to the laying of venue of any such ancillary suit, action or proceeding brought in any court referred to in paragraph (c)(i) of this Section 7.08 and such parties agree not to plead or claim the same.

 

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Section 7.09                              Reconciliation . In the event that the Corporation and an Applicable Member are unable to resolve a disagreement with respect to the matters governed by Sections 2.04, 4.02 and 6.02 within the relevant period designated in this Agreement (“ 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 an individual that is a partner in a nationally recognized accounting firm or a law firm (other than the Advisory Firm), and the Expert shall not be involved in any ongoing engagement between the firm in which the Expert is a partner, on the one hand, and either the Corporation or the Applicable Member, on the other hand, or have any 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 Expert shall be appointed by the International Chamber of Commerce Centre for Expertise.  The Expert shall resolve any matter relating to the Exchange 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 such date 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 each Applicable Member shall bear their own costs and expenses of such proceeding, unless the Applicable Member has a prevailing position that is more than 10% of the payment at issue, in which case the Corporation shall reimburse such Applicable Member for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding.  Any dispute as to whether a dispute is a Reconciliation Dispute within the meaning of this Section 7.09 shall be decided by the Expert.  The Expert shall finally determine any Reconciliation Dispute and the determinations of the Expert pursuant to this Section 7.09 shall be binding on the Corporation and the Applicable Member and may be entered and enforced in any court having jurisdiction.

 

Section 7.10                              Withholding . The Corporation shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any payment payable to an Applicable 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 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 to the Applicable Member.  The parties anticipate that, on the basis of current law, no federal income tax withholding would be required with respect to any holder of Units who is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code and who has properly certified that such holder is not subject to federal backup withholding.

 

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

 

(a)                                  If the Corporation becomes a member of an affiliated or consolidated group of corporations that files a consolidated income tax return pursuant to Sections 1501 et seq. of the Code or any corresponding provisions of state, local or foreign Tax law, then, while the Corporation is such a member: (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 any entity that is obligated to make an Exchange Payment hereunder transfers one or more assets to a corporation with which such entity does not file a consolidated tax return pursuant to Section 1501 of the Code, such entity, for purposes of calculating the amount of any Exchange Payment (e.g., calculating the gross income of the entity and determining the Realized Tax Benefit of such entity) due hereunder, shall be treated as having disposed of such asset in a fully taxable transaction on the date of such transfer.  The consideration deemed to be received by such entity shall be equal to the fair market value of the transferred asset, plus (i) the amount of debt to which such asset is subject, in the case of a contribution of an encumbered asset or (ii) the amount of debt allocated to such asset, in the case of a transfer of a partnership interest.

 

Section 7.12                              Confidentiality .  Each Member and assignee 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, concerning PMLLC and its Affiliates and successors or the other Members, learned by the 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 such Member in violation of this Agreement) or is generally known to the business community and (ii) the disclosure of information to the extent necessary for a Member to prepare and file his or her 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.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, each Member and assignee (and each employee, representative or other agent of such Member or assignee, as applicable) may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Corporation, PMLLC, the Members and their Affiliates, and any of their transactions, and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to the Members relating to such tax treatment and tax structure.

 

If a Member or 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 or the other Members 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.

 

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Section 7.13                              Independent Nature of Members’ Rights and Obligations .  The obligations of each Member hereunder are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Member, and no Member shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Member under hereunder.  The decision of each Member to enter into to this Agreement has been made by such Member independently of any other Member.  Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any Member pursuant hereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Members 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 obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby and the Corporation acknowledges that the Members are not acting in concert or as a group, and the Corporation will not assert any such claim, with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation, PMLLC and each Member have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

PENNYMAC FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jeffrey Grogin

 

 

Name: Jeffrey Grogin

 

 

Title:   Chief Administrative and Legal Officer and Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRIVATE NATIONAL MORTGAGE ACCEPTANCE COMPANY, LLC

 

By its Managing Member, PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jeffrey Grogin

 

 

Name: Jeffrey Grogin

 

 

Title:   Chief Administrative and Legal Officer and Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MEMBERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

JOINDER

 

This JOINDER (this “ Joinder ”) to the Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of [        ], 2013, by and among PennyMac Financial Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), Private National Mortgage Acceptance Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ PMLLC ”) and [                                  ] (“ Permitted Transferee ”).

 

WHEREAS, on [                  ], 20[    ], Permitted Transferee acquired (the “ Acquisition ”) [      ] Units in PMLLC (collectively, “ Interests ” and, together with all other Interests hereinafter acquired by Permitted Transferee from Transferor, the “ Acquired Interests ”) from [                  ] (“ Transferor ”); and

 

WHEREAS, Transferor, in connection with the Acquisition, has required Permitted Transferee to execute and deliver this Joinder pursuant to Section 7.06 of the Tax Receivable Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the agreements contained herein, Permitted Transferee hereby agrees as follows:

 

Section 1.1.                                  Definitions .  To the extent capitalized words used in this Joinder are not defined in this Joinder, such words shall have the meaning set forth in the Tax Receivable Agreement.

 

Section 1.2.                                  Joinder .  Permitted Transferee hereby acknowledges and agrees to become a “Member” (as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreement) for all purposes of the Tax Receivable Agreement, including but not limited to, being bound by Sections 7.12, 2.04, 4.02, 6.01 and 6.02 of the Tax Receivable Agreement, with respect to the Acquired Interests, and any other Interests Permitted Transferee acquires hereafter.

 

Section 1.3.                                  Notice .  All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder to Permitted Transferee shall be deemed to be sufficient if contained in a written instrument delivered in person or sent by facsimile (provided a copy is thereafter promptly delivered as provided in this Section 1.3) or nationally recognized overnight courier, addressed to Permitted Transferee at the address or facsimile number set forth below or such other address or facsimile number as may hereafter be designated in writing by Permitted Transferee:

 

[ add notice address ]

 

Section 1.4.                                  Governing Law .  THIS JOINDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Joinder has been duly executed and delivered by Permitted Transferee as of the date first above written.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

2


Exhibit 10.4

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of May 8, 2013, among PennyMac Financial Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), and the Holders (as defined herein).

 

WHEREAS, the Holders are holders of Company Units (as defined herein), which are exchangeable pursuant to terms and conditions of the Exchange Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2013 (the “ Exchange Agreement ”), between the Corporation, the Company (as defined herein) and the Holders that are a party thereto for shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporation (the “ Class A Common Stock ”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Corporation desires to provide the Holders with registration rights with respect to the shares of Class A Common Stock that are issued upon such exchange of Company Units.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual agreements, covenants and provisions herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER MATTERS

 

Section 1.1                                     Definitions .  The following capitalized terms shall have the meanings specified in this Section 1.1 . Other terms are defined in the text of this Agreement and those terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them.

 

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 Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of equity interests, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have correlative meanings to the foregoing.  For purposes of the definition of “control,” a general partner or managing member of a Person shall always be considered to control such Person.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of this Agreement, none of the Holders or their Affiliates, solely by virtue of being members of the Company, shall be considered Affiliates of any other member of the Company, the Company or the Corporation; provided that the Corporation shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Company and vice versa.

 

BlackRock Charitable Entity ” means each tax-exempt private foundation or public charity created by BlackRock Mortgage Ventures, LLC or any of its Affiliates, or with respect to which BlackRock Mortgage Ventures, LLC or any of its Affiliates is a disqualified person, and each sponsoring organization which maintains a donor advised fund which is separately identified by reference to contributions of BlackRock Mortgage Ventures, LLC or any of its Affiliates (as such terms are defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended).

 



 

BlackRock Designee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(b) .

 

BlackRock Member ” and “ BlackRock Members ” means, initially, BlackRock Mortgage Ventures, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and shall include any Person to whom the BlackRock Member transfers all or a portion of its Company Units in compliance with Article IX of the LLC Agreement.

 

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 

Business Day ” means any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks located in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

Capital Stock ” means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all ownership interests in a limited liability company, partnership or other Person (other than a corporation), and any and all securities, warrants, options or other rights to purchase or acquire or that are convertible into any of the foregoing.

 

Class A Common Stock ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Corporation ” has the meaning set forth in in the Preamble.

 

Company ” means Private National Mortgage Acceptance Corporation, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

Company Unit ” has the meaning given to such term in the Exchange Agreement.

 

Corporation Indemnified Persons ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(b) .

 

Covered Company Units ” means, with respect to a Holder, such Holder’s Company Units.

 

Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(g) .

 

Demand Registration ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a) .

 

Demand Registration Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a) .

 

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

 

Exchange Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

FINRA ” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

 

Holdback Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a) .

 

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Governmental Authority ” means any national, local or foreign (including U.S. federal, state or local) or supranational (including European Union) governmental, judicial, administrative or regulatory (including self-regulatory) agency, commission, department, board, bureau, entity or authority of competent jurisdiction.

 

Highfields Charitable Entity ” means each tax-exempt private foundation or public charity created by HC Partners LLC or any of its Affiliates or principals, or with respect to which HC Partners LLC or any of its Affiliates or principals is a disqualified person, and each sponsoring organization which maintains a donor advised fund which is separately identified by reference to contributions of HC Partners LLC or any of its Affiliates or principals (as such terms are defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended).

 

Highfields Designee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(c) .

 

Highfields Member ” and “ Highfields Members ” means, initially, HC Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and each current or former member or other owner of HC Partners LLC that holds one or more Company Units as of the date hereof, and shall include any Person to whom a Highfields Member transfers all or a portion of its Company Units in compliance with Article IX of the LLC Agreement.

 

Holdback Extension ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a) .

 

Holder ” means each holder of one or more Company Units that is a party hereto as of the date hereof or which becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 3.1(b) .

 

indemnified party ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(c)(i) .

 

indemnifying party ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(c)(i) .

 

Initiating Holder ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a) .

 

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.

 

LLC Agreement ” means the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Company, dated as of the date hereof, as the same may be further amended or restated from time to time.

 

Losses ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(a) .

 

Other Holders ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c) .

 

Other Registration Rights ” has the meaning set forth in Section  2.1(c) .

 

Partner Distribution ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(j) .

 

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Permitted Transferee ” means any transferee of a Company Unit, the transfer of which was permitted by the LLC Agreement, or share of Class A Common Stock after the date hereof.

 

Person ” means and includes any individual, corporation, partnership, association, limited liability company, trust, estate or other entity.

 

Piggyback Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a) .

 

Piggyback Registration ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b) .

 

Prospectus ” mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including a prospectus that discloses information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

 

Public Offering ” means an underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, other than pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any similar or successor form.

 

Registrable Securities ” means shares of Class A Common Stock that may be delivered in exchange for Company Units pursuant to the Exchange Agreement or any securities issued or issuable with respect to such shares because of stock splits, stock dividends, reclassifications, recapitalizations, mergers, consolidations, or similar events.  As to any particular Registrable Securities, once issued such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) they are sold pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act, (ii) they are sold pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act) and the transferee thereof does not receive “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144, (iii) they cease to be outstanding, (iv) they have been sold in a private transaction in which the transferor’s rights hereunder are not assigned to the transferee of the securities in accordance with the terms herein or (v) with respect to any Holder other than a Sponsor Member, they first become eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar rule then in effect under the Securities Act) (without regard to volume limitations) within 90 days or are otherwise saleable under an effective registration statement.  No Registrable Securities may be registered under more than one Registration Statement at any one time.

 

Registration Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c) .

 

Registration Statement ” means any registration statement of the Corporation under the Securities Act which permits the public offering of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions herein, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

 

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Rule 144 ” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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

 

Shelf Registration ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b) .

 

Sponsor Members ” means, collectively, the BlackRock Members and the Highfields Members and “ Sponsor Member ” means, individually, any BlackRock Member or Highfields Member.

 

Stockholder Indemnified Persons ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(a) .

 

Underwritten Offering ” means a registered, public offering in which securities of the Corporation are sold to one or more underwriters on a firm-commitment basis for reoffering to the public.

 

WKSI ” shall mean a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

ARTICLE II
REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

Section 2.1                                     Demand Registrations .

 

(a)                                  Subject to the provisions and limitations of this Section 2.1 , if following the six month anniversary of the date hereof the Corporation shall receive a written request (a “ Demand Registration Notice ”) from the BlackRock Members or the Highfields Members (an “ Initiating Holder ”) that the Corporation effect a Registration Statement under the Securities Act of the Registrable Securities held by such Sponsor Members on the date thereof (a “ Demand Registration ”), then the Corporation shall, subject to the limitations of this Section 2.1 , use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration under the Securities Act of all Registrable Securities that such Initiating Holder requests to be registered.

 

(b)                                  A Demand Registration Notice shall specify (i) the number of Registrable Securities requested to be registered, (ii) the anticipated per share price range for such offering (which range may be revised from time to time by the Initiating Holder by written notice to the Corporation to that effect), (iii) the intended methods of disposition  and the name of the lead underwriter, if available, and (iv) subject to Section 2.1(f), whether such registration shall be a “shelf” registration pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (a “ Shelf Registration ”).

 

(c)                                   Within 10 days after receipt of a Demand Registration Notice, the Corporation shall give written notice (a “ Registration Notice ”) of the requested registration to all other Holders that are holders of Registrable Securities (the “ Other

 

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Holders ”) and shall include in such registration all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Corporation has received written requests indicating the Other Holder and the number of Registrable Securities that such Other Holder elects to include in such registration within 20 days after the receipt of the Registration Notice.  The Corporation shall, as soon as practicable, and in any event within 90 days after the date of the Demand Registration Notice, file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act covering all Registrable Securities that the Initiating Holder requested to be registered, any additional Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by any Other Holders, as specified by notice given timely by each such Other Holders to the Corporation, and any securities of the Corporation proposed to be included in such registration by holders of registration rights granted other than pursuant to this Agreement (“ Other Registration Rights ”).

 

(d)                                  A Demand Registration Notice (other than a Demand Registration Notice with respect to a Demand Registration that constitutes a Shelf Registration on Form S-3) shall only be binding on the Corporation if the sale of all Registrable Securities requested to be registered (pursuant to such Demand Registration Notice and in response to the Demand Registration Notice) is reasonably expected to result in aggregate gross proceeds in excess of $25,000,000.

 

(e)                                   If the managing underwriter advises the Corporation, in writing, that in its 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, which can be sold therein without adversely affecting the Corporation or the marketability of the offering, the Corporation shall include in such registration (i)  first , the quantity of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Demand Registration, pro rata among the respective holders thereof on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by each such holder and (ii)  second , other securities requested to be included in such registration, which in the opinion of such underwriters can be sold without adversely affecting the Corporation or the marketability of the offering, pro rata among the respective holders thereof on the basis of the number of shares requested to be included in such registration by each such holder.  Any Person (other than Holders of Registrable Securities) that participates in Demand Registrations which are not at the Corporation’s expense must pay their share of any Registration Expenses.

 

(f)                                    Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 2.1 , in no event shall either the BlackRock Members or the Highfields Members be permitted to (i) request more than three Demand Registrations in any twelve-month period or within 120 days after the effective date of a Registration Statement filed by the Corporation; provided that no Demand Registration may be prohibited for such 120-day period more than once in a twelve-month period; or (ii) request a Demand Registration if, at the time such request is made, a Shelf Registration is effective and both includes all of the Registrable Securities of such Sponsor Member and permits an underwritten offering of such Registrable Securities.

 

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(g)                                   The Corporation shall be entitled to postpone (but not more than once in any twelve-month period), for a reasonable period of time not in excess of 60 days, the filing of a Registration Statement (including Shelf Registration) if the Corporation delivers to the Initiating Holder a resolution of the Board that, in the good faith judgment of the Board, such registration and offering would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect any bona fide material financing of the Corporation or any material transaction under consideration by the Corporation or would require disclosure of information that has not been disclosed to the public and is not otherwise required to be disclosed at that time that would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the Corporation.  Such Board resolution shall contain a statement of the reasons for such postponement and an approximation of the anticipated delay.  The Holders receiving such resolution shall keep the information contained in such resolution confidential.  If the Corporation shall so postpone the filing of a Registration Statement, the Holder who made the Demand Registration shall have the right to withdraw the request for registration by giving written notice to the Corporation within 20 days of the anticipated termination date of the postponement period, as provided in such resolution delivered to the Holders, and in the event of such withdrawal, such request shall not be counted for purposes of the number of Demand Registrations to which such Holder is entitled pursuant to the terms herein.

