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): July 25, 2018

 


 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware

 

001-38604

 

47-4780811

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

 

(Commission
File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

825 Third Avenue, 27 th  Floor

New York, NY 10022

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

 

(646) 519-2456

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):

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company x

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. x

 

 

 



 

Item 1.01                    Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

Underwriting Agreement

 

On July 25, 2018, Focus Financial Partners Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Focus Financial Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Focus LLC”), entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), relating to the offer and sale of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share. The Underwriting Agreement provides for the offer and sale (the “Offering”) of 16,216,217 shares of Class A common stock at a price to the public of $33.00 per share ($30.69 per share net of underwriting discounts). Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Company granted the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 2,432,432 additional shares of Class A common stock to cover overallotments, if any. On July 30, 2018, the Company announced that the Underwriters had exercised this option in full.

 

The material terms of the Offering are described in the prospectus, dated July 25, 2018 (the “Prospectus”), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on July 27, 2018, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Offering is registered with the Commission pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333- 225166), initially filed by the Company on May 24, 2018 (the “Registration Statement”).

 

The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, agreements and obligations, closing conditions and termination provisions. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments the Underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.

 

The Offering closed on July 30, 2018, and the Company received gross proceeds from the Offering (inclusive of gross proceeds from the exercise of the Underwriters’ option) of approximately $615.4 million (or $564.8 million net of underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company). As described in the Prospectus, the Company used a portion of the net proceeds from the Offering to redeem outstanding limited liability company units in Focus LLC (“Focus LLC Units”) from certain existing holders. The Company contributed the remaining net proceeds to Focus LLC in exchange for Focus LLC Units. Focus LLC used a portion of such net proceeds to reduce indebtedness under its credit facilities and will use the remainder for acquisitions and general corporate business purposes.

 

As more fully described under the caption “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)” in the Prospectus, some of the Underwriters and/or their affiliates are lenders and/or agents under the Company’s credit facility and, accordingly, received a portion of the net proceeds from the Offering due to the repayment of borrowings thereunder. In addition, some of the Underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with the Company or its affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions.

 

Prior to the Offering, affiliates of KKR Capital Markets LLC, an Underwriter in the Offering, owned more than 10% of the outstanding Focus LLC Units.

 

The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Underwriting Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

Focus LLC Agreement

 

On July 30, 2018, in connection with the Offering, the Company entered into the Fourth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Focus LLC (the “Focus LLC Agreement”). The amendments to the Focus LLC Agreement, among other things, admitted the Company as the sole managing member of Focus LLC. In accordance with the terms of the Focus LLC Agreement, each unitholder of Focus LLC (other than the Company) following the Offering (each, a “continuing owner”), subject to certain limitations, has the right to cause Focus LLC to redeem all or a portion of its vested common units and vested incentive units in Focus LLC (an “exchange right”). Upon an exercise of an exchange right with respect to vested incentive units, such incentive units will first be converted into a number

 

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of common units in Focus LLC that takes into account the then-current value of the common units (which is based on the value of the Company’s Class A common stock) and such incentive units’ aggregate hurdle amount. Upon an exercise of an exchange right with respect to vested common units, and immediately after the conversion of vested incentive units into common units as described in the preceding sentence, Focus LLC (or the Company) will acquire each tendered common unit for, at its election, (i) one share of the Company’s Class A common stock, subject to conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends, reclassification and other similar transactions, or (ii) an equivalent amount of cash. In addition, in connection with any redemption of vested common units (other than common units received upon a conversion of incentive units as described in this paragraph), the corresponding shares of the Company’s Class B common stock will be cancelled.

 

The continuing owners will be permitted to exercise their exchange rights on a quarterly basis on designated dates. Except as otherwise permitted by the Focus LLC Agreement, continuing owners will only be permitted to exercise their exchange rights with respect to one-twelfth of the Focus LLC Units held by them at the closing of the Offering, with an ability to carry forward unused exchange rights to subsequent exchange dates, subject to certain registration rights in the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined below). The foregoing volume restrictions also apply to affiliates of Stone Point Capital LLC (together with its affiliates, “Stone Point”) and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (together with its affiliates, “KKR” and, together with Stone Point, the “Continuing PE Holders”) as an aggregate limitation on their ability to sell Focus LLC Units or their shares of the Company’s Class A common stock received in connection with the Offering, subject to certain registration rights described in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Focus LLC Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

On July 30, 2018, in connection with the Offering, the Company and Focus LLC entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with the Continuing PE Holders and the continuing owners. The Registration Rights Agreement contains the following liquidity rights:

 

·                   The Company will file a shelf registration statement to permit the resale of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock held by the Continuing PE Holders or issuable upon the exercise of exchange rights by continuing owners as soon as practicable following the one year anniversary of the Offering.

 

·                   The Continuing PE Holders have the right to demand up to three secondary underwritten offerings per year. The Company may initiate one additional underwritten offering per year for the benefit of the other continuing owners. The Continuing PE Holders and the other continuing owners may have participation rights with respect to any such underwritten offerings. The Company may also participate on a primary basis and issue and sell shares of its Class A common stock for its own account. The Company will use the proceeds from any such offering to purchase outstanding Focus LLC Units from continuing owners and pay related fees and expenses. In the event of any underwriter cutbacks, all participating holders will be treated equally and included pro rata based on their ownership of registrable shares at the closing of the Offering.

 

The Continuing PE Holders and the other continuing owners also have piggyback registration rights with respect to other underwritten offerings by the Company under certain circumstances.

 

These registration rights are subject to certain conditions and limitations. The Company is generally obligated to pay all registration expenses in connection with these registration obligations, regardless of whether a registration statement becomes effective or any sale is made in a public offering.

 

The foregoing description of the Registration Rights Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Registration Rights Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

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Nomination Agreements

 

On July 30, 2018, in connection with the Offering, the Company entered into nomination agreements with investment vehicles affiliated with Stone Point and KKR (the “Nomination Agreements”). Pursuant to its Nomination Agreement, Stone Point has the right to nominate two members of the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) for so long as it holds at least 50% of the interest it holds, in the form of the Company’s Class A and Class B common stock on a combined basis, on the closing date of the Offering, and one member of the Board for so long as it holds 5% of the Company’s Class A and Class B common stock outstanding on a combined basis. Stone Point has the right to nominate two directors, for so long as it has the right to nominate two members of the Board, and then one director, for so long as it has the right to nominate one member of the Board, for service on the compensation committee of the Board. Stone Point also has the right to nominate one director for service on the nominating and governance committee of the Board for so long as it has the right to nominate at least one member of the Board. Initially, Stone Point has nominated Fayez S. Muhtadie and James D. Carey to serve on the Board (the “Stone Point Directors”).

 

Pursuant to its Nomination Agreement, KKR has the right to nominate one member of the Board for so long as it holds at least 5% of the Company’s Class A and Class B common stock outstanding on a combined basis. KKR has the right to nominate one director for service on the nominating and governance committee of the Board and as an observer on the compensation committee of the Board, in each case, for so long as it has the right to nominate one member of the Board. Initially, KKR has nominated Christopher J. Harrington to serve on the Board (the “KKR Director”).

 

Any replacement directors nominated by Stone Point or KKR must be an employee or partner of Stone Point or KKR, respectively, of the same level of seniority within Stone Point or KKR as the initial directors designated by Stone Point or KKR, respectively, qualify as an independent director under the independence standards of NASDAQ and satisfy such other criteria set forth in the Nomination Agreements. In addition, the Nomination Agreements require Stone Point and KKR to vote their shares of the Company’s Class A and Class B common stock in favor of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Rajini Sundar Kodialam (or such other officer of the Company designated by the Chief Executive Officer and approved by the Board if Ms. Kodialam is no longer a member of the Board) for election to the Board.

 

The foregoing description of the Nomination Agreements is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Nomination Agreements, which are attached as Exhibit 4.2 and 4.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

Tax Receivable Agreements

 

On July 30, 2018, in connection with the Offering, the Company entered into two tax receivable agreements (the “Tax Receivable Agreements”), the first of which was entered into with (i) certain entities that held, directly or indirectly through entities referred to as “blockers,” convertible preferred units in Focus LLC prior to the Offering, (ii) certain entities affiliated with Centerbridge Partners, L.P. (together with its affiliates, “Centerbridge” and, together with Stone Point and KKR, the “private equity investors”) and (iii) the Continuing PE Holders, and the second of which was entered into with the continuing owners who are not Continuing PE Holders and certain other unitholders of Focus LLC prior to the Offering (the parties to the two agreements collectively, the “TRA holders”). The term of each Tax Receivable Agreement commenced upon the closing of the Offering and continues until all tax benefits that are subject to such Tax Receivable Agreement have been utilized or expired, unless the Company experiences a change of control (as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreements, which includes certain mergers, asset sales and other forms of business combinations) or the Tax Receivable Agreements terminate early (at the Company’s election or as a result of the Company’s breach), and the Company makes the termination payments specified in the Tax Receivable Agreements. The Tax Receivable Agreements generally provide for the payment by the Company to each TRA holder of 85% of the net cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income and franchise tax that the Company actually realizes (computed using simplifying assumptions to address the impact of state and local taxes) or is deemed to realize in certain circumstances in periods after the Offering as a result of, as applicable to the relevant TRA holder, (i) certain increases in tax basis that occur as a result of the Company’s acquisition (or deemed acquisition for U.S. federal income tax purposes) of all or a portion of such TRA holder’s Focus LLC Units in connection with the Offering or pursuant to the exercise of an exchange right, (ii) the increases in tax basis relating to the July 2017 acquisition by certain of the private equity investors that will be available to the Company as a result of its acquisition of the blockers in connection with the Offering and (iii) imputed interest deemed to be paid by the Company as a result of, and additional tax basis arising from, any payments the Company makes under the relevant Tax Receivable Agreement. The Company will retain the benefit of the remaining 15% of these cash savings.

 

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The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Tax Receivable Agreements, which are attached as Exhibit 10.2 and 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan

 

The description of the Focus Financial Partners Inc. 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Omnibus Plan”) provided below under Item 5.02 is incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference. A copy of the Omnibus Plan is attached as Exhibit 10.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

Item 2.03                    Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

 

On July 30, 2018, in connection with the Offering, Amendment No. 4 to First Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of June 29, 2018, among Focus LLC, as borrower, the lenders party thereto, Royal Bank of Canada, as term administrative agent, collateral agent and fronting bank, and Bank of America, N.A., as revolver administrative agent and letter of credit issuer (“Amendment No. 4”) became effective. Pursuant to Amendment No. 4, the first lien term loan was amended to reduce the interest rate to LIBOR plus a margin of 2.75% or the lender’s Base Rate (as defined in Amendment No. 4) plus a margin of 1.75%; provided that, from and after the later of (x) July 18, 2018 and (y) the first date on which Focus LLC has obtained public corporate family ratings of at least Ba3 (stable) from Moody’s and BB- (stable) from S&P, the foregoing rates shall be reduced to LIBOR plus a margin of 2.50% or the lender’s Base Rate plus a margin of 1.50%. Pursuant to Amendment No. 4, the first lien revolver was amended to increase the borrowing capacity to $650.0 million and extend the maturity date to 5 years from July 30, 2018. The first lien revolver was also amended to bear interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.00% with step downs to 1.75%, 1.50% and 1.25% or the lender’s Base Rate plus a margin of 1.00% with step downs to 0.75%, 0.50% and 0.25%, based on achievement of a specified First Lien Leverage Ratio (as defined in Amendment No. 4). Pursuant to Amendment No. 4, the first lien revolver unused commitment fee is 0.50% with step downs to 0.375% and 0.25% based on achievement of a specified First Lien Leverage Ratio. The first lien term loan was also amended to require Focus LLC to maintain a First Lien Leverage Ratio of not more than 6.25:1.00.

 

The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of Amendment No. 4, which is attached as 10.5 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated in this Item 2.03 by reference.

 

Item 3.02                    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

As more fully described under the caption “Internal Reorganization” in the Prospectus, on July 30, 2018, in connection with the Offering, the Company used approximately $35.5 million of the net proceeds from the Offering to purchase outstanding Focus LLC Units from certain existing holders, not including any affiliates of Stone Point, KKR or Centerbridge. In addition, the Company acquired the blockers and certain existing holders exchanged all or a portion of their Focus LLC Units for an aggregate of 24,121,459 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock.  In some cases, such existing holders also received either compensatory stock options to purchase an aggregate of 386,832 shares of Class A common stock or non-compensatory stock options to purchase an aggregate of 348,577 shares of Class A common stock and cash. Certain continuing owners received an aggregate of 22,259,208 shares of the Company’s Class B common stock. The foregoing transactions were undertaken in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act by Section 4(a)(2) thereof.

 

5



 

The information provided in Item 1.01 hereto under the heading “Focus LLC Agreement” is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02.

 

Item 3.03                    Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

 

The information provided in Item 1.01 hereto under the headings “Registration Rights Agreement” and “Nomination Agreements” and in Item 5.03 hereto is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.

 

Item 5.02                    Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

Appointment of Directors

 

On July 25, 2018, effective simultaneously with the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, Rajini Sundar Kodialam, Fayez S. Muhtadie, Christopher J. Harrington, Deborah D. McWhinney and Noah Gottdiener were appointed as members of the Board. On July 30, 2018, James D. Carey was appointed as a member of the Board. Ruediger Adolf will continue as a member of the Board.

 

As compensation for services provided as a member of the Board, each of Messrs. Muhtadie, Gottdiener, Carey and Ms. McWhinney will receive approximately $60,000 per year. Mr. Gottdiener and Ms. McWhinney also received grants of 30,000 incentive unit awards with a threshold value equal to the initial public offering price of the Company’s Class A common stock. The awards will vest in equal installments over a period of three years provided that the directors continue to provide services to the Company.

 

Ms. McWhinney and Messrs. Muhtadie and Gottdiener will serve as members of the Company’s audit committee, of which Ms. McWhinney will be the chair. As members of the audit committee, Ms. McWhinney and Messrs. Muhtadie and Gottdiener will receive an additional fee of $20,000 per year. As chair of the audit committee, Ms. McWhinney will receive an additional fee of $10,000 per year.

 

Messrs. Gottdiener, Carey and Muhtadie will serve as members of the Company’s compensation committee, of which Mr. Gottdiener will be the chair. As members of the compensation committee, Messrs. Gottdiener, Carey and Muhtadie will receive an additional fee of $10,000 per year. As chair of the compensation committee, Mr. Gottdiener will receive an additional fee of $5,000 per year.

 

Ms. McWhinney, Mr. Muhtadie and Mr. Harrington will serve as members of the Company’s nominating and governance committee, of which Ms. McWhinney will be the chair. As members of the nominating and governance committee, Ms. McWhinney and Mr. Muhtadie will receive an additional fee of $10,000 per year. As chair of the nominating and governance committee, Ms. McWhinney will receive an additional fee of $5,000 per year.

 

Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no arrangements or understandings between Messrs. Muhtadie, Harrington, Gottdiener and Carey and Mses. McWhinney and Kodialam and any other person pursuant to which he or she was selected as a director. Messrs. Muhtadie, Harrington, Gottdiener and Carey and Mses. McWhinney and Kodialam have no family relationship with any director or executive officer of the Company or any person nominated or chosen by the Company to become a director or executive officer.

 

Pursuant to the Nomination Agreements described above, Messrs. Muhtadie and Carey will be deemed to be Stone Point Directors and Mr. Harrington will be deemed a KKR Director. The Stone Point Directors have directed the Company to pay any fees earned for Board or committee service to Stone Point.

 

Indemnification Agreements

 

In connection with the Offering, the Company entered into Indemnification Agreements (“Indemnification Agreements”) with each of the executive officers and directors of the Company. These Indemnification Agreements require the Company to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liability that may arise by reason of their service to the Company, and to advance certain expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.

 

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The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Indemnification Agreements, which are attached as Exhibits 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, 10.10, 10.11, 10.12 and 10.13 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference.

 

2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan

 

On July 30, 2018, the Board adopted the Omnibus Plan for the employees, consultants and the directors of the Company and its affiliates who perform services for it. The Omnibus Plan provides for potential grants of the following awards with respect to shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, to the extent applicable: (i) incentive stock options qualified as such under U.S. federal income tax laws; (ii) non-qualified stock options or any other form of stock options; (iii) restricted stock awards; (iv) phantom stock awards; (v) restricted stock units; (vi) bonus stock; (vii) performance awards; (viii) annual cash incentive awards; (ix) any of the foregoing award types (other than incentive stock options) as awards related to Focus LLC Units; and (x) incentive units in Focus LLC, which are intended to constitute “profits interests” within the meaning of Revenue Procedures 93-27 and 2001-43 (collectively referred to as “awards”).

 

The compensation committee of the Board will generally oversee the Omnibus Plan pursuant to its terms and all applicable state, federal or other rules or laws, except in the event that the Board chooses to take action under the Omnibus Plan. The compensation committee has the power to determine to whom and when awards will be granted, determine the amount of awards (measured in cash, shares or units), proscribe and interpret the terms and provisions of each award agreement (the terms of which may vary), accelerate the vesting or exercise terms of an award, delegate duties under the Omnibus Plan and execute all other responsibilities permitted or required under the Omnibus Plan.

 

The maximum aggregate number of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock that may be issued pursuant to awards under the Omnibus Plan shall not exceed 6,000,000 shares (including such number of Focus LLC Units or other securities which can be exchanged or converted into shares). The reserve pool is subject to adjustment due to recapitalization or reorganization, or related to forfeitures or the expiration of awards, as provided under the Omnibus Plan. If the shares or units subject to any award are not issued or transferred, or cease to be issuable or transferable for any reason, including (but not exclusively) because shares or units are withheld or surrendered in payment of taxes or any exercise or purchase price relating to an award or because an award is forfeited, terminated, expires unexercised, is settled in cash or is otherwise terminated without a delivery of shares or units, those shares or units will again be available for issue, transfer or exercise pursuant to awards under the Omnibus Plan to the extent allowable by law. The Omnibus Plan also contains a provision that will add an additional number of shares equal to the lesser of (a) 3,000,000 shares, (b) 5% of the outstanding (vested and unvested) shares and Focus LLC Units of the last day of the previous year, and (c) an amount determined by the Board, each year between 2019 and 2028.

 

The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Omnibus Plan, which is attached as Exhibit 10.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated in this Item 5.02 by reference.

 

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

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

 

On July 27, 2018, the Company amended and restated its Certificate of Incorporation (as amended and restated, the “Certificate of Incorporation”), which was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July 27, 2018.  A description of the Certificate of Incorporation is contained in the section of the Prospectus entitled “Description of Capital Stock” and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The foregoing description and the description contained in the Prospectus are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Certificate of Incorporation, which is attached as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated in this Item 5.03 by reference.

 

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Amended and Restated Bylaws

 

On July 30, 2018, the Company amended and restated its Bylaws (as amended and restated, the “Bylaws”).  A description of the Bylaws is contained in the section of the Prospectus entitled “Description of Capital Stock” and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The foregoing description and the description contained in the Prospectus are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Bylaws, which are attached as Exhibit 3.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated in this Item 5.03 by reference.

 

Item 9.01                    Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)          Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

1.1

 

Underwriting Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2018, by and among Focus Financial Partners Inc., Focus Financial Partners, LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co. LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein

 

 

 

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Focus Financial Partners Inc.

 

 

 

3.2

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Focus Financial Partners Inc.

 

 

 

4.1

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2018, by and among Focus Financial Partners Inc., Focus Financial Partners, LLC and the other parties named therein

 

 

 

4.2

 

Nomination Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2018, by and among Focus Financial Partners Inc. and the affiliates of Stone Point Capital LLC named therein

 

 

 

4.3

 

Nomination Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2018, by and among Focus Financial Partners Inc. and the affiliates of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. named therein

 

 

 

10.1

 

Fourth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Focus Financial Partners, LLC

 

 

 

10.2

 

Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2018, by and among Focus Financial Partners Inc. and the affiliates of the Private Equity Investors named therein

 

 

 

10.3

 

Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2018, by and among Focus Financial Partners Inc. and the parties named therein

 

 

 

10.4

 

Focus Financial Partners Inc. 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan

 

 

 

10.5

 

Amendment No. 4 to First Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of June 29, 2018, among Focus LLC, as borrower, the lenders party thereto, Royal Bank of Canada, as term administrative agent, collateral agent and fronting bank, and Bank of America, N.A., as revolver administrative agent and letter of credit issuer (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to Focus Financial Partners Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-225166) filed on June 29, 2018)

 

 

 

10.6

 

Indemnification Agreement (Ruediger Adolf)

 

 

 

10.7

 

Indemnification Agreement (Rajini Sundar Kodialam)

 

 

 

10.8

 

Indemnification Agreement (James Shanahan)

 

 

 

10.9

 

Indemnification Agreement (James D. Carey)

 

 

 

10.10

 

Indemnification Agreement (Fayez S. Muhtadie)

 

 

 

10.11

 

Indemnification Agreement (Christopher J. Harrington)

 

 

 

10.12

 

Indemnification Agreement (Deborah D. McWhinney)

 

 

 

10.13

 

Indemnification Agreement (Noah Gottdiener)

 

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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.

 

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ J. Russell McGranahan

 

 

J. Russell McGranahan

 

 

General Counsel

 

 

 

Dated: July 31, 2018

 

 

 

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Exhibit 1.1

 

 

 

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

 

(a Delaware corporation)

 

16,216,217 Shares of Class A Common Stock

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

Dated: July 25, 2018

 



 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

 

(a Delaware corporation)

 

16,216,217 Shares of Class A Common Stock

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

July 25, 2018

 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated

One Bryant Park
New York, New York 10036

 

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
200 West Street
New York, New York 10282-2198

 

as Representatives of the several Underwriters

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Focus Financial Partners Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Focus Financial Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Operating LLC”), agree with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”), Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (“Goldman”) and each of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters,” which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom Merrill Lynch and Goldman are acting as representatives (in such capacity, the “Representatives”), with respect to (i) the issuance and sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective numbers of shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Class A Common Stock”) set forth in Schedule A hereto and (ii) the grant by the Company to the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the option described in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any part of 2,432,432 additional shares of Class A Common Stock.  The aforesaid 16,216,217 shares of Class A Common Stock (the “Initial Securities”) to be purchased by the Underwriters and all or any part of the 2,432,432 shares of Class A Common Stock subject to the option described in Section 2(b) hereof (the “Option Securities”) are herein called, collectively, the “Securities.”  The shares of Class A Common Stock and the shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Class B Common Stock”) to be outstanding immediately after the Closing Time (as defined below) are herein called, collectively, the “Common Stock.”  In connection with  the Closing Time, the Company will complete a series of reorganization transactions (the “Reorganization”) as described under the heading “Internal Reorganization” in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (each as defined below).  In connection with the Reorganization and the offering contemplated by this underwriting agreement (this “Agreement”), the Company will become the sole managing member of the Operating LLC, and will directly own a 64.4% membership interest in the Operating LLC consisting of common units of the Operating LLC.  Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference in this Agreement to the “Transactions” shall include the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (as defined below) and the Reorganization.  In connection

 

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with the Reorganization, the offering contemplated by this Agreement and the Transactions, and as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (a) the Company will enter into a tax receivable agreement with certain investors in the Operating LLC (the “Tax Receivable Agreement”), (b) the Company will enter into a registration rights agreement with certain investors in the Operating LLC (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), (c) the operating agreement of the Operating LLC will be amended and restated to, among other things, add the Company as a member of the Operating LLC and designate the Company as the sole managing member of the Operating LLC (as so amended and restated, the “Fourth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement”) and (d) the certificate of incorporation of the Company will be amended and restated (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”).  This Agreement, the Tax Receivable Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Fourth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement and the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation are collectively referred to herein as the “Transaction Documents.”

 

The Company has arranged for Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Fidelity Capital Markets, a division of National Financial Services LLC, and C anaccord Genuity Corp., together with its affiliate, Canaccord Genuity LLC  (collectively, the “DSP Manager”), to administer a directed share program, under which 1,621,621 shares of the Initial Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters (the “Reserved Securities”) shall be reserved for sale to certain persons designated by the Company (the “Invitees”) at the initial public offering price, as part of the distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters, subject to the terms of this Agreement, the applicable rules, regulations and interpretations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), including without limitation FINRA Rule 5130(d), and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations, as set forth in the Prospectus.  To the extent that such Reserved Securities are not orally confirmed for purchase by Invitees by 8:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the first business day after the date of this Agreement, or such other time as shall be mutually agreed by the Company and the DSP Manager, such Reserved Securities shall be allocated to other Invitees up to the maximum amount of their confirmed order or otherwise offered to the public by the Underwriters as part of the public offering contemplated hereby as set forth in the Prospectus.

 

The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-225166), including the related preliminary prospectus or prospectuses, covering the registration of the sale of the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”).  Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file a prospectus in accordance with the provisions of Rule 430A (“Rule 430A”) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the “1933 Act Regulations”) and Rule 424(b) (“Rule 424(b)”) of the 1933 Act Regulations.  The information included in such prospectus that was omitted from such registration statement at the time it became effective but that is deemed to be part of such registration statement at the time it became effective pursuant to Rule 430A(b) is herein called the “Rule 430A Information.”  Such registration statement, including the amendments thereto, the exhibits thereto and any schedules thereto, at the time it became effective, and including the Rule 430A Information, is herein called the “Registration Statement.”  Any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations is herein called the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement” and, after such filing, the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.  Each prospectus used prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and each prospectus that omitted the Rule 430A Information that was distributed to investors after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, is herein called a “preliminary prospectus”, and references herein to “the most recent preliminary prospectus” refer to the preliminary prospectus dated July 16, 2018, which is the most recent preliminary prospectus distributed to investors prior to the Applicable Time.  The final prospectus that discloses the public offering price, other Rule 430A Information and other final terms of the Securities and otherwise satisfies Section 10(a) of the 1933 Act, in the form first furnished to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Securities, is herein called the “Prospectus.”  For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any

 

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preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system or any successor system (“EDGAR”).

 

As used in this Agreement:

 

“Applicable Time” means 6:30 P.M., New York City time, on July 25, 2018 or such other time as agreed by the Company and the Representatives.

 

“General Disclosure Package” means any Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, the most recent preliminary prospectus and the information included on Schedule B-1 hereto, all considered together.

 

“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 433”), relating to the Securities, including without limitation any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 405”)) relating to the Securities that is (i) required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) a “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (iii) exempt from filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Securities or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).

 

“Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors (other than a “ bona fide electronic road show” as defined in Rule 433 (the “Bona Fide Electronic Road Show”)), as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule B-2 hereto.

 

“Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.

 

“Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the 1933 Act.

 

“Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405.

 

SECTION 1.         Representations and Warranties .

 

(a)           Representations and Warranties by the Company and the Operating LLC .  Each of the Company and the Operating LLC, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, the Applicable Time, the Closing Time and any Date of Delivery (as defined below), and agrees with each Underwriter, as follows:

 

(i)            Registration Statement and Prospectuses .  Each of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto has become effective under the 1933 Act.  No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the 1933 Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s and the Operating LLC’s knowledge,

 

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threatened by the Commission.  The Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information.

 

Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.  Each preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time each was filed with the Commission, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.  Each preliminary prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering and the Prospectus was or will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T of the 1933 Act (“Regulation S-T”).

 

(ii)           Accurate Disclosure .  Neither the Registration Statement nor any amendment thereto, at its effective time, at the Closing Time or at any Date of Delivery, contained, contains or will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.  As of the Applicable Time, none of (A) the General Disclosure Package, (B) any individual Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package and (C) any individual Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  Neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto (including any prospectus wrapper), as of its issue date, at the time of any filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), at the Closing Time or at any Date of Delivery, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company and the Operating LLC by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.  For purposes of this Agreement, the only information so furnished shall be the information in the first paragraph under the heading “Underwriting—Commissions and Discounts,” the information in the second, third and fourth paragraphs under the heading “Underwriting—Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids” and the information under the heading “Underwriting—Electronic Distribution” in each case contained in the Prospectus (collectively, the “Underwriter Information”).

 

(iii)          Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses .  No Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, and any preliminary or other prospectus deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified.  The Company has made available a Bona Fide Electronic Road Show in compliance with Rule 433(d)(8)(ii) such that no filing of any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433(h)) is required in connection with the offering of the Securities.  The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

 

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(iv)          Testing-the-Waters Materials .  Neither the Company nor the Operating LLC (A) has engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representatives with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the 1933 Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the 1933 Act and (B) has authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications.  The Company and the Operating LLC reconfirm that the Representatives have been authorized to act on their behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications.  Neither the Company nor the Operating LLC has distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule B-3 hereto.

 

(v)           Company Not Ineligible Issuer .  At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the 1933 Act Regulations) of the Securities and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405.

 

(vi)          Emerging Growth Company Status.   From the time of the initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement to the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged directly or through any person authorized to act on its behalf in any Testing-the-Waters Communication) through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the 1933 Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”).

 

(vii)         Independent Accountants .  (A) Deloitte & Touche LLP, who audited certain financial statements of the Company and the Operating LLC included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and the Operating LLC as required by the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; and (B) Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C., who audited certain financial statements of SCS Financial Services LLC and its subsidiaries (collectively, “SCS”) included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to SCS as required by the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

 

(viii)        Financial Statements; Non-GAAP Financial Measures .  The historical financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, together with the related notes, present fairly the financial position of the entities purported to be shown at the dates indicated and the statements of income, members’ deficit and cash flows of the entities purported to be shown for the periods specified; said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved.  The summary historical financial data included under the caption “Prospectus Summary—Summary Historical and Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Data”  and the selected historical financial data set forth under the caption “Selected Historical and Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Data” included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly, in all material respects, the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited and unaudited financial statements, except as described  therein.  The pro forma financial statements and the related notes thereto included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly, in all material respects, the information shown therein and have been prepared in accordance with the applicable

 

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requirements of Regulation S-X of the 1933 Act (“Regulation S-X”) with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly compiled, in all material respects, on the basis described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the pro forma adjustments used therein are appropriate, in all material respects, to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein.  Except as included therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus under the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations.  All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”) and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the 1933 Act (“Regulation S-K”), to the extent applicable.

 

(ix)          No Material Adverse Change in Business .  Except as otherwise stated therein, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (A) there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company, the Operating LLC and their respective subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”), (B) there have been no transactions entered into by the Company, the Operating LLC or any of their respective subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material with respect to the Company, the Operating LLC and their respective subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, and (C)  there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company or the Operating LLC on any class of its capital stock, in each case, other than in connection with the Reorganization or as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(x)           Good Standing of the Company and the Operating LLC .  The Company and the Operating LLC have been duly organized and are validly existing as a corporation and limited liability company, respectively, in each case in good standing under the laws of the state of Delaware and have corporate or similar power and authority to own or lease their properties and to conduct their business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform their obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents; and the Company and the Operating LLC are duly qualified as a foreign corporation and limited liability company, respectively, to transact business and are in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xi)          Good Standing of Subsidiaries .  Each “significant subsidiary” (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) of the Company after giving effect to the Reorganization (each, a “Subsidiary” and, collectively, the “Subsidiaries”), other than the Operating LLC, has been duly organized and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, has corporate or similar power and authority to own or lease its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and

 

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the Prospectus, immediately following the Reorganization, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock or limited liability company interests of each Subsidiary has been duly authorized and will be validly issued, will be fully paid and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be limited by Sections 18-303, 18-607 and 18-804 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act) and will be owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity (other than those arising under the First Lien Credit Agreement and Second Lien Credit Agreement (collectively, the “Credit Agreement”), each dated as of July 3, 2017, among the Operating LLC and certain subsidiaries, and Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent and the other lenders party thereto, each as amended).  None of the outstanding shares of capital stock or limited liability company interests of any Subsidiary were issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of such Subsidiary.  The only subsidiaries of the Company are (A) the subsidiaries listed on Exhibit 21.1 to the Registration Statement and (B) certain other subsidiaries which, considered in the aggregate as a single subsidiary, do not constitute a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X.

 

(xii)         Capitalization .  As of March 30, 2018 and after giving effect to the  Reorganization and the issuance of the Initial Securities, and the application of the net proceeds therefrom, the authorized and issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company would be as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus in the column with the heading entitled “Pro Forma” under the caption “Capitalization”.  The shares of capital stock of the Company to be outstanding immediately following the Reorganization have been duly authorized and immediately following the Reorganization will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable.  None of the shares of capital stock of the Company to be outstanding immediately following the Reorganization will have been issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company or the Operating LLC.

 

(xiii)        Authorization of Agreement .  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Company and the Operating LLC.

 

(xiv)        Authorization and Description of Securities .  The Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable; and the issuance of the Securities is not subject to the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company or the Operating LLC.  The Common Stock conforms in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and such description conforms in all material respects to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same.

 

(xv)         Descriptions of the Transactions and Transaction Documents .  The statements made in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of the terms of the Transaction Documents constitute accurate summaries of the terms of such Transaction Documents in all material respects.

 

(xvi)        Registration Rights .  There are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered for sale pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered for sale or sold by the Company under the 1933 Act pursuant to this

 

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Agreement other than those rights that have been waived or that have been disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(xvii)       Absence of Violations, Defaults and Conflicts .  Neither the Company, the Operating LLC nor any of their respective subsidiaries is (A) in violation of its charter, by-laws or similar organizational document, (B) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company, the Operating LLC or any of their respective subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company, the Operating LLC or any such subsidiary is subject (collectively, the “Agreements and Instruments”), except for such defaults that would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (C) in violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any arbitrator, court, governmental body, regulatory body, administrative agency or other authority, body or agency having jurisdiction over the Company, the Operating LLC or any of their respective subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, assets or operations (each, a “Governmental Entity”), except for such violations that would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, therein and in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including the issuance and sale of the Securities and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described therein under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by the Company and the Operating LLC with their respective obligations hereunder and under the other Transaction Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any properties or assets of the Company, the Operating LLC or any of their respective subsidiaries pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or Repayment Events or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of (A) the provisions of the charter, by-laws or similar organizational document of the Company, the Operating LLC or any of their respective subsidiaries or (B) any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any Governmental Entity, except for, in the case of (B), such violations that would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  As used herein, a “Repayment Event” means any event or condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company, the Operating LLC or any of their respective subsidiaries.

 

(xviii)      Absence of Labor Dispute .  No labor dispute with the employees of the Company, the Operating LLC or any of their respective subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating LLC, is imminent, and neither the Company nor the Operating LLC is aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or any subsidiary’s principal service providers, customers or contractors, which, in either case, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xix)        Absence of Proceedings .  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any Governmental Entity now pending or, to the knowledge of

 

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the Company and the Operating LLC, threatened against or affecting the Company, the Operating LLC or any of their respective subsidiaries, which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents or the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder or thereunder; and the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company, the Operating LLC or any such subsidiary is a party or of which any of their respective properties or assets is the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xx)         Accuracy of Exhibits .  There are no contracts or documents which are required pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Commission to be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not been so described and filed as required.

 

(xxi)        Absence of Further Requirements .  No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any Governmental Entity is necessary or required for the performance by the Company or the Operating LLC of their respective obligations hereunder or under the other Transaction Documents, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Securities hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, except (A) such as have been already obtained or as may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, state securities laws, the rules of FINRA or the laws and regulations of jurisdictions outside the United States in which the Reserved Securities are offered and (B) that, if not obtained would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or materially impair the ability of the Company or the Operating LLC to consummate the transactions contemplated under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.

 

(xxii)       Possession of Licenses and Permits .  The Company, the Operating LLC and their respective subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate Governmental Entities necessary to conduct the business in the manner described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, subject to such qualifications as may be set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure so to possess would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  The Company, the Operating LLC and their respective subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all Governmental Licenses, subject to such qualifications as may be set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure so to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  All of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, subject to such qualifications as may be set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  Neither the Company, the Operating LLC nor any of their respective subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(xxiii)       Title to Property .  The Company, the Operating LLC and their respective subsidiaries do not own any real property.   All of the leases and subleases material to the business of the Company, the Operating LLC and their respective subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, and under which the Company, the Operating LLC or any of their respective subsidiaries leases properties described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, are in full force and effect, and neither the Company, the Operating LLC nor any such subsidiary has received any notice of any material claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company, the Operating LLC or any such subsidiary under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of the Company, the Operating LLC or such subsidiary to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or sublease.

 

(xxiv)      Possession of Intellectual Property .  The Company, the Operating LLC and their respective subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on their respective business now operated by them, except where the failure to own or possess such rights would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company, the Operating LLC nor any of their respective subsidiaries has received any notice or is otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property, which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding), singly or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xxv)       Accounting Controls .  To the extent required by Rule 13a-15 under the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1934 Act (the “1934 Act Regulations”), the Company, the Operating LLC and each of their respective subsidiaries maintain effective internal control over financial reporting (as defined under Rule 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the 1934 Act Regulations) and a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, as applicable; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.  Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, since the end of the Operating LLC’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (1) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (2) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

(xxvi)      Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.    Upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, the executive officers and directors of the Company, in their capacities as such, were, and at the Closing Time, will be, in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(xxvii)     Payment of Taxes .  All tax returns of the Company, the Operating LLC and each of their respective subsidiaries required by law to be filed have been filed or extensions to file

 

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such returns have been timely requested (except in any case in which the failure to file would not, singly or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect) and all taxes shown by such returns, which are due and payable, have been paid, other than those being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been provided or the nonpayment of which would not, singly or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xxviii)    Insurance .  The Company, the Operating LLC and their respective subsidiaries carry or are entitled to the benefits of insurance, with financially sound and reputable insurers, in such amounts and covering such risks as is prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged, and all such insurance is in full force and effect.  Neither the Company nor the Operating LLC has any reason to believe that it or any of its subsidiaries will not be able (A) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (B) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xxix)      Investment Company Act .  Neither the Company nor the Operating LLC is required, and upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will be required, to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(xxx)       Absence of Manipulation .  Neither the Company, the Operating LLC nor any controlled affiliate of the Company or the Operating LLC has taken, nor will the Company, the Operating LLC or any such controlled affiliate take, directly or indirectly, any action which is designed, or would be expected, to cause or result in, or which constitutes, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company or the Operating LLC to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or to result in a violation of Regulation M under the 1934 Act.

 

(xxxi)      Foreign Corrupt Practices Act .  None of the Company, the Operating LLC, any of their respective subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating LLC, any director, officer, agent, employee, controlled affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company, the Operating LLC or any of their respective subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and the Company and the Operating LLC and, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating LLC, their respective controlled affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA.  The Code of Conduct adopted by the Company in connection with the offering contemplated by this Agreement includes policies intended to ensure compliance with the FCPA.

 

(xxxii)     Money Laundering Laws .  The operations of the Company, the Operating LLC and their respective subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all

 

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jurisdictions where the Company, the Operating LLC and their respective subsidiaries conduct business and the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Entity (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”); and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Entity involving the Company, the Operating LLC or any of their respective subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating LLC, threatened.

 

(xxxiii)    OFAC .  None of the Company, the Operating LLC, any of their respective subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating LLC, any director, officer, agent, employee, controlled affiliate or  representative of the Company, the Operating LLC or any of their respective subsidiaries is an individual or entity (“Person”) currently the subject or target of any  sanctions administered or enforced by the United States Government, including, without limitation, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company or the Operating LLC located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions; and the Company and the Operating LLC will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the sale of the Securities or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiaries, joint venture partners or other Person to fund any activities of or business with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of  Sanctions or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions.

 

(xxxiv)    Sales of Reserved Securities .  In connection with any offer and sale of Reserved Securities outside the United States, each preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, any prospectus wrapper and any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time it was filed, complied and will comply in all material respects with any applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the same is distributed.  Neither the Company nor the Operating LLC has offered, or caused the DSP Manager to offer, Reserved Securities to any person with the specific intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or service provider of the Company, the Operating LLC or any of their respective controlled affiliates to alter the customer’s or service provider’s level or type of business with any such entity or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company, the Operating LLC or any of their respective controlled affiliates, or their respective businesses.

 

(xxxv)     Statistical and Market-Related Data .  Any statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes, after reasonable inquiry, to be reliable and accurate and, to the extent required, the Company or the Operating LLC has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources.

 

(xxxvi)    Maintenance of Rating .  Since the execution of this Agreement, there shall not have been any decrease in or withdrawal of the rating of any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the 1934 Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in or withdrawal of any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.

 

(xxxvii)   Fair Summaries .  The statements in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption  “Certain Relationships and Related

 

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Party Transactions”, “Description of Capital Stock” and “Shares Eligible for Future Sale”, insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements or documents discussed therein, are accurate summaries in all material respects of such legal matters, agreements or documents and present information required to be shown therein pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Commission.  The statements included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences for Non-U.S. Holders,” insofar as they purport to describe provisions of U.S. federal tax laws or legal conclusions with respect thereto, accurately summarize the matters referred to therein in all material respects.

 

(b)            Officer’s Certificates .  Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or the Operating LLC delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company and the Operating LLC to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

 

SECTION 2.          Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing .

 

(a)            Initial Securities .  On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company, at the price per share set forth in Schedule A, that number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional number of Initial Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof, subject, in each case, to such adjustments among the Underwriters as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares.

 

(b)            Option Securities .  In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional 2,432,432 shares of Class A Common Stock, at the price per share set forth in Schedule A, less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option Securities.  The option hereby granted may be exercised for 30 days after the date hereof and may be exercised in whole or in part at any time from time to time upon notice by the Representatives to the Company setting forth the number of Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time and date of payment and delivery for such Option Securities.  Any such time and date of delivery (a “Date of Delivery”) shall be determined by the Representatives, but shall not be later than seven full business days after the exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Time.  If the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the Option Securities, each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, will purchase that proportion of the total number of Option Securities then being purchased which the number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Initial Securities, subject, in each case, to such adjustments as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares.

 

(c)            Payment .  Payment of the purchase price for and delivery of the Initial Securities shall be made at the offices of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, 450 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, at 9:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the second (third, if the pricing occurs after 4:30 P.M. (New York City time) on any given day) business day after the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10), or such other time not later than ten business days after such date as shall be

 

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agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called “Closing Time”).

 

In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Securities are purchased by the Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for and delivery of such Option Securities shall be made at the above-mentioned offices, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, on each Date of Delivery as specified in the notice from the Representatives to the Company.

 

Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Company against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters for the Securities to be purchased by them.  It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized each Representative, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, which it has agreed to purchase.  Merrill Lynch, individually and not as representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Initial Securities or the Option Securities, if any, to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.

 

SECTION 3.          Covenants of the Company and the Operating LLC .  The Company and the Operating LLC covenant, jointly and severally, with each Underwriter as follows:

 

(a)            Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests .  The Company, subject to Section 3(b), will comply with the requirements of Rule 430A, and will notify the Representatives promptly, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the 1933 Act concerning the Registration Statement and (v) if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act in connection with the offering of the Securities.  The Company will effect all filings required under Rule 424(b), in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)), and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus.  The Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order, prevention or suspension and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.

 

(b)            Continued Compliance with Securities Laws .  The Company will comply with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.  If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 172”), would be) required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or for the Company, to (i) amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not include an untrue

 

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statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order that the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser or (iii) amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Company will promptly (A) give the Representatives notice of such event, (B) prepare any amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus comply with such requirements and, a reasonable amount of time prior to any proposed filing or use, furnish the Representatives with copies of any such amendment or supplement and (C) file with the Commission any such amendment or supplement; provided that the Company shall not file or use any such amendment or supplement to which the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall object.  The Company will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request.  The Company will give the Representatives notice of its intention to make any filings made pursuant to the 1934 Act or 1934 Act Regulations from the Applicable Time to the Closing Time and will furnish the Representatives with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object.

 

(c)            Delivery of Registration Statements .  The Company has furnished or will deliver to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) and will also deliver to the Representatives, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters.  The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

 

(d)            Delivery of Prospectuses .  The Company has delivered to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act.  The Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request.  The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

 

(e)            Blue Sky Qualifications .  The Company will use its reasonable best efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Representatives may designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required to complete the distribution of the Securities; provided , however , that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.

 

(f)             Rule 158 .  The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the 1934 Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings

 

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statement for the purposes of, and to provide to the Underwriters the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.

 

(g)            Use of Proceeds .  The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Securities in the manner specified in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”

 

(h)            Listing .  The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to effect and maintain the listing of the Common Stock (including the Securities) on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

 

(i)             Restriction on Sale of Securities .  During a period of 180 days from the date of the Prospectus, each of the Company and the Operating LLC will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, (i) directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of Common Stock, any membership interests in the Operating LLC or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or membership interests in the Operating LLC or file any registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the foregoing or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Common Stock or membership interests in the Operating LLC, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock, membership interests in the Operating LLC or other securities, in cash or otherwise.  The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (A) the Securities to be sold hereunder; (B) any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company or membership interests issued by the Operating LLC upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof and referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; (C) any shares of Common Stock or membership interests in the Operating LLC issued or options to purchase Common Stock or membership interests in the Operating LLC granted as equity compensation pursuant to the operating agreement of the Operating LLC or any employee benefit plan referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; (D) any shares of Common Stock or membership interests in the Operating LLC issued as equity compensation pursuant to the operating agreement of the Operating LLC or any non-employee director stock plan or dividend reinvestment plan referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; (E) any shares of Common Stock or membership interests in the Operating LLC or options to purchase Common Stock or membership interests in the Operating LLC or such other securities of the Company, the Operating LLC or any of their respective affiliates issued, transferred or otherwise disposed of in connection with the Reorganization; (F) the filing of a registration statement on Form S-8 relating to, and the issuance and sale of any shares of Common Stock or membership interests in the Operating LLC pursuant to, the terms of a plan described in the Registration Statement, General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or any plan in existence as of the date hereof; (G) any shares of Common Stock, membership interests in the Operating LLC or options to purchase Common Stock or membership interests in the Operating LLC or such other securities of the Company, the Operating LLC or any of their respective affiliates issued as consideration or contingent consideration for acquisitions of one or more companies (or its or their operating assets or stock, partnership interests, membership interests or other equivalent equity interests) by the Company, the Operating LLC or their respective subsidiaries pursuant to purchase agreements entered into prior to the date hereof, provided that each recipient thereof shall have executed a lock-up agreement for the remainder of the 180-day period in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto or contained in Section 5 of Amendment No. 1 to the Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Operating LLC or (H) any shares of Common Stock, membership interests in the Operating LLC or options to purchase Common Stock or membership interests in the Operating LLC or such other securities of the Company, the Operating LLC or any of their respective affiliates issued as consideration for acquisitions of one or more companies (or its or their

 

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operating assets or stock, partnership interests, membership interests or other equivalent equity interests) by the Company, the Operating LLC or their respective subsidiaries, provided that (x) each recipient thereof shall have executed a lock-up agreement for the remainder of the 180-day period in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto or contained in Section 5 of Amendment No. 1 to the Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Operating LLC, (y) the number of such shares of Common Stock, membership interests, options (on an as-exercised basis) or other securities that may be issued as consideration for each such acquisition may not exceed 5% of the total diluted common stock and units outstanding (as defined in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus) immediately following completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends and other similar events after the date hereof, and inclusive of non-qualified and non-compensatory stock options issued in connection with the Reorganization and the offering contemplated by this Agreement to the extent they become dilutive) (such number of diluted common stock and units outstanding, the “ Post-IPO Diluted Share Count ”) and (z) the aggregate number of such shares of Common Stock, membership interests, options (on an as-exercised basis) or other securities that may be issued as consideration for all such acquisitions pursuant to this clause (H) shall not exceed 10% of the Post-IPO Diluted Share Count.  In addition, the Company and the Operating LLC hereby agree not to waive or release any party subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 5 of Amendment No. 1 to the Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Operating LLC or otherwise permit such section to be amended without the consent of each of the Representatives.

 

(j)             Release or Waiver of Lock-up Restrictions .

 

(i)             If the Representatives, in their sole discretion, agree to release or waive the restrictions set forth in a lock-up agreement described in Section 5(i) hereof for an officer, director or director nominee of the Company and provide the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three business days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver.

 

(ii)            Neither Representative shall agree to release or waive the restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 5 of Amendment No. 1 to the Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Operating LLC without the other Representative’s prior written consent.

 

(k)            Reporting Requirements .  The Company, during the period when a Prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1934 Act within the time periods required by the 1934 Act and 1934 Act Regulations.  Additionally, the Company shall report the use of proceeds from the issuance of the Shares as may be required under Rule 463 under the 1933 Act.

 

(l)             Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses .  The Company agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representatives, it will not, and it will not permit the DSP Manager to, make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” or a portion thereof, required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433; provided that the Representatives will be deemed to have consented to the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses listed on Schedule B-2 hereto and any “road show for an offering that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) that has been reviewed by the Representatives.  The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each such free writing prospectus consented to, or deemed consented to, by the Representatives as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and that it has complied

 

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and will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 433 with respect thereto, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping.  If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

 

(m)           Testing-the-Waters Materials .  If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission.

 

(n)            Emerging Growth Company Status . The Company will promptly notify the Representatives if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (i) completion of the distribution of the Securities within the meaning of the Securities Act and (ii) completion of the 180-day restricted period referred to in Section 3(i).

 

SECTION 4.          Payment of Expenses .

 

(a)            Expenses .  The Company and the Operating LLC will jointly and severally pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of their respective obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and each amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each preliminary prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and any costs associated with electronic delivery of any of the foregoing by the Underwriters to investors, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates or security entitlements for the Securities to the Underwriters, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, (iv) the fees and disbursements of counsel, accountants and other advisors for the Company and the Operating LLC, (v) the qualification of the Securities under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(e) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of a Blue Sky survey and any supplement thereto, (vi) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Securities, (vii) the costs and expenses of the Company and the Operating LLC relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Securities, including without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants, and the cost of aircraft and other transportation chartered in connection with the road show, provided , however , that the Underwriters and the Company agree that the Underwriters shall pay or cause to be paid travel and lodging expenses of the Representatives, (viii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Securities up to an amount no greater than $50,000, (ix) the fees

 

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and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Securities on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and (x) all costs and expenses of the Underwriters, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters and DSP Manager, in connection with matters related to the Reserved Securities which are designated by the Company for sale to Invitees (other than the selling concession payable to the DSP Manager). It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section 4(a) and Section 6 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, stock transfer taxes on resale of any of the Securities by them and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

 

(b)            Termination of Agreement .  If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives in accordance with the provisions of Section 5, Section 9(a)(i) or (iii) or Section 10 hereof, the Company and the Operating LLC shall jointly and severally reimburse the Underwriters for all of their reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.

 

SECTION 5.          Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations .  The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Operating LLC contained herein or in certificates of any officer of the Company or the Operating LLC delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company and the Operating LLC of their respective covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:

 

(a)            Effectiveness of Registration Statement; Rule 430A Information .  The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, has become effective and, at the Closing Time, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the 1933 Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s and the Operating LLC’s knowledge, contemplated; and the Company and the Operating LLC have complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information.  A prospectus containing the Rule 430A Information shall have been filed with the Commission in the manner and within the time frame required by Rule 424(b) without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or a post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed with, and declared effective by, the Commission in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A.

 

(b)            Opinion of Counsel for Company and the Operating LLC .  At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, dated the Closing Time, of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel for the Company and the Operating LLC, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto and to such further effect as counsel to the Underwriters may reasonably request.

 

(c)          General Counsel Opinion .  At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, dated the Closing Time, of J. Russell McGranahan, general counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto and to such further effect as counsel to the Underwriters may reasonably request.

 

(d)            Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters .  At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, dated the Closing Time, of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other

 

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Underwriters with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

 

(e)            Officers’ Certificate .  At the Closing Time, there shall not have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company, the Operating LLC and their respective subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and the Representatives shall have received a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer or the President of the Company and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company, dated the Closing Time, to the effect that (i) there has been no such material adverse change, (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company and the Operating LLC in this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of the Closing Time, (iii) the Company and the Operating LLC have complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Time and (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the 1933 Act has been issued, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to their knowledge, contemplated.

 

(f)             Accountant’s Comfort Letters .  At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from (i) Deloitte & Touche LLP a letter, dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information of the Company and the Operating LLC contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and (ii) Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. a letter, dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information of SCS contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus..

 

(g)            Bring-down Comfort Letter .  At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received from each of Deloitte & Touche LLP and Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. a letter, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection (f) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Time.

 

(h)            Approval of Listing .  At the Closing Time, the Securities shall have been approved for listing on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, subject only to official notice of issuance.

 

(i)           No Objection .  FINRA has confirmed that it has not raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements relating to the offering of the Securities.

 

(j)           Lock-up Agreements .  At the date of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto signed by the persons listed on Schedule C hereto.

 

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(k)          Transactions Completed .  At the Closing Time, the Transactions shall have been completed as described in the Prospectus; each of the Transaction Documents (other than the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation) shall have been executed and delivered; and the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall have been filed with the Secretary of State for the State of Delaware.

 

(l)           Conditions to Purchase of Option Securities .  In the event that the Underwriters exercise their option provided in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any portion of the Option Securities, the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein and the statements in any certificates furnished by the Company and any of its subsidiaries hereunder shall be true and correct as of each Date of Delivery and, at the relevant Date of Delivery, the Representatives shall have received:

 

(i)             Officers’ Certificate .  A certificate, dated such Date of Delivery, of the Chief Executive Officer or the President of the Company and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company confirming that the certificate delivered at the Closing Time pursuant to Section 5(e) hereof remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.

 

(ii)            Opinion of Counsel for Company .  If requested by the Representatives, the favorable opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(b) hereof.

 

(iii)           General Counsel Opinion .  If requested by the Representatives, the favorable opinion of J. Russell McGranahan, general counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(c) hereof.

 

(iv)           Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters .  If requested by the Representatives, the favorable opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(d) hereof.

 

(v)            Bring-down Comfort Letters .  If requested by the Representatives, a letter from each of Deloitte & Touche LLP and Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C., in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially in the same form and substance as the letters furnished to the Representatives pursuant to Section 5(g) hereof, except that the “specified date” in the letters furnished pursuant to this paragraph shall be a date not more than three business days prior to such Date of Delivery.

 

(m)           Additional Documents .  At the Closing Time and at each Date of Delivery (if any) counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company and the Operating LLC in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters.

 

(n)            Termination of Agreement .  If any condition specified in this Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement, or, in the case of any condition to the

 

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purchase of Option Securities on a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, the obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase the relevant Option Securities, may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to Closing Time or such Date of Delivery, as the case may be, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 and except that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15 and 16 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.

 

SECTION 6.          Indemnification .

 

(a)            Indemnification of Underwriters .  Each of the Company and the Operating LLC jointly and severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) under the 1933 Act (each, an “Affiliate”)), its selling agents and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act as follows:

 

(i)             against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included (A) in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or (B) in any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities (“Marketing Materials”), including any roadshow or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically), or the omission or alleged omission in any preliminary prospectus, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, Prospectus or in any Marketing Materials of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

(ii)            against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 6(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company and the Operating LLC;

 

(iii)           against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representatives), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;

 

provided , however , that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

 

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(b)            Indemnification of Company and Operating LLC, Directors and Officers .  Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Operating LLC, their respective directors and director nominees, each of the Company’s officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

 

(c)            Actions against Parties; Notification .  Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement.  In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Representatives, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company and the Operating LLC.  An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided , however , that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party.  In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances.  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

(d)            Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse .  If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 6(a)(ii) or settlement of any claim in connection with any violation referred to in Section 6(e) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 60 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

 

(e)            Indemnification for Reserved Securities .  In connection with the offer and sale of the Reserved Securities, each of the Company and the Operating LLC agrees jointly and severally to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters, their Affiliates and selling agents and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, from and against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending, investigating or

 

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settling any such action or claim), as incurred, (i) arising out of the violation of any applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions where Reserved Securities have been offered, (ii) arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any prospectus wrapper or other material prepared by or with the consent of the Company for distribution to Invitees in connection with the offering of the Reserved Securities or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (iii) caused by the failure of any Invitee to pay for and accept delivery of Reserved Securities which have been orally confirmed for purchase by any Invitee by 8:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the first business day after the date of this Agreement or (iv) related to, or arising out of or in connection with, the offering of the Reserved Securities.

 

SECTION 7.          Contribution .  If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Operating LLC, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Operating LLC, on the one hand, and of the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions, or in connection with any violation of the nature referred to in Section 6(e) hereof, which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

 

The relative benefits received by the Company and the Operating LLC, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, on the other hand, in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Securities as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus.

 

The relative fault of the Company and the Operating LLC, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company and the Operating LLC or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission or any violation of the nature referred to in Section 6(e) hereof.

 

The Company, the Operating LLC and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7.  The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

 

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Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities  underwritten by it and distributed to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

 

No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act and each Underwriter’s Affiliates and selling agents shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director and director nominee of the Company or the Operating LLC, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.  The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the number of Initial Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.

 

SECTION 8.          Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive .  All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company or the Operating LLC submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or its Affiliates or selling agents, any person controlling any Underwriter, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (ii) delivery of and payment for the Securities.

 

SECTION 9.          Termination of Agreement .

 

(a)            Termination .  The Representatives may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company and the Operating LLC, at any time at or prior to the Closing Time (i) if there has been, in the judgment of the Representatives, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company, the Operating LLC and their respective subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the completion of the offering or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, or (iii) if trading in any securities of the Company has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the NASDAQ Global Select Market, or (iv) if trading generally on the NYSE MKT or the New York Stock Exchange or in the NASDAQ Global Select Market has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by order of the Commission, FINRA or any other governmental authority, or (v) a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States or with respect to Clearstream or Euroclear systems in Europe, or (vi) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New York authorities.

 

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(b)            Liabilities .  If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15 and 16 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

 

SECTION 10.        Default by One or More of the Underwriters .  If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at the Closing Time or a Date of Delivery to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted Securities”), the Representatives shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:

 

(i)             if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or

 

(ii)            if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement or, with respect to any Date of Delivery which occurs after the Closing Time, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase, and the Company to sell, the Option Securities to be purchased and sold on such Date of Delivery shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.

 

No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

 

In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement or, in the case of a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and the Company to sell the relevant Option Securities, as the case may be, either the (i) Representatives or (ii) the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements.  As used herein, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10.

 

SECTION 11.        Notices .  All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication.  Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to Merrill Lynch at One Bryant Park, New York, New York 10036, attention of Syndicate Department (facsimile: (646) 855-3073), with a copy to ECM Legal (facsimile: (212) 230-8730), and Goldman at 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282-2198, Attention: Registration Department; notices to the Company or the Operating LLC shall be directed to it at 825 Third Avenue, 27th Floor, New York, New York 10022, attention of the General Counsel.

 

SECTION 12.        No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship .  Each of the Company and the Operating LLC acknowledges and agrees that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the initial public offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company and the Operating LLC, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the offering

 

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of the Securities and the process leading thereto, each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, the Operating LLC, any of their respective subsidiaries or their respective stockholders, creditors, employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company or the Operating LLC with respect to the offering of the Securities or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company, the Operating LLC or any of their respective subsidiaries on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Company or the Operating LLC with respect to the offering of the Securities except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company or the Operating LLC and (e) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering of the Securities and the Company and the Operating LLC have consulted their own respective legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they deemed appropriate.

 

SECTION 13.        Parties .  This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters, the Company and the Operating LLC and their respective successors.  Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters, the Company and the Operating LLC and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers, directors and director nominees referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained.  This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters, the Company and the Operating LLC and their respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers, directors and director nominees and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation.  No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

 

SECTION 14.        Trial by Jury .  Each of the Company and the Operating LLC (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders, members and affiliates) and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

SECTION 15.        GOVERNING LAW .  THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF, THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CHOICE OF LAW PROVISIONS.

 

SECTION 16.        Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Immunity . Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“Related Proceedings”) shall be instituted in (i) the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan or (ii) the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court (a “Related Judgment”), as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding.  Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court.  The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such

 

28



 

court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

SECTION 17.        TIME . TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

 

SECTION 18.        Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

 

SECTION 19.        Effect of Headings .  The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

29



 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company and the Operating LLC a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the Underwriters, the Company and the Operating LLC in accordance with its terms.

 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Ruediger Adolf

 

 

Name:

Ruediger Adolf

 

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Ruediger Adolf

 

 

Name:

Ruediger Adolf

 

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
as of the date first above written:

 

GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC

 

 

 

By

/s/ Matt Leavitt

 

Name:

Matt Leavitt

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

 

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH

 

INCORPORATED

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Matthew Sharnoff

 

Name:

 Matthew Sharnoff

 

Title:

 Managing Director

 

 

For themselves and as Representatives of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.

 

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]

 



 

SCHEDULE A

 

The initial public offering price per share for the Securities shall be $33.00.

 

The purchase price per share for the Securities to be paid by the several Underwriters shall be $30.69, being an amount equal to the initial public offering price set forth above less $2.31 per share, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 2(b) for dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option Securities.

 

Name of Underwriter

 

Number of
Initial Securities

 

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

 

4,005,406

 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated

 

4,005,406

 

KKR Capital Markets LLC

 

2,367,570

 

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

 

1,297,297

 

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 

1,297,297

 

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.

 

1,297,297

 

Fifth Third Securities, Inc.

 

324,324

 

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.

 

324,324

 

MUFG Securities Americas Inc.

 

324,324

 

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

 

324,324

 

Regions Securities LLC

 

324,324

 

William Blair & Company, L.L.C.

 

324,324

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

16,216,217

 

 

Sch A- 1



 

SCHEDULE B-1

 

Pricing Terms

 

1.              The Company is selling 16,216,217 shares of Class A Common Stock.

 

2.              The Company has granted an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional 2,432,432 shares of Class A Common Stock.

 

3.              The initial public offering price per share for the Securities shall be $33.00.

 

SCHEDULE B-2

 

Free Writing Prospectuses

 

None.

 

SCHEDULE B-3

 

Written Testing-the-Waters Communications

 

Presentation provided to the Commission on May 17, 2018

 

Sch B - 1



 

SCHEDULE C

 

List of Persons and Entities Subject to Lock-up Letter

 

Ruediger Adolf

 

Rajini Sundar Kodialam

 

James Shanahan

 

James D. Carey

 

Fayez S. Muhtadie

 

Christopher J. Harrington

 

Deborah D. McWhinney

 

Noah Gottdiener

 

Leonard R. Chang

 

Christopher T. Dupuy

 

J. Russell McGranahan

 

Vamsi K. Yadlapati

 

Funds affiliated with KKR & Co. L.P.

 

Funds affiliated with Stone Point Capital LLC

 

Participants in directed share program

 

Sch C - 1



 

Exhibit A

 

FORM OF OPINION OF COMPANY’S COUNSEL
TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(b)

 

A- 1



 

Exhibit B

 

FORM OF OPINION OF GENERAL COUNSEL’S OPINION
TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(c)

 

B- 1



 

Exhibit C

 

FORM OF LOCK UP LETTER

 

C- 1



 

Exhibit D

 

FORM OF PRESS RELEASE

TO BE ISSUED PURSUANT TO SECTION 3(j)

 

Focus Financial Partners Inc.
[                 ], 20[      ]

 

Focus Financial Partners Inc. (the “Company”) announced today that BofA Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, the lead book-running managers in the Company’s recent public sale of [              ] shares of Class A common stock, is [waiving] [releasing] a lock-up restriction with respect to [             ] shares of the Company’s Class A common stock held by [certain officers or directors] [an officer or director] of the Company.  The [waiver] [release] will take effect on      ,          20    , and the shares may be sold on or after such date.

 

This press release is not an offer for sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction where such offer is prohibited, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

D- 1


Exhibit 3.1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF
FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

 

Focus Financial Partners Inc. (the “ Corporation ”), a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as set forth in Title 8 of the Delaware Code (the “ DGCL ”), hereby certifies as follows:

 

1.              The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “ Original Certificate of Incorporation ”) was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July 29, 2015.

 

2.              This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (this “ Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation ”), which restates and amends the Original Certificate of Incorporation, has been declared advisable by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “ Board ”), duly adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation and duly executed and acknowledged by the officers of the Corporation in accordance with Sections 103, 228, 242 and 245 of the DGCL.

 

3.              The Original Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

FIRST:  The name of the Corporation is Focus Financial Partners Inc.

 

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

 

THIRD:  The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL as it currently exists or may hereafter be amended.

 

FOURTH:  The total number of shares of stock that the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is 1,500,000,000 shares of stock, classified as (i) 500,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Preferred Stock ”), (ii) 500,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Class A Common Stock ”), and (iii) 500,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Class B Common Stock ” and, together with the Class A Common Stock, the “ Common Stock ”).

 

1.              Provisions Relating to Preferred Stock.

 

(a)            Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more classes or series, the shares of each class or series to have such designations and powers, preferences and rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as are stated and expressed herein and in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such class or series adopted by the Board as hereafter prescribed (a “ Preferred Stock Designation ”).

 



 

(b)            Authority is hereby expressly granted to and vested in the Board to authorize the issuance of Preferred Stock from time to time in one or more classes or series, and with respect to each series of Preferred Stock, to fix and state by the resolution or resolutions from time to time adopted by the Board providing for the issuance thereof the designation and the powers, preferences, privileges, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions relating to each series of Preferred Stock, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

(i)             whether or not the class or series is to have voting rights, full, special or limited, or is to be without voting rights, and whether or not such series is to be entitled to vote as a separate class or series either alone or together with the holders of one or more other classes or series of stock;

 

(ii)            the number of shares to constitute the class or series and the designations thereof;

 

(iii)           the powers, preferences, privileges and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, with respect to any series;

 

(iv)           whether or not the shares of any class or series shall be redeemable at the option of the Corporation or the holders thereof or upon the happening of any specified event, and, if redeemable, the redemption price or prices (which may be payable in the form of cash, notes, securities or other property), and the time or times at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such shares shall be redeemable and the manner of redemption;

 

(v)            whether or not the shares of a series shall be subject to the operation of retirement or sinking funds to be applied to the purchase or redemption of such shares for retirement, and, if such retirement or sinking fund or funds are to be established, the annual amount thereof, and the terms and provisions relative to the operation thereof;

 

(vi)           the dividend rate, whether dividends are payable in cash, stock of the Corporation or other property, the conditions upon which and the times when such dividends are payable, the preference to or the relation to the payment of dividends payable on any other class or classes or series of stock, whether or not such dividends shall be cumulative or noncumulative, and if cumulative, the date or dates from which such dividends shall accumulate;

 

(vii)          the preferences, if any, and the amounts thereof which the holders of any class or series thereof shall be entitled to receive upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Corporation;

 

(viii)         whether or not the shares of any class or series, at the option of the Corporation or the holder thereof or upon the happening of any specified event, shall be convertible into or exchangeable for, the shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes or series, of stock, securities or other

 

2



 

property of the Corporation and the conversion price or prices or ratio or ratios or the rate or rates at which such exchange may be made, with such adjustments, if any, as shall be stated and expressed or provided for in such resolution or resolutions; and

 

(ix)           such other powers, privileges, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions with respect to any series as may to the Board seem advisable.

 

(c)            The shares of each series of Preferred Stock may vary from the shares of any other class or series thereof in any or all of the foregoing respects.

 

2.              Provisions Relating to Common Stock.

 

(a)            Except as may otherwise be provided in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, each share of Common Stock shall have identical rights and privileges in every respect.  Common Stock shall be subject to the express terms of Preferred Stock and any series thereof.  Except as may otherwise be provided in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in a Preferred Stock Designation or by applicable law, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share upon all matters presented to the stockholders, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and for all other purposes, and the holders of Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to vote at or receive notice of any meeting of stockholders.  Each holder of Common Stock shall be entitled to notice of any stockholders’ meeting in accordance with the bylaws of the Corporation (as in effect at the time in question) and applicable law on all matters put to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. 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, the holders of Common Stock and the Preferred Stock shall vote together as a single class).

 

(b)            Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by applicable law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) 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 Preferred Stock Designation) or pursuant to the DGCL.

 

(c)            Subject to the prior rights and preferences, if any, applicable to shares of Preferred Stock or any series thereof, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to receive ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock held by them such dividends and distributions (payable in cash, stock or otherwise), if any, as may be declared thereon by the Board at any time and from time to time out of any funds of the Corporation legally available therefor. Dividends and other distributions shall not be declared or paid on the Class B Common Stock unless (i) the dividend consists of shares of Class B Common Stock or of rights, options, warrants or other securities convertible or exercisable into or exchangeable for shares of Class B Common Stock paid proportionally with respect to each outstanding share of Class B Common Stock and (ii) a dividend consisting of shares of Class A

 

3



 

Common Stock or of rights, options, warrants or other securities convertible or exercisable into or exchangeable for shares of Class A Common Stock on equivalent terms is simultaneously paid to the holders of Class A Common Stock. If dividends are declared on the Class A Common Stock or the Class B Common Stock that are payable in shares of Common Stock, or securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, the dividends payable to the holders of Class A Common Stock shall be paid only in shares of Class A Common Stock (or securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock), the dividends payable to the holders of Class B Common Stock shall be paid only in shares of Class B Common Stock (or securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for Class B Common Stock), and such dividends shall be paid in the same number of shares (or fraction thereof) on a per share basis of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, respectively (or securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for the same number of shares (or fraction thereof) on a per share basis of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, respectively). In no event shall the shares of either Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock be split, divided, or combined unless the outstanding shares of the other class shall be proportionately split, divided or combined.

 

(d)            In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, after distribution in full of the preferential amounts, if any, to be distributed to the holders of shares of Preferred Stock or any series thereof, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all of the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock held by them. 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. A dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Corporation, as such terms are used in this paragraph (d), shall not be deemed to be occasioned by or to include any consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into any other corporation or corporations or other entity or a sale, lease, exchange or conveyance of all or a part of the assets of the Corporation.