 

(h)                                  If the Corporation has filed a Shelf Registration Statement and has included Registrable Securities therein, the Corporation shall be entitled to suspend (but not more than an aggregate of 90 days in any twelve-month period), for a reasonable period of time not in excess of 90 days, the offer or sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement by any Holder of Registrable Securities if (i) a “road show” is not then in progress with respect to a proposed offering of Registrable Securities by such Holder pursuant to such Registration Statement and such Holder has not executed an underwriting agreement with respect to a pending sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement and (ii) the Corporation delivers to the Holders included in such Registration Statement a resolution of the Board that, in the good faith judgment of the Board, such offer or sale would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect any bona fide material financing of the Corporation or any material transaction under consideration by the Corporation or would require disclosure of information that has not been disclosed to the public and is not otherwise required to be disclosed at that time that would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the Corporation.  Such Board resolution shall contain a statement of the reasons for such postponement and an approximation of the anticipated delay.  The Holders receiving such resolution shall keep the information contained in such certificate confidential.

 

(i)                                      The Corporation shall be required to maintain the effectiveness of a Registration Statement (except in the case of a Shelf Registration) with respect to any Demand Registration for a period of at least 180 days after the effective date thereof or such shorter period in which all Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement have actually been sold; provided , however , that such period shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period the Holder of Registrable Securities refrains from selling any securities included in such registration at the request of (x) an underwriter or (y) the Corporation pursuant to the provisions herein.  The Corporation shall be required

 

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to maintain the effectiveness of a Registration Statement that is a Shelf Registration with respect to any Demand Registration at all times after the effective date thereof until all Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement have actually been sold; provided , however , that any Holder of Registrable Securities whose shares have been included in such Shelf Registration may request that such Registrable Securities be removed from such Registration Statement, in which event the Corporation shall promptly either withdraw such Registration Statement or file a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement removing such Registrable Securities.

 

(j)                                     Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Corporation hereby agrees that (i) each Demand Registration that is a Shelf Registration shall contain all language (including on the Prospectus cover sheet, the principal stockholders’ table and the plan of distribution) as may be reasonably requested by a Holder of Registrable Securities to allow for a distribution to, and resale by, the direct and indirect partners, members or stockholders of a Holder of Registrable Securities (a “ Partner Distribution ”) and (ii) the Corporation shall, at the reasonable request of any Holder of Registrable Securities seeking to effect a Partner Distribution, file any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendments and otherwise take any action reasonably necessary to include such language, if such language was not included in the initial Registration Statement, or revise such language if deemed reasonably necessary by such Holder to effect such Partner Distribution.

 

(k)                                  The Initiating Holders shall have the right to select the investment banker and manager to administer the offering relating to such Demand Registration, subject to the approval of the Board, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.

 

(l)                                      For purposes of this Section 2.1 , a registration shall not be counted as “effected” and shall not be considered a Demand Registration if, as a result of an exercise of any cutback, fewer than a majority of the total number of Registrable Securities that the Initiating Holder has requested to be included in such Registration Statement are actually included.

 

Section 2.2                                     Piggyback Registration .

 

(a)                                  If the Corporation, at any time, proposes to file a registration statement under the Securities Act (i) with respect to an offering of shares of Capital Stock by and for the account of the Corporation (other than a registration statement filed on Form S-4, Form S-8 or any successor forms thereto or filed solely in connection with an exchange offer or any employee benefit or dividend reinvestment plan), or (ii) pursuant to a Demand Registration or registration rights of another stockholder of the Corporation, then, each such time, the Corporation shall give prompt written notice of such proposed filing at least 15 Business Days before the anticipated filing date (the “ Piggyback Notice ”) to all of the Holders holding Registrable Securities.

 

(b)                                  The Piggyback Notice shall offer such Holders the opportunity to include in such registration statement the number of Registrable Securities as each such Holder

 

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may request (a “ Piggyback Registration ”).  Subject to Section 2.2(d) , the Corporation shall include in each such Piggyback Registration all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Corporation has received written requests for inclusion therein within ten (10) Business Days after notice has been given to the applicable Holder.  The Holders exercising their rights under Section 2.2(b)  shall be permitted to withdraw all or part of the Registrable Securities from a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effective date of such Piggyback Registration.  The Corporation shall not be required to maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement for a Piggyback Registration beyond the date on which all Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement have actually been sold; provided , however , that any Holder of Registrable Securities that has been included in such Shelf Registration may request that such Registrable Securities be removed from such Registration Statement, in which event the Corporation shall promptly either withdraw such Registration Statement or file a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement removing such Registrable Securities.

 

(c)                                   The Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the managing underwriter of a proposed underwritten offering to permit Holders of Registrable Securities requested to be included in the Piggyback Registration to include all such Registrable Securities on the same terms and conditions as any other shares of Capital Stock, if any, of the Corporation included therein.

 

(d)                                  Notwithstanding Section 2.2(c) , if the managing underwriter of such underwritten offering has informed the Corporation in writing that in its view the total number or dollar amount of shares of Capital Stock that the Holders, the Corporation and any other Persons having rights to participate in such registration, intend to include in such offering is such as to adversely affect the success of such offering, then the number of shares of Capital Stock that in the opinion of such managing underwriter can be sold without adversely affecting such offering shall be included in the following order:

 

(i)                                      first , shares of Capital Stock for the account of the Corporation if the Corporation initiated the filing of the Registration Statement with respect to an offering for its own account as referenced under Section 2.2(a)(i);

 

(ii)                                   second (or first in the case of the circumstance described in clause (x) of this paragraph (ii)), (x) shares of Capital Stock for the account of such Holders or stockholders for whom the Registration Statement was filed pursuant to a Demand Registration or demand registration rights of another stockholder, in each case as referenced under Section 2.2(a)(ii), if applicable, and (y) Registrable Securities requested hereunder by the Holders to be included in such Piggyback Registration, in each case pro rata based on the amount of all such shares of Capital Stock and Registrable Securities requested to be included by such Holders and other stockholders;

 

(iii)                                third , shares of Capital Stock for the account of the Corporation if the Corporation did not initiate the filing of the Registration Statement as referenced under Section 2.2(a)(i); and

 

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(iv)                               fourth , shares of Capital Stock for the account of any other Persons, pro rata based on the number of shares of Capital Stock requested to be included by the holders thereof;

 

provided , however , that with respect to any Piggyback Registration pursuant to the registration rights of a stockholder of the Corporation that is not a Holder, such order shall be determined in accordance with the terms of the registration rights agreement between such stockholder and the Corporation; and provided , further , that for so long as a Sponsor Member holds at least three percent (3%) of the Class A Units (as defined in the LLC Agreement) outstanding immediately following the closing of the IPO (as defined in the LLC Agreement) and related purchase of Class A Units by the Corporation with the proceeds therefrom, the Corporation shall not grant registration rights to another stockholder of the Corporation on terms more favorable than this Agreement (and any such registration rights shall not conflict with this Agreement) without the consent of such Sponsor Member.

 

(e)                                   Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if the Corporation has previously filed a Registration Statement with respect to Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 or pursuant to this Section 2.2 , and if such previous registration has not been withdrawn or abandoned, the Corporation shall not be obligated to file or cause to be effected any other registration of any of its equity securities or securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for its equity securities under the Securities Act (except on Form S-8 or any successor form), whether on its own behalf or at the request of any holder or holders of such securities, until a period of at least 90 days has elapsed from the date such previous registration became effective.

 

(f)                                    Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Corporation hereby agrees that (i) any Piggyback Registration that is a Shelf Registration shall contain all language (including on the Prospectus cover sheet, the principal stockholders’ table and the plan of distribution) as may be reasonably requested by a Holder of Registrable Securities to allow for a Partner Distribution and (ii) the Corporation shall, at the reasonable request of any Holder of Registrable Securities seeking to effect a Partner Distribution, file any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendments and otherwise take any action reasonably necessary to include such language, if such language was not included in the initial Registration Statement, or revise such language if deemed reasonably necessary by such Holder to effect such Partner Distribution.

 

(g)                                   Upon delivering a request under this Section 2.2 , a Holder will, if requested by the Corporation, execute and deliver a custody agreement and power of attorney in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation with respect to such Holder’s Securities to be registered pursuant to this Section 2.2 (a “ Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney ”), provided that such custody agreement shall only be executed and delivered by a BlackRock Member or Highfields Member in an underwritten offering and no BlackRock Member or Highfields Member shall be required to deliver any power of attorney in any form.  The Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney will provide, among other things, that the Holder will deliver to and deposit in custody with the custodian and attorney-in-fact named therein a certificate or certificates

 

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representing such Securities (duly endorsed in blank by the registered owner or owners thereof or accompanied by duly executed stock powers in blank) and irrevocably appoint said custodian and attorney-in-fact with full power and authority to act under the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney on such Holder’s behalf with respect to the matters specified therein.  Such Holder also agrees to execute such other agreements as the Corporation may reasonably request to further evidence the provisions of this Section 2.2 .

 

(h)                                  The Corporation shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it as referenced under Section 2.2(a)(i)  and any Holder or stockholder shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it as referenced under Section 2.2(a)(ii)  prior to the effectiveness of such registration whether or not any Holders have elected to include securities in such registration.

 

Section 2.3                                     Form S-3 Registration .

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 2.1 , and 2.2 , at such time as the Corporation shall have qualified for the use of Form S-3 promulgated under the Securities Act or any successor form thereto, in case the Corporation shall receive from the BlackRock Members or the Highfields Members a written request or requests that the Corporation effect a registration on Form S-3 with respect to all or a part of the Registrable Securities held by such Sponsor Members, which request shall (a) specify the number of Registrable Securities intended to be sold or disposed of and the holders thereof and (b) the intended method of distribution, including the name of the lead underwriter, if available, the Corporation will use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such registration as may be so requested and as would permit or facilitate the sale and distribution of all or such portion of the Registrable Securities as are specified in such request; provided , however , that the Corporation shall not be obligated to effect any such registration, qualification or compliance pursuant to this Section 2.3 :

 

(i)                                      if the requesting stockholder proposes to sell Registrable Securities and such other securities (if any) that would result in aggregate gross proceeds of less than $10,000,000;

 

(ii)                                   if within 30 days of receipt of a written request from the stockholder pursuant to this Section 2.3 , the Corporation gives notice to such stockholder of the Corporation’s intention to make a public offering within 90 days, other than pursuant to a Registration Statement relating to any employee benefit plan or with respect to any reorganization or other transaction under Rule 145 of the Securities Act (or successor rule thereto);

 

(iii)                                if a Shelf Registration is then effective and includes all of the Registrable Securities of such Sponsor Member and permits an underwritten offering of such Registrable Securities;

 

(iv)                               if the Corporation has already effected 3 registrations on Form S-3 for the requesting Holders in the immediately preceding 12-month period; or

 

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(v)                                  in any particular jurisdiction in which the Corporation would be required to qualify to do business or to execute a general consent to service of process in effecting such registration, qualification or compliance.

 

(b)                                  To the extent the Corporation is a WKSI at the time that the Shelf Registration Statement is to be filed, the Corporation shall file an automatic Shelf Registration Statement which covers such Registrable Securities.

 

(c)                                   Registrations effected pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall not be counted as demands for registrations effected pursuant to Section 2.1 .

 

Section 2.4                                     Holdback Agreements; Notice Requirements .

 

(a)                                  Each Holder  agrees that if requested in writing in connection with an underwritten offering made pursuant to a Registration Statement for which such Holder has registration rights pursuant to this Article II by the managing underwriter of such underwritten offering, such Holder will not effect any public sale or distribution of any of the securities being registered or any securities convertible or exchangeable or exercisable for such securities (except as part of such underwritten offering) during the period beginning seven days prior to, and ending 90 days after, the effective date of any such underwritten registration (the “ Holdback Period ”), except as part of any such underwritten registration (or for such shorter period as to which the managing underwriter may agree, provided that such shorter period applies equally to all Holders).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 2.4(a) shall only apply to BlackRock Members and Highfields Members if such Holders are selling shareholders in such underwritten offering and the managing underwriter of such underwritten offering requests that BlackRock Members and Highfields Members not effect any such public sale or distribution during such period.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no Registrable Securities, whether or not covered by a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement, shall be sold or transferred by a Holder prior to the 14th day following the Corporation’s receipt of notice of such sale or transfer from such Holder, provided that this clause (b) shall only apply if either (i) the Holder beneficially owns more than 25% of the voting power of all outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation immediately prior to such sale or transfer and less than 25% of such voting power  immediately following such sale or transfer, and more than 5% of such voting power would be included in such sale or transfer, or (ii) such sale or transfer involves greater than 10% of the voting power of all outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation, or (iii) such sale or transfer involves the transfer of 5% or more of the voting power of all outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation to a single party, or (iv) such sale or transfer, together with all other sales or transfers made by such Holder less than six months prior to such sale or transfer, involves 25% or more of the voting power of all outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation.

 

Section 2.5                                     Registration Procedures .  If and whenever the Corporation is required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act as provided in this Agreement, the Corporation shall use reasonable best efforts to effect such registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto the Corporation shall cooperate in the sale of the securities and shall, as expeditiously as possible:

 

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(a)                                  Prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on any form which shall be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof or the Corporation in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution thereof (including a Partner Distribution), and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and to remain effective as provided herein; provided that no later than 10 days before filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto (including documents that would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference), the Corporation shall furnish or otherwise make available to the Holders of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, their counsel and the managing underwriter, if any, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents shall be subject to the review and comments of such Holders, counsel and managing underwriters.  With respect to a Demand Registration that covers the Registrable Securities of the BlackRock Members or the Highfields Members, such Sponsor Member and its counsel shall have the opportunity to object to any information pertaining to such Sponsor Member that is contained in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto (including such documents that, upon filing, would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) before it is filed with the SEC, and the Corporation will make the corrections reasonably requested by such Sponsor Member prior to such filing with the SEC.

 

(b)                                  Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective during the period provided herein and comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement; and cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented by any prospectus supplement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of the securities covered by such Registration Statement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the Securities Act; provided that any Holder of Registrable Securities that has been included on a Shelf Registration may request that such Holder’s Registrable Securities be removed from such Registration Statement, in which event the Corporation shall promptly either withdraw such Registration Statement or file a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement removing such Registrable Securities.

 

(c)                                   Notify each selling Holder of Registrable Securities, its counsel and the managing underwriter, if any, promptly, and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing:

 

(i)                                      when a Prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective;

 

(ii)                                   of any notice from the SEC that there will be a review of a Registration Statement and promptly provide such Holders, their counsel and the

 

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managing underwriter, if any, with a copy of any SEC comments received by the Corporation in connection therewith;

 

(iii)                                of any request by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related Prospectus or for additional information;

 

(iv)                               of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;

 

(v)                                  if at any time the representations and warranties of the Corporation contained in any agreement (including any underwriting agreement) contemplated by Section 2.5(o)  cease to be true and correct;

 

(vi)                               of the receipt by the Corporation of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and

 

(vii)                            of the happening of any event that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement, Prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(d)                                  Use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or the lifting of any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction.

 

(e)                                   If requested by the managing underwriter, if any, or any Holder of Registrable Securities being sold in connection with an underwritten offering, promptly include in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the managing underwriter, if any, and such Holders may reasonably request in order to permit the intended method of distribution of such securities and make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Corporation has received such request.

 

(f)                                    Furnish or make available to each selling Holder of Registrable Securities, its counsel and each managing underwriter, if any, without charge, at least five

 

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conformed copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and prospectus supplements, if applicable, and each post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements (but excluding schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits, unless requested by such Holder, counsel or underwriter).

 

(g)                                   Deliver to each selling Holder of Registrable Securities, its counsel and the underwriter, if any, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of Prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request in connection with the distribution of the Registrable Securities; and the Corporation, subject to the last paragraph of this Section 2.5 hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Securities and the underwriters, if any, in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any such amendment or supplement thereto.

 

(h)                                  Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Securities, the underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any seller or underwriter reasonably requests and to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period such Registration Statement is required to be kept effective and to take any other action that may be necessary or advisable to enable such Holders of Registrable Securities to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdiction; provided that the Corporation will not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or (ii) take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

 

(i)                                      Cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Securities and the managing underwriter, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any legends) representing Registrable Securities to be sold after receiving written representations from each Holder of such Registrable Securities that the Registrable Securities represented by the certificates so delivered by such Holder will be transferred in accordance with the Registration Statement, and enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriter, if any, or Holders may request at least two Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities in a firm commitment public offering, but in any other such sale, within ten Business Days prior to having to issue the securities.

 

(j)                                     Use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities within the United States, except as may be required solely as a consequence of the nature of such selling Holder’s business, in which case the Corporation will cooperate in all reasonable respects with the filing of such Registration

 

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Statement and the granting of such approvals, as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the underwriter, if any, to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities.

 

(k)                                  Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 2.5(c)(vii) , prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities being sold thereunder, such Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(l)                                      Prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Securities, provide a CUSIP number for the Registrable Securities.

 

(m)                              Provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement from and after a date not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement.

 

(n)                                  Use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all shares of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement to be authorized to be listed on a national securities exchange.

 

(o)                                  In connection with an Underwritten Offering, enter into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement in form, scope and substance as is customary in underwritten offerings) and take all such other actions reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold in connection therewith (including those reasonably requested by the managing underwriter, if any) to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities, and in such connection:

 

(i)                                      make such representations and warranties to the Holders of such Registrable Securities and the underwriters, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings, and, if true, confirm the same if and when requested;

 

(ii)                                   furnish to the selling Holders of such Registrable Securities opinions of counsel and a negative assurance letter from counsel to the Corporation and updates thereof (which counsel, opinions and letter (in form, scope and substance, in the case of such opinions and such letter) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the selling Holders of such Registrable Securities, the managing underwriter, if any, and counsels to the selling Holders of the Registrable Securities), addressed to each selling Holder of Registrable Securities and each of the underwriters, if any, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions and negative assurance letters requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Holders, counsel and underwriters;

 

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(iii)                                obtain “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public accountants of the Corporation (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Corporation or of any business acquired by the Corporation for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement) who have certified the financial statements included in such Registration Statement, addressed to each selling Holder of Registrable Securities (unless such accountants shall be prohibited from so addressing such letters by applicable standards of the accounting profession) and each of the underwriters, if any, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings, which form and substance shall be acceptable to the selling Holders of the Registrable Securities;

 

(iv)                               if an underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall contain indemnification provisions and procedures substantially to the effect set forth in Section 2.7 with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to Section 2.7 ; and

 

(v)                                  deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by any Holder of Registrable Securities being sold, such Holder’s counsel and the managing underwriter, if any, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties made pursuant to Section 2.5(o)(i)  and to evidence compliance with the conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Corporation.  The above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting or similar agreement, or as and to the extent required thereunder.

 

(p)                                  To the extent not prohibited by applicable law, make available for inspection by the selling Holders of Registrable Securities, any underwriter participating in any such disposition of Registrable Securities, if any, and any attorneys or accountants retained by such selling Holders or underwriter, at the offices where normally kept, during reasonable business hours, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, and cause the officers, directors and employees of the Corporation and its subsidiaries to supply all information in each case reasonably requested by any such Holder, underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with such Registration Statement; provided that if (1) the Corporation believes after consultation with counsel for the Corporation, that to do so would cause the Corporation to forfeit an attorney-client privilege that was applicable to such information or (2) if either (x) the Corporation has requested and been granted from the SEC confidential treatment of such information contained in any filing with the SEC or documents provided supplementally or otherwise or (y) the Corporation reasonably determines in good faith that such records are confidential and so notifies the Persons requesting the records in writing, the Corporation shall not be required to provide such information unless prior to furnishing any such information with respect to (1) or (2) such Person requesting the records in writing agrees to enter into a confidentiality agreement in customary form and subject to customary exceptions; and provided , further , that any

 

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information that is not publicly available at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by such Persons (other than disclosure by such Persons to such Persons’ respective affiliates) unless:

 

(i)                                      disclosure of such records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in the Registration Statement;

 

(ii)                                   disclosure of such information is required by court or administrative order or other legal process;

 

(iii)                                disclosure of such information is required by Law; or

 

(iv)                               such information becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard by such Person.

 

In the case of a proposed disclosure pursuant to (ii) or (iii) above, such Person shall be required to give the Corporation written notice of the proposed disclosure prior to such disclosure and, if requested by the Corporation, assist the Corporation in seeking to prevent or limit the proposed disclosure.

 

(q)                                  Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and make available to its security holders earning statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder, or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act, no later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month period (or 90 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a fiscal year) (i) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Securities are sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts underwritten offering and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Corporation after the effective date of a Registration Statement, which statements shall cover one of said 12-month periods.

 

(r)                                     Cause its officers to be reasonably available to provide customary due diligence sessions in connection with any offering and to participate in customary “road show” presentations in connection with any underwritten offerings.

 

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Corporation hereby agrees that any Demand Registration that is a Shelf Registration shall contain all language (including on the Prospectus cover sheet, the principal stockholders’ table and the plan of distribution) as may be reasonably requested by a Holder of Registrable Securities.

 

Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees if such Holder has Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement that, upon receipt of any notice from the Corporation of the happening of any event of the kind described in Sections 2.5(c)(iii) , 2.5(c)(iv) , 2.5(c)(vi)  or 2.5(c)(vii) , such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement or Prospectus until such Holder is advised in writing by the Corporation that the disposition may be resumed and, if applicable, has received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 2.5(k) , together with any additional or supplemental filings that

 

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are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus; provided that the Corporation shall extend the time periods under Section 2.1 with respect to the length of time that the effectiveness of a Registration Statement must be maintained by the amount of time the Holder is required to discontinue disposition of such securities.

 

Section 2.6                                     Registration Expenses .

 

(a)                                  All reasonable fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with the provisions of this Agreement by the Corporation, including:

 

(i)                                      all registration and filing fees (including fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings required to be made with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and the SEC, (B) of compliance with securities or blue sky laws, including any fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.5(h)  and (C) of listing and registration with a national securities exchange or national market interdealer quotation system);

 

(ii)                                   printing expenses (including expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Corporation and of printing Prospectuses if the printing of Prospectuses is requested by the managing underwriters, if any, or by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement);

 

(iii)                                messenger, telephone and delivery expenses of the Corporation;

 

(iv)                               fees and disbursements of counsel for the Corporation;

 

(v)                                  expenses of the Corporation incurred in connection with any road show;

 

(vi)                               reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent certified public accountants referred to in Section 2.5(o)(iii)  (including the expenses of any “cold comfort” letters required herein) and any other Persons, including special experts retained by the Corporation;

 

(vii)                            rating agency fees; and

 

(viii)                         fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Holders of Registrable Securities whose shares are included in a Registration Statement (which counsel shall be selected by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement);

 

shall be borne by the Corporation whether or not any Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective.  In addition, the Corporation shall pay its internal expenses (including all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit, the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the securities to be registered on any securities exchange on which

 

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similar securities issued by the Corporation are then listed and rating agency fees and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the Corporation.

 

(b)                                  The Corporation shall not be required to pay (i) fees and disbursements of any counsel retained by any Holder of Registrable Securities or by any underwriter (except as set forth in Sections 2.6(a)(i)(B)  and 2.6(a)(viii) ), (ii) any underwriter’s fees (including discounts, commissions or fees of underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers or similar securities industry professionals) relating to the distribution of the Registrable Securities (other than with respect to Registrable Securities sold by the Corporation) or (iii) any other expenses of the Holders of Registrable Securities not specifically required to be paid by the Corporation pursuant to Section 2.6(a) .

 

Section 2.7                                     Indemnification .

 

(a)                                  Indemnification by the Corporation . The Corporation shall, without limitation as to time, indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each Holder whose Registrable Securities are covered by a Registration Statement or Prospectus, the affiliates, officers, directors, partners, members, managers, stockholders, accountants, attorneys, agents and employees of each of them, each Person who controls each such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, partners, members, managers, stockholders, accountants, attorneys, agents and employees of each such controlling person (collectively, the “ Stockholder Indemnified Persons ”), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including reasonable out-of-pocket costs of preparation and reasonable attorneys’ fees and any legal or other reasonable out-of-pocket fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding), expenses, judgments, fines, penalties, charges and amounts paid in settlement (collectively, “ Losses ”), as incurred, arising out of or based upon:

 

(i)                                      any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any Prospectus, offering circular or other document (including any related Registration Statement, “issuer free writing Prospectus” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act), “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, notification or the like) incident to any such registration, qualification, or compliance;

 

(ii)                                   any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or, with respect to any Prospectus, necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or

 

(iii)                                any violation by the Corporation of the Securities Act or state securities or blue sky laws or, in each case, any rule or regulation thereunder applicable to the Corporation and relating to action or inaction required of the Corporation in connection with any such registration, qualification, or compliance, and will reimburse each such Stockholder Indemnified Person for

 

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any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating and defending or settling any such claim, loss, damage, liability, or action;

 

provided that the Corporation will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such Loss arises out of or is based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or alleged omission) by such Holder or underwriter, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or alleged omission) is made in such Registration Statement, Prospectus, offering circular or other document in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Corporation by such Holder or underwriter specifically for use in connection with the preparation of such Registration Statement, Prospectus, offering circular, or other document.

 

It is agreed that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 2.7(a)  shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such Loss if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Corporation (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). The Corporation also agrees to indemnify any underwriter of Registrable Securities and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) such underwriter, on substantially the same basis as that provided to the Stockholder Indemnified Persons in this Section 2.7(a) .

 

(b)                                  Indemnification by Holders of Registrable Securities . In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish to the Corporation in writing such information as the Corporation reasonably requests for use in connection with any Registration Statement or Prospectus and agrees to indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, severally and not jointly, the Corporation, its directors, officers, managers, accountants, attorneys, agents and employees, each Person who controls the Corporation (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, partners, members, managers, stockholders, accountants, attorneys, agents or employees of such controlling persons (collectively, the “ Corporation Indemnified Persons ”), from and against all Losses arising out of or based upon: (i) any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any Prospectus, offering circular or other document (including any related Registration Statement, “issuer free writing Prospectus” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act), “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, notification or the like) incident to any such registration, qualification, or compliance; or (ii) any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or, with respect to any Prospectus, necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and will reimburse each such Corporation Indemnified Person for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such Loss, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is made in such Registration Statement, Prospectus, offering circular or other document in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Corporation by such Holder specifically for use in connection with the preparation of such Registration Statement,

 

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Prospectus, offering circular or other document; provided that the obligations of such Holder hereunder shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such Losses (or actions in respect thereof) if such settlement is effected without the consent of such Holder (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld); and provided , further , that the liability of each selling Holder of Registrable Securities hereunder shall be limited to the net proceeds received by such selling Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement.  Each such Holder also agrees to indemnify any underwriter of Registrable Securities and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) such underwriter, on substantially the same basis as that provided to the Corporation Indemnified Persons in this Section 2.7(b) .

 

(c)                                   Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings .

 

(i)                                      If any Person shall be entitled to indemnity under this Section 2.7 (an “ indemnified party ”), such indemnified party shall give prompt notice to the party from which such indemnity is sought (the “ indemnifying party ”) of any claim or of the commencement of any proceeding with respect to which such indemnified party seeks indemnification or contribution pursuant hereto; provided that the delay or failure to so notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any obligation or liability except to the extent that the indemnifying party has been prejudiced by such delay or failure.

 

(ii)                                   The indemnifying party shall have the right, exercisable by giving written notice to an indemnified party promptly after the receipt of written notice from such indemnified party of such claim or proceeding, to, unless in the indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist in respect of such claim, assume, at the indemnifying party’s expense, the defense of any such claim or proceeding, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided that an indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such claim or proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless:

 

(A)  the indemnifying party agrees to pay such fees and expenses;

 

(B)  the indemnifying party fails promptly to assume, or in the event of a conflict of interest cannot assume, the defense of such claim or proceeding or fails to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (in which case the indemnified party shall have the right to employ counsel and to assume the defense of such claim or proceeding);

 

(C)  the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be one or more legal or equitable defenses available to such indemnified party which are additional to or conflict with those available to the indemnifying party; or

 

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(D)  the named parties to any such claim or proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them (which may include that the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be one or more legal or equitable defense available to such indemnified party which conflict with those available to the indemnifying party); provided , further , that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such claim or proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related claims or proceedings in the same jurisdiction, arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one firm of attorneys (together with appropriate local counsel) at any time for all of the indemnified parties, or for fees and expenses that are not reasonable.

 

(iii)                                Whether or not such defense is assumed by the indemnifying party, such indemnified party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made without its consent (but such consent will not be unreasonably withheld).  The indemnifying party shall not consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, from all liability in respect of such claim or litigation for which such indemnified party would be entitled to indemnification hereunder.

 

(d)                                  Contribution .

 

(i)                                      If the indemnification provided for in this Section 2.7 is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any Losses (other than in accordance with its terms), then each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative fault of such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and indemnified party, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, has been taken by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent any such action, statement or omission.

 

(ii)                                   The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 2.7(d)  were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.

 

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(iii)                                Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 2.7(d) , an indemnifying party that is a selling Holder of Registrable Securities shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds from the sale of the Registrable Securities sold by such indemnifying party exceeds the amount of any damages that such indemnifying party has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

 

(iv)                               No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

(v)                                  The obligation of each selling Holder of Registrable Securities to contribute pursuant to this Section 2.7(d)  is several, and not joint, in proportion to the net proceeds of the offering received by such selling Holder in relation to the total net proceeds of the offering received by all of the selling Holders.

 

(e)                                   Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in any underwriting agreement entered into in connection with any underwritten public offering are in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the provisions in the underwriting agreement shall control.

 

Section 2.8                                     Participation in Public Offering .  No Holder may participate in any Public Offering hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Holders entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements and the provisions of this Agreement in respect of registration rights.

 

Section 2.9                                     Other Indemnification .  Indemnification similar to that specified herein (with appropriate modifications) shall be given by the Corporation and the registering Holder participating therein with respect to any required registration or other qualification of securities under any federal or state law or regulation or Governmental Authority other than the Securities Act.

 

Section 2.10                              Rule 144 .  At all times after the Corporation has filed a Registration Statement with the SEC pursuant to the requirements of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, the Corporation will timely file all reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder, and will take such further action as any Holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required to enable such Holder to sell, without registration, Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144 or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC, including furnishing to any Holder of Registrable Securities, so long as such Holder owns any Registrable Securities, forthwith upon request:

 

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(i)                                      a written statement by the Corporation that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the Securities Act, and the Exchange Act (at any time after the Corporation has become subject to such reporting requirements), or that it qualifies as a registrant whose securities may be resold pursuant to Form S-3 (at any time after the Corporation so qualifies);

 

(ii)                                   a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Corporation and such other reports and documents so filed by the Corporation; and

 

(iii)                                such other information as may be reasonably requested in availing any such Holder of any rule or regulation of the SEC that permits the selling of any such securities without registration (at any time after the Corporation has become subject to the reporting requirements under the Exchange Act) or pursuant to such Form S-3 (at any time after the Corporation so qualifies to use such form).

 

Section 2.11                              Parties in Interest .  Each Holder shall be entitled to receive the benefits of this Agreement and shall be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement by reason of such Holder’s election to participate in a registration under this Article II .  To the extent Company Units are effectively transferred in accordance with the terms of the LLC Agreement, the Permitted Transferee of such Company Units shall be entitled to receive the benefits of this Agreement and shall be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement upon becoming bound hereby pursuant to Section 3.1(b) .

 

ARTICLE III
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 3.1                                     Term of the Agreement; Termination of Certain Provisions .

 

(a)                                  The term of this Agreement shall continue until such time as no Holder holds any Covered Company Units or Registrable Securities.  This Agreement may be amended only with the consent of the Corporation and the Holders of all Covered Company Units.