 

(e)            Shares of Class B Common Stock shall be exchangeable for shares of Class A Common Stock on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Agreement of Focus Financial Partners, LLC dated as of July 30, 2018, as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms (the “ LLC Agreement ”). The Corporation will at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issuance upon exchange of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock for Class A Common Stock pursuant to the LLC Agreement, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock that shall be issuable upon any such exchange pursuant to the LLC Agreement; provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Corporation from satisfying its obligations in respect of any such exchange of shares of Class B Common Stock pursuant to the LLC Agreement by delivering to the holder of shares of Class B Common Stock upon such exchange, in lieu of newly issued shares of Class A Common Stock, cash in the amount permitted by and provided in the LLC Agreement or shares of Class A Common Stock which are held in the treasury of the Corporation. All shares of Class A Common Stock that may be issued upon any such exchange shall, upon issuance in accordance with the LLC Agreement, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.  All shares of Class B Common Stock exchanged shall be cancelled.

 

4



 

(f)             The number of authorized shares of 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 outstanding shares of 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 either Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Preferred Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor.

 

(g)            No stockholder shall, by reason of the holding of shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, have any preemptive or preferential right to acquire or subscribe for any shares or securities of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, which may at any time be issued, sold or offered for sale by the Corporation, unless specifically provided for in a Preferred Stock Designation.

 

FIFTH:  The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board. The directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock specified in the related Preferred Stock Designation, shall be divided, with respect to the time for which they severally hold office, into three classes, as nearly equal in number as is reasonably possible, with the initial term of office of the first class to expire at the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders (the “ Class I Directors ”), the initial term of office of the second class to expire at the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders (the “ Class II Directors ”), and the initial term of office of the third class to expire at the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders (the “ Class III Directors ”), with each director to hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or, if earlier, such director’s death, disability, resignation, disqualification or removal.  At each annual meeting of stockholders, directors elected to succeed those directors whose terms then expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election, with each director to hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or, if earlier, such director’s death, disability, resignation, disqualification or removal.  The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to Class I, Class II or Class III at the time this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation becomes effective, subject to the terms of any nomination agreements between the Corporation and any stockholder that may be in effect from time to time (as amended or supplemented in accordance with their terms, the “ Nomination Agreements ”). Subject to applicable law, the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock specified in the related Preferred Stock Designation and the Nomination Agreements, any newly created directorship that results from an increase in the number of directors or any vacancy on the Board that results from the death, disability, resignation, disqualification or removal of any director or from any other cause shall be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director and shall not be filled by the stockholders.  Any director elected to fill a vacancy not resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall hold office for the remaining term of his predecessor.  No decrease in the number of authorized directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

 

Subject to the Nomination Agreement and the rights of the holders of shares of any series of Preferred Stock, if any, to elect additional directors pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation thereunder), any director

 

5



 

may be removed only for cause, upon the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2 / 3 % of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally for the election of directors, acting at a meeting of the stockholders or by written consent (if permitted) in accordance with the DGCL, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the bylaws of the Corporation.

 

Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, if any, and to the Nomination Agreements, the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time in the manner provided in the bylaws of the Corporation.  Unless and except to the extent that the bylaws of the Corporation so provide, the election of directors need not be by written ballot.  There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of directors.

 

SIXTH:  Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock with respect to such series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be taken at a duly held annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be taken by any consent in writing of such stockholders; provided that for so long as Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (“ KKR ”), Stone Point Capital LLC (“ Stone Point ”) and any investment funds or entities controlled or advised by KKR or Stone Point (collectively, the “ Sponsor Entities ”) collectively own at least 25% of the outstanding Common Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation 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 capital stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the books in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded.  Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be made by hand, overnight courier or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.

 

SEVENTH:  Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman of the Board or the Board; provided that for so long as the Sponsor Entities collectively own at least 25% of the outstanding Common Stock, at the request of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock held by the Sponsor Entities, the Board shall call a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation.  Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock and the preceding proviso, the stockholders of the Corporation do not have the power to call a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation.

 

EIGHTH:  In furtherance of, and not in limitation of, the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation without any action on the part of the stockholders of the Corporation; provided that any bylaw, and any powers thereby conferred, may be amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders of the Corporation by the vote of holders of not less than 66 2 / 3 % in voting power of the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a

 

6



 

single class.  No bylaws hereafter made or adopted, nor any repeal of or amendment thereto, shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that was valid at the time it was taken.

 

NINTH:  No director of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for 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 it now exists.  In addition to the circumstances in which a director of the Corporation is not personally liable as set forth in the preceding sentence, a director of the Corporation shall not be liable to the fullest extent permitted by any amendment to the DGCL hereafter enacted that further limits the liability of a director.

 

The Corporation shall have the power to indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by law any person made or threatened to be made a party to an action or proceeding, whether criminal, civil, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he, his testator or intestate is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee of the Corporation, any predecessor of the Corporation or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Corporation, or serves or served at any other enterprise as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee at the request of the Corporation or any predecessor to the Corporation.

 

Any amendment, repeal or modification of this Article Ninth shall be prospective only and shall not affect any limitation on liability of a director for acts or omissions occurring prior to the date of such amendment, repeal or modification.

 

TENTH:  The Corporation hereby expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.

 

1.              Provisions Relating to Business Combination.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any point in time at which any class of the Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Corporation shall not engage in any business combination (as defined below) with any interested stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three (3) years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

(a)            prior to such time the Board approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

 

(b)            upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder (as defined below) owned (as defined below) at least 85% of the voting stock (as defined below) of the Corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned (i) by persons (as defined below) who are directors and also officers and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

 

7



 

(c)            at or subsequent to such time the business combination is approved by the Board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2 / 3 % of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

2.              Certain Defined Terms.

 

For purposes of this Article Tenth, the term:

 

(a)            affiliate ” means a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls (as defined below), or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another person.

 

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

 

(c)            business combination ,” when used in reference to the Corporation and any interested stockholder of the Corporation, means:

 

(i)             any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (A) with the interested stockholder, or (B) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the interested stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation Section 1 of this Article Tenth is not applicable to the surviving entity;

 

(ii)            any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation, to or with the interested stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which assets have an aggregate market value equal to 10% or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding stock of the Corporation;

 

(iii)           any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of any stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the interested stockholder, except: (A) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the interested stockholder became such; (B) pursuant to a merger under Section 251(g) of the DGCL; (C) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of

 

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securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of stock of the Corporation subsequent to the time the interested stockholder became such; (D) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase stock made on the same terms to all holders of said stock; or (E) any issuance or transfer of stock by the Corporation; provided , however , that in no case under sub-clauses (C)-(E) of this clause (iii) shall there be an increase in the interested stockholder’s proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the voting stock of the Corporation (except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments);

 

(iv)           any transaction involving the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series, or securities convertible into the stock of any class or series, of the Corporation or of any such subsidiary which is owned by the interested stockholder, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares of stock not caused, directly or indirectly, by the interested stockholder; or

 

(v)            any receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges, or other financial benefits (other than those expressly permitted in clauses (i)-(iv) above) provided by or through the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary.

 

(d)            control ,” including the terms “ controlling ,” “ controlled by ” and “ under common control with ,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting stock, by contract, or otherwise. A person who is the owner of 20% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this Section 2, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity.

 

(e)            interested stockholder ” means any person (other than the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, or (ii) is an affiliate or associate of the Corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation at any time within the three (3) year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested stockholder, and the affiliates and associates of such person; provided, however , that the term “interested stockholder” shall not include or be deemed to include, in any case, (A) Trident (as defined below), any Trident Transferee (as defined below) or any of their respective affiliates or successors, or (B) any person whose ownership of shares in excess of the 15% limitation set forth herein is the result of any action taken solely by the Corporation, provided further , that each such person referred to

 

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under the foregoing sub-clauses (A)-(B) shall be an interested stockholder if simultaneously or thereafter such person acquires additional shares of voting stock of the Corporation and continues to satisfy the criteria in clauses (i) and (ii) of this definition at the time of such acquisition, except as a result of further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person. For the purpose of determining whether a person is an interested stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include stock deemed to be owned by the person through application of the definition of “owner” below but shall not include any other unissued stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article Tenth, any stockholder of the Corporation, with affiliate(s), associate(s), or other person(s) who may be deemed representatives of it serving as director(s) of the Corporation, shall not be deemed to own or to have acquired any shares of voting stock of the Corporation held by such other persons serving as director(s) of the Corporation to the extent such securities were issued by the Corporation to such director(s) in the ordinary course of business as compensation for their services as director(s) of the Corporation.

 

(f)             owner ,” including the terms “ own ” and “ owned ,” when used with respect to any stock, means a person that individually or with or through any of its affiliates or associates:

 

(i)             beneficially owns such stock, directly or indirectly;

 

(ii)            has (A) the right to acquire such stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided , however , that a person shall not be deemed the owner of stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such person or any of such person’s affiliates or associates until such tendered stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote such stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided , however , that a person shall not be deemed the owner of any stock because of such person’s right to vote such stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to ten (10) or more persons; or

 

(iii)           has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in sub-clause (B) of clause (ii) above), or disposing of such stock with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such stock.

 

(g)            person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity.

 

(h)            stock ” means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest.

 

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(i)             Trident ” means, collectively, Trident FFP LP and its affiliates (other than the Corporation).

 

(j)             Trident Transferee ” means any person that: (i) acquires beneficial ownership of outstanding voting stock of the Corporation either (A) directly from Trident or any of its affiliates or successors, or (B) directly from a person described in sub-clause (A) above or from any other Trident Transferee; (ii) did not have beneficial ownership of more than 4.9% of the then outstanding voting stock of the Corporation prior to such acquisition; and (iii) is not (A) a national or global financial institution or insurance company or a regional bank that in each case derives at least 30% of its revenue from wealth management services or the sale of proprietary financial products (which for the avoidance of doubt, excludes life insurance and annuities), (B) an independent broker dealer, (C) a platform for or aggregator of registered investment advisers or broker-dealer teams, or (D) a holding company or acquisition vehicle of any entity described in the foregoing sub-clauses (A)-(C) of this clause (iii).

 

(k)            voting stock ” means stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

 

ELEVENTH:  The Corporation shall have the right, subject to any express provisions or restrictions contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws of the Corporation, from time to time, to amend this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any provision hereof in any manner now or hereafter provided by applicable law, and all rights and powers of any kind conferred upon a director or stockholder of the Corporation by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any amendment hereof are subject to such right of the Corporation.

 

TWELFTH:  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation (and in addition to any other vote that may be required by applicable law, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the bylaws of the Corporation), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2 / 3 % in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend, alter or repeal any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation; provided that (a) a separate vote of holders of a majority of Common Stock held by the Sponsor Entities shall be required to amend, alter, repeal or adopt a provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with the following provisions: (i) so long as the Sponsor Entities own at least 25% of the outstanding Common Stock, the proviso in Article Sixth and the proviso in Article Seventh and (ii) so long as the Sponsor Entities own any Common Stock, Article Tenth, Article Fourteenth and this proviso in Article Twelfth, and (b) a separate vote of holders of a majority of Class B Common Stock shall be required to (i) amend, alter, repeal or adopt a provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with Section 2(e) of Article Fourth and (ii) amend, alter or repeal any other provision of Section 2 of Article Fourth that affects the holders of Class B Common Stock in a manner that is different or prejudicial relative to the holders of Class A Common Stock.

 

THIRTEENTH:  Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent

 

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permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee, agent or trustee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Corporation’s bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each such case subject to said Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein.  Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the federal district courts of the United States will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the federal securities laws of the United States.  Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article Thirteenth.

 

FOURTEENTH:

 

1.              Certain Definitions.   For purposes of this Article Fourteenth, (i)” Affiliate ” of any Person shall include any principal, member, director, partner, manager, shareholder, subsidiary, officer, employee or other representative of any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by such Person, controls such Person or is under common control with such Person (with respect to the Sponsor-Affiliates, other than the Corporation and any entity that is controlled by the Corporation) or any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by such Person, controls such Person or is under common control with such Person and (ii) “ Person ” shall mean any individual, corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, association or any other entity.  “ Sponsor-Affiliates ” shall mean KKR and Stone Point, and each of their respective Affiliates.

 

2.              Certain Activities.   In anticipation of the benefits to be derived by the Corporation through its continued contractual, corporate and business relationships with the Sponsor-Affiliates and in anticipation and recognition that (i) certain directors, principals, officers, employees and/or other representatives of the Sponsor-Affiliates may serve as directors or officers of the Corporation, (ii) the Sponsor-Affiliates may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, and (iii) members of the Board who are not employees of the Corporation (“ Non-Employee Directors ”) and their respective Affiliates may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, the provisions of this Article Fourteenth are set forth to define the circumstances in which any duties of the Non-Employee Directors and the Sponsor-Affiliates to the Corporation or its stockholders would not be breached even if certain classes or categories of business opportunities are alleged to have been usurped by one or more of the Sponsor-Affiliates, the Non-Employee Directors or their respective Affiliates.

 

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3.              Certain Transactions.   None of (i) any Sponsor-Affiliate or (ii) any Non-Employee Director or his or her Affiliates (any such Person identified in clause (i) or (ii), an “ Identified Person ”) shall be in breach of any duty to the Corporation or its stockholders for directly or indirectly (A) engaging in a corporate opportunity in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which the Corporation or any of the Affiliated persons has a reasonable expectancy interest or property right or (B) otherwise competing with the Corporation.  For the avoidance of doubt, subject to the Corporation’s insider trading policies, to the extent that any purchase, sale or other transaction by any Identified Person involving any securities or indebtedness of the Corporation or any of its Affiliates (or involving any hedge, swap, derivative or other instrument relating to or in respect of any of the foregoing securities or indebtedness) may be deemed to be a corporate opportunity or to be in competition with the Corporation, the Identified Persons shall be fully protected by the foregoing provisions of this Article Fourteenth in pursuing such purchase, sale or other transaction or in taking any other action in respect of or affecting such securities, indebtedness or other instrument.  The Corporation hereby renounces any reasonable expectancy interest or property right in any business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for both an Identified Person and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, except as provided in Section 4 of this Article Fourteenth.  In the event that any Identified Person acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for itself, himself or herself and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, such Identified Person would not be in breach of any applicable duty to the Corporation or its stockholders for failing to communicate or offer such transaction or other business opportunity to the Corporation or any of its Affiliates.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, no Identified Person can be held personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or creditors for any damages as a result of engaging in any of activities permitted pursuant to this Section 3 or which are stated in this Section 3 to constitute a breach of its, his or her duties to the Corporation or its stockholders if engaged in by such Identified Person.

 

4.              Usurping Certain Corporate Opportunities Are Breaches of Duty to the Corporation or its Stockholders.  The Corporation does not renounce its expectancy interest or property right in, and the provisions of Section 3 of this Article Fourteenth shall not apply to, any corporate opportunity that is (i) presented to any Non-Employee Director solely in such capacity and with respect to which no Sponsor-Affiliate of such Non-Employee Director independently receives notice or otherwise identifies such corporate opportunity, or (ii) is identified by any Non-Employee Director solely through disclosure by or on behalf of the Corporation.

 

5.              Exclusion.  In addition to and without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Article Fourteenth, a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to be a potential corporate opportunity for the Corporation if the Corporation is not financially capable or contractually permitted or legally able to undertake it, or such opportunity is, from its nature, not in the line of the Corporation’s business or is of no practical advantage to it or such opportunity is one in which the Corporation has no reasonable expectancy interest or property right.

 

6.              Powers of the Board.  The enumeration and definition of particular powers of the Board included in the foregoing shall in no way be limited or restricted by reference to or inference from the terms of any other clause of this or any other Article of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, or construed as or deemed by inference or otherwise in any

 

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manner to exclude or limit any powers conferred upon the Board under the DGCL now or hereafter in force.

 

7.              Amendment of this Article.   Any amendment, repeal or modification of this Article Fourteenth shall be prospective only and shall not affect any limitation on liability of a director for acts or omissions occurring prior to the date of such amendment, repeal or modification.

 

FIFTEENTH:  If any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation becomes or is declared on any ground by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, portions of such provision, or such provision in its entirety, to the extent necessary, shall be severed from this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and the court will replace such illegal, void or unenforceable provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with a valid and enforceable provision that most accurately reflects the Corporation’s intent, in order to achieve, to the maximum extent possible, the same economic, business and other purposes of the illegal, void or unenforceable provision.  The balance of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as of this 27 th  day of July, 2018.

 

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ruediger Adolf

 

Name:

Ruediger Adolf

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

 


Exhibit 3.2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

 

Incorporated under the Laws of the State of Delaware

 


 

ARTICLE I
OFFICES AND RECORDS

 

Section 1.1.            Registered Office .  The registered office of Focus Financial Partners Inc. (the “ Corporation ”) in the State of Delaware shall be located at The Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.  The registered office and registered agent of the Corporation may be changed from time to time by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “ Board ”) in the manner provided by applicable law.

 

Section 1.2.            Other Offices .  The Corporation may have such other offices, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board may designate or as the business of the Corporation may from time to time require.

 

Section 1.3.            Books and Records .  The books and records of the Corporation may be kept outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may from time to time be designated by the Board.

 

ARTICLE II
STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 2.1.            Annual Meeting .  If required by applicable law, an annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be held at such date, time and place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, as may be fixed by resolution of the Board.  Any proper business may be transacted at the annual meeting.  The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board.

 

Section 2.2.            Special Meeting .  Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock of the Corporation (“ Preferred Stock ”), special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman of the Board or the Board;  provided that for so long as Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (“ KKR ”), Stone Point Capital LLC (“ Stone Point ”) and any investment funds or entities controlled or advised by KKR or Stone Point (collectively, the “ Sponsor Entities ”) collectively own at least 25% of the outstanding Common Stock (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation (as defined below)), at the request of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock held by the Sponsor Entities, the Board shall call a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock and the preceding proviso, the stockholders of the Corporation do not have the power to call a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of the stockholders previously scheduled by the Board; provided that

 



 

the Board may not take any such action with respect to any special meeting of the stockholders previously scheduled by the Board at the request of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock held by the Sponsor Entities pursuant to this Section 2.2 without the prior written consent of such holders.

 

Section 2.3.            Record Date .

 

(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 applicable law, not be greater than 60 nor fewer than ten 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 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 record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall not be greater than 60 days prior to such action.  If no such record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

(c)            Unless otherwise restricted by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as it may be amended from time to time (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”), in order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board 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 not be more than ten days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board. If no record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting is fixed by the Board, (i) when no prior action of the Board is required by applicable law, the record date for such purpose shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law, and (ii) if prior action by the Board is required by applicable law, the record date for such

 

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purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

 

Section 2.4.            Stockholder List .  The Corporation shall prepare, at least ten days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting of stockholders ( provided, however , if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is fewer than ten days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the 10 th  day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of such stockholder.  Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting, either on a reasonably accessible electronic network (provided that the information required to gain access to the list is provided with the notice of the meeting) or during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation.  The stock list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be examined by any stockholder who is present.  If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.  Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list required by this section or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of the stockholders.

 

Section 2.5.            Place of Meeting .  The Board, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, as the case may be, may designate the place of meeting for any annual meeting or for any special meeting of the stockholders.  If no designation is so made, the place of meeting shall be the principal executive offices of the Corporation.  The Board, acting in its sole discretion, may establish guidelines and procedures in accordance with applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “ DGCL ”) and any other applicable law for the participation by stockholders and proxyholders in a meeting of stockholders by means of remote communications, and may determine that any meeting of stockholders will not be held at any place but will be held solely by means of remote communication.  Stockholders and proxyholders complying with such procedures and guidelines and otherwise entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be deemed present in person and entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders, whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication.

 

Section 2.6.            Notice of Meeting .  Written or printed notice, stating the place, if any, day and hour of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given not fewer than ten days nor greater than 60 days before the date of the meeting, in a manner pursuant to Section 7.7 hereof, to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting.  The notice shall specify (a) 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), (b) the place, if any, date and time of such meeting, (c) the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, (d) in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or

 

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purposes for which such meeting is called and (e) such other information as may be required by applicable law or as may be deemed appropriate by the Board, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary of the Corporation.  If the stockholder list referred to in Section 2.4 of these Bylaws is made accessible on an electronic network, the notice of meeting must indicate how the stockholder list can be accessed.  If the meeting of stockholders is to be held solely by means of electronic communications, the notice of meeting must provide the information required to access such stockholder list during the meeting.  If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail with postage thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at his address as it appears on the stock transfer books of the Corporation.  The Corporation may provide stockholders with notice of a meeting by electronic transmission provided such stockholders have consented to receiving electronic notice in accordance with the DGCL.  Such further notice shall be given as may be required by applicable law.  Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the notice of meeting.  Meetings may be held without notice if all stockholders entitled to vote are present, or if notice is waived by those not present in accordance with Section 7.4 of these Bylaws.

 

Section 2.7.            Quorum and Adjournment of Meetings .

 

(a)            Except as otherwise provided by applicable law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting (the “ Voting Stock ”), represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders, except that when specified business is to be voted on by a class or series of stock voting as a class, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of such class or series shall constitute a quorum of such class or series for the transaction of such business.  For the avoidance of doubt, abstentions and broker non-votes shall be treated as present for purposes of determining the presence or absence of quorum.  Only the person presiding over the meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time, whether or not there is such a quorum.  The stockholders present at a duly called meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.

 

(b)            Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may adjourn from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the adjournment is for greater than 30 days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.  At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting.

 

Section 2.8.            Proxies .  At all meetings of stockholders, a stockholder may vote by proxy executed in writing (or in such other manner prescribed by the DGCL) by the stockholder or by his duly authorized attorney-in-fact.  Any copy, facsimile transmission or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this section 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 transmission or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.  No

 

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proxy may be voted or acted upon after the expiration of three years from the date of such proxy, unless such proxy provides for a longer period.  Every proxy is revocable at the pleasure of the stockholder executing it unless the proxy states that it is irrevocable and applicable law makes it irrevocable.  A stockholder may revoke any proxy that is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by filing an instrument in writing revoking the proxy or by filing another duly executed proxy bearing a later date with the Secretary of the Corporation.

 

Section 2.9.            Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations .

 

(a)            Annual Meetings of Stockholders .

 

(i)             Nominations of persons for election to the Board and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders at an annual meeting of stockholders may be made only (A) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (B) by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof, subject to the obligations of the Corporation set forth in any nomination agreements between the Corporation and any stockholder that may be in effect from time to time (as amended or supplemented in accordance with their terms, the “ Nomination Agreements ”) or (C) by any stockholder of the Corporation who (1) was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in these Bylaws and at the time of the annual meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (3) complies with the notice procedures set forth in these Bylaws and applicable law as to such business or nomination; Section 2.9(a)(i)(C)  of these Bylaws shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), and included in the Corporation’s notice of meeting) before an annual meeting of the stockholders.

 

(ii)            For any nominations or any other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to Section 2.9(a)(i)(C)  of these Bylaws, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action under the DGCL.  To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation by registered mail at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 150 th  day and not later than the close of business on the 120 th  day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (which anniversary, in the case of the first annual meeting of stockholders following the close of the Corporation’s initial public offering, shall be deemed to be May 1, 2019; provided , however , that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is greater than 30 days before or greater than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 150 th  day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 120 th  day prior to such annual meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is fewer than 100 days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the 10 th  day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation.  In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the

 

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announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.  To be in proper form, a stockholder’s notice (whether given pursuant to this Section 2.9(a)(ii)  or Section 2.9(b) ) to the Secretary of the Corporation must:

 

(A)           set forth, as to the stockholder giving the notice and any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), (1) the name and address of such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such Stockholder Associated Person, if any, (2) (I) the class or series and number of shares of stock or other securities of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person, (II) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of stock of the Corporation or otherwise (a “ Derivative Instrument ”), directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation, (III) a description of any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person has a right to vote any shares of any security of the Corporation, (IV) any short interest in any security of the Corporation (for purposes of these Bylaws a person shall be deemed to have a “short interest” in a security if such person directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the value of the subject security) by such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person, (V) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (VI) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner and (VII) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including without limitation any such interests held by members of such stockholder’s or Stockholder Associated Person’s immediate family sharing the same household (which information, in each case, shall be supplemented by such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person not later than 10 calendar days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such information as of the record date), (3) any other information relating to such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings

 

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required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (4) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to bring such nomination or other business before the meeting, and (5) a representation as to whether such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person intends or is part of a group that intends to (I) deliver a proxy statement or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or to elect each such nominee or (II) otherwise to solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination.  If requested by the Corporation, the information required under clauses (A)(1)  and ( A)(2)  of the preceding sentence of this Section 2.9(a)(ii)  shall be supplemented by such stockholder and any such Stockholder Associated Person not later than 10 days after the record date for notice of the meeting to disclose such information as of such record date;

 

(B)           if the notice relates to any business other than a nomination of a director or directors that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, set forth (1) 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 the Bylaws of the Corporation, the language of the proposed amendment) the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest of such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person, if any, in such business and (2) a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person, if any, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder;

 

(C)           set forth, as to each person, if any, whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection to the Board (1) all information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the Corporation’s proxy statement as a nominee and to serving a full term as a director if elected) and (2) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person, and each proposed nominee, and his respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including, without limitation all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the stockholder making the nomination and any Stockholder Associated Person on whose behalf the

 

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nomination is made, if any, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant; and

 

(D)           with respect to each nominee for election or reelection to the Board, include a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 2.9(a)(iv)  of these Bylaws. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.

 

(iii)           Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of Section 2.9(a)(ii)  of these Bylaws to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board at least 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by these Bylaws 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 of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10 th  day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

(iv)           To be eligible to be a nominee for election or reelection as a director of the Corporation, a proposed nominee must deliver (in accordance with the method, means and time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under Section 2.9(a)(ii)  of these Bylaws and applicable law) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (A) a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such person and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (which questionnaire the proposed nominee shall request in writing from the Secretary with at least 7 days’ prior notice); (B) a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that such person (1) is not and will not become a party to (I) any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether written or oral) with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote in such capacity on any issue or question (a “ Voting Commitment ”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (II) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (2) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether written or oral) with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director of the Corporation that has not been disclosed to the Corporation, (3) in such person’s individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with all

 

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applicable law and all applicable rules of the U.S. exchanges upon which the Common Stock of the Corporation is listed and all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and other guidelines of the Corporation, (4) in such person’s individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, intends to serve a full term if elected as a director of the Corporation and (5) will provide facts, statements and other information in all communications with the Corporation and its stockholders that are or will be true and correct in all material respects and do not and will not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (C) a written director agreement (which agreement shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request and shall include, without limitation, such person’s agreement to abide by all policies applicable to directors of the Corporation, including a requirement to preserve and maintain the confidentiality of the Corporation’s material non-public information).

 

(v)            The foregoing notice requirements of this Section 2.9(a)  shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder with respect to business or a nomination if such stockholder has notified the Corporation of his intention to present a proposal or make a nomination at an annual meeting in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholder’s proposal or nomination has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting.

 

(vi)           For purposes of this Section 2.9(a) , “ Stockholder Associated Person ” of any stockholder shall mean (A) any person acting in concert with such stockholder, (B) any other beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder (other than a stockholder that is a depositary) and (C) any person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such stockholder or such Stockholder Associated Person.

 

(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.  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 a notice of meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof, subject to the obligations of the Corporation set forth in the Nomination Agreements or (ii)  provided that the Board has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who (A) is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in these Bylaws and at the time of the special meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (C) complies with the notice procedures set forth in these Bylaws.  In the event a special meeting of stockholders is called for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board, any such stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by Section 2.9(a)(ii)  of these Bylaws with respect to any nomination (including the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and

 

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agreement required by Section 2.9(a)(ii)  of these Bylaws) shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120 th  day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90 th  day prior to such special meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such special meeting is fewer than 100 days prior to the date of such special meeting, the 10 th  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.  In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

(c)            General .

 

(i)             Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and the Nomination Agreements shall be eligible to serve as directors, and only such other 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 these Bylaws and applicable law.  Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the person presiding over the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded.

 

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

 

(iii)           Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of these Bylaws, 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 these Bylaws; provided , however , that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to Sections 2.9(a)  or 2.9(b)  of these Bylaws or the Nomination Agreements.  Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights (A) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, (B) of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock if and to the extent provided for under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws or (C) set forth in the Nomination Agreements.

 

(iv)           The Corporation may require any proposed stockholder nominee for director 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.  Unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the

 

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stockholder) making a nomination or proposal under this Section 2.9 does not appear at a meeting of stockholders to present such nomination or proposal, the nomination shall be disregarded and the proposed business shall not be transacted, as the case may be, notwithstanding that proxies in favor thereof may have been received by the Corporation.  For purposes of this Section 2.9 , 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.

 

Section 2.10.          Conduct of Business .  The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the person presiding over the meeting.  The Board may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate.  Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the person presiding over any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such presiding person, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting.  Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the presiding person of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (a) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (b) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (c) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the presiding person of the meeting shall determine; (d) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; (e) restrictions on the use of any audio or video recording devices at the meeting; and (f) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants.  The presiding person at any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such presiding person should so determine, such presiding person shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered.  Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the person presiding over the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

Section 2.11.          Required Vote .  Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, at any meeting at which directors are to be elected, so long as a quorum is present, the directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes validly cast in such election.  Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, cumulative voting for the election of directors shall be prohibited.  Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the rules and regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, in all matters other than the election of directors and certain non-binding advisory votes described below, the affirmative

 

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vote of a majority in voting power of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter shall be the act of the stockholders.  In non-binding advisory matters with more than two possible vote choices, the matter shall be deemed the recommendation of the stockholders if it has received a plurality of the votes.

 

Section 2.12.          Treasury Stock .  The Corporation shall not vote, directly or indirectly, shares of its own stock owned by it or any other corporation, if a majority of shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such corporation is held, directly or indirectly by the Corporation, and such shares will not be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation or such other corporation, to vote stock of the Corporation held in a fiduciary capacity.

 

Section 2.13.          Inspectors of Elections; Opening and Closing the Polls .  At any meeting at which a vote is taken by ballots, the Board by resolution may, and when required by applicable law, shall, appoint one or more inspectors, which inspector or inspectors may include individuals who serve the Corporation in other capacities, including, without limitation, as officers, employees, agents or representatives, to act at the meetings of stockholders and make a written report thereof.  One or more persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act.  If no inspector or alternate has been appointed to act or is able to act at a meeting of stockholders and the appointment of an inspector is required by applicable law, the person presiding over the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting.  Each inspector, before discharging his duties, shall take and sign an oath to faithfully execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.  The inspectors shall have the duties prescribed by applicable law.

 

Section 2.14.          Stockholder Action by Written Consent .  Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock with respect to such series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be taken at a duly held annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be taken by any consent in writing of such stockholders; provided that for so long as the Sponsor Entities own at least 25% of the outstanding Common Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation 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 capital stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the books in which proceedings of minutes of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be made by hand, overnight courier or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.

 

ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 3.1.            General Powers .  The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board elected in accordance with these Bylaws.  In addition to the powers and authorities by these Bylaws expressly conferred upon them, the Board

 

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may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.  The directors shall act only as a Board, and the individual directors shall have no power as such.

 

Section 3.2.                                  Number, Tenure and Qualifications .  Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances and the Nomination Agreements, the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board. The election and term of directors shall be as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 3.3.                                  Regular Meetings .  Subject to Section 3.5 , regular meetings of the Board shall be held on such dates, and at such times and places, as are determined from time to time by resolution of the Board.

 

Section 3.4.                                  Special Meetings .  Special meetings of the Board shall be called at the request of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or a majority of the Board then in office.  The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board may fix the place, if any, date and time of the meetings.  Any business may be conducted at a special meeting of the Board.

 

Section 3.5.                                  Notice .  Notice of any meeting of directors shall be given to each director at his business or residence in writing by hand delivery, first-class or overnight mail, courier service or facsimile or electronic transmission or orally by telephone.  If mailed by first-class mail, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when deposited in the United States mails so addressed, with postage thereon prepaid, at least five days before such meeting.  If by overnight mail or courier service, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when the notice is delivered to the overnight mail or courier service company at least 48 hours before such meeting.  If by facsimile or electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when the notice is transmitted at least 48 hours before such meeting.  If by telephone or by hand delivery, the notice shall be given at least 48 hours prior to the time set for the meeting and shall be confirmed by facsimile or electronic transmission that is sent promptly thereafter.  Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board need be specified in the notice of such meeting, except for amendments to these Bylaws, as provided under Section 8.1 .  A meeting may be held at any time without notice if all the directors are present or if those not present waive notice of the meeting in accordance with Section 7.4 of these Bylaws.

 

Section 3.6.                                  Action by Consent of Board .  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 or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.  Such consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote at a meeting, and may be stated as such in any document or instrument filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

 

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Section 3.7.                                  Conference Telephone Meetings .  Members of the Board or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board or such committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting, except where such person participates in the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

Section 3.8.                                  Quorum .  Subject to Section 3.9 , a whole number of directors equal to at least a majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but if at any meeting of the Board there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice unless (a) the date, time and place, if any, of the adjourned meeting are not announced at the time of adjournment, in which case notice conforming to the requirements of Section 3.5 of these Bylaws shall be given to each director, or (b) the meeting is adjourned for more than 24 hours, in which case the notice referred to in clause (a)  shall be given to those directors not present at the announcement of the date, time and place of the adjourned meeting.  The act of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board. The directors present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough directors to leave less than a quorum.

 

Section 3.9.                                  Vacancies .  Subject to applicable law, the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock and the Nomination Agreements, any newly created directorship that results from an increase in the number of directors or any vacancy on the Board that results from the death, disability, resignation, disqualification or removal of any director or from any other cause shall be filled in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 3.10.                           Removal .  Subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any series of Preferred Stock, if any, to elect additional directors pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation thereunder) and the Nomination Agreements, any director may be removed only for cause, upon the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2 / 3 % of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally for the election of directors, acting at a meeting of the stockholders or by written consent (if permitted) in accordance with the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws.

 

Section 3.11.                           Records .  The Board shall cause to be kept a record containing the minutes of the proceedings of the meetings of the Board and of the stockholders, appropriate stock books and registers and such books of records and accounts as may be necessary for the proper conduct of the business of the Corporation.

 

Section 3.12.                           Compensation .  Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board shall have authority to fix the compensation of directors, including fees and reimbursement of expenses.  The Corporation will cause each non-employee director serving on the Board to be reimbursed for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by him in connection with such service.

 

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Section 3.13.                           Regulations .  To the extent consistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws, the Board may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings of the Board and for the management of the affairs and business of the Corporation as the Board may deem appropriate.

 

ARTICLE IV
COMMITTEES

 

Section 4.1.                                  Designation; Powers .  The Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation, subject to the obligations of the Corporation set forth in the Nomination Agreements.  Any such committee, to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it.

 

Section 4.2.                                  Procedure; Meetings; Quorum .  Any committee designated pursuant to Section 4.1 shall choose its own chairman by a majority vote of the members then in attendance in the event the chairman has not been selected by the Board, shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board when requested, and shall meet at such times and at such place or places as may be provided by the charter of such committee or by resolution of such committee or resolution of the Board.  At every meeting of any such committee, the presence of a majority of all the members thereof shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present shall be necessary for the adoption by it of any resolution.  The Board shall adopt a charter for each committee for which a charter is required by applicable laws, regulations or stock exchange rules, may adopt a charter for any other committee, and may adopt other rules and regulations for the governance of any committee not inconsistent with the provisions of these Bylaws or any such charter, and each committee may adopt its own rules and regulations of governance, to the extent not inconsistent with these Bylaws or any charter or other rules and regulations adopted by the Board.

 

Section 4.3.                                  Substitution of Members .  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 such 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 constituting a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.

 

ARTICLE V
OFFICERS

 

Section 5.1.                                  Officers .  The officers of the Corporation shall be a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, a Secretary and such other officers as the Board from time to time may deem proper.  The Chairman of the Board shall be chosen from among the directors.  All officers elected by the Board shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the specific provisions of this Article V .  Such officers shall also have such powers and duties as from time to time may be

 

15



 

conferred by the Board or by any committee thereof.  The Board or any committee thereof may from time to time elect, or the Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer may appoint, such other officers (including one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers) and such agents, as may be necessary or desirable for the conduct of the business of the Corporation.  Such other officers and agents shall have such duties and shall hold their offices for such terms as shall be provided in these Bylaws or as may be prescribed by the Board or such committee thereof or by the Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer, as the case may be.

 

Section 5.2.                                  Election and Term of Office .  The officers of the Corporation shall be elected or appointed from time to time by the Board.  Each officer shall hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected or appointed and shall have qualified or until his death or until he shall resign, but any officer may be removed from office at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board or, except in the case of an officer or agent elected by the Board, by the Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer.  Such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights, if any, of the person so removed.  No elected officer shall have any contractual rights against the Corporation for compensation by virtue of such election beyond the date of the election of his successor, his death, his resignation or his removal, whichever event shall first occur, except as otherwise provided in an employment contract or under an employee deferred compensation plan.

 

Section 5.3.                                  Chairman of the Board .  The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board.  The Chairman of the Board shall be responsible for the general management of the affairs of the Corporation and shall perform all duties incidental to his office that may be required by law and all such other duties as are properly required of him by the Board.  He shall make reports to the Board and the stockholders, and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board and of any committee thereof are carried into effect.  The Chairman of the Board may also serve as Chief Executive Officer, if so elected by the Board.

 

Section 5.4.                                  Chief Executive Officer .  The Chief Executive Officer shall act in a general executive capacity and shall assist the Chairman of the Board in the administration and operation of the Corporation’s business and general supervision of its policies and affairs.  If the Chief Executive Officer is also a member of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall, in the absence of or because of the inability to act of the Chairman of the Board, perform all duties of the Chairman of the Board and preside at all meetings of stockholders and of the Board.  The Chief Executive Officer shall have the authority to sign, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, checks, orders, contracts, leases, notes, drafts and all other documents and instruments in connection with the business of the Corporation.

 

Section 5.5.                                  Chief Financial Officer . The Chief Financial Officer shall act in an executive financial capacity. He shall assist the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer in the general supervision of the Corporation’s financial policies and affairs.

 

Section 5.6.                                  President .  The President, if any, shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him by the Board.

 

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Section 5.7.                                  Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents .  Each Senior Vice President and Vice President, if any, shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him by the Board.

 

Section 5.8.                                  Treasurer .  The Treasurer, if any, shall exercise general supervision over the receipt, custody and disbursement of corporate funds.  The Treasurer shall cause the funds of the Corporation to be deposited in such banks as may be authorized by the Board, or in such banks as may be designated as depositaries in the manner provided by resolution of the Board.  He shall have such further powers and duties and shall be subject to such directions as may be granted or imposed upon him from time to time by the Board, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 5.9.                                  Secretary .  The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept in one or more books provided for that purpose, the minutes of all meetings of the Board, the committees of the Board and the stockholders; he shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws and as required by applicable law; he shall be custodian of the records and the seal of the Corporation and affix and attest the seal to all stock certificates of the Corporation (unless the seal of the Corporation on such certificates shall be a facsimile, as hereinafter provided) and affix and attest the seal to all other documents to be executed on behalf of the Corporation under its seal; and he shall see that the books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by law to be kept and filed are properly kept and filed; and in general, he shall perform all the duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 5.10.                           Vacancies .  A newly created elected office and a vacancy in any elected office because of death, resignation, or removal may be filled by the Board or any committee thereof for the unexpired portion of the term at any meeting of the Board or any committee thereof.  Any vacancy in an office appointed by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer because of death, resignation, or removal may be filled by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

Section 5.11.                           Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations .  Unless otherwise directed by the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of security holders of or with respect to any action of security holders of any other corporation or entity in which the Corporation may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers that the Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation.

 

ARTICLE VI
STOCK CERTIFICATES AND TRANSFERS

 

Section 6.1.                                  Uncertificated Shares and Transfers .  The shares of the Corporation shall be uncertificated, provided that the Corporation shall be permitted to issue such nominal number of certificates to securities depositories and further provided that the Board may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the Corporation’s stock

 

17



 

shall be represented by certificates. The shares of the stock of the Corporation shall be transferred on the books of the Corporation, which may be maintained by a third party registrar or transfer agent, by the holder thereof in person or by his attorney, upon surrender for cancellation of certificates for at least the same number of shares, with an assignment and power of transfer endorsed thereon or attached thereto, duly executed, with such proof of the authenticity of the signature as the Corporation or its agents may reasonably require or upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered holder of uncertificated shares and upon compliance with appropriate procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form.

 

Each certificated share of stock shall be signed, countersigned and registered in such manner as the Board may by resolution prescribe, which resolution may permit all or any of the signatures on such certificates to be in facsimile.  In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

 

Section 6.2.                                  Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates .  If at any time shares of the Corporation’s stock are represented by certificates, no certificate for shares or uncertificated shares of stock in the Corporation shall be issued in place of any certificate alleged to have been lost, destroyed or stolen, except on production of such evidence of such loss, destruction or theft and on delivery to the Corporation of a bond of indemnity in such amount, upon such terms and secured by such surety, as the Board or any financial officer may in its or his discretion require.

 

Section 6.3.                                  Ownership of Shares .  The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares of stock of the Corporation as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

Section 6.4.                                  Regulations Regarding Certificates .  If at any time shares of the Corporation’s stock are represented by certificates, the Board shall have the power and authority to make all such rules and regulations as they may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration or the replacement of such certificates. The Corporation may enter into additional agreements with stockholders to restrict the transfer of stock of the Corporation in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL.

 

ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

Section 7.1.                                  Fiscal Year .  The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day of January and end on the thirty-first day of December of each year.

 

Section 7.2.                                  Dividends .  Except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board may from time to time declare, and the Corporation may pay, dividends on its outstanding shares of stock, which dividends may be paid in either cash, property or shares of stock of the Corporation.  A member of the Board, or a member of any committee designated

 

18



 

by the Board, shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board, or by any other person as to matters the director 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 Corporation, as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities or net profits of the Corporation, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of surplus or other funds from which dividends might properly be declared and paid.

 

Section 7.3.                                  Seal .  The seal of the Corporation shall be in such form as the Board may adopt.

 

Section 7.4.                                  Waiver of Notice .  Whenever any notice is required to be given to any stockholder or director of the Corporation under the provisions of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, including by electronic transmission, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.  Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual or special meeting of the stockholders or the Board or committee thereof need be specified in any waiver of notice of such meeting.  Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

Section 7.5.                                  Resignations .  Any director or any officer, whether elected or appointed, may resign at any time by giving written notice, including by electronic transmission, of such resignation to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary, and such resignation shall be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the date said notice is received by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary, or at such earlier or later time as is specified therein.  No formal action shall be required of the Board or the stockholders to make any such resignation effective.

 

Section 7.6.                                  Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses .

 

(a)                                  The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “ proceeding ”) by reason of the fact that he, or a person for whom he is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, trustee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (a “ Covered Person ”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee, trustee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee, trustee or agent, against all expenses, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and

 

19



 

penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Covered Person in connection with such proceeding.

 

(b)                                  The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a Covered Person in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that to the extent required by applicable law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Covered Person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 7.6 or otherwise.

 

(c)                                   The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses under this Section 7.6 shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to a Covered Person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee, trustee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his heirs, executors and administrators.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6 , except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, the Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to a Covered Person in connection with a  proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Covered Person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.

 

(d)                                  If a claim for indemnification under this Section 7.6 (following the final disposition of such proceeding) is not paid in full within sixty days after the Corporation has received a claim therefor by the Covered Person, or if a claim for any advancement of expenses under this Section 7.6 is not paid in full within thirty days after the Corporation has received a statement or statements requesting such amounts to be advanced, the Covered Person shall thereupon (but not before) be entitled to file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim.  If successful in whole or in part, the Covered Person shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.  In any suit brought by the Covered Person to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Section 7.6 or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

 

(e)                                   The rights conferred on any Covered Person by this Section 7.6 shall not be exclusive of any other rights that such Covered Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, any agreement or vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

(f)                                    This Section 7.6 shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner permitted by applicable law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Covered Persons when and as authorized by appropriate corporate action.

 

(g)                                   Any Covered Person entitled to indemnification and/or advancement of expenses, in each case pursuant to this Section 7.6 , may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and/or insurance provided by one or more persons with whom or which such

 

20



 

Covered Person may be associated.  The Corporation hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Corporation shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any proceeding, expense, liability or matter that is the subject of this Section 7.6 , (ii) the Corporation shall be primarily liable for all such obligations and any indemnification afforded to a Covered Person in respect of a proceeding, expense, liability or matter that is the subject of this Section 7.6 , whether created by law, organizational or constituent documents, contract or otherwise, (iii) any obligation of any persons with whom or which a Covered Person may be associated to indemnify such Covered Person and/or advance expenses or liabilities to such Covered Person in respect of any proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Corporation hereunder, (iv) the Corporation shall be required to indemnify each Covered Person and advance expenses to each Covered Person hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights such Covered Person may have against any other person with whom or which such Covered Person may be associated or insurer of any such person, and (v) the Corporation irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other person with whom or which a Covered Person may be associated from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Corporation hereunder.

 

Section 7.7.                                  Notices .  Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or required by applicable law, all notices required to be given to any stockholder, director, officer, employee, trustee or agent shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by hand delivery to the recipient thereof, by depositing such notice in the mails, postage paid, or by sending such notice by commercial courier service, or by facsimile or other electronic transmission, provided that notice to stockholders by electronic transmission shall be given in the manner provided in Section 232 of the DGCL.  Any such notice shall be addressed to such stockholder, director, officer, employee, trustee or agent at his last known address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation.  Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively, notice to any stockholder shall be deemed given: (a) if by facsimile, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (b) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (c) if by posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (i) such posting and (ii) the giving of such separate notice; (d) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder; and (e) if by mail, when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.

 

Section 7.8.                                  Facsimile and Electronic Signatures .  In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile or electronic signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile or electronic signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board or a committee thereof.

 

Section 7.9.                                  Time Periods . In applying any provision of these Bylaws that require that an act be done or not done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.

 

Section 7.10.                           Reliance Upon Books, Reports and Records .  Each director, each member of any committee designated by the Board, and each officer of the Corporation shall, in the

 

21



 

performance of his duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees designated by the Board, or by any other person as to the matters the member 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 Corporation.

 

Section 7.11.                           Severability .  Whenever possible, each provision or portion of any provision of these Bylaws will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision or portion of any provision of these Bylaws is held to be invalid, illegal  or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such provision or portion of any provision shall be severable and the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or portion of any provision in such jurisdiction, and these Bylaws will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision or portion of any provision had never been contained herein.

 

Section 7.12.                           Forum for Adjudication of Disputes .  Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee, trustee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, or (d) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each such case subject to said Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein.  Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the federal district courts of the United States will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the federal securities laws of the United States. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 7.12 .

 

ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS

 

Section 8.1.                                  Amendments .  Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws may be amended, altered or repealed (a) by the Board by resolution adopted by a majority of the directors present at any special or regular meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present if, in the case of such special meeting only, notice of such amendment, alteration or repeal is contained in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting or (b) by the stockholders at any regular or special meeting of the stockholders upon the affirmative vote of at least 66 2 / 3 % of the voting power of the shares of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon if, in the case of such special meeting only, notice of such amendment, alteration or repeal is contained in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.  No Bylaws hereafter made

 

22



 

or adopted, nor any repeal of or amendment thereto, shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that was valid at the time it was taken.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment, alteration or repeal of Section 7.6 shall adversely affect any right or protection existing under these Bylaws immediately prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal, including any right or protection of a present or former director, officer or employee thereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the Nomination Agreements with the Sponsor Entities remain in effect, the Board shall not approve any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of these Bylaws, or the adoption of any new Bylaw, that would be contrary to or inconsistent with the then applicable terms of such Nomination Agreements without the prior written consent of Stone Point or KKR, as applicable.

 

 

Date of Adoption: July 30, 2018

 

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Exhibit 4.1

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

 

 


 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 


 

 

Dated July 30, 2018

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE I

 

 

DEFINITIONS

 

 

 

 

1.1

Certain Definitions

1

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

 

 

 

2.1

Shelf Registration Statement

5

2.2

Demand Registration Rights

6

2.3

Non-Private Equity Offerings and Company Primary Offerings

9

2.4

Registration Suspension

11

2.5

Holdback Agreement

12

2.6

Registration Procedures

13

2.7

Registration Expenses

17

2.8

Indemnification

18

2.9

Transfer of Registration Rights

21

2.10

Current Public Information

22

2.11

General Rules Applicable to Registration Statements

23

2.12

In-Kind Distributions

23

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

 

 

3.1

Notices

23

3.2

Counterparts

23

3.3

Assignment

23

3.4

Termination

24

3.5

Descriptive Headings

24

3.6

Specific Performance

24

3.7

Governing Law

24

3.8

Severability

24

3.9

Waiver of Jury Trial; Consent to Jurisdiction

24

3.10

Amendments; Entire Agreement

25

3.11

Merger or Consolidation

25

3.12

No Recourse

25

 

 

 

EXHIBITS

 

 

 

 

Exhibit A

Form of Joinder

A-1

 

i



 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of July 30, 2018, by and among Focus Financial Partners Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), Focus Financial Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Focus LLC ”), the members of Focus LLC listed on the schedule of Members maintained by Focus LLC from time to time (the “ Members ”) and the stockholders of the Company listed on the signature page hereof (collectively, the “ Stockholders ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Members are parties to the Fourth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Focus LLC, dated the date hereof (as amended from time to time, the “ Operating Agreement ”), establishing and setting forth, among other things, their agreement with respect to certain rights and obligations associated with ownership of Units, as defined in the Operating Agreement (the “ Units ”);

 

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the Company has completed an initial public offering of shares of its Class A Common Stock (the “ Initial Public Offering ”);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Initial Public Offering and the entry into the Operating Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is incorporated into, and forms an integral part of, the Operating Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants and obligations hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

1.1          Certain Definitions .  For the purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Adverse Disclosure ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.3 of this Agreement.

 

Affiliate ” of any particular Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person.

 

Affiliated Investor ” means, with respect to any Holder, (i) any investment fund or holding company that is directly or indirectly managed or advised by a manager or advisor of such Holder or any of its Affiliates and (ii) any of its Affiliates or any other Person who or which is otherwise an Affiliate of any such Holder (other than the Company and its subsidiaries).

 

Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

1



 

Blocker Merger Agreements ” means the Blocker Merger Agreements dated the date hereof, among the Company, certain of its subsidiaries, and the Members named therein.

 

Board of Directors ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday on which banks in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law to close.

 

Class A Common Stock ” means the Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

 

Class A Common Stock Equivalents ” means any rights, warrants, options, convertible securities or indebtedness, exchangeable securities or indebtedness, or other rights, exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into, directly or indirectly, Class A Common Stock and securities convertible or exchangeable into Class A Common Stock, whether at the time of issuance or upon the passage of time or the occurrence of such future event, including Units and the Class B Common Stock of the Company.

 

Company ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

Company Notice ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Company Primary Offering ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c)  of this Agreement.

 

Demand Notice ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.2(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Demand Offering ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.1(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Demand Request ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.1(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Effective Date ” means effective date of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 filed in connection with the Initial Public Offering.

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar federal statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.

 

Excluded Registration ” means a registration under the Securities Act of (i) securities registered on Form S-4 or S-8 or any similar successor forms and (ii) securities registered to effect the acquisition of, or combination with, another Person, other than in each case the registration and sale of securities by the Company in which it receives cash proceeds.

 

FINRA ” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

 

Focus LLC ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

2



 

Holder ” means any Member or Stockholder, including their Permitted Transferees, provided that a Person shall cease to be a Holder at the time such Person ceases to hold Registrable Shares.

 

Holder Affiliates ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Informed Holder ” means each Non-Private Equity Holder that has delivered written notice to the Company that such Non-Private Equity Holder wishes to receive each Demand Notice and each Company Notice, which written notice may be revoked by such Non-Private Equity Holder at any time by further written notice to the Company, with such revocation to be effective seven (7) days after receipt of such further notice.

 

Initial Public Offering ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

Inspectors ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(h)  of this Agreement.

 

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, relating to an offer of Registrable Shares.

 

Launch Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Lockup Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Majority Requesting Holders ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.2(d)  of this Agreement.

 

Material Adverse Effect ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.2(d)  of this Agreement.

 

Members ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

Non-Private Equity Holders ” shall mean Holders that are not Private Equity Holders.

 

“Non-Private Equity Offering” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).

 

Operating Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

Other Requesting Persons ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.2(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Permitted Transferee ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.9(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Person ” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

 

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“Piggyback Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a)  of this Agreement.

 

“Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section  2.3(c)  of this Agreement.

 

Primary Shares ” means shares of Class A Common Stock issued by the Company after the date hereof other than Synthetic Primary Shares.

 

Private Equity Holders ” shall mean Holders that are Private Equity Investors or their Affiliates or Permitted Transferees.

 

Private Equity Investors ” means Stone Point Capital LLC and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.

 

Prospectus ” means the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, all amendments and supplements to such prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement, and all other material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

 

Public Offering ” means an underwritten Public Offering and sale of Class A Common Stock pursuant to a registration statement, including a “bought” deal or “overnight” Public Offering.

 

Records ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(h)  of this Agreement.

 

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

 

Registrable Shares ” means (i) shares of Class A Common Stock issued to the Holders in connection with the Initial Public Offering, (ii) shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exchange of the Units held by the Holders at the closing of the Initial Public Offering, and (iii) shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exchange of Units issued after the Initial Public Offering and designated as Registrable Shares by the Company in connection with the issuance of such Units (subject to such limitations or qualifications as may be established in connection with issuance); provided, however , that Registrable Shares shall not include any shares of Class A Common Stock (A) that have been sold pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, (B) that have been sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, (C) that have been transferred to anyone other than a Permitted Transferee, or (D) that have ceased to be outstanding.

 

Registration Expenses ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.7 of this Agreement.

 

Registration Statement ” means a Shelf Registration Statement or a registration statement filed in order to effect a Demand Offering, a Non-Private Equity Offering or a Company Primary Offering.

 

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Registration Suspension ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4 of this Agreement.

 

Required Filing Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.2(c)  of this Agreement.

 

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act.

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any similar federal statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.

 

Shelf Eligibility Date ” means the date following completion of twelve (12) calendar months after the Effective Date, whether or not on such date the Company becomes eligible to utilize Form S-3 to sell shares in a secondary offering on a delayed or continuous basis in accordance with Rule 415 under the Securities Act.

 

Shelf Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Shelf Registration Statement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Shelf Resale ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c)  of this Agreement.

 

Standing Instructions shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(d)  of this Agreement.

 

Standing Instructions Holders ” means, at any time, the Non-Private Equity Holders who have given the Company Standing Instructions.

 

Stockholders ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

Synthetic Primary Shares ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.2(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Units ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE II

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

2.1          Shelf Registration Statement .

 

(a)           As promptly as practicable following the Shelf Eligibility Date, the Company shall file with the SEC a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 or Form S-1 or a successor form (a “ Shelf Registration Statement ”) relating to the offer and sale on a delayed or continuous basis in accordance with Rule 415 under the Securities Act of all Registrable Shares by the Holders from time to time and shall use its reasonable best

 

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efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC as promptly as reasonably practicable.

 

(b)           The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep a Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act in order to permit the Prospectus forming a part thereof to be usable by Holders until the date as of which all Registrable Shares covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold thereunder or otherwise cease to be Registrable Shares (such period of effectiveness, the “ Shelf Period ”). The Company shall not be deemed to have used its reasonable best efforts to keep a Shelf Registration Statement effective during the Shelf Period if the Company voluntarily takes any action or omits to take any action that would result in Holders covered by a Shelf Registration Statement not being able to offer and sell any Registrable Shares pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement during the Shelf Period, unless such action or omission is (x) a Registration Suspension (as defined below) or (y) required by applicable law.

 

(c)           Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement and subject to any applicable transfer restrictions in the Operating Agreement, the Blocker Merger Agreements and applicable law, each Holder shall be entitled, at any time and from time to time when a Shelf Registration Statement is effective, to sell its Registrable Shares then registered pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (each, a “ Shelf Resale ”). Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.2 below, a Holder initiating a Shelf Resale shall not be required to permit the offer and sale of Registrable Shares by any other Holders in connection with any such Shelf Resale.

 

(d)           The Company shall from time to time solicit from each Non-Private Equity Holder written instructions to include in any Demand Offering or Non-Private Equity Offering after the Shelf Eligibility Date a specified number of Registrable Shares so long as the price to the public per share of Class A Common Stock in such Demand Offering or Non-Private Equity Offering equals or exceeds one or more minimum prices specified by the Company (the “Standing Instructions” ).  Each Non-Private Equity Holder who provided Standing Instructions may revoke or modify them by further written notice to the Company, which revocation or modification shall become effective seven (7) days after receipt of such further notice.

 

2.2          Demand Registration Rights .

 

2.2.1       Demand Requests .

 

(a)           Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2.2 , at any time on or after the 180 th  day following the Effective Date, any one or more of the Private Equity Holders may request the Company in writing (a “ Demand Request ”) to sell all or any portion of its or their Registrable Shares in a Public Offering (each, a “ Demand Offering ”); provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be obligated under this Section 2.2 to effect more than one (1) Demand Offering on Form S-1 or a successor form in any 90-day period or more than three (3) Demand Offerings in any 12-month period commencing on the Effective Date and any anniversary thereof. Notwithstanding

 

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the foregoing, no Demand Request will be effective hereunder unless the net proceeds (net of underwriting fees and commissions) to the Private Equity Holders from the sale of the Registrable Shares included in such request are reasonably expected to exceed $50,000,000 or such request includes all Registrable Shares owned by the requesting Private Equity Holders at such time.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Demand Offering shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of this Section 2.2.1 if the Registration Statement relating thereto (i) does not become effective, (ii) is not maintained effective for 90 days (or such shorter period as shall terminate when all Registrable Shares covered by such Registration Statement have been sold) or (iii) the Demand Offering pursuant to such Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or other governmental agency or court. The Company shall bear and pay all Registration Expenses (as provided in Section 2.7 ); provided, however, that in the event the Private Equity Holders revoke a Demand Offering (which revocation may only be made prior to the Company requesting acceleration of effectiveness of the relevant Registration Statement or, in the case of a shelf takedown, prior to the signing of an underwriting agreement or similar agreement) and the Company has incurred Registration Expenses and not been reimbursed by such Private Equity Holders, then such Demand Offering shall count as having been effected for purposes of this Section 2.2.1 .

 

(c)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, if 20% or more of the Registrable Shares included in a Demand Request are excluded from the Demand Offering pursuant to Section 2.2.2(d)  below, then the Private Equity Holders shall have the right, with respect to such exclusion, to request one additional Demand Offering during the relevant 12-month period.

 

2.2.2       General Procedures .

 

(a)           Each Demand Request shall specify: (i) the number of Registrable Shares proposed to be sold and (ii) the intended method of disposition, to the extent then known.

 

(b)           Upon receipt of any Demand Request, the Company shall promptly (but in any event within the shorter of (i) five (5) days and (ii) the number of days from the Demand Request to the date of such Demand Offering) give written notice (the “ Demand Notice ”) of such proposed Demand Offering to the other Private Equity Holders and, subject to the proviso, all Informed Holders; provided, however, the Company shall not provide any Demand Notice to any Non-Private Equity Holder who is not an Informed Holder and shall not be obligated to, but may use its discretion after consultation with the Private Equity Holders requesting such Demand Offering, to provide a Demand Notice to Informed Holders in connection with a Demand Offering that is a “bought deal” or an “overnight” Public Offering pursuant to an effective Shelf Registration Statement; provided that the delivery of such Demand Notice will not delay the proposed Demand Offering. Each other Private Equity Holder and Informed Holder that receives a Demand Notice shall have the right, exercisable by written notice to the

 

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Company within such period of time specified by the Company in such Demand Notice (but not to exceed five (5) days), to irrevocably elect to include in such Demand Offering such portion of its Registrable Shares as it may request (each such electing Informed Holder, an “ Other Requesting Persons ”).  Each Other Requesting Person may condition the inclusion of any Registrable Shares or any specified number of Registrable Shares in such Demand Offering on the price to the public per share of Class A Common Stock in such Demand Offering being equal to or exceeding one or more minimum prices specified by the Company in such Demand Notice.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the immediately preceding paragraph, if Standing Instructions provide for Registrable Shares held by Standing Instructions Holders to be included in the Demand Offering, and the Demand Offering requested pursuant to this Section 2.2.2(b)  is a “bought deal” or an “overnight” Public Offering pursuant to an effective Shelf Registration Statement after the Shelf Eligibility Date, the Company shall (absent other instructions by any Standing Instructions Holder) include in such Demand Offering shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued and sold by the Company for its own account (the “ Synthetic Primary Shares ”) and use the proceeds to the Company from such Demand Offering solely to purchase outstanding Units pursuant to such Standing Instructions and pay related fees and expenses. In such event, such Standing Instructions Holders shall not be included in a Demand Offering for a “bought deal” or an “overnight” Public Offering. In addition, no Non-Private Equity Holders shall be included in a Demand Offering for a ‘bought deal” or an “overnight” Public Offering unless the Company has delivered a Demand Notice to it and such Non-Private Equity Holder elects to be included in accordance with the terms of the immediately preceding paragraph.

 

(c)           Subject to Section 2.2.3 , if a Shelf Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the SEC, upon receipt of any Demand Request, the Company shall (i) use its reasonable best efforts to file a Registration Statement as soon as reasonably practicable and in no event later than sixty (60) days in the case of a Registration Statement on Form S-1 and twenty (20) days in the case of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or, in each case, any successor form) after receiving such Demand Request (the “ Required Filing Date ”) and (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC as promptly as reasonably practicable.

 

(d)           The Holders of a majority of the Registrable Shares included in the Demand Request (the “ Majority Requesting Holders ”) shall have the right to select the investment banking firm or firms to manage the Demand Offering (which firms shall be represented by counsel designated by the Company), provided, that such selection shall be subject to the consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. If such firm or firms advise the Company and the Majority Requesting Holders that the inclusion of all Registrable Shares and Synthetic Primary Shares requested to be included in the Demand Offering would materially and adversely affect the price or success of the offering (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”), the Company shall include in such Demand Offering the number of Registrable Shares and Synthetic Primary Shares which can be so sold without causing a Material Adverse Effect pro rata among the Holders

 

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who delivered the Demand Request, the Other Requesting Persons and the Company on the basis of the number of Registrable Shares owned by each such Holder as of the date of this Agreement or joinder, as applicable (plus any additional Registrable Shares acquired thereafter) and, in the case of the Synthetic Primary Shares, the number of Registrable Shares owned by the Standing Instructions Holders as of the date of this Agreement or joinder, as applicable (plus any additional Registrable Shares acquired thereafter).

 

2.2.3       Deferral of Filing. If a Demand Request is received and there is not an effective Shelf Registration Statement on file with the SEC, the Company may, upon prior written notice to the Holders, defer (but not more than once in any 12-month period) the filing (but not the preparation) of the Registration Statement for the Demand Offering for a reasonable period of time not to exceed 60 days after the Required Filing Date (or, if longer, 60 days after the filing date of the registration statement contemplated by clause (ii)  below) if (i) at the time the Company receives the Demand Request, the Company or any of its subsidiaries is engaged in confidential negotiations or other confidential business activities, disclosure of which would be required in connection with such Registration Statement (but would not be required if such Registration Statement were not filed), and the Board of Directors determines in good faith that such disclosure would be materially detrimental to the Company and its stockholders (an “ Adverse Disclosure ”), or (ii) prior to receiving the Demand Request, the Board of Directors had determined to effect a Company Primary Offering pursuant to Section 2.3 , and the Company had taken substantial steps (including, without limitation, selecting a managing underwriter for such offering) and is proceeding with reasonable diligence to effect such offering. A deferral of the filing of a Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 2.2.3 shall be lifted, and the Registration Statement shall be filed promptly, if, in the case of a deferral pursuant to clause (i)  of the preceding sentence, the negotiations or other activities are disclosed or terminated, or, in the case of a deferral pursuant to clause (ii)  of the preceding sentence, the proposed Company Primary Offering is completed or abandoned. In order to defer the filing of a Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 2.2.3 , the Company shall promptly (but in any event within five (5) days), upon determining to seek such deferral, deliver to each Holder requesting inclusion of Registrable Shares in the Demand Offering a certificate signed by an executive officer of the Company stating that the Company is deferring such filing pursuant to this Section 2.2.3 and an approximation of the anticipated delay. On the 20 th  day after the Private Equity Holders have received such certificate, the Demand Request shall be deemed withdrawn automatically unless, prior to such 20 th  day, the Private Equity Holders deliver to the Company a written notice to the effect that they do not want the Demand Request to be withdrawn.

 

2.3          Non-Private Equity Offerings and Company Primary Offerings .

 

(a)           Once per twelve-month period commencing on the Effective Date and any anniversary thereof, the Company may initiate a Public Offering for the benefit of the Non-Private Equity Holders (a “ Non-Private Equity Offering ”).  The Company may include in such Non-Private Equity Offering Synthetic Primary Shares and shall use the proceeds from the sale of such Synthetic Primary Shares to purchase outstanding Units from Standing Instructions Holders.  In addition, the Company may give written notice (the “ Company Notice ”) of such proposed Non-Private Equity Offering to all or some Informed Holders (whether or not they have provided Standing Instructions), who

 

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shall have the right, exercisable by written notice to the Company within five (5) days of such notice (or a shorter period specified by the Company in any Company Notice delivered in connection with a “bought deal” or an “overnight” Public Offering), to elect to include in such Non-Private Equity Offering such portion of their Registrable Shares as they may request (which such request shall supersede any outstanding Standing Instructions). The Company shall not provide any Company Notice to any Holder who is not an Informed Holder. The Company shall also deliver a Company Notice of such proposed Non-Private Equity Offering to all Private Equity Holders, who shall have the right, exercisable by written notice to the Company within five (5) days of such notice (or a shorter period specified by the Company in any Company Notice delivered in connection with a “bought deal” or an “overnight” Public Offering), to elect to include in such Non-Private Equity Offering such portion of their Registrable Shares as they may request.  Each Non-Private Equity Holder and each Private Equity Holder may condition the inclusion of any Registrable Shares or any specified number of Registrable Shares in such Non-Private Equity Offering on the price to the public per share of Class A Common Stock in such Non-Private Equity Offering being equal to or exceeding one or more minimum prices specified by the Company in such Company Notice. Subject to Section 2.3(b)  below, the Company shall include in such Non-Private Equity Offering all such Registrable Shares so requested to be included therein; provided, however , that the Company may at any time, in its sole discretion, withdraw or cease proceeding with any such Non-Private Equity Offering.

 

(b)           If, in connection with a Non-Private Equity Offering, the managing underwriter advises the Company that the inclusion of all Synthetic Primary Shares and Registrable Shares requested to be included would cause a Material Adverse Effect, the Company shall include in such Non-Private Equity Offering the number of Synthetic Primary Shares and Registrable Shares which can be so sold without causing a Material Adverse Effect pro rata among the Holders who requested to be included in such Non-Private Equity Offering and the Company on the basis of the number of Registrable Shares owned by such Holders as of the date of this Agreement or joinder, as applicable, (plus any additional Registrable Shares acquired thereafter) and, in the case of the Synthetic Primary Shares, the number of Registrable Shares owned by the Standing Instructions Holders as of the date of this Agreement or joinder, as applicable (plus any additional Registrable Shares acquired thereafter).

 

(c)           Except with respect to a Demand Offering, the procedures for which are addressed in Section 2.2 , or a Non-Private Equity Offering, the procedures for which are addressed in Section 2.3(a) , if the Company proposes to do a Public Offering of Primary Shares (other than (i) the Initial Public Offering or (ii) an Excluded Registration) (a Company Primary Offering ) and to include in such Company Primary Offering Registrable Shares of any Holder or any Synthetic Primary Shares, then, each such time after the Initial Public Offering, the Company shall give prompt written notice of such Company Public Offering (no later than ten (10) days prior to the filing of the Registration Statement for such Company Primary Offering or, if such Company Primary Offering is pursuant to an effective Shelf Registration Statement, no later than two (2) Business Days prior to the launch of such Company Primary Offering (in each case, a “ Piggyback Notice ”)) to all of the Holders of Registrable Shares; provided, however , that

 

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the Company is permitted to withhold such Piggyback Notice solely in connection with one Company Primary Offering per twelve-month period. The Piggyback Notice shall offer such Holders the opportunity to include (or cause to be included) in such Company Primary Offering the number of Registrable Shares as each such Holder may request (a “ Piggyback Registration ”).  Subject to Section 2.3(d)  hereof, the Company shall include in each such Company Primary Offering all Registrable Shares with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within five (5) days of such Piggyback Notice (or shorter as specified by the Company in the Piggyback Notice).  The Holders of Registrable Shares shall be permitted to withdraw all or part of the Registrable Shares from a Piggyback Registration at any time at least two (2) Business Days prior to the effective date or launch date, as applicable, of such Piggyback Registration. The Company shall not be required to maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement for a Piggyback Registration beyond the earlier to occur of (i) one hundred an eighty (180) days after the effective date thereof and (ii) consummation of the distribution by the holders of the applicable Registrable Shares included in such Registration Statement.

 

If any time after giving such Piggyback Notice and prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement filed in connection with such registration, or the launch date of the Company Primary Offering if pursuant to an effective Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall determine for any reason not to register and sell the securities originally intended to be included in such registration, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to the Holders and thereupon the Company shall be relieved of its obligation to register and sell such Registrable Shares in connection with the registration and sale of securities originally intended to be included in such registration.

 

(d)           If, in connection with a Company Primary Offering, the managing underwriter advises the Company that the inclusion of all Primary Shares, Synthetic Primary Shares and Registrable Shares requested to be included would cause a Material Adverse Effect, the Company shall include in such Company Primary Offering the number of Primary Shares, Synthetic Primary Shares and other Registrable Shares which can be so sold without causing a Material Adverse Effect in the following order of priority: first , the Primary Shares, and second , Registrable Shares and Synthetic Primary Shares proposed to be included in the Company Primary Offering pro rata on the basis of the number of Registrable Shares owned by Holders who requested to be included in such Company Primary Offering as of the date of this Agreement or joinder, as applicable, (plus any additional Registrable Shares acquired thereafter) and in the case of Synthetic Primary Shares, the number of Registrable Shares owned by the Standing Instructions Holders as of the date of this Agreement or joinder, as applicable (plus any additional Registrable Shares acquired thereafter).

 

2.4          Registration Suspension . If the continued use of any Registration Statement filed and declared effective pursuant to this Agreement and which registers Registrable Shares at any time would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure, the Company may, upon giving written notice of such action to the Holders of Registrable Shares covered by such Registration Statement, suspend all such Holders’ ability to use such Registration Statement or otherwise make purchases of the Company’s securities for a reasonable period of time not in

 

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excess of forty-five (45) days and not more than twice in any twelve (12) month period (a “ Registration Suspension ”). Each such Holder shall keep confidential the fact that a Registration Suspension is in effect, the notice referred to above and its contents and the reason therefor unless and until otherwise notified by the Company, except (i) for disclosure to such Holder’s employees, agents and professional advisers who reasonably need to know such information for purposes of assisting the Holder with respect to its investment in the Company and agree to keep it confidential, (ii) for disclosures to the extent required in order to comply with reporting obligations to its limited partners or other direct or indirect investors who have agreed to keep such information confidential, (iii) if and to the extent such matters are publicly disclosed and (iv) as required by law, rule or regulation or legal process.  In the case of a Registration Suspension, upon receipt of such written notice, the Holders of Registrable Shares covered by the applicable Registration Statement agree to suspend use of the applicable Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in connection with any sale or purchase of, or offer to sell or purchase, Registrable Shares, upon delivery of the notice referred to above. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders of Registrable Shares covered by the applicable Registration Statement upon the termination of any Registration Suspension, otherwise amend or supplement the applicable Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if necessary, so it does not contain any untrue statement or omission and furnish to the Holders of Registrable Shares covered by the applicable Registration Statement such numbers of copies of the applicable Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as so amended or supplemented as the Holders may reasonably request.  The Company shall, if necessary, supplement or make amendments to the applicable Registration Statements as may reasonably be requested by a Holder of Registrable Shares covered by such Registration Statement.

 

2.5          Holdback Agreement .

 

(a)           In connection with any Demand Offering, the Company shall not effect any public sale of any shares of Class A Common Stock or Class A Common Stock Equivalents during the ten (10) Business Days, or such shorter period beginning with delivery of a Demand Notice or Company Notice, as applicable, prior to the anticipated date such Public Offering is expected to be launched (the “ Launch Date ”) and during such time period after the pricing of such Demand Offering (not to exceed 90 days or sixty (60) days after the first Demand Offering) as the Company and the managing underwriter may agree, in each case except as part of such Demand Offering, pursuant to an Excluded Registration or as otherwise agreed between the Company and the managing underwriter for such Demand Offering.

 

(b)           In connection with any Demand Offering, Non-Private Equity Offering or any Company Primary Offering, each Holder that participates in such Public Offering (including pursuant to Standing Instructions), shall not effect (subject to any exceptions the managing underwriter may agree) any public sale or private offer or distribution of any shares of Class A Common Stock or Class A Common Stock Equivalents during the ten (10) Business Days, or such shorter period beginning with delivery of a Demand Notice, Company Notice or Piggyback Notice, as applicable, or a notice by the Company to the Informed Holders or Standing Instructions Holders informing them of such Public Offering, prior to the anticipated Launch Date for any Public Offering and during such time period after the pricing of such Public Offering (not

 

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to exceed ninety (90) days (or sixty (60) days after the first Demand Offering)) (except as part of such Public Offering) as the managing underwriter may agree (the “ Lockup Period ”). Each Holder shall receive the benefit of any shorter Lockup Period or permitted exceptions (on a pro rata basis) agreed to by the managing underwriter for any Public Offering pursuant to this Agreement; provided, that nothing herein will prevent any Holder that is a limited liability company, partnership or corporation from making a distribution of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class A Common Stock Equivalents to the members, partners or stockholders thereof or a transfer to an Affiliate that is otherwise in compliance with the applicable securities laws, so long as such distributees or transferees agree to be bound by the restrictions set forth in this Section 2.5 (subject to any exceptions the managing underwriter may agree). Each such Holder agrees to execute a lock-up agreement in favor of the underwriters to such effect and, in any event, that the underwriters in any relevant Public Offering shall be third-party beneficiaries of this Section 2.5 .

 

(c)           Any discretionary waiver or termination of the requirements under the foregoing provisions made by the managing underwriter shall apply to each Holder on a pro rata basis in accordance with the number of Registrable Shares owned by each such Holder.

 

(d)           The obligations of any person under this Section 2.5 are not in limitation of holdback or transfer restrictions that may otherwise apply by virtue of any other agreement or undertaking.

 

2.6          Registration Procedures . In connection with the Company’s obligations hereunder and subject to the applicable terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company shall as promptly as reasonably practicable:

 

(a)           prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on any appropriate form under the Securities Act with respect to such Registrable Shares and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective by the SEC as promptly as reasonably practicable; and to remain continuously effective; provided, however, that before filing a Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto (including documents that would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall furnish or otherwise make available to the Private Equity Holders of the Registrable Shares covered by such Registration Statement, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the reasonable review and comment of such counsel and such other documents reasonably requested by such counsel, including any comment letter from the SEC, and, if requested by such counsel, provide such counsel reasonable opportunity to participate in the preparation of such Registration Statement and each Prospectus included therein and such other opportunities to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act, including reasonable access to the Company’s books and records, officers, accountants and other advisors.  The Company shall not file any such Registration Statement (including a Shelf Registration Statement), Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto (including such

 

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document that, upon filing, would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) with respect to a Demand Offering to which a Private Equity Holder covered by such Registration Statement, their counsel, or the managing underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object, in writing, on a timely basis, unless, in the opinion of the Company, such filing is necessary to comply with applicable law.

 

(b)           prepare and file with the SEC such pre- and post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement and supplements to such Registration Statement and the Prospectus and such amendments or supplements to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as may be necessary to comply with the Securities Act or as necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the period of time required by this Agreement, and comply with provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Shares covered by such Registration Statement during such period in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in such Registration Statement;

 

(c)           furnish to each Holder of Registrable Shares covered by a Registration Statement and, in the event of a Public Offering, the underwriters of the securities being offered such number of copies of such Registration Statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), any documents incorporated by reference therein and such other documents as such Holder or underwriters may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Shares owned by such Holder or the sale of such securities by such underwriters (it being understood that, subject to Section 2.4 and the requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, the Company consents to the use of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each Holder and the underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Shares covered by the Registration Statement of which such Prospectus, amendment or supplement is a part); provided, however, that any such document available on the SEC’s EDGAR database shall satisfy any such obligation;

 

(d)           if applicable, use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Shares under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as each Holder or, in the case of a Public Offering, the managing underwriter reasonably requests; use its reasonable best efforts to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period in which such Registration Statement is required to be kept effective; and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each Holder to consummate the disposition of the Registrable Shares owned by such Holder in such jurisdictions ( provided, however , that the Company will not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it or its subsidiaries would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this subparagraph or (ii) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction);

 

(e)           promptly notify each Holder of Registrable Shares covered by a Registration Statement and, in the case of a Public Offering, each underwriter (i) when a Prospectus or any prospectus supplement or amendment has been filed and, with respect

 

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to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (ii) of the issuance by any state securities or other regulatory authority of any order suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Shares under state securities or “blue sky” laws or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iii) of any request by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or related Prospectus or for additional information, (iv) if at any time the Company has reason to believe that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any agreement (including any underwriting agreement) contemplated by Section 2.6(o)  below cease to be true and correct, and (v) of the happening of any event which makes any statement made in a Registration Statement or related Prospectus untrue or which requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement, Prospectus or documents incorporated therein by reference so that they 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 not misleading, and, as promptly as practicable thereafter, prepare and file with the SEC and furnish a supplement or amendment so that, as thereafter deliverable to the purchasers of such Registrable Shares, such Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

(f)            make generally available to the Company’s stockholders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 under the Securities Act;

 

(g)           in the case of a Public Offering, if requested by the managing underwriter or any Holder participating in such Public Offering, promptly incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the managing underwriter or any Holder reasonably requests to be included therein, including, without limitation, with respect to the Registrable Shares being sold by such Holder, the purchase price being paid therefor by the underwriters and with respect to any other terms of the underwritten offering of the Registrable Shares to be sold in such offering, and promptly make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

 

(h)           promptly make available for inspection by any Holder disposing of Registrable Shares pursuant to any Registration Statement, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to any Registration Statement, and any attorney, accountant or other agent or representative retained by any such Holder or underwriter (collectively, the “ Inspectors ”), all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the “ Records ”) as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector in connection with such Registration Statement; provided, however , that, unless the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in the Registration Statement or the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction, the Company shall not be required to provide any information under this subparagraph (h)  if (i) the Company

 

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believes, after consultation with counsel for the Company, that to do so would cause the Company to forfeit an attorney-client privilege that was applicable to such information or (ii) if either (A) the Company is in the process of requesting or 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 (B) the Company reasonably determines in good faith that such Records are confidential and so notifies the Inspectors in writing unless prior to furnishing any such information with respect to (i) or (ii) such Inspectors requesting such information agrees to enter into a confidentiality agreement in customary form and subject to customary exceptions; and provided, further , that each Inspector agrees that it will, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, give notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action and to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential;

 

(i)            in the case of a Public Offering, furnish to each Holder and underwriter participating in such Public Offering a signed counterpart of (A) an opinion or opinions of counsel to the Company and (B) a comfort letter or comfort letters from the Company’s independent public accountants and the independent public accountants who have audited any other financial statements (including with respect acquired businesses) included or incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, each in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by opinions or comfort letters, as the case may be, as the Holders or managing underwriter reasonably requests;

 

(j)            cause the Registrable Shares included in any Registration Statement to be (A) listed on each securities exchange, if any, on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or (B) authorized to be quoted and/or listed (to the extent applicable) on an automated quotation system if the Registrable Shares so qualify;

 

(k)           provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Shares registered hereunder and provide a CUSIP number for the Registrable Shares included in any Registration Statement not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

 

(l)            cause its officers to use their reasonable best efforts to support the marketing of the Registrable Shares covered by the Registration Statement (including participation in “road shows”) taking into account the Company’s business needs;

 

(m)          cooperate with counsel to the Holders and, in the case of a Public Offering, each underwriter participating in the disposition of such Registrable Shares in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA;

 

(n)           during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, promptly file all documents required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;

 

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(o)           in the case of a Public Offering, enter into such agreements (including underwriting agreements in the managing underwriter’s customary form) as are customary in connection with a Public Offering; and take all such other actions reasonably requested by the Holders of the Registrable Shares being sold in connection therewith (including those reasonably requested by the managing underwriters, if any) to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Shares, and in such connection whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or not the registration is an underwritten registration, (i) make such representations and warranties to the Holders of such Registrable Shares and the underwriters, if any, with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, 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 and (ii) if an underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall contain indemnification provisions and procedures substantially to the effect set forth in Section 8 hereof with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section; and

 

(p)           advise each Holder of Registrable Shares covered by a Registration Statement, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof of the issuance of any stop order by the SEC suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal at the earliest possible moment if such stop order should be issued.

 

2.7          Registration Expenses . All expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with this Article II including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, all fees and expenses associated with filings required to be made with FINRA (including, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” as such term is defined in Rule 5121 of FINRA regulations, and of its counsel), as may be required by the rules and regulations of FINRA, fees and expenses of compliance with securities or “blue sky” laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with “blue sky” qualifications of the Registrable Shares), rating agency fees, printing expenses (including expenses of printing Prospectuses if the printing of Prospectuses is requested by a Holder), “road show” expenses, messenger and delivery expenses, the Company’s internal expenses (including without limitation all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the fees and expenses incurred in connection with any listing of the Registrable Shares, fees and expenses of counsel for the Company and its independent certified public accountants (including the expenses of any special audit or “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance), fees and expenses of independent public accountants who have audited any other financial statements (including with respect acquired businesses) included or incorporated by reference into the Prospectus (including the expenses of any special audit or “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance), securities acts liability insurance (if the Company elects to obtain such insurance), the fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in connection with such registration, the fees and expenses of other persons retained by the Company and the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of one counsel for all Holders participating in a registration pursuant to this Agreement (the “ Registration Expenses ”) shall be borne by the Company whether or not any Registration

 

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Statement becomes effective or any sale is made in a Public Offering; provided, however , that in no event shall Registration Expenses include any underwriting discounts, commissions or fees attributable to the sale of the Registrable Shares or any accountants or other persons (except as set forth above) retained or employed by the Holders, which expenses shall be borne by the relevant Holders who retained or employed such Persons.

 

2.8          Indemnification . In the event any Registrable Shares are included in a Registration Statement under this Agreement:

 

(a)           The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each Holder, and each of its employees, advisors, agents, representatives, members, partners, officers and directors and each Person who controls (within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act) such Holder, and each of such controlling person’s employees, advisors, agents, representatives, members, partners, officers and directors (collectively, the “ Holder Affiliates ”) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, amounts paid in settlement and expenses, joint or several (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements except as limited by Section 2.8(c) ) based upon, arising out of, related to or resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, any filing made in connection with the qualification of the offering under the securities or other “blue sky” law of any jurisdiction in which Registrable Shares are offered, or any other offering document (including any related notification, or the like) incident to any such registration, qualification or compliance, or based on any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, or any violation by the Company of the Securities Act or of the Exchange Act, or any violation by the Company of this Agreement and will reimburse each such Holder and Holder Affiliate for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating, defending or settling any such loss, claim, damage, liability, costs, judgment, fine, penalty, charge or actions or proceedings; except insofar as any such statements or omissions are made in reliance upon and in strict conformity with information or affidavits furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder or any Holder Affiliate for use in such Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or amendment thereof or supplement thereto. The reimbursements required by this Section 2.8(a)  will be made by periodic payments during the course of the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or expenses incurred.

 

(b)           Each participating Holder will furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or amendment thereof or supplement thereto and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each such Holder will indemnify the Company and its directors and officers and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange

 

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Act) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, amounts paid in settlement and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements except as limited by Section 2.8(c) ) resulting from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, Prospectus, or any preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder or any of its Holder Affiliates specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or amendment thereof or supplement thereto; provided that the obligation to indemnify will be several, not joint and several, among such Holders, and the liability of each such Holder will be in proportion thereto and, provided, further , that such liability will be limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Shares (net of any underwriting discounts and commissions) pursuant to such Registration shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that prior to the filing of any such Registration Statement or Prospectus; provided, however , that such Holder shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that prior to the filing of any such Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or amendment thereof or supplement thereto, such Holder has furnished in writing to the Company information expressly for use in such Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or amendment thereof or supplement thereto which corrected or made not misleading information previously furnished to the Company.

 

(c)           Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder will (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give such notice shall not limit the rights of such Person except to the extent that the indemnifying party is materially prejudiced by such failure to give prompt notice) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided, however , that any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Person unless (x) the indemnifying party has agreed to pay such fees or expenses or (y) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Person. If such defense is not assumed by the indemnifying party as permitted hereunder, the indemnifying party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). If such defense is assumed by the indemnifying party pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, such indemnifying party shall not settle or otherwise compromise the applicable claim unless (i) such settlement or compromise contains a full and unconditional release of the indemnified party or (ii) the indemnified party otherwise consents in writing. An

 

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indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim will not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party, a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim, in which event the indemnifying party shall be obligated to pay the reasonable fees and disbursements of such additional counsel or counsels.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, an indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel at the indemnifying party’s expense to participate in the defense of a claim if the named parties to any such claim (including any impleaded parties) include both such indemnified party and the indemnifying party, and such indemnified party shall have been advised by outside counsel that there is an actual conflict of interest between the indemnifying party and indemnified party that would make it inappropriate in the reasonable judgment of such outside counsel for the same counsel to represent both the indemnified party and indemnifying party.

 

(d)           Each party hereto agrees that, if for any reason the indemnification provisions contemplated by Section 2.8(a)  or  2.8(b)  are unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, amounts paid in settlement or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each 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, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, amounts paid in settlement or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in connection with the actions which resulted in the losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, amounts paid in settlement or expenses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact 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 such action, statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 2.8(d)  were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders or any underwriters or all of them were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 2.8(d) . The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, judgment, fines, penalties, charges, amounts paid in settlement or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or, except as provided in Section 2.8(c)  defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 2.8(d) , no Holder shall be required to contribute an amount greater than the proceeds (net of any underwriting discounts and commissions) received by such Holder with respect to the sale of any Registrable Shares. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of

 

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the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders’ obligations in this Section 2.8(d)  to contribute shall be several and not joint in proportion to the amount of Registrable Shares registered by them.

 

(e)           If indemnification is available under this Section 2.8 , the indemnifying parties shall indemnify each indemnified party to the full extent provided in Section 2.8(a)  and  2.8(b)  of this Agreement without regard to the relative fault of said indemnifying party or indemnified party or any other equitable consideration provided for in this Section 2.8(d) .

 

(f)            The indemnification and contribution provided for under this Agreement will remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director, or controlling Person of such indemnified party and will survive the transfer of securities.

 

(g)           Any indemnified parties pursuant to this Agreement shall be third-party beneficiaries of this Section 8 .

 

(h)           The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 2.8 are in addition to any other liability that the indemnifying parties may otherwise have to the indemnified parties; provided that in no event shall any Holder of Registrable Shares be liable to any indemnified parties with respect to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or any preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto for any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds to the indemnifying party from the sale of the Registrable Shares sold in the transaction that resulted in any liability, 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 (including as a result of any indemnification or contribution obligation hereunder).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the underwritten public offering are in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the provision in the underwriting agreement shall control.

 

2.9          Transfer of Registration Rights .

 

(a)           The rights of each Holder under this Agreement may be assigned to (i) a transferee of Registrable Shares that constitute at least 1% of the Company’s or Focus LLC’s outstanding Class A Common Stock or Units, as the case may be; provided, however , (i) that any such transfer is permitted in accordance with the Operating Agreement and any other applicable documents, (ii) that any such transfer is not pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or a registration statement filed pursuant to this Agreement, and (iii) that the Company is given written notice by such Holder at or within a reasonable time after said transfer, stating the name and address of such transferee and identifying the Registrable Shares with respect to which such registration rights are being

 

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transferred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Holder may: (A) transfer rights to a transferee of Registrable Shares if such transferee is (i) an Affiliate or Affiliated Investor of any Holder or (ii) any family member or trust for the benefit of any individual Holder; and (B) transfer rights in connection with effecting in-kind or similar distributions of all or part of its Registrable Shares to its direct or indirect equityholders, managers, employees, agents or representatives. Any such transferee permitted by this Section 2.9(a)  (a “ Permitted Transferee ”) shall be required to execute the joinder agreement set forth in Exhibit A .

 

(b)           If the Company may at any time hereafter provide to any Person who is a holder of any securities of the Company or Focus LLC rights with respect to the registration of such securities under the Securities Act, such rights shall not be in conflict with or adversely affect any of the rights provided to the Holders in, or conflict (in a manner that adversely affects the Holders) with any other provisions included in, this Agreement; provided, however, that any rights which are the same as or equal to the rights provided in this Agreement will not be considered in conflict with or to adversely affect the rights of the Holders provided in this Agreement. To the extent the Company provides any right to others that are more favorable than those provided for herein, this Agreement shall be deemed to be automatically modified to ensure that such Holders will have the benefit of terms that are at least as favorable as those provided to such other Persons. The Company shall provide prompt notice to the Holders of any such modifications.

 

(c)           For the purposes of calculating any percentage of Class A Common Stock or Units, as the case may be, as contemplated by this Section 2.9 , the term “Holder” shall include all Affiliates thereof owning any Registrable Shares.

 

2.10        Current Public Information .

 

(a)           With a view to making available to the Holders the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC that may at any time permit the sale of securities to the public without registration, the Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to:

 

(i)            make and keep public information available, as those terms are defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, at all times from and after 90 days following the Effective Date;

 

(ii)           file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Exchange Act (at any time during which it is subject to such reporting requirements); and

 

(iii)          furnish to any Holder, so long as such Holder owns any Registrable Shares, upon the reasonable request by such Holder, (a) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 (at any time after 90 days after the Effective Date), and of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such

 

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reporting requirements), (b) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and (c) such other reports and documents of the Company and other information in the possession of or reasonably obtainable by the Company as a Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the SEC allowing a Holder to sell any such securities without registration, provided, however, that any such document requested pursuant to clauses (b) or (c) above and available on the SEC’s EDGAR database shall satisfy any such obligation under clause (b) or (c) above.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.10 , the Company may deregister under Section 12 of the Exchange Act if it is then permitted to do so pursuant to the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

2.11        General Rules Applicable to Registration Statements .  No Holder may participate in any Demand Offering, Non-Private Equity Offering or Company Primary Offering unless such Holder (x) agrees to sell such Holder’s Registrable Shares on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements described above and (y) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

2.12        In-Kind Distributions .  If any Holder seeks to effectuate an in-kind distribution of all or part of its Registrable Shares to its direct or indirect equityholders pursuant to Section 2.9(a), the Company will, subject to applicable lockups, work with such Holder and the Company’s transfer agent to facilitate such in-kind distribution in the manner reasonably requested by such Holder.

 

ARTICLE III

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

3.1          Notices .  All notices, elections, demands or other communications required or permitted to be made or given pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be considered as properly given or made on the date of actual delivery if given by (a) personal delivery, (b) expedited overnight delivery service with proof of delivery, (c) via facsimile with confirmation of delivery or (d) electronic mail, addressed to the respective addressee(s). All notices hereunder to the Company or Focus LLC shall be mailed to it at the respective address of its principal place of business and all notices to the Holders shall be mailed to them at their last known addresses as shown on the books and records of the Company. Any Holder may change its address by giving notice in writing to the other Holders of its new address.

 

3.2          Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original of this Agreement.

 

3.3          Assignment .  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and, subject to Section 2.9 their respective successors and assigns.

 

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3.4          Termination .  This Agreement shall terminate when no Registrable Shares remain outstanding; provided that Section 2.8 and Article III shall survive any termination hereof.

 

3.5          Descriptive Headings .  The descriptive headings of the several sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof. References herein to Sections are references to Sections of this Agreement, except as otherwise indicated.

 

3.6          Specific Performance .  The parties hereto recognize and agree that money damages may be insufficient to compensate the Holders for breaches by the Company of the terms hereof and, consequently, that the equitable remedy of specific performance of the terms hereof will be available in the event of any such breach, without posting a bond or other undertaking, and this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law or in equity.

 

3.7          Governing Law .  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT REGARD TO RULES OR PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW REQUIRING THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANOTHER STATE.

 

3.8          Severability .  If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other conditions 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 a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible within a reasonable period of time.

 

3.9          Waiver of Jury Trial; Consent to Jurisdiction .  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts located in the State of Delaware or the Delaware Court of Chancery for the purpose of adjudicating any dispute arising hereunder. Each party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court any objection to such jurisdiction, whether on the grounds of hardship, inconvenient forum or otherwise. Each party further agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail to such party’s address as provided pursuant to Section 3.1 shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or proceeding with respect to any matters to which it has submitted to jurisdiction in this Section 3.9 .

 

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3.10        Amendments; Entire Agreement .  Any amendment or waiver of, or any consent given under, any provision of this Agreement shall be in writing by the Company and each Private Equity Investor holding Registrable Shares; provided , that no amendment to this Agreement shall be effected if such amendment materially adversely affects a Holder or group of Holders in a manner that is disproportionate relative to the effect on any other Holder, unless such Holder or Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Shares of such group of Holders at the relevant time of determination consents thereto. Any waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be subject to the same approval requirements as an amendment in the event that such amendment would have the same effect as such waiver. This Agreement supersedes all prior discussions, memoranda of understanding, agreements and arrangements (whether written or oral, including all correspondence), if any, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and this Agreement contains the sole and entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

3.11        Merger or Consolidation .  In the event the Company engages in a merger or consolidation in which the Registrable Shares are converted into securities of another company, appropriate arrangements will be made so that the registration rights provided under this Agreement continue to be provided to the Holders by the issuer of such securities. To the extent such new issuer, or any other company acquired by the Company in a merger or consolidation, was bound by registration rights obligations that would conflict with the provisions of this Agreement, the Company will, unless the Holders then holding at least a majority of the Registrable Shares otherwise agree, use its reasonable best efforts to modify any such “inherited” registration rights obligations so as not to interfere in any material respects with the rights provided under this Agreement. To the extent any such modification of “inherited” registration rights disproportionately and adversely impacts any Holder hereunder, such modification shall not be effective as to such Holder without the consent of such Holder.

 

3.12        No Recourse .  This Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claims or cause of action that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement may only be made against the entities that are expressly identified as parties hereto, and no past, present or future Affiliate, director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, manager, partner, stockholder, agent, attorney or representative of any party hereto shall have any liability for any obligations or liabilities of the parties to this Agreement or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

3.13        Acknowledgment .  Each of the Private Equity Holders acknowledges and agrees to comply with the liquidity limitations and restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 3.11 of the Operating Agreement.

 

25



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, intending to be legally bound hereby, have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ruediger Adolf

 

 

 

Name:

Ruediger Adolf

 

 

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Focus Financial Partners Inc.,

 

 

 

its managing member

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ruediger Adolf

 

 

 

Name:

 Ruediger Adolf

 

 

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

SIGNATURE PAGES
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
IN CONNECTION WITH FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT
FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS, LLC

 



 

 

 

Stockholders

 

 

 

 

 

TRIDENT FFP LP

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Trident FFP GP LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

 

Name:

Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

 

Title:

Vice President & Assistant
Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRIDENT VI, L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Stone Point Capital LLC, its manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

 

Name:

Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

 

Title:

Principal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRIDENT VI PARALLEL FUND, L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Stone Point Capital LLC, its manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

 

Name:

Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

 

Title:

Principal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRIDENT VI DE PARALLEL FUND, L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Stone Point Capital LLC, its manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

 

Name:

Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

 

Title:

Principal

 

SIGNATURE PAGES
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
IN CONNECTION WITH FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT
FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS, LLC

 



 

 

 

KKR FREYA AGGREGATOR L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

KKR Freya Aggregator GP LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William J. Janetschek

 

 

 

 

Name:

William J. Janetschek

 

 

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KKR AMERICAS XII (FREYA) BLOCKER PARENT L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

KKR Associates Americas XII L.P., its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

KKR Americas XII Limited, its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William J. Janetschek

 

 

 

 

Name:

William J. Janetschek

 

 

 

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KKR AMERICAS XII EEA (FREYA) BLOCKER PARENT L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

KKR Associates Americas XII L.P., its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

KKR Americas XII Limited, its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William J. Janetschek

 

 

 

 

Name:

William J. Janetschek

 

 

 

 

Title:

Director

 

SIGNATURE PAGES
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
IN CONNECTION WITH FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT
FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS, LLC

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF JOINDER

 

THIS JOINDER (this “ Joinder ”) is made and entered into as of [ Ÿ ] by the undersigned (the “ New Holder ”) in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in that certain Registration Rights Agreement by and among Focus Financial Partners Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), Focus Financial Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Focus LLC ”) and the Holders party thereto, dated as of [ Ÿ ] 2018 (as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), for the benefit of, and for reliance upon by, the Company, Focus LLC and the Holders.

 

WHEREAS, New Holder has acquired certain Registrable Shares from [ Ÿ ] .

 

WHEREAS, the New Holder desires to exercise certain rights granted to it under the Registration Rights Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, the execution and delivery to the Company of this Joinder by the New Holder is a condition precedent to the New Holder’s exercise of any of its rights under the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties to this Joinder hereby agree as follows:

 

(a)           Agreement to be Bound . The New Holder hereby agrees that upon execution of this Joinder, it shall become a party to the Registration Rights Agreement and shall be fully bound by, and subject to, all of the covenants, terms and conditions of the Registration Rights Agreement as though an original party thereto and shall be deemed a Holder for all purposes thereof.

 

(b)           Successors and Assigns . Except as otherwise provided herein, this Joinder shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Company and its successors, heirs and assigns.

 

(c)           Notices . For purposes of notices pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, all notices, requests and demands to the New Holder shall be directed to:

 

[ Name ]
[ Address ]

 

(d)           Further Assurances . The New Holder agrees to perform any further acts and execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments that may be necessary or reasonably requested by the Company to carry out the provisions of this Joinder or the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

(e)           Descriptive Headings . The descriptive headings of this Joinder are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Joinder.

 

A- 1



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have executed this Joinder to the Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Focus Financial Partners Inc.

 

 

 

Its Managing Member

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NEW HOLDER]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

A- 2


Exhibit 4.2

 

NOMINATION AGREEMENT

 

This NOMINATION AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of July 30, 2018, is entered into by and between Focus Financial Partners Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and each of the stockholders of the Company whose name appears on the signature pages hereto (each a “ Principal Stockholder ,” and collectively, the “ Principal Stockholders ”).

 

WHEREAS , in connection with, and effective upon, the completion of the underwritten initial public offering (the “ IPO ”) of shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock (as defined below), the Principal Stockholders and the Company have entered into this Agreement to set forth certain understandings among such parties, including with respect to certain governance matters.

 

NOW , THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants 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
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1             Certain Definitions .  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any specified Person, a Person that directly or indirectly Controls or is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such specified Person. For purposes of this Agreement, no party to this Agreement shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of another party to this Agreement solely by reason of the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

Affiliated Investor ” means, with respect to any Principal Stockholder, (i) any investment fund or holding company that is directly or indirectly managed or advised by a manager or advisor of such Principal Stockholder and (ii) any of its Affiliates or any other Person who or which is otherwise an Affiliate of any such Principal Stockholder (other than the Company and its subsidiaries).

 

Beneficial Owner ” of a security is a Person who directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares (a) voting power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security and/or (b) 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. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Agreement, each of the Principal Stockholders is deemed to Beneficially Own the shares of Common Stock owned by it, notwithstanding the fact that such shares or other securities are subject to this Agreement.

 

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Class A Common Stock ” means the shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, and any other capital stock of the Company into which such stock is reclassified or reconstituted.

 

Class B Common Stock ” means the shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, and any other capital stock of the Company into which such stock is reclassified or reconstituted.

 

1



 

Common Stock ” means the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock, collectively.

 

Competitor means (a) (i) a national or global financial institution or insurance company or a regional bank that in each case derives at least 30% of its revenue from wealth management services (which, for the avoidance of doubt, excludes life insurance and annuities), (ii) an independent broker dealer, or (iii) a platform for or aggregator of registered investment adviser or broker-dealer teams, or (b) a holding company or acquisition vehicle of any entity described in clause (a) of this definition.

 

Control ” (including the terms “ Controls ,” “ Controlled by ” and “ under common Control with ”) 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 the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Initial Share Ownership ” means, with respect to the Principal Stockholders, the number of shares of Common Stock held by the Principal Stockholders as of the closing of the IPO.

 

Person ” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, any court, administrative agency, regulatory body, commission or other governmental authority, board, bureau or instrumentality, domestic or foreign and any subdivision thereof or other entity, and also includes any managed investment account.

 

Principal Stockholder Group ” means the Principal Stockholders and any of their respective Affiliates and Affiliated Investors and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

Stone Point Directors ” means the designees of the Principal Stockholders.

 

Section 1.2             Rules of Construction .

 

(a)           Unless the context requires otherwise:  (i) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms; (ii) references to Articles and Sections refer to articles and sections of this Agreement; (iii) the terms “include,” “includes,” “including” and words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (iv) the terms “hereof,” “hereto,” “herein” or “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (v) unless the context otherwise requires, the term “or” is not exclusive and shall have the inclusive meaning of “and/or”; (vi) defined terms herein will apply equally to both the singular and plural forms and derivative forms of defined terms will have correlative meanings; (vii) references to any law or statute shall include all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and references to any law or statute shall be construed as including any legal and statutory provisions consolidating, amending, succeeding or replacing the applicable law or statute; (viii) references to any Person include such Person’s successors and permitted assigns; and (ix) references to “days” are to calendar days unless otherwise indicated.

 

(b)           The headings in this Agreement are for convenience and identification only and are not intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope, extent or intent of this Agreement or any provision thereof.

 

(c)           This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or other rule requiring construction against the party that drafted or caused this Agreement to be drafted.

 

2



 

ARTICLE II
VOTING AND GOVERNANCE MATTERS

 

Section 2.1             Designees .

 

(a)           Upon the closing of the IPO, the Board shall initially consist of seven directors, including Ruediger Adolf, Rajini Sundar Kodialam, Fayez S. Muhtadie, Christopher J. Harrington, James D. Carey, Deborah D. McWhinney and Noah Gottdiener (the “ Initial Directors ”). The audit committee of the Board shall initially consist of three directors, including Fayez S. Muhtadie, Deborah D. McWhinney and Noah Gottdiener, the compensation committee of the Board shall initially consist of three directors, including Fayez S. Muhtadie, James D. Carey and Noah Gottdiener, and the nominating and governance committee of the Board shall initially consist of three directors, including Christopher J. Harrington, Fayez S. Muhtadie and Deborah D. McWhinney. Of the Initial Directors, Fayez S. Muhtadie and James D. Carey are each deemed to be Stone Point Directors. The Board will be divided into three classes serving staggered three-year terms. Class I, Class II and Class III directors will serve until the Company’s annual meetings of shareholders in 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively. Ruediger Adolf, James D. Carey and Christopher J. Harrington will be assigned to Class I, Rajini Sundar Kodialam and Noah Gottdiener will be assigned to Class II, and Deborah D. McWhinney and Fayez S. Muhtadie will be assigned to Class III. From and after the closing of the IPO, the rights of the Principal Stockholders to designate directors to the Board and its committees shall be as set forth in the remainder of this Section 2.1 . At the completion of the IPO, the Board shall include the applicable Stone Point Directors referred to in this paragraph (a), and such other individuals as shall be nominated and elected to the Board from time to time by the Board or the Company’s stockholders consistent herewith and with applicable law.

 

(b)           (i)            For so long as the Principal Stockholder Group Beneficially Owns a number of shares of Common Stock representing at least 50% of its Initial Share Ownership, the Company will take all necessary action (to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the directors under Delaware law) to cause the Board to nominate for election at each annual or special meeting of shareholders at which directors are to be elected that number of individuals designated by the Principal Stockholders that, if elected, would result in two (2) Stone Point Directors serving on the Board. For so long as the Principal Stockholder Group Beneficially Owns a number of shares of Common Stock representing less than 50% of its Initial Share Ownership but at least 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock at any time, the Company will take all necessary action (to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the directors under Delaware law) to cause the Board to nominate for election at each annual or special meeting of shareholders at which directors are to be elected that number of individuals designated by the Principal Stockholders that, if elected, would result in one (1) Stone Point Director serving on the Board. Any individuals, other than the Initial Directors, designated by the Principal Stockholders pursuant to this Section 2.1(b)(i)  must satisfy the requirements for a replacement designee set forth in Section 2.1(c)  hereof.

 

(ii)           Subject to applicable laws and stock exchange regulations, for so long as the Principal Stockholder Group Beneficially Owns a number of shares of Common Stock representing at least 50% of its Initial Share Ownership, the Company will take all necessary action (to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the directors under Delaware law) to cause the Board to appoint two (2) Stone Point Directors to serve on the compensation committee of the Board and one (1) Stone Point Director to serve on the nominating and governance committee of the Board. Subject to applicable laws and stock exchange regulations, for so long as the Principal Stockholder Group Beneficially Owns a number of shares of Common Stock representing less than 50% of its Initial Share Ownership but at least 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock at any time, the Company will take all necessary action (to the extent permitted by

 

3



 

applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the directors under Delaware law) to cause the Board to appoint one (1) Stone Point Director to serve on the compensation committee of the Board and one (1) Stone Point Director to serve on the nominating and governance committee of the Board.

 

(c)           In the event that the Principal Stockholders have nominated fewer than the total number of designees that the Principal Stockholders shall be entitled to nominate pursuant to Section 2.1(b) , then the Principal Stockholders shall have the right, at any time and from time to time, to nominate such additional designee(s) to which it is entitled, in which case, the Company shall take all necessary corporate action (to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the directors under Delaware law) to cause the Board to (x) increase the size of the Board as required to enable such Principal Stockholders to so nominate such additional designee(s), and (y) designate such additional designees nominated by the Principal Stockholders to fill such newly created vacancy or vacancies, as applicable.

 

(d)           Following the date of completion of the IPO and for so long as the Principal Stockholder Group is entitled to designate any Person to the Board pursuant to Section 2.1 , the Board shall consist of seven members (other than as contemplated by Section 2.1(c)  or Section 2.1(e)  or to the extent necessary to comply with applicable law or listing standards). The size of the Board may be increased to up to nine members by adding up to two new independent directors.

 

(e)           Any Stone Point Director may be removed (with or without cause) from time to time and at any time by the Principal Stockholders upon notice to the Company.

 

(f)            In the event that a vacancy is created on the Board by the death, disability, resignation or removal of a Stone Point Director, the Principal Stockholders shall be entitled to designate an individual to fill the vacancy so long as (i) the total number of Stone Point Directors serving on the Board immediately following the filling of such vacancy will not exceed the total number of persons the Principal Stockholders are entitled to designate pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(i)  on the date of such replacement designation and (ii) the replacement designee (A) is an employee or partner of any Principal Stockholder, (B) is of the same level of seniority within the applicable Principal Stockholder as one of the Initial Directors serving as a Stone Point Director, (C) will qualify as independent within the meaning of NASDAQ Rule 5605(a) and (D) does not serve on the board of directors or as an officer of a Competitor of the Company. The Company shall take all necessary action (to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the directors under Delaware law) to cause such replacement designee to become a member of the Board as soon as reasonably possible.

 

(g)           The Company agrees to take all necessary action (to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the directors under Delaware law) to cause the Board to include in the slate of nominees recommended by the Board for election at any meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors the Persons designated pursuant to this Section 2.1 (to the extent that directors of such nominee’s class are to be elected at such meeting for so long as the Board is classified) and to nominate and recommend each such individual to be elected as a director as provided herein, and to solicit proxies or consents in favor thereof. The Company is entitled to identify such individual as a Stone Point Director pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Section 2.2             Voting .  For so long as the Principal Stockholder Group Beneficially Owns a number of shares of Common Stock representing at least 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock at any time, the Principal Stockholders shall vote, or provide a written consent or proxy with respect to, their shares of Common Stock in favor of the Chief Executive Officer and Rajini Sundar Kodialam (provided that she is an employee of the Company) for election to the Board, and to take all other steps

 

4



 

within the Principal Stockholders’ power to ensure that the composition of the Board is as set forth in Section 2.1 hereof. If Rajini Sundar Kodialam is no longer a member of the Board, the Principal Stockholders shall take all necessary action to cause the Stone Point Directors to vote in favor of such other officer of the Company designated by the Chief Executive Officer and approved by the Board for appointment to the Board and thereafter vote, or provide a written consent or proxy with respect to, their shares of Common Stock in favor of such officer for election to the Board.

 

Section 2.3             Restrictions on Other Agreements .  The Principal Stockholders shall not, directly or indirectly, grant any proxy or enter into or agree to be bound by any voting trust, agreement or arrangement of any kind with respect to its shares of Common Stock if and to the extent the terms thereof conflict with the provisions of this Agreement (whether or not such proxy, voting trust, agreement or agreements are with other holders of shares of Common Stock that are not parties to this Agreement or otherwise).

 

ARTICLE III
INFORMATION

 

Section 3.1             Access .  Each Stone Point Director is permitted to disclose to the Principal Stockholder Group information about the Company and its Affiliates that he or she receives as a result of being a Director, subject to his or her fiduciary duties under Delaware law.

 

Section 3.2             VCOC . With respect to the Principal Stockholder Group and, at the request of the Principal Stockholder Group, each Affiliate thereof that indirectly has an interest in the Company, in each case that is intended to qualify as a “venture capital operating company” as defined in 29 C.F.R. Section 2510.3-101 (each, a “ VCOC Investor ”), the Company shall, and shall cause Focus Financial Partners, LLC to, execute a side letter with each VCOC Investor in the form attached hereto as Annex A and each VCOC Investor shall have the supplemental rights and obligations provided in such side letter.

 

ARTICLE IV
 EFFECTIVENESS AND TERMINATION

 

Section 4.1             Effectiveness .  This Agreement shall become effective upon the closing of the IPO.  To the extent the closing of the IPO does not occur, the provisions of this Agreement shall be without any force or effect.

 

Section 4.2             Termination .  This Agreement shall terminate upon the delivery of written notice to the Company by the Principal Stockholders.  Further, at such time as the Principal Stockholder Group no longer Beneficially Owns at least 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock at any time, all rights and obligations of the Principal Stockholder Group under this Agreement shall terminate.

 

ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 5.1             Notices .  All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be personally delivered, sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, mailed by registered or certified mail or be sent by facsimile or electronic mail to such party at the address set forth below (or such other address as shall be specified by like notice).  Notices will be deemed to have been duly given hereunder if (i) personally delivered, when received, (ii) sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, one business day after deposit with the nationally recognized overnight courier, (iii) mailed by registered or certified mail, five business days after the date on which it is so mailed, and (iv) sent by facsimile or electronic mail, on the date sent so long as such communication

 

5



 

is transmitted before 5:00 p.m. in the time zone of the receiving party on a business day, otherwise, on the next business day.

 

(a)           If to the Company, to:

 

Focus Financial Partners Inc.
825 Third Avenue, 27
th  Floor
New York, NY 10022
Attention: General Counsel

 

(b)           If to the Principal Stockholders, to:

 

Stone Point Capital LLC

20 Horseneck Lane

Greenwich, CT 06830

Attention: Peter Mundheim

 

Section 5.2             Severability .  The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any Person or any circumstance, is found to be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, (a) a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order to carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid or unenforceable provision and (b) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity or unenforceability affect the validity or enforceability of such provision, or the application thereof, in any other jurisdiction.

 

Section 5.3             Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which, taken together, shall be considered one and the same agreement.

 

Section 5.4             Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries .  This Agreement (a) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior agreements, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and (b) except as provided in Section 3.2 with respect to any individual associated with the Principal Stockholder Group, is not intended to confer upon any Person, other than the parties hereto, any rights or remedies hereunder.

 

Section 5.5             Further Assurances .  Each party hereto shall execute, deliver, acknowledge and file such other documents and take such further actions as may be reasonably requested from time to time by the other parties hereto to give effect to and carry out the transactions contemplated herein. The Company shall not directly or indirectly take any action that is intended to, or would reasonably be expected to result in, any Principal Stockholder Group entity being deprived of the rights contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 5.6             Governing Law; Equitable Remedies .  THIS AGREEMENT 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). The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its specific terms or was otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions and other equitable remedies to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and

 

6



 

provisions hereof in any of the Selected Courts (as defined below), this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. Any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with respect to such remedy are hereby waived by each of the parties hereto. Each party hereto further agrees that, in the event of any action for an injunction or other equitable remedy in respect of such breach or enforcement of specific performance, it will not assert the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

Section 5.7             Consent To Jurisdiction .  With respect to any suit, action or proceeding (“ Proceeding ”) arising out of or relating to this Agreement, each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably (a) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and the United States District Court for the District of Delaware and the appellate courts therefrom (the “ Selected Courts ”) and waives any objection to venue being laid in the Selected Courts whether based on the grounds of forum non conveniens or otherwise and hereby agrees not to commence any such Proceeding other than before one of the Selected Courts; provided , however , that a party may commence any Proceeding in a court other than a Selected Court solely for the purpose of enforcing an order or judgment issued by one of the Selected Courts; (b) consents to service of process in any Proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or by recognized international express carrier or delivery service, to their respective addresses referred to in Section 5.1 hereof; provided , however , that nothing herein shall affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by law; and (c) TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW THAT CANNOT BE WAIVED, WAIVES, AND COVENANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ASSERT (WHETHER AS PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT OR OTHERWISE) ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION ARISING IN WHOLE OR IN PART UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, AND AGREES THAT ANY OF THEM MAY FILE A COPY OF THIS PARAGRAPH WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE KNOWING, VOLUNTARY AND BARGAINED-FOR AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY TO WAIVE THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING WHATSOEVER BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND TO HAVE ALL MATTERS RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT BE TRIED IN A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION BY A JUDGE SITTING WITHOUT A JURY.

 

Section 5.8             Amendments; Waivers .

 

(a)           No provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived unless such amendment or waiver is in writing and signed (i) in the case of an amendment, by each of the parties hereto, and (ii) in the case of a waiver, by each of the parties against whom the waiver is to be effective.

 

(b)           No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

 

Section 5.9             Assignment .  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights or obligations hereunder shall be assigned or delegated by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties; provided , however , that any Principal Stockholder may assign any of its respective rights hereunder to any of its Affiliated Investors. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

7



 

Section 5.10          No Recourse .  This Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claims or cause of action that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement may only be made against the entities that are expressly identified as parties hereto, and no past, present or future Affiliate, director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, manager, partner, stockholder, agent, attorney or representative of any party hereto shall have any liability for any obligations or liabilities of the parties to this Agreement or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

[Signature page follows.]

 

8



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

COMPANY:

 

 

 

 

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ruediger Adolf

 

 

 

Name:

Ruediger Adolf

 

 

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Nomination Agreement]

 



 

 

 

PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS :

 

 

 

 

 

TRIDENT FFP LP

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Trident FFP GP LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

Name:

Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

Title:

Vice President & Assistant Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRIDENT VI, L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Stone Point Capital LLC, its manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

Name:

Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

Title:

Principal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRIDENT VI PARALLEL FUND, L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Stone Point Capital LLC, its manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

Name:

Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

Title:

Principal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRIDENT VI PARALLEL FUND, L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Stone Point Capital LLC, its manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

Name:

Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

Title:

Principal

 

[Signature Page to Nomination Agreement]

 



 

ANNEX A

 

[See attached.]

 



 

Trident VI, L.P.
Trident VI Parallel Fund, L.P.
Trident VI DE Parallel Fund, L.P.
Trident FFP LP

 

c/o Stone Point Capital LLC
20 Horseneck Lane
Greenwich, CT 06830

 

Dear Sirs/Madams:

 

This letter confirms that Focus Financial Partners Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), has agreed to provide Trident VI, L.P., Trident VI Parallel Fund, L.P., Trident VI DE Parallel Fund, L.P. and Trident FFP LP (each, an “ Investor ”), and each Investor is entitled to, the following contractual management rights, in addition to any rights that an Investor may have or become entitled to under any constituent documents of, or agreements with, the Company and notwithstanding anything in the constituent documents or such agreements to the contrary:

 

(a)          Each Investor (and its designated representative) shall be entitled to visit and inspect any of the offices and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, including its and their books and records, and to discuss its and their affairs, finances and accounts with the company’s officers and senior management, at such times as Investor may reasonably request, during normal business times and upon reasonable notice.

 

(b)          The Company shall deliver to each Investor:

 

1.               (i) within 45 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Company, the consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the end of such period, and consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries for the period then ended prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis, except as otherwise noted therein, and subject to the absence of footnotes and to year-end adjustments; (ii) within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the end of such year, and consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries for the year then ended prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis, except as otherwise noted therein, together with an auditor’s report thereon of a firm of established national reputation; and (iii) as soon as reasonably available, to the extent the Company is required by law or pursuant to the terms of any outstanding indebtedness of the Company to prepare such reports, any annual reports, quarterly reports and other periodic reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, actually prepared by the Company as soon as available; provided, however, that to the extent such

 



 

information is posted by the Company on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website within the time periods provided for herein, the delivery of such information shall be deemed satisfied; and

 

2.               at any time during which such Investor does not have a representative designated to serve on the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”), upon written request by the Investor, copies of all materials provided to the Board, subject to appropriate protections with respect to preservation of attorney-client privilege and subject to any determination by the Company’s counsel that the provision of such materials to the Investors would result in a breach by the Company of a confidentiality obligation of the Company.

 

(c)           Each Investor (and its designated representative) shall be entitled to routinely consult with and advise the Board, officers and/or directors of the Company and its subsidiaries with respect to all matters relating to the business, operations and affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

(d)          To the extent consistent with applicable law (and with respect to events which require public disclosure, only following the Company’s public disclosure thereof through applicable securities law filings or otherwise), the Company shall inform each Investor or its designated representative in advance with respect to any significant corporate actions, including, without limitation, extraordinary dividends, mergers, acquisitions or dispositions of assets, issuances of significant amounts of debt or equity and material amendments to the constituent documents of the Company, and to provide such Investor or its designated representative with the right to consult with the Company with respect to such actions.

 

(e)           The Company agrees to consider, in good faith, the recommendations of the Investor and/or its designated representative in connection with the matters on which it is consulted or advised as described above, recognizing that the ultimate discretion with respect to all such matters shall be retained by the Company.

 

(f)            The rights set forth in this letter are intended to satisfy the requirement of contractual management rights for purposes of qualifying the investment in the Company by each Investor as a “venture capital investment” (as defined in 29 C.F.R. § 2510.3-101 (the “ Plan Assets Regulation ”).  The Company agrees that if legal counsel for an Investor reasonably concludes that the rights granted hereby should be altered or amended to preserve the qualification of such Investor’s investment as a “venture capital investment” (within the meaning of the Plan Assets Regulation), whether on account of a change in applicable law, regulation, judicial or administrative interpretation or otherwise, the Company and such Investor shall reasonably cooperate in good faith to agree upon mutually satisfactory management rights which satisfy the Plan Assets Regulations or such other applicable law or regulation.

 



 

Each Investor agrees, and will require each designated representative of the Investor to agree, to hold in confidence and not use or disclose to any third party (other than its legal counsel and accountants) any confidential information provided to or learned by such party in connection with the Investor’s rights under this letter agreement except as may otherwise be required by law or legal, judicial or regulatory process, provided that such Investor takes reasonable steps to minimize the extent of any such required disclosure, including informing the Company in advance thereof and taking reasonable steps to seek a protective order prior thereto.  Each Investor is aware that, in exercising its rights hereunder, it may receive material non-public information about the Company and its subsidiaries pursuant to this letter agreement or upon exercise of its rights hereunder, and each Investor agrees that it is aware of, and shall comply with, applicable federal and state securities laws that restrict any person who has material, non-public information about a company from purchasing or selling securities of the company or from communicating such information to any other person under circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that such person is likely to purchase or sell such securities.

 

In the event the Investor or any of its affiliates transfers all or any portion of their investment in the Company to an affiliated entity that is intended to qualify as a “venture capital operating company” under the Plan Asset Regulation, such transferee shall be afforded the same rights with respect to the Company afforded to an Investor hereunder and shall be treated, for such purposes, as a third party beneficiary hereunder.  Further, in the event the Company engages in a restructuring or similar transaction, any resulting entity or entities shall be subject to this Agreement in the same manner as the Company.

 

This letter agreement and the rights and the duties of the parties hereto 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) and may be executed in counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.  This letter agreement may only be amended by an agreement in writing signed by each of the parties hereto.

 

The rights and duties described herein shall terminate and be of no further force or effect upon the Investor no longer holding, directly or indirectly through one or more subsidiaries, together with its affiliates, any securities of the Company.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 



 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

 

Focus Financial Partners Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name: Ruediger Adolf

 

 

 

 

 

Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to VCOC Letter]

 



 

Agreed and Accepted:

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

[Signature Page to VCOC Letter]

 


Exhibit 4.3

 

NOMINATION AGREEMENT

 

This NOMINATION AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of July 30, 2018, is entered into by and between Focus Financial Partners Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and each of the stockholders of the Company whose name appears on the signature pages hereto (each a “ Principal Stockholder ,” and collectively, the “ Principal Stockholders ”).

 

WHEREAS , in connection with, and effective upon, the completion of the underwritten initial public offering (the “ IPO ”) of shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock (as defined below), the Principal Stockholders and the Company have entered into this Agreement to set forth certain understandings among such parties, including with respect to certain governance matters.

 

NOW , THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants 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
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1             Certain Definitions .  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any specified Person, a Person that directly or indirectly Controls or is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such specified Person. For purposes of this Agreement, no party to this Agreement shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of another party to this Agreement solely by reason of the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

Affiliated Investor ” means, with respect to any Principal Stockholder, (i) any investment fund or holding company that is directly or indirectly managed or advised by a manager or advisor of such Principal Stockholder and (ii) any of its Affiliates or any other Person who or which is otherwise an Affiliate of any such Principal Stockholder (other than the Company and its subsidiaries).

 

Beneficial Owner ” of a security is a Person who directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares (a) voting power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security and/or (b) 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. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Agreement, each of the Principal Stockholders is deemed to Beneficially Own the shares of Common Stock owned by it, notwithstanding the fact that such shares or other securities are subject to this Agreement.

 

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Class A Common Stock ” means the shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, and any other capital stock of the Company into which such stock is reclassified or reconstituted.

 

Class B Common Stock ” means the shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, and any other capital stock of the Company into which such stock is reclassified or reconstituted.

 

Common Stock ” means the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock, collectively.

 

1



 

Competitor means (a) (i) a national or global financial institution or insurance company or a regional bank that in each case derives at least 30% of its revenue from wealth management services (which, for the avoidance of doubt, excludes life insurance and annuities), (ii) an independent broker dealer, or (iii) a platform for or aggregator of registered investment adviser or broker-dealer teams, or (b) a holding company or acquisition vehicle of any entity described in clause (a) of this definition.

 

Control ” (including the terms “ Controls ,” “ Controlled by ” and “ under common Control with ”) 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 the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Initial Share Ownership means, with respect to the Principal Stockholders, the number of shares of Common Stock held by the Principal Stockholders as of the closing of the IPO.

 

KKR Director ” means the designee of the Principal Stockholders.

 

Person ” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, any court, administrative agency, regulatory body, commission or other governmental authority, board, bureau or instrumentality, domestic or foreign and any subdivision thereof or other entity, and also includes any managed investment account.

 

Principal Stockholder Group ” means the Principal Stockholders and any of their respective Affiliates and Affiliated Investors and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

Section 1.2             Rules of Construction .

 

(a)           Unless the context requires otherwise:  (i) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms; (ii) references to Articles and Sections refer to articles and sections of this Agreement; (iii) the terms “include,” “includes,” “including” and words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (iv) the terms “hereof,” “hereto,” “herein” or “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (v) unless the context otherwise requires, the term “or” is not exclusive and shall have the inclusive meaning of “and/or”; (vi) defined terms herein will apply equally to both the singular and plural forms and derivative forms of defined terms will have correlative meanings; (vii) references to any law or statute shall include all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and references to any law or statute shall be construed as including any legal and statutory provisions consolidating, amending, succeeding or replacing the applicable law or statute; (viii) references to any Person include such Person’s successors and permitted assigns; and (ix) references to “days” are to calendar days unless otherwise indicated.

 

(b)           The headings in this Agreement are for convenience and identification only and are not intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope, extent or intent of this Agreement or any provision thereof.

 

(c)           This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or other rule requiring construction against the party that drafted or caused this Agreement to be drafted.

 

2



 

ARTICLE II
VOTING AND GOVERNANCE MATTERS

 

Section 2.1             Designees .

 

(a)           Upon the closing of the IPO, the Board shall initially consist of seven directors, including Ruediger Adolf, Rajini Sundar Kodialam, Fayez S. Muhtadie, Christopher J. Harrington, James D. Carey, Deborah D. McWhinney and Noah Gottdiener (the “ Initial Directors ”). The audit committee of the Board shall initially consist of three directors, including Fayez S. Muhtadie, Deborah D. McWhinney and Noah Gottdiener, the compensation committee of the Board shall initially consist of three directors, including Fayez S. Muhtadie, James D. Carey and Noah Gottdiener, and the nominating and governance committee of the Board shall initially consist of three directors, including Christopher J. Harrington, Fayez S. Muhtadie and Deborah D. McWhinney. Of the Initial Directors, Christopher J. Harrington is deemed to be a KKR Director. The Board will be divided into three classes serving staggered three-year terms. Class I, Class II and Class III directors will serve until the Company’s annual meetings of shareholders in 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively. Ruediger Adolf, James D. Carey and Christopher J. Harrington will be assigned to Class I, Rajini Sundar Kodialam and Noah Gottdiener will be assigned to Class II, and Deborah D. McWhinney and Fayez S. Muhtadie will be assigned to Class III. From and after the closing of the IPO, the rights of the Principal Stockholders to designate directors to the Board and its committees shall be as set forth in the remainder of this Section 2.1 . At the completion of the IPO, the Board shall include the applicable KKR Director referred to in this paragraph (a), and such other individuals as shall be nominated and elected to the Board from time to time by the Board or the Company’s stockholders consistent herewith and with applicable law.

 

(b)           (i)            For so long as the Principal Stockholder Group Beneficially Owns a number of shares of Common Stock representing at least 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock at any time, the Company will take all necessary action (to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the directors under Delaware law) to cause the Board to nominate for election at each annual or special meeting of shareholders at which directors are to be elected that number of individuals designated by the Principal Stockholders that, if elected, would result in one (1) KKR Director serving on the Board. Any individuals, other than the Initial Directors, designated by the Principal Stockholders pursuant to this Section 2.1(b)(i)  must satisfy the requirements for a replacement designee set forth in Section 2.1(c)  hereof.

 

(ii)           Subject to applicable laws and stock exchange regulations, for so long as the Principal Stockholder Group Beneficially Owns a number of shares of Common Stock representing at least 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock at any time, the Company will take all necessary action (to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the directors under Delaware law) to cause the Board to appoint one (1) KKR Director to serve on the nominating and governance committee of the Board and permit one (1) KKR Director to serve as an observer of the compensation committee of the Board (the “ Observer ”). The Observer, in his or her capacity as such, shall be entitled to: (A) receive written notice of all meetings of the compensation committee, (B) attend all meetings of the compensation committee, whether in person or by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, (C) receive a copy of all materials which are furnished to the members of the compensation committee, in their capacities as such, at the same time and in the same manner as such materials are furnished to the members of the compensation committee, (D) participate in all discussions conducted at such meetings, and (E) receive copies of the minutes of all such meetings of the compensation committee as and when such copies are distributed to the members of the compensation committee. The Observer shall not constitute a member of the compensation committee and shall not be entitled to vote on, or consent to, any matters presented to the compensation committee.

 

3



 

(c)           In the event that the Principal Stockholders have nominated fewer than the total number of designees that the Principal Stockholders shall be entitled to nominate pursuant to Section 2.1(b) , then the Principal Stockholders shall have the right, at any time and from time to time, to nominate such additional designee(s) to which it is entitled, in which case, the Company shall take all necessary corporate action (to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the directors under Delaware law) to cause the Board to (x) increase the size of the Board as required to enable such Principal Stockholders to so nominate such additional designee(s), and (y) designate such additional designees nominated by the Principal Stockholders to fill such newly created vacancy or vacancies, as applicable.

 

(d)           Following the date of completion of the IPO and for so long as the Principal Stockholder Group is entitled to designate any Person to the Board pursuant to Section 2.1 , the Board shall consist of seven members (other than as contemplated by Section 2.1(c)  or Section 2.1(e)  or to the extent necessary to comply with applicable law or listing standards). The size of the Board may be increased to up to nine members by adding up to two new independent directors.

 

(e)           Any KKR Director may be removed (with or without cause) from time to time and at any time by the Principal Stockholders upon notice to the Company.

 

(f)            In the event that a vacancy is created on the Board by the death, disability, resignation or removal of a KKR Director, the Principal Stockholders shall be entitled to designate an individual to fill the vacancy so long as (i) the total number of KKR Directors serving on the Board immediately following the filling of such vacancy will not exceed the total number of persons the Principal Stockholders are entitled to designate pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(i)  on the date of such replacement designation and (ii) the replacement designee (A) is an employee or partner of any Principal Stockholder, (B) is of the same level of seniority within the applicable Principal Stockholder as the Initial Director serving as a KKR Director, (C) will qualify as independent within the meaning of NASDAQ Rule 5605(a) and (D) does not serve on the board of directors or as an officer of a Competitor of the Company. The Company shall take all necessary action (to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the directors under Delaware law) to cause such replacement designee to become a member of the Board as soon as reasonably possible.

 

(g)           The Company agrees to take all necessary action (to the extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the directors under Delaware law) to cause the Board to include in the slate of nominees recommended by the Board for election at any meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors the Persons designated pursuant to this Section 2.1 (to the extent that directors of such nominee’s class are to be elected at such meeting for so long as the Board is classified) and to nominate and recommend each such individual to be elected as a director as provided herein, and to solicit proxies or consents in favor thereof. The Company is entitled to identify such individual as a KKR Director pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Section 2.2             Voting .  For so long as the Principal Stockholder Group Beneficially Owns a number of shares of Common Stock representing at least 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock at any time, the Principal Stockholders shall vote, or provide a written consent or proxy with respect to, their shares of Common Stock in favor of the Chief Executive Officer and Rajini Sundar Kodialam (provided that she is an employee of the Company) for election to the Board, and to take all other steps within the Principal Stockholders’ power to ensure that the composition of the Board is as set forth in Section 2.1 hereof. If Rajini Sundar Kodialam is no longer a member of the Board, the Principal Stockholders shall take all necessary action to cause the KKR Director to vote in favor of such other officer of the Company designated by the Chief Executive Officer and approved by the Board for appointment to

 

4



 

the Board and thereafter vote, or provide a written consent or proxy with respect to, their shares of Common Stock in favor of such officer for election to the Board.

 

Section 2.3             Restrictions on Other Agreements .  The Principal Stockholders shall not, directly or indirectly, grant any proxy or enter into or agree to be bound by any voting trust, agreement or arrangement of any kind with respect to its shares of Common Stock if and to the extent the terms thereof conflict with the provisions of this Agreement (whether or not such proxy, voting trust, agreement or agreements are with other holders of shares of Common Stock that are not parties to this Agreement or otherwise).

 

ARTICLE III
INFORMATION

 

Section 3.1             Access .  Each KKR Director is permitted to disclose to the Principal Stockholder Group information about the Company and its Affiliates that he or she receives as a result of being a Director, subject to his or her fiduciary duties under Delaware law.

 

Section 3.2             VCOC . With respect to the Principal Stockholder Group and, at the request of the Principal Stockholder Group, each Affiliate thereof that indirectly has an interest in the Company, in each case that is intended to qualify as a “venture capital operating company” as defined in 29 C.F.R. Section 2510.3-101 (each, a “ VCOC Investor ”), the Company shall, and shall cause Focus Financial Partners, LLC to, execute a side letter with each VCOC Investor in the form attached hereto as Annex A and each VCOC Investor shall have the supplemental rights and obligations provided in such side letter.

 

ARTICLE IV
EFFECTIVENESS AND TERMINATION

 

Section 4.1             Effectiveness .  This Agreement shall become effective upon the closing of the IPO.  To the extent the closing of the IPO does not occur, the provisions of this Agreement shall be without any force or effect.

 

Section 4.2             Termination .  This Agreement shall terminate upon the delivery of written notice to the Company by the Principal Stockholders.  Further, at such time as the Principal Stockholder Group no longer Beneficially Owns at least 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock at any time, all rights and obligations of the Principal Stockholder Group under this Agreement shall terminate.

 

ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 5.1             Notices .  All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be personally delivered, sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, mailed by registered or certified mail or be sent by facsimile or electronic mail to such party at the address set forth below (or such other address as shall be specified by like notice).  Notices will be deemed to have been duly given hereunder if (i) personally delivered, when received, (ii) sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, one business day after deposit with the nationally recognized overnight courier, (iii) mailed by registered or certified mail, five business days after the date on which it is so mailed, and (iv) sent by facsimile or electronic mail, on the date sent so long as such communication is transmitted before 5:00 p.m. in the time zone of the receiving party on a business day, otherwise, on the next business day.

 

5



 

(a)           If to the Company, to:

 

Focus Financial Partners Inc.
825 Third Avenue, 27
th  Floor
New York, NY 10022
Attention: General Counsel

 

(b)           If to the Principal Stockholders, to:

 

KKR Freya Aggregator L.P.
c/o Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.
9 West 57
th  Street, Suite 4200
New York, NY 10019
Attention: General Counsel

 

KKR Americas XII (Freya) Blocker Parent L.P.
c/o Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.
9 West 57
th  Street, Suite 4200
New York, NY 10019
Attention: General Counsel

 

KKR Americas XII EEA (Freya) Blocker Parent L.P.
c/o Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.
9 West 57
th  Street, Suite 4200
New York, NY 10019
Attention: General Counsel

 

Section 5.2             Severability .  The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any Person or any circumstance, is found to be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, (a) a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order to carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid or unenforceable provision and (b) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity or unenforceability affect the validity or enforceability of such provision, or the application thereof, in any other jurisdiction.

 

Section 5.3             Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which, taken together, shall be considered one and the same agreement.

 

Section 5.4             Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries .  This Agreement (a) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior agreements, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and (b) except as provided in Section 3.2 with respect to any individual associated with the Principal Stockholder Group, is not intended to confer upon any Person, other than the parties hereto, any rights or remedies hereunder.

 

Section 5.5             Further Assurances .  Each party hereto shall execute, deliver, acknowledge and file such other documents and take such further actions as may be reasonably requested from time to time by the other parties hereto to give effect to and carry out the transactions contemplated herein. The Company

 

6



 

shall not directly or indirectly take any action that is intended to, or would reasonably be expected to result in, any Principal Stockholder Group entity being deprived of the rights contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 5.6             Governing Law; Equitable Remedies .  THIS AGREEMENT 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). The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its specific terms or was otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions and other equitable remedies to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any of the Selected Courts (as defined below), this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. Any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with respect to such remedy are hereby waived by each of the parties hereto. Each party hereto further agrees that, in the event of any action for an injunction or other equitable remedy in respect of such breach or enforcement of specific performance, it will not assert the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

Section 5.7             Consent To Jurisdiction .  With respect to any suit, action or proceeding (“ Proceeding ”) arising out of or relating to this Agreement, each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably (a) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and the United States District Court for the District of Delaware and the appellate courts therefrom (the “ Selected Courts ”) and waives any objection to venue being laid in the Selected Courts whether based on the grounds of forum non conveniens or otherwise and hereby agrees not to commence any such Proceeding other than before one of the Selected Courts; provided , however , that a party may commence any Proceeding in a court other than a Selected Court solely for the purpose of enforcing an order or judgment issued by one of the Selected Courts; (b) consents to service of process in any Proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or by recognized international express carrier or delivery service, to their respective addresses referred to in Section 5.1 hereof; provided , however , that nothing herein shall affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by law; and (c) TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW THAT CANNOT BE WAIVED, WAIVES, AND COVENANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ASSERT (WHETHER AS PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT OR OTHERWISE) ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION ARISING IN WHOLE OR IN PART UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, AND AGREES THAT ANY OF THEM MAY FILE A COPY OF THIS PARAGRAPH WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE KNOWING, VOLUNTARY AND BARGAINED-FOR AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY TO WAIVE THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING WHATSOEVER BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND TO HAVE ALL MATTERS RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT BE TRIED IN A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION BY A JUDGE SITTING WITHOUT A JURY.

 

Section 5.8             Amendments; Waivers .

 

(a)           No provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived unless such amendment or waiver is in writing and signed (i) in the case of an amendment, by each of the parties hereto, and (ii) in the case of a waiver, by each of the parties against whom the waiver is to be effective.

 

(b)           No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

 

7



 

Section 5.9             Assignment .  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights or obligations hereunder shall be assigned or delegated by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties; provided , however , that any Principal Stockholder may assign any of its respective rights hereunder to any of its Affiliated Investors. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

Section 5.10          No Recourse .  This Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claims or cause of action that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement may only be made against the entities that are expressly identified as parties hereto, and no past, present or future Affiliate, director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, manager, partner, stockholder, agent, attorney or representative of any party hereto shall have any liability for any obligations or liabilities of the parties to this Agreement or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

[Signature page follows.]

 

8



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

COMPANY:

 

 

 

 

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ruediger Adolf

 

 

 

Name:

Ruediger Adolf

 

 

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Nomination Agreement]

 



 

 

 

PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS :

 

 

 

 

 

KKR FREYA AGGREGATOR L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

KKR Freya Aggregator GP LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William J. Janetschek

 

 

 

Name:

William J. Janetschek

 

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KKR AMERICAS XII (FREYA) BLOCKER PARENT L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

KKR Associates Americas XII L.P., its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

KKR Americas XII Limited, its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William J. Janetschek

 

 

 

Name:

William J. Janetschek

 

 

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KKR AMERICAS XII EEA (FREYA) BLOCKER PARENT L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

KKR Associates Americas XII L.P., its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

KKR Americas XII Limited, its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William J. Janetschek

 

 

 

Name:

William J. Janetschek

 

 

 

Title:

Director

 

[Signature Page to Nomination Agreement]

 



 

ANNEX A

 

[See Attached.]

 



 

KKR Freya Aggregator L.P.

 

c/o Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.
9 West 57
th  Street, Suite 4200
New York, NY 10019

 

Dear Sirs/Madams:

 

This letter confirms that Focus Financial Partners Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), has agreed to provide KKR Freya Aggregator L.P. (the “ Investor ”), and the Investor is entitled to, the following contractual management rights, in addition to any rights that the Investor may have or become entitled to under any constituent documents of, or agreements with, the Company and notwithstanding anything in the constituent documents or such agreements to the contrary:

 

1.               The Investor (and its designated representative) shall be entitled to visit and inspect any of the offices and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, including its and their books and records, and to discuss its and their affairs, finances and accounts with the company’s officers and senior management, at such times as the Investor may reasonably request, during normal business times and upon reasonable notice.

 

2.               The Company shall deliver to the Investor:

 

1.               (i) within 45 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Company, the consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the end of such period, and consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries for the period then ended prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis, except as otherwise noted therein, and subject to the absence of footnotes and to year-end adjustments; (ii) within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the end of such year, and consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries for the year then ended prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis, except as otherwise noted therein, together with an auditor’s report thereon of a firm of established national reputation; and (iii) as soon as reasonably available, to the extent the Company is required by law or pursuant to the terms of any outstanding indebtedness of the Company to prepare such reports, any annual reports, quarterly reports and other periodic reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, actually prepared by the Company as soon as available; provided, however, that to the extent such information is posted by the Company on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website within the time periods provided for herein, the delivery of such information shall be deemed satisfied; and

 



 

2.               at any time during which the Investor does not have a representative designated to serve on the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”), upon written request by the Investor, copies of all materials provided to the Board, subject to appropriate protections with respect to preservation of attorney-client privilege and subject to any determination by the Company’s counsel that the provision of such materials to the Investor would result in a breach by the Company of a confidentiality obligation of the Company.