 

(b)                                  Any Permitted Transferee of a Holder shall be entitled to become a party to this Agreement as a Holder; provided that such Permitted Transferee shall first sign an agreement in the form reasonably approved by the Corporation acknowledging that such Permitted Transferee is bound by the terms and provisions of the Agreement.  Except as set forth in this Section 3.1(b), a Holder may not assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement.

 

Section 3.2                                     Notifications . Any notice, demand, consent, election, offer, approval, request, or other communication (collectively, a “ notice ”) required or permitted under this Agreement must be in writing and either delivered personally, sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested or sent by recognized overnight delivery service, electronic mail (e-mail) or by facsimile transmittal.  Any notice sent by confirmed e-mail or facsimile must be sent simultaneously by another method described in the prior sentence.  A notice must be addressed:

 

25



 

(a)                                  If to the Corporation at:

 

PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.

6101 Condor Drive
Moorpark, California 93021

Fax: (818) 337-2138

E-mail: jeff.grogin@pennymac.com

Attention: Jeffrey Grogin

 

with a copy to:

 

Bingham McCutchen LLP

355 South Grand Avenue, Suite 4400

Los Angeles, CA 90071-3106

Fax: (213) 680-6499

E-mail:  rick.welch@bingham.com
Attention:  Richard Welch

 

and

 

Bingham McCutchen LLP

600 Anton Boulevard, Plaza Tower, 18th Floor

Costa Mesa, CA 92626-7653

Fax: (714) 830-0700

E-mail:  timothy.rupp@bingham.com
Attention:  Timothy Rupp

 

(b)                                  If to any Holder, to the address and other contact information set forth in the records of the Corporation from time to time.

 

A notice delivered personally will be deemed given only when accepted or refused by the Person to whom it is delivered.  A notice that is sent by mail will be deemed given: (i) three Business Days after such notice is mailed to an address within the United States of America or (ii) seven Business Days after such notice is mailed to an address outside of the United States of America.  A notice sent by recognized overnight delivery service will be deemed given when received or refused.  A notice sent by e-mail or facsimile shall be deemed given upon receipt of a confirmation of such transmission, unless such receipt occurs after normal business hours, in which case such notice shall be deemed given as of the next Business Day.  Any party may designate, by notice to all of the others, substitute addresses or addressees for notices; thereafter, notices are to be directed to those substitute addresses or addressees.

 

Section 3.3                                     Complete Agreement . This Agreement, together with the Exchange Agreement and the LLC Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement and understanding among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersedes all prior agreements or arrangements (written and oral), including any prior representation, statement, condition or warranty between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof.

 

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Section 3.4                                     Applicable Law; Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial .

 

(a)                                  The parties hereto hereby agree that all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement and the performance of the obligations imposed by this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule, notwithstanding that public policy in Delaware or any other forum jurisdiction might indicate that the laws of that or any other jurisdiction should otherwise apply based on contacts with such state or otherwise.

 

(b)                                  Each of the parties hereto submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and agrees that all claims in respect of the action or proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court.  Each party hereto also agrees not to bring any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any other court.  Each of the parties hereto waives any defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any action or proceeding so brought and waives any bond, surety, or other security that might be required of any other party hereto with respect thereto.  The parties hereto each agree that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court shall be conclusive and binding on it and may be enforced in any court to the jurisdiction of which it is subject by a suit upon such judgment.

 

(c)                                   EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE BREACH, TERMINATION OR VALIDITY OF THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.  EACH PARTY HERETO CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (B) EACH SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (C) EACH SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (D) EACH SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 3.4(c) .

 

Section 3.5                                     References to this Agreement; Headings .  Unless otherwise indicated, “Articles,” “Sections,” “Subsections”, “Clauses”, “Exhibits” and “Schedules” mean and refer to designated Articles, Sections, Subsections, Clauses, Exhibits and Schedules of this Agreement.  Words such as “herein,” “hereby,” “hereinafter,” “hereof,” “hereto,” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole, unless the context indicates otherwise.  All headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not intended to define or limit the

 

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scope or intent of this Agreement.  All exhibits and schedules referred to herein, and as the same may be amended from time to time, are by this reference made a part hereof as though fully set forth herein.

 

Section 3.6                                     Binding Provisions .  This Agreement is binding upon, and inures to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective personal and legal representatives, heirs, executors, successors and permitted assigns.

 

Section 3.7                                     Construction .  Common nouns and pronouns and any variations thereof shall be deemed to refer to masculine, feminine, or neuter, singular or plural, as the identity of the Person, Persons or other reference in the context requires.  Every covenant, term and provision of this Agreement shall be construed simply according to its fair meaning and not strictly for or against any party hereto. Any reference to any statute, law, or regulation, form or schedule shall include any amendments, modifications, or replacements thereof.   Any reference to any agreement, contract or schedule, unless otherwise stated, shall include any amendments, modifications, or replacements thereof.  Whenever used herein, “or” shall include both the conjunctive and disjunctive unless the context requires otherwise, “any” shall mean “one or more,” and “including” shall mean “including without limitation.”

 

Section 3.8                                     Severability . It is expressly understood and agreed that if any provision of this Agreement or the application of any such provision to any party or circumstance shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such provision to any party or circumstance other than those to which it is so determined to be invalid or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each provision hereof shall be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law so long as the economic or legal substance of the matters contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party.  If the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares or finds that any term or provision hereof is invalid or unenforceable, the parties hereto agree that the court making the determination of invalidity or unenforceability shall have the power to reduce the scope, duration or area of the term or provision, or to delete specific words or phrases, and to replace any invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be enforceable as so modified.  If such court of competent jurisdiction does not so replace an invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto will 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 to the end that the matters contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the fullest extent possible.

 

Section 3.9                                     Counterparts . This Agreement and any amendments may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts and delivered via facsimile or .pdf, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same document.  The signature of any party to any counterpart shall be deemed a signature to, and may be appended to, any other counterpart.

 

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Section 3.10                              No Third Party Beneficiaries . Except as provided in Section 2.7 , this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, provide or create any rights or benefits of any Person other than the parties hereto and their successors and permitted assigns.

 

Section 3.11                              Mutual Drafting . The parties hereto are sophisticated and have been represented by attorneys throughout the transactions contemplated hereby who have carefully negotiated the provisions hereof.  As a consequence, the parties do not intend that the presumptions of laws or rules relating to the interpretation of contracts against the drafter of any particular clause should be applied to this Agreement or any agreement or instrument executed in connection herewith, and therefore waive their effects.

 

Section 3.12                              Rights and Remedies Cumulative .  The rights and remedies provided by this Agreement are cumulative and the use of any one right or remedy by any party shall not preclude or waive the right to use any or all other remedies.  Such rights and remedies are given in addition to any other rights the parties may have by law, statute, ordinance or otherwise.  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 3.13                              Multiple Sponsor Members .

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if there is more than one BlackRock Member or Highfields Member, then all actions, consents, votes, approvals, waivers or amendments to be given, taken or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be given, taken or made by the BlackRock Members or the Highfields Members, respectively (including in the capacity as a Sponsor Member), by the BlackRock Members holding a majority of the Company Units and Registrable Securities held in the aggregate by the BlackRock Members (other than the BlackRock Charitable Entities), or by the Highfields Members holding a majority of the Company Units and Registrable Securities held in the aggregate by the Highfields Members (other than the Highfields Charitable Entities), respectively.  The Corporation shall be entitled to rely on any amendment, approval, waiver, amendment, certificate, consent, instructions or other document without inquiry and without requiring substantiating evidence of any kind if executed by either (i) Sponsor Members holding such majority or (ii) by (A) the BlackRock Designee, or (B) the Highfields Designee, in each case if such designee certifies that the requisite approval of such BlackRock Members or such Highfields Members, respectively, has been obtained.

 

(b)                                  BlackRock Members hereby appoint Matthew Botein as the “ BlackRock Designee ”.  The Person acting as the BlackRock Designee may be changed by BlackRock Mortgage Ventures, LLC by notifying the Corporation of such change.

 

(c)                                   Highfields Members hereby appoint HC Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the “ Highfields Designee ”.   The Person acting as the Highfields Designee may be changed by HC Partners LLC

 

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by notifying the Corporation of such change.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed or caused to be duly executed this Agreement as of the date indicated.

 

 

PENNYMAC FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jeffrey Grogin

 

 

Name: Jeffrey Grogin

 

 

Title:   Chief Administrative and Legal Officer and Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

HOLDERS

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

31


Exhibit 10.5

 

STOCKHOLDER AGREEMENT

 

This STOCKHOLDER AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of May 8, 2013, is by and between PennyMac Financial Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and BlackRock Mortgage Ventures, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ BlackRock ”).

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto wish to set forth their relative rights and obligations with regard to the elections of the Company’s Board of Directors and certain other rights;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:

 

§1.                                DEFINITIONS.  For all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to BlackRock, (i) any person or entity directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with BlackRock, and (ii) each BlackRock Charitable Entity.  For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under direct or indirect common control with”), as applied to any entity, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of that entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

BlackRock Charitable Entity ” means each tax-exempt private foundation or public charity created by BlackRock or any of its Affiliates, or with respect to which BlackRock or any of its Affiliates is a disqualified person, and each sponsoring organization which maintains a donor advised fund which is separately identified by reference to contributions of BlackRock or any of its Affiliates (as such terms are defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended).

 

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Nomination Date ” means the date that is (i) 60 calendar days prior to the scheduled date of the annual or special meeting at which the directors of the Company are to be elected, or (ii) 30 calendar days prior to the date on which the initial solicitation of written consents in respect of the election of directors of the Company is scheduled.

 

Shares ” means either or both (i) shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company issued and received by BlackRock or its Affiliates pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, dated on or about the date of this Agreement, by and among the Company, BlackRock and the other parties thereto, and (ii) shares of Class B Common Stock of the Company.

 

Voting Power ” means the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock of the Company with respect to matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote.

 

§2.                                BOARD OF DIRECTORS; COMMITTEES.

 

2.1                                Board Nomination Rights .  In any and all elections of directors of the Company (whether at a meeting or by written consent in lieu of a meeting), BlackRock shall have the right to nominate for election to the Board (i) two individuals if BlackRock, together with its Affiliates, beneficially holds Shares constituting 15% or more of the Voting Power as of the applicable Nomination Date and (ii) one individual if BlackRock, together with its Affiliates, beneficially holds Shares constituting 10% or more of the Voting Power as of the applicable Nomination Date.

 

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2.2                                Board Nomination Procedures .  To exercise its board nomination rights hereunder, BlackRock shall provide written notice to the Company no later than the applicable Nomination Date of the individual(s) that it has a right to nominate hereunder, which notice shall also contain all information with respect to each such individual that will be required to be included in the proxy statement to be circulated in respect of the election of such individual, provided that if BlackRock fails to provide written notice of its nominees prior to the Nomination Date, the directors nominated by BlackRock at the most recent election of directors of the Company shall be deemed nominated for purposes of this Section 2.2 as long as they remain eligible pursuant to laws and regulations applicable to the Company, and are willing, to serve as directors.  Following the timely receipt of such written notice, the Company, provided that each such nominee is reasonably acceptable to the Board (not including the vote of such nominee for this purpose), shall (i) include such individual(s) as nominee(s) in the proxy statement and other proxy materials circulated with respect to the applicable election of directors, (ii) recommend in such proxy statement and materials that the stockholders of the Company vote in favor of the election of such nominee(s) to the Board, and (iii) otherwise use its best efforts to cause such nominee(s) to be elected to the Board.

 

2.3                                Maximum Number of Directors .  At all times prior to the termination of this Agreement, the Company shall cause the Board to consist of no more than nine directors.

 

2.4                                Committee Nomination Rights .  As long as BlackRock is entitled to nominate at least one individual for election to the Board and at least one BlackRock nominee is serving as a director on the Board pursuant to this Agreement, one BlackRock designee as shall be specified by BlackRock at any time shall serve on each committee or subcommittee of the Board, provided that such director is qualified to serve on such committee and subcommittee under the laws and regulations application to the Company, including, without limitation, the independence requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

2.5                                Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws Consistent .  The Company shall use its best efforts to take or cause to be taken all lawful action necessary or appropriate to ensure that at all times neither the Certificate of Incorporation nor the Bylaws of the Company, nor any of the corresponding constituent documents of the Company’s subsidiaries contain any provisions inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement (including, without limitation, this Section 2) or which would in any way nullify or impair the terms of this Agreement or the rights of BlackRock hereunder. The Company shall not take or cause to be taken any action inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement (including without limitation this Section 2) or the rights of BlackRock hereunder.

 

§3.                                CONSENT RIGHTS.

 

3.1                                Agreements with Other Stockholders .  Each party hereto acknowledges that the Company is entering into a separate stockholder agreement with HC Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“HCP”) on or about the date hereof (the “HCP Agreement”) which provides HCP with essentially the same nominating and other rights as those provided to BlackRock hereunder.  Without the prior written consent of BlackRock, the Company shall not amend the HCP Agreement, or enter into any other agreement with HCP with respect to the subject matter of the HCP Agreement, if such amendment or other agreement would provide HCP with nominating rights that are more favorable than those provided to BlackRock hereunder or are otherwise materially adverse to BlackRock.  Without limiting the foregoing, in the event that the Company enters into or amends, modifies or waives (as distinct from a consent or approval provided for therein) any provision of a stockholder agreement between the Company and any other stockholder that involves the grant of rights to a stockholder that are superior, taking into account the impact of differences in levels of stockholding, regulatory status, noncompetition provisions and other similar matters (the “ Contractual Superior Rights ”), to those belonging to BlackRock under this Agreement, the Company shall offer BlackRock the opportunity to obtain such Contractual Superior

 

2



 

Rights.  The Company shall notify BlackRock prior to the time such rights become effective and shall afford it the opportunity for at least 20 days to determine whether or not it wishes to obtain such Contractual Superior Rights.

 

3.2                                Charter Amendments .  The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended from time to time in accordance with this Agreement (the “ Charter ”) shall not be amended in any manner that is adverse to BlackRock or its Affiliates without the prior written consent of BlackRock if BlackRock and its Affiliates hold, at the time of such amendment or repeal, Shares constituting 5% or more of the Voting Power.  Article IX of the Charter shall not be amended or repealed, and no provision that is inconsistent with such Article IX shall be adopted, in any manner without the prior written consent of BlackRock if BlackRock and its Affiliates hold any Shares at such time.

 

3.3                                By-law Amendments .  The by-laws of the Company shall not be amended or repealed in any manner that is adverse to BlackRock or its Affiliates without the prior written consent of BlackRock if BlackRock and its Affiliates hold, at the time of such amendment or repeal, Shares constituting 5% or more of the Voting Power.

 

§4.                                AGGREGATION OF AFFILIATES.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if voting power of shares of stock of the Company is held by BlackRock and one or more of its Affiliates, or by more than one Affiliate of BlackRock, then all nominations, consents and actions required or permitted to be given, made or taken by BlackRock pursuant to this Agreement shall be given, made or taken by the parties holding a majority of such voting power held by BlackRock and its Affiliates (other than the BlackRock Charitable Entities).  The Company and its officers shall be entitled to rely on any notice, consent, waiver or instructions executed by either (i) such parties holding a majority of such voting power or (ii) by the BlackRock Designee if such designee certifies that the requisite approval of such parties has been obtained, without inquiry and without requiring substantiating evidence of any kind.  BlackRock hereby appoints Matthew Botein as the initial “ BlackRock Designee .”  The party acting as the BlackRock Designee may be changed by BlackRock by providing notice of such change to the Company.

 

§5.                                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 any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

 

§6.                                ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, this document embodies the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes and preempts 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.

 

§7.                                SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.  This Agreement will bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Company and BlackRock and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

§8.                                COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts each of which will be an original and all of which taken together will constitute one and the same agreement.