 

3.               The Investor (and its designated representative) shall be entitled to routinely consult with and advise the Board, officers and/or directors of the Company and its subsidiaries with respect to all matters relating to the business, operations and affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

4.               To the extent consistent with applicable law (and with respect to events which require public disclosure, only following the Company’s public disclosure thereof through applicable securities law filings or otherwise), the Company shall inform the Investor or its designated representative in advance with respect to any significant corporate actions, including, without limitation, extraordinary dividends, mergers, acquisitions or dispositions of assets, issuances of significant amounts of debt or equity and material amendments to the constituent documents of the Company, and to provide the Investor or its designated representative with the right to consult with the Company with respect to such actions.

 

5.               The Company agrees to consider, in good faith, the recommendations of the Investor and/or its designated representative in connection with the matters on which it is consulted or advised as described above, recognizing that the ultimate discretion with respect to all such matters shall be retained by the Company.

 

6.               The rights set forth in this letter are intended to satisfy the requirement of contractual management rights for purposes of qualifying the investment in the Company by the Investor as a “venture capital investment” (as defined in 29 C.F.R. § 2510.3-101 (the “ Plan Assets Regulation ”).  The Company agrees that if legal counsel for the Investor reasonably concludes that the rights granted hereby should be altered or amended to preserve the qualification of the Investor’s investment as a “venture capital investment” (within the meaning of the Plan Assets Regulation), whether on account of a change in applicable law, regulation, judicial or administrative interpretation or otherwise, the Company and the Investor shall reasonably cooperate in good faith to agree upon mutually satisfactory management rights which satisfy the Plan Assets Regulations or such other applicable law or regulation.

 

The Investor agrees, and will require each designated representative of the Investor to agree, to hold in confidence and not use or disclose to any third party (other than its legal counsel and accountants) any confidential information provided to or learned by such party in connection with the Investor’s rights under this letter agreement except as may otherwise be required by law or legal, judicial or regulatory process, provided that the Investor takes reasonable steps to

 



 

minimize the extent of any such required disclosure, including informing the Company in advance thereof and taking reasonable steps to seek a protective order prior thereto.  The Investor is aware that, in exercising its rights hereunder, it may receive material non-public information about the Company and its subsidiaries pursuant to this letter agreement or upon exercise of its rights hereunder, and the Investor agrees that it is aware of, and shall comply with, applicable federal and state securities laws that restrict any person who has material, non-public information about a company from purchasing or selling securities of the company or from communicating such information to any other person under circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that such person is likely to purchase or sell such securities.

 

In the event the Investor or any of its affiliates transfers all or any portion of their investment in the Company to an affiliated entity that is intended to qualify as a “venture capital operating company” under the Plan Asset Regulation, such transferee shall be afforded the same rights with respect to the Company afforded to the Investor hereunder and shall be treated, for such purposes, as a third party beneficiary hereunder.  Further, in the event the Company engages in a restructuring or similar transaction, any resulting entity or entities shall be subject to this Agreement in the same manner as the Company.

 

This letter agreement and the rights and the duties of the parties hereto 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) and may be executed in counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.  This letter agreement may only be amended by an agreement in writing signed by each of the parties hereto.

 

The rights and duties described herein shall terminate and be of no further force or effect upon the Investor no longer holding, directly or indirectly through one or more subsidiaries, together with its affiliates, any securities of the Company.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 



 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

Focus Financial Partners Inc.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name: Ruediger Adolf

 

 

 

Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to VCOC Letter]

 



 

Agreed and Accepted:

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

[Signature Page to VCOC Letter]

 


Exhibit 10.1

 

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT

 

OF

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS, LLC

 

DATED AS OF JULY 30, 2018

 

THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS IN FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS, LLC HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE, OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS, AND HAVE BEEN OR ARE BEING ISSUED IN RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTIONS FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH LAWS. SUCH INTERESTS MAY BE ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED, SOLD, ASSIGNED OR TRANSFERRED 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 OPERATING AGREEMENT; AND (III) ANY OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS AGREED TO IN WRITING BETWEEN THE MANAGING MEMBER AND ANY HOLDER OF SUCH INTERESTS.

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

2

 

 

 

Section 1.1

Definitions

2

Section 1.2

Interpretive Provisions

15

 

 

 

ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION OF THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

16

 

 

 

Section 2.1

Formation

16

Section 2.2

Filing

16

Section 2.3

Name

16

Section 2.4

Registered Office; Registered Agent

16

Section 2.5

Principal Place of Business

16

Section 2.6

Qualification in Other Jurisdictions

16

Section 2.7

Purpose; Powers

16

Section 2.8

Term

17

Section 2.9

Intent

17

Section 2.10

Effectiveness

17

Section 2.11

Registration Rights

17

Section 2.12

Limited Liability

17

 

 

 

ARTICLE III OWNERSHIP AND CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS

17

 

 

 

Section 3.1

Authorized Units; Issuance of Units

17

Section 3.2

Issuance of Units to PubCo after the IPO

18

Section 3.3

Capital Contributions

21

Section 3.4

Capital Accounts

21

Section 3.5

No Return of Capital Contributions

21

Section 3.6

Exchange of Units

22

Section 3.7

Call Right and Standing Instructions Purchase

26

Section 3.8

PubCo Approved Change of Control

27

Section 3.9

Tender Offers; Recapitalizations

28

Section 3.10

Participation in Distributions

28

Section 3.11

Liquidity Limitations

28

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV ALLOCATIONS OF PROFITS AND LOSSES

29

 

 

 

Section 4.1

Profits and Losses

29

Section 4.2

Special Allocations

29

Section 4.3

Allocations for Tax Purposes in General

32

Section 4.4

Other Allocation Rules

32

 

 

 

ARTICLE V DISTRIBUTIONS

33

 

 

 

Section 5.1

Distributions

33

 

i



 

Section 5.2

Tax-Related Distributions

34

Section 5.3

Distribution Upon Withdrawal

34

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI MANAGEMENT

34

 

 

 

Section 6.1

The Managing Member; Fiduciary Duties

34

Section 6.2

Officers

35

Section 6.3

Warranted Reliance by Officers on Others

35

Section 6.4

Exculpation and Indemnification

35

Section 6.5

Maintenance of Insurance or Other Financial Arrangements

38

Section 6.6

Resignation or Termination of Managing Member

38

Section 6.7

No Inconsistent Obligations

38

Section 6.8

Reclassification Events of PubCo

38

Section 6.9

Certain Costs and Expenses

39

Section 6.10

Fiduciary Duties; Other Business Opportunities

39

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII ROLE OF MEMBERS

40

 

 

 

Section 7.1

Rights or Powers

40

Section 7.2

Voting

40

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII TRANSFERS OF INTERESTS

40

 

 

 

Section 8.1

Restrictions on Transfer

40

Section 8.2

Transferee Members

42

Section 8.3

Admission or Substitution of New Members

43

Section 8.5

Bankruptcy

43

Section 8.6

Mandatory Exchange

43

Section 8.7

Legend

43

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX ACCOUNTING

44

 

 

 

Section 9.1

Books of Account

44

Section 9.2

Tax Elections

44

Section 9.3

Tax Returns; Information

45

Section 9.4

Company Representative

45

Section 9.5

Withholding and Other Tax Payments and Obligations

46

Section 9.6

Section 83(b) Elections

47

 

 

 

ARTICLE X DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION

47

 

 

 

Section 10.1

Liquidating Events

47

Section 10.2

Bankruptcy

48

Section 10.3

Procedure

48

Section 10.4

Rights of Members

49

Section 10.5

Notices of Dissolution

49

Section 10.6

Reasonable Time for Winding Up

49

Section 10.7

No Deficit Restoration

50

 

ii



 

ARTICLE XI GENERAL

50

 

 

 

Section 11.1

Amendments; Waivers

50

Section 11.2

Further Assurances

51

Section 11.3

Successors and Assigns

51

Section 11.4

Entire Agreement

51

Section 11.5

Rights of Members Independent

51

Section 11.6

Governing Law

51

Section 11.7

Jurisdiction and Venue

52

Section 11.8

Headings

52

Section 11.9

Counterparts

52

Section 11.10

Notices

52

Section 11.11

Severability

53

Section 11.12

Expenses

53

Section 11.13

No Third Party Beneficiaries

53

Section 11.14

No Recourse

53

Section 11.15

Survival

53

Section 11.16

Specific Performance

54

Section 11.17

Waiver of Partition

54

Section 11.18

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

54

 

Exhibits:

 

Exhibit A – Form of Exchange Notice

 

Exhibit B – Form of Section 83(b) Election

 

Exhibit C – Registration Rights Agreement

 

iii



 

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT

 

OF

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS, LLC

 

This FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT (as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, this “ Agreement ”) of FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), is entered into as of July 30, 2018, by the parties (the “ Members ”) listed on the schedule of Members maintained by the Company, including those who join this Agreement after such date (the “ Members Schedule ”) in accordance with the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 De. C., 18-101, et seq., as amended from time to time (the “ Act ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS , the Company was formed pursuant to a Certificate of Formation filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and is currently governed by the Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Company, dated as of July 3, 2017 (the “ Existing LLC Agreement ”), as amended pursuant to Amendment No. 1 to the Existing LLC Agreement (the “ Amendment ”);

 

WHEREAS , pursuant to the terms of the Amendment, the Members are consummating the reorganization of the Company and are taking other actions contemplated by the Amendment (collectively, the “ Reorganization ”);

 

WHEREAS , in connection with the Reorganization, Focus Financial Partners Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ PubCo ”), is issuing shares of Class A Common Stock to the public in the initial underwritten Registered Offering of shares of its stock (the “ IPO ”), using a portion of the net proceeds received by it from the IPO to purchase Units (as defined below) from certain former and current Members and contributing a portion of such proceeds to the Company in exchange for additional Units;

 

WHEREAS , in connection with the Reorganization, PubCo is acquiring Units formerly held by current and former Members in certain mergers and exchanges in exchange for Class A Common Stock, non-compensatory options and cash;

 

WHEREAS , in connection with the Reorganization, PubCo is issuing shares of its Class B Common Stock to certain of the Members;

 

WHEREAS , PubCo will be the sole managing Member of the Company (in its capacity as managing Member, the “ Managing Member ”);

 

WHEREAS , each Member (other than PubCo) will, subject to the terms and limitations described herein, have the right to exchange all or a portion of its vested Units for shares of Class A Common Stock; and

 



 

WHEREAS , upon consummation of the IPO, this Agreement automatically amends and restates the Existing LLC Agreement on the terms set forth herein.

 

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

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1                                     Definitions . As used in this Agreement and the Schedules and Exhibits attached to this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:

 

1.721-2(f) Option ” means an option (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.721-2(g)(1)) issued by a partnership, other than an option issued in connection with the performance of services, as more specifically defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.721-2(f).

 

Act ” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Action ” means any claim, action, suit, arbitration, inquiry, proceeding or investigation by or before any Governmental Entity.

 

Adjusted Basis ” is defined in Section 1011 of the Code.

 

Adjusted Capital Account Deficit ” means the deficit balance, if any, in such Member’s Capital Account at the end of any Allocation Period, with the following adjustments:

 

(a)                                  credit to such Capital Account any amount that such Member is obligated to restore under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( c ), as well as any addition thereto pursuant to the next to last sentences of the Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5) after taking into account thereunder any changes during such year in Company Minimum Gain and in the minimum gain attributable to any Member Nonrecourse Debt; and

 

(b)                                  debit to such Capital Account the items described in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( d )(4), (5) and (6) with respect to such Member.

 

This definition of Adjusted Capital Account Deficit is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( d ) and 1.704-2 and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For these purposes, “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; provided that, for purposes of this Agreement, no investment fund or other investment vehicle investing third party capital with respect to which the Company or any

 

2



 

Subsidiary acts as investment adviser, sub-adviser, general partner or in a similar role shall be deemed an Affiliate of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

Agreement ” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Allocation Period ” means the period (a) commencing on the date hereof or, for any Allocation Period other than the first Allocation Period, the day following the end of a prior Allocation Period and (b) ending (i) on the last day of each Fiscal Year; (ii) the day preceding any day in which an adjustment to the Book Value of the Company’s properties pursuant to clauses (b)(i), (b)(ii), (b)(iii) or (b)(v) of the definition of Book Value occurs; (iii) immediately after any day in which an adjustment to the Book Value of the Company’s properties pursuant to clause (b)(iv) of the definition of Book Value occurs or (iv) on any other date determined by the Managing Member.

 

Amendment ” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Applicable Percentage ” means, for any Exchange Date, the percentage set forth opposite such Exchange Date in Section 3.6(e)(iii) .

 

Assumed Tax Liability ” means, for any Fiscal Year or other taxable period, solely with respect to any taxable periods or portions thereof from and after the date hereof, an amount equal to the product of (a) the U.S. federal taxable income of the Company for such Fiscal Year or other taxable period, multiplied by (b) the Assumed Tax Rate.  The Managing Member shall determine the Assumed Tax Liability in its sole discretion using such assumptions and estimated amounts and other information as the Managing Member deems necessary.  For the avoidance of doubt, the calculation of the Assumed Tax Liability shall not take into account any adjustments by reason of Section 743(b) of the Code.

 

Assumed Tax Rate ” means 50% or such other rate, no lower than the highest combined rate of income tax then applicable to an individual resident in New York, New York, as the Managing Member may in its sole discretion, exercised in Good Faith, determine to be appropriate, taking into account the character of the income earned and any changes in the U.S. federal, state or local tax rates applicable to individuals resident in New York, New York.

 

beneficially own ” and “ beneficial owner ” are be as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the rules promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

Blackout Period ” means any time period during which (i) directors, officers, or employees of PubCo or its Subsidiaries, or principals of management companies that oversee the operations of any such Subsidiaries, are not permitted to trade securities of PubCo under PubCo’s insider trading policy or (ii) PubCo is in possession of material non-public information and has determined in Good Faith that the disclosure of such information would not be in the best interests of PubCo.

 

Book Value ” means, with respect to any asset of the Company, such asset’s Adjusted Basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except as follows:

 

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(a)                                  the initial Book Value of any asset contributed by a Member to the Company shall be the gross Fair Market Value of such asset as of the date of such contribution;

 

(b)                                  the Book Values of all Company assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective gross Fair Market Values as of the following times: (i) the acquisition of an interest (or additional interest) in the Company by any new or existing Member in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution to the Company (including as a result of a conversion of Incentive Units to Common Units pursuant to Section 3.6(c)(i) ) or in exchange for the performance of more than a de minimis amount of services to or for the benefit of the Company; (ii) the distribution by the Company to a Member of more than a de minimis amount of Company assets as consideration for an interest in the Company; (iii) the liquidation of the Company within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( g )(1), (iv) the acquisition of an interest in the Company by any new or existing Member upon the exercise of a 1.721-2(f) Option in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( s ); or (v) any other event to the extent determined by the Managing Member to be permitted and necessary or appropriate to properly reflect Book Values in accordance with the standards set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( q ); provided , however , that adjustments pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) and (iv) above shall be made only if the Managing Member reasonably determines that such adjustments are necessary or appropriate to reflect the relative economic interests of the Members in the Company. If any 1.721-2(f) Options are outstanding upon the occurrence of an event described in this paragraph (b)(i) through (b)(v), the Company shall adjust the Book Values of its properties in accordance with Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( f )(1) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( h )(2);

 

(c)                                   the Book Value of any Company asset distributed to any Member shall be adjusted to equal the gross Fair Market Value of such asset on the date of such distribution;

 

(d)                                  the Book Values of Company assets shall be increased (or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such assets pursuant to Code Section 734(b) (including any such adjustments pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.734-2(b)(1)), but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( m ) and subsection (f) in the definition of “Profits” or “Losses” below or Section 4.2(h) ; provided , however , that the Book Value of a Company asset shall not be adjusted pursuant to this subsection to the extent the Managing Member determines that an adjustment pursuant to subsection (b) of this definition is necessary or appropriate in connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this subsection (d); and

 

(e)                                   if the Book Value of a Company asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to subsections (a), (b) or (d) of this definition of Book Value, such Book Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such asset for purposes of computing Profits, Losses and other items allocated pursuant to Article IV .

 

Business Day ” means any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which banks are required or authorized by Law to be closed in the City of New York.

 

Call Right ” is defined in Section 3.7 .

 

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Capital Account ” means, with respect to any Member, the Capital Account maintained for such Member in accordance with Section 3.4 .

 

Capital Contributions ” means, with respect to any Member, the amount of cash and the initial Book Value of any property (other than cash) contributed to the Company by such Member. Any reference to the Capital Contributions of a Member shall include the Capital Contributions made by a predecessor holder of such Member’s Units to the extent the Capital Contribution was made in respect of Units Transferred to such Member.

 

Cash Amount ” means, with respect to any Cash Election for any Exchange or Standing Instructions Purchase, (i) in the event of any Standing Instructions Purchase, an amount of cash equal to the number of Common Units being purchased in such Standing Instructions Purchase, multiplied by the Net Share Price in the Demand Offering or Company Offering in which PubCo issued shares of Class A Common Stock to fund such purchase, (ii) in the event of any Cash Election funded by any Registered Offering, an amount of cash equal to the number of Common Units being purchased, multiplied   by the Net Share Price in such Registered Offering, and (iii) with respect to any other Cash Election, an amount of cash equal to the number of Common Units being purchased, multiplied by the Class A Closing Price for the last trading day before the Exchange Date for such Exchange.

 

Cash Election ” means an election by the Company to redeem Units for cash pursuant to Section 3.6(d)  or an election by PubCo to purchase Units for cash pursuant to an exercise of its Call Right set forth in Section 3.7 .

 

Change of Control ” means, with respect to any Person, the occurrence of any of the following events or series of related events after the date hereof:

 

(a)                                  any Person, or group of Persons acting together which would constitute a “group” for purposes of Section 13(d)  of the Exchange Act, or any successor provisions thereto, is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of such prior Person representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of such Person’s then outstanding voting securities;

 

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

 

(c)                                   the equity holders of such Person approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of such Person or there is consummated an agreement or series of related agreements for the sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by such Person of all or substantially all of such Person’s assets, other than such sale or other disposition by such Person of all or substantially all of such Person’s assets to an entity, at least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by equity holders of such Person in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of such Person immediately prior to such sale.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, except with respect to clause (b) above, a “Change of Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the voting power of such Person immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in, and own substantially all of the voting power of, an entity which owns, either directly or through a Subsidiary, all or substantially all of the assets of such Person immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

 

Change of Control Exchange Date ” is defined in Section 3.8 .

 

Class A Closing Price ” means, with respect to any date of determination, (i) the closing price of a share of Class A Common Stock on such date or, if such date is not a trading day, on the most recent trading day, as reported on bloomberg.com, or (ii) in the event the shares of Class A Common Stock are not then publicly traded, the Fair Market Value of a share of Class A Common Stock, as reasonably determined by PubCo in Good Faith, that would be obtained in an arm’s length transaction for cash between an informed and willing buyer and an informed and willing seller, neither of whom is under any compulsion to purchase or sell, respectively, and without regard to the particular circumstances of the buyer or seller.

 

Class A Common Stock ” means, as applicable, (i) the Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of PubCo or (ii) following any consolidation, merger, reclassification or other similar event involving PubCo, any shares or other securities of PubCo or any other Person that become payable in consideration for shares of Class A Common Stock or into which shares of Class A Common Stock are exchanged or converted as a result of such consolidation, merger, reclassification or other similar event.

 

Class B Common Stock ” means, as applicable, (i) the Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of PubCo or (ii) following any consolidation, merger, reclassification or other similar event involving PubCo, any shares or other securities of PubCo or any other Person that become payable in consideration for shares of Class B Common Stock or into which shares of Class B Common Stock are exchanged or converted as a result of such consolidation, merger, reclassification or other similar event.

 

Code ” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).

 

Commission ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Common Units ” is defined in Section 3.1(a) .

 

Company ” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Company Level Taxes ” means any federal, state, or local taxes, additions to tax, penalties, and interest payable by the Company or any Subsidiary as a result of any examination of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s affairs by any federal, state, or local tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings under the Partnership Tax Audit Rules.

 

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Company Minimum Gain ” has the meaning of “partnership minimum gain” set forth in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d).

 

Company Representative ” has, with respect to taxable periods beginning after December 31, 2017, the meaning assigned to the term “partnership representative” in Section 6223 of the Code and any Treasury Regulations or other administrative or judicial pronouncements promulgated thereunder and, with respect to taxable periods beginning on or before December 31, 2017, the meaning assigned to the term “tax matters partner” as defined in Code Section 6231(a)(7) prior to its amendment by Title XI of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, in each case as appointed pursuant to Section 9.4(a) .

 

Compensatory Unit ” means a Unit that is described in Proposed Treasury Regulations Section 1.721-1(b)(3) or any successor provision.

 

control ” (including the terms “ controlled by ” and “ under common control with ”), with respect to the relationship between or among two or more Persons, means the possession, directly or indirectly or as trustee, personal representative or executor, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the affairs or management of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee, personal representative or executor, by contract, credit arrangement or otherwise.

 

Covered Audit Adjustment ” means an adjustment to any partnership-related item (within the meaning of Section 6241(2)(B) of the Code) to the extent such adjustment results in an “imputed underpayment” as described in Section 6225(b) of the Code or any analogous provision of state or local Law.

 

Covered Person ” means, as of any time of determination: (i) a then-current or former Member; (ii) an Affiliate of a then-current or former Member; (iii) any then-current or former officer, manager, director, trustee, trust, stockholder, partner, member, employee, advisor, representative or agent of a current or former Member or any of their respective Affiliates;  (iv) any then-current or former officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary; and (v) the Company Representative.

 

Debt Securities ” means, with respect to PubCo, any debt instruments or debt securities that are not convertible or exchangeable into Equity Securities of PubCo.

 

Demand Offering ” is defined in Section 2.2.1 of the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Depreciation ” means, for each Allocation Period, an amount equal to the depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction allowable with respect to an asset for such Allocation Period, except that (a) with respect to any such property the Book Value of which differs from its Adjusted Basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes and which difference is being eliminated by use of the “remedial method” pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(d), Depreciation for such Allocation Period shall be the amount of book basis recovered for such Allocation Period under the rules prescribed by Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(d)(2), and (b) with respect to any other such property the Book Value of which differs from its Adjusted Basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such Allocation Period, Depreciation shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such beginning Book Value as the

 

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U.S. federal income tax depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction for such Allocation Period bears to such beginning Adjusted Basis; provided , however , that if the Adjusted Basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes of an asset at the beginning of such Allocation Period is zero, Depreciation with respect to such asset shall be determined with reference to such beginning Book Value using any reasonable method selected by the Managing Member.

 

DGCL ” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).

 

Discount ” is defined in Section 3.6(i) .

 

Equity Securities ” means with respect to any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or similar Person, any and all shares, units, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options or other equivalents of, or other ownership interests in, any such Person, as well as debt or equity instruments convertible, exchangeable or exercisable into any such shares, units, interests, rights or other ownership interests.

 

Excess Tax Amount ” is defined in Section 9.5(b) .

 

Exchange ” means any exchange of Common Units (including Common Units received as a result of the conversion of Incentive Units into Common Units) into shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).

 

Exchange Date ” means a Regular Exchange Date or a Special Exchange Date.

 

Exchange Notice ” is defined in Section 3.6(b) .

 

Exchange Notice Date ” means, with respect to (a) each Regular Exchange Date, the date that is fifteen (15) days prior to such Exchange Date, provided that if such date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the Exchange Notice Date shall be the next Business Day, and (b) each Special Exchange Date, such Special Exchange Date (in connection with any Registered Offering) or such other Business Day prior to such Special Exchange Date as specified by the Managing Member in a notice delivered by the Company to the Members prior to such Special Exchange Date.

 

Existing LLC Agreement ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Fair Market Value ” means the fair market value of any property as determined in Good Faith by the Managing Member after taking into account such factors as the Managing Member shall deem appropriate.

 

Fiscal Year ” means the fiscal year of the Company, which shall end on December 31 of each calendar year unless, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, another fiscal year is required.

 

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The Company shall have the same fiscal year for U.S. federal income tax purposes and for accounting purposes.

 

Fund Indemnitors ” is defined in Section 6.4(h)(i) .

 

GAAP ” means U.S. generally acceptable accounting principles at the time.

 

Good Faith ” means a Person having acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to a criminal proceeding, having had no reasonable cause to believe such Person’s conduct was unlawful.

 

Governmental Entity ” means any federal, national, supranational, state, provincial, local, foreign or other government, governmental, stock exchange, regulatory or administrative authority, agency or commission or any court, tribunal, or judicial or arbitral body.

 

Gross IPO Price ” means, with respect to any Registered Offering, the price to the public per share of Class A Common Stock in such Registered Offering.

 

Hurdle Amount ” is defined in Section 3.1(a).

 

Incentive Units ” is defined in Section 3.1(a) .

 

Indemnifiable Losses ” is defined in Section 6.4(c) .

 

Initial Shares ” means the shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding immediately after the IPO.

 

Initial Units ” means the Units outstanding immediately after the closing of the IPO.

 

Interest ” means the entire interest of a Member in the Company, including the Units and all of such Member’s rights, powers and privileges under this Agreement and the Act.

 

IPO ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

IPO Date Capital Account Balance ” means, with respect to any Member, the positive Capital Account balance of such Member as of the date hereof after giving effect to the Reorganization, the IPO and any related transactions, the amount of which will be set forth by the Company on the Members Schedule within 180 days after the effectiveness of this Agreement.

 

IPO TRAs ” means the Tax Receivable Agreements, dated as of the date hereof, by and among PubCo and certain current and former Members or Affiliates thereof, as the same may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time.

 

IU Conversion Ratio ” means, with respect to any number of Incentive Units being converted (a) on any Special Exchange Date in connection with any Registered Offering, (i) the Gross Share Price in such Registered Offering multiplied by such number of Incentive Units, minus the sum of all Hurdle Amounts of such Incentive Units, divided by (ii) such Gross Share Price, and

 

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(b) on any other Exchange Date, (i) the Class A Closing Price as of the first trading day after the Exchange Notice Date preceding such Exchange Date multiplied by such number of Incentive Units, minus the sum of all Hurdle Amounts of such Incentive Units, divided by (ii) such the Class A Closing Price.

 

KKR Entities ” means, KKR Freya Aggregator L.P., its Affiliates who hold Initial Units or Initial Shares, and any Permitted Transferee to whom the foregoing entities Transfer Initial Units or Initial Shares in a Permitted Transfer.

 

Law ” means any federal, national, supranational, state, provincial, local or similar statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, order, requirement or rule of law (including common law).

 

Liability ” means any liability or obligation, whether known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated and whether due or to become due, regardless of when asserted.

 

Liquidating Events ” is defined in Section 10.1 .

 

Lock-Up Period ” means the period of 180 days commencing with the pricing of the IPO.

 

Managing Member ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Member ” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Member Minimum Gain ” has the meaning ascribed to “partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain” set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i).

 

Member Nonrecourse Debt ” has the meaning of “partner nonrecourse debt” set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4).

 

Member Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning of “partner nonrecourse deductions” set forth in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(i)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(2).

 

Members Schedule ” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

National Securities Exchange ” means an exchange registered with the Commission under the Exchange Act.

 

Net Share Price ” means, with respect to any Registered Offering, the Gross Share Price, less the underwriting discount per share of Class A Common Stock, in such Registered Offering.

 

Non-Private Equity Offering ” is defined in Section 2.3(a)  of the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning assigned that term in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b).

 

Nonrecourse Liability ” is defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(3).

 

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Officer ” means each Person appointed as an officer of the Company pursuant to and in accordance with Section 6.2 .

 

Partnership Tax Audit Rules ” means Sections 6221 through 6241 of the Code, as amended, together with any final or temporary Treasury Regulations, Revenue Rulings, and case law interpreting Sections 6221 through 6241 of the Code, as amended (and any analogous provision of state or local tax Law).

 

Permitted Transfer ” is defined in Section 8.1(b) .

 

Permitted Transferee ” means any Person that is not (i) a national or global financial institution or insurance company or a regional bank that in each case derives at least 30% of its revenues from wealth management services or the sale of proprietary financial products (which for the avoidance of doubt, excludes life insurance and annuities), (ii) an independent broker-dealer, (iii) a platform for or aggregator of registered investment advisers or broker-dealer teams, or (iv) a holding company or acquisition vehicle of any entity described in the foregoing clauses (i) — (iii).

 

Person ” means any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity, as well as any syndicate or group that would be deemed to be a person under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

 

Piggyback Registration ” is defined in Section 2.3(c)  of the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Plan Asset Regulations ” means the regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Labor at Section 2510.3-101 of Part 2510 of Chapter XXV, Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulations as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

Post-IPO TRA ” means any tax receivable agreement (or comparable agreement), other than the IPO TRAs, entered into by PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which PubCo is obligated to pay over amounts with respect to tax benefits resulting from any tax attributes to which PubCo becomes entitled.

 

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

 

Profits ” or “ Losses ” means, for each Allocation Period, an amount equal to the Company’s taxable income or loss for such year or period, determined in accordance with Code Section 703(a) (for this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss or deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to Code Section 703(a)(1) shall be included in taxable income or loss), with the following adjustments (without duplication):

 

(a)                                  any income or gain of the Company that is exempt from U.S. federal income tax and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses shall be added to such taxable income or loss;

 

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(b)                                  any expenditures of the Company described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) or treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( i ), and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses, shall be subtracted from such taxable income or loss;

 

(c)                                   in the event the Book Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) of the definition of Book Value above, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the Book Value of the Company asset) or an item of loss (if the adjustment decreases the Book Value of the Company asset) from the disposition of such asset and shall, except to the extent allocated pursuant to Section 4.2 , be taken into account for purposes of computing Profits or Losses;

 

(d)                                  gain or loss resulting from any disposition of Company assets with respect to which gain or loss is recognized for U.S. federal income tax purposes shall be computed with reference to the Book Value of the asset disposed of, notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis of such asset differs from its Book Value;

 

(e)                                   in lieu of the depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into account Depreciation;

 

(f)                                    to the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any asset pursuant to Code Section 734(b) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( m )(4), to be taken into account in determining Capital Account balances as a result of a distribution other than in liquidation of a Member’s interest in the Company, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or an item of loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) from the disposition of such asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of computing Profits or Losses; and

 

(g)                                   any items of income, gain, loss or deduction which are specifically allocated pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.2 shall not be taken into account in computing Profits or Losses for any taxable year, but such items available to be specially allocated pursuant to Section 4.2 will be determined by applying rules analogous to those set forth in subparagraphs (a) through (f) above.

 

Profits Interest ” means an interest in the Company that is classified as a partnership profits interest within the meaning of Internal Revenue Service Revenue Procedures 93-27 and 2001-43 (or the corresponding requirements of any subsequent guidance promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service or other applicable Law).

 

Property ” means all real and personal property owned by the Company from time to time, including both tangible and intangible property.

 

PubCo ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

PubCo Approved Change of Control ” means any Change of Control of PubCo that meets the following conditions:  (i) such Change of Control was approved by the board of directors of PubCo prior to such Change of Control, (ii) such Change of Control results in an early termination

 

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of and acceleration of payments under the IPO TRAs, (iii) the terms of such Change of Control provide for the consideration for the Units in such Change of Control to consist solely of (A) freely and immediately tradeable common equity securities of an issuer listed on a national securities exchange and/or (B) cash, and (iv) if such consideration includes common equity, the market value of the outstanding common equity held by non-affiliates of such issuer is at least twice as large as the market value of all of the outstanding common equity of PubCo, in each case on a fully-diluted basis immediately before the public announcement of such Change of Control.

 

PubCo Common Stock ” means all classes and series of common stock of PubCo, including the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock.

 

PubCo Offer ” is defined in Section 3.9 .

 

PubCo Tax-Related Liabilities ” with respect to a Fiscal Year or other taxable period means (a) any U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. tax obligations (including any Company Level Taxes for which PubCo is liable hereunder) owed by PubCo with respect to such Fiscal Year or other taxable period (other than any obligations to remit any withholdings withheld from payments to third parties) and (b) any obligations under the IPO TRAs and any Post-IPO TRA payable by PubCo during such Fiscal Year or other taxable period.

 

Reclassification Event ” means any of the following: (i) any reclassification or recapitalization of PubCo Common Stock (other than a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value, or as a result of a subdivision or combination or any transaction subject to Section 3.2(e) ), (ii) any merger, consolidation or other combination involving PubCo, or (iii) any sale, conveyance, lease, or other disposal of all or substantially all the properties and assets of PubCo to any other Person, in each of clauses (i), (ii) or (iii), as a result of which holders of PubCo Common Stock shall be entitled to receive cash, securities or other property for their shares of PubCo Common Stock.

 

Record Date ” means, with respect to any distribution pursuant to Article V, the Business Day specified by the Managing Member for purposes of determining the outstanding Units entitled to participate in such distribution.

 

Registered Offering ” means any Demand Offering, Non-Private Equity Offering, and Piggyback Registration.

 

Registration Rights Agreement ” means the Registration Rights Agreement attached as Exhibit C .

 

Regular Exchange Date ” means a date within each fiscal quarter of PubCo specified by the Managing Member by notice to the Members from time to time, commencing with the first such date after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, and which date is intended to be specified so that the preceding Exchange Notice Date does not fall within a Blackout Period, provided that (a) the Managing Member may move or modify any such previously announced date or dates upon at least thirty (30) days prior notice to the Members, and (b) if any such date falls (i) on a date that is not a Business Day, the Regular Exchange Date shall be the next Business Day or (ii) on a date such that the preceding Exchange Notice Date is within a Blackout Period, the Regular Exchange

 

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Date shall be moved such that the preceding Exchange Notice Date shall be the first Business Day after such Blackout Period.

 

Regulatory Allocations ” is defined in Section 4.2(i) .

 

Reorganization ” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).

 

Special Block Trade ” means any sale of shares of Class A Common Stock issued in an Exchange for an aggregate purchase price of at least $25,000,000 in a “bought deal” or “overnight offering” during any period for which a Registration Suspension (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) is in effect or any period after the Shelf Eligibility Date for which a Shelf Registration Statement (both as defined in the Registration Statement) is not in effect.

 

Special Exchange Date ” means a Business Day that the Managing Member (i) shall specify in connection with a Registered Offering, Special Block Trade or Change of Control of PubCo in lieu of or in addition to any Regular Exchange Date, provided that in connection with each Registered Offering such date shall be the date of such Registered Offering, or (ii) may specify in connection with any other securities offering or transaction in lieu of the Regular Exchange Date for the fiscal quarter during which such securities offering or transaction occurs.

 

Standing Instructions ” is defined in Section 2.1(d)  of the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Standing Instructions Purchase ” means any purchase by the Company of vested Common Units (including those issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) in connection with any Registered Offering pursuant to Standing Instructions.

 

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to the Company or any Person, any other Person with respect to which the Company, such specified Person, or any other Subsidiary (as herein defined) directly or indirectly owns at the time of determination more than (i) fifty percent (50%)  of the outstanding voting shares or interests of such Person other than directors’ qualifying shares, or (ii) if no Person owns more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting shares or interests of such Person, twenty-five percent (25%) of the outstanding voting shares or interests of such Person other than directors’ qualifying shares.

 

Tax Distribution Date ” means, with respect to each Fiscal Year, (a) any date that is two Business Days prior to the due date for U.S. federal income tax returns of corporate calendar year taxpayers without regard to extensions and (b) any date that is two Business Days prior to the due date for U.S. federal income tax returns of corporate calendar year taxpayers taking into account extensions.

 

Transfer ” means, as a noun, any voluntary or involuntary, direct or indirect (whether through a change of control of the Transferor or any Person that controls the Transferor, the issuance or transfer of Equity Securities of the Transferor, by operation of law or otherwise), transfer, sale, pledge or other disposition and, as a verb, voluntarily or involuntarily, directly or

 

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indirectly (whether through a change of control of the Transferor or any Person that controls the Transferor, the issuance or transfer of Equity Securities of the Transferor or any Person that controls the Transferor, by operation of law or otherwise), to transfer, sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of; provided, however , that any pledge of Units shall constitute a Transfer of such Units only upon any foreclosure by the pledgee on such Units.  The terms “Transferee,” “Transferor,” “Transferred,” and other forms of the word “Transfer” shall have the correlative meanings.

 

Treasury Regulations ” means pronouncements, as amended from time to time, or their successor pronouncements, which clarify, interpret and apply the provisions of the Code, and which are designated as “Treasury Regulations” by the United States Department of the Treasury.

 

Trident Entities ” means Trident FFP LP, its Affiliates who hold Initial Units or Initial Shares, and any Permitted Transferee to whom the foregoing entities Transfer Initial Units or Initial Shares in a Permitted Transfer.

 

Units ” means Common Units and Incentive Units and any Equity Securities of the Company issued in respect of or in exchange for Units, whether by way of dividend or other distribution, split, recapitalization, merger, rollup transaction, consolidation, conversion or reorganization.

 

Winding-Up Member ” is defined in Section 10.3(a) .

 

Section 1.2                                     Interpretive Provisions . For all purposes of this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(a)                                  the terms defined in Section 1.1 are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms;

 

(b)                                  all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned under GAAP;

 

(c)                                   all references to currency, monetary values and dollars set forth herein shall mean United States (U.S.) dollars and all payments hereunder shall be made in United States dollars;

 

(d)                                  when a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference is to an Article or Section of, or an Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated;

 

(e)                                   whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;

 

(f)                                    “or” is not exclusive;

 

(g)                                   pronouns of either gender or neuter shall include, as appropriate, the other pronoun forms; and

 

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

 

ARTICLE II

 

ORGANIZATION OF THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

 

Section 2.1                                     Formation . The Company was formed as a limited liability company subject to the provisions of the Act upon the terms, provisions and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

Section 2.2                                     Filing . The Company’s Certificate of Formation has been filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the Act. The Members shall execute such further documents (including amendments to such Certificate of Formation) and take such further action as is appropriate to comply with the requirements of Law for the formation or operation of a limited liability company in Delaware and in all states and counties where the Company may conduct its business.

 

Section 2.3                                     Name . The name of the Company is “Focus Financial Partners, LLC” and all business of the Company shall be conducted in such name or, in the discretion of the Managing Member, under any other name.

 

Section 2.4                                     Registered Office; Registered Agent . The location of the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, or at such other place as the Managing Member from time to time may select. The name and address for service of process on the Company in the State of Delaware are The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, or such other qualified Person as the Managing Member may designate from time to time and its business address.

 

Section 2.5                                     Principal Place of Business . The principal place of business of the Company shall be located in such place as is determined by the Managing Member from time to time.

 

Section 2.6                                     Qualification in Other Jurisdictions .  The Managing Member shall cause the Company to be registered or qualified under its own name or under an assumed or fictitious name pursuant to a foreign limited liability company statute or similar laws in any jurisdictions in which the Company owns property or transacts business if such registration or qualification is necessary to protect the limited liability of the Members or to permit the Company lawfully to own property or transact business in such jurisdiction.

 

Section 2.7                                     Purpose; Powers . The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Company is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which limited liability companies may be formed under the Act. The Company shall have the power and authority to take any and all actions and engage in any and all activities necessary, appropriate, desirable, advisable, ancillary or incidental to the accomplishment of the foregoing purpose.

 

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Section 2.8                                     Term . The term of the Company commenced on the date of filing of the Certificate of Formation of the Company with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the Act and shall continue indefinitely. The Company may be dissolved and its affairs wound up only in accordance with Article X .

 

Section 2.9                                     Intent . It is the intent of the Members that the Company be operated in a manner consistent with its treatment as a “partnership” for U.S. federal and state and applicable non-U.S. income tax purposes. It is also the intent of the Members that the Company not be operated or treated as a “partnership” for purposes of Section 303 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code. Neither the Company nor any Member shall take any action inconsistent with the express intent of the parties hereto as set forth in this Section 2.9 .

 

Section 2.10                              Effectiveness .  This Agreement became effective on the date stated in the preamble to this Agreement, which is the date of consummation of the IPO.  In accordance with the terms of the Amendment, this Agreement automatically amended and restated the Existing LLC Agreement without further action by any Member.

 

Section 2.11                              Registration Rights .  Each Member shall have the registration rights, and the Company and each Member shall have the obligations, set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, which is an integral part of this Agreement.

 

Section 2.12                              Limited Liability .  The Liability of each Member shall be limited as set forth in the Act and other applicable Law and, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or any other written agreement to which it is a party or as required by Law, no Member (or any of its Affiliates) shall be personally liable, whether to the Company, to any of the other Members, to the creditors of the Company, or to any other third party, for any debt or Liability of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, solely by reason of being a Member of the Company.

 

ARTICLE III

 

OWNERSHIP AND CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS

 

Section 3.1                                     Authorized Units; Issuance of Units .

 

(a)                                  Each Member’s ownership interest in the Company shall be represented by Units. The Managing Member shall have the right to authorize and cause the Company to issue (A) an unlimited number of Common Units (the “ Common Units ”) and (B) an unlimited number of Incentive Units (the “ Incentive Units ”).  The number and type of Units issued to each Member shall be set forth opposite such Member’s name on the Members Schedule.  The Common Units and Incentive Units may be subject to vesting as set forth in any agreement governing their issuance.  Each Incentive Unit shall be subject to a hurdle amount (the “ Hurdle Amount ”).  The Hurdle Amount of any Incentive Unit shall be: (i) as of the date hereof with respect to each outstanding Incentive Unit, as set forth on the Members Schedule, (ii) with respect to each subsequently issued Incentive Unit that is intended to constitute a Profits Interest for U.S. federal income tax purposes, an amount not less than the Class A Closing Price on the last trading day before the date of issuance or such higher amount determined by the Managing Member to the extent necessary to cause such Incentive Unit to constitute a Profits Interest, as set forth on the Members Schedule, and (iii) with respect to each subsequently issued Incentive Unit that is not

 

17



 

intended to constitute a Profits Interest, the amount as determined by the Managing Member.  Each subsequently issued Incentive Unit that is intended to constitute a Profits Interest shall have an initial Capital Account at the time of its issuance equal to zero dollars ($0.00).  With respect to any Incentive Unit that the Company does not intend to constitute a Profits Interest, (A) such Incentive Unit will constitute a Compensatory Unit, (B) the grant (or vesting) of such Incentive Unit will be taxable to the recipient thereof in accordance with Code Section 83, and (C) the Capital Account associated with each such Incentive Unit at the time of issuance shall be as provided in Section 3.4(a)(iii).

 

(b)                                  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Managing Member shall have the right to authorize and cause the Company to issue additional Units or other Equity Securities of the Company on such terms (including price) as may be determined by the Managing Member. The Company shall not issue Equity Securities of the Company to any Person unless such Person shall have executed a counterpart to this Agreement and all other agreements or instruments deemed necessary or desirable in the discretion of the Managing Member. The Managing Member shall amend the Members Schedule to reflect such additional issuances.

 

(c)                                   None of the Units shall be represented by certificates. All existing certificates representing outstanding Units shall be cancelled, and their holders shall promptly surrender them to the Company. If the Managing Member determines that it is in the interest of the Company to issue certificates representing Units, the Managing Member shall issue such certificates, and this Agreement shall be deemed amended as necessary or desirable to reflect the issuance of certificated Units for purposes of the Uniform Commercial Code.

 

(d)                                  A Unit shall constitute a security for all purposes of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code.  The laws of the State of Delaware shall constitute the local law of the Company’s jurisdiction in its capacity as the issuer of Units.

 

Section 3.2                                     Issuance of Units to PubCo after the IPO .

 

(a)                                  Any time PubCo issues a share of Class A Common Stock or any other Equity Security of PubCo (other than shares of Class B Common Stock), (i) the Company shall concurrently issue to PubCo one Common Unit (if PubCo issues a share of Class A Common Stock), or such other Equity Security of the Company (if PubCo issues Equity Securities other than Class A Common Stock) corresponding to the Equity Securities issued by PubCo, and with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distributions upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Securities of PubCo, and (ii) PubCo shall concurrently transfer to the Company the net proceeds (in cash or property, as the case may be), if any, received by it for such share of Class A Common Stock or other Equity Security.  Any time the Company issues a Common Unit (other than any Common Unit subject to vesting and Common Units issued upon conversion of Incentive Units in connection with an Exchange), PubCo shall concurrently issue one share of Class B Common Stock to the holder of such Common Unit.  Promptly upon vesting of an unvested Common Unit, PubCo shall issue one share of Class B Common Stock to the holder of such Common Unit.  PubCo shall not issue any shares of Class B Common Stock to any Person other than holders of vested Common Units, and the number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock held by any Person shall at all times be equal to the number of outstanding vested Common Units held by such Person.

 

18



 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding Section 3.2(a) :

 

(i)                                      if PubCo issues any shares of Class A Common Stock in order to purchase or fund the purchase from a Member of a number of Common Units (and, if applicable, shares of Class B Common Stock) equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock so issued, then the Company shall not issue any new Units in connection therewith, PubCo shall not be required to transfer such net proceeds to the Company, and such net proceeds shall instead be transferred to such Member as consideration for such purchase;

 

(ii)                                   Section 3.2(a)  shall not apply to the issuance and distribution to holders of shares of PubCo Common Stock of rights to purchase Equity Securities of PubCo under a “poison pill” or similar shareholders rights plan, and upon any exchange of Common Units for Class A Common Stock, such Class A Common Stock shall be issued together with a corresponding right under such plan; and

 

(iii)                                Section 3.2(a)  shall not apply to the issuance under PubCo’s employee benefit plans or in connection with the IPO of any warrants, options, other rights to acquire shares of capital stock of PubCo or rights or property that may be converted into or settled in shares of capital stock of PubCo, but shall in each of the foregoing cases apply to the issuance of shares of capital stock of PubCo in connection with the exercise or settlement of such rights, warrants, options or other rights or property.

 

(c)                                   Except pursuant to Section 3.2(h)  or Section 3.6 , the Company shall not issue any additional Common Units to PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries unless concurrently PubCo or such Subsidiary issues or sells to another Person an equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock. The Company shall not issue any Incentive Units to PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries. The Company shall not issue any other Equity Securities of the Company to PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries unless concurrently PubCo or such Subsidiary issues or sells to another Person an equal number of shares of a new class or series of Equity Securities of PubCo or such Subsidiary with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distributions upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Securities of the Company.

 

(d)                                  Neither PubCo nor any of its Subsidiaries shall redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire (i) any shares of Class A Common Stock (including upon forfeiture of any unvested shares of Class A Common Stock), unless concurrently the Company redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires from PubCo or such Subsidiary an equal number of Common Units for the same price per security or (ii) any other Equity Securities of PubCo (other than shares of Class B Common Stock in an Exchange), unless concurrently the Company redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires from PubCo or such Subsidiary an equal number of Equity Securities of the Company of a corresponding class or series with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distributions upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Securities of PubCo for the same price per security. The Company shall not redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire (A) except pursuant to Section 3.2(h)  or Section 3.6 , any Common Units from PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries unless concurrently PubCo or such Subsidiary redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires an equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock for the same price per security from holders thereof, or (B) any other Equity Securities of the Company from PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries unless concurrently PubCo or such Subsidiary redeems,

 

19



 

repurchases or otherwise acquires for the same price per security an equal number of Equity Securities of PubCo of a corresponding class or series with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distribution upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Securities of PubCo. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any consideration payable by PubCo in connection with the redemption or repurchase of any shares of Class A Common Stock or other Equity Securities of PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries consists (in whole or in part) of shares of Class A Common Stock or such other Equity Securities (including in connection with the cashless exercise of an option or warrant), then the redemption or repurchase of the corresponding Units or other Equity Securities of the Company shall be effectuated in an equivalent manner.

 

(e)                                   The Company shall not in any manner effect any subdivision (by equity split, equity distribution, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse equity split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of (i) the outstanding Common Units unless accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination, as applicable, of the outstanding PubCo Common Stock, with corresponding changes made with respect to the Incentive Units and any other exchangeable or convertible securities, and (ii) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the outstanding Incentive Units.  Unless in connection with actions taken pursuant to Section 3.2(g) , PubCo shall not in any manner effect any subdivision (by stock split, stock dividend, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock split, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) of the outstanding PubCo Common Stock unless accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination, as applicable, of the outstanding Common Units, with corresponding changes made with respect to the Incentive Units and any other exchangeable or convertible securities.

 

(f)                                    If at any time PubCo or any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) issues Debt Securities, PubCo or such Subsidiary shall transfer to the Company (in a manner to be determined by the Managing Member in Good Faith to preserve the intended economic effect of this Section 3.2 and the other provisions hereof) the proceeds received by PubCo or such Subsidiary in exchange for such Debt Securities in a manner that directly or indirectly burdens the Company with the repayment of the Debt Securities.  In the event any Equity Security outstanding at PubCo is exchanged or exercised for or converted into shares of Class A Common Stock or other Equity Securities of PubCo, (i) the corresponding Equity Security outstanding at the Company shall be similarly exchanged, exercised or converted, and an equivalent number of Units or other Equity Securities of the Company shall be issued to PubCo as contemplated by Section 3.2(a) , and (ii) PubCo shall concurrently contribute to the Company the net proceeds, if any, received by PubCo from any such exercise or conversion.

 

(g)                                   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if PubCo acquires or holds any material amount of cash in excess of any monetary obligations it reasonably anticipates (including as a result of the receipt of distributions pursuant to Section 5.2(a)  for any period in excess of the PubCo Tax-Related Liabilities for such period), PubCo may, in its sole discretion, use such excess cash amount in such manner, and make such adjustments to or take such other actions with respect to the capitalization of PubCo and the Company, as PubCo (including in its capacity as the Managing Member) in Good Faith determines to be fair and reasonable to the stockholders of PubCo and to the Members and to preserve the intended economic effect of this Section 3.2 , Section 3.6 , and the other provisions hereof.

 

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(h)                                  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company may redeem Common Units from PubCo for cash to fund any acquisition by PubCo of another Person, provided that promptly after such redemption and acquisition PubCo causes such Person to contribute its assets directly or indirectly to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in exchange for a number of Common Units equal to the number of Common Units redeemed.

 

Section 3.3                                     Capital Contributions .  Each Member named on the Members Schedule shall be credited with the IPO Date Capital Account Balance set forth on the Members Schedule in respect of its Units specified thereon.  Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein or required by the Act, a Member shall not be required to lend any funds to the Company or to make any additional contributions (including Capital Contributions) or payments to the Company.

 

Section 3.4                                     Capital Accounts . A Capital Account shall be maintained for each Member in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) and, to the extent consistent with such regulations, the other provisions of this Agreement. The Capital Account balance of each of the Members as of the date hereof is its respective IPO Date Capital Account Balance set forth on the Members Schedule. Thereafter, each Member’s Capital Account shall be (a) increased by (i) allocations to such Member of Profits pursuant to Section 4.1 and any other items of income or gain allocated to such Member pursuant to Section 4.2 , (ii) the amount of additional cash or the initial Book Value of any asset (net of any Liabilities secured by the contributed property that the Company is considered to assume or take subject to under Section 752 of the Code) contributed to the Company by such Member, (iii) in the case of a Member receiving Compensatory Units, the amount included in the Member’s compensation income under Sections 83(a), 83(b) or 83(d)(2) of the Code and (iv) any other increases allowed or required by Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv), and (b) decreased by (i) allocations to such Member of Losses pursuant to Section 4.1 and any other items of deduction or loss allocated to such Member pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.2 , (ii) the amount of any cash or the Book Value of any asset (net of any Liabilities secured by the distributed property that such Member is considered to assume or take subject to under Section 752 of the Code) distributed to such Member, and (iii) any other decreases allowed or required by Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv).  In the event of a Transfer (or deemed Transfer) of Units made in accordance with this Agreement, the Capital Account of the Transferor that is attributable to the Transferred Units shall carry over to the Transferee Member in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( l ). Except as otherwise required by the Act, no Member shall have any liability to restore all or any portion of a deficit balance in such Member’s Capital Account.

 

Section 3.5                                     No Return of Capital Contributions .

 

(a)                                  No Member shall demand or receive a return on or of its Capital Contributions or withdraw from the Company without the consent of the Managing Member. Under circumstances requiring a return of any Capital Contributions, no Member has the right to receive property other than cash.

 

(b)                                  The Company shall not be obligated to repay any Capital Contributions of any Member.

 

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Section 3.6                                     Exchange of Units .

 

(a)                                  Each Member other than PubCo and any Subsidiary of PubCo shall be entitled to cause the Company to redeem all or a portion of such Member’s vested Common Units, together with an equal number of shares of Class B Common Stock, and vested Incentive Units, in each case, for shares of Class A Common Stock or, at the Company’s election under certain circumstances, cash in accordance with Section 3.6(d)  (referred to herein as the “ exchange right ”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 3.6 and subject to PubCo’s Call Right as set forth in Section 3.7 .

 

(b)                                  In order to exercise its exchange right, each exchanging Member shall provide written notice in the form attached as Exhibit A or such other form as the Company may provide from time to time (the “ Exchange Notice ”) to the Company and PubCo, on or before any Exchange Notice Date, stating that the exchanging Member elects to exchange on the next Exchange Date a stated number of vested Common Units, together with an equal number of shares of Class B Common Stock, or a stated number of vested Incentive Units.  Upon delivery of any Exchange Notice by any Member on or before any Exchange Notice Date, such member may not revoke or rescind such Exchange Notice after such Exchange Notice Date.  Any Exchange Notice delivered for an Exchange on a Regular Exchange Date may not be contingent.  Any Exchange Notice delivered for an Exchange on a Special Exchange Date may be made contingent on the consummation of the Registered Offering or other transaction described in the notice of the Managing Member specifying such Special Exchange Date.  Any notice by any Member pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement to demand or participate in any Registered Offering shall be deemed to constitute an Exchange Notice for the related Special Exchange Date.

 

(c)                                   On any Exchange Date for which any Member delivered an Exchange Notice with respect to vested Common Units or Incentive Units:

 

(i)                                      if such Member exercised its right to exchange a number of vested Incentive Units, as of such Exchange Date, such Incentive Units shall be converted into a number of Common Units equal to the IU Conversion Ratio of such Incentive Units, rounded down to the nearest whole number of Common Units; provided , however , that if the Gross Share Price or Class A Closing Price used in the application of such IU Conversion Ratio is less than the Hurdle Amount of any such Incentive Units, such Exchange Notice shall be deemed to be withdrawn with respect to such Incentive Units; and

 

(ii)                                   unless the Company elects to pay cash in accordance with Section 3.6(d)  or PubCo exercises its Call Right pursuant to Section 3.7 or purchases vested Common Units pursuant to Standing Instructions, on the such Exchange Date:

 

(A)                                if such Member exercised its right to exchange a number of vested Common Units, such number of Common Units, together with an equal number of shares of Class B Common Stock, shall be exchanged for an equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock; and

 

(B)                                if such Member exercised its right to exchange a number of vested Incentive Units, the number of Common Units received as a result of the conversion of such

 

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Incentive Units into Common Units pursuant to Section 3.6(c)(i)  shall be exchanged for an equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock.

 

(d)                                  The Company shall be entitled to elect to settle any Exchange by delivering to the exchanging Member, in lieu of the applicable number of shares of Class A Common Stock that would be received in such Exchange, an amount of cash equal to the Cash Amount for such shares.

 

(e)                                   Each Member’s exchange right shall be subject to the following limitations and qualifications:

 

(i)                                      The first Exchange shall only be permitted on the first Exchange Date after the Lock-Up Period;

 

(ii)                                   thereafter, except as provided herein, Exchanges shall only be permitted on each Exchange Date;

 

(iii)                                each Member holding Initial Units shall, on any Regular Exchange Date, only be permitted to exchange up to the aggregate percentage of such Initial Units set forth below opposite such Regular Exchange Date, which percentage shall be applied on a cumulative basis by taking into account all such Initial Units previously exchanged on Regular Exchange Dates:

 

First Regular Exchange Date

 

8.33

%

Second Regular Exchange Date

 

16.67

%

Third Regular Exchange Date

 

25.00

%

Fourth Regular Exchange Date

 

33.33

%

Fifth Regular Exchange Date

 

41.67

%

Sixth Regular Exchange Date

 

50.00

%

Seventh Regular Exchange Date

 

58.33

%

Eighth Regular Exchange Date

 

66.67

%

Ninth Regular Exchange Date

 

75.00

%

Tenth Regular Exchange Date

 

83.33

%

Eleventh Regular Exchange Date

 

91.67

%

Twelfth Regular Exchange Date

 

100.00

%

 

(iv)                               the percentage limitations set forth in the foregoing clause (iii) shall not apply to (A) any Exchange on any Special Exchange Date for a Registered Offering, Special Block Trade or Change of Control of PubCo, (B) any Exchange on any Exchange Date by any Trident Entity or any KKR Entity, provided that the shares of Class A Common Stock issued in such Exchange described in this clause (B) are subject to the aggregate percentage limitations provided for in Section 3.11(a)  or (b) , or (C) any Exchange in connection with any Change of Control of PubCo or any PubCo Offer;

 

(v)                                  if any Member whose Initial Units are subject to the limitations set forth in the foregoing clause (iii) exchanges all or a portion of such Units on any Special Exchange Date or sells all or a portion of such Units pursuant to Standing Instructions, the number of Initial Units so exchanged or sold shall reduce on a pro rata basis the number of retained Initial Units that may be exchanged on each remaining Regular Exchange Date pursuant to the foregoing clause (iii);

 

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(vi)                               an exchanging Member shall only be permitted to exchange less than all of its Units if (A) after such Exchange it would continue to hold at least 25,000 Units and (B) it exchanges not less than 25,000 Units in such Exchange;

 

(vii)                            any Exchange of Units issued after the date hereof (other than in connection with any recapitalization), including such Units issued to Members as of the date hereof, may be limited in accordance with the terms of any agreements or instruments entered into in connection with such issuance, as deemed necessary or desirable in the discretion of the Managing Member; and

 

(viii)                         the Managing Member may impose additional limitations and restrictions on Exchanges (including limiting Exchanges or creating priority procedures for Exchanges), to the extent it determines in Good Faith, based on the advice of legal counsel or a qualified tax advisor to the Company and after consultation with the KKR Entities and the Trident Entities, such limitations and restrictions to be necessary or appropriate to avoid undue risk that the Company may be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code.

 

(f)                                    The Managing Member may, except as set forth in the third and fourth sentences of this paragraph, require any Member or group of Members to exchange all of their Units to the extent it determines in Good Faith that such Exchange is necessary or appropriate to avoid undue risk that the Company may be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code.  Upon delivery of any notice by the Managing Member to such Member or group of Members requiring such Exchange, such Member or group of Members shall exchange, subject to exercise by PubCo of its Call Right pursuant to Section 3.7 , all of their Units effective as of the date specified in such notice (and such date shall be deemed to be an Exchange Date for purposes of this Agreement) in accordance with this Section 3.6 and otherwise in accordance with the requirements set forth in such notice.  So long as the KKR Entities collectively own any outstanding Units and are in compliance with Section 8.1(b) , the foregoing requirement to exchange their Units shall not apply to any KKR Entity holding Common Units that has not consented to the Exchange of its Units.  So long as the Trident Entities collectively own any outstanding Units and are in compliance with Section 8.1(b) , the foregoing requirement to exchange their Units shall not apply to any Trident Entity holding Common Units that has not consented to the Exchange of its Units.  If any required Exchange pursuant to this Section 3.6(f)  results in any disproportionate treatment of similarly situated Members, the Managing Member in its sole discretion may provide an equitable adjustment to the Members adversely affected by such disproportionate treatment.

 

(g)                                   For U.S. federal income (and applicable state and local) tax purposes, each of the exchanging Member, the Company and PubCo, as the case may be, agree to treat each Exchange and, in the event PubCo exercises its Call Right or purchases Units pursuant to Standing Instructions, each transaction between the exchanging or selling Member and PubCo, as a sale of such Member’s Units (together, if applicable, with the same number of shares of Class B Common Stock) to PubCo in exchange for shares of Class A Common Stock or cash, as applicable.

 

(h)                                  Each Exchange and Standing Instructions Purchase shall be deemed to have been effected on the applicable Exchange Date.  Any Member exchanging Units in accordance with this

 

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Agreement may request that the shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued upon such Exchange be issued in a name other than such Member.  Any Person or Persons in whose name or names any shares of Class A Common Stock are issuable on any Exchange Date shall be deemed to have become, on such Exchange Date, the holder or holders of record of such shares.

 

(i)                                      Unless PubCo has elected its Call Right pursuant to Section 3.7 with respect to any Exchange, on the relevant Exchange Date and immediately prior to such Exchange, (i) PubCo shall contribute to the Company the consideration the exchanging Member is entitled to receive under Section 3.6(c)(ii)  (including in the event the Company exercises its right to deliver the Cash Amount pursuant to Section 3.6(d) ) and the Company shall issue to PubCo a number of Common Units or, pursuant to Section 3.2(a) , other Equity Securities of the Company as consideration for such contribution, (ii) the Company shall (A) cancel the exchanged Units and (B) transfer to the exchanging Member the consideration the exchanging Member is entitled to receive under Section 3.6(c)(ii)  (including in the event the Company exercises its right to deliver the Cash Amount pursuant to Section 3.6(d) ), and (iii) PubCo shall cancel the surrendered shares of Class B Common Stock, if applicable.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Company makes a Cash Election that is funded with proceeds from a primary offering of PubCo Equity Securities, PubCo shall only be obligated to contribute to the Company an amount in cash equal to the net proceeds (after deduction of any underwriters’ discounts or commissions and brokers’ fees or commissions (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any deferred discounts or commissions and brokers’ fees or commissions payable in connection with or as a result of such Registered Offering) (such difference, the “ Discount ”) from the sale by PubCo of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the number of Units and, if applicable, Class B Common Stock to be redeemed with such cash or from the sale of other PubCo Equity Securities used to fund the Cash Amount; provided that PubCo’s Capital Account shall be increased by the amount of such Discount in accordance with Section 6.9 ; provided further , that the contribution of such net proceeds shall in no event affect the exchanging Member’s right to receive the Cash Amount.

 

(j)                                     If (i) there is any reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar transaction pursuant to which the shares of Class A Common Stock are converted or changed into another security, securities or other property (other than as a result of a subdivision or combination or any transaction subject to Section 3.2(e) ), or (ii) except in connection with actions taken with respect to the capitalization of PubCo or the Company pursuant to Section 3.2(g) , PubCo, by dividend or otherwise, distributes to all holders of the shares of Class A Common Stock evidences of its indebtedness or assets, including securities (including shares of Class A Common Stock and any rights, options or warrants to all holders of the shares of Class A Common Stock to subscribe for or to purchase or to otherwise acquire shares of Class A Common Stock, or other securities or rights convertible into, exchangeable for or exercisable for shares of Class A Common Stock) but excluding (A) any cash dividend or distribution or (B) any such distribution of indebtedness or assets received by PubCo, in either case (A) or (B) received by PubCo from the Company in respect of the Units, then upon any subsequent Exchange, in addition to the shares of Class A Common Stock or the Cash Amount, as applicable, each Member shall be entitled to receive the amount of such security, securities or other property that such Member would have received if such Exchange had occurred immediately prior to the effective date of such reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization, other similar transaction, dividend or other distribution, 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,

 

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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 shares of Class A Common Stock are converted or changed into another security, securities or other property, or any dividend or distribution (other than an excluded dividend or distribution, as described above in clause (A) or (B)), this Section 3.6 shall continue to be applicable, mutatis mutandis , with respect to such security or other property.

 

(k)                                  PubCo shall at all times keep available, solely for the purpose of issuance upon an Exchange, out of its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock that shall be issuable upon the Exchange of all outstanding Units (other than those Units held by PubCo or any Subsidiary of PubCo); provided, that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude PubCo from satisfying its obligations with respect to an Exchange by delivery of cash pursuant to a Cash Election or shares of Class A Common Stock that are held in the treasury of PubCo. PubCo covenants that all shares of Class A Common Stock that shall be issued upon an Exchange shall, upon issuance thereof, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. In addition, for so long as the shares of Class A Common Stock are listed on a National Securities Exchange, PubCo shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause all shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon an Exchange to be listed on such National Securities Exchange at the time of such issuance.

 

(l)                                      The issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock upon an Exchange shall be made without charge to the exchanging Member for any stamp or other similar tax in respect of such issuance, except that if any such shares of Class A Common Stock are to be issued in a name other than that of the exchanging Member, then the Person or Persons in whose names such shares are to be issued shall pay to PubCo the amount of any tax payable in respect of any Transfer involved in such issuance or establish to the satisfaction of PubCo that such tax has been paid or is not payable.  Each of the Company and PubCo shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any consideration payable or otherwise deliverable upon an Exchange such amounts as may be required to be deducted or withheld therefrom under the Code or any provision of applicable Law, and to the extent deduction and withholding is required, such deduction and withholding may be taken in Class A Common Stock. To the extent such amounts are so deducted or withheld and paid over to the relevant governmental authority, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes under this Agreement as having been paid to the exchanging Member, and, if withholding is taken in Class A Common Stock, the relevant withholding party shall be treated as having sold such Class A Common Stock on behalf of such exchanging Member for an amount of cash equal to the fair market value thereof at the time of such deemed sale and paid such cash proceeds to the appropriate governmental authority.

 

Section 3.7                                     Call Right and Standing Instructions Purchase . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 3.6 , but subject to Section 3.8 :  An exchanging Member shall be deemed to have offered to sell its Units as described in any Exchange Notice to PubCo, and PubCo may, in its sole discretion, in accordance with this Section 3.7 , elect to purchase directly and acquire such Units on the Exchange Date by paying to the exchanging Member that number of shares of Class A Common Stock the exchanging Member would otherwise receive pursuant to Section 3.6(c)  or, if PubCo makes a Cash Election, the Cash Amount for such shares of Class A Common Stock (the “ Call Right ”), whereupon PubCo shall acquire the Units offered for exchange

 

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by the exchanging Member and shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as the owner of such Units.  If a Member has provided Standing Instructions and PubCo participates in any Registered Offering by issuing primary shares of Class A Common Stock, PubCo shall, to the extent of available proceeds from such issuance, purchase directly and acquire the vested Common Units (including these issued upon conversion of vested Incentive Units) specified in such Standing Instructions on the Special Exchange Date specified for such Registered Offering by paying to such Member the Cash Amount for the shares of Class A Common Stock such Member would otherwise receive upon exchange of such Units on such Special Exchange Date as if the Member had exercised its exchange right with respect to such Units and PubCo had exercised the Call Right and made a Cash Election.  If any such Standing Instructions specified vested Incentive Units, as of such Special Exchange Date and immediately prior to such purchase, such Incentive Units shall be converted into a number of Common Units equal to the IU Conversion Ratio of such Incentive Units, rounded down to the nearest whole number of Common Units.  Any purchase of vested Common Units pursuant to this Section 3.7 shall also include the corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock.

 

Section 3.8                                     PubCo Approved Change of Control .  In connection with a PubCo Approved Change of Control, PubCo shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to require each Member (other than PubCo and its Subsidiaries) to effect an Exchange of all or a portion of such Member’s Units (together, if applicable, with the corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock).  Any Exchange pursuant to this Section 3.8 shall be effective immediately prior to the consummation of the PubCo Approved Change of Control (and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be effective if such PubCo Approved Change of Control is not consummated) (the “ Change of Control Exchange Date ”).  From and after the Change of Control Exchange Date, (i) the Units and shares of Class B Common Stock subject to such Exchange shall be deemed to be transferred to PubCo on the Change of Control Exchange Date and (ii) such Member shall cease to have any rights with respect to the Units and shares of Class B Common Stock subject to such Exchange (other than the right to receive shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to such Exchange).  PubCo shall provide written notice of an expected PubCo Approved Change of Control to all Members within the earlier of (x) five (5) Business Days following the execution of the agreement with respect to such PubCo Approved Change of Control and (y) ten (10) Business Days before the proposed date upon which the contemplated PubCo Approved Change of Control is to be effected, indicating in such notice such information as may reasonably describe the PubCo Approved Change of Control transaction, subject to applicable Law, including the date of execution of such agreement or such proposed effective date, as applicable, the amount and types of consideration to be paid for shares of Class A Common Stock in the PubCo Approved Change of Control, any election with respect to types of consideration that a holder of shares of Class A Common Stock, as applicable, shall be entitled to make in connection with such PubCo Approved Change of Control, and the number of Units (and, if applicable, the corresponding shares of Class B Common Stock) held by such Member that PubCo intends to require to be subject to such Exchange.  Following delivery of such notice and on or prior to the Change of Control Exchange Date, the Members shall take all actions reasonably requested by PubCo to effect such Exchange, including taking any action and delivering any document required pursuant to the remainder of this Section 3.8 to effect an Exchange.  Nothing contained in this Section 3.8 shall limit the right of any Member to vote for or participate in any proposed Change of Control of PubCo with respect to such Member’s Units or exchange all vested Units of such Member for shares of Class A

 

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Common Stock in connection with such Change of Control, even if such Change of Control was not approved by the board of directors of PubCo.

 

Section 3.9                                     Tender Offers; Recapitalizations .  In the event that a tender offer, share exchange offer, issuer bid, take-over bid, recapitalization or similar transaction with respect to shares of Class A Common Stock (a “ PubCo Offer ”) is proposed by PubCo or is proposed to PubCo or its stockholders, the Members (other than PubCo) shall be permitted to participate in such PubCo Offer by delivery of a contingent exchange notice in a form provided by PubCo. In the case of a PubCo Offer proposed by PubCo, PubCo will use its reasonable best efforts expeditiously and in Good Faith to take all such actions and do all such things as are necessary or desirable to enable and permit the Members to participate in such PubCo Offer to the same extent or on an economically equivalent basis as the holders of shares of Members without discrimination; provided that, without limiting the generality of this sentence, PubCo will use its reasonable best efforts expeditiously and in Good Faith to ensure that such Members may participate in each such PubCo Offer without being required to exchange Units and, if applicable, shares of Class B Common Stock (or, if so required, to ensure that any such Exchange shall be effective only upon, and shall be conditional upon, the closing of such PubCo Offer).  In no event shall Members (other than PubCo) be entitled to receive in such PubCo Offer aggregate consideration for each Unit and corresponding share of Class B Common Stock (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall exclude any payments relating to the IPO TRAs or any Post-IPO TRA) that is greater than the consideration payable in respect of each share of Class A Common Stock in connection with a PubCo Offer.  This Section 3.9 should not apply to any PubCo Approved Change of Control in which PubCo exercise its right to require Exchanges pursuant to Section 3.8 .  Nothing contained in this Section 3.9 shall limit the right of any Member to accept any PubCo Offer with respect to such Member’s Units, even if such PubCo Offer was not approved by the board of directors of PubCo.

 

Section 3.10                              Participation in Distributions .  No Exchange shall impair the right of the exchanging Member to receive any distributions payable on the Units so exchanged in respect of a Record Date that occurs prior to the Exchange Date for such Exchange. For the avoidance of doubt, no exchanging Member, or a Person designated by an exchanging Member to receive shares of Class A Common Stock, shall be entitled to receive, with respect to such Record Date, distributions or dividends both on Units exchanged by such exchanging Member and on shares of Class A Common Stock received by such exchanging Member, or other Person so designated, if applicable, in such Exchange.

 

Section 3.11                              Liquidity Limitations .

 

(a)                                  The Trident Entities, including any Trident Entity that holds solely Initial Shares, shall not collectively Transfer beneficial ownership of shares of Class A Common Stock during any fiscal quarter of PubCo in excess of the Applicable Percentage for the Regular Exchange Date during such fiscal quarter.

 

(b)                                  The KKR Entities, including any KKR Entity that holds solely Initial Shares, shall not collectively Transfer beneficial ownership of shares of Class A Common Stock during any fiscal quarter of PubCo in excess of the Applicable Percentage for the Regular Exchange Date during such fiscal quarter.

 

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(c)                                   The limitations set forth in Section 3.11(a)  and (b)  shall not apply to any Transfer in connection with any Registered Offering, Special Block Trade, Change of Control of PubCo or PubCo Offer.  The number of shares of Class A Common Stock sold by the KKR Entities or the Trident Entities in any Registered Offering or Special Block Trade shall reduce on a pro rata basis the number of retained shares of Class A Common Stock that may be sold by the KKR Entities or the Trident Entities, respectively, pursuant to Section 3.11(a)  or (b)  in subsequent fiscal quarters.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

ALLOCATIONS OF PROFITS AND LOSSES

 

Section 4.1                                     Profits and Losses . After giving effect to the allocations under Section 4.2 , and subject to Section 4.4 , Profits and Losses (and, to the extent determined by the Managing Member to be necessary and appropriate to achieve the resulting Capital Account balances described below, any allocable items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit includable in the computation of Profits and Losses) for each Allocation Period shall be allocated among the Members during such Allocation Period in a manner such that, after giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Section 4.2 and all distributions through the end of such Allocation Period, the Capital Account balance of each Member, immediately after making such allocation, is, as nearly as possible, equal to (i) the amount such Member would receive pursuant to Section 10.3(b)  if all assets of the Company on hand at the end of such Allocation Period were sold for cash equal to their Book Values, all liabilities of the Company were satisfied in cash in accordance with their terms (limited with respect to each nonrecourse liability to the Book Value of the assets securing such liability), all unvested Units became vested Units, and all remaining or resulting cash was distributed, in accordance with Section 10.3(b) , to the Members immediately after making such allocation, minus (ii) such Member’s share of Company Minimum Gain and Member Minimum Gain, computed immediately prior to the hypothetical sale of assets, and the amount any such Member is treated as obligated to contribute to the Company, computed immediately after the hypothetical sale of assets.

 

Section 4.2                                     Special Allocations .

 

(a)                                  Nonrecourse Deductions for any Allocation Period shall be specially allocated to the Members in the manner excess nonrecourse liabilities of the Company are allocated pursuant to Section 4.4(d) . The amount of Nonrecourse Deductions for an Allocation Period shall equal the excess, if any, of the net increase, if any, in the amount of Company Minimum Gain during that Allocation Period over the aggregate amount of any distributions during that Allocation Period of proceeds of a Nonrecourse Liability that are allocable to an increase in Company Minimum Gain, determined in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(d).

 

(b)                                  Any Member Nonrecourse Deductions for any Allocation Period shall be specially allocated to the Member who bears economic risk of loss with respect to the Member Nonrecourse Debt to which such Member Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i). If more than one Member bears the economic risk of loss for such Member Nonrecourse Debt, the Member Nonrecourse Deductions attributable to such Member Nonrecourse Debt shall be allocated among the Members according to the ratio in which they bear

 

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the economic risk of loss. This Section 4.2(b)  is intended to comply with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if there is a net decrease in Company Minimum Gain for an Allocation Period (or if there was a net decrease in Company Minimum Gain for a prior Allocation Period and the Company did not have sufficient amounts of income and gain during prior periods to allocate among the Members under this Section 4.2(c) ), each Member shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain for such Allocation Period in an amount equal to such Member’s share of the net decrease in Company Minimum Gain during such year (as determined pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(2)). This section is intended to constitute a minimum gain chargeback under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

(d)                                  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement except Section 4.2(c) , if there is a net decrease in Member Minimum Gain for an Allocation Period (or if there was a net decrease in Member Minimum Gain for a prior Allocation Period and the Company did not have sufficient amounts of income and gain during prior periods to allocate among the Members under this Section 4.2(d) ), each Member shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain for such Allocation Period in an amount equal to such Member’s share of the net decrease in Member Minimum Gain (as determined pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4)). This section is intended to constitute a partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain chargeback under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

(e)                                   Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary except Sections 4.2(a)  and 4.2(b) , no Losses or other items of loss or expense shall be allocated to any Member to the extent that such allocation would cause such Member to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit (or increase any existing Adjusted Capital Account Deficit) at the end of such Allocation Period.  All Losses and other items of loss and expense in excess of the limitation set forth in this Section 4.2(e)  shall be allocated to the Members who do not have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit in proportion to their relative positive Capital Accounts but only to the extent that such Losses and other items of loss and expense do not cause any such Member to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit.

 

(f)                                    Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary except Section 4.2(c)  and Section 4.2(d) , in the event any Member unexpectedly receives any adjustment, allocation or distribution described in paragraph (4), (5) or (6) of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( d ), items of income and gain (consisting of a pro rata portion of each item of income, including gross income, and gain for the Allocation Period) shall be specially allocated to such Member in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate any Adjusted Capital Account Deficit of that Member as quickly as possible; provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 4.2(f)  shall be made only if and to the extent that such Member would have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit after all other allocations provided for in this Article IV have been tentatively made as if this Section 4.2(f)  were not in this Agreement. This Section 4.2(f)  is intended to constitute a qualified income offset under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii) (d)  and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

 

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(g)                                   If any Member has a deficit balance in its Capital Account at the end of any Allocation Period that is in excess of the sum of (i) the amount that such Member is obligated to restore and (ii) the amount that the Member is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentence of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and (i)(5), that Member shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible, provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 4.2(g)  shall be made only if and to the extent that such Member would have a deficit balance in its Capital Account in excess of such sum after all other allocations provided for in this Article IV have been made as if Section 4.2(f)  and this Section 4.2(g)  were not in this Agreement.

 

(h)                                  To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to Code Sections 734(b) (including any such adjustments pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.734-2(b)(1)) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( m )(2) or 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) (m) (4), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as a result of a distribution to any Member in complete liquidation of such Member’s Interest in the Company, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) and such item of gain or loss shall be allocated to the Members in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) (m) (2) if such section applies or to the Member to whom such distribution was made if Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) (m) (4) applies.

 

(i)                                      The allocations set forth in Section 4.2(a)  through Section 4.2(h)  (the “ Regulatory Allocations ”) are intended to comply with certain requirements of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article IV (other than the Regulatory Allocations), the Regulatory Allocations (and anticipated future Regulatory Allocations) shall be taken into account in allocating other items of income, gain, loss and deduction among the Members so that, to the extent possible, the net amount of such allocation of other items and the Regulatory Allocations to each Member should be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to each such Member if the Regulatory Allocations had not occurred. This Section 4.2(i)  is intended to minimize to the extent possible and to the extent necessary any economic distortions which may result from application of the Regulatory Allocations and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.

 

(j)                                     If any Incentive Units held by any holder of Incentive Units are forfeited or redeemed by the Company, such holder shall be allocated items of loss and deduction in the Allocation Period of such forfeiture or redemption in the manner and to the extent required by Proposed Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(xii) (as such Proposed Treasury Regulations may be amended or modified, including upon the issuance of temporary or final Treasury Regulations).

 

(k)                                  Items of income, gain, loss, expense or credit resulting from a Covered Audit Adjustment shall be allocated to the Members in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Partnership Tax Audit Rules.

 

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Section 4.3                                     Allocations for Tax Purposes in General .

 

(a)                                  Except as otherwise provided in this Section 4.3 , each item of income, gain, loss and deduction of the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes shall be allocated among the Members in the same manner as such item is allocated under Sections 4.1 and 4.2 .

 

(b)                                  In accordance with Code Section 704(c) and the Treasury Regulations thereunder (including the Treasury Regulations applying the principles of Code Section 704(c) to changes in Book Values) , items of income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to any Company property having a Book Value that differs from such property’s adjusted U.S. federal income tax basis shall, to the extent permitted under the Treasury Regulations and solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes, be allocated among the Members in order to account for any such difference using the “remedial method” under Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d) or such other method or methods as determined by the Managing Member to be appropriate and in accordance with the applicable Treasury Regulations.

 

(c)                                   Any (i) recapture of depreciation or any other item of deduction shall be allocated, in accordance with Treasury Regulations Sections 1.1245-1(e) and 1.1254-5, to the Members who received the benefit of such deductions (taking into account the effect of remedial allocations, if applicable), and (ii) recapture of grants or credits shall be allocated to the Members in accordance with applicable Law.

 

(d)                                  Tax credits of the Company shall be allocated among the Members as provided in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(4)(ii) and 1.704-1(b)(4)(viii).

 

(e)                                   Allocations pursuant to this Section 4.3 are solely for purposes of U.S. federal, state and local taxes and shall not affect or in any way be taken into account in computing any Member’s Capital Account or share of Profits, Losses, other items or distributions pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.

 

(f)                                    If, as a result of an exercise of a 1.721-2(f) Option to acquire an interest in the Company, a Capital Account reallocation is required under Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( s )( 3 ), the Company shall make corrective allocations pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(x).

 

Section 4.4                                     Other Allocation Rules .

 

(a)                                  The Members are aware of the income tax consequences of the allocations made by this Article IV and the economic impact of the allocations on the amounts receivable by them under this Agreement. The Members hereby agree to be bound by the provisions of this Article IV in reporting their share of Company income and loss for income tax purposes.

 

(b)                                  The provisions regarding the establishment and maintenance for each Member of a Capital Account as provided by Section 3.4 , the establishment of a Hurdle Amount with respect to each Incentive Unit pursuant to Section 3.1(a) , and the allocations set forth in Sections 4.1 , 4.2 and 4.3 are intended to comply with the Treasury Regulations and to reflect the intended economic entitlement of the Members.  If the Managing Member determines, in its sole discretion, that the application of the provisions in Sections 3.1(a) , 3.4 , 4.1 , 4.2 or 4.3 would result in non-compliance

 

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with the Treasury Regulations or would be inconsistent with the intended economic entitlement of the Members, the Managing Member is authorized to make any appropriate adjustments to such provisions.

 

(c)                                   All items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit allocable to an interest in the Company that may have been Transferred shall be allocated between the Transferor and the Transferee based on the portion of the Fiscal Year during which each was recognized as the owner of such interest, as determined by the Managing Member in accordance with a method permissible under Code Section 706 and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.

 

(d)                                  The Members’ proportionate shares of the “excess nonrecourse liabilities” of the Company, within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(3), shall be allocated to the Members in any manner determined by the Managing Member and permissible under the Treasury Regulations.

 

(e)                                   Notwithstanding anything in this Article IV to the contrary, any Compensatory Units (including any Incentive Units which were not Profits Interests when granted) that are subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” within the meaning of Code Section 83 when granted and for which no election under Section 83(b) of the Code is made shall not be treated as outstanding Units of the Company for purposes of Section 3.4 and Article IV , until such time as such Membership Interest is not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture within the meaning of Section 83 of the Code.

 

ARTICLE V

 

DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 5.1                                     Distributions .

 

(a)                                  To the extent permitted by applicable Law and hereunder, and except as provided in Section 10.3 , distributions to Members may be declared by the Managing Member out of funds legally available therefor in such amounts and on such terms (including the payment dates of such distributions) as the Managing Member shall determine. Any such distribution shall be made to the persons who are Members as of the close of business on the Record Date for such distribution on a pro rata basis (except that, for the avoidance of doubt, repurchases or redemptions made in accordance with Section 3.2(d)  or payments made in accordance with Section 6.4 or Section 6.9 need not be on a pro rata basis), in accordance with the number of Units owned by each Member as of the close of business on such Record Date; provided , however , that notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.1 to the contrary, a distribution shall be made with respect to an Incentive Unit only if and to the extent the Class A Closing Price on such Record Date exceeds the Hurdle Amount of such Incentive Unit; provided , further , that the Managing Member shall have the obligation to make distributions as set forth in Section 5.2 ; and provided further that, notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, no distributions shall be made to any Member to the extent such distribution would render the Company insolvent or violate the Act. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, insolvency means the inability of the Company to meet its payment obligations when due. Promptly following the designation of a Record Date and the declaration of a distribution

 

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pursuant to this Section 5.1 , the Managing Member shall give notice to each Member of such Record Date, the amount and the terms of the distribution and the payment date thereof.

 

(b)                                  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any distributions may be made in cash or in kind, or partly in cash and partly in kind, as determined by the Managing Member. To the extent that the Company distributes property in-kind to the Members, the Company shall be treated as making a distribution equal to the Fair Market Value of such property for purposes of Section 5.1(a)  and such property shall be treated as if it were sold for an amount equal to its Fair Market Value. Any resulting gain or loss shall be allocated to the Member’s Capital Accounts in accordance with Section 4.1 and Section 4.2 .

 

Section 5.2                                     Tax-Related Distributions .  The Company shall make distributions out of legally available funds to all Members in accordance with Section 5.1 :

 

(a)                                  on each Tax Distribution Date, an amount equal to the greater of:

 

(i)                                      an amount at least sufficient to cause PubCo to receive a distribution at least equal to (A) the amount of the PubCo Tax-Related Liabilities with respect to such Fiscal Year or other taxable period, minus (B) the sum of all distributions previously made to PubCo with respect to such Fiscal Year or other taxable period pursuant to Section 5.2 , and

 

(ii)                                   the Assumed Tax Liability with respect to such Fiscal Year or other taxable period minus the sum of (x) all distributions previously made during such Fiscal Year or other taxable period pursuant to Section 5.1 and (y) all distributions previously made with respect to such Fiscal Year or other taxable period pursuant to Section 5.2 ; and

 

(b)                                  quarterly or as otherwise required, in an amount at least sufficient to enable PubCo to timely satisfy any PubCo Tax-Related Liabilities for a Fiscal Year or other taxable period that arise in advance of a Tax Distribution Date for such Fiscal Year or other taxable period.

 

Section 5.3                                     Distribution Upon Withdrawal .  No withdrawing Member shall be entitled to receive any distribution or the value of such Member’s Interest in the Company as a result of withdrawal from the Company prior to the liquidation of the Company, except as specifically provided in this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

MANAGEMENT

 

Section 6.1                                     The Managing Member; Fiduciary Duties .

 

(a)                                  PubCo shall be the sole Managing Member of the Company. Except as otherwise required by Law, (i) the Managing Member shall have full and complete charge of all affairs of the Company, (ii) the management and control of the Company’s business activities and operations shall rest exclusively with the Managing Member, and the Managing Member shall make all decisions regarding the business, activities and operations of the Company (including the incurrence of costs and expenses) in its sole discretion without the consent of any other Member and (iii) the Members other than the Managing Member (in their capacity as such) shall not

 

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participate in the control, management, direction or operation of the activities or affairs of the Company and shall have no power to act for or bind the Company.

 

(b)                                  In connection with the performance of its duties as the Managing Member of the Company, the Managing Member acknowledges that it will owe to the Members the same fiduciary duties as it would owe to the stockholders of a Delaware corporation if it were a member of the board of directors of such a corporation and the Members were stockholders of such corporation. The parties acknowledge that the Managing Member will take action through its board of directors, and that the members of the Managing Member’s board of directors will also owe comparable fiduciary duties to the stockholders of the Managing Member.

 

Section 6.2                                     Officers .  Any Person appointed as an officer of PubCo shall, without any further action by PubCo or the Company, hold the same office with the Company for such period as such Person remains an officer of PubCo.  The day-to-day business and operations of the Company shall be overseen and implemented by such officers.

 

Section 6.3                                     Warranted Reliance by Officers on Others . In exercising their authority and performing their duties under this Agreement, the Officers shall be entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports, or statements of the following persons or groups unless they have actual knowledge concerning the matter in question that would cause such reliance to be unwarranted:

 

(a)                                  one or more employees or other agents of the Company or PubCo or in subordinates whom the Officer reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented; and

 

(b)                                  any attorney, public accountant, or other person as to matters which the Officer reasonably believes to be within such person’s professional or expert competence.

 

Section 6.4                                     Exculpation and Indemnification .

 

(a)                                  Exculpation .  To the full extent permitted by applicable law, no Covered Person shall be liable to the Company, any Subsidiary, or any other Person who has an interest in or claim against the Company or any Subsidiary 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 or any Subsidiary and in a manner reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such Covered Person by this Agreement or any applicable limited liability company agreement (or similar governing document) of any Subsidiary; provided that a Covered Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of acts or omissions by such Covered Person that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law.  For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 6.4 shall not exculpate, indemnify, or otherwise protect a Covered Person from a breach of this Agreement by such Covered Person or any other agreement between such Covered Person and the Company, any Affiliates of the Company, or any Member.

 

(b)                                  Advancement of Expenses .  To the full 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 6.4 are applicable shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Company prior to the final disposition of such claim, demand, action,

 

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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 Section 6.4 .

 

(c)                                   Indemnification .  In addition to the advancement of expenses pursuant to Section 6.4(b) , to the full 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 bona fide 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 or the Subsidiaries; provided that no Covered Person shall be entitled to be indemnified in respect of any Indemnifiable Losses incurred by such Covered Person by reason of acts or omissions by such Covered Person that that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; provided , further , that any indemnity payment under this Section 6.4(c)  shall be provided out of and to the extent of Company Property only (including available insurance), and no Member shall have any personal liability on account thereof.  For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 6.4(c)  shall not provide indemnification to a Covered Person resulting from a breach by such Covered Person of an obligation under this Agreement or any other agreement between such Covered Person and the Company, any Affiliates of the Company, or any Member.

 

(d)                                  Good Faith Reliance .  A Covered Person shall be fully protected in relying in Good Faith upon the records of the Company or any Subsidiary and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Company or any Subsidiary 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 or any Subsidiary, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the Company Property, liabilities, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of the Company Property from which distributions to the Members might properly be paid.

 

(e)                                   Severability .  To the full extent permitted by applicable law, if any portion of this Section 6.4 shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Company shall nevertheless indemnify each Covered Person 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 or any Subsidiary, in each case to the full extent permitted by applicable law.

 

(f)                                    Survival .  The provisions of this Section 6.4 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.

 

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(g)                                   Indemnification Not Exclusive .  The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Section 6.4 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 and/or contribution (if any).  Nothing in this Section 6.4 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.

 

(h)                                  Primacy of Indemnification; Subrogation .

 

(i)                                      The Company hereby acknowledges that certain Covered Persons may have certain rights to indemnification and/or insurance provided by the KKR Entities or the Trident Entities 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 and/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 Section 6.4(h)(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. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, this Section 6.4(h)(i)  shall be for the exclusive benefit of the Fund Indemnitors and shall not result in any benefit to, or right of, any other Person.

 

(i)                                      Limitation on Liability .  Neither any Covered Person, nor any Officer or agent of the Company (including a Person serving in more than one such capacity), shall be liable for any debts, obligations or liabilities of the Company or any other Member, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, solely by reason of being a Member, Covered Person or officer or agent or acting (or omitting to act) in such capacities or participating (as a manager, employee, consultant, contractor or otherwise) in the conduct of the business of the Company; provided, however , that the foregoing shall not eliminate or limit the liability of such Member, Covered Person or Officer or agent of the Company by reason of acts or omissions of such Person that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law.  The failure of the Company to observe any formalities relating to the exercise of its powers or management of its business or affairs under this Agreement shall not be a ground for imposing personal liability on any Member or Covered Person for the obligations and liabilities of the Company.  For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 6.4(h)(i)  shall not exculpate or otherwise protect a Covered Person or other Person from a breach of this

 

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Agreement by such Covered Person or other Person or any other agreement between such Covered Person or other Person and the Company, any Affiliates of the Company, or any Member.

 

Section 6.5                                     Maintenance of Insurance or Other Financial Arrangements . In compliance with applicable Law, the Company (with the approval of the Managing Member) may purchase and maintain insurance or make other financial arrangements on behalf of the Managing Member or any Person who is or was an employee or agent of the Company or the Managing Member, or at the request of the Company or the Managing Member is or was serving as a manager, director, officer, employee or agent of another limited liability company, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, for any Liability asserted against such Person and Liability and expenses incurred by such Person in such Person’s capacity as such, or arising out of such Person’s status as such, whether or not the Company has the authority to indemnify such Person against such Liability and expenses.

 

Section 6.6                                     Resignation or Termination of Managing Member .  PubCo shall not, by any means, resign as, cease to be or be replaced as Managing Member except in compliance with this Section 6.6 . No termination or replacement of PubCo as Managing Member shall be effective unless proper provision is made, in compliance with this Agreement, so that the obligations of PubCo, its successor (if applicable) and any new Managing Member and the rights of all Members under this Agreement and applicable Law remain in full force and effect. No appointment of a Person other than PubCo (or its successor, as applicable) as Managing Member shall be effective unless PubCo (or its successor, as applicable) and the new Managing Member (as applicable) provide all other Members with contractual rights, directly enforceable by such other Members against PubCo (or its successor, as applicable) and the new Managing Member (as applicable), to cause (a) PubCo to comply with all PubCo’s obligations under this Agreement (including its obligations under Section 3.6 ) other than those that must necessarily be taken in its capacity as Managing Member and (b) the new Managing Member to comply with all the Managing Member’s obligations under this Agreement.

 

Section 6.7                                     No Inconsistent Obligations . The Managing Member represents that it does not have any contracts, other agreements, duties or obligations that are inconsistent with its duties and obligations (whether or not in its capacity as Managing Member) under this Agreement and covenants that, except as permitted by Section 6.1 , it will not enter into any contracts or other agreements or undertake or acquire any other duties or obligations that are inconsistent with such duties and obligations.

 

Section 6.8                                     Reclassification Events of PubCo . If a Reclassification Event occurs, the Managing Member or its successor, as the case may be, shall, as and to the extent necessary, amend this Agreement in compliance with Section 11.1 , and enter into any necessary supplementary or additional agreements, to ensure that, following the effective date of the Reclassification Event: (i) the exchange rights of holders of Units set forth in Section 3.6 provide that each Unit and share of Class B Common Stock is exchangeable for the same amount and same type of property, securities or cash (or combination thereof) that one share of Class A Common Stock becomes exchangeable for or converted into as a result of the Reclassification Event and (ii) PubCo or the successor to PubCo, as applicable, is obligated to deliver such property, securities or cash upon such exchange. PubCo shall not consummate or agree to consummate any Reclassification Event

 

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unless the successor Person, if any, becomes obligated to comply with the obligations of PubCo (in whatever capacity) under this Agreement.

 

Section 6.9                                     Certain Costs and Expenses . The Company shall (i) pay, or cause to be paid, all costs, fees, operating expenses and other expenses of the Company or PubCo (including the costs, fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants or other professionals and the compensation of all personnel providing services to the Company or PubCo) incurred in pursuing and conducting, or otherwise related to, the activities of the Company and PubCo, and (ii) bear or reimburse PubCo for any cash payments required to be made in satisfaction of any contractual obligations of PubCo and for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by PubCo; provided that the Company shall not pay or bear any income tax obligations of PubCo or any obligations of PubCo pursuant to the IPO TRAs or any Post-IPO TRA.  In the event that (i) shares of Class A Common Stock or other Equity Securities of PubCo are sold to underwriters in any Registered Offering after the date hereof, in each case, at a price per share that is lower than the price per share for which such shares of Class A Common Stock or other Equity Securities of PubCo are sold to the public in such Registered Offering after taking into account any Discounts and (ii) the proceeds from such Registered Offering are used to fund the Cash Amount for any redeemed Units or otherwise contributed to the Company, the Company shall reimburse PubCo for such Discount by treating such Discount as an additional Capital Contribution made by PubCo to the Company, issuing Units in respect of such deemed Capital Contribution in accordance with Section 3.6(i) , and increasing PubCo’s Capital Account by the amount of such Discount.  For the avoidance of doubt, any payment made to the Managing Member pursuant to this Section 6.9 shall not be treated as a distribution pursuant to Section 5.1(a)  but shall instead be treated as an expense of the Company.

 

Section 6.10                              Fiduciary Duties; Other Business Opportunities .

 

(a)                                  To the extent that, at law or in equity, a Covered Person has duties, including fiduciary duties, and liabilities relating thereto to the Company, any Subsidiary, or to any other Covered Person, a Covered Person acting under this Agreement shall not be liable to the Company, any Subsidiary, or to any other Covered Person for its Good Faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement or any approval or authorization granted by the Company, any Subsidiary, or any other Covered Person.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement or under applicable law to the contrary, except as set forth in Section 6.1 with respect to the Managing Member, none of the other Members (solely in their capacity as such) shall owe any fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, any other Member or any other stakeholder in the Company or other Covered Person with respect to any matter (all of which are hereby waived), except as expressly otherwise provided by the non-waivable provisions under the Act.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement or under applicable law to the contrary (to the full extent permitted by applicable law), the KKR Entities, the Trident Entities and any of their respective Affiliates (i) may engage in or possess an interest in other business ventures of any nature and description (whether similar or dissimilar to the business of the Company or any Subsidiary), independently or with others, and none of the Company, any Subsidiary, any other Member or any of their respective Affiliates shall have any right by virtue of this Agreement in or to any such investment or interest of the KKR Entities, the Trident Entities

 

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and any of their respective Affiliates to any income or profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such venture shall not be deemed wrongful or improper, and (ii) shall not be obligated to present any investment opportunity to the Company or any Subsidiary even if such opportunity is of a character that, if presented to the Company or any Subsidiary, could be taken by the Company or such Subsidiary.

 

(d)                                  Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement or under applicable law to the contrary, the Members that are officers or employees, as applicable, of the Company or any Subsidiary (in their capacities as such), and each other officer and employee of the Company or any Subsidiary (in their capacities as such), shall have the duties and obligations (including fiduciary duties in relation to self-dealing, corporate opportunities, care and otherwise) that would apply to such officer or employee, as applicable, of a Delaware corporation as to such corporation and its equityholders and other constituents.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

ROLE OF MEMBERS

 

Section 7.1                                     Rights or Powers .  Other than the Managing Member, the Members, acting in their capacity as Members, shall not have any right or power to take part in the management or control of the Company or its business and affairs or to act for or bind the Company in any way. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Members have all the rights and powers specifically set forth in this Agreement and, to the extent not inconsistent with this Agreement, in the Act. A Member, any Affiliate thereof or an employee, stockholder, agent, director or officer of a Member or any Affiliate thereof, may also be an employee or be retained as an agent of the Company. The existence of these relationships and acting in such capacities will not result in the Member (other than the Managing Member) being deemed to be participating in the control of the business of the Company or otherwise affect the limited liability of the Member. Except as specifically provided herein, a Member (other than the Managing Member) shall not, in its capacity as a Member, take part in the operation, management or control of the Company’s business, transact any business in the Company’s name or have the power to sign documents for or otherwise bind the Company.

 

Section 7.2                                     Voting .  No Member has any voting right except with respect to those matters specifically reserved for a Member vote under the Act and for matters expressly requiring the approval of Members (or any individual Member or group of Members) under this Agreement.  Except as otherwise required by the Act, each Unit will entitle the holder thereof to one vote on all matters to be voted on by the Members.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the holder of Units having voting rights will vote together as a single class on all matter to be approved by the Members.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

TRANSFERS OF INTERESTS

 

Section 8.1                                     Restrictions on Transfer .

 

(a)                                  Except as provided in Section 3.6 , Section 3.7 , Section 3.8 , Section 3.9 , or Section 8.1(b) , no Member shall Transfer all or any portion of its Interest without the prior written consent

 

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of the Managing Member in its sole discretion. If, notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8.1(a) , all or any portion of a Member’s Interests are Transferred in violation of this Section 8.1(a) , involuntarily, by operation of law or otherwise, then without limiting any other rights and remedies available to the other parties under this Agreement or otherwise, the Transferee of such Interest (or portion thereof) shall not be admitted to the Company as a Member or be entitled to any rights as a Member hereunder, and the Transferor will continue to be bound by all obligations hereunder, unless and until the Managing Member consents in writing to such admission, which consent shall be granted or withheld in the Managing Member’s sole discretion. Any attempted or purported Transfer of all or a portion of a Member’s Interests in violation of this Section 8.1(a)  or (b)  shall be null and void and of no force or effect whatsoever. For the avoidance of doubt, the restrictions on Transfer contained in this Article VIII shall not apply to the Transfer of any capital stock of the Managing Member; provided that no shares of Class B Common Stock may be Transferred unless a corresponding number of vested Common Units are Transferred therewith in accordance with this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  With respect to taxable years beginning after the IPO, the Company intends to satisfy the private placement safe harbor in Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h) and intends to limit issuances of Interests and to limit Transfers of Interests to satisfy the requirement in Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(ii).  In furtherance of the foregoing and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions in Section 8.1(a) , but subject to the other provisions in this Article VIII , the KKR Entities and the Trident Entities (but not any Transferee of the KKR Entities or Trident Entities that is not an Affiliate of a KKR Entity or Trident Entity that holds Initial Units or Initial Shares on the date of the IPO) shall be permitted to Transfer (a “ Permitted Transfer ”) all or a portion of their Interests to any Permitted Transferee, but only if, (i) immediately after a proposed Transfer, taking into consideration the anti-abuse rule set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(3), (A) in the case of a proposed Transfer by a KKR Entity, all KKR Entities and their Transferees (for the avoidance of doubt, other than PubCo and any Subsidiary of PubCo), in the aggregate, would not represent more than six (6) “partners”, and (B) in the case of a proposed Transfer by a Trident Entity, all Trident Entities and their Transferees (for the avoidance of doubt, other than PubCo and any Subsidiary of PubCo), in the aggregate, would not represent more than six (6) “partners”, in each case for purposes of calculating the number of “partners” in the Company under Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(l)(ii), and (ii) prior to the proposed transfer, each of the transferring KKR Entity or Trident Entity, as applicable, and the proposed Transferee, provides to the Company representations reasonably acceptable to the Company with respect to Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(3).  The Managing Member shall limit the issuances of Interests and its consent to Transfers so that the Interests held by the KKR Entities, the Trident Entities, and their Transferees are, in each case, able to be held by up to the foregoing numbers of “partners” for purposes of calculating the number of “partners” in the Company under Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(1)(ii).

 

(c)                                   In addition to any other restrictions on Transfer herein contained, including Section 3.6 and the provisions of this Article VIII , in no event may any Transfer or assignment of Interests by any Member be made (i) if based on the advice of legal counsel or a qualified tax advisor to the Company such Transfer presents an undue risk that such Transfer would cause the Company to cease to be classified as a partnership or to be classified as a “publicly traded partnership” within the meaning of Section 7704(b) of the Code; (ii) if such Transfer would cause the Company to become, with respect to any employee benefit plan subject to Title I of ERISA, a “party-in-interest”

 

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(as defined in Section 3 (14) of ERISA) or a “disqualified person” (as defined in Section 4975(e)(2) of the Code); (iii) if such Transfer would, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, cause any portion of the assets of the Company to constitute assets of any employee benefit plan pursuant to the Plan Asset Regulations or otherwise cause the Company to be subject to regulation under ERISA; (iv) if such Transfer requires the registration of such Interests or any Equity Securities issued upon any exchange of such Interests, pursuant to any applicable U.S. federal or state securities Laws; or (vi) if such Transfer subjects the Company to regulation under the Investment Company Act or the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, each as amended (or any succeeding law).  Any Transfer purported to be made in violation of this Section 8.1(c)  and, except as and to the extent set forth in Section 8.1(b) , any Transfer that would increase the number of Members (whether voluntary or by operation of law) shall be void ab initio.

 

(d)           A Member making a Transfer permitted by this Agreement shall (i) at least ten (10) Business Days before such Transfer, deliver to the Company an affidavit of non-foreign status with respect to such Member that satisfies the requirements of Section 1446(f)(2) of the Code, or (ii) no more than fifteen (15) Business Days following such Transfer, provide to the Company proof that the transferee Member has properly withheld and remitted to the Internal Revenue Service the amount of tax required to be withheld upon the Transfer by Section 1446(f) of the Code.

 

(e)           In connection with any Transfer of vested Common Units in accordance with this Article VIII , the Member making such Transfer shall, effective as of the date of such Transfer, be deemed to have Transferred an equal number of shares of Class B Common Stock to the Transferee and the Managing Member shall record such Transfer of shares of Class B Common Stock.

 

(f)            The provisions of this Article VIII shall not apply to any Exchange.

 

Section 8.2            Transferee Members . A Transferee of Interests pursuant to this Article VIII shall have the right to become a Member only if (i) the requirements of this Article VIII are met, including the prior written consent of the Managing Member to such Transfer, (ii) such Transferee executes an instrument reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Member agreeing to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement and assuming all of the Transferor’s then existing and future Liabilities arising under or relating to this Agreement, (iii) such Transferee represents that the Transfer was made in accordance with all applicable securities Laws, (iv) the Transferor or Transferee shall have reimbursed the Company for all reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) of any Transfer or proposed Transfer of a Member’s Interest, whether or not consummated and (v) if such Transferee or his or her spouse is a resident of a community property jurisdiction, then such Transferee’s spouse shall also execute an instrument reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Member agreeing to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement to the extent of his or her community property or quasi-community property interest, if any, in such Member’s Interest. Unless agreed to in writing by the Managing Member, the admission of a Member shall not result in the release of the Transferor from any Liability that the Transferor may have to each remaining Member or to the Company under this Agreement or any other contract between the Managing Member, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and such Transferor or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand.

 

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Section 8.3            Admission or Substitution of New Members .

 

(a)           Admission .  Without the consent of any other Person, the Managing Member shall have the right to admit as a Member, any Person who acquires an Interest, or any part thereof, from a Member in accordance with Section 8.1 or from the Company.  Concurrently with the admission of a Member, the Managing Member shall forthwith amend the Members Schedule to reflect the name and address of such Member.

 

(b)           Conditions and Limitations . The admission of any Person as a Member shall be conditioned upon such Person’s written acceptance and adoption of all the terms and provisions of this Agreement pursuant to instrument(s) in form and substance satisfactory to the Managing Member.

 

(c)           Effect of Transfer .  Following the Transfer of any Interest that is permitted under Section 8.1 , the Transferee of such Interest shall be treated as having made all of the Capital Contributions in respect of, and received all of the distributions received in respect of, such Interest, shall succeed to the Capital Account balance associated with such Interest, shall receive allocations and distributions in respect of such Interest, and otherwise shall become a Member entitled to all the rights of a Member with respect to such Interest.

 

Section 8.4            Additional Requirements .  Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement, for the avoidance of doubt, the Managing Member may impose such vesting requirements, forfeiture provisions, Transfer restrictions, minimum retained ownership requirements or other similar provisions with respect to any Interests that are outstanding as of the date of this Agreement or are created hereafter, with the written consent of the holder of such Interests.  Such requirements, provisions and restrictions need not be uniform among holders of Interests and may be waived or released by the Managing Member in its sole discretion with respect to all or a portion of the Interests owned by any one or more Members at any time and from time to time, and such actions or omissions by the Managing Member shall not constitute the breach of this Agreement or of any duty hereunder or otherwise existing at law, in equity or otherwise.

 

Section 8.5            Bankruptcy . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the bankruptcy of a Member shall not cause such Member to cease to be a member of the Company and upon the occurrence of such an event, the Company shall continue without dissolution.

 

Section 8.6            Mandatory Exchange . In addition to any other mandatory exchange rights of the Managing Member set forth in this Agreement, the Managing Member may, with the consent of each Member who, together with its Affiliates and Permitted Transferees, beneficially owns at least 1% of the outstanding Units, require all Members holding Units to effect an Exchange of all such Units pursuant to Section 3.6 .

 

Section 8.7            Legend .  Each certificate, if any, issued after the date hereof to represent a Unit, shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.

 

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THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM UNDER SUCH ACT.

 

THE TRANSFER AND VOTING OF THESE SECURITIES IS PROHIBITED OR LIMITED AS SPECIFIED IN THE FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT OF FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS, LLC, AS IT MAY BE AMENDED, SUPPLEMENTED OR RESTATED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND NO TRANSFER OF THESE SECURITIES WILL BE VALID OR EFFECTIVE UNLESS MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH AGREEMENT. COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED BY WRITTEN REQUEST MADE BY THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF THIS CERTIFICATE TO FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS, LLC.”

 

ARTICLE IX

 

ACCOUNTING

 

Section 9.1            Books of Account .  The Company shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, maintain true books and records of account in which full and correct entries shall be made of all its business transactions pursuant to a system of accounting established and administered in accordance with GAAP, and shall set aside on its books all such proper accruals and reserves as shall be required under GAAP.  Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or in any other agreement between the Company and any Member or group of Members, notwithstanding the rights set forth in Section 18-305 of the Act, no Member shall have the right to obtain information from the Company.

 

Section 9.2            Tax Elections .

 

(a)           The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries that are partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes to, make (or continue if already made) the following elections on the appropriate forms or tax returns:

 

(i)            to adopt the calendar year as the Company’s Fiscal Year, if permitted under the Code;

 

(ii)           to adopt the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

(iii)          to amortize the organizational expenses of the Company as permitted by Code Section 709(b);

 

(iv)          the election described in Section 754 of the Code (which the Company shall ensure that it has in effect at all times);

 

(v)           any election the Managing Member is authorized to make under any other Section of this Agreement; and

 

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(vi)          any other election the Managing Member may deem appropriate and in the best interests of the Company; provided , however , that if any such election would substantially and disproportionally affect in a materially adverse manner the KKR Entities or the Trident Entities, as applicable, such election shall only be made (i) if the KKR Entities are the affected parties, so long as the KKR Entities own at least 3% of all outstanding Units, with the approval of the KKR Entities, and (ii) if the Trident Entities are the affected parties, so long as the Trident Entities own at least 3% of all outstanding Units, with the approval of the Trident Entities; provided further , that the Managing Member shall only make an election for the Company to be classified as other than a partnership pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-3 (A) so long as the KKR Entities own at least 3% of all outstanding Units, with the approval of the KKR Entities, and (B) so long as the Trident Entities own at least 3% of all outstanding Units, with the approval of the Trident Entities.

 

(b)           Subject to Section 9.2(a)(vi) , it is intended that the Company be classified as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

Section 9.3            Tax Returns; Information .  The Company Representative shall arrange for the preparation and timely filing of all income and other tax and informational returns of the Company. The Company Representative shall use all reasonable best efforts to furnish or cause to be furnished to the Members within ninety (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, a draft Schedule K-l, and within seven (7) months after the end of such Fiscal Year, a final Schedule K-1, and such other information (if any) with respect to the Company as may be reasonably necessary for the preparation of such Member’s tax returns. Each Member shall furnish to the Company (i) all reasonably requested certificates or statement relating to the tax matters of the Company (including without limitation an affidavit of non-foreign status pursuant to Section 1446(f)(2) of the Code), and (ii) all pertinent information in its possession relating to the Company’s operations that is reasonably necessary to enable the Company’s tax returns to be timely prepared and filed.

 

Section 9.4            Company Representative .

 

(a)           The Managing Member is specially authorized and appointed to act as the Company Representative and in any similar capacity under state or local Law; provided that the Managing Member may appoint and replace the Company Representative.  The Company Representative shall designate a “designated individual” in accordance with Proposed Treasury Regulations Section 301.6223-1(b)(3)(i).  The Company and the Members (including any Member designated as the Company Representative prior to the date hereof) shall cooperate fully with each other and shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the Managing Member (or any Person subsequently designated) to become the Company Representative with respect to any taxable period of the Company with respect to which the statute of limitations has not yet expired, including (as applicable) by filing certifications pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 301.6231(a)(7)-1(d).

 

(b)           The Company Representative may retain, at the Company’s expense, such outside counsel, accountants and other professional consultants as it may reasonably deem necessary in the course of fulfilling its obligations as the Company Representative.  The Company Representative is authorized to take such actions and to execute and file all statements and forms on behalf of the Company that are approved by the Managing Member and are permitted or required by the applicable provisions of the Partnership Tax Audit Rules (including a “push-out”

 

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election under Section 6226 of the Code or any analogous election under state or local tax law) . Each Member agrees to cooperate with the Company Representative and to use commercially reasonable efforts to do or refrain from doing any or all things requested by the Company Representative (including paying any and all resulting taxes, additions to tax, penalties and interest in a timely fashion) in connection with any examination of the Company’s affairs by any federal, state, or local tax authorities, including resulting administrative and judicial proceedings.  Pursuant to Section 11.1(b) , the Managing Member (after consultation with the KKR Entities and the Trident Entities) shall have the authority to amend this Section 9.4 to give effect to the Partnership Tax Audit Rules, and each Member agrees to be bound by the provisions of any such amendment.

 

Section 9.5            Withholding and Other Tax Payments and Obligations .

 

(a)           The Company and its Subsidiaries may withhold from distributions, allocations or portions thereof if it is required to do so by any applicable Law, and each Member hereby authorizes the Company and its Subsidiaries to withhold or pay on behalf of or with respect to such Member any amount of taxes that the Managing Member determines, in Good Faith, that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is required to withhold or pay (including amounts relating to any composite tax returns a Member elects to participate in) with respect to any amount distributable or allocable to such Member pursuant to this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any withholding taxes imposed upon a Transferee Member under Section 1446(f) of the Code to the extent the Managing Member determines in Good Faith that it has not received evidence to satisfy it that such withholding is not required; provided that compliance with Section 8.1(d)  shall constitute sufficient evidence).  To the extent that any tax is paid by (or withheld from amounts payable to) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and the Managing Member determines, in Good Faith, that such tax (including any Company Level Tax) relates to one or more specific Members, such tax shall be treated as an amount of taxes withheld or paid with respect to such Member pursuant to this Section 9.5 .  The payment by the Company of Company Level Taxes shall, consistent with the Partnership Tax Audit Rules, be treated as paid with respect to a Member to the extent the deduction with respect to such payment is allocated to such Member pursuant to Section 4.2(k) .  Any determinations made by the Managing Member pursuant to this Section 9.5(a)  shall be binding upon the Members.

 

(b)           For all purposes under this Agreement, any amounts withheld or paid with respect to a Member pursuant to Section 9.5(a)  shall offset any distributions to which such Member is entitled concurrently with such withholding or payment and shall be treated as having been distributed to such Member at the time such withholding or payment is made.  If the cumulative amount of such withholding or payment with respect to a Member exceeds the distributions to which such Member is entitled concurrently with such withholding or payment (an “ Excess Tax Amount ”), the Managing Member shall notify such Member of such Excess Tax Amount, and such Member shall contribute the Excess Tax Amount to the Company reasonably promptly after having received such notice.  The Company shall be entitled to offset the amount of a Member’s outstanding Excess Tax Amount against distributions to which such Member would otherwise be subsequently entitled until the full amount of such Member’s Excess Tax Amount has been contributed to the Company, and any such offset shall not reduce such Member’s Capital Account. Any contribution by a Member with respect to an Excess Tax Amount shall increase such Member’s Capital Account but shall not reduce the amount (if any) that a Member is otherwise obligated to contribute to the Company.

 

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(c)           Each Member hereby unconditionally and irrevocably grants to the Company a security interest in such Member’s Units to secure such Member’s obligation to pay to the Company any amounts required to be paid pursuant to Section 9.5(b) .  Each Member shall take such actions as the Company may request in order to perfect or enforce the security interest created hereunder.  Each Member hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the other Members, the Company Representative and the Managing Member from and against any liability (including any liability for Company Level Taxes) with respect to income attributable to or distributions or other payments to such Member.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, (i) any Person who ceases to be a Member shall be treated as a Member for purposes of this Section 9.5 and (ii) the obligations of a Member pursuant to this Section 9.5 shall survive indefinitely with respect to any taxes withheld or paid by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that relate to the period during which such Person was actually a Member, regardless of whether such taxes are assessed, withheld or otherwise paid during such period.

 

Section 9.6            Section 83(b) Elections . Each Member who acquires Units that are subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” within the meaning of Code Section 83 at the time of such acquisition shall consult with such Member’s tax advisor to determine the tax consequences of such acquisition and the advisability of filing an election under Code Section 83(b) with respect to such Units.  Each Member who acquires Incentive Units that are intended to constitute Profits Interests in accordance with Section 3.1(a)  and at the time of such acquisition are subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” within the meaning of Code Section 83 shall make a timely election under Code Section 83 with respect to such Units in the form set forth in Exhibit B .  It is the sole responsibility of a Member, and not the Company, to file the election under Code Section 83(b) even if such Member requests the Company or any of its representatives to assist in making such filing.  Each Member who files an election under Code Section 83(b) with respect to Units (including each Member who is required to file such an election under this Section 9.6 ) shall provide a copy of such election and proof of filing of such election to the Company on or before the due date for the filing of such election.

 

ARTICLE X

 

DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION

 

Section 10.1          Liquidating Events . The Company shall dissolve and commence winding up and liquidating upon the first to occur of the following (“ Liquidating Events ”):

 

(a)           The sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; and

 

(b)           The decision of the Managing Member to dissolve, wind up, and liquidate the Company, which decision, (i) so long as the KKR Entities own at least 3% of all outstanding Units, shall require the approval of the holders of a majority of all Common Units held by the KKR Entities, and (ii) so long as the Trident Entities own at least 3% of all outstanding Units, shall require the approval of the holders of a majority of all Common Units held by the Trident Entities.

 

The Members hereby agree that the Company shall not dissolve prior to the occurrence of a Liquidating Event and that no Member shall seek a dissolution of the Company, under Section 18-802 of the Act or otherwise, other than based on the matters set forth in subsections (a)

 

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and (b) above. If it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that the Company has dissolved prior to the occurrence of a Liquidating Event, the Members hereby agree to continue the business of the Company without a winding up or liquidation. In the event of a dissolution pursuant to Section 10.1(b) , the relative economic rights of each class of Units immediately prior to such dissolution shall be preserved to the greatest extent practicable with respect to distributions made to Members pursuant to Section 10.3 in connection with such dissolution, taking into consideration tax and other legal constraints that may adversely affect one or more parties to such dissolution and subject to compliance with applicable Laws, unless, with respect to any class of Units, holders of a majority of the Units of such class consent in writing to a treatment other than as described above.

 

Section 10.2          Bankruptcy . For purposes of this Agreement, the “bankruptcy” of a Member shall mean the occurrence of any of the following: (a) any Governmental Entity shall take possession of any substantial part of the property of that Member or shall assume control over the affairs or operations thereof, or a receiver or trustee shall be appointed, or a writ, order, attachment or garnishment shall be issued with respect to any substantial part thereof, and such possession, assumption of control, appointment, writ or order shall continue for a period of 90 consecutive days; or (b) a Member shall admit in writing of its inability to pay its debts when due, or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or apply for or consent to the appointment of any receiver, trustee or similar officer or for all or any substantial part of its property; or shall institute (by petition, application, answer, consent or otherwise) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment of debts, dissolution, liquidation, or similar proceeding under the Laws of any jurisdiction; or (c) a receiver, trustee or similar officer shall be appointed for such Member or with respect to all or any substantial part of its property without the application or consent of that Member, and such appointment shall continue undischarged or unstayed for a period of 90 consecutive days or any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangements, readjustment of debt, dissolution, liquidation or similar proceedings shall be instituted (by petition, application or otherwise) against that Member and shall remain undismissed for a period of 90 consecutive days.

 

Section 10.3          Procedure .

 

(a)           In the event of the dissolution of the Company for any reason, the Managing Member shall commence to wind up the affairs of the Company and to liquidate the Company’s investments; provided that if the Managing Member is in bankruptcy or dissolved, another Member (“ Winding-Up Member ”) shall commence to wind up the affairs of the Company and, subject to Section 10.4(a) , such Winding-Up Member shall have full right and unlimited discretion to determine in Good Faith the time, manner and terms of any sale or sales of the Property or other assets pursuant to such liquidation, having due regard to the activity and condition of the relevant market and general financial and economic conditions. The Members shall continue to share profits, losses and distributions during the period of liquidation in the same manner and proportion as though the Company had not dissolved. The Company shall engage in no further business except as may be necessary, in the reasonable discretion of the Managing Member or the Winding-Up Member, as applicable, to preserve the value of the Company’s assets during the period of dissolution and liquidation.

 

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(b)           Following the payment of all expenses of liquidation and the allocation of all Profits and Losses as provided in Article IV , the proceeds of the liquidation and any other funds of the Company shall be distributed in the following order of priority:

 

(i)            First, to the payment and discharge of all of the Company’s debts and Liabilities to creditors (whether third parties or Members), in the order of priority as provided by Law, except any obligations to the Members in respect of their Capital Accounts;

 

(ii)           Second, to set up such cash reserves which the Managing Member reasonably deems necessary for contingent or unforeseen Liabilities or future payments described in Section 10.3(b)(i)  (which reserves when they become unnecessary shall be distributed in accordance with the provisions of subsection (iii), below); and

 

(iii)          Third, the balance to the Members, pro rata in proportion to their respective Units; provided that, immediately before any distributions are made pursuant to this Section 10.3(b)(iii) , all Incentive Units held by each Member shall be converted into a number of Common Units equal to the IU Conversion Ratio of the number of Incentive Units held by such Member.

 

(c)           Except as provided in Section 10.4(a) , no Member shall have any right to demand or receive property other than cash upon dissolution and termination of the Company.

 

(d)           Upon the completion of the liquidation of the Company and the distribution of all Company funds, the Company shall terminate and the Managing Member or the Winding-Up Member, as the case may be, shall have the authority to execute and record a certificate of cancellation of the Company, as well as any and all other documents required to effectuate the dissolution and termination of the Company.

 

Section 10.4          Rights of Members .

 

(a)           Each Member irrevocably waives any right that it may have to maintain an action for partition with respect to the property of the Company.

 

(b)           Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, (i) each Member shall look solely to the assets of the Company for the return of its Capital Contributions, and (ii) no Member shall have priority over any other Member as to the return of its Capital Contributions, distributions or allocations.

 

Section 10.5          Notices of Dissolution . In the event a Liquidating Event occurs or an event occurs that would, but for provisions of Section 10.1 , result in a dissolution of the Company, the Company shall, within 30 days thereafter, (a) provide written notice thereof to each of the Members and to all other parties with whom the Company regularly conducts business (as determined in the discretion of the Managing Member), and (b) comply, in a timely manner, with all filing and notice requirements under the Act or any other applicable Law.

 

Section 10.6          Reasonable Time for Winding Up . A reasonable time shall be allowed for the orderly winding up of the business and affairs of the Company and the liquidation of its assets in order to minimize any losses that might otherwise result from such winding up.

 

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Section 10.7          No Deficit Restoration . No Member shall be personally liable for a deficit Capital Account balance of that Member, it being expressly understood that the distribution of liquidation proceeds shall be made solely from existing Company assets.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

GENERAL

 

Section 11.1          Amendments; Waivers .

 

(a)           The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be waived, modified or amended (including by means of merger, consolidation or other business combination to which the Company is a party) only with the approval of the Managing Member and, (i) so long as the KKR Entities own at least 3% of all outstanding Units, the approval of the holders of a majority of all Common Units held by the KKR Entities and (ii) so long as the Trident Entities own at least 3% of all outstanding Units, the approval of the holders of a majority of all Common Units held by the Trident Entities; provided , however , that no amendment, modification or waiver to this Agreement may:

 

(i)            modify the limited liability of any Member, or increase the liabilities or obligations of any Member, in each case, without the consent of each such affected Member;

 

(ii)           materially alter or change any rights, preferences or privileges of any Units in a manner that is different or prejudicial relative to all other Units of the same class, without the approval of the Members holding a majority of the Units affected in such a different or prejudicial manner;

 

(iii)          materially alter or change any rights, preferences or privileges of the Common Units without the approval of the Members holding a majority of the outstanding Common Units;

 

(iv)          materially alter or change any rights, preferences or privileges of the Incentive Units without the approval of the Members holding a majority of the outstanding Incentive Units, unless a similar alteration or change is made to the Common Units; or

 

(v)           alter or change any rights, preferences or privileges of any KKR Entity or Trident Entity contained in Section 3.2 , Section 3.6 , the last sentence of Section 3.8 , Section 3.9 , Section 3.11 , Section 6.4 , Section 6.10(c) , Section 8.1(b) , Section 9.2(a)(iv) , Section 9.2(a)(vi) , the last sentence of Section 9.4(b) , Section 10.1(b) , this Section 11.1(a) , Section 11.14 or the definitions of PubCo Approved Change of Control and Change of Control without the approval of such KKR Entity or Trident Entity, as the case may be; provided, however , that nothing contained in any such Section or otherwise in this Agreement shall give any KKR Entity or Trident Entity any approval rights with respect to any PubCo Approved Change of Control.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding the foregoing subsection (a), the Managing Member, acting alone, may amend this Agreement, including the Members Schedule, (i) to reflect the admission of new Members, Transfers of Interests, the issuance of additional Units or Equity Securities, as provided by the terms of this Agreement, and, subject to Section 11.1(a) , subdivisions or combinations of

 

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Units made in compliance with Section 3.2(e)  and (ii) to comply with or administer in an equitable manner Partnership Tax Audit Rules in any manner determined by the Managing Member.

 

(c)           No waiver of any provision or default under, nor consent to any exception to, the terms of this Agreement or any agreement contemplated hereby shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the party to be bound and then only to the specific purpose, extent and instance so provided.

 

(d)           No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder (other than a failure or delay beyond a period of time specified herein) shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

 

Section 11.2          Further Assurances . Each party agrees that it will from time to time, upon the reasonable request of another party, execute such documents and instruments and take such further action as may be required to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement.

 

Section 11.3          Successors and Assigns .  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.  No party may Transfer any right or obligation under this Agreement except in connection with a Transfer of Units as expressly permitted by this Agreement.

 

Section 11.4          Entire Agreement . This Agreement, together with all Exhibits and Schedules hereto and all other agreements referenced therein and herein, constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written, of the parties and there are no warranties, representations or other agreements between the parties in connection with the subject matter hereof except as specifically set forth herein and therein.

 

Section 11.5          Rights of Members Independent . The rights available to the Members under this Agreement and at Law shall be deemed to be several and not dependent on each other and each such right accordingly shall be construed as complete in itself and not by reference to any other such right. Any one or more and/or any combination of such rights may be exercised by a Member and/or the Company from time to time and no such exercise shall exhaust the rights or preclude another Member from exercising any one or more of such rights or combination thereof from time to time thereafter or simultaneously.

 

Section 11.6          Governing Law .  All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement and the performance of the obligations imposed by this Agreement, together with any dispute arising hereunder, 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.

 

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Section 11.7          Jurisdiction and Venue .

 

(a)           Each party to this Agreement hereby irrevocably agrees that any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any agreements or transactions contemplated hereby shall be brought exclusively in the courts of the State of Delaware and the United States District Court for the District of Delaware and hereby expressly submits to the personal jurisdiction and venue of such courts for the purposes thereof and expressly waives any claim of improper venue and any claim that such courts are an inconvenient forum.  Each party hereto hereby irrevocably consents to the service of process of any of the aforementioned courts in any such suit, action or proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to the address provided in accordance with Section 11.10 , such service to become effective ten (10) days after such mailing.

 

(b)           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 (I) 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, (II) EACH SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (III) EACH SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (IV) EACH SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION 11.7(b) .

 

Section 11.8          Headings .  The descriptive headings of the Articles, Sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.

 

Section 11.9          Counterparts .  This Agreement and any amendment hereto or any other agreement (or document) delivered pursuant hereto may be executed in one or more counterparts and by different parties in separate counterparts. All of such counterparts shall constitute one and the same agreement (or other document) and shall become effective (unless otherwise provided therein) when one or more counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party.

 

Section 11.10       Notices .  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, confirmed electronic mail (e-mail) or by confirmed facsimile transmittal.  A notice must be addressed: (a) if to a

 

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Member, to such Member’s last known address as set forth in the Company’s books and records or at such other address as such Member may designate from time to time by written notice to the Company; and (b) if to the Company, to the attention of the General Counsel at the Company’s primary address.  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 11.11       Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable by any Governmental Entity, the remaining provisions of this Agreement, to the extent permitted by Law shall remain in full force and effect, provided , that the essential terms and conditions of this Agreement for all parties remain valid, binding and enforceable.

 

Section 11.12       Expenses .  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each party shall bear its own expenses in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 11.13       No Third Party Beneficiaries .  Except as expressly provided in Section 6.4 , Section 6.10(c) , Section 9.5 , and Section 11.14 , nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party, other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, any rights or remedies under this Agreement or otherwise create any third party beneficiary hereto.

 

Section 11.14       No Recourse .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company and each Member agrees and acknowledges that no recourse under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement shall be had against any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, advisor, attorney, representative, general or limited partner, stockholder or member of any KKR Entity or Trident Entity or of any Affiliate or assignee thereof, or any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, advisor, attorney, representative, general or limited partner, stockholder or member of the foregoing (each a “ Member Affiliate ”), whether by the enforcement of any judgment or assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation, theory or other Law or otherwise, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred, whether by piercing of the limited liability company (or corporate or limited partnership) veil, by a claim (whether at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise), by any Member Affiliate or assignee thereof, as such for any obligation of any KKR Entity or Trident Entity under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation.

 

Section 11.15       Survival .  With respect to any Person subject to obligations under this Agreement, all obligations in respect of a breach by such Person of this Agreement shall survive such Person ceasing to have rights and privileges of a Member under this Agreement or to be an officer, manager, director, employee or consultant of the Company or any Subsidiary.  In the event of any termination of this Agreement, the applicable provisions of this Agreement shall survive to give effect to the terms thereof.

 

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Section 11.16       Specific Performance .  The parties hereto recognize that irreparable injury may result from a breach of any provision of this Agreement and that money damages may 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 seek 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, all without the need to post a bond and in an expedited hearing.

 

Section 11.17       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 property of the Company 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-interest to Transfer any interest in the Company shall be subject to the limitations and restrictions of this Agreement.

 

Section 11.18       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 hereto 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 hereto may have by law or otherwise.

 

[Signatures on Next Page]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Managing Member has caused this Fourth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Company to be executed by its duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

MANAGING MEMBER:

 

 

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ruediger Adolf

 

Name:

Ruediger Adolf

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO
THE FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT OF
FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS, LLC

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF EXCHANGE NOTICE

 

[     , 20  ]

 

Focus Financial Partners LLC

Focus Financial Partners Inc.

Attn: Exchange Agent

825 Third Avenue, 27 th  Floor

New York, NY 10022

 

Deliver by e-mail to the following addresses:

jshanahan@focuspartners.com and

electionnotice@focuspartners.com

 

Exchange Notice Pursuant to Focus LLC Agreement

 

The undersigned hereby provides notice, as required pursuant to Section 3.6(b) of the Fourth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Focus Financial Partners, LLC (the “ Focus LLC Agreement ”), of its intent to effect an Exchange on the next Exchange Date (each as defined in the Focus LLC Agreement), as described below.  Except as otherwise noted, any capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Focus LLC Agreement.

 

Name of Exchanging Member:

 

 

 

Number of vested Common Units to be exchanged (together with the same number of shares of Class B Common Stock to be cancelled):

 

 

 

Number of vested Incentive Units to be exchanged:

 

 

 

Election with respect to limitation on payments under the applicable IPO TRA pursuant to Section 3.1(c) thereof (check one):

o The exchanging Member hereby elects, pursuant to Section 3.1(c) of the applicable IPO TRA, for the following percentage to be used in determining the limitation to be applied to payments under the applicable IPO TRA with respect to this Exchange:

 

o The exchanging Member hereby elects, pursuant to Section 3.1(c) of the applicable IPO TRA, for no limitation to apply to payments under the applicable IPO TRA with respect to this Exchange.

 

Exhibit A- 1



 

 

If I did not check either of the foregoing, I understand that no election is made hereby pursuant to Section 3.1(c) of the applicable IPO TRA and that the default provisions of Section 3.1(c) of the IPO TRA will govern this Exchange.

 

The undersigned acknowledges that, unless a registration statement for the resale of the shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued upon the Exchange is effective, such shares will be “restricted securities” that may be sold publicly only in compliance with Rule 144 or Rule 701 under the Securities Act.

 

 

 

NAME OF EXCHANGING MEMBER:

 

 

 

Signed by:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Exhibit A- 2



 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF SECTION 83(b) ELECTION

 

The undersigned taxpayer has received an award of incentive membership units (the “ Property ”) in a Delaware limited liability company that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.  The Property is intended to constitute a “profits interest” within the meaning of Internal Revenue Service Revenue Procedures 93-27 and 2001-43.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that (i) the Property constitutes a “capital interest” rather than a “profits interest” or (ii) the undersigned taxpayer disposes of the Property within two years following receipt thereof, the undersigned taxpayer hereby elects, pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to include in gross income as compensation for services the excess (if any) of the fair market value of the Property at the time of transfer over the amount paid for the Property.

 

1.

The name, social security number and address of the undersigned (the “Taxpayer”), and the taxable year for which this election is being made are:

 

 

 

Taxpayer’s Name:

 

 

 

Taxpayer’s Social Security Number:

              -         -                  

 

 

 

Taxpayer’s Address:

 

 

 

Taxable Year:

Calendar Year 20

 

 

2.

The Property that is the subject of this election is            Incentive Units in Focus Financial Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

 

3.

The Property was transferred to the Taxpayer on               .

 

 

4.

Property is subject to the following restrictions: The Incentive Units issued to the Taxpayer are subject to various transfer restrictions and repurchase rights [and are subject to forfeiture in the event certain service or employment conditions are not satisfied].

 

 

5.

The fair market value of the Property at the time of transfer (determined without regard to any restriction other than a nonlapse restriction as defined in Section 1.83-3(h) of the Income Tax Regulations) is $0.00.

 

 

6.

The amount paid by the Taxpayer for the Property is $0.00.

 

 

7.

The amount to include in gross income is $0.00.

 

The undersigned taxpayer will file this election with the Internal Revenue Service office with which the taxpayer files his or her annual income tax return not later than 30 days after the date of transfer of the Property.  A copy of the election also will be furnished to Focus Financial Partners, LLC.  The undersigned is the person performing the services in connection with which the Property was transferred.

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 

Taxpayer’s Signature

 

Exhibit B- 1



 

EXHIBIT C

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

[ See attached. ]

 



 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

 


 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 


 

Dated July 30, 2018

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

ARTICLE I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DEFINITIONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.1

 

Certain Definitions

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.1

 

Shelf Registration Statement

 

5

2.2

 

Demand Registration Rights

 

6

2.3

 

Non-Private Equity Offerings and Company Primary Offerings

 

9

2.4

 

Registration Suspension

 

11

2.5

 

Holdback Agreement

 

12

2.6

 

Registration Procedures

 

13

2.7

 

Registration Expenses

 

17

2.8

 

Indemnification

 

17

2.9

 

Transfer of Registration Rights

 

21

2.10

 

Current Public Information

 

22

2.11

 

General Rules Applicable to Registration Statements

 

22

2.12

 

In-Kind Distributions

 

22

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.1

 

Notices

 

23

3.2

 

Counterparts

 

23

3.3

 

Assignment

 

23

3.4

 

Termination

 

23

3.5

 

Descriptive Headings

 

23

3.6

 

Specific Performance

 

23

3.7

 

Governing Law

 

23

3.8

 

Severability

 

23

3.9

 

Waiver of Jury Trial; Consent to Jurisdiction

 

24

3.10

 

Amendments; Entire Agreement

 

24

3.11

 

Merger or Consolidation

 

24

3.12

 

No Recourse

 

25

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBITS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit A Form of Joinder

 

A-1

 

i



 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of July 30, 2018, by and among Focus Financial Partners Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), Focus Financial Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Focus LLC ”), the members of Focus LLC listed on the schedule of Members maintained by Focus LLC from time to time (the “ Members ”) and the stockholders of the Company listed on the signature page hereof (collectively, the “ Stockholders ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Members are parties to the Fourth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Focus LLC, dated the date hereof (as amended from time to time, the “ Operating Agreement ”), establishing and setting forth, among other things, their agreement with respect to certain rights and obligations associated with ownership of Units, as defined in the Operating Agreement (the “ Units ”);

 

WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the Company has completed an initial public offering of shares of its Class A Common Stock (the “ Initial Public Offering ”);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Initial Public Offering and the entry into the Operating Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is incorporated into, and forms an integral part of, the Operating Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants and obligations hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

1.1          Certain Definitions.  For the purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Adverse Disclosure ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.3 of this Agreement.

 

Affiliate ” of any particular Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person.

 

Affiliated Investor ” means, with respect to any Holder, (i) any investment fund or holding company that is directly or indirectly managed or advised by a manager or advisor of such Holder or any of its Affiliates and (ii) any of its Affiliates or any other Person who or which is otherwise an Affiliate of any such Holder (other than the Company and its subsidiaries).

 

Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

1



 

Blocker Merger Agreements ” means the Blocker Merger Agreements dated the date hereof, among the Company, certain of its subsidiaries, and the Members named therein.

 

Board of Directors ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday on which banks in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law to close.

 

Class A Common Stock ” means the Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

 

Class A Common Stock Equivalents ” means any rights, warrants, options, convertible securities or indebtedness, exchangeable securities or indebtedness, or other rights, exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into, directly or indirectly, Class A Common Stock and securities convertible or exchangeable into Class A Common Stock, whether at the time of issuance or upon the passage of time or the occurrence of such future event, including Units and the Class B Common Stock of the Company.

 

Company ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

Company Notice ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Company Primary Offering ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c)  of this Agreement.

 

Demand Notice ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.2(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Demand Offering ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.1(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Demand Request ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.1(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Effective Date ” means effective date of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 filed in connection with the Initial Public Offering.

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar federal statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.

 

Excluded Registration ” means a registration under the Securities Act of (i) securities registered on Form S-4 or S-8 or any similar successor forms and (ii) securities registered to effect the acquisition of, or combination with, another Person, other than in each case the registration and sale of securities by the Company in which it receives cash proceeds.

 

FINRA ” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

 

Focus LLC ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

Holder ” means any Member or Stockholder, including their Permitted Transferees, provided that a Person shall cease to be a Holder at the time such Person ceases to hold Registrable Shares.

 

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Holder Affiliates ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Informed Holder ” means each Non-Private Equity Holder that has delivered written notice to the Company that such Non-Private Equity Holder wishes to receive each Demand Notice and each Company Notice, which written notice may be revoked by such Non-Private Equity Holder at any time by further written notice to the Company, with such revocation to be effective seven (7) days after receipt of such further notice.

 

Initial Public Offering ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

Inspectors ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(h)  of this Agreement.

 

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, relating to an offer of Registrable Shares.

 

Launch Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Lockup Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Majority Requesting Holders ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.2(d)  of this Agreement.

 

Material Adverse Effect ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.2(d)  of this Agreement.

 

Members ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

Non-Private Equity Holders ” shall mean Holders that are not Private Equity Holders.

 

“Non-Private Equity Offering” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).

 

Operating Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

Other Requesting Persons ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.2(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Permitted Transferee ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.9(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Person ” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

 

“Piggyback Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a)  of this Agreement.

 

“Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section  2.3(c)  of this Agreement.

 

Primary Shares ” means shares of Class A Common Stock issued by the Company after the date hereof other than Synthetic Primary Shares.

 

3



 

Private Equity Holders ” shall mean Holders that are Private Equity Investors or their Affiliates or Permitted Transferees.

 

Private Equity Investors ” means Stone Point Capital LLC and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.

 

Prospectus ” means the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, all amendments and supplements to such prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement, and all other material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

 

Public Offering ” means an underwritten Public Offering and sale of Class A Common Stock pursuant to a registration statement, including a “bought” deal or “overnight” Public Offering.

 

Records ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(h)  of this Agreement.

 

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

 

Registrable Shares ” means (i) shares of Class A Common Stock issued to the Holders in connection with the Initial Public Offering, (ii) shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exchange of the Units held by the Holders at the closing of the Initial Public Offering, and (iii) shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exchange of Units issued after the Initial Public Offering and designated as Registrable Shares by the Company in connection with the issuance of such Units (subject to such limitations or qualifications as may be established in connection with issuance); provided, however , that Registrable Shares shall not include any shares of Class A Common Stock (A) that have been sold pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, (B) that have been sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, (C) that have been transferred to anyone other than a Permitted Transferee, or (D) that have ceased to be outstanding.

 

Registration Expenses ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.7 of this Agreement.

 

Registration Statement ” means a Shelf Registration Statement or a registration statement filed in order to effect a Demand Offering, a Non-Private Equity Offering or a Company Primary Offering.

 

Registration Suspension ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4 of this Agreement.

 

Required Filing Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.2(c)  of this Agreement.

 

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act.

 

4



 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any similar federal statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.

 

Shelf Eligibility Date ” means the date following completion of twelve (12) calendar months after the Effective Date, whether or not on such date the Company becomes eligible to utilize Form S-3 to sell shares in a secondary offering on a delayed or continuous basis in accordance with Rule 415 under the Securities Act.

 

Shelf Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Shelf Registration Statement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Shelf Resale ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c)  of this Agreement.