 

§9.                                NOTICES.  Any notice provided for in this Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed properly delivered if either personally delivered or sent by overnight courier or mailed certified

 

3



 

or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid to the recipient (a) if to BlackRock, at 40 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022, Attention:  Russell McGranahan and Matthew Botein, or at any other address provided by BlackRock and (b) if to the Company, at 6101 Condor Drive, Moorpark, California 93021, Attention:  Jeff Grogin, with a copy to Bingham McCutchen LLP, 600 Anton Blvd., Suite 1800, Costa Mesa, California 92626, Attention:  Tim Rupp, Esq.  Any such notice shall be effective (i) if delivered personally, when received, (ii) if sent by overnight courier, when receipted for, and (iii) if mailed, 3 days after being mailed as described above.

 

§10.                         AMENDMENT AND WAIVER.  No modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement will be effective against the Company or BlackRock unless such modification, amendment or waiver is approved in writing by the party against whom such modification, amendment or waiver is to be enforced.  The failure of any party to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement will in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and will not affect the right of such party thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.

 

§11.                         TERMINATION.  This Agreement will terminate at such time as BlackRock, together with its Affiliates, first fails to beneficially hold any equity securities of the Company.

 

§12.                         GOVERNING LAW.  ALL QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

 

§13.                         DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS.  The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.

 

§14.                         CONSTRUCTION.  The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction will be applied against any party.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

4



 

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

 

 

PENNYMAC FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jeffrey P. Grogin

 

Name:

Jeffrey P. Grogin

 

Title:

Chief Administrative and Legal Officer and Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

BLACKROCK MORTGAGE VENTURES, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Matthew Botein

 

Name:

Matthew Botein

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

5


Exhibit 10.6

 

STOCKHOLDER AGREEMENT

 

This STOCKHOLDER AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of May 8, 2013, is by and between PennyMac Financial Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and HC Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ HCP ”).

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto wish to set forth their relative rights and obligations with regard to the elections of the Company’s Board of Directors and certain other rights;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:

 

§1.                                DEFINITIONS.  For all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to HCP, (i) any person or entity directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with HCP, (ii) any person who is or was a member or other owner of HCP and has received a distribution of securities of the Company or its subsidiary from HCP, and (iii) each HCP Charitable Entity.  For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under direct or indirect common control with”), as applied to any entity, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of that entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

HCP Charitable Entity ” means each tax-exempt private foundation or public charity created by HCP or any of its Affiliates or principals, or with respect to which HCP or any of its Affiliates or principals is a disqualified person, and each sponsoring organization which maintains a donor advised fund which is separately identified by reference to contributions of HCP or any of its Affiliates or principals (as such terms are defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended).

 

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Nomination Date ” means the date that is (i) 60 calendar days prior to the scheduled date of the annual or special meeting at which the directors of the Company are to be elected, or (ii) 30 calendar days prior to the date on which the initial solicitation of written consents in respect of the election of directors of the Company is scheduled.

 

Shares ” means either or both (i) shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company issued and received by HCP or its Affiliates pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, dated on or about the date of this Agreement, by and among the Company, HCP and the other parties thereto, and (ii) shares of Class B Common Stock of the Company.

 

Voting Power ” means the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock of the Company with respect to matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote.

 

§2.                                BOARD OF DIRECTORS; COMMITTEES.

 

2.1                                Board Nomination Rights .  In any and all elections of directors of the Company (whether at a meeting or by written consent in lieu of a meeting), HCP shall have the right to nominate for election to the Board (i) two individuals if HCP, together with its Affiliates, beneficially holds Shares constituting 15% or more of the Voting Power as of the applicable Nomination Date and (ii) one

 

1



 

individual if HCP, together with its Affiliates, beneficially holds Shares constituting 10% or more of the Voting Power as of the applicable Nomination Date.

 

2.2                                Board Nomination Procedures .  To exercise its board nomination rights hereunder, HCP shall provide written notice to the Company no later than the applicable Nomination Date of the individual(s) that it has a right to nominate hereunder, which notice shall also contain all information with respect to each such individual that will be required to be included in the proxy statement to be circulated in respect of the election of such individual, provided that if HCP fails to provide written notice of its nominees prior to the Nomination Date, the directors nominated by HCP at the most recent election of directors of the Company shall be deemed nominated for purposes of this Section 2.2 as long as they remain eligible pursuant to laws and regulations applicable to the Company, and are willing, to serve as directors.  Following the timely receipt of such written notice, the Company, provided that each such nominee is reasonably acceptable to the Board (not including the vote of such nominee for this purpose), shall (i) include such individual(s) as nominee(s) in the proxy statement and other proxy materials circulated with respect to the applicable election of directors, (ii) recommend in such proxy statement and materials that the stockholders of the Company vote in favor of the election of such nominee(s) to the Board, and (iii) otherwise use its best efforts to cause such nominee(s) to be elected to the Board.

 

2.3                                Maximum Number of Directors .  At all times prior to the termination of this Agreement, the Company shall cause the Board to consist of no more than nine directors.

 

2.4                                Committee Nomination Rights .  As long as HCP is entitled to nominate at least one individual for election to the Board and at least one HCP nominee is serving as a director on the Board pursuant to this Agreement, one HCP designee as shall be specified by HCP at any time shall serve on each committee or subcommittee of the Board, provided that such director is qualified to serve on such committee and subcommittee under the laws and regulations application to the Company, including, without limitation, the independence requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

2.5                                Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws Consistent .  The Company shall use its best efforts to take or cause to be taken all lawful action necessary or appropriate to ensure that at all times neither the Certificate of Incorporation nor the Bylaws of the Company, nor any of the corresponding constituent documents of the Company’s subsidiaries contain any provisions inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement (including, without limitation, this Section 2) or which would in any way nullify or impair the terms of this Agreement or the rights of HCP hereunder. The Company shall not take or cause to be taken any action inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement (including without limitation this Section 2) or the rights of HCP hereunder.

 

§3.                                CONSENT RIGHTS.

 

3.1                                Agreements with Other Stockholders .  Each party hereto acknowledges that the Company is entering into a separate stockholder agreement with BlackRock Mortgage Ventures, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ BlackRock ”) on or about the date hereof (the “ BlackRock Agreement ”) which provides BlackRock with essentially the same nominating and other rights as those provided to HCP hereunder.  Without the prior written consent of HCP, the Company shall not amend the BlackRock Agreement, or enter into any other agreement with BlackRock with respect to the subject matter of the BlackRock Agreement, if such amendment or other agreement would provide BlackRock with nominating rights that are more favorable than those provided to HCP hereunder or are otherwise materially adverse to HCP.  Without limiting the foregoing, in the event that the Company enters into or amends, modifies or waives (as distinct from a consent or approval provided for therein) any provision of a stockholder agreement between the Company and any other stockholder that involves the grant of rights

 

2



 

to a stockholder that are superior, taking into account the impact of differences in levels of stockholding, regulatory status, noncompetition provisions and other similar matters (the “ Contractual Superior Rights ”), to those belonging to HCP under this Agreement, the Company shall offer HCP the opportunity to obtain such Contractual Superior Rights.  The Company shall notify HCP prior to the time such rights become effective and shall afford it the opportunity for at least 20 days to determine whether or not it wishes to obtain such Contractual Superior Rights.

 

3.2                                Charter Amendments .  The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended from time to time in accordance with this Agreement (the “ Charter ”) shall not be amended in any manner that is adverse to HCP or its Affiliates without the prior written consent of HCP if HCP and its Affiliates hold, at the time of such amendment or repeal, Shares constituting 5% or more of the Voting Power.  Article IX of the Charter shall not be amended or repealed, and no provision that is inconsistent with such Article IX shall be adopted, in any manner without the prior written consent of HCP if HCP and its Affiliates hold any Shares at such time.

 

3.3                                By-law Amendments .  The by-laws of the Company shall not be amended or repealed in any manner that is adverse to HCP or its Affiliates without the prior written consent of HCP if HCP and its Affiliates hold, at the time of such amendment or repeal, Shares constituting 5% or more of the Voting Power.

 

§4.                                AGGREGATION OF AFFILIATES.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if voting power of shares of stock of the Company is held by HCP and one or more of its Affiliates, or by more than one Affiliate of HCP, then all nominations, consents and actions required or permitted to be given, made or taken by HCP pursuant to this Agreement shall be given, made or taken by the parties holding a majority of such voting power held by HCP and its Affiliates (other than the HCP Charitable Entities).  The Company and its officers shall be entitled to rely on any notice, consent, waiver or instructions executed by either (i) such parties holding a majority of such voting power or (ii) by the HCP Designee if such designee certifies that the requisite approval of such parties has been obtained, without inquiry and without requiring substantiating evidence of any kind. HCP shall be the initial “ HCP Designee .”  The party acting as the HCP Designee may be changed by HCP by providing notice of such change to the Company.

 

§5.                                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 any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

 

§6.                                ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, this document embodies the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes and preempts 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.

 

§7.                                SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.  This Agreement will bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Company and HCP and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

3



 

§8.                                COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts each of which will be an original and all of which taken together will constitute one and the same agreement.

 

§9.                                NOTICES.  Any notice provided for in this Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed properly delivered if either personally delivered or sent by overnight courier or mailed certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid to the recipient (a) if to HCP, , at HC Partners LLC, 59th Floor, John Hancock Tower, 200 Clarendon St., Boston MA  02116, Attention:  Jonathon S. Jacobson and Jennifer L. Stier, or at any other address provided by HCP and (b) if to the Company, at 6101 Condor Drive, Moorpark, California 93021, Attention:  Jeff Grogin, with a copy to Bingham McCutchen LLP, 600 Anton Blvd., Suite 1800, Costa Mesa, California 92626, Attention:  Tim Rupp, Esq.  Any such notice shall be effective (i) if delivered personally, when received, (ii) if sent by overnight courier, when receipted for, and (iii) if mailed, 3 days after being mailed as described above.

 

§10.                         AMENDMENT AND WAIVER.  No modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement will be effective against the Company or HCP unless such modification, amendment or waiver is approved in writing by the party against whom such modification, amendment or waiver is to be enforced.  The failure of any party to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement will in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and will not affect the right of such party thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.

 

§11.                         TERMINATION.  This Agreement will terminate at such time as HCP, together with its Affiliates, first fails to beneficially hold any equity securities of the Company.

 

§12.                         GOVERNING LAW.  ALL QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

 

§13.                         DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS.  The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.

 

§14.                         CONSTRUCTION.  The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction will be applied against any party.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

4



 

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

 

 

PENNYMAC FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jeffrey P. Grogin

 

Name:

Jeffrey P. Grogin

 

Title:

Chief Administrative and Legal Officer and Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

HC PARTNERS LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jennifer Sher

 

Name:

Jennifer Sher

 

Title:

Manager

 

5


Exhibit 99.1

 

PENNYMAC FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

 

2013 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

1. Purpose

1

 

 

2. Definitions

1

 

 

3. Term of the Plan

4

 

 

4. Stock Subject to the Plan

4

 

 

5. Administration

5

 

 

6. Authorization of Grants

6

 

 

7. Specific Terms of Awards

7

 

 

8. Adjustment Provisions

13

 

 

9. Change of Control

16

 

 

10. Settlement of Awards

17

 

 

11. Reservation of Stock

20

 

 

12. Limitation of Rights in Stock; No Special Service Rights

20

 

 

13. Unfunded Status of Plan

20

 

 

14. Nonexclusivity of the Plan

21

 

 

15. No Guarantee of Tax Consequences

21

 

 

16. Termination and Amendment of the Plan

21

 

 

17. Notices and Other Communications

22

 

 

18. Governing Law

22

 



 

PENNYMAC FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

 

2013 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.                                       Purpose

 

This Plan is intended to encourage ownership of Stock by employees, consultants and directors of the Company and its Affiliates and to provide additional incentive for them to promote the success of the Company’s business through the grant of Awards of or pertaining to shares of the Company’s Stock.  The Plan is intended to be an incentive stock option plan within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, but not all Awards are required to be Incentive Options.

 

2.                                       Definitions

 

As used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set out below, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

 

2.1.                             Accelerate , Accelerated , and Acceleration , means: (a) when used with respect to an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, that as of the time of reference the Option or Stock Appreciation Right will become exercisable with respect to some or all of the shares of Stock for which it was not then otherwise exercisable by its terms; (b) when used with respect to Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, that the Risk of Forfeiture otherwise applicable to the Stock or Units shall expire with respect to some or all of the shares of Restricted Stock or Units then still otherwise subject to the Risk of Forfeiture; and (c) when used with respect to Performance Units, that the applicable Performance Goals or other business objectives shall be deemed to have been met as to some or all of the Units.

 

2.2.                             Affiliate means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, business trust, or other entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company.

 

2.3.                             Assumed and Assumption have the meanings given such terms in Section 9.1(a).

 

2.4.                             Award means any grant or sale pursuant to the Plan of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Units, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or Stock Grants.

 

2.5.                             Award Agreement means an agreement between the Company and the recipient of an Award, or other notice of grant of an Award, setting forth the terms and conditions of the Award.

 

2.6.                             Board means the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

2.7.                             Change of Control means the occurrence of any of the following after the date of the approval of the Plan by the Board:

 

(a)                                  a Transaction (as defined in Section 8.4), unless securities possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the survivor’s or acquiror’s outstanding securities (or the securities of any parent thereof) are held by a person or persons who held securities possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities immediately prior to that transaction, or

 



 

(b)                                  any person or group of persons (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect from time to time) directly or indirectly acquires, including but not limited to by means of a merger or consolidation, beneficial ownership (determined pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the said Exchange Act) of securities possessing more than 20% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities unless pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly to the Company’s stockholders that the Board recommends such stockholders accept, other than (i) the Company or any of its Affiliates, (ii) an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Affiliates, (iii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Affiliates, or (iv) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or

 

(c)                                   over a period of thirty-six (36) consecutive months or less, there is a change in the composition of the Board such that a majority of the Board members (rounded up to the next whole number, if a fraction) ceases, by reason of one or more proxy contests for the election of Board members, to be composed of individuals who either (i) have been Board members continuously since the beginning of that period, or (ii) have been elected or nominated for election as Board members during such period by at least a majority of the Board members described in the preceding clause (i) who were still in office at the time that election or nomination was approved by the Board; or

 

(d)                                  a majority of the Board votes in favor of a decision that a Change of Control has occurred.

 

2.8.                             Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute thereto, and any regulations issued from time to time thereunder.

 

2.9.                             Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board, which in general is responsible for the administration of the Plan, as provided in Section 5 of this Plan.  For any period during which no such committee is in existence “Committee” shall mean the Board and all authority and responsibility assigned to the Committee under the Plan shall be exercised, if at all, by the Board.

 

2.10.                      Company means PennyMac Financial Services, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

2.11.                      Grant Date means the date as of which an Option is granted, as determined under Section 7.1(a).

 

2.12.                      Incentive Option means an Option which by its terms is to be treated as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

2.13.                      Market Value means the value of a share of Stock on a particular date determined by such methods or procedures as may be established by the Committee.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Market Value of Stock as of any date is the closing price for the Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange (or on any other national securities exchange on which the Stock is then listed) for that date or, if no closing price is reported for that date, the closing price on the first following date for which a closing price is reported.  For purposes of Awards effective as of the effective date of the Company’s initial public offering,

 

2



 

Market Value of Stock shall be the price at which the Company’s Stock is offered to the public in its initial public offering.

 

2.14.                      Nonstatutory Option means any Option that is not an Incentive Option.

 

2.15.                      Option means an option to purchase shares of Stock.

 

2.16.                      Optionee means an eligible individual to whom an Option shall have been granted under the Plan.

 

2.17.                      Participant means any holder of an outstanding Award under the Plan.

 

2.18.                      Performance Criteria and Performance Goals have the meanings given such terms in Section 7.7(f).

 

2.19.                      Performance Period means the one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, selected by the Committee, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals or other business objectives will be measured for purposes of determining a Participant’s right to, and the payment of, an Award.

 

2.20.                      Performance Unit means a right granted to a Participant under Section 7.5, to receive cash, Stock or other Awards, the payment of which is contingent on achieving Performance Goals or other business objectives established by the Committee.

 

2.21.                      Plan means this 2013 Equity Incentive Plan of the Company, as amended from time to time, and including any attachments or addenda hereto.