 

Standing Instructions shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(d)  of this Agreement.

 

Standing Instructions Holders ” means, at any time, the Non-Private Equity Holders who have given the Company Standing Instructions.

 

Stockholders ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 

Synthetic Primary Shares ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.2(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Units ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE II

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

2.1          Shelf Registration Statement.

 

(a)           As promptly as practicable following the Shelf Eligibility Date, the Company shall file with the SEC a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 or Form S-1 or a successor form (a “ Shelf Registration Statement ”) relating to the offer and sale on a delayed or continuous basis in accordance with Rule 415 under the Securities Act of all Registrable Shares by the Holders from time to time and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC as promptly as reasonably practicable.

 

(b)           The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep a Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act in order to permit the Prospectus forming a part thereof to be usable by Holders until the date as of which all Registrable Shares covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold thereunder or otherwise cease to be Registrable Shares (such period of effectiveness, the “ Shelf Period ”). The Company shall not be deemed to have used its reasonable best efforts to

 

5



 

keep a Shelf Registration Statement effective during the Shelf Period if the Company voluntarily takes any action or omits to take any action that would result in Holders covered by a Shelf Registration Statement not being able to offer and sell any Registrable Shares pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement during the Shelf Period, unless such action or omission is (x) a Registration Suspension (as defined below) or (y) required by applicable law.

 

(c)           Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement and subject to any applicable transfer restrictions in the Operating Agreement, the Blocker Merger Agreements and applicable law, each Holder shall be entitled, at any time and from time to time when a Shelf Registration Statement is effective, to sell its Registrable Shares then registered pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (each, a “ Shelf Resale ”). Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.2 below, a Holder initiating a Shelf Resale shall not be required to permit the offer and sale of Registrable Shares by any other Holders in connection with any such Shelf Resale.

 

(d)           The Company shall from time to time solicit from each Non-Private Equity Holder written instructions to include in any Demand Offering or Non-Private Equity Offering after the Shelf Eligibility Date a specified number of Registrable Shares so long as the price to the public per share of Class A Common Stock in such Demand Offering or Non-Private Equity Offering equals or exceeds one or more minimum prices specified by the Company (the “Standing Instructions” ).  Each Non-Private Equity Holder who provided Standing Instructions may revoke or modify them by further written notice to the Company, which revocation or modification shall become effective seven (7) days after receipt of such further notice.

 

2.2          Demand Registration Rights.

 

2.2.1       Demand Requests .

 

(a)           Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2.2 , at any time on or after the 180 th  day following the Effective Date, any one or more of the Private Equity Holders may request the Company in writing (a “ Demand Request ”) to sell all or any portion of its or their Registrable Shares in a Public Offering (each, a “ Demand Offering ”); provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be obligated under this Section 2.2 to effect more than one (1) Demand Offering on Form S-1 or a successor form in any 90-day period or more than three (3) Demand Offerings in any 12-month period commencing on the Effective Date and any anniversary thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Demand Request will be effective hereunder unless the net proceeds (net of underwriting fees and commissions) to the Private Equity Holders from the sale of the Registrable Shares included in such request are reasonably expected to exceed $50,000,000 or such request includes all Registrable Shares owned by the requesting Private Equity Holders at such time.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Demand Offering shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of this Section 2.2.1 if the Registration Statement relating thereto (i) does not become effective, (ii) is not maintained effective for 90 days

 

6



 

(or such shorter period as shall terminate when all Registrable Shares covered by such Registration Statement have been sold) or (iii) the Demand Offering pursuant to such Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or other governmental agency or court. The Company shall bear and pay all Registration Expenses (as provided in Section 2.7 ); provided, however, that in the event the Private Equity Holders revoke a Demand Offering (which revocation may only be made prior to the Company requesting acceleration of effectiveness of the relevant Registration Statement or, in the case of a shelf takedown, prior to the signing of an underwriting agreement or similar agreement) and the Company has incurred Registration Expenses and not been reimbursed by such Private Equity Holders, then such Demand Offering shall count as having been effected for purposes of this Section 2.2.1 .

 

(c)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, if 20% or more of the Registrable Shares included in a Demand Request are excluded from the Demand Offering pursuant to Section 2.2.2(d)  below, then the Private Equity Holders shall have the right, with respect to such exclusion, to request one additional Demand Offering during the relevant 12-month period.

 

2.2.2       General Procedures .

 

(a)           Each Demand Request shall specify: (i) the number of Registrable Shares proposed to be sold and (ii) the intended method of disposition, to the extent then known.

 

(b)           Upon receipt of any Demand Request, the Company shall promptly (but in any event within the shorter of (i) five (5) days and (ii) the number of days from the Demand Request to the date of such Demand Offering) give written notice (the “ Demand Notice ”) of such proposed Demand Offering to the other Private Equity Holders and, subject to the proviso, all Informed Holders; provided, however, the Company shall not provide any Demand Notice to any Non-Private Equity Holder who is not an Informed Holder and shall not be obligated to, but may use its discretion after consultation with the Private Equity Holders requesting such Demand Offering, to provide a Demand Notice to Informed Holders in connection with a Demand Offering that is a “bought deal” or an “overnight” Public Offering pursuant to an effective Shelf Registration Statement; provided that the delivery of such Demand Notice will not delay the proposed Demand Offering. Each other Private Equity Holder and Informed Holder that receives a Demand Notice shall have the right, exercisable by written notice to the Company within such period of time specified by the Company in such Demand Notice (but not to exceed five (5) days), to irrevocably elect to include in such Demand Offering such portion of its Registrable Shares as it may request (each such electing Informed Holder, an “ Other Requesting Persons ”).  Each Other Requesting Person may condition the inclusion of any Registrable Shares or any specified number of Registrable Shares in such Demand Offering on the price to the public per share of Class A Common Stock in such Demand Offering being equal to or exceeding one or more minimum prices specified by the Company in such Demand Notice.

 

7



 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the immediately preceding paragraph, if Standing Instructions provide for Registrable Shares held by Standing Instructions Holders to be included in the Demand Offering, and the Demand Offering requested pursuant to this Section 2.2.2(b)  is a “bought deal” or an “overnight” Public Offering pursuant to an effective Shelf Registration Statement after the Shelf Eligibility Date, the Company shall (absent other instructions by any Standing Instructions Holder) include in such Demand Offering shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued and sold by the Company for its own account (the “ Synthetic Primary Shares ”) and use the proceeds to the Company from such Demand Offering solely to purchase outstanding Units pursuant to such Standing Instructions and pay related fees and expenses. In such event, such Standing Instructions Holders shall not be included in a Demand Offering for a “bought deal” or an “overnight” Public Offering. In addition, no Non-Private Equity Holders shall be included in a Demand Offering for a ‘bought deal” or an “overnight” Public Offering unless the Company has delivered a Demand Notice to it and such Non-Private Equity Holder elects to be included in accordance with the terms of the immediately preceding paragraph.

 

(c)           Subject to Section 2.2.3 , if a Shelf Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the SEC, upon receipt of any Demand Request, the Company shall (i) use its reasonable best efforts to file a Registration Statement as soon as reasonably practicable and in no event later than sixty (60) days in the case of a Registration Statement on Form S-1 and twenty (20) days in the case of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or, in each case, any successor form) after receiving such Demand Request (the “ Required Filing Date ”) and (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC as promptly as reasonably practicable.

 

(d)           The Holders of a majority of the Registrable Shares included in the Demand Request (the “ Majority Requesting Holders ”) shall have the right to select the investment banking firm or firms to manage the Demand Offering (which firms shall be represented by counsel designated by the Company), provided, that such selection shall be subject to the consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. If such firm or firms advise the Company and the Majority Requesting Holders that the inclusion of all Registrable Shares and Synthetic Primary Shares requested to be included in the Demand Offering would materially and adversely affect the price or success of the offering (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”), the Company shall include in such Demand Offering the number of Registrable Shares and Synthetic Primary Shares which can be so sold without causing a Material Adverse Effect pro rata among the Holders who delivered the Demand Request, the Other Requesting Persons and the Company on the basis of the number of Registrable Shares owned by each such Holder as of the date of this Agreement or joinder, as applicable (plus any additional Registrable Shares acquired thereafter) and, in the case of the Synthetic Primary Shares, the number of Registrable Shares owned by the Standing Instructions Holders as of the date of this Agreement or joinder, as applicable (plus any additional Registrable Shares acquired thereafter).

 

2.2.3       Deferral of Filing. If a Demand Request is received and there is not an effective Shelf Registration Statement on file with the SEC, the Company may, upon prior written notice to the Holders, defer (but not more than once in any 12-month period) the filing (but not the preparation) of the Registration Statement for the Demand Offering for a reasonable period of time

 

8



 

not to exceed 60 days after the Required Filing Date (or, if longer, 60 days after the filing date of the registration statement contemplated by clause (ii)  below) if (i) at the time the Company receives the Demand Request, the Company or any of its subsidiaries is engaged in confidential negotiations or other confidential business activities, disclosure of which would be required in connection with such Registration Statement (but would not be required if such Registration Statement were not filed), and the Board of Directors determines in good faith that such disclosure would be materially detrimental to the Company and its stockholders (an “ Adverse Disclosure ”), or (ii) prior to receiving the Demand Request, the Board of Directors had determined to effect a Company Primary Offering pursuant to Section 2.3 , and the Company had taken substantial steps (including, without limitation, selecting a managing underwriter for such offering) and is proceeding with reasonable diligence to effect such offering. A deferral of the filing of a Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 2.2.3 shall be lifted, and the Registration Statement shall be filed promptly, if, in the case of a deferral pursuant to clause (i)  of the preceding sentence, the negotiations or other activities are disclosed or terminated, or, in the case of a deferral pursuant to clause (ii)  of the preceding sentence, the proposed Company Primary Offering is completed or abandoned. In order to defer the filing of a Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 2.2.3 , the Company shall promptly (but in any event within five (5) days), upon determining to seek such deferral, deliver to each Holder requesting inclusion of Registrable Shares in the Demand Offering a certificate signed by an executive officer of the Company stating that the Company is deferring such filing pursuant to this Section 2.2.3 and an approximation of the anticipated delay. On the 20 th  day after the Private Equity Holders have received such certificate, the Demand Request shall be deemed withdrawn automatically unless, prior to such 20 th  day, the Private Equity Holders deliver to the Company a written notice to the effect that they do not want the Demand Request to be withdrawn.

 

2.3          Non-Private Equity Offerings and Company Primary Offerings.

 

(a)           Once per twelve-month period commencing on the Effective Date and any anniversary thereof, the Company may initiate a Public Offering for the benefit of the Non-Private Equity Holders (a “ Non-Private Equity Offering ”).  The Company may include in such Non-Private Equity Offering Synthetic Primary Shares and shall use the proceeds from the sale of such Synthetic Primary Shares to purchase outstanding Units from Standing Instructions Holders.  In addition, the Company may give written notice (the “ Company Notice ”) of such proposed Non-Private Equity Offering to all or some Informed Holders (whether or not they have provided Standing Instructions), who shall have the right, exercisable by written notice to the Company within five (5) days of such notice (or a shorter period specified by the Company in any Company Notice delivered in connection with a “bought deal” or an “overnight” Public Offering), to elect to include in such Non-Private Equity Offering such portion of their Registrable Shares as they may request (which such request shall supersede any outstanding Standing Instructions). The Company shall not provide any Company Notice to any Holder who is not an Informed Holder. The Company shall also deliver a Company Notice of such proposed Non-Private Equity Offering to all Private Equity Holders, who shall have the right, exercisable by written notice to the Company within five (5) days of such notice (or a shorter period specified by the Company in any Company Notice delivered in connection with a “bought deal” or an “overnight” Public Offering), to elect to include in such Non-Private Equity Offering such portion of their Registrable Shares as they may request.  Each Non-Private Equity Holder

 

9



 

and each Private Equity Holder may condition the inclusion of any Registrable Shares or any specified number of Registrable Shares in such Non-Private Equity Offering on the price to the public per share of Class A Common Stock in such Non-Private Equity Offering being equal to or exceeding one or more minimum prices specified by the Company in such Company Notice. Subject to Section 2.3(b)  below, the Company shall include in such Non-Private Equity Offering all such Registrable Shares so requested to be included therein; provided, however , that the Company may at any time, in its sole discretion, withdraw or cease proceeding with any such Non-Private Equity Offering.

 

(b)           If, in connection with a Non-Private Equity Offering, the managing underwriter advises the Company that the inclusion of all Synthetic Primary Shares and Registrable Shares requested to be included would cause a Material Adverse Effect, the Company shall include in such Non-Private Equity Offering the number of Synthetic Primary Shares and Registrable Shares which can be so sold without causing a Material Adverse Effect pro rata among the Holders who requested to be included in such Non-Private Equity Offering and the Company on the basis of the number of Registrable Shares owned by such Holders as of the date of this Agreement or joinder, as applicable, (plus any additional Registrable Shares acquired thereafter) and, in the case of the Synthetic Primary Shares, the number of Registrable Shares owned by the Standing Instructions Holders as of the date of this Agreement or joinder, as applicable (plus any additional Registrable Shares acquired thereafter).

 

(c)           Except with respect to a Demand Offering, the procedures for which are addressed in Section 2.2 , or a Non-Private Equity Offering, the procedures for which are addressed in Section 2.3(a) , if the Company proposes to do a Public Offering of Primary Shares (other than (i) the Initial Public Offering or (ii) an Excluded Registration) (a Company Primary Offering ) and to include in such Company Primary Offering Registrable Shares of any Holder or any Synthetic Primary Shares, then, each such time after the Initial Public Offering, the Company shall give prompt written notice of such Company Public Offering (no later than ten (10) days prior to the filing of the Registration Statement for such Company Primary Offering or, if such Company Primary Offering is pursuant to an effective Shelf Registration Statement, no later than two (2) Business Days prior to the launch of such Company Primary Offering (in each case, a “ Piggyback Notice ”)) to all of the Holders of Registrable Shares; provided, however , that the Company is permitted to withhold such Piggyback Notice solely in connection with one Company Primary Offering per twelve-month period. The Piggyback Notice shall offer such Holders the opportunity to include (or cause to be included) in such Company Primary Offering the number of Registrable Shares as each such Holder may request (a “ Piggyback Registration ”).  Subject to Section 2.3(d)  hereof, the Company shall include in each such Company Primary Offering all Registrable Shares with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within five (5) days of such Piggyback Notice (or shorter as specified by the Company in the Piggyback Notice).  The Holders of Registrable Shares shall be permitted to withdraw all or part of the Registrable Shares from a Piggyback Registration at any time at least two (2) Business Days prior to the effective date or launch date, as applicable, of such Piggyback Registration. The Company shall not be required to maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement for a Piggyback Registration beyond the earlier to occur of (i) one hundred an eighty (180) days after the

 

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effective date thereof and (ii) consummation of the distribution by the holders of the applicable Registrable Shares included in such Registration Statement.

 

If any time after giving such Piggyback Notice and prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement filed in connection with such registration, or the launch date of the Company Primary Offering if pursuant to an effective Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall determine for any reason not to register and sell the securities originally intended to be included in such registration, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to the Holders and thereupon the Company shall be relieved of its obligation to register and sell such Registrable Shares in connection with the registration and sale of securities originally intended to be included in such registration.

 

(d)           If, in connection with a Company Primary Offering, the managing underwriter advises the Company that the inclusion of all Primary Shares, Synthetic Primary Shares and Registrable Shares requested to be included would cause a Material Adverse Effect, the Company shall include in such Company Primary Offering the number of Primary Shares, Synthetic Primary Shares and other Registrable Shares which can be so sold without causing a Material Adverse Effect in the following order of priority: first , the Primary Shares, and second , Registrable Shares and Synthetic Primary Shares proposed to be included in the Company Primary Offering pro rata on the basis of the number of Registrable Shares owned by Holders who requested to be included in such Company Primary Offering as of the date of this Agreement or joinder, as applicable, (plus any additional Registrable Shares acquired thereafter) and in the case of Synthetic Primary Shares, the number of Registrable Shares owned by the Standing Instructions Holders as of the date of this Agreement or joinder, as applicable (plus any additional Registrable Shares acquired thereafter).

 

2.4          Registration Suspension. If the continued use of any Registration Statement filed and declared effective pursuant to this Agreement and which registers Registrable Shares at any time would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure, the Company may, upon giving written notice of such action to the Holders of Registrable Shares covered by such Registration Statement, suspend all such Holders’ ability to use such Registration Statement or otherwise make purchases of the Company’s securities for a reasonable period of time not in excess of forty-five (45) days and not more than twice in any twelve (12) month period (a “ Registration Suspension ”). Each such Holder shall keep confidential the fact that a Registration Suspension is in effect, the notice referred to above and its contents and the reason therefor unless and until otherwise notified by the Company, except (i) for disclosure to such Holder’s employees, agents and professional advisers who reasonably need to know such information for purposes of assisting the Holder with respect to its investment in the Company and agree to keep it confidential, (ii) for disclosures to the extent required in order to comply with reporting obligations to its limited partners or other direct or indirect investors who have agreed to keep such information confidential, (iii) if and to the extent such matters are publicly disclosed and (iv) as required by law, rule or regulation or legal process.  In the case of a Registration Suspension, upon receipt of such written notice, the Holders of Registrable Shares covered by the applicable Registration Statement agree to suspend use of the applicable Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in connection with any sale or purchase of, or offer to sell or purchase, Registrable Shares, upon delivery of the notice referred to above. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders of Registrable Shares

 

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covered by the applicable Registration Statement upon the termination of any Registration Suspension, otherwise amend or supplement the applicable Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if necessary, so it does not contain any untrue statement or omission and furnish to the Holders of Registrable Shares covered by the applicable Registration Statement such numbers of copies of the applicable Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as so amended or supplemented as the Holders may reasonably request.  The Company shall, if necessary, supplement or make amendments to the applicable Registration Statements as may reasonably be requested by a Holder of Registrable Shares covered by such Registration Statement.

 

2.5          Holdback Agreement.

 

(a)           In connection with any Demand Offering, the Company shall not effect any public sale of any shares of Class A Common Stock or Class A Common Stock Equivalents during the ten (10) Business Days, or such shorter period beginning with delivery of a Demand Notice or Company Notice, as applicable, prior to the anticipated date such Public Offering is expected to be launched (the “ Launch Date ”) and during such time period after the pricing of such Demand Offering (not to exceed 90 days or sixty (60) days after the first Demand Offering) as the Company and the managing underwriter may agree, in each case except as part of such Demand Offering, pursuant to an Excluded Registration or as otherwise agreed between the Company and the managing underwriter for such Demand Offering.

 

(b)           In connection with any Demand Offering, Non-Private Equity Offering or any Company Primary Offering, each Holder that participates in such Public Offering (including pursuant to Standing Instructions), shall not effect (subject to any exceptions the managing underwriter may agree) any public sale or private offer or distribution of any shares of Class A Common Stock or Class A Common Stock Equivalents during the ten (10) Business Days, or such shorter period beginning with delivery of a Demand Notice, Company Notice or Piggyback Notice, as applicable, or a notice by the Company to the Informed Holders or Standing Instructions Holders informing them of such Public Offering, prior to the anticipated Launch Date for any Public Offering and during such time period after the pricing of such Public Offering (not to exceed ninety (90) days (or sixty (60) days after the first Demand Offering)) (except as part of such Public Offering) as the managing underwriter may agree (the “ Lockup Period ”). Each Holder shall receive the benefit of any shorter Lockup Period or permitted exceptions (on a pro rata basis) agreed to by the managing underwriter for any Public Offering pursuant to this Agreement; provided, that nothing herein will prevent any Holder that is a limited liability company, partnership or corporation from making a distribution of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class A Common Stock Equivalents to the members, partners or stockholders thereof or a transfer to an Affiliate that is otherwise in compliance with the applicable securities laws, so long as such distributees or transferees agree to be bound by the restrictions set forth in this Section 2.5 (subject to any exceptions the managing underwriter may agree). Each such Holder agrees to execute a lock-up agreement in favor of the underwriters to such effect and, in any event, that the underwriters in any relevant Public Offering shall be third-party beneficiaries of this Section 2.5 .

 

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(c)           Any discretionary waiver or termination of the requirements under the foregoing provisions made by the managing underwriter shall apply to each Holder on a pro rata basis in accordance with the number of Registrable Shares owned by each such Holder.

 

(d)           The obligations of any person under this Section 2.5 are not in limitation of holdback or transfer restrictions that may otherwise apply by virtue of any other agreement or undertaking.

 

2.6          Registration Procedures. In connection with the Company’s obligations hereunder and subject to the applicable terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company shall as promptly as reasonably practicable:

 

(a)           prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on any appropriate form under the Securities Act with respect to such Registrable Shares and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective by the SEC as promptly as reasonably practicable; and to remain continuously effective; provided, however, that before filing a Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto (including documents that would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall furnish or otherwise make available to the Private Equity Holders of the Registrable Shares covered by such Registration Statement, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the reasonable review and comment of such counsel and such other documents reasonably requested by such counsel, including any comment letter from the SEC, and, if requested by such counsel, provide such counsel reasonable opportunity to participate in the preparation of such Registration Statement and each Prospectus included therein and such other opportunities to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act, including reasonable access to the Company’s books and records, officers, accountants and other advisors.  The Company shall not file any such Registration Statement (including a Shelf Registration Statement), Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto (including such document that, upon filing, would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) with respect to a Demand Offering to which a Private Equity Holder covered by such Registration Statement, their counsel, or the managing underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object, in writing, on a timely basis, unless, in the opinion of the Company, such filing is necessary to comply with applicable law.

 

(b)           prepare and file with the SEC such pre- and post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement and supplements to such Registration Statement and the Prospectus and such amendments or supplements to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as may be necessary to comply with the Securities Act or as necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the period of time required by this Agreement, and comply with provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Shares covered by such Registration Statement during such period in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in such Registration Statement;

 

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(c)           furnish to each Holder of Registrable Shares covered by a Registration Statement and, in the event of a Public Offering, the underwriters of the securities being offered such number of copies of such Registration Statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), any documents incorporated by reference therein and such other documents as such Holder or underwriters may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Shares owned by such Holder or the sale of such securities by such underwriters (it being understood that, subject to Section 2.4 and the requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, the Company consents to the use of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each Holder and the underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Shares covered by the Registration Statement of which such Prospectus, amendment or supplement is a part); provided, however, that any such document available on the SEC’s EDGAR database shall satisfy any such obligation;

 

(d)           if applicable, use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Shares under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as each Holder or, in the case of a Public Offering, the managing underwriter reasonably requests; use its reasonable best efforts to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period in which such Registration Statement is required to be kept effective; and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each Holder to consummate the disposition of the Registrable Shares owned by such Holder in such jurisdictions ( provided, however , that the Company will not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it or its subsidiaries would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this subparagraph or (ii) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction);

 

(e)           promptly notify each Holder of Registrable Shares covered by a Registration Statement and, in the case of a Public Offering, each underwriter (i) when a Prospectus or any prospectus supplement or amendment has been filed and, with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (ii) of the issuance by any state securities or other regulatory authority of any order suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Shares under state securities or “blue sky” laws or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iii) of any request by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or related Prospectus or for additional information, (iv) if at any time the Company has reason to believe that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any agreement (including any underwriting agreement) contemplated by Section 2.6(o)  below cease to be true and correct, and (v) of the happening of any event which makes any statement made in a Registration Statement or related Prospectus untrue or which requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement, Prospectus or documents incorporated therein by reference so that they 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 not misleading, and, as promptly as practicable thereafter, prepare and file with the SEC and furnish a supplement or amendment so that, as thereafter deliverable to the purchasers of such Registrable Shares, such Prospectus will not contain

 

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any untrue statement of a material fact or omit a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

(f)            make generally available to the Company’s stockholders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 under the Securities Act;

 

(g)           in the case of a Public Offering, if requested by the managing underwriter or any Holder participating in such Public Offering, promptly incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the managing underwriter or any Holder reasonably requests to be included therein, including, without limitation, with respect to the Registrable Shares being sold by such Holder, the purchase price being paid therefor by the underwriters and with respect to any other terms of the underwritten offering of the Registrable Shares to be sold in such offering, and promptly make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

 

(h)           promptly make available for inspection by any Holder disposing of Registrable Shares pursuant to any Registration Statement, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to any Registration Statement, and any attorney, accountant or other agent or representative retained by any such Holder or underwriter (collectively, the “ Inspectors ”), all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the “ Records ”) as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector in connection with such Registration Statement; provided, however , that, unless the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in the Registration Statement or the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction, the Company shall not be required to provide any information under this subparagraph (h)  if (i) the Company believes, after consultation with counsel for the Company, that to do so would cause the Company to forfeit an attorney-client privilege that was applicable to such information or (ii) if either (A) the Company is in the process of requesting or 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 (B) the Company reasonably determines in good faith that such Records are confidential and so notifies the Inspectors in writing unless prior to furnishing any such information with respect to (i) or (ii) such Inspectors requesting such information agrees to enter into a confidentiality agreement in customary form and subject to customary exceptions; and provided, further , that each Inspector agrees that it will, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, give notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action and to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential;

 

(i)            in the case of a Public Offering, furnish to each Holder and underwriter participating in such Public Offering a signed counterpart of (A) an opinion or opinions of counsel to the Company and (B) a comfort letter or comfort letters from the

 

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Company’s independent public accountants and the independent public accountants who have audited any other financial statements (including with respect acquired businesses) included or incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, each in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by opinions or comfort letters, as the case may be, as the Holders or managing underwriter reasonably requests;

 

(j)            cause the Registrable Shares included in any Registration Statement to be (A) listed on each securities exchange, if any, on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or (B) authorized to be quoted and/or listed (to the extent applicable) on an automated quotation system if the Registrable Shares so qualify;

 

(k)           provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Shares registered hereunder and provide a CUSIP number for the Registrable Shares included in any Registration Statement not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

 

(l)            cause its officers to use their reasonable best efforts to support the marketing of the Registrable Shares covered by the Registration Statement (including participation in “road shows”) taking into account the Company’s business needs;

 

(m)          cooperate with counsel to the Holders and, in the case of a Public Offering, each underwriter participating in the disposition of such Registrable Shares in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA;

 

(n)           during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, promptly file all documents required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;

 

(o)           in the case of a Public Offering, enter into such agreements (including underwriting agreements in the managing underwriter’s customary form) as are customary in connection with a Public Offering; and take all such other actions reasonably requested by the Holders of the Registrable Shares being sold in connection therewith (including those reasonably requested by the managing underwriters, if any) to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Shares, and in such connection whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or not the registration is an underwritten registration, (i) make such representations and warranties to the Holders of such Registrable Shares and the underwriters, if any, with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, 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 and (ii) if an underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall contain indemnification provisions and procedures substantially to the effect set forth in Section 8 hereof with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section; and

 

(p)           advise each Holder of Registrable Shares covered by a Registration Statement, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof of the issuance

 

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of any stop order by the SEC suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal at the earliest possible moment if such stop order should be issued.

 

2.7          Registration Expenses. All expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with this Article II including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, all fees and expenses associated with filings required to be made with FINRA (including, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” as such term is defined in Rule 5121 of FINRA regulations, and of its counsel), as may be required by the rules and regulations of FINRA, fees and expenses of compliance with securities or “blue sky” laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with “blue sky” qualifications of the Registrable Shares), rating agency fees, printing expenses (including expenses of printing Prospectuses if the printing of Prospectuses is requested by a Holder), “road show” expenses, messenger and delivery expenses, the Company’s internal expenses (including without limitation all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the fees and expenses incurred in connection with any listing of the Registrable Shares, fees and expenses of counsel for the Company and its independent certified public accountants (including the expenses of any special audit or “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance), fees and expenses of independent public accountants who have audited any other financial statements (including with respect acquired businesses) included or incorporated by reference into the Prospectus (including the expenses of any special audit or “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance), securities acts liability insurance (if the Company elects to obtain such insurance), the fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in connection with such registration, the fees and expenses of other persons retained by the Company and the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of one counsel for all Holders participating in a registration pursuant to this Agreement (the “ Registration Expenses ”) shall be borne by the Company whether or not any Registration Statement becomes effective or any sale is made in a Public Offering; provided, however , that in no event shall Registration Expenses include any underwriting discounts, commissions or fees attributable to the sale of the Registrable Shares or any accountants or other persons (except as set forth above) retained or employed by the Holders, which expenses shall be borne by the relevant Holders who retained or employed such Persons.

 

2.8          Indemnification. In the event any Registrable Shares are included in a Registration Statement under this Agreement:

 

(a)           The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each Holder, and each of its employees, advisors, agents, representatives, members, partners, officers and directors and each Person who controls (within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act) such Holder, and each of such controlling person’s employees, advisors, agents, representatives, members, partners, officers and directors (collectively, the “ Holder Affiliates ”) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, amounts paid in settlement and expenses, joint or several (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements except as limited by Section 2.8(c) ) based upon, arising out of, related to or resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof

 

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or supplement thereto, or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, any filing made in connection with the qualification of the offering under the securities or other “blue sky” law of any jurisdiction in which Registrable Shares are offered, or any other offering document (including any related notification, or the like) incident to any such registration, qualification or compliance, or based on any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, or any violation by the Company of the Securities Act or of the Exchange Act, or any violation by the Company of this Agreement and will reimburse each such Holder and Holder Affiliate for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating, defending or settling any such loss, claim, damage, liability, costs, judgment, fine, penalty, charge or actions or proceedings; except insofar as any such statements or omissions are made in reliance upon and in strict conformity with information or affidavits furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder or any Holder Affiliate for use in such Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or amendment thereof or supplement thereto. The reimbursements required by this Section 2.8(a)  will be made by periodic payments during the course of the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or expenses incurred.

 

(b)           Each participating Holder will furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or amendment thereof or supplement thereto and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each such Holder will indemnify the Company and its directors and officers and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, amounts paid in settlement and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements except as limited by Section 2.8(c) ) resulting from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, Prospectus, or any preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder or any of its Holder Affiliates specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or amendment thereof or supplement thereto; provided that the obligation to indemnify will be several, not joint and several, among such Holders, and the liability of each such Holder will be in proportion thereto and, provided, further , that such liability will be limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Shares (net of any underwriting discounts and commissions) pursuant to such Registration shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that prior to the filing of any such Registration Statement or Prospectus; provided, however , that such Holder shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that prior to the filing of any such Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or amendment thereof or supplement thereto, such Holder has furnished in writing to the Company

 

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information expressly for use in such Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or amendment thereof or supplement thereto which corrected or made not misleading information previously furnished to the Company.

 

(c)           Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder will (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give such notice shall not limit the rights of such Person except to the extent that the indemnifying party is materially prejudiced by such failure to give prompt notice) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided, however , that any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Person unless (x) the indemnifying party has agreed to pay such fees or expenses or (y) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Person. If such defense is not assumed by the indemnifying party as permitted hereunder, the indemnifying party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). If such defense is assumed by the indemnifying party pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, such indemnifying party shall not settle or otherwise compromise the applicable claim unless (i) such settlement or compromise contains a full and unconditional release of the indemnified party or (ii) the indemnified party otherwise consents in writing. An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim will not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party, a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim, in which event the indemnifying party shall be obligated to pay the reasonable fees and disbursements of such additional counsel or counsels.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, an indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel at the indemnifying party’s expense to participate in the defense of a claim if the named parties to any such claim (including any impleaded parties) include both such indemnified party and the indemnifying party, and such indemnified party shall have been advised by outside counsel that there is an actual conflict of interest between the indemnifying party and indemnified party that would make it inappropriate in the reasonable judgment of such outside counsel for the same counsel to represent both the indemnified party and indemnifying party.

 

(d)           Each party hereto agrees that, if for any reason the indemnification provisions contemplated by Section 2.8(a)  or  2.8(b)  are unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, amounts paid in settlement or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each 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, claims, damages, liabilities, costs,

 

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judgments, fines, penalties, charges, amounts paid in settlement or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in connection with the actions which resulted in the losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, amounts paid in settlement or expenses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact 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 such action, statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 2.8(d)  were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders or any underwriters or all of them were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 2.8(d) . The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, judgment, fines, penalties, charges, amounts paid in settlement or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or, except as provided in Section 2.8(c)  defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 2.8(d) , no Holder shall be required to contribute an amount greater than the  proceeds (net of any underwriting discounts and commissions) received by such Holder with respect to the sale of any Registrable Shares. 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. The Holders’ obligations in this Section 2.8(d)  to contribute shall be several and not joint in proportion to the amount of Registrable Shares registered by them.

 

(e)                                   If indemnification is available under this Section 2.8 , the indemnifying parties shall indemnify each indemnified party to the full extent provided in Section 2.8(a)  and  2.8(b)  of this Agreement without regard to the relative fault of said indemnifying party or indemnified party or any other equitable consideration provided for in this Section 2.8(d) .

 

(f)                                    The indemnification and contribution provided for under this Agreement will remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director, or controlling Person of such indemnified party and will survive the transfer of securities.

 

(g)                                   Any indemnified parties pursuant to this Agreement shall be third-party beneficiaries of this Section 8 .

 

(h)                                  The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 2.8 are in addition to any other liability that the indemnifying parties may otherwise have to the indemnified parties; provided that in no event shall any Holder of Registrable Shares be liable to any indemnified parties with respect to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission in any Registration Statement, Prospectus

 

20



 

or any preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto for any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds to the indemnifying party from the sale of the Registrable Shares sold in the transaction that resulted in any liability, 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 (including as a result of any indemnification or contribution obligation hereunder).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the underwritten public offering are in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the provision in the underwriting agreement shall control.

 

2.9                                Transfer of Registration Rights.

 

(a)                                  The rights of each Holder under this Agreement may be assigned to (i) a transferee of Registrable Shares that constitute at least 1% of the Company’s or Focus LLC’s outstanding Class A Common Stock or Units, as the case may be; provided, however , (i) that any such transfer is permitted in accordance with the Operating Agreement and any other applicable documents, (ii) that any such transfer is not pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or a registration statement filed pursuant to this Agreement, and (iii) that the Company is given written notice by such Holder at or within a reasonable time after said transfer, stating the name and address of such transferee and identifying the Registrable Shares with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Holder may: (A) transfer rights to a transferee of Registrable Shares if such transferee is (i) an Affiliate or Affiliated Investor of any Holder or (ii) any family member or trust for the benefit of any individual Holder; and (B) transfer rights in connection with effecting in-kind or similar distributions of all or part of its Registrable Shares to its direct or indirect equityholders, managers, employees, agents or representatives. Any such transferee permitted by this Section 2.9(a)  (a “ Permitted Transferee ”) shall be required to execute the joinder agreement set forth in Exhibit A .

 

(b)                                  If the Company may at any time hereafter provide to any Person who is a holder of any securities of the Company or Focus LLC rights with respect to the registration of such securities under the Securities Act, such rights shall not be in conflict with or adversely affect any of the rights provided to the Holders in, or conflict (in a manner that adversely affects the Holders) with any other provisions included in, this Agreement; provided, however, that any rights which are the same as or equal to the rights provided in this Agreement will not be considered in conflict with or to adversely affect the rights of the Holders provided in this Agreement. To the extent the Company provides any right to others that are more favorable than those provided for herein, this Agreement shall be deemed to be automatically modified to ensure that such Holders will have the benefit of terms that are at least as favorable as those provided to such other Persons. The Company shall provide prompt notice to the Holders of any such modifications.

 

21



 

(c)                                   For the purposes of calculating any percentage of Class A Common Stock or Units, as the case may be, as contemplated by this Section 2.9 , the term “Holder” shall include all Affiliates thereof owning any Registrable Shares.

 

2.10                         Current Public Information.

 

(a)                                  With a view to making available to the Holders the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC that may at any time permit the sale of securities to the public without registration, the Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to:

 

(i)                                      make and keep public information available, as those terms are defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, at all times from and after 90 days following the Effective Date;

 

(ii)                                   file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Exchange Act (at any time during which it is subject to such reporting requirements); and

 

(iii)                                furnish to any Holder, so long as such Holder owns any Registrable Shares, upon the reasonable request by such Holder, (a) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 (at any time after 90 days after the Effective Date), and of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements), (b) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and (c) such other reports and documents of the Company and other information in the possession of or reasonably obtainable by the Company as a Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the SEC allowing a Holder to sell any such securities without registration, provided, however, that any such document requested pursuant to clauses (b) or (c) above and available on the SEC’s EDGAR database shall satisfy any such obligation under clause (b) or (c) above.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.10 , the Company may deregister under Section 12 of the Exchange Act if it is then permitted to do so pursuant to the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

2.11                         General Rules Applicable to Registration Statements.  No Holder may participate in any Demand Offering, Non-Private Equity Offering or Company Primary Offering unless such Holder (x) agrees to sell such Holder’s Registrable Shares on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements described above and (y) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

2.12                         In-Kind Distributions.  If any Holder seeks to effectuate an in-kind distribution of all or part of its Registrable Shares to its direct or indirect equityholders pursuant to Section 2.9(a), the Company will, subject to applicable lockups, work with such Holder and the Company’s transfer agent to facilitate such in-kind distribution in the manner reasonably requested by such Holder.

 

22



 

ARTICLE III

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

3.1                                Notices.  All notices, elections, demands or other communications required or permitted to be made or given pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be considered as properly given or made on the date of actual delivery if given by (a) personal delivery, (b) expedited overnight delivery service with proof of delivery, (c) via facsimile with confirmation of delivery or (d) electronic mail, addressed to the respective addressee(s). All notices hereunder to the Company or Focus LLC shall be mailed to it at the respective address of its principal place of business and all notices to the Holders shall be mailed to them at their last known addresses as shown on the books and records of the Company. Any Holder may change its address by giving notice in writing to the other Holders of its new address.

 

3.2                                Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original of this Agreement.

 

3.3                                Assignment.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and, subject to Section 2.9 their respective successors and assigns.

 

3.4                                Termination.  This Agreement shall terminate when no Registrable Shares remain outstanding; provided that Section 2.8 and Article III shall survive any termination hereof.

 

3.5                                Descriptive Headings.  The descriptive headings of the several sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof. References herein to Sections are references to Sections of this Agreement, except as otherwise indicated.

 

3.6                                Specific Performance.  The parties hereto recognize and agree that money damages may be insufficient to compensate the Holders for breaches by the Company of the terms hereof and, consequently, that the equitable remedy of specific performance of the terms hereof will be available in the event of any such breach, without posting a bond or other undertaking, and this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law or in equity.

 

3.7                                Governing Law.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT REGARD TO RULES OR PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW REQUIRING THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANOTHER STATE.

 

3.8                                Severability.  If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other conditions 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

 

23



 

or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible within a reasonable period of time.

 

3.9                                Waiver of Jury Trial; Consent to Jurisdiction.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts located in the State of Delaware or the Delaware Court of Chancery for the purpose of adjudicating any dispute arising hereunder. Each party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court any objection to such jurisdiction, whether on the grounds of hardship, inconvenient forum or otherwise. Each party further agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail to such party’s address as provided pursuant to Section 3.1 shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or proceeding with respect to any matters to which it has submitted to jurisdiction in this Section 3.9 .

 

3.10                         Amendments; Entire Agreement.  Any amendment or waiver of, or any consent given under, any provision of this Agreement shall be in writing by the Company and each Private Equity Investor holding Registrable Shares; provided , that no amendment to this Agreement shall be effected if such amendment materially adversely affects a Holder or group of Holders in a manner that is disproportionate relative to the effect on any other Holder, unless such Holder or Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Shares of such group of Holders at the relevant time of determination consents thereto. Any waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be subject to the same approval requirements as an amendment in the event that such amendment would have the same effect as such waiver. This Agreement supersedes all prior discussions, memoranda of understanding, agreements and arrangements (whether written or oral, including all correspondence), if any, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and this Agreement contains the sole and entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

3.11                         Merger or Consolidation.  In the event the Company engages in a merger or consolidation in which the Registrable Shares are converted into securities of another company, appropriate arrangements will be made so that the registration rights provided under this Agreement continue to be provided to the Holders by the issuer of such securities. To the extent such new issuer, or any other company acquired by the Company in a merger or consolidation, was bound by registration rights obligations that would conflict with the provisions of this Agreement, the Company will, unless the Holders then holding at least a majority of the Registrable Shares otherwise agree, use its reasonable best efforts to modify any such “inherited” registration rights obligations so as not to interfere in any material respects with the rights provided under this Agreement. To the extent any such modification of “inherited” registration rights disproportionately and adversely impacts any Holder hereunder, such modification shall not be effective as to such Holder without the consent of such Holder.

 

24



 

3.12                         No Recourse.  This Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claims or cause of action that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement may only be made against the entities that are expressly identified as parties hereto, and no past, present or future Affiliate, director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, manager, partner, stockholder, agent, attorney or representative of any party hereto shall have any liability for any obligations or liabilities of the parties to this Agreement or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

3.13                         Acknowledgment.  Each of the Private Equity Holders acknowledges and agrees to comply with the liquidity limitations and restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 3.11 of the Operating Agreement.

 

25



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, intending to be legally bound hereby, have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

Name:

Ruediger Adolf

 

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS, LLC

 

 

 

By:

Focus Financial Partners Inc.,

 

 

its managing member

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

Ruediger Adolf

 

 

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

SIGNATURE PAGES
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
IN CONNECTION WITH FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT
FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS, LLC

 



 

 

Stockholders

 

 

 

TRIDENT FFP LP

 

 

 

By:

Trident FFP GP LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

Title:

Vice President & Assistant

 

 

 

 

Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

TRIDENT VI, L.P.

 

 

 

By:

Stone Point Capital LLC, its manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

Title:

Principal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRIDENT VI PARALLEL FUND, L.P.

 

 

 

By:

Stone Point Capital LLC, its manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

Title:

Principal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRIDENT VI DE PARALLEL FUND, L.P.

 

 

 

 

By:

Stone Point Capital LLC, its manager

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

Title:

Principal

 

SIGNATURE PAGES
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
IN CONNECTION WITH FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT
FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS, LLC

 



 

 

KKR FREYA AGGREGATOR L.P.

 

 

 

By:

KKR Freya Aggregator GP LLC, its general

 

 

partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

William J. Janetschek

 

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KKR AMERICAS XII (FREYA) BLOCKER
PARENT L.P.

 

 

 

By:

KKR Associates Americas XII L.P., its general

 

 

partner

 

 

 

 

By:

KKR Americas XII Limited, its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

William J. Janetschek

 

 

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KKR AMERICAS XII EEA (FREYA) BLOCKER
PARENT L.P.

 

 

 

 

By:

KKR Associates Americas XII L.P., its general

 

 

partner

 

 

 

 

By:

KKR Americas XII Limited, its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

William J. Janetschek

 

 

 

Title:

Director

 

SIGNATURE PAGES
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
IN CONNECTION WITH FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED OPERATING AGREEMENT
FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS, LLC

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF JOINDER

 

THIS JOINDER (this “ Joinder ”) is made and entered into as of [ Ÿ ] by the undersigned (the “ New Holder ”) in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in that certain Registration Rights Agreement by and among Focus Financial Partners Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), Focus Financial Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Focus LLC ”) and the Holders party thereto, dated as of [ Ÿ ] 2018 (as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), for the benefit of, and for reliance upon by, the Company, Focus LLC and the Holders.

 

WHEREAS, New Holder has acquired certain Registrable Shares from [ Ÿ ] .

 

WHEREAS, the New Holder desires to exercise certain rights granted to it under the Registration Rights Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, the execution and delivery to the Company of this Joinder by the New Holder is a condition precedent to the New Holder’s exercise of any of its rights under the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties to this Joinder hereby agree as follows:

 

(a)                                  Agreement to be Bound . The New Holder hereby agrees that upon execution of this Joinder, it shall become a party to the Registration Rights Agreement and shall be fully bound by, and subject to, all of the covenants, terms and conditions of the Registration Rights Agreement as though an original party thereto and shall be deemed a Holder for all purposes thereof.

 

(b)                                  Successors and Assigns . Except as otherwise provided herein, this Joinder shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Company and its successors, heirs and assigns.

 

(c)                                   Notices . For purposes of notices pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, all notices, requests and demands to the New Holder shall be directed to:

 

[ Name ]
[ Address ]

 

(d)                                  Further Assurances . The New Holder agrees to perform any further acts and execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments that may be necessary or reasonably requested by the Company to carry out the provisions of this Joinder or the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

(e)                                   Descriptive Headings . The descriptive headings of this Joinder are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Joinder.

 

A- 1



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have executed this Joinder to the Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS, LLC

 

 

 

By:

Focus Financial Partners Inc.

 

 

Its Managing Member

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

[NEW HOLDER]

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

A- 2


Exhibit 10.2

 

Tax Receivable Agreement

for PE Holders

 



 

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.,

 

CERTAIN OTHER PERSONS NAMED HEREIN

 

and

 

THE AGENTS

 

 

DATED AS OF JULY 30, 2018

 



 

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 

This TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of July 30, 2018, is hereby entered into by and among Focus Financial Partners Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporate Taxpayer ”), the TRA Holders and the Agents.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Corporate Taxpayer is the managing member of Focus Financial Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Focus LLC ”), an entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and holds limited liability company interests in Focus LLC;

 

WHEREAS, Focus LLC and each of its direct and indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes will have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), for the Taxable Year that includes the IPO and for each Taxable Year in which an Exchange (as defined herein) occurs;

 

WHEREAS, each Blocker is taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and will merge with a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporate Taxpayer pursuant to which such Blocker will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporate Taxpayer (the “ Blocker Mergers ”);

 

WHEREAS, the TRA Holders currently hold, directly or indirectly through a Blocker, Convertible Preferred Units that will be converted into Common Units in connection with the IPO;

 

WHEREAS, certain of the TRA Holders may transfer all or a portion of such Common Units: (i) to the Corporate Taxpayer for Class A Shares and/or Class B Shares (and, in some cases, if applicable, cash) in connection with the IPO (an “ IPO Contribution ”) or (ii) pursuant to the Exchange Right or the Call Right, as applicable, in a transaction that is or is deemed to be a sale of such Common Units to the Corporate Taxpayer for U.S. federal income tax purposes (each such transfer under either of clause (i) or (ii), an “ Exchange ”);

 

WHEREAS, as a result of such Exchanges, the Corporate Taxpayer is expected to obtain or be entitled to certain Tax benefits as further described herein;

 

WHEREAS, as a result of each Blocker Merger, the Corporate Taxpayer is expected to obtain or be entitled to the Tax benefits resulting from the Blocker Section 743(b) Adjustments attributable to the Common Units held by the relevant Blocker;

 

WHEREAS, the Corporate Taxpayer is also entering into a tax receivable agreement with certain other current and former members of Focus LLC (the “ Non-PE TRA ”);

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is intended to set forth the agreement among the parties hereto regarding the sharing of the Tax benefits realized by the Corporate Taxpayer as a result of Exchanges and the Tax benefits realized by the Corporate Taxpayer as a result of the Blocker Section 743(b) Adjustments;

 



 

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

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

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

 

Accrued Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Actual Tax Liability ” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the actual liability for U.S. federal income Taxes of (a) the Corporate Taxpayer, and (b) without duplication, Focus LLC and any of its Subsidiaries that are treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but only with respect to Taxes imposed on Focus LLC and such Subsidiaries that are allocable to the Corporate Taxpayer; provided that the actual liability for U.S. federal income Taxes of the Corporate Taxpayer shall be calculated assuming deductions of (and other impacts of) state and local income and franchise Taxes are excluded.

 

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.

 

Agent ” means:

 

(a)   with respect to each Centerbridge Holder, Centerbridge Agent;

 

(b)   with respect to each KKR Holder, KKR Agent;

 

(c)   with respect to each Trident Holder, Trident Agent; and

 

(d)   with respect to all other TRA Holders, if applicable, such other Person designated as such pursuant to Section 7.6(b) .

 

Agreed Rate ” means a per annum rate of LIBOR plus 100 basis points.

 

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

 

Amended Schedule ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Assumed State and Local Tax Rate ” means six percent (6%) or such other rate as the Corporate Taxpayer may in good faith determine to be appropriate taking into account any changes, after the date hereof, to the Corporate Taxpayer’s apportionment factors and/or the corporate income and franchise tax rates in any state and local jurisdictions in which the Corporate Taxpayer files income and franchise tax returns.

 

Attributable ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b)  of this Agreement.

 

2



 

Basis Adjustment ” means (a) any adjustment to the Tax basis of a Reference Asset as a result of an Exchange and the payments made pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such Exchange (as calculated under Section 2.1 of this Agreement), including, but not limited to: (i) under Sections 734(b) and 743(b) of the Code (in situations where, following an Exchange, Focus LLC remains classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes); (ii) under Sections 732(b), 734(b) and 1012 of the Code (in situations where, as a result of one or more Exchanges, Focus LLC becomes an entity that is disregarded as separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes); and (iii) under Section 362(a) of the Code to the extent the Tax basis of a Reference Asset is increased as a result of gain recognized on such Exchange and (b) any Blocker Section 743(b) Adjustment.  For the avoidance of doubt, the amount of any Basis Adjustment resulting from an Exchange of Units shall be determined without regard to any Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to such Units prior to such Exchange; and, further, 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.

 

Blocker ” means each of Trident FFP Blocker LLC, KKR Americas XII (Freya) Blocker L.P. and KKR Americas XII EEA (Freya) Blocker L.P.

 

Blocker Merger ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

Blocker Section 743(b) Adjustments ” means the adjustments, existing as of the close of the IPO Date (as determined based on the interim closing of the books of Focus LLC as of the close of the IPO Date), to the Tax basis of the Reference Assets under Section 743(b) of the Code that are attributable to the Common Units held by the Blockers.

 

Board ” means the board of directors of the Corporate Taxpayer.

 

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 New York shall not be regarded as a Business Day.

 

Call Right ” means the “Call Right” as defined in the Focus LLC Agreement and any other purchase of Units by the Corporate Taxpayer pursuant to Section 3.7 of the Focus LLC Agreement.

 

Centerbridge Agent ” means CP Falcon AIV, L.P. or such other Person designated by the Centerbridge Holders.

 

Centerbridge Holder ” means each of CP Falcon AIV, L.P., Centerbridge Capital Partners SBS II, L.P., CCP II Falcon AIV-B, L.P., and any Affiliate of the foregoing that becomes a TRA Holder for purposes of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.6(a) .

 

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

 

(a)   any Person or group of Persons acting together which would constitute a “group” for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provisions thereto, is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Corporate Taxpayer

 

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representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Corporate Taxpayer’s then outstanding voting securities;

 

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

 

(c)   the equity holders of the Corporate Taxpayer approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Corporate Taxpayer or there is consummated an agreement or series of related agreements for the sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by the Corporate Taxpayer of all or substantially all of the Corporate Taxpayer’s assets, other than such sale or other disposition by the Corporate Taxpayer of all or substantially all of the Corporate Taxpayer’s assets to an entity, at least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by equity holders of the Corporate Taxpayer in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Corporate Taxpayer immediately prior to such sale.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except with respect to clause (b) above, a “Change of Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the voting power of the Corporate Taxpayer immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in, and own substantially all of the voting power of, an entity which owns, either directly or through a Subsidiary, all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporate Taxpayer immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

 

Class A Shares ” means shares of Class A common stock of the Corporate Taxpayer.

 

Class B Shares ” means shares of Class B common stock of the Corporate Taxpayer.

 

Code ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

Common Units ” has the meaning set forth in the Focus LLC 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.

 

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

 

Corporate Taxpayer Return ” means the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporate Taxpayer (including any consolidated group of which the Corporate Taxpayer is a member, as further described in Section 7.12(a)  of this Agreement) filed with respect to any Taxable Year.

 

Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit ” for a Taxable Year means the cumulative amount (but not less than zero) of Realized Tax Benefits for all Taxable Years of the Corporate

 

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Taxpayer, 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 Payment Schedule or Amended Schedule, if any, in existence at the time of such determination.

 

Default Rate ” means a per annum rate of LIBOR plus 500 basis points.

 

Determination ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1313(a) of the Code or any other event (including the execution of IRS Form 870-AD) that finally and conclusively establishes the amount of any liability for Tax.

 

Dispute ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Disputing Party ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.10 of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1 of this Agreement.

 

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

 

Early Termination Effective Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4 of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4 of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination Payment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination Rate ” means a per annum rate of LIBOR plus 150 basis points.

 

Early Termination Schedule ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4 of this Agreement.

 

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

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).

 

Exchange Date ” means (a) with respect to Exchanges, each date on which an Exchange occurs and (b) with respect to the Blocker Mergers, the IPO Date.

 

Exchange Notice ” has the meaning given to the term “Exchange Notice” in the Focus LLC Agreement.

 

Exchange Right ” means the exchange right set forth in Section 3.6 of the Focus LLC Agreement, including any such exchange right exercised pursuant to Section 3.9 of the Focus LLC Agreement.

 

Exchange Schedule ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 of this Agreement.

 

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Expert ” means Ernst & Young, LLP or such nationally recognized expert in the particular area of disagreement as is mutually acceptable to the Corporate Taxpayer, the Agents and, in the event any holders of rights under any other Tax Receivable Agreement are involved in such disagreement, each “Agent” as defined under such other Tax Receivable Agreement.

 

Focus LLC ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

Focus LLC Agreement ” means the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Focus LLC, as amended from time to time.

 

Hypothetical Tax Liability ” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the liability for U.S. federal income Taxes of (a) the Corporate Taxpayer, and (b) without duplication, Focus LLC and any of its Subsidiaries that are treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but only with respect to Taxes imposed on Focus LLC and such Subsidiaries that are allocable to the Corporate Taxpayer (using the same methods, elections, conventions, U.S. federal income tax rate and similar practices used on the relevant Corporate Taxpayer Return), but without taking into account (x) any Basis Adjustments, (y) any deduction attributable to Imputed Interest for the Taxable Year, and (z) any Other-TRA Benefits.  For the avoidance of doubt, Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be determined without taking into account the carryover or carryback of any U.S. federal income Tax item (or portions thereof) that is attributable to any Basis Adjustments, Imputed Interest, or any Other-TRA Benefits.  Furthermore, the Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be calculated assuming deductions of (and other impacts of) state and local income and franchise Taxes are excluded.

 

Imputed Interest ” means any interest imputed under Section 1272, 1274 or 483 or other provision of the Code with respect to the Corporate Taxpayer’s payment obligations under this Agreement.

 

Incentive Units ” has the meaning set forth in the Focus LLC Agreement.

 

IPO ” means the initial public offering of shares by the Corporate Taxpayer.

 

IPO Contribution ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

IPO Date ” means the closing date of the IPO.

 

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

 

KKR Agent ” means KKR Freya Aggregator L.P. or such other Person designated by the KKR Holders.

 

KKR Holder ” means each of KKR Freya Aggregator, L.P., KKR Americas XII (Freya) Blocker Parent L.P. and KKR Americas XII EEA (Freya) Blocker Parent L.P. and any Affiliate of the foregoing that becomes a TRA Holder for purposes of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.6(a) .

 

LIBOR ” means during any period, an interest rate per annum equal to the one-year LIBOR rate reported, on the date two (2) calendar days prior to the first day of such period, on the Telerate Page 3750 (or if such screen shall cease to be publicly available, as reported on

 

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Reuters Screen page “LIBOR01” or by any other publicly available source of such market rate) for London interbank offered rates for United States dollar deposits for such period.

 

Majority TRA Holders ” means, at the time of any determination, TRA Holders who would be entitled to receive more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate amount of the Early Termination Payments payable to all TRA Holders hereunder (determined using such calculations of Early Termination Payments reasonably estimated by the Corporate Taxpayer in consultation with the Agents) if the Corporate Taxpayer had exercised its right of early termination on such date.

 

Market Value ” means 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, as reported by Bloomberg L.P.; provided , that if the closing price is not reported by Bloomberg L.P. for the applicable Exchange Date, then the Market Value means the closing price of the Class A Shares on the Business Day immediately preceding such Exchange Date on the national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which such Class A Shares are then traded or listed, as reported by Bloomberg L.P.; provided further that if the Class A Shares are not then listed on a national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system, “Market Value” means 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 in good faith.

 

Material Objection Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4 of this Agreement.

 

Net Tax Benefit ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Non-PE TRA ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

Objection Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Other-TRA Benefits ” means any tax benefits resulting from increases in Tax basis or other Tax attributes with respect to which the Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Subsidiaries is obligated to make payments under the Non-PE TRA or any Post-IPO TRA.

 

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

 

Permitted Transferee ” means any Person that is not (a) a national or global financial institution or insurance company or a regional bank that in each case derives at least 30% of its revenues from wealth management services or the sale of proprietary financial products (which for the avoidance of doubt, excludes life insurance and annuities), (b) an independent broker-dealer, (c) a platform for or aggregator of registered investment advisers or broker-dealer teams, or (d) a holding company or acquisition vehicle of any entity described in the foregoing clauses (a) — (c).

 

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

 

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Post-IPO TRA ” means any tax receivable agreement (or comparable agreement) entered into by the Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Corporate Taxpayer is obligated to pay over amounts with respect to tax benefits resulting from any tax attributes to which the Corporate Taxpayer becomes entitled as a result of a transaction (other than any Exchanges) after the date of this Agreement.

 

Realized Tax Benefit ” means, for a Taxable Year, the sum of (a) the excess, if any, of the Hypothetical Tax Liability over the Actual Tax Liability and (b) the State and Local Tax Benefit.  If all or a portion of the Actual Tax Liability for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit by the IRS of any Taxable Year, such liability and the corresponding Hypothetical Tax Liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Benefit unless and until there has been a Determination with respect to such Actual Tax Liability.

 

Realized Tax Detriment ” means, for a Taxable Year, the sum of (a) the excess, if any, of the Actual Tax Liability over the Hypothetical Tax Liability and (b) the State and Local Tax Detriment.  If all or a portion of the Actual Tax Liability for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit by the IRS of any Taxable Year, such liability and the corresponding Hypothetical Tax Liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Detriment unless and until there has been a Determination with respect to such Actual Tax Liability.

 

Reconciliation Dispute ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.10 of this Agreement.

 

Reconciliation Procedures ” means the procedures described in Section 7.10 of this Agreement.

 

Reference Asset ” means (a) with respect to any Exchange, an asset (other than cash or a cash equivalent) that is held by Focus LLC, or any of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (but only to the extent such Subsidiaries are not held through any entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes), at the time of such Exchange and (b) with respect to the Blocker Section 743(b) Adjustments, an asset (other than cash or a cash equivalent) that is held by Focus LLC, or any of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (but only to the extent such Subsidiaries are not held through any entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes), at the time of the Blocker Mergers.  A Reference Asset also includes any asset that is “substituted basis property” under Section 7701(a)(42) of the Code with respect to a Reference Asset.

 

Required TRA Holders ” means, at the time of any determination, (a) the KKR Holders if, in the aggregate, they would be entitled to receive at least five percent (5%) of the aggregate amount of the Early Termination Payments payable to all TRA Holders hereunder (determined using such calculations of Early Termination Payments reasonably estimated by the Corporate Taxpayer in consultation with the KKR Agent) if the Corporate Taxpayer had exercised its right of early termination on such date, and (b) the Trident Holders if, in the aggregate, they would be entitled to receive at least five percent (5%) of the aggregate amount of the Early Termination Payments payable to all TRA Holders hereunder (determined using such calculations of Early Termination Payments reasonably estimated by the Corporate Taxpayer in consultation with the Trident Agent) if the Corporate Taxpayer had exercised its right of early termination on such date.

 

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Schedule ” means any of the following: (a) an Exchange Schedule, (b) a Tax Benefit Payment Schedule, or (c) the Early Termination Schedule.

 

Senior Obligations ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1 of this Agreement.

 

State and Local Tax Benefit ” means, for a Taxable Year, the excess, if any, of the Hypothetical Tax Liability over the Actual Tax Liability; provided that, for purposes of determining the State and Local Tax Benefit, each of the Hypothetical Tax Liability and the Actual Tax Liability shall be calculated using the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate instead of the rate applicable for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

State and Local Tax Detriment ” means, for a Taxable Year, the excess, if any, of the Actual Tax Liability over the Hypothetical Tax Liability; provided that, for purposes of determining the State and Local Tax Detriment, each of the Actual Tax Liability and the Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be calculated using the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate instead of the rate applicable for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

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

 

Tax Benefit Payment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Tax Benefit Payment Schedule ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 of this Agreement.

 

Tax Proceeding ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1 of this Agreement.

 

Tax Receivable Agreements ” means this Agreement, the Non-PE TRA and any Post-IPO TRA.

 

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 Corporate Taxpayer as defined in Section 441(b) of the Code (which, for the avoidance of doubt, may include a period of less than twelve (12) months for which a Tax Return is made), ending on or after the IPO Date.

 

Taxes ” means any and all U.S. federal, state and local taxes, assessments or similar charges that are based on or measured with respect to net income or profits (including any franchise taxes based on or measured with respect to net income or profits), and any interest related to such Tax.

 

Taxing Authority ” means the IRS and any other 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.

 

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TRA Holder ” means each of those Persons set forth on Schedule A and their respective successors and permitted assigns pursuant to Section 7.6(a)(i) .

 

Transferor ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.12(b)  of this Agreement.

 

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 Year.

 

Trident Agent ” means Trident FFP LP or such other Person designated by the Trident Holders.

 

Trident Holder ” means each of Trident FFP LP, Trident VI, L.P., Trident VI Parallel Fund, L.P., Trident VI DE Parallel Fund, L.P. and any Affiliate of the foregoing that becomes a TRA Holder for purposes of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.6(a) .

 

Units ” means Common Units and Incentive Units.

 

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

 

(a)                                  in each Taxable Year ending on or after such Early Termination Date, the Corporate Taxpayer will have taxable income sufficient to fully utilize the deductions arising from all Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest during such Taxable Year or future Taxable Years (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest that would result from future Tax Benefit Payments that would be paid in accordance with the Valuation Assumptions, further assuming such future Tax Benefit Payments would be paid on the due date, without extensions, for filing the Corporate Taxpayer Return for the applicable Taxable Year) in which such deductions would become available;

 

(b)                                  any loss or credit carryovers generated by deductions or losses arising from any Basis Adjustment or Imputed Interest (including such Basis Adjustment and Imputed Interest generated as a result of payments under this Agreement) that are available in the Taxable Year that includes the Early Termination Date will be utilized by the Corporate Taxpayer ratably in each Taxable Year over the five Taxable Years beginning with the Taxable Year that includes the Early Termination Date;

 

(c)                                   the U.S. federal, state and local income and franchise tax rates that will be in effect for each Taxable Year ending on or after such Early Termination Date will be those specified for each such Taxable Year by the Code and other law as in effect on the Early Termination Date, except to the extent any change to such tax rates for such Taxable Year have already been enacted into law;

 

(d)                                  any Reference Asset that is not subject to amortization, depreciation or other cost recovery deduction to which any Basis Adjustment is attributable will be disposed of in a fully taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes on the fifth anniversary of the Early Termination Date for an amount sufficient to fully utilize the Basis Adjustment with respect to such Reference Asset; provided , that in the event of a Change of Control which includes a taxable sale of such Reference Asset (including the sale of all of the equity interests in an entity classified as a partnership or disregarded entity that directly or indirectly owns such Reference

 

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Asset), such Reference Asset shall be deemed disposed of at the time of the Change of Control; and

 

(e)                                   if, at the Early Termination Date, there are Units (other than those held by the Corporate Taxpayer or its Subsidiaries) that have not been transferred in an Exchange, then all such Units shall be deemed to be transferred pursuant to the Exchange Right effective on the Early Termination Date.

 

Section 1.2                                   Other Definitional and Interpretative Provisions .  The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of like import used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.  References to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules are to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules of this Agreement unless otherwise specified.  All Exhibits and Schedules annexed hereto or referred to herein are hereby incorporated in and made a part of this Agreement as if set forth in full herein. Any capitalized terms used in any Exhibit or Schedule but not otherwise defined therein, shall have the meaning as defined in this Agreement.  Any singular term in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular.  Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation,” whether or not they are in fact followed by those words or words of like import.  “Writing,” “written” and comparable terms refer to printing, typing and other means of reproducing words (including electronic media) in a visible form. References to any agreement or contract are to that agreement or contract as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.  References to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person. References from or through any date mean, unless otherwise specified, from and including or through and including, respectively.

 

ARTICLE II
DETERMINATION OF CERTAIN REALIZED TAX BENEFITS

 

Section 2.1                                   Exchange Schedules .  Within ninety (90) calendar days after the filing of the Corporate Taxpayer Return for each Taxable Year in which any Exchange or Blocker Merger has been effected by a TRA Holder, the Corporate Taxpayer shall deliver to each Agent a schedule (the “ Exchange Schedule ”) that shows, in reasonable detail necessary to perform the calculations required by this Agreement, including with respect to each applicable TRA Holder, (a) the Basis Adjustments as a result of the Exchanges or Blocker Merger, as applicable, effected by such TRA Holder in such Taxable Year and (b) the period (or periods) over which the foregoing Basis Adjustments are amortizable and/or depreciable.

 

Section 2.2                                   Tax Benefit Payment Schedules .

 

(a)                                Within ninety (90) calendar days after the filing of the Corporate Taxpayer Return for any Taxable Year in which there is a Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment, the Corporate Taxpayer shall provide to each Agent: (i) a schedule showing, in reasonable detail, (A) the calculation of the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year, (B) the portion of the Net Tax Benefit, if any, that is Attributable to each TRA Holder, (C) the Accrued Amount with respect to any such Net Tax Benefit that is Attributable to such

 

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TRA Holder, (D) the Tax Benefit Payment due to each such TRA Holder, and (E) the portion of such Tax Benefit Payment that the Corporate Taxpayer intends to treat as Imputed Interest (a “ Tax Benefit Payment Schedule ”), (ii) a reasonably detailed calculation of the Hypothetical Tax Liability, (iii) a reasonably detailed calculation of the Actual Tax Liability, (iv) a copy of the Corporate Taxpayer Return for such Taxable Year, and (v) any other work papers reasonably requested by any Agent.  In addition, the Corporate Taxpayer shall allow each Agent reasonable access at no cost to the appropriate representatives of the Corporate  Taxpayer in connection with a review of such Tax Benefit Payment Schedule; provided that, in the event of a dispute governed by Section 7.9 or Section 7.10 , any such costs shall be borne as set forth in such sections.  The Tax Benefit Payment Schedule will become final as provided in Section 2.3(a)  and may be amended as provided in Section 2.3(b)  (subject to the procedures set forth in Section 2.3(b) ).

 

(b)                                For purposes of calculating the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for any Taxable Year, carryovers or carrybacks of any U.S. federal income Tax item attributable to the Basis Adjustments, Imputed Interest, and any Other-TRA Benefits shall be considered to be subject to the rules of the Code and the Treasury Regulations, as applicable, governing the use, limitation and expiration of carryovers or carrybacks of the relevant type.  If a carryover or carryback of any U.S. federal income Tax item includes a portion that is attributable to the Basis Adjustment, Imputed Interest, or any Other-TRA Benefits and another portion that is not so attributable, such respective portions shall be considered to be used in accordance with the “with and without” methodology.  The parties agree that (i) any payment (other than any payment relating to the Blocker Section 743(b) Adjustments) under this Agreement (to the extent permitted by law and other than amounts accounted for as Imputed Interest) will be treated as a subsequent upward adjustment to the purchase price of the relevant Common Units and will have the effect of creating additional Basis Adjustments to Reference Assets for the Corporate Taxpayer in the year of payment, and (ii) as a result, such additional Basis Adjustments will be incorporated into the current year calculation and into future year calculations, as appropriate.  The parties agree that any payment under this Agreement relating to or arising from Blocker Section 743(b) Adjustments shall not have the effect of creating additional Blocker Section 743(b) Adjustments or any other type of Basis Adjustment.

 

Section 2.3                                   Procedure; Amendments .

 

(a)                                An applicable Schedule or amendment thereto shall become final and binding on all parties thirty (30) calendar days from the first date on which all Agents have received the applicable Schedule or amendment thereto unless (i) any Agent, within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving an applicable Schedule or amendment thereto, provides the Corporate Taxpayer and each other Agent with notice of a material objection to such Schedule (“ Objection Notice ”) made in good faith or (ii) each Agent provides a written waiver of such right of any Objection Notice within the period described in clause (i) above, in which case such Schedule or amendment thereto becomes binding on the date waivers from all Agents have been received by the Corporate Taxpayer.  If the Corporate Taxpayer and the relevant Agent, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in an Objection Notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporate Taxpayer of such Objection Notice, the Corporate Taxpayer and such Agent shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures under Section 7.10 or Resolution of Disputes procedures under Section 7.9 , as applicable.

 

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(b)                                The applicable Schedule for any Taxable Year may be amended from time to time by the Corporate Taxpayer (i) in connection with a Determination affecting such Schedule, (ii) to correct inaccuracies in the Schedule identified as a result of the receipt of additional factual information relating to a Taxable Year after the date the Schedule was provided to the Agents, (iii) to comply with the Expert’s determination under the Reconciliation Procedures, (iv) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to a carryback or carryforward of a loss or other Tax item to such Taxable Year, (v) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to an amended Corporate Taxpayer Return filed for such Taxable Year or (vi) to adjust an Exchange Schedule to take into account payments made pursuant to this Agreement (any such Schedule, an “ Amended Schedule ”).  The Corporate Taxpayer shall provide an Amended Schedule to each Agent within sixty (60) calendar days of the occurrence of an event referenced in clauses (i) through (vi) of the preceding sentence and shall, at the reasonable request of any Agent, provide any other work papers relating to such Amended Schedule.  For the avoidance of doubt, in the event a Schedule is amended after such Schedule becomes final pursuant to Section 2.3(a) , the Amended Schedule shall not be taken into account in calculating any Tax Benefit Payment in the Taxable Year to which the amendment relates but instead shall be taken into account in calculating the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit for the Taxable Year in which the amendment actually occurs.

 

Section 2.4                                   Section 754 Election . In its capacity as the sole managing member of Focus LLC, the Corporate Taxpayer will ensure that, on and after the date hereof and continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, Focus LLC and all of its eligible Subsidiaries will have in effect an election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code (and under any similar provisions of applicable U.S. state or local law).

 

ARTICLE III
TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS

 

Section 3.1                                   Payments .