 

2.22.                      Qualified Performance-Based Awards means Awards intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

2.23.                      Restricted Stock means a grant or sale of shares of Stock to a Participant subject to a Risk of Forfeiture.

 

2.24.                      Restricted Stock Units means rights to receive shares of Stock at the close of a Restriction Period, subject to a Risk of Forfeiture.

 

2.25.                      Restriction Period means the period of time, established by the Committee in connection with an Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, during which the shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units are subject to a Risk of Forfeiture described in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

2.26.                      Risk of Forfeiture means a limitation on the right of the Participant to retain Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, including a right of the Company to reacquire shares of Restricted Stock at less than its then Market Value, arising because of the occurrence or non-occurrence of specified events or conditions.

 

2.27.                      Stock means Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company, and such other securities as may be substituted for Stock pursuant to Section 8.

 

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2.28.                      Stock Appreciation Right means a right to receive any excess in the Market Value of shares of Stock (except as otherwise provided in Section 7.2(c)) over a specified exercise price.

 

2.29.                      Stock Grant means the grant of shares of Stock not subject to restrictions or other forfeiture conditions.

 

2.30.                      Stockholders’ Agreement means any agreement by and among the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Company and setting forth, among other provisions, restrictions upon the transfer of shares of Stock or on the exercise of rights appurtenant thereto (including but not limited to voting rights).

 

2.31.                      Ten Percent Owner means a person who owns, or is deemed within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code to own, stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company (or any parent or subsidiary corporations of the Company, as defined in Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Code).  Whether a person is a Ten Percent Owner shall be determined with respect to an Option based on the facts existing immediately prior to the Grant Date of the Option.

 

3.                                       Term of the Plan

 

Unless the Plan shall have been earlier terminated by the Board, Awards may be granted under this Plan at any time in the period commencing on the date of approval of the Plan by the Board and ending immediately prior to the tenth anniversary of the earlier of the adoption of the Plan by the Board and approval of the Plan by the Company’s stockholders.  Awards granted pursuant to the Plan within that period shall not expire solely by reason of the termination of the Plan.  Awards of Incentive Options granted prior to stockholder approval of the Plan are expressly conditioned upon such approval, but in the event of the failure of the stockholders to approve the Plan shall thereafter and for all purposes be deemed to constitute Nonstatutory Options.

 

4.                                       Stock Subject to the Plan

 

4.1.                             Plan Share Limitations .

 

(a)                                  Up to 19,140,700 shares of Stock may be issued as Awards of Stock Grants in exchange for Class A Units of the Company’s subsidiary, Private National Mortgage Acceptance Company, LLC, that were issued to employees of such subsidiary in respect of compensatory transactions.  Each such exchange shall be made pursuant to the terms of the Exchange Agreement entered into by the Company, such subsidiary and the members of such subsidiary in connection with the Company’s initial public offering of Stock, as such agreement may be amended from time to time.

 

(b)                                  Except as a result of issuances described in subsection (a), at no time shall the number of shares of Stock issued pursuant to or subject to outstanding Awards granted under the Plan exceed 3,906,433 shares of Stock, provided, however, that beginning on January 1, 2014, the number of shares of Stock authorized under this Section 4.1(b) of this 2013 Equity Incentive Plan will be increased each January 1 by an amount equal to the least of (i) 1.75% of outstanding Stock on a fully diluted basis as of the

 

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end of the immediately preceding fiscal year, (ii) 1,322,024 shares, and (iii) any lower amount determined by the Board.  In no event shall the number of shares available for issuance pursuant to Incentive Options exceed 17,126,673 shares of Stock.  For purposes of applying the foregoing limitations, (a) if any Option or Stock Appreciation Right expires, terminates, or is cancelled for any reason without having been exercised in full, or if any other Award is forfeited by the recipient or repurchased at less than its Market Value, the shares of Stock not purchased by the Optionee or which are forfeited by the recipient or repurchased shall again be available for Awards to be granted under the Plan and (b) if any Option is exercised by delivering previously owned shares of Stock in payment of the exercise price therefor, only the net number of shares, that is, the number of shares of Stock issued minus the number received by the Company in payment of the exercise price, shall be considered to have been issued pursuant to an Award granted under the Plan.  In addition, settlement of any Award shall not count against the foregoing limitations except to the extent settled in the form of Stock.

 

(c)                                   Shares of Stock issued pursuant to the Plan may be either authorized but unissued shares or shares held by the Company in its treasury.

 

4.2.                             Per Person Limitations .

 

(a)                                  In General .  The maximum number of shares of Stock that may be subject to Options, Stock Appreciation Rights or other Awards, or any combination thereof, granted to any one Participant during any single calendar year shall be 3,000,000.  The per Participant limits described in this subsection (b) shall be construed and applied consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(b)                                  Directors.   The maximum number of shares of Stock that may be subject to Awards granted to any director in his or her capacity as such during any single calendar year shall be 1,000,000.

 

4.3.                             Adjustment of Limitations .  Each of the share limitations of this Section 4 shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan, but in the case of the limitation of Section 4.2(a), only if and to the extent consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

5.                                       Administration

 

The Plan shall be administered by the Committee; provided, however , that at any time and on any one or more occasions the Board may itself exercise any of the powers and responsibilities assigned the Committee under the Plan and when so acting shall have the benefit of all of the provisions of the Plan pertaining to the Committee’s exercise of its authorities hereunder; and provided further, however, that the Committee may delegate to an executive officer or officers the authority to grant Awards hereunder to employees who are not officers, and to consultants, in accordance with such guidelines as the Committee shall set forth at any time or from time to time. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have complete authority, in its discretion, to make or to select the manner of making all determinations with respect to each Award to be granted by the Company under the Plan including the employee, consultant or director to receive the Award and the form of Award.  In making such determinations, the Committee may take into account the nature of the services rendered by the respective employees, consultants, and directors, their present and potential contributions to the success of the Company and its Affiliates, and such other factors as the Committee in its discretion shall deem relevant.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall also

 

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have complete authority to interpret the Plan, to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to it, to determine the terms and provisions of the respective Award Agreements (which need not be identical), and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.  The Committee’s determinations made in good faith on matters referred to in the Plan shall be final, binding and conclusive on all persons having or claiming any interest under the Plan or an Award made pursuant hereto.

 

6.                                       Authorization of Grants

 

6.1.                             Eligibility .  The Committee may grant from time to time and at any time prior to the termination of the Plan one or more Awards, either alone or in combination with any other Awards, to any employee of or consultant to one or more of the Company and its Affiliates or to any non-employee member of the Board or of any board of directors (or similar governing authority) of any Affiliate. However, only employees of the Company, and of any parent or subsidiary corporations of the Company, as defined in Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Code, shall be eligible for the grant of an Incentive Option.

 

6.2.                             General Terms of Awards .  Each grant of an Award shall be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the Plan (including but not limited to any specific terms and conditions applicable to that type of Award set out in the following Section), and such other terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee may prescribe.  No prospective Participant shall have any rights with respect to an Award, unless and until such Participant shall have complied with the applicable terms and conditions of such Award (including if applicable delivering a fully executed copy of any agreement evidencing an Award to the Company).

 

6.3.                             Effect of Termination of Employment, Etc . Unless the Committee shall provide otherwise with respect to any Award (including, but not limited to, in a Participant’s Award Agreement), if the Participant’s employment or other association with the Company and its Affiliates ends for any reason, including because of the Participant’s employer ceasing to be an Affiliate, (a) any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right of the Participant shall cease to be exercisable in any respect not later than thirty (30) days following that event and, for the period it remains exercisable following that event, shall be exercisable only to the extent exercisable at the date of that event, and (b) any other outstanding Award of the Participant shall be forfeited or otherwise subject to return to or repurchase by the Company on the terms specified in the applicable Award Agreement.  Cessation of the performance of services in one capacity, for example, as an employee, shall not result in termination of an Award while the Participant continues to perform services in another capacity, for example as a director.  Military or sick leave or other bona fide leave shall not be deemed a termination of employment or other association, provided that it does not exceed the longer of ninety (90) days or the period during which the absent Participant’s reemployment rights, if any, are guaranteed by statute or by contract. To the extent consistent with applicable law, the Committee may provide that Awards continue to vest for some or all of the period of any such leave, or that their vesting shall be tolled during any such leave and only recommence upon the Participant’s return from leave, if ever.

 

6.4.                             Non-Transferability of Awards .  Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6.4, Awards shall not be transferable, and no Award or interest therein may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  All of a Participant’s rights in any Award may be exercised during the life of the Participant only by the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative.  However,

 

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the Committee may, at or after the grant of an Award of a Nonstatutory Option, or shares of Restricted Stock, provide that such Award may be transferred by the recipient to a family member; provided, however , that any such transfer is without payment of any consideration whatsoever and that no transfer shall be valid unless first approved by the Committee, acting in its sole discretion.  For this purpose, “family member” means any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, grandparent, stepparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, any person sharing the employee’s household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which the foregoing persons have more than fifty (50) percent of the beneficial interests, a foundation in which the foregoing persons (or the Participant) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the Participant) own more than fifty (50) percent of the voting interests.

 

7.                                       Specific Terms of Awards

 

7.1.                             Options .

 

(a)                                  Date of Grant .  The granting of an Option shall take place at the time specified in the Award Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Exercise Price .  The price at which shares of Stock may be acquired under each Incentive Option shall be not less than 100% of the Market Value of Stock on the Grant Date, or not less than 110% of the Market Value of Stock on the Grant Date if the Optionee is a Ten Percent Owner.  The price at which shares of Stock may be acquired under each Nonstatutory Option shall not be so limited solely by reason of this Section.

 

(c)                                   Option Period .  No Incentive Option may be exercised on or after the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date, or on or after the fifth anniversary of the Grant Date if the Optionee is a Ten Percent Owner.  The Option period under each Nonstatutory Option shall not be so limited solely by reason of this Section.

 

(d)                                  Exercisability .  An Option may be immediately exercisable or become exercisable in such installments, cumulative or non-cumulative, as the Committee may determine.  In the case of an Option not otherwise immediately exercisable in full, the Committee may Accelerate such Option in whole or in part at any time; provided, however, that in the case of an Incentive Option, any such Acceleration of the Option would not cause the Option to fail to comply with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code or the Optionee consents to the Acceleration.

 

(e)                                   Method of Exercise .  An Option may be exercised by the Optionee giving written notice, in the manner provided in Section 17, specifying the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Option is then being exercised.  The notice shall be accompanied by payment in the form of cash or check payable to the order of the Company in an amount equal to the exercise price of the shares of Stock to be purchased or, subject in each instance to the Committee’s approval, acting in its sole discretion, and to such conditions, if any, as the Committee may deem necessary to avoid adverse accounting effects to the Company,

 

(i) by delivery to the Company of shares of Stock having a Market Value equal to the exercise price of the shares to be purchased, or

 

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(ii) by surrender of the Option as to all or part of the shares of Stock for which the Option is then exercisable in exchange for shares of Stock having an aggregate Market Value equal to the difference between ( 1 ) the aggregate Market Value of the surrendered portion of the Option, and ( 2 ) the aggregate exercise price under the Option for the surrendered portion of the Option.

 

If the Stock is traded on an established market, payment of any exercise price may also be made through and under the terms and conditions of any formal cashless exercise program authorized by the Company entailing the sale of the Stock subject to an Option in a brokered transaction (other than to the Company).  Receipt by the Company of such notice and payment in any authorized or combination of authorized means shall constitute the exercise of the Option.  Within thirty (30) days thereafter but subject to the remaining provisions of the Plan, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Optionee or his agent a certificate or certificates or shall cause the Stock to be held in book-entry position through the Company’s transfer agent’s direct registration system for the number of shares then being purchased.  Such shares of Stock shall be fully paid and nonassessable.

 

(f)                                    Limit on Incentive Option Characterization .  An Incentive Option shall be considered to be an Incentive Option only to the extent that the number of shares of Stock for which the Option first becomes exercisable in a calendar year do not have an aggregate Market Value (as of the date of the grant of the Option) in excess of the “current limit”.  The current limit for any Optionee for any calendar year shall be $100,000 minus the aggregate Market Value at the date of grant of the number of shares of Stock available for purchase for the first time in the same year under each other Incentive Option previously granted to the Optionee under the Plan, and under each other incentive stock option previously granted to the Optionee under any other incentive stock option plan of the Company and its Affiliates, after December 31, 1986.  Any shares of Stock which would cause the foregoing limit to be violated shall be deemed to have been granted under a separate Nonstatutory Option, otherwise identical in its terms to those of the Incentive Option.

 

(g)                                   Notification of Disposition .  Each person exercising any Incentive Option granted under the Plan shall be deemed to have covenanted with the Company to report to the Company any disposition of the shares of Stock issued upon such exercise prior to the expiration of the holding periods specified by Section 422(a)(1) of the Code and, if and to the extent that the realization of income in such a disposition imposes upon the Company federal, state, local or other withholding tax requirements, or any such withholding is required to secure for the Company an otherwise available tax deduction, to remit to the Company an amount in cash sufficient to satisfy those requirements.

 

7.2.                             Stock Appreciation Rights .

 

(a)                                  Tandem or Stand-Alone .  Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted in tandem with an Option (at or, in the case of a Nonstatutory Option, after, the award of the Option), or alone and unrelated to an Option.  Stock Appreciation Rights in tandem with an Option shall terminate to the extent that the related Option is exercised, and the related Option shall terminate to the extent that the tandem Stock Appreciation Rights are exercised.

 

(b)                                  Exercise Price .  Stock Appreciation Rights shall have an exercise price of not less than fifty percent (50%) of the Market Value of the Stock on the date of award, or in the

 

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case of Stock Appreciation Rights in tandem with Options, the exercise price of the related Option.

 

(c)                                   Other Terms .  Except as the Committee may deem inappropriate or inapplicable in the circumstances, Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to terms and conditions substantially similar to those applicable to a Nonstatutory Option.  In addition, an Stock Appreciation Right related to an Option which can only be exercised during limited periods following a Change of Control may entitle the Participant to receive an amount based upon the highest price paid or offered for Stock in any transaction relating to the Change of Control or paid during the thirty (30) day period immediately preceding the occurrence of the Change of Control in any transaction reported in the stock market in which the Stock is normally traded.

 

7.3.                             Restricted Stock .

 

(a)                                  Purchase Price .  Shares of Restricted Stock shall be issued under the Plan for such consideration, if any, in cash, other property or services, or any combination thereof, as is determined by the Committee.

 

(b)                                  Issuance of Stock .  Each Participant receiving a Restricted Stock Award, subject to subsection (c) below, shall be issued a stock certificate in respect of such shares of Restricted Stock or the shares shall be held in book-entry position through the Company’s transfer agent’s direct registration system.  If a certificate is issued, such certificate shall be registered in the name of such Participant, and, if applicable, shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Award substantially in the following form:

 

The shares evidenced by this certificate are subject to the terms and conditions of PennyMac Financial Services, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan and an Award Agreement entered into by the registered owner and PennyMac Financial Services, Inc., copies of which will be furnished by the Company to the holder of the shares evidenced by this certificate upon written request and without charge.

 

If the Stock is in book-entry position through the Company’s transfer-agent’s direct registration system, the restrictions will be appropriately noted.

 

(c)                                   Escrow of Shares .  The Committee may require that the stock certificates evidencing shares of Restricted Stock 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 Participant deliver a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the Stock covered by such Award.

 

(d)                                  Restrictions and Restriction Period .  During the Restriction Period applicable to shares of Restricted Stock, such shares shall be subject to limitations on transferability and a Risk of Forfeiture arising on the basis of such conditions related to the performance of services, Company or Affiliate performance or otherwise as the Committee may determine and provide for in the applicable Award Agreement.  Any such Risk of Forfeiture may be waived or terminated, or the Restriction Period shortened, at any time by the Committee on such basis as it deems appropriate.

 

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(e)                                   Rights Pending Lapse of Risk of Forfeiture or Forfeiture of Award .  Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement, at all times prior to lapse of any Risk of Forfeiture applicable to, or forfeiture of, an Award of Restricted Stock, the Participant shall have all of the rights of a stockholder of the Company, including the right to vote, and the right to receive any dividends with respect to, the shares of Restricted Stock (but any dividends or other distributions payable in shares of Stock or other securities of the Company shall constitute additional Restricted Stock, subject to the same Risk of Forfeiture as the shares of Restricted Stock in respect of which such shares of Stock or other securities are paid).  The Committee, as determined at the time of Award, may permit or require the payment of cash dividends to be deferred and, if the Committee so determines, reinvested in additional Restricted Stock to the extent shares of Stock are available under Section 4.