 

(a)                                Within five (5) Business Days after a Tax Benefit Payment Schedule delivered to the Agents becomes final in accordance with Section 2.3(a) , the Corporate Taxpayer shall pay to each TRA Holder the Tax Benefit Payment in respect of such TRA Holder determined pursuant to Section 3.1(b)  for such Taxable Year.  Each such payment shall be made by check, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the bank account previously designated by such TRA Holder to the Corporate Taxpayer, or as otherwise agreed by the Corporate Taxpayer and such TRA Holder.  For the avoidance of doubt, no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of estimated Tax payments, including, without limitation, U.S. federal or state estimated income Tax payments.

 

(b)                                A “ Tax Benefit Payment ” in respect of a TRA Holder for a Taxable Year means an amount, not less than zero, equal to the sum of the portion of the Net Tax Benefit Attributable to such TRA Holder and the Accrued Amount with respect thereto.  The “ Net Tax Benefit ” for a 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 sum of (i) the total amount of payments previously made under this Section 3.1 (excluding payments attributable to Accrued

 

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Amounts) and (ii) the total amount of Tax Benefit Payments previously made under the corresponding provision of the Non-PE TRA and any Post-IPO TRA; provided , for the avoidance of doubt, that no TRA Holder shall be required to return any portion of any previously made Tax Benefit Payment. Subject to Section 3.3 , the portion of the Net Tax Benefit for a Taxable Year that is “ Attributable ” to a TRA Holder is the portion of such Net Tax Benefit that is derived from (x) any Basis Adjustment that is attributable to the Common Units acquired or deemed acquired by the Corporate Taxpayer in an Exchange undertaken by or with respect to such TRA Holder, (y) any Blocker Section 743(b) Adjustments attributable to the Common Units held by the Blocker of which such TRA Holder was an owner immediately prior to the Blocker Mergers, or (z) any Imputed Interest with respect to Tax Benefit Payments made to such TRA Holder.  The “ Accrued Amount ” with respect to any portion of a Net Tax Benefit shall equal an amount determined in the same manner as interest on such portion of the Net Tax Benefit for a Taxable Year calculated at the Agreed Rate from the due date (without extensions) for filing the Corporate Taxpayer Return for such Taxable Year until the Payment Date.  For the avoidance of doubt, for Tax purposes, the Accrued Amount on the portion of a Net Tax Benefit relating to an Exchange shall not be treated as interest but shall instead be treated as additional consideration for the acquisition of Common Units in an Exchange unless otherwise required by law.  The parties agree that the Accrued Amount on the portion of a Net Tax Benefit relating to the Blocker Section 743(b) Adjustments shall not have the effect of creating additional Blocker Section 743(b) Adjustments or any other type of Basis Adjustment.

 

(c)                                 Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, unless a TRA Holder elects for the provisions of this Section 3.1(c)  not to apply to any Exchange by notifying the Corporate Taxpayer in writing on or before the due date for providing the Exchange Notice with respect to such Exchange (or, with respect to an IPO Contribution, on or before the IPO Date), the aggregate Tax Benefit Payments to be made to such TRA Holder with respect to any Exchange shall be limited to (i) 50%, or such other percentage such TRA Holder elects to apply by notifying the Corporate Taxpayer in writing on or before the due date for providing the Exchange Notice with respect to such Exchange (or, with respect to an IPO Contribution, on or before the IPO Date), of (ii) the amount equal to the sum of (A) any cash, excluding any Tax Benefit Payments, received by such TRA Holder in such Exchange and (B) the aggregate Market Value of the Class A Shares received by such TRA Holder in such Exchange, provided , for the avoidance of doubt, that such amount shall not include any Imputed Interest with respect to such Exchange. An election made by a TRA Holder pursuant to this Section 3.1(c)  may not be revoked.

 

(d)                                The Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Holders hereby acknowledge that, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the date of any future Exchange that may be subject to this Agreement, the aggregate value of the Tax Benefit Payments cannot reasonably be ascertained for United States federal income tax or other applicable Tax purposes.

 

Section 3.2                                   No Duplicative Payments .  It is intended that the provisions of this Agreement will not result in duplicative payment of any amount (including interest) required under the Tax Receivable Agreements.  It is also intended that the provisions of the Tax Receivable Agreements will result in 85% of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit, and the Accrued Amount thereon, being paid to the Persons to whom payments are due pursuant to the

 

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Tax Receivable Agreements.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in the appropriate manner to achieve these fundamental results.

 

Section 3.3                                   Pro Rata Payments; Coordination of Benefits with Other Tax Receivable Agreements .

 

(a)                                Notwithstanding anything in Section 3.1 to the contrary, to the extent that the aggregate amount of the Corporate Taxpayer’s tax benefit subject to the Tax Receivable Agreements is limited in a particular Taxable Year because the Corporate Taxpayer does not have sufficient taxable income to fully utilize available deductions and other attributes, the following rules shall apply:

 

(i)                                      The limitation on the tax benefit for the Corporate Taxpayer shall be allocated as follows: (A) first among any Post-IPO TRAs (and among all Persons eligible for payments thereunder in the manner set forth in such Post-IPO TRAs) and (B) to the extent of any remaining limitation on the tax benefit for the Corporate Taxpayer after the application of clause (A), to this Agreement and the Non-PE TRA (and among all Persons eligible for payments hereunder or under the Non-PE TRA as set forth in Section 3.3(a)(ii) ).  For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 3.3(a)(i) , it is intended that in calculating the Corporate Taxpayer’s tax benefit subject to the Tax Receivable Agreements, any available taxable income of the Corporate Taxpayer be first allocated to this Agreement and the Non-PE TRA and any remaining available taxable income will then be allocated to any Post-IPO TRA.

 

(ii)                                   If any part of the limitation on the tax benefit is allocated to this Agreement and the Non-PE TRA pursuant to Section 3.3(a)(i)(B) , such allocated limitation shall be further allocated among all TRA Holders hereunder and all “TRA Holders” under the Non-PE TRA in proportion to the respective portion of the Net Tax Benefit that would have been Attributable to each such TRA Holder in such Taxable Year under this Agreement and the Non-PE TRA if the Corporate Taxpayer had sufficient taxable income in such Taxable Year so that there was no such limitation; provided that, if any portion of the Net Tax Benefit for such Taxable Year results from the carryback of a loss or other Tax item to such Taxable Year from a later Taxable Year (for the avoidance of doubt, carrybacks of losses and other Tax items from more than one later Taxable Year shall be used in the order prescribed in the applicable rules of the Code and the Treasury Regulations), no part of the limitation shall be allocated to the tax benefits set forth on the Schedule prior to its amendment to reflect the carryback and any limitation shall instead be applied to the tax benefits carried back and such limitation shall be further allocated among all such TRA Holders in proportion to the respective portion of the Net Tax Benefit that would have been Attributable to each such TRA Holder in the Taxable Year in which such carried back losses or other Tax items arose under this Agreement and the Non-PE TRA if the Corporate Taxpayer had sufficient taxable income in such Taxable Year so that there was no such limitation.

 

(iii)                                If any part of the limitation on the tax benefit is allocated to a TRA Holder, such allocated limitation shall first be applied to any deductions arising from Imputed Interest Attributable to such TRA Holder, and then, to the extent of any

 

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remaining limitation on the tax benefit allocated to such TRA Holder, to any deductions arising from Basis Adjustments Attributable to such TRA Holder.

 

(iv)                               To the extent any part of the limitation on the tax benefit subject to the Tax Receivable Agreements is allocated in a manner that differs from the order prescribed in the applicable rules of the Code and the Treasury Regulations regarding the utilization, or deemed utilization, of such tax benefit, appropriate adjustments, consistent with the principles of this Section 3.3(a) , shall be made in future Taxable Years to take into account such differing allocation.

 

(b)                                After taking into account Section 3.3(a) , if for any reason the Corporate Taxpayer does not fully satisfy its payment obligations to make all Tax Benefit Payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreements in respect of a particular Taxable Year, then, (i) the Corporate Taxpayer will pay the same proportion of each Tax Benefit Payment due to each Person to whom a payment is due under each of the Tax Receivable Agreements in respect of such Taxable Year, without favoring one obligation over the other, and (ii) no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of any Taxable Year until all Tax Benefit Payments under all of the Tax Receivable Agreements in respect of prior Taxable Years have been made in full.

 

(c)                                 To the extent the Corporate Taxpayer makes a payment to a TRA Holder in respect of a particular Taxable Year under Section 3.1(a)  of this Agreement (taking into account Section 3.3(a)  and Section 3.3(b) , but excluding payments attributable to Accrued Amounts) in an amount in excess of the amount of such payment that should have been made to such TRA Holder in respect of such Taxable Year, then (i) such TRA Holder shall not receive further payments under Section 3.1(a)  until such TRA Holder has foregone an amount of payments equal to such excess and (ii) the Corporate Taxpayer will pay the amount of such TRA Holder’s foregone payments to the other Persons to whom a payment is due under the Tax Receivable Agreements in a manner such that each such Person to whom a payment is due under the Tax Receivable Agreements, to the maximum extent possible, receives aggregate payments under Section 3.1(a)  or the comparable section of the other Tax Receivable Agreement(s), as applicable (in each case, taking into account Section 3.3(a)  and Section 3.3(b)  or the comparable sections of the other Tax Receivable Agreement(s), but excluding payments attributable to Accrued Amounts) in the amount it would have received if there had been no excess payment to such TRA Holder.

 

(d)                                The parties hereto agree that the parties to the Non-PE TRA and any Post-IPO TRA are expressly made third party beneficiaries of the provisions of this Section 3.3 .

 

ARTICLE IV
TERMINATION

 

Section 4.1                                   Early Termination at Election of the Corporate Taxpayer .  The Corporate Taxpayer may terminate this Agreement at any time by paying (a) to each TRA Holder the Early Termination Payment due to such TRA Holder pursuant to Section 4.5(b)  and (b) to each “TRA Holder” under the Non-PE TRA the “Early Termination Payment” due to such TRA Holder under the Non-PE TRA (such termination, an “ Early Termination ”); provided that the Corporate Taxpayer may withdraw any notice of exercise of its termination rights under this Section 4.1

 

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prior to the time at which any Early Termination Payment has been paid.  Upon payment of each Early Termination Payment to each TRA Holder by the Corporate Taxpayer, the Corporate Taxpayer shall not have any further payment obligations under this Agreement, other than for any Tax Benefit Payment previously due and payable but unpaid as of the Early Termination Notice and, except to the extent included in the Early Termination Payment, any Tax Benefit Payment due for any Taxable Year ending prior to, with or including the Early Termination Date.  Upon payment in full of all amounts provided for in this Section 4.1 , this Agreement shall terminate, provided that Article VI , Sections 7.1 through 7.10 (inclusive), and Section 7.13 shall remain in full force and effect to the extent applicable.

 

Section 4.2                                   Early Termination upon Change of Control .  In the event of a Change of Control, all payment obligations hereunder shall be accelerated and such obligations shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the closing date of the Change of Control and shall include, but not be limited to the following: (a) payment of the Early Termination Payment calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the effective date of a Change of Control, (b) payment of any Tax Benefit Payment previously due and payable but unpaid as of the Early Termination Notice, and (c) except to the extent included in the Early Termination Payment or if included as a payment under clause (b) of this Section 4.2 , payment of any Tax Benefit Payment due for any Taxable Year ending prior to, with or including the effective date of a Change of Control.  In the event of a Change of Control, the Early Termination Payment shall be calculated utilizing the Valuation Assumptions and by substituting in each case the terms “the closing date of a Change of Control” for an “Early Termination Date.”

 

Section 4.3                                   Breach of Agreement .

 

(a)                                In the event that the Corporate Taxpayer breaches any of its material obligations under this Agreement or the Non-PE TRA, whether as a result of failure to make any payment within three (3) months of the date when due, as a result of failure to honor any other material obligation required hereunder or by operation of law as a result of the rejection of this Agreement or the Non-PE TRA in a case commenced under the United States Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, then if the Majority TRA Holders and the Required TRA Holders so elect, such breach shall be treated as an Early Termination hereunder.  Upon such election, all payment obligations hereunder shall be automatically accelerated and shall become due and payable in accordance with Section 4.5(a) , 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, (i) payment of the Early Termination Payment calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of a breach, (ii) payment of any Tax Benefit Payment previously due and payable but unpaid as of the date of the breach, and (iii) except to the extent included in the Early Termination Payment or if included as a payment under clause (ii) of this Section 4.3(a) , any Tax Benefit Payment due for any Taxable Year ending prior to, with or including the date of the breach.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Corporate Taxpayer breaches this Agreement, if the Majority TRA Holders and the Required TRA Holders do not elect to treat such breach as an Early Termination pursuant to this Section 4.3(a) , the TRA Holders shall be entitled to seek specific performance of the terms hereof.

 

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(b)          The parties agree that the failure of the Corporate Taxpayer to make any payment due pursuant to this Agreement within three (3) months of the date such payment is due shall be deemed to be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement for all purposes of this Agreement, and that it shall not be considered to be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement to make a payment due pursuant to this Agreement within three (3) months of the date such payment is due.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, except in the case of an Early Termination Payment or any payment treated as an Early Termination Payment, it shall not be a breach of this Agreement if the Corporate Taxpayer fails to make any Tax Benefit Payment when due to the extent that the Corporate Taxpayer has insufficient funds available to make, or to the extent that the Corporate Taxpayer is contractually constrained from making, such payment in the Corporate Taxpayer’s sole discretion, exercised in good faith; provided that the interest provisions of Section 5.2 shall apply to such late payment (unless the Corporate Taxpayer does not have sufficient cash to make such payment as a result of limitations imposed by any credit agreement to which Focus LLC or any Subsidiary of Focus LLC is a party, in which case Section 5.2 shall apply, but the Default Rate shall be replaced by the Agreed Rate); provided further that it shall be a breach of this Agreement, and the provisions of Section 4.3(a)  shall apply as of the original due date of the Tax Benefit Payment, if the Corporate Taxpayer makes any distribution of cash or other property to its equity holders while any Tax Benefit Payment is due and payable but unpaid.

 

Section 4.4           Early Termination Notice .  If the Corporate Taxpayer chooses to exercise its right of early termination under Section 4.1 above, the Corporate Taxpayer shall deliver to each Agent notice of such intention to exercise such right (the “ Early Termination Notice ”). Upon delivery of the Early Termination Notice or the occurrence of an event described in Section 4.2 or Section 4.3(a) , the Corporate Taxpayer shall deliver (a) a schedule showing in reasonable detail the calculation of the Early Termination Payment (the “ Early Termination Schedule ”) and (b) any other work papers related to the calculation of the Early Termination Payment reasonably requested by any Agent.  In addition, the Corporate Taxpayer shall allow each Agent reasonable access at no cost to the appropriate representatives of the Corporate Taxpayer in connection with a review of such Early Termination Schedule; provided that, in the event of a dispute governed by Section 7.9 or Section 7.10 , any such costs shall be borne as set forth in such sections.  The Early Termination Schedule shall become final and binding on all parties thirty (30) calendar days from the first date on which all Agents have received such Schedule or amendment thereto unless (x) any Agent, within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving the Early Termination Schedule, provides the Corporate Taxpayer  and each other Agent with notice of a material objection to such Schedule made in good faith (“ Material Objection Notice ”) or (y) each Agent provides a written waiver of such right of a Material Objection Notice within the period described in clause (x) above, in which case such Schedule becomes binding on the date waivers from all Agents have been received by the Corporate Taxpayer (the “ Early Termination Effective Date ”).  If the Corporate Taxpayer and the relevant Agent, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in such notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporate Taxpayer of the Material Objection Notice, the Corporate Taxpayer and such Agent shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures under Section 7.10 or Resolution of Disputes procedures under Section 7.9 , as applicable.

 

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Section 4.5           Payment upon Early Termination .

 

(a)          Subject to its right to withdraw any notice of Early Termination pursuant to Section 4.1 , within three (3) Business Days after the Early Termination Effective Date, the Corporate Taxpayer shall pay to each TRA Holder its Early Termination Payment.  Each such payment shall be made by check, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account or accounts designated by the TRA Holder, or as otherwise agreed by the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Holder.

 

(b)          A TRA Holder’s “ Early Termination Payment ” as of the Early Termination Date shall equal, with respect to such TRA Holder, the present value, discounted at the Early Termination Rate as of the Early Termination Date, of all Tax Benefit Payments that would be required to be paid by the Corporate Taxpayer to such TRA Holder beginning from the Early Termination Date and assuming that the Valuation Assumptions are applied.

 

ARTICLE V
SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS

 

Section 5.1           Subordination .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any payment due under this Agreement shall rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to any principal, interest or other amounts due and payable in respect of any obligations in respect of indebtedness for borrowed money of the Corporate Taxpayer (such obligations, “ Senior Obligations ”) and shall rank pari passu with all current or future unsecured obligations of the Corporate Taxpayer that are not Senior Obligations.  For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding the above, the determination of whether it is a breach of this Agreement if the Corporate Taxpayer fails to make any Tax Benefit Payment or other payment under this Agreement when due is governed by Section 4.3(b) . To the extent that any payment due under this Agreement is not permitted to be made at the time such payment is due as a result of this Section 5.1 and the terms of the agreements governing Senior Obligations, such payment obligation nevertheless shall accrue for the benefit of the TRA Holders, and the Corporate Taxpayer shall make such payments at the first opportunity that such payments are permitted to be made in accordance with the terms of the Senior Obligations.

 

Section 5.2           Late Payments by the Corporate Taxpayer .  The amount of all or any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment, Early Termination Payment or any other payment under this Agreement not made to any TRA Holder when due under the terms of this Agreement, whether as a result of Section 5.1 and the terms of the Senior Obligations or otherwise, shall be payable together with any interest thereon, computed at the Default Rate (or, if so provided in Section 4.3(b) , at the Agreed Rate) and commencing from the date on which such Tax Benefit Payment, Early Termination Payment or any other payment under this Agreement was due and payable.

 

ARTICLE VI
NO DISPUTES; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION

 

Section 6.1           Participation in the Corporate Taxpayer’s and Focus LLC’s Tax Matters .  Except as otherwise provided herein or in the Focus LLC Agreement, the Corporate Taxpayer

 

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shall have full responsibility for, and sole discretion over, all Tax matters concerning the Corporate Taxpayer and Focus LLC, including without limitation preparing, filing or amending any Tax Return and defending, contesting or settling any issue pertaining to Taxes.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporate Taxpayer (a) shall notify each Agent of, and keep each Agent reasonably informed with respect to, the portion of any audit, examination, or any other administrative or judicial proceeding (a “ Tax Proceeding ”) of the Corporate Taxpayer or Focus LLC by a Taxing Authority the outcome of which is reasonably expected to affect the rights and obligations of the TRA Holders under this Agreement, (b) shall provide each Agent with reasonable opportunity to provide information and other input to the Corporate Taxpayer, Focus LLC and their respective advisors concerning the conduct of any such portion of a Tax Proceeding, and (c) shall not, without the prior consent of the Agents (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), settle any Tax Proceeding in a manner that would affect in any material respect the amounts payable to the TRA Holders under this Agreement; provided , however, that nothing in this Section 6.1 shall be construed as requiring or preventing either of the Corporate Taxpayer and Focus LLC from taking or refraining to take any action that is inconsistent with, or otherwise provided for under, any provision of the Focus LLC Agreement.

 

Section 6.2           Consistency .  Unless there is a Determination or written opinion, reasonably acceptable to the Corporate Taxpayer and Focus LLC, of legal counsel or a nationally recognized tax advisor to the contrary, the Corporate Taxpayer and each of the TRA Holders agree to report, and to cause their respective Subsidiaries to report, for all purposes (including U.S. federal, state and local Tax purposes), all Tax-related items (including, without limitation, the Basis Adjustments and each Tax Benefit Payment) in a manner consistent with the description of any Tax characterization herein (including as set forth in Section 2.2(b)  and Section 3.1(a)  and any Schedule required to be provided by or on behalf of the Corporate Taxpayer under this Agreement, as finally determined pursuant to Section 2.3 ).  If the Corporate Taxpayer and any TRA Holder, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve any disagreement concerning such treatment within thirty (30) calendar days, the Corporate Taxpayer and such TRA Holder shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures under Section 7.10 or Resolution of Disputes procedures under Section 7.9 , as applicable.

 

Section 6.3           Cooperation .  Each TRA Holder shall (a) furnish to the Corporate Taxpayer in a timely manner such information, documents and other materials as the Corporate Taxpayer 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 Tax Proceeding, (b) make itself reasonably available to the Corporate Taxpayer and its representatives to provide explanations of documents and materials and such other information as the Corporate Taxpayer 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.  The Corporate Taxpayer shall reimburse each TRA Holder for any reasonable third-party costs and expenses incurred pursuant to this Section 6.3 .

 

Section 6.4           Tax Proceedings . The Corporate Taxpayer shall use reasonable efforts (for the avoidance of doubt, taking into account the interests and entitlements of all TRA Holders, the Corporate Taxpayer and Focus LLC) to defend the Tax treatment contemplated by this

 

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Agreement and any Schedule in any audit, contest or similar proceeding with any Taxing Authority.

 

ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 7.1           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 Corporate Taxpayer, to:

 

Focus Financial Partners Inc.

825 Third Avenue, 27 th  Floor

New York, NY 10022
Attention:  Chief Financial Officer

 

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

 

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
666 Fifth Avenue, 26th Floor

New York, NY 10103-0040
Telephone: (212) 237-0000
Attention: Robert Seber

 

If to Centerbridge Agent, to:

 

CP Falcon AIV, L.P.
c/o Centerbridge Partners, L.P.
375 Park Avenue, 12
th  Floor
New York, NY 10152-0002
Attention: Matt Kabaker and Kevin Fusco

 

If to KKR Agent, to:

 

KKR Freya Aggregator L.P.
c/o Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.
9 West 57
th  Street, Suite 4200

New York, NY 10019
Attention: General Counsel

 

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

 

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

 

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425 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (212) 455-2000
Attention: Elizabeth Cooper

 

If to Trident Agent, to:

 

Trident FFP LP
c/o Stone Point Capital LLC
20 Horseneck Lane
Greenwich, CT 06830
Attention: General Counsel

Telephone: (203) 862-2900

 

If to the Agent other than Centerbridge Agent, KKR Agent, or Trident Agent, to the address designated by such Agent upon its designation pursuant to Section 7.6(b) .

 

If to a TRA Holder, other than an Agent, that is or was a partner in Focus LLC, to the address set forth in the records of Focus LLC.

 

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.

 

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

 

Section 7.3           Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries .  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in Section 3.3 .

 

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

 

Section 7.5           Severability .  If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any law or public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially

 

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adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

Section 7.6           Successors; Assignment .

 

(a)          No TRA Holder may assign this Agreement to any Person without the prior written consent of the Corporate Taxpayer; provided , however, that:

 

(i)            to the extent Units are transferred in accordance with the terms of the Focus LLC Agreement (except pursuant to the Exchange Right or the Call Right), the transferring TRA Holder shall assign (or, in the case of a transfer by a KKR Holder, Trident Holder or Centerbridge Holder, may assign) to the transferee of such Units the transferring TRA Holder’s rights under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Units, and such transferee shall execute and deliver a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Corporate Taxpayer, agreeing to become a “TRA Holder” for all purposes of this Agreement;

 

(ii)           the right to receive any and all payments payable or that may become payable to a TRA Holder pursuant to this Agreement following a Blocker Merger or that, once an Exchange has occurred, arise with respect to the Units transferred in such Exchange, as applicable, may be assigned to any Person or Persons without the prior written consent of the Corporate Taxpayer as long as any such Person has executed and delivered, or, in connection with such assignment, executes and delivers, a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Corporate Taxpayer, agreeing to be bound by Section 7.13 ;

 

(iii)          the KKR Holders, the Trident Holders and the Centerbridge Holders may assign their rights under this Agreement with respect to all or a portion of their Units to their respective Affiliates, provided that any Affiliate transferee executes and delivers a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Corporate Taxpayer, agreeing to become a “TRA Holder” for all purposes of this Agreement; and

 

(iv)          the KKR Holders, the Trident Holders and the Centerbridge Holders may assign their rights under this Agreement with respect to all or a portion of their Units, without a corresponding transfer of Units, to a Permitted Transferee; provided that such Permitted Transferee executes and delivers a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Corporate Taxpayer, agreeing to become a “TRA Holder” for all purposes of this Agreement; and provided, further , that (x) the KKR Holders, in the aggregate, may only transfer to two (2) Permitted Transferees (for the avoidance of doubt, other than Affiliates of the KKR Holders, which are addressed in Section 7.6(a)(iii) ) pursuant to this Section 7.6(a)(iv)  during the term of this Agreement, (y) the Trident Holders, in the aggregate, may only transfer to two (2) Permitted Transferees (for the avoidance of doubt, other than Affiliates of the Trident Holders, which are addressed in Section 7.6(a)(iii) ) pursuant to this Section 7.6(a)(iv)  during the

 

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term of this Agreement, and (z) the Centerbridge Holders, in the aggregate, may only transfer to two (2) Permitted Transferees (for the avoidance of doubt, other than Affiliates of the Centerbridge Holders, which are addressed in Section 7.6(a)(iii) ) pursuant to this Section 7.6(a)(iv)  during the term of this Agreement.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, the parties acknowledge that an assignment of rights pursuant to this Section 7.6(a)  is not expected to affect the U.S. federal income (or applicable state and local) Tax characterization by the Corporate Taxpayer of payments made under this Agreement.

 

(b)          The Agent described in clause (d) of the definition of “Agent” may be initially designated or changed solely with the prior written consent of the Corporate Taxpayer and the Majority TRA Holders (for this purpose, calculated by excluding any KKR Holders, Trident Holders and Centerbridge Holders).

 

(c)           Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives.  The Corporate Taxpayer shall 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 Corporate Taxpayer, by written agreement, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporate Taxpayer would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

Section 7.7           Amendments; Waivers .  No provision of this Agreement may be amended in a manner that materially affects the substantive rights of any TRA Holder hereunder unless such amendment is approved in writing by each of the Corporate Taxpayer and the Majority TRA Holders; provided , however, that no such amendment shall be effective if such amendment would have a materially disproportionate effect on the payments certain TRA Holders will or may receive under this Agreement unless a majority of such disproportionately affected TRA Holders (as determined in the same manner as the Majority TRA Holders would be determined if such disproportionately affected TRA Holders were the only TRA Holders) consent in writing to such amendment; provided further , that, notwithstanding anything in the foregoing, no provision of this Agreement may be amended in a manner that materially affects the substantive rights of a Required TRA Holder hereunder unless such amendment is approved in writing by such Required TRA Holder.

 

Section 7.8           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 7.9           Resolution of Disputes .

 

(a)          Any and all disputes which are not governed by Section 7.10 , including any ancillary claims of any party, arising out of, relating to or in connection with the validity, negotiation, execution, interpretation, performance or non-performance of this Agreement (including the validity, scope and enforceability of this Section 7.9 and Section 7.10 ) (each a “ Dispute ”) shall be governed by this Section 7.9 .  The parties hereto shall attempt in good faith

 

24



 

to resolve all Disputes by negotiation.  If a Dispute between the parties hereto cannot be resolved in such manner, such Dispute shall be finally settled by arbitration conducted by a single arbitrator in accordance with the then-existing rules of arbitration of the American Arbitration Association. 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 American Arbitration Association shall make the appointment. The arbitrator shall be a lawyer admitted to the practice of law in a U.S. state, or a nationally recognized expert in the relevant subject matter, 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 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 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.  The parties involved in any Dispute shall each bear their own costs and expenses of such Dispute unless, in the event of an arbitration, otherwise determined by the arbitrator in accordance with the then-existing rules of arbitration of the American Arbitration Association.

 

(b)          Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.9(a) , the Corporate Taxpayer 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 Section 7.9(b) , each Agent and each TRA Holder (i) expressly consents to the application of Section 7.9(c)  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 Corporate Taxpayer as agent of such party 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 party in writing of any such service of process, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon such party in any such action or proceeding.

 

(c)           EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF COURTS LOCATED IN NEW YORK FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION 7.9 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 forum designated by this Section 7.9(c)  have a reasonable relation to this Agreement, and to the parties’ relationship with one another.

 

(d)          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

 

25



 

of any such ancillary suit, action or proceeding brought in any court referred to in Section 7.9(c)  and such parties agree not to plead or claim the same.

 

Section 7.10         Reconciliation .  In the event that any Agent or any TRA Holder (as applicable, the “ Disputing Party ”) and the Corporate Taxpayer are unable to resolve a disagreement with respect to the calculations required to produce the schedules described in Section 2.3 , Section 4.4 and Section 6.2 (but not, for the avoidance doubt, with respect to any legal interpretation with respect to such provisions or schedules) within the relevant period designated in this Agreement (“ Reconciliation Dispute ”), the Reconciliation Dispute shall be submitted for determination to the Expert.  The Expert shall be a partner or principal in a nationally recognized accounting or law firm, and unless the Corporate Taxpayer and the Disputing Party agree otherwise, the Expert shall not, and the firm that employs the Expert shall not, have any material relationship with the Corporate Taxpayer or the Disputing Party or other actual or potential conflict of interest.  If the parties are unable to agree on an Expert within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt by the respondent(s) of written notice of a Reconciliation Dispute, the Expert shall be appointed by the American Arbitration Association.  The Expert shall resolve (a) any matter relating to the Exchange Schedule or an amendment thereto or the Early Termination Schedule or an amendment thereto within thirty (30) calendar days, (b) any matter relating to a Tax Benefit Payment Schedule or an amendment thereto within fifteen (15) calendar days, and (c) any matter related to treatment of any tax-related item as contemplated in Section 6.2 within fifteen (15) calendar days, or, in each case, as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable after such 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, any portion of such payment that is not under dispute shall be paid on the date prescribed by this Agreement and such Tax Return may be filed as prepared by the Corporate Taxpayer, 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 Corporate Taxpayer except as provided in the next sentence.  The Corporate Taxpayer and the Disputing Party shall each bear its own costs and expenses of such proceeding, unless (i) the Expert adopts such Disputing Party’s position, in which case the Corporate Taxpayer shall reimburse such Disputing Party for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding, or (ii) the Expert adopts the Corporate Taxpayer’s position, in which case such Disputing Party shall reimburse the Corporate Taxpayer 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 7.10 shall be decided by the Expert.  The Expert shall finally determine any Reconciliation Dispute and the determinations of the Expert pursuant to this Section 7.10 shall be binding on the Corporate Taxpayer and its Subsidiaries and the Disputing Party and may be entered and enforced in any court having jurisdiction.

 

Section 7.11         Withholding .  The Corporate Taxpayer shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any payment payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as the Corporate Taxpayer is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code or any provision of U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. tax law.  To the extent that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authority by the Corporate Taxpayer, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the relevant TRA Holder.  Upon a TRA Holder’s request, the Corporate Taxpayer

 

26



 

shall provide evidence of any such payment to such TRA Holder.  Each TRA Holder shall furnish to the Corporate Taxpayer in a timely manner such statements, certifications or other information reasonably requested by the Corporate Taxpayer for purposes of determining the extent to which any payments hereunder are subject to withholding or deduction. The Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Holders shall reasonably cooperate to reduce or eliminate any withholding or deduction from any payment made pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Section 7.12         Status of Corporate Taxpayer as a Member of a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets .

 

(a)          If the Corporate Taxpayer is or 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, then: (i) the provisions of this Agreement shall be applied with respect to the group as a whole; and (ii) Tax Benefit Payments, Early Termination Payments and other applicable items hereunder shall be computed with reference to the consolidated taxable income of the group as a whole.

 

(b)          If the Corporate Taxpayer (or any other entity that is obligated to make a Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment hereunder), Focus LLC or any of Focus LLC’s direct or indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (but only to the extent such Subsidiaries are not held through any entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) (a “ Transferor ”) transfers one or more Reference Assets to a corporation (or a Person classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) with which the Transferor does not file a consolidated Tax Return pursuant to Section 1501 of the Code, the Transferor, for purposes of calculating the amount of any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination 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 Reference Assets in a fully taxable transaction on the date of such contribution.  The consideration deemed to be received by the Transferor shall be equal to the fair market value of the transferred Reference Assets, plus, without duplication, (i) the amount of debt to which any such Reference Asset is subject, in the case of a transfer of an encumbered Reference Asset or (ii) the amount of debt allocated to any such Reference Asset, in the case of a contribution of a partnership interest. For purposes of this Section 7.12(b) , a transfer of a partnership interest shall be treated as a transfer of the Transferor’s share of each of the assets and liabilities of that partnership.

 

Section 7.13         Confidentiality .

 

(a)          Each Agent and each of such Agent’s assignees and each TRA Holder and each of such TRA Holder’s assignees acknowledges and agrees that the information of the Corporate Taxpayer is confidential and, except in the course of performing any duties as necessary for the Corporate Taxpayer 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 Corporate Taxpayer and its Affiliates and successors, concerning Focus LLC and its Affiliates and successors or the TRA Holders, learned by any Agent or any TRA Holder heretofore or hereafter.  This Section 7.13 shall not apply to (i) any information that has been made publicly

 

27



 

available by the Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Affiliates, becomes public knowledge (except as a result of an act of an Agent or a TRA Holder in violation of this Agreement) or is generally known to the business community and (ii) the disclosure of information (A) as may be proper in the course of performing an Agent’s or a TRA Holder’s obligations, or monitoring or enforcing a TRA Holder’s rights, under this Agreement, (B) as part of a TRA Holder’s normal reporting, rating or review procedure (including normal credit rating and pricing process), or in connection with a TRA Holder’s or such TRA Holder’s Affiliates’ normal fund raising, financing, marketing, informational or reporting activities, or to a TRA Holder’s (or any of its Affiliates’) or its direct or indirect owners or Affiliates, auditors, accountants, employees, attorneys or other agents, (C) to any bona fide prospective assignee of a TRA Holder’s rights under this Agreement, or prospective merger or other business combination partner of a TRA Holder, provided that such assignee or merger partner agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section 7.13 , (D) as is required to be disclosed by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, administrative body or governmental body, or by subpoena, summons or legal process, or by law, rule or regulation; provided that any TRA Holder required to make any such disclosure to the extent legally permissible shall provide the Corporate Taxpayer prompt notice of such disclosure, or to regulatory authorities or similar examiners conducting regulatory reviews or examinations (without any such notice to the Corporate Taxpayer), or (E) to the extent necessary for a TRA Holder or its direct or indirect owners to prepare and file its Tax Returns, to respond to any inquiries regarding such Tax Returns from any Taxing Authority or to prosecute or defend any Tax Proceeding with respect to such Tax Returns.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, each Agent (and each employee, representative or other agent of such Agent or its assignees, as applicable) and each TRA Holder and each of its assignees (and each employee, representative or other agent of such TRA Holder or its assignees, as applicable) may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the Tax treatment and Tax structure of the Corporate Taxpayer, Focus LLC, the Agents, the TRA Holders and their Affiliates, and any of their transactions, and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other Tax analyses) that are provided to any Agent or any TRA Holder relating to such Tax treatment and Tax structure.

 

(b)          If an Agent or an assignee or a TRA Holder or an assignee commits a breach, or threatens to commit a breach, of any of the provisions of this Section 7.13 , the Corporate Taxpayer shall have the right and remedy to have the provisions of this Section 7.13 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 Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Subsidiaries or the TRA Holders and the accounts and funds managed by the Corporate Taxpayer and that money damages alone shall not provide an adequate remedy to such Persons.  Such rights and remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available at law or in equity.

 

Section 7.14         No More Favorable Terms .  None of the Corporate Taxpayer nor any of its Subsidiaries shall enter into any additional agreement providing rights similar to this Agreement to any Person (including any agreement pursuant to which the Corporate Taxpayer is obligated to pay amounts with respect to tax benefits resulting from any increases in Tax basis or other tax attributes to which the Corporate Taxpayer becomes entitled as a result of a transaction) if such agreement provides terms  that are more favorable to the counterparty under such agreement than those provided to the TRA Holders under this Agreement; provided , however, that the Corporate

 

28



 

Taxpayer (or any of its Subsidiaries) may enter into such an agreement if this Agreement is amended to make such more favorable terms available to the TRA Holders.

 

Section 7.15         Parity with Non-PE TRA . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, (a) no amendment may be made to the Non-PE TRA unless a substantially similar amendment is offered by the Corporate Taxpayer to be made to this Agreement, (b) any and all copies of amendments and waivers to the Non-PE TRA must be provided to the Agents, and (c) all documentation delivered by the Corporate Taxpayer to the Agents hereunder and the “Agent” under the Non-PE TRA must be substantially the same.

 

Section 7.16         Certain Terminations by a TRA Holder . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if, in connection with an actual or proposed change in law, a TRA Holder reasonably believes that the existence of this Agreement (a) could cause income (other than income arising from receipt of a payment under this Agreement) recognized by such TRA Holder upon any Exchange that as of the date of this Agreement would be treated as capital gain to instead to be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain (or otherwise taxed at ordinary income rates) for U.S. federal income tax purposes or (b) would have other material adverse tax consequences to such TRA Holder and/or its direct or indirect owners, then, in either case, at the election of such TRA Holder and to the extent specified by such TRA Holder, this Agreement (i)  shall not apply to an Exchange by such TRA Holder occurring after a date specified by it or (ii) shall otherwise be amended in a manner determined by such TRA Holder to waive any benefits to which such TRA Holder would otherwise be entitled under this Agreement, provided that such amendment shall not result in an increase in or acceleration of payments under this Agreement at any time as compared to the amounts and times of payments that would have been due in the absence of such amendment.  Further, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any TRA Holder may, at any time, elect for this Agreement to cease to have further effect in its entirety with respect to such TRA Holder, and the Corporate Taxpayer shall cease to have any further obligations in respect of such TRA Holder, in each case from and after the date specified by such TRA Holder.

 

Section 7.17         Independent Nature of Members’ Rights and Obligations . The obligations of each TRA Holder hereunder are several and not joint with the obligations of any other TRA Holder, and no TRA Holder shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other TRA Holder hereunder. The decision of each TRA Holder to enter into this Agreement has been made by such TRA Holder independently of any other TRA Holder. Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any TRA Holder pursuant hereto, shall be deemed to constitute the TRA Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the TRA Holders are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby and the Corporate Taxpayer acknowledges that the TRA Holders are not acting in concert or as a group, and the Corporate Taxpayer will not assert any such claim, with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

29



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporate Taxpayer, the TRA Holders, and the Agents have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

CORPORATE TAXPAYER:

 

 

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ruediger Adolf

 

 

Name:

Ruediger Adolf

 

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO
TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporate Taxpayer, the TRA Holders, and the Agents have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

CENTERBRIDGE AGENT, AS AN AGENT:

 

 

 

CP FALCON AIV, LP

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Daniel R. Osnoss

 

 

Name:

Daniel R. Osnoss

 

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 



 

 

KKR AGENT, AS AN AGENT:

 

 

 

KKR FREYA AGGREGATOR L.P.

 

 

 

By:

KKR Freya Aggregator GP LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William J. Janetschek

 

 

Name:

William J. Janetschek

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 



 

 

TRIDENT AGENT, AS AN AGENT:

 

 

 

TRIDENT FFP LP

 

 

 

By:

Trident FFP GP LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

Name:

Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

Title:

Vice President & Assistant Secretary

 

[The signatures of the TRA Holders are attached in Schedule A.]

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 



 

SCHEDULE A

 

THE TRA HOLDERS PARTY TO TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 

TRA Holder

 

TRIDENT FFP LP

 

 

 

By: Trident FFP GP LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

Name:

Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

Title:

Vice President & Assistant Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

TRIDENT VI, L.P.

 

 

 

By: Stone Point Capital LLC, its manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

Name:

Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

Title:

Principal

 

 

 

 

 

TRIDENT VI PARALLEL FUND, L.P.

 

 

 

By: Stone Point Capital LLC, its manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

Name:

Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

Title:

Principal

 

 

 

 

 

TRIDENT VI DE PARALLEL FUND, L.P.

 

 

 

By: Stone Point Capital LLC, its manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

Name:

Peter M. Mundheim

 

 

 

Title:

Principal

 

 

SCHEDULE A TO

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 



 

TRA Holder

 

KKR FREYA AGGREGATOR L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

KKR Freya Aggregator GP LLC,

 

 

its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William J. Janetschek

 

 

 

Name:

William J. Janetschek

 

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KKR AMERICAS XII (FREYA) BLOCKER

PARENT L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

KKR Associates Americas XII L.P.,

 

 

its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

KKR Americas XII Limited,

 

 

its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William J. Janetschek

 

 

 

Name:

William J. Janetschek

 

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KKR AMERICAS XII EEA (FREYA) BLOCKER

PARENT L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

KKR Associates Americas XII L.P.,

 

 

its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

By:

KKR Americas XII Limited,

 

 

its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William J. Janetschek

 

 

 

Name:

William J. Janetschek

 

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

SCHEDULE A TO

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 



 

TRA Holder

 

CP FALCON AIV, L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Centerbridge Associates II, L.P.,

 

 

its general partner

 

 

 

 

By:

CCP II Cayman GP Ltd.,

 

 

its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Daniel R. Osnoss

 

 

 

Name:

Daniel R. Osnoss

 

 

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

 

 

CCP II FALCON AIV-B, L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Centerbridge Associates II, L.P.,

 

 

its general partner

 

 

 

 

By:

CCP II Cayman GP Ltd.,

 

 

its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Daniel R. Osnoss

 

 

 

Name:

Daniel R. Osnoss

 

 

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CENTERBRIDGE CAPITAL PARTNERS

SBS II, L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

CCP SBS GP, LLC, its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Daniel R. Osnoss

 

 

 

Name:

Daniel R. Osnoss

 

 

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

 

SCHEDULE A TO

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 


Exhibit 10.3

 

Tax Receivable Agreement

for Non-PE Holders

 



 

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.,

 

CERTAIN OTHER PERSONS NAMED HEREIN

 

and

 

THE AGENT

 

DATED AS OF JULY 30, 2018

 



 

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 

This TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of July 30, 2018, is hereby entered into by and among Focus Financial Partners Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporate Taxpayer ”), the TRA Holders and the Agent.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Corporate Taxpayer is the managing member of Focus Financial Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Focus LLC ”), an entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and holds limited liability company interests in Focus LLC;

 

WHEREAS, Focus LLC and each of its direct and indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes will have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), for the Taxable Year that includes the IPO and for each Taxable Year in which an Exchange (as defined herein) occurs;

 

WHEREAS, the TRA Holders currently hold Common Units and/or Incentive Units and may transfer all or a portion of such Units (after conversion of any Incentive Units into Common Units): (i) for cash in connection with the IPO, in a transaction that is or is deemed to be a sale of such Common Units to the Corporate Taxpayer for U.S. federal income tax purposes (an “ IPO Sale ”), (ii) to the Corporate Taxpayer for Class A Shares and/or Class B Shares (and, in some cases, noncompensatory options and cash) in connection with the IPO (an “ IPO Contribution ”), or (iii) pursuant to the Exchange Right or the Call Right, as applicable, in a transaction that is or is deemed to be a sale of such Common Units to the Corporate Taxpayer for U.S. federal income tax purposes (each such transfer under any of clause (i) through (iii), an “ Exchange ”), and as a result of such Exchanges, the Corporate Taxpayer is expected to obtain or be entitled to certain Tax benefits as further described herein;

 

WHEREAS, the Corporate Taxpayer is also entering into a tax receivable agreement with certain affiliates of Stone Point Capital LLC, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., and Centerbridge Partners, L.P. (the “ PE TRA ”);

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is intended to set forth the agreement among the parties hereto regarding the sharing of the Tax benefits realized by the Corporate Taxpayer as a result of Exchanges;

 

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

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

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

 



 

Accrued Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Actual Tax Liability ” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the actual liability for U.S. federal income Taxes of (a) the Corporate Taxpayer, and (b) without duplication, Focus LLC and any of its Subsidiaries that are treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but only with respect to Taxes imposed on Focus LLC and such Subsidiaries that are allocable to the Corporate Taxpayer; provided that the actual liability for U.S. federal income Taxes of the Corporate Taxpayer shall be calculated assuming deductions of (and other impacts of) state and local income and franchise Taxes are excluded.

 

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.

 

Agent ” means Ruediger Adolf or such other Person designated as such pursuant to Section 7.6(b) .

 

Agreed Rate ” means a per annum rate of LIBOR plus 100 basis points.

 

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

 

Amended Schedule ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Assumed State and Local Tax Rate ” means six percent (6%) or such other rate as the Corporate Taxpayer may in good faith determine to be appropriate taking into account any changes, after the date hereof, to the Corporate Taxpayer’s apportionment factors and/or the corporate income and franchise tax rates in any state and local jurisdictions in which the Corporate Taxpayer files income and franchise tax returns.

 

Attributable ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Basis Adjustment ” means any adjustment to the Tax basis of a Reference Asset as a result of an Exchange and the payments made pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such Exchange (as calculated under Section 2.1 of this Agreement), including, but not limited to: (a) under Sections 734(b) and 743(b) of the Code (in situations where, following an Exchange, Focus LLC remains classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes); (b) under Sections 732(b), 734(b) and 1012 of the Code (in situations where, as a result of one or more Exchanges, Focus LLC becomes an entity that is disregarded as separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes); and (c) under Section 362(a) of the Code to the extent the Tax basis of a Reference Asset is increased as a result of gain recognized on such Exchange.  For the avoidance of doubt, the amount of any Basis Adjustment resulting from an Exchange of Units shall be determined without regard to any Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to such Units prior to such Exchange; and, further, 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.

 

Board ” means the board of directors of the Corporate Taxpayer.

 

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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 New York shall not be regarded as a Business Day.

 

Call Right ” means the “Call Right” as defined in the Focus LLC Agreement and any other purchase of Units by the Corporate Taxpayer pursuant to Section 3.7 of the Focus LLC Agreement.

 

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

 

(a)          any Person or group of Persons acting together which would constitute a “group” for purposes of Section 13(d)  of the Exchange Act, or any successor provisions thereto, is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Corporate Taxpayer representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Corporate Taxpayer’s then outstanding voting securities;

 

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

 

(c)           the equity holders of the Corporate Taxpayer approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Corporate Taxpayer or there is consummated an agreement or series of related agreements for the sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by the Corporate Taxpayer of all or substantially all of the Corporate Taxpayer’s assets, other than such sale or other disposition by the Corporate Taxpayer of all or substantially all of the Corporate Taxpayer’s assets to an entity, at least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by equity holders of the Corporate Taxpayer in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Corporate Taxpayer immediately prior to such sale.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except with respect to clause (b) above, a “Change of Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the voting power of the Corporate Taxpayer immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in, and own substantially all of the voting power of, an entity which owns, either directly or through a Subsidiary, all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporate Taxpayer immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

 

Class A Shares ” means shares of Class A common stock of the Corporate Taxpayer.

 

Class B Shares ” means shares of Class B common stock of the Corporate Taxpayer.

 

Code ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

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Common Units ” has the meaning set forth in the Focus LLC 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.

 

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

 

Corporate Taxpayer Return ” means the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporate Taxpayer (including any consolidated group of which the Corporate Taxpayer is a member, as further described in Section 7.12(a)  of this Agreement) filed with respect to any Taxable Year.

 

Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit ” for a Taxable Year means the cumulative amount (but not less than zero) of Realized Tax Benefits for all Taxable Years of the Corporate Taxpayer, 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 Payment Schedule or Amended Schedule, if any, in existence at the time of such determination.

 

Default Rate ” means a per annum rate of LIBOR plus 500 basis points.

 

Determination ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1313(a) of the Code or any other event (including the execution of IRS Form 870-AD) that finally and conclusively establishes the amount of any liability for Tax.

 

Dispute ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.9(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Disputing Party ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.10 of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1 of this Agreement.

 

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

 

Early Termination Effective Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4 of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4 of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination Payment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Early Termination Rate ” means a per annum rate of LIBOR plus 150 basis points.

 

Early Termination Schedule ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4 of this Agreement.

 

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

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as the same may be amended from time to time (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding law).

 

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Exchange Date ” means each date on which an Exchange occurs.

 

Exchange Notice ” has the meaning given to the term “Exchange Notice” in the Focus LLC Agreement.

 

Exchange Right ” means the exchange right set forth in Section 3.6 of the Focus LLC Agreement, including any such exchange right exercised pursuant to Section 3.9 of the Focus LLC Agreement.

 

Exchange Schedule ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 of this Agreement.

 

Expert ” means Ernst & Young, LLP or such nationally recognized expert in the particular area of disagreement as is mutually acceptable to the Corporate Taxpayer, the Agent and, in the event any holders of rights under any other Tax Receivable Agreement are involved in such disagreement, each “Agent” as defined under such other Tax Receivable Agreement.

 

Focus LLC ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

Focus LLC Agreement ” means the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Focus LLC, as amended from time to time.

 

Hypothetical Tax Liability ” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the liability for U.S. federal income Taxes of (a) the Corporate Taxpayer, and (b) without duplication, Focus LLC and any of its Subsidiaries that are treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but only with respect to Taxes imposed on Focus LLC and such Subsidiaries that are allocable to the Corporate Taxpayer (using the same methods, elections, conventions, U.S. federal income tax rate and similar practices used on the relevant Corporate Taxpayer Return), but without taking into account (x) any Basis Adjustments, (y) any deduction attributable to Imputed Interest for the Taxable Year, and (z) any Other-TRA Benefits.  For the avoidance of doubt, Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be determined without taking into account the carryover or carryback of any U.S. federal income Tax item (or portions thereof) that is attributable to any Basis Adjustments, Imputed Interest, or any Other-TRA Benefits.  Furthermore, the Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be calculated assuming deductions of (and other impacts of) state and local income and franchise Taxes are excluded.

 

Imputed Interest ” means any interest imputed under Section 1272, 1274 or 483 or other provision of the Code with respect to the Corporate Taxpayer’s payment obligations under this Agreement.

 

Incentive Units ” has the meaning set forth in the Focus LLC Agreement.

 

IPO ” means the initial public offering of shares by the Corporate Taxpayer.

 

IPO Contribution ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

IPO Date ” means the closing date of the IPO.

 

IPO Sale ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

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

 

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LIBOR ” means during any period, an interest rate per annum equal to the one-year LIBOR rate reported, on the date two (2) calendar days prior to the first day of such period, on the Telerate Page 3750 (or if such screen shall cease to be publicly available, as reported on Reuters Screen page “LIBOR01” or by any other publicly available source of such market rate) for London interbank offered rates for United States dollar deposits for such period.

 

Majority TRA Holders ” means, at the time of any determination, TRA Holders who would be entitled to receive more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate amount of the Early Termination Payments payable to all TRA Holders hereunder (determined using such calculations of Early Termination Payments reasonably estimated by the Corporate Taxpayer in consultation with the Agent) if the Corporate Taxpayer had exercised its right of early termination on such date.

 

Market Value ” means 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, as reported by Bloomberg L.P.; provided , that if the closing price is not reported by Bloomberg L.P. for the applicable Exchange Date, then the Market Value means the closing price of the Class A Shares on the Business Day immediately preceding such Exchange Date on the national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which such Class A Shares are then traded or listed, as reported by Bloomberg L.P.; provided further that if the Class A Shares are not then listed on a national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system, “Market Value” means 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 in good faith.

 

Material Objection Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4 of this Agreement.

 

Net Tax Benefit ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Objection Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a)  of this Agreement.

 

Other-TRA Benefits ” means any tax benefits resulting from increases in Tax basis or other Tax attributes with respect to which the Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Subsidiaries is obligated to make payments under the PE TRA or any Post-IPO TRA.

 

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

 

PE TRA ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

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

 

Post-IPO TRA ” means any tax receivable agreement (or comparable agreement) entered into by the Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Corporate Taxpayer is obligated to pay over amounts with respect to tax benefits resulting from any tax attributes to which the Corporate Taxpayer becomes entitled as a result of a transaction (other than any Exchanges) after the date of this Agreement.

 

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Realized Tax Benefit ” means, for a Taxable Year, the sum of (a) the excess, if any, of the Hypothetical Tax Liability over the Actual Tax Liability and (b) the State and Local Tax Benefit.  If all or a portion of the Actual Tax Liability for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit by the IRS of any Taxable Year, such liability and the corresponding Hypothetical Tax Liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Benefit unless and until there has been a Determination with respect to such Actual Tax Liability.

 

Realized Tax Detriment ” means, for a Taxable Year, the sum of (a) the excess, if any, of the Actual Tax Liability over the Hypothetical Tax Liability and (b) the State and Local Tax Detriment.  If all or a portion of the Actual Tax Liability for the Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit by the IRS of any Taxable Year, such liability and the corresponding Hypothetical Tax Liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Detriment unless and until there has been a Determination with respect to such Actual Tax Liability.

 

Reconciliation Dispute ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.10 of this Agreement.

 

Reconciliation Procedures ” means the procedures described in Section 7.10 of this Agreement.

 

Reference Asset ” means, with respect to any Exchange, an asset (other than cash or a cash equivalent) that is held by Focus LLC, or any of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (but only to the extent such Subsidiaries are not held through any entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes), at the time of such Exchange.  A Reference Asset also includes any asset that is “substituted basis property” under Section 7701(a)(42) of the Code with respect to a Reference Asset.

 

Schedule ” means any of the following: (a) an Exchange Schedule, (b) a Tax Benefit Payment Schedule, or (c) the Early Termination Schedule.

 

Senior Obligations ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1 of this Agreement.

 

State and Local Tax Benefit ” means, for a Taxable Year, the excess, if any, of the Hypothetical Tax Liability over the Actual Tax Liability; provided that, for purposes of determining the State and Local Tax Benefit, each of the Hypothetical Tax Liability and the Actual Tax Liability shall be calculated using the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate instead of the rate applicable for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

State and Local Tax Detriment ” means, for a Taxable Year, the excess, if any, of the Actual Tax Liability over the Hypothetical Tax Liability; provided that, for purposes of determining the State and Local Tax Detriment, each of the Actual Tax Liability and the Hypothetical Tax Liability shall be calculated using the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate instead of the rate applicable for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

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

 

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Tax Benefit Payment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b)  of this Agreement.

 

Tax Benefit Payment Schedule ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 of this Agreement.

 

Tax Proceeding ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1 of this Agreement.

 

Tax Receivable Agreements ” means this Agreement, the PE TRA and any Post-IPO TRA.

 

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 Corporate Taxpayer as defined in Section 441(b) of the Code (which, for the avoidance of doubt, may include a period of less than twelve (12) months for which a Tax Return is made), ending on or after the IPO Date.

 

Taxes ” means any and all U.S. federal, state and local taxes, assessments or similar charges that are based on or measured with respect to net income or profits (including any franchise taxes based on or measured with respect to net income or profits), and any interest related to such Tax.

 

Taxing Authority ” means the IRS and any other 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.

 

TRA Holder ” means each of those Persons set forth on Schedule A and their respective successors and permitted assigns pursuant to Section 7.6(a)(i) .

 

Transferor ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.12(b)  of this Agreement.

 

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 Year.

 

Units ” means Common Units and Incentive Units.

 

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

 

(a)                                  in each Taxable Year ending on or after such Early Termination Date, the Corporate Taxpayer will have taxable income sufficient to fully utilize the deductions arising from all Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest during such Taxable Year or future Taxable Years (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest that would result from future Tax Benefit Payments that would be paid in accordance with the Valuation Assumptions, further assuming such future Tax Benefit Payments would be paid on the due date, without extensions, for filing the Corporate Taxpayer Return for the applicable Taxable Year) in which such deductions would become available;

 

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(b)                                  any loss or credit carryovers generated by deductions or losses arising from any Basis Adjustment or Imputed Interest (including such Basis Adjustment and Imputed Interest generated as a result of payments under this Agreement) that are available in the Taxable Year that includes the Early Termination Date will be utilized by the Corporate Taxpayer ratably in each Taxable Year over the five Taxable Years beginning with the Taxable Year that includes the Early Termination Date;

 

(c)                                   the U.S. federal, state and local income and franchise tax rates that will be in effect for each Taxable Year ending on or after such Early Termination Date will be those specified for each such Taxable Year by the Code and other law as in effect on the Early Termination Date, except to the extent any change to such tax rates for such Taxable Year have already been enacted into law;

 

(d)                                  any Reference Asset that is not subject to amortization, depreciation or other cost recovery deduction to which any Basis Adjustment is attributable will be disposed of in a fully taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes on the fifth anniversary of the Early Termination Date for an amount sufficient to fully utilize the Basis Adjustment with respect to such Reference Asset; provided , that in the event of a Change of Control which includes a taxable sale of such Reference Asset (including the sale of all of the equity interests in an entity classified as a partnership or disregarded entity that directly or indirectly owns such Reference Asset), such Reference Asset shall be deemed disposed of at the time of the Change of Control; and

 

(e)           if, at the Early Termination Date, there are Units (other than those held by the Corporate Taxpayer or its Subsidiaries) that have not been transferred in an Exchange, then all such Units shall be deemed to be transferred pursuant to the Exchange Right effective on the Early Termination Date.

 

Section 1.2                                   Other Definitional and Interpretative Provisions .  The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of like import used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.  References to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules are to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules of this Agreement unless otherwise specified.  All Exhibits and Schedules annexed hereto or referred to herein are hereby incorporated in and made a part of this Agreement as if set forth in full herein. Any capitalized terms used in any Exhibit or Schedule but not otherwise defined therein, shall have the meaning as defined in this Agreement.  Any singular term in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular.  Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation,” whether or not they are in fact followed by those words or words of like import.  “Writing,” “written” and comparable terms refer to printing, typing and other means of reproducing words (including electronic media) in a visible form. References to any agreement or contract are to that agreement or contract as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.  References to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person. References from or through any date mean, unless otherwise specified, from and including or through and including, respectively.

 

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ARTICLE II
DETERMINATION OF CERTAIN REALIZED TAX BENEFITS

 

Section 2.1                                   Exchange Schedules .  Within ninety (90) calendar days after the filing of the Corporate Taxpayer Return for each Taxable Year in which any Exchange has been effected by a TRA Holder, the Corporate Taxpayer shall deliver to the Agent a schedule (the “ Exchange Schedule ”) that shows, in reasonable detail necessary to perform the calculations required by this Agreement, including with respect to each applicable TRA Holder, (a) the Basis Adjustments as a result of the Exchanges effected by such TRA Holder in such Taxable Year and (b) the period (or periods) over which such Basis Adjustments are amortizable and/or depreciable.

 

Section 2.2                                   Tax Benefit Payment Schedules .

 

(a)                                Within ninety (90) calendar days after the filing of the Corporate Taxpayer Return for any Taxable Year in which there is a Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment, the Corporate Taxpayer shall provide to the Agent: (i) a schedule showing, in reasonable detail, (A) the calculation of the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year, (B) the portion of the Net Tax Benefit, if any, that is Attributable to each TRA Holder, (C) the Accrued Amount with respect to any such Net Tax Benefit that is Attributable to such TRA Holder, (D) the Tax Benefit Payment due to each such TRA Holder, and (E) the portion of such Tax Benefit Payment that the Corporate Taxpayer intends to treat as Imputed Interest (a “ Tax Benefit Payment Schedule ”), (ii) a reasonably detailed calculation of the Hypothetical Tax Liability, (iii) a reasonably detailed calculation of the Actual Tax Liability, (iv) a copy of the Corporate Taxpayer Return for such Taxable Year, and (v) any other work papers reasonably requested by the Agent.  In addition, the Corporate Taxpayer shall allow the Agent reasonable access at no cost to the appropriate representatives of the Corporate  Taxpayer in connection with a review of such Tax Benefit Payment Schedule; provided that, in the event of a dispute governed by Section 7.9 or Section 7.10 , any such costs shall be borne as set forth in such sections.  The Tax Benefit Payment Schedule will become final as provided in Section 2.3(a)  and may be amended as provided in Section 2.3(b)  (subject to the procedures set forth in Section 2.3(b) ).

 

(b)                                For purposes of calculating the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for any Taxable Year, carryovers or carrybacks of any U.S. federal income Tax item attributable to the Basis Adjustments, Imputed Interest, and any Other-TRA Benefits shall be considered to be subject to the rules of the Code and the Treasury Regulations, as applicable, governing the use, limitation and expiration of carryovers or carrybacks of the relevant type.  If a carryover or carryback of any U.S. federal income Tax item includes a portion that is attributable to the Basis Adjustment, Imputed Interest, or any Other-TRA Benefits and another portion that is not so attributable, such respective portions shall be considered to be used in accordance with the “with and without” methodology.  The parties agree that (i) any payment under this Agreement (to the extent permitted by law and other than amounts accounted for as Imputed Interest) will be treated as a subsequent upward adjustment to the purchase price of the relevant Common Units and will have the effect of creating additional Basis Adjustments to Reference Assets for the Corporate Taxpayer in the year of payment, and (ii) as a result, such additional Basis Adjustments will be incorporated into the current year calculation and into future year calculations, as appropriate.

 

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Section 2.3                                   Procedure; Amendments .

 

(a)                                An applicable Schedule or amendment thereto shall become final and binding on all parties thirty (30) calendar days from the first date on which the Agent has received the applicable Schedule or amendment thereto unless (i) the Agent, within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving an applicable Schedule or amendment thereto, provides the Corporate Taxpayer with notice of a material objection to such Schedule (“ Objection Notice ”) made in good faith or (ii) the Agent provides a written waiver of such right of any Objection Notice within the period described in clause (i) above, in which case such Schedule or amendment thereto becomes binding on the date a waiver from the Agent has been received by the Corporate Taxpayer.  If the Corporate Taxpayer and the Agent, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in an Objection Notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporate Taxpayer of such Objection Notice, the Corporate Taxpayer and the Agent shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures under Section 7.10 or Resolution of Disputes procedures under Section 7.9 , as applicable.

 

(b)                                The applicable Schedule for any Taxable Year may be amended from time to time by the Corporate Taxpayer (i) in connection with a Determination affecting such Schedule, (ii) to correct inaccuracies in the Schedule identified as a result of the receipt of additional factual information relating to a Taxable Year after the date the Schedule was provided to the Agent, (iii) to comply with the Expert’s determination under the Reconciliation Procedures, (iv) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to a carryback or carryforward of a loss or other Tax item to such Taxable Year, (v) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to an amended Corporate Taxpayer Return filed for such Taxable Year or (vi) to adjust an Exchange Schedule to take into account payments made pursuant to this Agreement (any such Schedule, an “ Amended Schedule ”).  The Corporate Taxpayer shall provide an Amended Schedule to the Agent within sixty (60) calendar days of the occurrence of an event referenced in clauses (i) through (vi) of the preceding sentence and shall, at the reasonable request of the Agent, provide any other work papers relating to such Amended Schedule.  For the avoidance of doubt, in the event a Schedule is amended after such Schedule becomes final pursuant to Section 2.3(a) , the Amended Schedule shall not be taken into account in calculating any Tax Benefit Payment in the Taxable Year to which the amendment relates but instead shall be taken into account in calculating the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit for the Taxable Year in which the amendment actually occurs.

 

Section 2.4                                   Section 754 Election . In its capacity as the sole managing member of Focus LLC, the Corporate Taxpayer will ensure that, on and after the date hereof and continuing throughout the term of this Agreement, Focus LLC and all of its eligible Subsidiaries will have in effect an election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code (and under any similar provisions of applicable U.S. state or local law).

 

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ARTICLE III
TAX BENEFIT PAYMENTS

 

Section 3.1                                   Payments .

 

(a)                                Within five (5) Business Days after a Tax Benefit Payment Schedule delivered to the Agent becomes final in accordance with Section 2.3(a) , the Corporate Taxpayer shall pay to each TRA Holder the Tax Benefit Payment in respect of such TRA Holder determined pursuant to Section 3.1(b)  for such Taxable Year.  Each such payment shall be made by check, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the bank account previously designated by such TRA Holder to the Corporate Taxpayer, or as otherwise agreed by the Corporate Taxpayer and such TRA Holder.  For the avoidance of doubt, no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of estimated Tax payments, including, without limitation, U.S. federal or state estimated income Tax payments.

 

(b)                                A “ Tax Benefit Payment ” in respect of a TRA Holder for a Taxable Year means an amount, not less than zero, equal to the sum of the portion of the Net Tax Benefit Attributable to such TRA Holder and the Accrued Amount with respect thereto. The “ Net Tax Benefit ” for a 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 sum of (i) the total amount of payments previously made under this Section 3.1 (excluding payments attributable to Accrued Amounts) and (ii) the total amount of Tax Benefit Payments previously made under the corresponding provision of the PE TRA and any Post-IPO TRA; provided , for the avoidance of doubt, that no TRA Holder shall be required to return any portion of any previously made Tax Benefit Payment. Subject to Section 3.3 , the portion of the Net Tax Benefit for a Taxable Year that is “ Attributable ” to a TRA Holder is the portion of such Net Tax Benefit that is derived from (y) any Basis Adjustment that is attributable to the Common Units acquired or deemed acquired by the Corporate Taxpayer in an Exchange undertaken by or with respect to such TRA Holder or (z) any Imputed Interest with respect to Tax Benefit Payments made to such TRA Holder.  The “ Accrued Amount ” with respect to any portion of a Net Tax Benefit shall equal an amount determined in the same manner as interest on such portion of the Net Tax Benefit for a Taxable Year calculated at the Agreed Rate from the due date (without extensions) for filing the Corporate Taxpayer Return for such Taxable Year until the Payment Date.  For the avoidance of doubt, for Tax purposes, the Accrued Amount on the portion of a Net Tax Benefit relating to an Exchange shall not be treated as interest but shall instead be treated as additional consideration for the acquisition of Common Units in an Exchange unless otherwise required by law.

 

(c)                                 Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, unless a TRA Holder elects for the provisions of this Section 3.1(c)  not to apply to any Exchange by notifying the Corporate Taxpayer in writing on or before the due date for providing the Exchange Notice with respect to such Exchange (or, with respect to an IPO Sale or IPO Contribution, on or before the IPO Date), the aggregate Tax Benefit Payments to be made to such TRA Holder with respect to any Exchange shall be limited to (i) 50%, or such other percentage such TRA Holder elects to apply by notifying the Corporate Taxpayer in writing on or before the due date for providing the Exchange Notice with respect to such Exchange (or, with respect to an IPO Sale or IPO Contribution, on or before the IPO Date), of (ii) the amount equal to the sum of (A) any cash, excluding any Tax Benefit Payments, and the fair market value of any noncompensatory options

 

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received by such TRA Holder in such Exchange and (B) the aggregate Market Value of the Class A Shares received by such TRA Holder in such Exchange, provided , for the avoidance of doubt, that such amount shall not include any Imputed Interest with respect to such Exchange. An election made by a TRA Holder pursuant to this Section 3.1(c)  may not be revoked.

 

(d)                                The Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Holders hereby acknowledge that, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the date of any future Exchange that may be subject to this Agreement, the aggregate value of the Tax Benefit Payments cannot reasonably be ascertained for United States federal income tax or other applicable Tax purposes.

 

Section 3.2                                   No Duplicative Payments .  It is intended that the provisions of this Agreement will not result in duplicative payment of any amount (including interest) required under the Tax Receivable Agreements.  It is also intended that the provisions of the Tax Receivable Agreements will result in 85% of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit, and the Accrued Amount thereon, being paid to the Persons to whom payments are due pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreements.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in the appropriate manner to achieve these fundamental results.

 

Section 3.3                                   Pro Rata Payments; Coordination of Benefits with Other Tax Receivable Agreements .

 

(a)                                Notwithstanding anything in Section 3.1 to the contrary, to the extent that the aggregate amount of the Corporate Taxpayer’s tax benefit subject to the Tax Receivable Agreements is limited in a particular Taxable Year because the Corporate Taxpayer does not have sufficient taxable income to fully utilize available deductions and other attributes, the following rules shall apply:

 

(i)                                      The limitation on the tax benefit for the Corporate Taxpayer shall be allocated as follows: (A) first among any Post-IPO TRAs (and among all Persons eligible for payments thereunder in the manner set forth in such Post-IPO TRAs) and (B) to the extent of any remaining limitation on the tax benefit for the Corporate Taxpayer after the application of clause (A), to this Agreement and the PE TRA (and among all Persons eligible for payments hereunder or under the PE TRA as set forth in Section 3.3(a) (ii)).  For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 3.3(a) (i), it is intended that in calculating the Corporate Taxpayer’s tax benefit subject to the Tax Receivable Agreements, any available taxable income of the Corporate Taxpayer be first allocated to this Agreement and the PE TRA and any remaining available taxable income will then be allocated to any Post-IPO TRA.

 

(ii)                                   If any part of the limitation on the tax benefit is allocated to this Agreement and the PE TRA pursuant to Section 3.3(a) (i)(B), such allocated limitation shall be further allocated among all TRA Holders hereunder and all “TRA Holders” under the PE TRA in proportion to the respective portion of the Net Tax Benefit that would have been Attributable to each such TRA Holder in such Taxable Year under this Agreement and the PE TRA if the Corporate Taxpayer had sufficient taxable income in such Taxable Year so that there was no such limitation; provided that if any portion of the Net Tax Benefit for such Taxable Year results from the carryback of a loss or other Tax

 

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item to such Taxable Year from a later Taxable Year (for the avoidance of doubt, carrybacks of losses and other Tax items from more than one later Taxable Year shall be used in the order prescribed in the applicable rules of the Code and the Treasury Regulations), no part of the limitation shall be allocated to the tax benefits set forth on the Schedule prior to its amendment to reflect the carryback and any limitation shall instead be applied to the tax benefits carried back and such limitation shall be further allocated among all such TRA Holders in proportion to the respective portion of the Net Tax Benefit that would have been Attributable to each such TRA Holder in the Taxable Year in which such carried back losses or other Tax items arose under this Agreement and the PE TRA if the Corporate Taxpayer had sufficient taxable income in such Taxable Year so that there was no such limitation.

 

(iii)                                If any part of the limitation on the tax benefit is allocated to a TRA Holder, such allocated limitation shall first be applied to any deductions arising from Imputed Interest Attributable to such TRA Holder, and then, to the extent of any remaining limitation on the tax benefit allocated to such TRA Holder, to any deductions arising from Basis Adjustments Attributable to such TRA Holder.