 

(f)                                    Lapse of Restrictions .  If and when the Restriction Period expires without a prior forfeiture of the Restricted Stock, the certificates for such shares shall be delivered to the Participant promptly if not theretofore so delivered.

 

7.4.                             Restricted Stock Units .

 

(a)                                  Character .  Each Restricted Stock Unit shall entitle the recipient to a share of Stock at a close of such Restriction Period as the Committee may establish and subject to a Risk of Forfeiture arising on the basis of such conditions relating to the performance of services, Company or Affiliate performance or otherwise as the Committee may determine and provide for in the applicable Award Agreement.  Any such Risk of Forfeiture may be waived or terminated, or the Restriction Period shortened, at any time by the Committee on such basis as it deems appropriate.

 

(b)                                  Form and Timing of Payment .  Payment of earned Restricted Stock Units shall be made in a single lump sum following the close of the applicable Restriction Period.  At the discretion of the Committee, Participants may be entitled to receive payments equivalent to any dividends declared with respect to Stock referenced in grants of Restricted Stock Units but only following the close of the applicable Restriction Period and then only if the underlying Stock shall have been earned.  Unless the Committee shall provide otherwise, any such dividend equivalents shall be paid, if at all, without interest or other earnings.

 

7.5.                             Performance Units .

 

(a)                                  Character . Each Performance Unit shall entitle the recipient to the value of a specified number of shares of Stock, over the initial value for such number of shares, if any, established by the Committee at the time of grant, at the close of a specified Performance Period to the extent specified business objectives, including but not limited to Performance Goals, shall have been achieved.

 

(b)                                  Earning of Performance Units . The Committee shall set Performance Goals or other business objectives in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met within the applicable Performance Period, will determine the number and value of Performance Units that will be paid out to the Participant.  After the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Units shall be entitled to receive payout on the number and value of Performance Units earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding Performance Goals or other business objectives have been achieved.

 

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(c)                                   Form and Timing of Payment .  Payment of earned Performance Units shall be made in a single lump sum following the close of the applicable Performance Period.  At the discretion of the Committee, Participants may be entitled to receive any dividends declared with respect to Stock which have been earned in connection with grants of Performance Units which have been earned, but not yet distributed to Participants.  The Committee may permit or, if it so provides at grant require, a Participant to defer such Participant’s receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Stock that would otherwise be due to such Participant by virtue of the satisfaction of any requirements or goals with respect to Performance Units.  If any such deferral election is required or permitted, the Committee shall establish rules and procedures for such payment deferrals.

 

7.6.                             Stock Grants . Stock Grants shall be awarded solely in recognition of significant prior or expected contributions to the success of the Company or its Affiliates, as an inducement to employment, in lieu of compensation otherwise already due and in such other limited circumstances as the Committee deems appropriate.  Stock Grants shall be made without forfeiture conditions of any kind.

 

7.7.                             Qualified Performance-Based Awards .

 

(a)                                  Purpose .  The purpose of this Section 7.7 is to provide the Committee the ability to qualify Awards as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.  If the Committee, in its discretion, decides to grant an Award as a Qualified Performance-Based Award, the provisions of this Section 7.7 will control over any contrary provision contained in the Plan.  In the course of granting any Award, the Committee may specifically designate the Award as intended to qualify as a Qualified Performance-Based Award.  However, no Award shall be considered to have failed to qualify as a Qualified Performance-Based Award solely because the Award is not expressly designated as a Qualified Performance-Based Award, if the Award otherwise satisfies the provisions of this Section 7.7 and the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code applicable to “performance-based compensation.”

 

(b)                                  Authority .  All grants of Awards intended to qualify as Qualified Performance-Based Awards and the determination of the terms applicable thereto shall be made by the Committee.  If not all of the members thereof qualify as “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162 of the Code, however, all grants of Awards intended to qualify as Qualified Performance-Based Awards and the determination of the terms applicable thereto shall be made a subcommittee of the Committee consisting of such of the members of the Committee as do so qualify.  Any reference in this Section 7.7 to the Committee shall mean any such subcommittee if required under the preceding sentence, and any action by such a subcommittee shall be considered the action of the Committee for purposes of the Plan.

 

(c)                                   Discretion of Committee with Respect to Qualified Performance-Based Awards .  Any form of Award permitted under the Plan, other than a Stock Grant, may be granted as a Qualified Performance-Based Award.  Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted as Qualified Performance-Based Awards in accordance with Section 7.1 and 7.2, respectively, except that the exercise price of any Option or Stock Appreciation Right intended to qualify as a Qualified Performance-Based Award shall in no event be less that the Market Value of the Stock on the date of grant, and may become exercisable based on continued service, on satisfaction of Performance Goals or other business objectives, or on a combination thereof.  Each other Award intended to qualify as a Qualified Performance-Based Award, such as Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or Performance Units, shall be subject to satisfaction of one or

 

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more Performance Goals except as otherwise provided in this Section 7.7.  The Committee will have full discretion to select the length of any applicable Restriction Period or Performance Period, the kind and/or level of the applicable Performance Goal, and whether the Performance Goal is to apply to the Company, a subsidiary of the Company or any division or business unit or to the individual.  Any Performance Goal or Goals applicable to Qualified Performance-Based Awards shall be objective, shall be established not later than ninety (90) days after the beginning of any applicable Performance Period (or at such other date as may be required or permitted for “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code) and shall otherwise meet the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, including the requirement that the outcome of the Performance Goal or Goals be substantially uncertain (as defined for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code) at the time established.

 

(d)                                  Payment of Qualified Performance-Based Awards .  A Participant will be eligible to receive payment under a Qualified Performance-Based Award which is subject to achievement of a Performance Goal or Goals only if the applicable Performance Goal or Goals are achieved within the applicable Performance Period, as determined by the Committee, provided , that a Qualified Performance-Based Award may be deemed earned as a result of death, becoming disabled, or in connection with a Change of Control if otherwise provided in the POlan or the applicable Award Agreement even if the Award would not constitute “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code following the occurrence of such an event.  In determining the actual size of an individual Qualified Performance-Based Award, the Committee may reduce or eliminate the amount of the Qualified Performance-Based Award earned for the Performance Period, if in its sole and absolute discretion, such reduction or elimination is appropriate.

 

(e)                                   Limitation on Adjustments for Certain Events .  No adjustment of any Qualified Performance-Based Award pursuant to Section 8 shall be made except on such basis, if any, as will not cause such Award to provide other than “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(f)                                    Definitions .  For purposes of the Plan

 

(i)                                      Performance Criteria means the criteria that the Committee selects for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal or Performance Goals for a Participant for a Performance Period.  The Performance Criteria used to establish Performance Goals are limited to:  (i) cash flow (before or after dividends), (ii) earnings per share (including, without limitation, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), (iii) stock price, (iv) return on equity, (v) stockholder return or total stockholder return, (vi) return on capital (including, without limitation, return on total capital or return on invested capital), (vii) return on investment, (viii) return on assets or net assets, (ix) market capitalization, (x) economic value added, (xi) debt leverage (debt to capital), (xii) revenue, (xiii) sales or net sales, (xiv) backlog, (xv) income, pre-tax income or net income, (xvi) operating income or pre-tax profit, (xvii) operating profit, net operating profit or economic profit, (xviii) gross margin, operating margin or profit margin, (xix) return on operating revenue or return on operating assets, (xx) cash from operations, (xxi) operating ratio, (xxii) operating revenue, (xxiii) market share improvement, (xxiv) general and administrative expenses and (xxv) customer service.

 

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(ii)                                   Performance Goals means, for a Performance Period, the written goal or goals established by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon one or more of the Performance Criteria.  The Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of overall Company performance or the performance of a division, business unit, subsidiary, or an individual, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, applied to either the Company as a whole or to a business unit or Affiliate, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, and measured either quarterly, annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to previous years’ results or to a designated comparison group, in each case as specified by the Committee. The Committee will objectively define the manner of calculating the Performance Goal or Goals it selects to use for such Performance Period for such Participant, including whether or to what extent there shall not be taken into account any of the following events that occurs during a performance period: (i) asset write-downs, (ii) litigation, claims, judgments or settlements, (iii) the effect of changes in tax law, accounting principles or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results, (iv) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs and (v) any extraordinary, unusual, non-recurring or non-comparable items (A) as described in Accounting Standard Codification Section 225-20, (B) as described in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s Annual Report to stockholders for the applicable year, or (C) publicly announced by the Company in a press release or conference call relating to the Company’s results of operations or financial condition for a completed quarterly or annual fiscal period.

 

7.8.                             Awards to Participants Outside the United States .  The Committee may modify the terms of any Award under the Plan granted to a Participant who is, at the time of grant or during the term of the Award, resident or primarily employed outside of the United States in any manner deemed by the Committee to be necessary or appropriate in order that the Award shall conform to laws, regulations, procedures, and customs of the country in which the Participant is then resident or primarily employed, or so that the value and other benefits of the Award to the Participant, as affected by foreign tax laws and other restrictions applicable as a result of the Participant’s residence or employment abroad, shall be as comparable as practicable to the value of such an Award to a Participant who is resident or primarily employed in the United States.  The Committee may establish supplements or sub-plans to, or amendments, restatements, or alternative versions of, the Plan for the purpose of granting and administrating any such modified Award.  No such modification, supplement, sub-plan, amendment, restatement or alternative version may increase the share limit of Section 4.

 

8.                                       Adjustment Provisions

 

8.1.                             Adjustment for Corporate Actions . All of the share numbers set forth in the Plan reflect the capital structure of the Company as of the date immediately following the consummation of the initial public offering of the Company’s Stock.  If subsequent to that date the outstanding shares of Stock (or any other securities covered by the Plan by reason of the prior application of this Section) are increased, decreased, or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities, or if additional shares or new or different shares or other securities are distributed with respect to shares of Stock, as a result of a reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, or other similar distribution with

 

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respect to such shares of Stock, an appropriate and proportionate adjustment will be made in (i) the maximum numbers and kinds of shares provided in Section 4, (ii) the numbers and kinds of shares or other securities subject to the then outstanding Awards, (iii) the exercise price for each share or other unit of any other securities subject to then outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (without change in the aggregate purchase price as to which such Options or Rights remain exercisable), and (iv) the repurchase price of each share of Restricted Stock then subject to a Risk of Forfeiture in the form of a Company repurchase right.

 

8.2.                             Adjustment of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events . In the event of any corporate action not specifically covered by the preceding Section, including but not limited to an extraordinary cash distribution on Stock, a corporate separation or other reorganization or liquidation, the Committee may make such adjustment of outstanding Awards and their terms, if any, as it, in its sole discretion, may deem equitable and appropriate in the circumstances.  The Committee may make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in this Section) affecting the Company or the financial statements of the Company or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan.

 

8.3.                             Related Matters .  Any adjustment in Awards made pursuant to Section 8.1 or 8.2  shall be determined and made, if at all, by the Committee, acting in its sole discretion, and shall include any correlative modification of terms, including of Option exercise prices, rates of vesting or exercisability, Risks of Forfeiture, applicable repurchase prices for Restricted Stock, and Performance Goals and other business objectives which the Committee may deem necessary or appropriate so as to ensure the rights of the Participants in their respective Awards are not substantially diminished nor enlarged as a result of the adjustment and corporate action other than as expressly contemplated in this Section 8.  The Committee, in its discretion, may determine that no fraction of a share of Stock shall be purchasable or deliverable upon exercise, and in that event if any adjustment hereunder of the number of shares of Stock covered by an Award would cause such number to include a fraction of a share of Stock, such number of shares of Stock shall be adjusted to the nearest smaller whole number of shares.  No adjustment of an Option exercise price per share pursuant to Sections 8.1 or 8.2  shall result in an exercise price which is less than the par value of the Stock.

 

8.4.                             Transactions .

 

(a)                                  Definition of Transaction . In this Section 8.4, “ Transaction ” means (1) any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity as a result of which the Stock of the Company is converted into or exchanged for the right to receive cash, securities or other property or is cancelled, (2) any sale or exchange of all of the Stock of the Company for cash, securities or other property, (3) any sale, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to one or more other persons in a single transaction or series of related transactions or (4) any liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

(b)                                  Treatment of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights . In a Transaction, the Committee may take any one or more of the following actions as to all or any (or any portion of) outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (collectively, “ Rights ”).

 

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(1)                                  Provide that such Rights shall be assumed, or substantially equivalent rights shall be provided in substitution therefore, by the acquiring or succeeding entity (or an affiliate thereof).

 

(2)                                  Upon written notice to the holders, provide that the holders’ unexercised Rights will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such Transaction unless exercised within a specified period following the date of such notice.

 

(3)                                  Provide that outstanding Rights shall become exercisable in whole or in part prior to or upon the Transaction.

 

(4)                                  Provide for cash payments, net of applicable tax withholdings, to be made to holders equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the acquisition price times the number of shares of Stock subject to an Option (to the extent the exercise price does not exceed the acquisition price) over (B) the aggregate exercise price for all such shares of Stock subject to the Option, in exchange for the termination of such Option; provided, that if the acquisition price does not exceed the exercise price of any such Option, the Committee may cancel that Option without the payment of any consideration therefore prior to or upon the Transaction.  For this purpose, “ acquisition price ” means the amount of cash, and market value of any other consideration, received in payment for a share of Stock surrendered in a Transaction but need not take into account any deferred consideration unless and until received.

 

(5)                                  Provide that, in connection with a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, Rights shall convert into the right to receive liquidation proceeds net of the exercise price thereof and any applicable tax withholdings.

 

(6)                                  Any combination of the foregoing.

 

For purposes of paragraph (1) above, a Right shall be considered assumed, or a substantially equivalent right shall be considered to have been provided in substitution therefore, if following consummation of the Transaction the Right confers the right to purchase or receive the value of, for each share of Stock subject to the Right immediately prior to the consummation of the Transaction, the consideration (whether cash, securities or other property) received as a result of the Transaction by holders of Stock for each share of Stock held immediately prior to the consummation 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 of Stock); provided, however , that if the consideration received as a result of the Transaction is not solely common stock (or its equivalent) of the acquiring or succeeding entity (or an affiliate thereof), the Committee may provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of Right to consist of or be based on solely common stock (or its equivalent) of the acquiring or succeeding entity (or an affiliate thereof) equivalent in value to the per share consideration received by holders of outstanding shares of Stock as a result of the Transaction.

 

(c)                                   Treatment of Other Awards . As to outstanding Awards other than Options or Share Appreciation Rights, upon the occurrence of a Transaction other than a liquidation or dissolution of the Company which is not part of another form of Transaction, the

 

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repurchase and other rights of the Company under each such Award shall inure to the benefit of the Company’s successor and shall, unless the Committee determines otherwise, apply to the cash, securities or other property which the Stock was converted into or exchanged for pursuant to such Transaction in the same manner and to the same extent as they applied to the Award. Upon the occurrence of a Transaction involving a liquidation or dissolution of the Company which is not part of another form of Transaction, except to the extent specifically provided to the contrary in the instrument evidencing any Award or any other agreement between a Participant and the Company, all Risks of Forfeiture and Performance Goals or other business objectives, where otherwise applicable to any such Awards, shall automatically be deemed terminated or satisfied, as applicable.

 

(d)                                  Related Matters . In taking any of the actions permitted under this Section 8.4, the Committee shall not be obligated to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a Participant, or all Awards of the same type, identically. Any determinations required to carry out the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.4, including but not limited to the market value of other consideration received by holders of Stock in a Transaction and whether substantially equivalent Rights have been substituted, shall be made by the Committee acting in its sole discretion.  In connection with any action or actions taken by the Committee in respect of Awards and in connection with a Transaction, the Committee may require such acknowledgements of satisfaction and releases from Participants as it may determine.

 

9.                                       Change of Control

 

(a)                                  Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control all outstanding Awards, other than those addressed in (b) below, shall be assumed, or substantially equivalent rights shall be provided in substitution therefor, or shall otherwise be continued in a manner satisfactory to the Committee, by the acquiring or succeeding entity (or an affiliate thereof) (collectively, “ Assumed ” or “ Assumption ”).

 

(b)                                  Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, if a pro rata portion of the Performance Goals under Awards conditioned on the achievement of Performance Goals or other business objectives, including the payouts attainable under outstanding Performance Units if applicable, has been achieved as of the effective date of the Change of Control, then such Performance Goals shall be deemed satisfied as of such Change of Control as to a pro rata portion of the number of shares subject to the original Award (in all cases giving effect to any multiplier or sliding scale to be applied pursuant to the terms of the original Award).   The pro rata portion of such Performance Goals and such number of shares subject to the original Awards shall each be based on the length of time within the Restriction Period or Performance Period which has elapsed prior to the effective date of the Change of Control.  The remaining portion of such Awards that is not eligible to be deemed satisfied in accordance with the preceding sentence shall be Assumed.  Assumption shall be deemed to have occurred in respect of all Awards conditioned on the achievement of Performance Goals or other business objectives, including the payouts attainable under outstanding Performance Units if applicable, if such remaining portion of such shares is subjected to (i) comparable performance goals based on the post-Change of Control business of the acquiror or succeeding entity (or an affiliate thereof), and (ii) a measurement period using a comparable period of time to the original Award, each in a manner satisfactory to the Committee.

 

(c)                                   To the extent an Award is required to be  Assumed hereunder and is not Assumed or earned in a Change of Control as determined under the foregoing provisions:

 

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i.                   any and all Options and Stock Appreciation Rights not already exercisable in full which are not based on achievement of Performance Goals or other business objectives shall Accelerate with respect to 100% of the shares for which such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights are not then exercisable;

 

ii.                any Risk of Forfeiture applicable to Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units which are not based on achievement of Performance Goals or other business objectives shall lapse with respect to 100% of the Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units still subject to such Risk of Forfeiture immediately prior to the Change of Control; and

 

iii.             the outstanding Awards conditioned on the achievement of Performance Goals or other business objectives, including the payouts attainable under outstanding Performance Units if applicable, shall be deemed to have been satisfied, earned, or forfeited as of the effective date of the Change of Control in such amounts as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion.

 

(d)                                  All such Awards of Performance Units and Restricted Stock Units shall be paid to the extent earned to Participants in accordance (b) or (c) above within thirty (30) days following the effective date of the Change of Control.

 

(e)                                   None of (a) through (c) above shall apply, however, (i) in the case of any Award pursuant to an Award Agreement requiring other or additional terms upon a Change of Control (or similar event), (ii) if specifically prohibited under applicable laws, or by the rules and regulations of any governing governmental agencies or national securities exchanges, or (iii) as otherwise provided in Section 7.7, concerning Qualified Performance-Based Awards.

 

10.                                Settlement of Awards

 

10.1.                      In General .  Options and Restricted Stock shall be settled in accordance with their terms.  All other Awards may be settled in cash, Stock, or other Awards, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee at or after grant and subject to any contrary Award Agreement.  The Committee may not require settlement of any Award in Stock pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence to the extent issuance of such Stock would be prohibited or unreasonably delayed by reason of any other provision of the Plan.

 

10.2.                      Violation of Law .  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or the relevant Award Agreement, if, at any time, in the reasonable opinion of the Company, the issuance of shares of Stock covered by an Award may constitute a violation of law, then the Company may delay such issuance until (i) approval shall have been obtained from such governmental agencies, other than the Securities and Exchange Commission, as may be required under any applicable law, rule, or regulation and (ii) in the case where such issuance would constitute a violation of a law administered by or a regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission, one of the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

 

(a)                                  the shares of Stock are at the time of the issue of such shares effectively registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; or

 

(b)                                  the Company shall have determined, on such basis as it deems appropriate (including an opinion of counsel in form and substance satisfactory to the Company)

 

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that the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or other disposition of such shares does not require registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended or any applicable State securities laws.

 

Furthermore, the inability of the Company to obtain or maintain, or the impracticability of it obtaining or maintaining, authority from any governmental agency having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance of any Stock hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue such Stock as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained, and shall constitute circumstances in which the Committee may determine to amend or cancel Awards pertaining to such Stock, with or without consideration to the affected Participants.

 

10.3.                      Corporate Restrictions on Rights in Stock . Any Stock to be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to all restrictions upon the transfer thereof which may be now or hereafter imposed by the charter, certificate or articles, and by-laws, of the Company.  Whenever Stock is to be issued pursuant to an Award, if the Committee so directs at or after grant, the Company shall be under no obligation to issue such shares until such time, if ever, as the recipient of the Award (and any person who exercises any Option, in whole or in part), shall have become a party to and bound by the Stockholders’ Agreement, if any.

 

10.4.                      Investment Representations .  The Company shall be under no obligation to issue any shares of Stock covered by any Award unless the shares to be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan have been effectively registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Participant shall have made such written representations to the Company (upon which the Company believes it may reasonably rely) as the Company may deem necessary or appropriate for purposes of confirming that the issuance of such shares will be exempt from the registration requirements of that Act and any applicable state securities laws and otherwise in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of any jurisdiction in which Participants may reside or primarily work, including but not limited to that the Participant is acquiring the shares for his or her own account for the purpose of investment and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, the distribution of any such shares.

 

10.5.                      Registration .  If the Company shall deem it necessary or desirable to register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or other applicable statutes any shares of Stock issued or to be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan, or to qualify any such shares of Stock for exemption from the Securities Act of 1933, as amended or other applicable statutes, then the Company shall take such action at its own expense.  The Company may require from each recipient of an Award, or each holder of shares of Stock acquired pursuant to the Plan, such information in writing for use in any registration statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus or offering circular as is reasonably necessary for that purpose and may require reasonable indemnity to the Company and its officers and directors from that holder against all losses, claims, damage and liabilities arising from use of the information so furnished and caused by any untrue statement of any material fact therein or caused by the omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made.  In addition, the Company may require of any such person that he or she agree that, without the prior written consent of the Company or the managing underwriter in any public offering of shares of Stock, he or she will not sell, make any short sale of, loan, grant any option for the purchase of, pledge or otherwise encumber, or otherwise dispose of, any shares of Stock during the 180 day period commencing on the effective date of the registration statement relating to the underwritten public offering of securities.

 

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Without limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.5, if in connection with any underwritten public offering of securities of the Company the managing underwriter of such offering requires that the Company’s directors and officers enter into a lock-up agreement containing provisions that are more restrictive than the provisions set forth in the preceding sentence, then (a) each holder of shares of Stock acquired pursuant to the Plan (regardless of whether such person has complied or complies with the provisions of clause (b) below) shall be bound by, and shall be deemed to have agreed to, the same lock-up terms as those to which the Company’s directors and officers are required to adhere; and (b) at the request of the Company or such managing underwriter, each such person shall execute and deliver a lock-up agreement in form and substance equivalent to that which is required to be executed by the Company’s directors and officers.

 

10.6.                      Placement of Legends; Stop Orders; etc.   Each share of Stock to be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan may bear a reference to the investment representations made in accordance with Section 10.4 in addition to any other applicable restrictions under the Plan, and the terms of the Award and under the Stockholders’ Agreement and, if applicable, to the fact that no registration statement has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect to such shares of Stock.  All shares of Stock or other securities issued under the Plan shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Stock is then listed, and any applicable federal or state securities law, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be placed on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions, or, if the Stock will be held in book-entry position through the Company’s transfer agent’s direct registration system, the restrictions will be appropriately noted.

 

10.7.                      Tax Withholding . Whenever shares of Stock are issued or to be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan, the Company shall have the right to require the recipient to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local, foreign or other withholding tax requirements if, when, and to the extent required by law (whether so required to secure for the Company an otherwise available tax deduction or otherwise) prior to the delivery of any certificate or certificates, held in book-entry position through the Company’s transfer agent’s direct registration system, for such shares.  The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be conditional on satisfaction of all such withholding obligations and the Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to a Participant or to utilize any other withholding method prescribed by the Committee from time to time..  However, in such cases Participants may elect, subject to the approval of the Committee, acting in its sole discretion, to satisfy an applicable withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by having the Company withhold shares of Stock to satisfy their tax obligations.  All elections shall be irrevocable, made in writing, signed by the Participant, and shall be subject to any restrictions or limitations that the Committee deems appropriate.  If shares of Stock are withheld to satisfy an applicable withholding requirement, the shares of Stock withheld shall have a Market Value on the date the tax is to be determined equal to the minimum statutory total tax which could be imposed on the transaction, provided , however , if shares of Stock are withheld to satisfy a withholding requirement imposed by a country other than the United States, the amount withheld may exceed such minimum, provided that it is not in excess of the actual amount required to be withheld with respect to the Participant under applicable tax law or regulations.

 

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10.8.                      Company Charter and By-Laws; Other Company Policies . This Plan and all Awards granted hereunder are subject to the charter and By-Laws of the Company, as they may be amended from time to time, and all other Company policies duly adopted by the Board, the Committee or any other committee of the Board and as in effect from time to time regarding the acquisition, ownership or sale of Stock by employees and other service providers, including, without limitation, policies intended to limit the potential for insider trading and to avoid or recover compensation payable or paid on the basis of inaccurate financial results or statements, employee conduct, and other similar events.

 

11.                                Reservation of Stock

 

The Company shall at all times during the term of the Plan and any outstanding Awards granted hereunder reserve or otherwise keep available such number of shares of Stock as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan (if then in effect) and the Awards and shall pay all fees and expenses necessarily incurred by the Company in connection therewith.

 

12.                                Limitation of Rights in Stock; No Special Service Rights

 

A Participant shall not be deemed for any purpose to be a stockholder of the Company with respect to any of the shares of Stock subject to an Award, unless and until a certificate shall have been issued therefor and delivered to the Participant or his agent, or the Stock shall be issued through the Company’s transfer agent’s direct registration system.  Any Stock to be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to all restrictions upon the transfer thereof which may be now or hereafter imposed by the certificate or articles of incorporation and the by-laws of the Company.  Nothing contained in the Plan or in any Award Agreement shall confer upon any recipient of an Award any right with respect to the continuation of his or her employment or other association with the Company (or any Affiliate), or interfere in any way with the right of the Company (or any Affiliate), subject to the terms of any separate employment or consulting agreement or provision of law or corporate articles or by-laws to the contrary, at any time to terminate such employment or consulting agreement or to increase or decrease, or otherwise adjust, the other terms and conditions of the recipient’s employment or other association with the Company and its Affiliates.

 

13.                                Unfunded Status of Plan

 

The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation, and the Plan is not intended to constitute a plan subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.  With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant by the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company.  In its sole discretion, the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the obligations created under the Plan to deliver Stock or payments with respect to Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and other Awards hereunder, provided, however , that the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the unfunded status of the Plan. It is further intended that all Awards shall be granted and maintained on a basis which ensures they are exempt from, or otherwise compliant with, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the Plan shall be governed, interpreted and enforced consistent with such intent.  Neither the Committee nor the Company, nor any of its Affiliates or its or their officers, employees, agents, or representatives, shall have any liability or responsibility for any adverse federal, state or local tax consequences and penalty taxes which may result the grant or settlement of any Award on a basis contrary to

 

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the provisions of Section 409A of the Code or comparable provisions of any applicable state or local income tax laws.

 

14.                                Nonexclusivity of the Plan

 

Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor any action taken in connection with the adoption or operation of the Plan shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including without limitation, the granting of stock options and restricted stock other than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be either applicable generally or only in specific cases.

 

15.                                No Guarantee of Tax Consequences

 

It is intended that all Awards shall be granted and maintained on a basis which ensures they are exempt from, or otherwise compliant with, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, pertaining non-qualified plans of deferred compensation, and the Plan shall be governed, interpreted and enforced consistent with such intent.  However, neither the Company nor any Affiliate, nor any director, officer, agent, representative or employee of either, guarantees to the Participant or any other person any particular tax consequences as a result of the grant of, exercise of rights under, or payment in respect of an Award, including but not limited to that an Option granted as an Incentive Option has or will qualify as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code or that the provisions and penalties of Section 409A of the Code will or will not apply and no person shall have any liability to a Participant or any other party if a payment under an Award that is intended to benefit from favorable tax treatment or avoid adverse tax treatment fails to realize such intention or for any action taken by the Board or the Committee with respect to the Award.

 

16.                                Termination and Amendment of the Plan

 

16.1.                      Termination or Amendment of the Plan . Subject to the limitations contained in Section 16.3 below, including specifically the requirement of stockholder approval, if applicable, the Board may at any time terminate the Plan or make such modifications of the Plan as it shall deem advisable.  Unless the Board otherwise expressly provides, no amendment of the Plan shall affect the terms of any Award outstanding on the date of such amendment.

 

16.2.                      Termination or Amendment of Outstanding Awards; Assumptions . Subject to the limitations contained in Section 16.3 below, including specifically the requirement of stockholder approval, if applicable, the Committee may at any time:

 

(a) amend the terms of any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively, provided that the Award as amended is consistent with the terms of the Plan;

 

(b) within the limitations of the Plan, modify, extend or assume outstanding Awards or accept the cancellation of outstanding Awards or of outstanding stock options or other equity-based compensation awards granted by another issuer in return for the grant of new Awards for the same or a different number of shares of Stock and on the same or different terms and conditions (including but not limited to the exercise price of any Option); and

 

(c) offer to buy out for a payment in cash or cash equivalents an Award previously granted or authorize the recipient of an Award to elect to cash out an Award

 

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previously granted, in either case at such time and based upon such terms and conditions as the Committee shall establish.

 

16.3.                      Limitations on Amendments, Etc.

 

(a)                                  Without the approval of the Company’s stockholders, no amendment or modification of the Plan by the Board may (i) increase the number of shares of Stock which may be issued under the Plan, (ii) change the description of the persons eligible for Awards, or (iii) effect any other change for which stockholder approval is required by law or the rules of any relevant stock exchange.

 

(b)                                  No action by the Board or the Committee pursuant to this Section 16 shall impair the rights of the recipient of any Award outstanding on the date of such amendment or modification or such Award, as the case may be, without the Participant’s consent; provided, however, that no such consent shall be required if (i) the Board or Committee, as the case may be, determines in its sole discretion and prior to the date of any Change of Control that such amendment or alteration either is required or advisable in order for the Company, the Plan or the Award to satisfy any law or regulation, including without limitation the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, or to meet the requirements of or avoid adverse financial accounting consequences under any accounting standard, (ii) the Board or Committee, as the case may be, determines in its sole discretion and prior to the date of any Change of Control that such amendment or alteration is not reasonably likely to significantly diminish the benefits provided under the Award, or that any such diminution has been adequately compensated, or (iii) . the Board or Committee, as the case may be, determines in its sole discretion that such amendment or alteration either is required or advisable in order for the Company, the Plan or the Award to satisfy any law or regulation.

 

17.                                Notices and Other Communications

 

Any communication or notice required or permitted to be given under the Plan shall be in such form as the Committee may determine from time to time.  If a notice, demand, request or other communication is required or permitted to be given in writing, then any such notice, demand, request or other communication hereunder to any party shall be deemed to be sufficient if contained in a written instrument delivered in person or duly sent by first class registered, certified or overnight mail, postage prepaid, or telecopied with a confirmation copy by regular, certified or overnight mail, addressed or telecopied, as the case may be, (i) if to the recipient of an Award, at his or her residence address last filed with the Company and (ii) if to the Company, at its principal place of business, addressed to the attention of its Treasurer, or to such other address or telecopier number, as the case may be, as the addressee may have designated by notice to the addressor.  All such notices, requests, demands and other communications shall be deemed to have been received: (i) in the case of personal delivery, on the date of such delivery; (ii) in the case of mailing, when received by the addressee; and (iii) in the case of facsimile transmission, when confirmed by facsimile machine report.

 

18.                                Governing Law

 

The Plan and all Award Agreements and actions taken hereunder and thereunder shall be governed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

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