 

(iv)                               To the extent any part of the limitation on the tax benefit subject to the Tax Receivable Agreements is allocated in a manner that differs from the order prescribed in the applicable rules of the Code and the Treasury Regulations regarding the utilization, or deemed utilization, of such tax benefit, appropriate adjustments, consistent with the principles of this Section 3.3(a) , shall be made in future Taxable Years to take into account such differing allocation.

 

(b)                                After taking into account Section 3.3(a) , if for any reason the Corporate Taxpayer does not fully satisfy its payment obligations to make all Tax Benefit Payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreements in respect of a particular Taxable Year, then, (i) the Corporate Taxpayer will pay the same proportion of each Tax Benefit Payment due to each Person to whom a payment is due under each of the Tax Receivable Agreements in respect of such Taxable Year, without favoring one obligation over the other, and (ii) no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of any Taxable Year until all Tax Benefit Payments under all of the Tax Receivable Agreements in respect of prior Taxable Years have been made in full.

 

(c)                                 To the extent the Corporate Taxpayer makes a payment to a TRA Holder in respect of a particular Taxable Year under Section 3.1(a)  of this Agreement (taking into account Section 3.3(a)  and Section 3.3(b) , but excluding payments attributable to Accrued Amounts) in an amount in excess of the amount of such payment that should have been made to such TRA Holder in respect of such Taxable Year, then (i) such TRA Holder shall not receive further payments under Section 3.1(a)  until such TRA Holder has foregone an amount of payments equal to such excess and (ii) the Corporate Taxpayer will pay the amount of such TRA Holder’s foregone payments to the other Persons to whom a payment is due under the Tax Receivable Agreements in a manner such that each such Person to whom a payment is due under the Tax Receivable Agreements, to the maximum extent possible, receives aggregate payments under Section 3.1(a)  or the comparable section of the other Tax Receivable Agreement(s), as applicable (in each case, taking into account Section 3.3(a)  and Section 3.3(b)  or the comparable sections of the other Tax Receivable Agreement(s), but excluding payments attributable to Accrued

 

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Amounts) in the amount it would have received if there had been no excess payment to such TRA Holder.

 

(d)                                The parties hereto agree that the parties to the PE TRA and any Post-IPO TRA are expressly made third party beneficiaries of the provisions of this Section 3.3 .

 

ARTICLE IV
TERMINATION

 

Section 4.1                                   Early Termination at Election of the Corporate Taxpayer .  The Corporate Taxpayer may terminate this Agreement at any time by paying (a) to each TRA Holder the Early Termination Payment due to such TRA Holder pursuant to Section 4.5(b)  and (b) to each “TRA Holder” under the PE TRA the “Early Termination Payment” due to such TRA Holder under the PE TRA (such termination, an “ Early Termination ”); provided that the Corporate Taxpayer may withdraw any notice of exercise of its termination rights under this Section 4.1 prior to the time at which any Early Termination Payment has been paid.  Upon payment of each Early Termination Payment to each TRA Holder by the Corporate Taxpayer, the Corporate Taxpayer shall not have any further payment obligations under this Agreement, other than for any Tax Benefit Payment previously due and payable but unpaid as of the Early Termination Notice and, except to the extent included in the Early Termination Payment, any Tax Benefit Payment due for any Taxable Year ending prior to, with or including the Early Termination Date.  Upon payment in full of all amounts provided for in this Section 4.1 , this Agreement shall terminate, provided that Article VI , Sections 7.1 through 7.10 (inclusive), and Section 7.13 shall remain in full force and effect to the extent applicable.

 

Section 4.2                                   Early Termination upon Change of Control .  In the event of a Change of Control, all payment obligations hereunder shall be accelerated and such obligations shall be calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the closing date of the Change of Control and shall include, but not be limited to the following: (a) payment of the Early Termination Payment calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the effective date of a Change of Control, (b) payment of any Tax Benefit Payment previously due and payable but unpaid as of the Early Termination Notice, and (c) except to the extent included in the Early Termination Payment or if included as a payment under clause (b) of this Section 4.2 , payment of any Tax Benefit Payment due for any Taxable Year ending prior to, with or including the effective date of a Change of Control.  In the event of a Change of Control, the Early Termination Payment shall be calculated utilizing the Valuation Assumptions and by substituting in each case the terms “the closing date of a Change of Control” for an “Early Termination Date.”

 

Section 4.3                                   Breach of Agreement .

 

(a)                                In the event that the Corporate Taxpayer breaches any of its material obligations under this Agreement or the PE TRA, whether as a result of failure to make any payment within three (3) months of the date when due, as a result of failure to honor any other material obligation required hereunder or by operation of law as a result of the rejection of this Agreement or the PE TRA in a case commenced under the United States Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, then if the Majority TRA Holders so elect, such breach shall be treated as an Early

 

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Termination hereunder.  Upon such election, all payment obligations hereunder shall be automatically accelerated and shall become due and payable in accordance with Section 4.5(a) , 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, (i) payment of the Early Termination Payment calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of a breach, (ii) payment of any Tax Benefit Payment previously due and payable but unpaid as of the date of the breach, and (iii) except to the extent included in the Early Termination Payment or if included as a payment under clause (ii) of this Section 4.3(a) , any Tax Benefit Payment due for any Taxable Year ending prior to, with or including the date of the breach.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Corporate Taxpayer breaches this Agreement, if the Majority TRA Holders do not elect to treat such breach as an Early Termination pursuant to this Section 4.3(a) , the TRA Holders shall be entitled to seek specific performance of the terms hereof.

 

(b)                                The parties agree that the failure of the Corporate Taxpayer to make any payment due pursuant to this Agreement within three (3) months of the date such payment is due shall be deemed to be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement for all purposes of this Agreement, and that it shall not be considered to be a breach of a material obligation under this Agreement to make a payment due pursuant to this Agreement within three (3) months of the date such payment is due.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, except in the case of an Early Termination Payment or any payment treated as an Early Termination Payment, it shall not be a breach of this Agreement if the Corporate Taxpayer fails to make any Tax Benefit Payment when due to the extent that the Corporate Taxpayer has insufficient funds available to make, or to the extent that the Corporate Taxpayer is contractually constrained from making, such payment in the Corporate Taxpayer’s sole discretion, exercised in good faith; provided that the interest provisions of Section 5.2 shall apply to such late payment (unless the Corporate Taxpayer does not have sufficient cash to make such payment as a result of limitations imposed by any credit agreement to which Focus LLC or any Subsidiary of Focus LLC is a party, in which case Section 5.2 shall apply, but the Default Rate shall be replaced by the Agreed Rate); provided further that it shall be a breach of this Agreement, and the provisions of Section 4.3(a)  shall apply as of the original due date of the Tax Benefit Payment, if the Corporate Taxpayer makes any distribution of cash or other property to its equity holders while any Tax Benefit Payment is due and payable but unpaid.

 

Section 4.4                                   Early Termination Notice .  If the Corporate Taxpayer chooses to exercise its right of early termination under Section 4.1 above, the Corporate Taxpayer shall deliver to the Agent notice of such intention to exercise such right (the “ Early Termination Notice ”).  Upon delivery of the Early Termination Notice or the occurrence of an event described in Section 4.2 or Section 4.3(a) , the Corporate Taxpayer shall deliver (a) a schedule showing in reasonable detail the calculation of the Early Termination Payment (the “ Early Termination Schedule ”) and (b) any other work papers related to the calculation of the Early Termination Payment reasonably requested by the Agent.  In addition, the Corporate Taxpayer shall allow the Agent reasonable access at no cost to the appropriate representatives of the Corporate Taxpayer in connection with a review of such Early Termination Schedule; provided that, in the event of a dispute governed by Section 7.9 or Section 7.10 , any such costs shall be borne as set forth in such sections.  The Early Termination Schedule shall become final and binding on all parties thirty (30) calendar days from the first date on which the Agent has received such Schedule or amendment thereto

 

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unless (x) the Agent, within thirty (30) calendar days after receiving the Early Termination Schedule, provides the Corporate Taxpayer with notice of a material objection to such Schedule made in good faith (“ Material Objection Notice ”) or (y) the Agent provides a written waiver of such right of a Material Objection Notice within the period described in clause (x) above, in which case such Schedule becomes binding on the date waivers from the Agent has been received by the Corporate Taxpayer (the “ Early Termination Effective Date ”).  If the Corporate Taxpayer and the Agent, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve the issues raised in such notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporate Taxpayer of the Material Objection Notice, the Corporate Taxpayer and the Agent shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures under Section 7.10 or Resolution of Disputes procedures under Section 7.9 , as applicable.

 

Section 4.5                                   Payment upon Early Termination .

 

(a)                                Subject to its right to withdraw any notice of Early Termination pursuant to Section 4.1 , within three (3) Business Days after the Early Termination Effective Date, the Corporate Taxpayer shall pay to each TRA Holder its Early Termination Payment.  Each such payment shall be made by check, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account or accounts designated by the TRA Holder, or as otherwise agreed by the Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Holder.

 

(b)                                A TRA Holder’s “ Early Termination Payment ” as of the Early Termination Date shall equal, with respect to such TRA Holder, the present value, discounted at the Early Termination Rate as of the Early Termination Date, of all Tax Benefit Payments that would be required to be paid by the Corporate Taxpayer to such TRA Holder beginning from the Early Termination Date and assuming that the Valuation Assumptions are applied.

 

ARTICLE V
SUBORDINATION AND LATE PAYMENTS

 

Section 5.1                                   Subordination .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any payment due under this Agreement shall rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to any principal, interest or other amounts due and payable in respect of any obligations in respect of indebtedness for borrowed money of the Corporate Taxpayer (such obligations, “ Senior Obligations ”) and shall rank pari passu with all current or future unsecured obligations of the Corporate Taxpayer that are not Senior Obligations.  For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding the above, the determination of whether it is a breach of this Agreement if the Corporate Taxpayer fails to make any Tax Benefit Payment or other payment under this Agreement when due is governed by Section 4.3(b) . To the extent that any payment due under this Agreement is not permitted to be made at the time such payment is due as a result of this Section 5.1 and the terms of the agreements governing Senior Obligations, such payment obligation nevertheless shall accrue for the benefit of the TRA Holders, and the Corporate Taxpayer shall make such payments at the first opportunity that such payments are permitted to be made in accordance with the terms of the Senior Obligations.

 

Section 5.2                                   Late Payments by the Corporate Taxpayer .  The amount of all or any portion of any Tax Benefit Payment, Early Termination Payment or any other payment under

 

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this Agreement not made to any TRA Holder when due under the terms of this Agreement, whether as a result of Section 5.1 and the terms of the Senior Obligations or otherwise, shall be payable together with any interest thereon, computed at the Default Rate (or, if so provided in Section 4.3(b) , at the Agreed Rate) and commencing from the date on which such Tax Benefit Payment, Early Termination Payment or any other payment under this Agreement was due and payable.

 

ARTICLE VI
NO DISPUTES; CONSISTENCY; COOPERATION

 

Section 6.1                                   Participation in the Corporate Taxpayer’s and Focus LLC’s Tax Matters .  Except as otherwise provided herein or in the Focus LLC Agreement, the Corporate Taxpayer shall have full responsibility for, and sole discretion over, all Tax matters concerning the Corporate Taxpayer and Focus LLC, including without limitation preparing, filing or amending any Tax Return and defending, contesting or settling any issue pertaining to Taxes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporate Taxpayer (a) shall notify the Agent of, and keep the Agent reasonably informed with respect to, the portion of any audit, examination, or any other administrative or judicial proceeding (a “ Tax Proceeding ”) of the Corporate Taxpayer or Focus LLC by a Taxing Authority the outcome of which is reasonably expected to affect the rights and obligations of the TRA Holders under this Agreement, and (b) shall provide the Agent with reasonable opportunity to provide information and other input to the Corporate Taxpayer, Focus LLC and their respective advisors concerning the conduct of any such portion of a Tax Proceeding; provided , however, that nothing in this Section 6.1 shall be construed as requiring or preventing either of the Corporate Taxpayer and Focus LLC from taking or refraining to take any action that is inconsistent with, or otherwise provided for under, any provision of the Focus LLC Agreement.

 

Section 6.2                                   Consistency .  Unless there is a Determination or written opinion, reasonably acceptable to the Corporate Taxpayer and Focus LLC, of legal counsel or a nationally recognized tax advisor to the contrary, the Corporate Taxpayer and each of the TRA Holders agree to report, and to cause their respective Subsidiaries to report, for all purposes (including U.S. federal, state and local Tax purposes), all Tax-related items (including, without limitation, the Basis Adjustments and each Tax Benefit Payment) in a manner consistent with the description of any Tax characterization herein (including as set forth in Section 2.2(b)  and Section 3.1(a)  and any Schedule required to be provided by or on behalf of the Corporate Taxpayer under this Agreement, as finally determined pursuant to Section 2.3 ).  If the Corporate Taxpayer and any TRA Holder, for any reason, are unable to successfully resolve any disagreement concerning such treatment within thirty (30) calendar days, the Corporate Taxpayer and such TRA Holder shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures under Section 7.10 or Resolution of Disputes procedures under Section 7.9 , as applicable.

 

Section 6.3                                   Cooperation .  Each TRA Holder shall (a) furnish to the Corporate Taxpayer in a timely manner such information, documents and other materials as the Corporate Taxpayer 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 Tax Proceeding, (b) make itself reasonably available to the Corporate Taxpayer and its representatives to provide explanations of documents and materials and such other

 

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information as the Corporate Taxpayer 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.  The Corporate Taxpayer shall reimburse each TRA Holder for any reasonable third-party costs and expenses incurred pursuant to this Section 6.3 .

 

Section 6.4                                   Tax Proceedings . The Corporate Taxpayer shall use reasonable efforts (for the avoidance of doubt, taking into account the interests and entitlements of all TRA Holders, the Corporate Taxpayer and Focus LLC) to defend the Tax treatment contemplated by this Agreement and any Schedule in any audit, contest or similar proceeding with any Taxing Authority.

 

ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 7.1                                   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 Corporate Taxpayer, to:

 

Focus Financial Partners Inc.

825 Third Avenue, 27 th  Floor

New York, NY 10022
Attention:  Chief Financial Officer

 

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

 

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
666 Fifth Avenue, 26th Floor

New York, NY 10103-0040
Telephone: (212) 237-0000
Attention: Robert Seber

 

If to the Agent, to:

 

Focus Financial Partners Inc.
825 Third Avenue, 27
th  Floor
New York, NY 10022
Attention: Ruediger Adolf

 

If to a TRA Holder, other than an Agent, that is or was a partner in Focus LLC, to:

 

The address set forth in the records of Focus LLC.

 

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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.

 

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

 

Section 7.3                                   Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries .  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in Section 3.3 .

 

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

 

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

 

Section 7.6                                   Successors; Assignment .

 

(a)                                No TRA Holder may assign this Agreement to any Person without the prior written consent of the Corporate Taxpayer; provided , however, that:

 

(i)                                      to the extent Units are transferred in accordance with the terms of the Focus LLC Agreement (except pursuant to the Exchange Right or the Call Right), the transferring TRA Holder shall assign to the transferee of such Units the transferring TRA Holder’s rights under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Units, and such transferee shall execute and deliver a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Corporate Taxpayer, agreeing to become a “TRA Holder” for all purposes of this Agreement, and

 

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(ii)                                   the right to receive any and all payments payable or that may become payable to a TRA Holder pursuant to this Agreement that, once an Exchange has occurred, arise with respect to the Units transferred in such Exchange, may be assigned to any Person or Persons without the prior written consent of the Corporate Taxpayer as long as any such Person has executed and delivered, or, in connection with such assignment, executes and delivers, a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Corporate Taxpayer, agreeing to be bound by Section 7.13 .

 

For the avoidance of doubt, the parties acknowledge that an assignment of rights pursuant to this Section 7.6(a)  is not expected to affect the U.S. federal income (or applicable state and local) Tax characterization by the Corporate Taxpayer of payments made under this Agreement.

 

(b)                                The Person designated as the Agent for the TRA Holders may not be changed without the prior written consent of the Corporate Taxpayer and the Majority TRA Holders.

 

(c)                                 Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives.  The Corporate Taxpayer shall 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 Corporate Taxpayer, by written agreement, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporate Taxpayer would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

Section 7.7                                   Amendments; Waivers .  No provision of this Agreement may be amended in a manner that materially affects the substantive rights of any TRA Holder hereunder unless such amendment is approved in writing by each of the Corporate Taxpayer and the Majority TRA Holders; provided , however, that no such amendment shall be effective if such amendment would have a materially disproportionate effect on the payments certain TRA Holders will or may receive under this Agreement unless a majority of such disproportionately affected TRA Holders (as determined in the same manner as the Majority TRA Holders would be determined if such disproportionately affected TRA Holders were the only TRA Holders) consent in writing to such amendment.

 

Section 7.8                                   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 7.9                                   Resolution of Disputes .

 

(a)                                Any and all disputes which are not governed by Section 7.10 , including any ancillary claims of any party, arising out of, relating to or in connection with the validity, negotiation, execution, interpretation, performance or non-performance of this Agreement (including the validity, scope and enforceability of this Section 7.9 and Section 7.10 ) (each a “ Dispute ”) shall be governed by this Section 7.9 .  The parties hereto shall attempt in good faith to resolve all Disputes by negotiation.  If a Dispute between the parties hereto cannot be resolved in such manner, such Dispute shall be finally settled by arbitration conducted by a single

 

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arbitrator in accordance with the then-existing rules of arbitration of the American Arbitration Association. 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 American Arbitration Association shall make the appointment. The arbitrator shall be a lawyer admitted to the practice of law in a U.S. state, or a nationally recognized expert in the relevant subject matter, 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 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 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.  The parties involved in any Dispute shall each bear their own costs and expenses of such Dispute unless, in the event of an arbitration, otherwise determined by the arbitrator in accordance with the then-existing rules of arbitration of the American Arbitration Association.

 

(b)                                Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.9(a) , the Corporate Taxpayer 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 Section 7.9(b) , the Agent and each TRA Holder (i) expressly consents to the application of Section 7.9(c)  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 Corporate Taxpayer as agent of such party 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 party in writing of any such service of process, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon such party in any such action or proceeding.

 

(c)                                 EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF COURTS LOCATED IN NEW YORK FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION 7.9 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 forum designated by this Section 7.9(c)  have a reasonable relation to this Agreement, and to the parties’ relationship with one another.

 

(d)                                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 Section 7.9(c)  and such parties agree not to plead or claim the same.

 

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Section 7.10                            Reconciliation .  In the event that the Agent or any TRA Holder (as applicable, the “ Disputing Party ”) and the Corporate Taxpayer are unable to resolve a disagreement with respect to the calculations required to produce the schedules described in Section 2.3 , Section 4.4 and Section 6.2 (but not, for the avoidance doubt, with respect to any legal interpretation with respect to such provisions or schedules) within the relevant period designated in this Agreement (“ Reconciliation Dispute ”), the Reconciliation Dispute shall be submitted for determination to the Expert.  The Expert shall be a partner or principal in a nationally recognized accounting or law firm, and unless the Corporate Taxpayer and the Disputing Party agree otherwise, the Expert shall not, and the firm that employs the Expert shall not, have any material relationship with the Corporate Taxpayer or the Disputing Party or other actual or potential conflict of interest.  If the parties are unable to agree on an Expert within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt by the respondent(s) of written notice of a Reconciliation Dispute, the Expert shall be appointed by the American Arbitration Association.  The Expert shall resolve (a) any matter relating to the Exchange Schedule or an amendment thereto or the Early Termination Schedule or an amendment thereto within thirty (30) calendar days, (b) any matter relating to a Tax Benefit Payment Schedule or an amendment thereto within fifteen (15) calendar days, and (c) any matter related to treatment of any tax-related item as contemplated in Section 6.2 within fifteen (15) calendar days, or, in each case, as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable after such 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, any portion of such payment that is not under dispute shall be paid on the date prescribed by this Agreement and such Tax Return may be filed as prepared by the Corporate Taxpayer, 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 Corporate Taxpayer except as provided in the next sentence.  The Corporate Taxpayer and the Disputing Party shall each bear its own costs and expenses of such proceeding, unless (i) the Expert adopts such Disputing Party’s position, in which case the Corporate Taxpayer shall reimburse such Disputing Party for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding, or (ii) the Expert adopts the Corporate Taxpayer’s position, in which case such Disputing Party shall reimburse the Corporate Taxpayer 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 7.10 shall be decided by the Expert.  The Expert shall finally determine any Reconciliation Dispute and the determinations of the Expert pursuant to this Section 7.10 shall be binding on the Corporate Taxpayer and its Subsidiaries and the Disputing Party and may be entered and enforced in any court having jurisdiction.

 

Section 7.11                            Withholding .  The Corporate Taxpayer shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any payment payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as the Corporate Taxpayer is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code or any provision of U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. tax law.  To the extent that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authority by the Corporate Taxpayer, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the relevant TRA Holder.  Upon a TRA Holder’s request, the Corporate Taxpayer shall provide evidence of any such payment to such TRA Holder.  Each TRA Holder shall furnish to the Corporate Taxpayer in a timely manner such statements, certifications or other information reasonably requested by the Corporate Taxpayer for purposes of determining the

 

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extent to which any payments hereunder are subject to withholding or deduction. The Corporate Taxpayer and the TRA Holders shall reasonably cooperate to reduce or eliminate any withholding or deduction from any payment made pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Section 7.12                            Status of Corporate Taxpayer as a Member of a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets .

 

(a)                                If the Corporate Taxpayer is or 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, then: (i) the provisions of this Agreement shall be applied with respect to the group as a whole; and (ii) Tax Benefit Payments, Early Termination Payments and other applicable items hereunder shall be computed with reference to the consolidated taxable income of the group as a whole.

 

(b)                                If the Corporate Taxpayer (or any other entity that is obligated to make a Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment hereunder), Focus LLC or any of Focus LLC’s direct or indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes (but only to the extent such Subsidiaries are not held through any entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) (a “ Transferor ”) transfers one or more Reference Assets to a corporation (or a Person classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) with which the Transferor does not file a consolidated Tax Return pursuant to Section 1501 of the Code, the Transferor, for purposes of calculating the amount of any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination 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 Reference Assets in a fully taxable transaction on the date of such contribution.  The consideration deemed to be received by the Transferor shall be equal to the fair market value of the transferred Reference Assets, plus, without duplication, (i) the amount of debt to which any such Reference Asset is subject, in the case of a transfer of an encumbered Reference Asset or (ii) the amount of debt allocated to any such Reference Asset, in the case of a contribution of a partnership interest. For purposes of this Section 7.12(b) , a transfer of a partnership interest shall be treated as a transfer of the Transferor’s share of each of the assets and liabilities of that partnership.

 

Section 7.13                            Confidentiality .

 

(a)                                The Agent and each of its assignees and each TRA Holder and each of such TRA Holder’s assignees acknowledges and agrees that the information of the Corporate Taxpayer is confidential and, except in the course of performing any duties as necessary for the Corporate Taxpayer 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 Corporate Taxpayer and its Affiliates and successors, concerning Focus LLC and its Affiliates and successors or the TRA Holders, learned by the Agent or any TRA Holder heretofore or hereafter.  This Section 7.13 shall not apply to (i) any information that has been made publicly available by the Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Affiliates, becomes public knowledge (except as a result of an act of an Agent or a TRA Holder in violation of this Agreement) or is generally known to the business community and (ii) the disclosure of information (A) as may be proper in the course of

 

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performing the Agent’s or a TRA Holder’s obligations, or monitoring or enforcing a TRA Holder’s rights, under this Agreement, (B) as part of a TRA Holder’s normal reporting, rating or review procedure (including normal credit rating and pricing process), or in connection with a TRA Holder’s or such TRA Holder’s Affiliates’ normal fund raising, financing, marketing, informational or reporting activities, or to a TRA Holder’s (or any of its Affiliates’) or its direct or indirect owners or Affiliates, auditors, accountants, employees, attorneys or other agents, (C) to any bona fide prospective assignee of a TRA Holder’s rights under this Agreement, or prospective merger or other business combination partner of a TRA Holder, provided that such assignee or merger partner agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section 7.13 , (D) as is required to be disclosed by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, administrative body or governmental body, or by subpoena, summons or legal process, or by law, rule or regulation; provided that any TRA Holder required to make any such disclosure to the extent legally permissible shall provide the Corporate Taxpayer prompt notice of such disclosure, or to regulatory authorities or similar examiners conducting regulatory reviews or examinations (without any such notice to the Corporate Taxpayer), or (E) to the extent necessary for a TRA Holder or its direct or indirect owners to prepare and file its Tax Returns, to respond to any inquiries regarding such Tax Returns from any Taxing Authority or to prosecute or defend any Tax Proceeding with respect to such Tax Returns.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Agent (and each employee, representative or other agent of such Agent or its assignees, as applicable) and each TRA Holder and each of its assignees (and each employee, representative or other agent of such TRA Holder or its assignees, as applicable) may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the Tax treatment and Tax structure of the Corporate Taxpayer, Focus LLC, the Agent, the TRA Holders 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 Agent or any TRA Holder relating to such Tax treatment and Tax structure.

 

(b)                                If an Agent or an assignee or a TRA Holder or an assignee commits a breach, or threatens to commit a breach, of any of the provisions of this Section 7.13 , the Corporate Taxpayer shall have the right and remedy to have the provisions of this Section 7.13 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 Corporate Taxpayer or any of its Subsidiaries or the TRA Holders and the accounts and funds managed by the Corporate Taxpayer and that money damages alone shall not provide an adequate remedy to such Persons.  Such rights and remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available at law or in equity.

 

Section 7.14                            No More Favorable Terms .  None of the Corporate Taxpayer nor any of its Subsidiaries shall enter into any additional agreement providing rights similar to this Agreement to any Person (including any agreement pursuant to which the Corporate Taxpayer is obligated to pay amounts with respect to tax benefits resulting from any increases in Tax basis or other tax attributes to which the Corporate Taxpayer becomes entitled as a result of a transaction) if such agreement provides terms  that are more favorable to the counterparty under such agreement than those provided to the TRA Holders under this Agreement; provided , however, that the Corporate Taxpayer (or any of its Subsidiaries) may enter into such an agreement if this Agreement is amended to make such more favorable terms available to the TRA Holders.

 

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Section 7.15                            Parity with PE TRA . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, (a) no amendment may be made to the PE TRA unless a substantially similar amendment is offered by the Corporate Taxpayer to be made to this Agreement, (b) any and all copies of amendments and waivers to the PE TRA must be provided to the Agent, and (c) all documentation delivered by the Corporate Taxpayer to the Agent hereunder and each “Agent” under the PE TRA must be substantially the same.

 

Section 7.16                            Certain Terminations by a TRA Holder . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if, in connection with an actual or proposed change in law, a TRA Holder reasonably believes that the existence of this Agreement (a) could cause income (other than income arising from receipt of a payment under this Agreement) recognized by such TRA Holder upon any Exchange that as of the date of this Agreement would be treated as capital gain to instead to be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain (or otherwise taxed at ordinary income rates) for U.S. federal income tax purposes or (b) would have other material adverse tax consequences to such TRA Holder and/or its direct or indirect owners, then, in either case, at the election of such TRA Holder and to the extent specified by such TRA Holder, this Agreement (i)  shall not apply to an Exchange by such TRA Holder occurring after a date specified by it or (ii) shall otherwise be amended in a manner determined by such TRA Holder to waive any benefits to which such TRA Holder would otherwise be entitled under this Agreement, provided that such amendment shall not result in an increase in or acceleration of payments under this Agreement at any time as compared to the amounts and times of payments that would have been due in the absence of such amendment.  Further, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any TRA Holder may, at any time, elect for this Agreement to cease to have further effect in its entirety with respect to such TRA Holder, and the Corporate Taxpayer shall cease to have any further obligations in respect of such TRA Holder, in each case from and after the date specified by such TRA Holder.

 

Section 7.17                            Independent Nature of Members’ Rights and Obligations . The obligations of each TRA Holder hereunder are several and not joint with the obligations of any other TRA Holder, and no TRA Holder shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other TRA Holder hereunder. The decision of each TRA Holder to enter into this Agreement has been made by such TRA Holder independently of any other TRA Holder. Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any TRA Holder pursuant hereto, shall be deemed to constitute the TRA Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the TRA Holders are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby and the Corporate Taxpayer acknowledges that the TRA Holders are not acting in concert or as a group, and the Corporate Taxpayer will not assert any such claim, with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporate Taxpayer, the TRA Holders, and the Agent have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

CORPORATE TAXPAYER:

 

 

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ruediger Adolf

 

 

Name:

Ruediger Adolf

 

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 



 

 

AGENT:

 

 

 

RUEDIGER ADOLF

 

 

 

/s/ Ruediger Adolf

 

Ruediger Adolf

 

[The signatures of the TRA Holders are attached in Schedule A.]

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 



 

SCHEDULE A

 

THE TRA HOLDERS PARTY TO TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 

TRA Holder

Signature

 

SCHEDULE A TO

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 


Exhibit 10.4

 

Focus Financial Partners Inc.

 

2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan

 

1.                                       Purpose .  The purpose of the Focus Financial Partners Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan (this “ Plan ”) is to provide a means through which Focus Financial Partners Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), may attract and retain able Persons as employees, directors and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries and to provide a means whereby those Persons can acquire and maintain stock ownership, or awards the value of which is tied to the performance of the Company, thereby strengthening their concern for the welfare of the Company.  A further purpose of this Plan is to provide such employees, directors and consultants with additional incentive and reward opportunities designed to enhance the profitable growth of the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

2.                                       Definitions .  For purposes of this Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below, in addition to such terms defined in Section 1 hereof:

 

(a)                                  ASC Topic 718 ” means the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation, as amended or any successor accounting standard.

 

(b)                                  Award ” means any Option, SAR, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Stock Award, Dividend Equivalent, Cash Award, Other Security-Based Award, Performance Award, Focus LLC Award, together with any other right or interest granted to a Participant under this Plan.

 

(c)                                   Award Agreement ” means any written instrument (including any employment, severance or change in control agreement) that establishes the terms, conditions, restrictions and/or limitations applicable to an Award in addition to those established by this Plan and by the Committee’s exercise of its administrative powers.

 

(d)                                  Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(e)                                   Cash Award ” means an Award denominated in cash granted under Section 6(l) of the Plan.

 

(f)                                    Change in Control ” means, except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, with respect to either the Company or Focus LLC, as applicable, the occurrence of any of the following events or series of related events after the Effective Date:

 

(i)                                      Another Person is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company or Focus LLC, as applicable, representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of such entity’s then outstanding voting securities;

 

(ii)                                   There is consummated a merger or consolidation of either the Company or Focus LLC with any other entity, and, immediately after the consummation of such merger or consolidation, the voting securities of the Company or Focus LLC, as applicable,

 

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immediately prior to such merger or consolidation do not continue to represent or are not converted into more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the entity resulting from such merger or consolidation or, if the surviving company is a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof; or

 

(iii)                                the equity holders of either the Company or Focus LLC, as applicable, approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the entity or there is consummated an agreement or series of related agreements for the sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by the Company or Focus LLC, as applicable, of all or substantially all of that entity’s assets, other than such sale or other disposition by the Company or Focus LLC, as applicable, of all or substantially all of the entity’s assets to an entity, at least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by equity holders of the Company or Focus LLC, as applicable, in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the entity immediately prior to such sale.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except with respect to clause (ii) above, a “Change in Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the voting power of the Company or Focus LLC, as applicable, immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in, and own substantially all of the shares of, an entity which owns, either directly or through a subsidiary, all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or Focus LLC, as applicable, immediately following such transaction or series of transactions. Further, with respect to any Award that is subject to the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules, a “Change in Control” shall not occur unless that Change in Control also constitutes a “change in the ownership of a corporation,” a “change in the effective control of a corporation,” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of a corporation’s assets,” in each case, within the meaning of 1.409A-3(i)(5) of the regulations promulgated under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.

 

(g)                                   Change in Control Price ” means the amount determined in the following clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v), whichever the Committee determines is applicable, as follows: (i) the price per share offered to holders of Stock in any merger or consolidation, (ii) the per share Fair Market Value of the Stock immediately before the Change in Control or other event without regard to assets sold in the Change in Control or other event and assuming the Company has received the consideration paid for the assets in the case of a sale of the assets, (iii) the amount distributed per share of Stock in a dissolution transaction, (iv) the price per share offered to holders of Stock in any tender offer or exchange offer whereby a Change in Control or other event takes place, or (v) if such Change in Control or other event occurs other than pursuant to a transaction described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this Section 2(g), the value per share of the Stock that may otherwise be obtained with respect to such Awards or to which such Awards track, as determined by the Committee as of the date determined by the Committee to be the date of cancellation and surrender of such Awards. In the event that the consideration offered to stockholders of the Company in any transaction described in this Section 2(g) or in Section 8(d) consists of anything other than cash, the Committee shall determine the fair cash equivalent of the portion of the consideration offered which is other than cash and such determination shall be binding on all affected Participants to the extent applicable to Awards held by such Participants.

 

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(h)                                  Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including regulations thereunder and successor provisions and regulations thereto.

 

(i)                                      Committee ” means the compensation committee, or any committee of two or more directors designated by the Board to administer this Plan; provided , however , that, unless otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee shall consist solely of two or more directors, each of whom shall be a Qualified Member.

 

(j)                                     Dividend Equivalent ” means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(g), to receive cash, Stock, other Awards or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Stock, or other periodic payments.

 

(k)                                  Effective Date ” means July 30, 2018.

 

(l)                                      Eligible Person ” means each non-employee director of the Company, all employees and consultants of the Company and each Company subsidiary, principals of management companies of subsidiary entities, and employees of an affiliate of the Company that provides services to or for the benefit of the Company; provided , however , that any Eligible Person that may receive Stock as a settlement of his or her Award must be eligible to receive Stock covered by a Form S-8 registration statement that has registered the Stock to be issued pursuant to this Plan. An employee on leave of absence may be considered as still in the employ of the Company or an applicable subsidiary for purposes of eligibility for participation in this Plan.

 

(m)                              Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, including rules thereunder and successor provisions and rules thereto.

 

(n)                                  Fair Market Value ” means, (i) with respect to Stock, as of any specified date, (A) if the Stock is listed on a national securities exchange, the closing sales price of the Stock, as reported on the stock exchange composite tape on the last date on which such sales of Stock have been reported immediately preceding the date of determination; (B) if the Stock is not traded on a national securities exchange but is traded over the counter at the time a determination of its fair market value is required to be made under the Plan, the average between the reported high and low bid and asked prices of Stock on the most recent date on which Stock was publicly traded; or (C) in the event Stock is not publicly traded at the time a determination of its value is required to be made under the Plan, the amount determined by the Committee in its discretion in such manner as it deems appropriate, taking into account all factors the Committee deems appropriate including, without limitation, the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules, or (ii) with respect to Focus LLC Units, as determined by the Committee in good faith and in accordance with any applicable provisions of the LLC Agreement.

 

(o)                                  Focus LLC ” means Focus Financial Partners, LLC.

 

(p)                                  Focus LLC Award ” means any award described in Section 6(h) hereof.

 

(q)                                  Focus LLC Common Unit Award ” means an award described in Section 6(h)(i) hereof.

 

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(r)                                     Focus LLC Incentive Unit ” means an award described in Section 6(h)(ii) hereof.

 

(s)                                    Focus LLC Unit ” means a “Unit” of Focus LLC as defined within the LLC Agreement.

 

(t)                                     Incentive Stock Option ” or “ ISO ” means any Option intended to be and designated as an incentive stock option within the meaning of section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.

 

(u)                                  LLC Agreement ” means that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Focus LLC dated as of July 30 2018, as amended from time to time.

 

(v)                                  Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules ” means the limitations or requirements of section 409A of the Code, as amended from time to time, including the guidance and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(w)                                Nonstatutory Stock Option ” means any Option that is not intended to be an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of section 422 of the Code.

 

(x)                                  Option ” means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(b) hereof, to purchase Stock or other Awards at a specified price during specified time periods.

 

(y)                                  Other Security-Based Awards ” means Awards granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(i) hereof.

 

(z)                                   Participant ” means a Person who has been granted an Award under this Plan which remains outstanding, including a Person who is no longer an Eligible Person.

 

(aa)                           Performance Award ” means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(k) hereof, to receive Awards based upon performance criteria specified by the Committee.

 

(bb)                           Person ” any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity, as well as any syndicate or group that would be deemed to be a person under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

 

(cc)                             Qualified Member ” means a member of the Committee who is (i) a “nonemployee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3), and (ii) “independent” under the listing standards or rules of the securities exchange upon which the Stock is traded, but only to the extent such independence is required in order to take the action at issue pursuant to such standards or rules.

 

(dd)                           Restricted Stock ” means Stock granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(d) hereof, that is subject to certain restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture.

 

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(ee)                             Restricted Stock Unit ” means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(e) hereof, to receive Stock, cash or a combination thereof at the end of a specified deferral period (which may or may not be coterminous with the vesting schedule of the Award).

 

(ff)                               Rule 16b-3 ” means Rule 16b-3, promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under section 16 of the Exchange Act, as from time to time in effect and applicable to this Plan and Participants.

 

(gg)                             Security ” or “ Securities ” shall mean shares of Stock or Focus LLC Units, as applicable.

 

(hh)                           Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any successor law, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

(ii)                                   Stock ” means the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and such other securities as may be substituted (or re-substituted) for Stock pursuant to Section 6(j) or Section 8 hereof.

 

(jj)                                 Stock Appreciation Rights ” or “ SAR ” means a right granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(c) hereof.

 

(kk)                           Stock Award ” means unrestricted shares of Stock granted to an Eligible Person under Section 6(f) hereof.

 

(ll)                                   Substitute Award ” means an Award granted under Section 6(j) hereof in substitution for a similar award as a result of certain business transactions.

 

3.                                       Administration .

 

(a)                                  Authority of the Committee .  This Plan shall be administered by the Committee.  Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, Rule 16b-3 and other applicable laws, the Committee shall have the authority, in its sole and absolute discretion, to (i) adopt, amend, and rescind administrative and interpretive rules and regulations relating to the Plan; (ii) determine the Eligible Persons to whom, and the time at which, Awards shall be granted; (iii) determine the amount of cash and/or the number of Securities, as applicable, that shall be the subject of each Award; (iv) determine the terms and provisions of each Award agreement (which need not be identical between recipients); (v) accelerate the time of vesting or exercisability of any Award that has been granted; (vi) construe the respective Award agreements and the Plan; (vii) make determinations of the Fair Market Value of the Securities pursuant to the Plan; (viii) delegate its duties under the Plan (including, but not limited to, the authority to grant Awards) to such agents as it may appoint from time to time, provided that the Committee may not delegate its duties where such delegation would violate state corporate law, or with respect to making Awards to, or otherwise with respect to Awards granted to, Eligible Persons who are subject to section 16(b) of the Exchange Act; (ix) subject to Section 9(c), terminate, modify or amend the Plan; (x) adopt sub-plans, policies or procedures that are consistent with this Plan; and (xi) make all other determinations, perform all other acts, and exercise all other powers and authority necessary or advisable for administering the Plan.  Subject to Rule 16b-3 and the

 

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Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules, the Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan, in any Award, or in any Award agreement in the manner and to the extent it deems necessary or desirable to carry the Plan into effect, and the Committee shall be the sole and final judge of that necessity or desirability.

 

(b)                                  Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority .  Any action of the Committee pursuant to the Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding on all Persons, including the Company, stockholders, Participants, beneficiaries, and transferees under Section 9(a) hereof or other Persons claiming rights from or through a Participant.  The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee.  The Committee may appoint agents to assist it in administering the Plan.

 

(c)                                   Delegation of Authority .  The Committee may delegate any or all of its powers and duties under the Plan to any officer of the Company that is also a member of the Board (in their capacity as a member of the Board), subject to such terms as the Committee shall determine, to perform such functions, including administrative functions and the power to grant Awards under the Plan, as the Committee may determine, to the extent that such delegation will not (i) violate state or corporate law, or (ii) result in the loss of an exemption under Rule 16b-3(d)(1) for Awards granted to Participants subject to section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company.  An officer to whom such powers are delegated may not grant Awards to himself or herself, a member of the Board, or any executive officer of the Company, or take any action with respect to any Award previously granted to himself or herself, a member of the Board, or an individual who is an executive officer of the Company. The Committee may also appoint agents to assist it in administering the Plan that are not executive officers of the Company and members of the Board, provided that such individuals may not be delegated the authority to grant or modify any Awards that will, or may, be settled in Stock.

 

(d)                                  Limitation of Liability .  The Committee and each member thereof shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him or her by any officer or employee of the Company, the Company’s legal counsel, independent auditors, consultants or any other agents assisting in the administration of this Plan.  Members of the Committee and any officer or employee of the Company acting at the direction or on behalf of the Committee shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to this Plan, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be indemnified and held harmless by the Company with respect to any such action or determination.

 

4.                                       Securities Subject to Plan .

 

(a)                                  Overall Number of Securities Available for Delivery .  Subject to any adjustment made pursuant to Section 8, the total number of Securities reserved and available for issuance in connection with Awards granted under this Plan following the Effective Date shall not exceed 6,000,000, and such total will be available for the issuance of Incentive Stock Options and Focus LLC Incentive Units. This total includes (a) an initial authorization of 6,000,000 Securities, plus (b) an annual increase on the first day of each fiscal year beginning in 2019 and ending in 2028, in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 3,000,000 Securities, (ii) 5% of the

 

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outstanding (vested or unvested) Securities on the last day of the immediately preceding year or (iii) an amount determined by the Board.

 

(b)                                  Application of Limitation to Grants of Awards .  No Award may be granted if the number of Securities to be delivered in connection with such Award exceeds the number of Securities remaining available under this Plan minus the number of Securities issuable in settlement of or relating to then-outstanding Awards.  The Committee may adopt reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting (as, for example, in the case of tandem or substitute awards or awards converted) and make adjustments if the number of Securities actually delivered differs from the number of shares previously counted in connection with an Award.

 

(c)                                   Availability of Shares Not Issued under Awards .  Securities subject to an Award under this Plan that expire, are canceled, forfeited, exchanged, settled in cash or otherwise terminated without the delivery of actual shares including (i) shares forfeited with respect to Restricted Stock, (ii) the number of shares withheld in payment of any exercise or purchase price of an Award or taxes relating to Awards, and (iii) the number of shares surrendered in payment of any exercise or purchase price of an Award or taxes relating to any Award, will again be available for Awards under this Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, shares repurchased on the open market with the proceeds of an Option’s Exercise Price, will not, in each case, be available for Awards under this Plan.

 

(d)                                  Shares Available Following Certain Transactions . Substitute Awards granted in accordance with applicable stock exchange requirements and in substitution or exchange for awards previously granted by a company acquired by the Company or any subsidiary or with which the Company or any subsidiary combines shall not reduce the shares authorized for issuance under the Plan, nor shall shares subject to such Substitute Awards be added to the shares available for issuance under the Plan as provided above (whether or not such Substitute Awards are later cancelled, forfeited or otherwise terminated). Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or any subsidiary or with which the Company or any subsidiary combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may, if and to the extent determined by the Board and subject to compliance with applicable stock exchange requirements, be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the shares authorized for issuance under the Plan (and shares subject to such Awards shall not be added to the shares available for issuance under the Plan as provided above); provided that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not, prior to such acquisition or combination, employed by (and who were not non-employee directors or consultants of) the Company or any of its subsidiaries immediately prior to such acquisition or combination.

 

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(e)                                   Securities Offered .  The shares of Stock to be delivered under the Plan shall be made available from (i) authorized but unissued shares of Stock, (ii) Stock held in the treasury of the Company, or (iii) previously issued shares of Stock reacquired by the Company, including shares purchased on the open market. Focus LLC Units shall be delivered, if applicable, in accordance with the LLC Agreement.

 

5.                                       Eligibility .  Awards may be granted under this Plan only to Persons who are Eligible Persons at the time of grant thereof.

 

6.                                       Specific Terms of Awards .

 

(a)                                  General .  Awards may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 6.  In addition, the Committee may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, at the date of grant pursuant to the applicable Award agreement or thereafter (subject to Section 9(c)), such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Plan, as the Committee shall determine.

 

(b)                                  Options .  The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Eligible Persons, which may be designated as either ISOs or Nonstatutory Stock Options, on the following terms and conditions:

 

(i)                                      Exercise Price .  Each Option agreement shall state the exercise price per share of Stock (the “ Exercise Price ”); provided , however , that the Exercise Price per share of Stock shall not be less than the greater of (A) the par value per share of the Stock, or (B) 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock as of the date of grant of the Option (or in the case of an ISO granted to an individual who owns stock possessing more than 10 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or its parent or any subsidiary, 110% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock on the date of grant).

 

(ii)                                   Time and Method of Exercise .  The Committee shall determine the time or times at which or the circumstances under which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements or automatically immediately before they would otherwise expire), the methods by which such Exercise Price may be paid or deemed to be paid, the form of such payment, and the methods by or forms in which Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants.

 

(iii)                                ISOs .  The terms of any ISO granted under this Plan shall comply with, be interpreted and/or be amended, and any discretion with respect to any ISO shall be exercised, in all respects in accordance with the provisions of section 422 of the Code.  ISOs may only be granted to Eligible Persons who are employees of the Company or employees of a parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company.  Except as otherwise provided within this Plan, no term of this Plan relating to ISOs (including any SAR in tandem therewith) shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted under this Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify either this Plan or any ISO under section 422 of the Code, unless the Participant has first requested the change that will result in such disqualification. ISOs shall not be granted more than ten years after the earlier of the adoption of this Plan or the approval of this Plan by the Company’s stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fair Market Value

 

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(determined as of the date of grant of an ISO) of shares of Stock subject to an ISO and the aggregate Fair Market Value of shares of stock of any parent or subsidiary corporation (within the meaning of sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code) subject to any other ISO (within the meaning of section 422 of the Code)) of the Company or a parent or subsidiary corporation (within the meaning of sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code) that first becomes purchasable by a Participant in any calendar year may not (with respect to that Participant) exceed $100,000, or such other amount as may be prescribed under section 422 of the Code or applicable regulations or rulings from time to time.  Failure to comply with this provision shall not impair the enforceability or exercisability of any Option, but shall cause the excess amount of shares to be reclassified in accordance with the Code.

 

(c)                                   Stock Appreciation Rights .  The Committee is authorized to grant SARs to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:

 

(i)                                      Right to Payment .  An SAR shall confer on the Participant to whom it is granted a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the date of exercise over (B) the grant price of the SAR as determined by the Committee.

 

(ii)                                   Grant Price . Each Award Agreement evidencing an SAR shall state the grant price per share of Stock; provided , however , that the grant price per share of Stock subject to an SAR shall not be less than the greater of (A) the par value per share of the Stock or (B) 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of the Stock as of the date of grant of the SAR.

 

(iii)                                Terms .  Each SAR agreement shall state the grant price per share of Stock.  Except as otherwise provided herein, the Committee shall determine, at the date of grant or thereafter, the time or times at which and the circumstances under which an SAR may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), the method of exercise, method of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, and any other terms and conditions of any SAR.  SARs may be either freestanding or in tandem with an Option.

 

(iv)                               Rights Related to Options .  An SAR granted pursuant to an Option shall entitle a Participant, upon exercise, to surrender that Option or any portion thereof, to the extent unexercised, and to receive payment of an amount determined by multiplying (A) the difference obtained by subtracting the Exercise Price with respect to a share of Stock specified in the related Option from the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR, by (B) the number of shares as to which that SAR has been exercised.  The Option shall then cease to be exercisable to the extent surrendered.  SARs granted in connection with an Option shall be subject to the terms of the Award agreement governing the Option, which shall provide that the SAR is exercisable only at such time or times and only to the extent that the related Option is exercisable and shall not be transferable except to the extent that the related Option is transferable.

 

(d)                                  Restricted Stock .  The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock to Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:

 

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(i)                                      Grant and Restrictions .  Restricted Stock shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions, if any, as the Committee may impose, which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), in such installments or otherwise, as the Committee may determine at the date of grant or thereafter.  During the restricted period applicable to the Restricted Stock, the Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, margined or otherwise encumbered by the Participant.

 

(ii)                                   Dividends and Splits .  As a condition to the grant of an Award of Restricted Stock, the Committee may require or permit a Participant to elect that any cash dividends paid on a share of Restricted Stock be automatically reinvested in additional shares of Restricted Stock, applied to the purchase of additional Awards under this Plan or deferred without interest to the date of vesting of the associated Award of Restricted Stock; provided , that, to the extent applicable, any such election shall comply with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Stock distributed in connection with a Stock split or Stock dividend, and other property (other than cash) distributed as a dividend, shall be subject to restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect to which such Stock or other property has been distributed.

 

(e)                                   Restricted Stock Units .  The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock Units to Eligible Persons, subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(i)                                      Award and Restrictions .  Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions (which may include a risk of forfeiture) as the Committee may impose, if any, which restrictions may lapse at the expiration of the deferral period or at earlier specified times (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), separately or in combination, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee may determine.

 

(ii)                                   Settlement .  Restricted Stock Units shall be satisfied by the delivery of cash or Stock in the amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the specified number of shares of Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Units, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee at the date of grant or thereafter.

 

(f)                                    Stock Awards .  The Committee is authorized to grant a Stock Award to any Eligible Person as a bonus, as additional compensation, or in lieu of cash compensation the individual is otherwise entitled to receive.  Stock Awards granted hereunder shall be subject to such other terms as shall be determined by the Committee.

 

(g)                                   Dividend Equivalents .  The Committee is authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents to an Eligible Person, entitling the Person to receive cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Stock, or other periodic payments.  Dividend Equivalents may be awarded on a free-standing basis or in connection with another Award (other than a Restricted Stock or a Stock Award).  The Committee may provide that Dividend Equivalents shall be paid or distributed when accrued or shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Stock, Awards, or other investment vehicles, and subject to such restrictions on transferability and risks of forfeiture, as the

 

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Committee may specify.  With respect to Dividend Equivalents granted in connection with another Award, absent a contrary provision in the Award Agreement, such Dividend Equivalents shall be subject to the same restrictions and risk of forfeiture as the Award with respect to which the dividends accrue and shall not be paid unless and until such Award has vested and been earned.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Dividend Equivalents shall only be paid in a manner that is either exempt from or in compliance with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.

 

(h)                                  Focus LLC Awards .

 

(i)                                      Focus LLC Common Unit Awards .  Focus LLC Common Unit Awards shall be awards designed as either fully vested or restricted Focus LLC common units.  The Committee is authorized to grant Focus LLC Common Unit Awards to Eligible Persons under the terms and conditions determined by the Committee in its discretion, subject to any restrictions on Focus LLC common units generally within the LLC Agreement.

 

(ii)                                   Focus LLC Incentive Units .  A Focus LLC Incentive Unit shall be designed as a “profits interest” within the meaning of Revenue Procedures 93-27 and 2001-43. Each Focus LLC Incentive Unit will have a hurdle amount (the “ Hurdle Amount ”), which Hurdle Amount shall be set by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Focus LLC Incentive Unit in accordance with the LLC Agreement. Each Focus LLC Incentive Unit will entitle the holder thereof to receive distributions from Focus LLC in accordance with the terms of the LLC Agreement. The Committee will establish the terms and conditions applicable to the Focus LLC Incentive Units, including vesting or service requirements, provided that any vesting period assigned to the Award will be designed to comply with the holding requirements of Revenue Procedure 93-27. Without limiting the foregoing, as of the Effective Date, any incentive unit award policy or program effective at Focus LLC with respect to its employees immediately prior to the Effective Time is hereby adopted in conjunction with this Plan as the Company’s general incentive policy or program for Focus LLC Incentive Units, to remain effective until such time as the Committee amends, modifies or terminates such policies or programs.

 

(iii)                                Focus LLC Awards Generally .  The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant other types of equity-based, equity-related or cash-based Awards valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise calculated by reference to or based on, Focus LLC Units, in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine (the “ Focus LLC Awards .”)  Focus LLC Awards may entail the transfer of actual shares of Stock or Focus LLC Units to Award recipients. Focus LLC Awards may be in the same form as Awards that are permitted to be granted under the Plan generally with respect to the Company’s Stock (with the exception of ISOs), with all references to the Company’s Stock replaced with references to the Focus LLC Units and all other definitions modified, if necessary for the context, to reflect Focus LLC rather than the Company. In addition to any Award Agreement governing a Focus LLC Award, the Committee may require that a recipient of a Focus LLC Award execute additional documentation to become a member of Focus LLC.  Focus LLC Incentive Units and Focus LLC Common Unit Awards described above will be deemed to be Focus LLC Awards for purposes of this Plan. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary within this Plan or in any Award Agreement that governs a Focus LLC Award, the terms and conditions of all Focus LLC Awards shall be designed to comply with the LLC Agreement, and to the extent that there is any inconsistency with the LLC Agreement within this

 

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Plan or the Award Agreement governing any Focus LLC Award, the terms of the LLC Agreement shall control.

 

(i)                                      Other Security-Based Awards .  The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law or the LLC Agreement, to grant to Participants such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, one or more Securities, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of this Plan, including without limitation convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Securities, purchase rights for Securities, Awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or any other factors designated by the Committee, and Awards valued by reference to the book value of Securities or the value of securities of or the performance of specified Subsidiaries of the Company.  The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Other Security-Based Awards.  Securities delivered pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 6(i) shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such times, by such methods, and in such forms, as the Committee shall determine.  Cash awards, as an element of or supplement to any other Award under this Plan, may also be granted pursuant to this Section 6(i).

 

(j)                                     Substitute Awards; No Repricing .  Awards may be granted in substitution or exchange for any other Award granted under the Plan or under another plan of the Company or any other right of an Eligible Person to receive payment from the Company.  Awards may be also be granted under the Plan in substitution for similar awards held by individuals who become Eligible Persons as a result of a merger, consolidation or acquisition of another entity or the assets of another entity by or with the Company or an affiliate of the Company.  Such Substitute Awards referred to in the immediately preceding sentence that are Options or Stock Appreciation Rights may have an Exercise Price or grant price that is less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Securities on the date of the substitution if such substitution complies with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules and other applicable laws and exchange rules.  Except as provided in this Section 6(j) or in Section 9 hereof, the terms of outstanding Awards may not be amended to reduce the Exercise Price or grant price of outstanding Options or SARs or to cancel outstanding Options and SARs in exchange for cash, other Awards or Options or SARs with an Exercise Price or grant price that is less than the Exercise Price or grant price of the original Options or SARs without the approval of the stockholders of the Company.

 

(k)                                  Performance Awards .  The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees who shall receive a Performance Award, pursuant to which the right of such individual to receive a grant, or to exercise or receive settlement, of any Award available under this Plan, and the timing thereof, may be subject to performance objectives as specified by the Committee.  In addition, a Performance Award may be denominated as a cash amount at the time of grant and confer on the Participant the right to receive payment upon the achievement of such performance objectives during such restricted periods as the Committee shall establish with respect to the Award.

 

(i)                                      Terms and Conditions .  Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the Committee shall determine the performance objectives to be achieved during the applicable restricted period, the length of the restricted period, the number of

 

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Securities or the amount of cash subject to any Performance Award and the amount of any payment to be made upon achievement of the performance objectives applicable to any Performance Award.

 

(ii)                                   Payment of Performance Awards .  Performance Awards are earned as of the date the Committee determines the applicable performance objectives have been satisfied.  Performance Awards may be paid (in cash and/or in Securities, in the sole discretion of the Committee) in a lump sum or in installments promptly as of or following the date the Committee determines the applicable performance objectives have been satisfied, in accordance with procedures established by the Committee with respect to such Award.  The Committee may exercise its discretion to reduce or increase the amounts payable under any Performance Awards.

 

(l)                                      Cash Awards . The Committee is authorized to grant Cash Awards, on a free-standing basis or as an element of, a supplement to, or in lieu of any other Award under the Plan to Eligible Persons in such amounts and subject to such other terms as the Committee in its discretion determines to be appropriate.  Without limiting the foregoing, as of the Effective Date, any annual cash incentive bonus policy or program effective at Focus LLC with respect to its employees immediately prior to the Effective Time is hereby adopted in conjunction with this Plan as the Company’s general bonus policy or program for Cash Awards, to remain effective until such time as the Committee amends, modifies or terminates such policies or programs.

 

7.                                       Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards .

 

(a)                                  Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards .  Awards granted under this Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution or exchange for, any other Award or any award granted under another plan of the Company, or of any business entity to be acquired by the Company, or any other right of an Eligible Person to receive payment from the Company.  If an Award is granted in substitution or exchange for another Award, the Committee shall require the surrender of such other Award in consideration for the grant of the new Award.  Notwithstanding the foregoing but subject to Section 9 of the Plan, without the approval of stockholders, the Committee will not exchange or substitute previously granted Options or Stock Appreciation Rights in a transaction that constitutes a “repricing” as such term is used in the Nasdaq listing rules, as amended from time to time. Awards under this Plan may be granted in lieu of cash compensation, including in lieu of cash amounts payable under other plans of the Company, in which the value of Security subject to the Award is equivalent in value to the cash compensation, or in which the Exercise Price, grant price or purchase price of the Award in the nature of a right that may be exercised is equal to the Fair Market Value of the underlying Security minus the value of the cash compensation surrendered.  Awards granted pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be designed, awarded and settled in a manner that does not result in additional taxes under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.

 

(b)                                  Term of Awards .  Except as otherwise specified herein, the term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee; provided , that in no event shall the term of any Option or SAR exceed a period of ten years (or such shorter term as may be required in respect of an ISO under section 422 of the Code).

 

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(c)                                   Form and Timing of Payment under Awards; Deferrals .  Subject to the terms of this Plan and any applicable Award agreement, payments to be made by the Company upon the exercise of an Option or other Award or settlement of an Award may be made in such forms as the Committee shall determine, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis; provided , however , that any such deferred or installment payments will be set forth in the agreement evidencing such Award and/or otherwise made in a manner that will not result in additional taxes under Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.  Except as otherwise provided herein, the settlement of any Award may be accelerated, and cash paid in lieu of Securities in connection with such settlement, in the discretion of the Committee or upon occurrence of one or more specified events (in addition to a Change in Control).  This Plan shall not constitute an “employee benefit plan” for purposes of section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

(d)                                  Evidencing Securities . The Securities or other securities of the Company delivered pursuant to an Award may be evidenced in any manner deemed appropriate by the Committee in its sole discretion, including, but not limited to, in the form of a certificate issued in the name of the Participant or by book entry, electronic or otherwise and shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which such Securities or other securities are then listed, and any applicable federal, state or other laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be inscribed on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.  If certificates representing Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, the Committee may require that such certificates bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, that the Company retain physical possession of the certificates, and that the Participant deliver a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, related to the Restricted Stock.

 

(e)                                   Exemptions from Section 16(b) Liability .  It is the intent of the Company that the grant of any Awards to or other transaction by a Participant who is subject to section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be exempt from such section pursuant to an applicable exemption (except for transactions acknowledged in writing to be non-exempt by such Participant).  Accordingly, if any provision of this Plan or any Award agreement does not comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 as then applicable to any such transaction, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 so that such Participant shall avoid liability under section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.

 

(f)                                    Consideration for Grants . Awards may be granted for such consideration, including services, as the Committee shall determine, but shall not be granted for less than the minimum lawful consideration.

 

(g)                                   Additional Agreements . Each Eligible Person to whom an Award is granted under the Plan may be required to agree in writing, as a condition to the grant of such Award or otherwise, to subject an Award that is exercised or settled following such Eligible Person’s termination of employment or service to a general release of claims and/or a noncompetition or other restricted covenant agreement in favor of the Company and its affiliates,

 

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with the terms and conditions of such agreement(s) to be determined in good faith by the Committee.

 

8.                                       Subdivision or Consolidation; Recapitalization; Change in Control; Reorganization .

 

(a)                                  Existence of Plans and Awards .  The existence of this Plan and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company, the Board, the stockholders of the Company or Focus LLC to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the capital structure of the Company or Focus LLC or either of their businesses, any merger or consolidation of the Company or Focus LLC, any issue of debt or equity securities ahead of or affecting Securities or the rights thereof, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or Focus LLC or any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or any part of its assets or business or any other corporate act or proceeding. No employee, beneficiary or other Person shall have any claim against the Company or Focus LLC as a result of any such action.

 

(b)                                  Subdivision or Consolidation of Shares .  The terms of an Award, the number of Securities authorized pursuant to Section 4 for issuance under the Plan and the limitations in Section 5 shall be subject to adjustment by  the Committee from time to time, in accordance with the following provisions:

 

(i)                                      If at any time, or from time to time, the Company or Focus LLC, as applicable, shall subdivide as a whole (by reclassification, by a Securities split, by the issuance of a distribution on Securities payable in Securities, or otherwise) the number of Securities then outstanding into a greater number of Securities, or in the event the Company or Focus LLC distributes an extraordinary cash dividend, then, as appropriate for the situation, (A) the maximum number of Securities available for the Plan or in connection with Awards as provided in Sections 4 and 5 shall be increased proportionately, and the kind of shares or other securities available for the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted, (B) the number of Securities (or other kind of shares or securities) that may be acquired under any then outstanding Award shall be increased proportionately, and (C) the price (including the Exercise Price or grant price) for each share of the Securities (or other kind of shares or securities) subject to then outstanding Awards shall be reduced proportionately, without changing the aggregate purchase price or value as to which outstanding Awards remain exercisable or subject to restrictions.

 

(ii)                                   If at any time, or from time to time, the Company or Focus LLC, as applicable, shall consolidate as a whole (by reclassification, by reverse Securities split, or otherwise) the number of Securities then outstanding into a lesser number of Securities, (A) the maximum number of Securities for the Plan or available in connection with Awards as provided in Sections 4 and 5 shall be decreased proportionately, and the kind of shares or other securities available for the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted, (B) the number of Securities (or other kind of shares or securities) that may be acquired under any then outstanding Award shall be decreased proportionately, and (C) the price (including the Exercise Price or grant price) for each share of the Securities (or other kind of shares or securities) subject to then outstanding Awards shall be increased proportionately, without changing the aggregate purchase price or value as to which outstanding Awards remain exercisable or subject to restrictions.

 

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(iii)                                Whenever the number of Securities subject to outstanding Awards and the price for each share of the Securities subject to outstanding Awards are required to be adjusted as provided in this Section 8(b), the Committee shall promptly prepare a notice setting forth, in reasonable detail, the event requiring adjustment, the amount of the adjustment, the method by which such adjustment was calculated, and the change in price and the number of shares of the Securities, other securities, cash, or property purchasable subject to each Award after giving effect to the adjustments.  The Committee shall promptly provide each affected Participant with such notice.

 

(c)                                   Recapitalization .  In the event of any change in the capital structure or business of the Company or other corporate transaction or event that would be considered an “equity restructuring” within the meaning of ASC Topic 718 and, in each case, that would result in an additional compensation expense to the Company pursuant to the provisions of ASC Topic 718, if adjustments to Awards with respect to such event were discretionary or otherwise not required (each such an event, an “ Adjustment Event ”), then the Committee shall equitably adjust (i) the aggregate number or kind of shares that thereafter may be delivered under the Plan, (ii) the number or kind of shares or other property (including cash) subject to an Award, (iii) the terms and conditions of Awards, including the purchase price or Exercise Price of Awards and performance goals, as applicable, and (iv) the applicable limitations with respect to Awards provided in Section 4 and Section 5 (other than cash limits) to equitably reflect such Adjustment Event (“ Equitable Adjustments ”).  In the event of any change in the capital structure or business of the Company or other corporate transaction or event that would not be considered an Adjustment Event, and is not otherwise addressed in this Section 8, the Committee shall have complete discretion to make Equitable Adjustments (if any) in such manner as it deems appropriate with respect to such other event.

 

(d)                                  Change in Control and Other Events .  Except to the extent otherwise provided in any applicable Award Agreement, vesting of any Award shall not occur solely upon the occurrence of a Change in Control and, in the event of a Change in Control or other changes in the Company or the outstanding Securities by reason of a recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange or other relevant change occurring after the date of the grant of any Award, the Committee, acting in its sole discretion without the consent or approval of any holder, may exercise any power enumerated in Section 3 (including the power to accelerate vesting, waive any forfeiture conditions or otherwise modify or adjust any other condition or limitation regarding an Award, including without limitation performance conditions) and may also effect one or more of the following alternatives, which may vary among individual holders and which may vary among Awards held by any individual holder:

 

(i)                                      accelerate the time of exercisability of an Award so that such Award may be exercised in full or in part for a limited period of time on or before a date specified by the Committee, after which specified date all unexercised Awards and all rights of holders thereunder shall terminate;

 

(ii)                                   redeem in whole or in part outstanding Awards by requiring the mandatory surrender to the Company by selected holders of some or all of the outstanding

 

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Awards held by such holders (irrespective of whether such Awards are then vested or exercisable) as of a date, specified by the Committee, in which event the Committee shall thereupon cancel such Awards and pay to each holder an amount of cash or other consideration per Award (other than a Dividend Equivalent or Cash Award, which the Committee may separately require to be surrendered in exchange for cash or other consideration determined by the Committee in its discretion) equal to the Change in Control Price, less the Exercise Price with respect to an Option and less the grant price with respect to a SAR, as applicable to such Awards; provided , however , that to the extent the Exercise Price of an Option or the grant price of an SAR exceeds the Change in Control Price, such Award may be cancelled for no consideration;

 

(iii)                                cancel Awards that remain subject to a restricted period as of the date of a Change in Control or other such event without payment of any consideration to the Participant for such Awards; or

 

(iv)                               make such adjustments to Awards then outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate to reflect such Change in Control or other such event (including the substitution, assumption, or continuation of Awards by the successor company or a parent or subsidiary thereof or any performance conditions);

 

provided , however , that so long as the event is not an Adjustment Event, the Committee may determine in its sole discretion that no adjustment is necessary to Awards then outstanding.  If an Adjustment Event occurs, this Section 8(d) shall only apply to the extent it is not in conflict with Section 8(c).

 

(e)                                   Additional Issuances .  Except as expressly provided herein, the issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, including upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, and in any case whether or not for fair value, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be required to be made with respect to, the number of shares of Securities subject to Awards theretofore granted or the purchase price per share of a Security, if applicable.

 

9.                                       General Provisions .

 

(a)                                  Transferability .

 

(i)                                      Permitted Transferees .  The Committee may, in its discretion, permit a Participant to transfer all or any portion of an Option or SAR, or authorize all or a portion of an Option or SAR to be granted to an Eligible Person to be on terms which permit transfer by such Participant; provided that , the transferee or transferees shall be limited to certain Persons related to the Participant (a “ Permitted Transferee ”), as determined by the Committee, and the Committee may impose other limitations on the terms of the transfer, in its discretion. Agreements evidencing Options or SARs with respect to which such transferability is authorized at the time of grant must be approved by the Committee, and must expressly provide for transferability in a manner consistent with this Section 9(a)(i). All transfers of Focus LLC Units shall also be subject to restrictions contained in the LLC Agreement.

 

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(ii)                                   Qualified Domestic Relations Orders .  An Award may be transferred, to a Permitted Transferee, pursuant to a domestic relations order entered or approved by a court of competent jurisdiction upon delivery to the Company of written notice of such transfer and a certified copy of such order.

 

(iii)                                Other Transfers .  Except as expressly permitted by Sections 9(a)(i) and 9(a)(ii), Awards shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9, an Incentive Stock Option shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

(iv)                               Procedures and Restrictions .  Any Participant desiring to transfer an Award as permitted under this Sections 9(a) shall make application therefor in the manner and time specified by the Committee and shall comply with such other requirements as the Committee may require to assure compliance with all applicable securities laws.  The Committee shall not give permission for such a transfer if (A) it would give rise to short swing liability under section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or (B) it may not be made in compliance with all applicable federal, state and foreign securities laws.  The Company shall not have any obligation to register the issuance of any Securities to any transferee.

 

(b)                                  Tax Withholding .  The Company and its affiliates are authorized to withhold from any Award granted, or any payment relating to an Award under this Plan, including from a distribution of Securities, amounts of withholding and other taxes due or potentially payable in connection with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such other action as the Committee may deem advisable to enable the Company (or an applicable affiliate) and Participants to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Award.  This authority shall include authority to withhold or receive Securities or other property and to make cash payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of a Participant’s tax obligations, either on a mandatory or elective basis in the discretion of the Committee. Any determination made by the Committee to allow a Participant who is subject to Rule 16b-3 to pay taxes with Securities through net settlement or previously owned shares shall be approved by a committee made up of two or more Qualified Members or the full Board.  If such tax obligations are satisfied through the withholding of Securities that are otherwise issuable to the Participant pursuant to an Award (or through the surrender of Securities by the Participant to the Company), the maximum number of Securities that may be so withheld (or surrendered) shall be the number of Securities that have an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of withholding or repurchase equal to the aggregate amount of such tax liabilities determined based on the greatest withholding rates for federal, state, foreign and/or local tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that may be utilized without creating adverse accounting treatment with respect to such Award, as determined by the Committee.

 

(c)                                   Changes to this Plan and Awards .

 

(i)                                      The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate this Plan or the Committee’s authority to grant Awards under this Plan without the consent of stockholders or Participants, except that any amendment or alteration to this Plan, including any increase in any share limitation, shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders not later than the annual meeting next following such Board action if such stockholder approval

 

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is required by any federal or state law or regulation or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities may then be listed or quoted, and the Board may otherwise, in its discretion, determine to submit other such changes to this Plan to stockholders for approval; provided , that, without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Board action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any previously granted and outstanding Award.

 

(ii)                                   The Committee may accelerate or waive any conditions or rights under, or amend, modify, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate any Award theretofore granted and any Award agreement relating thereto, except as otherwise provided in this Plan; provided , however , that, (A) without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Committee action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under such Award, and (B) the Committee shall not have any discretion to accelerate, waive or modify any term or condition of an Award if such acceleration would subject a Participant to additional taxes under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.

 

(iii)                                For purposes of clarity, any adjustments made to Awards pursuant to Section 8 will be deemed not to materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant under any previously granted and outstanding Award and therefore may be made without the consent of affected Participants.

 

(d)                                  Limitation on Rights Conferred under Plan .  Neither this Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as (i) giving any Eligible Person or Participant the right to continue as an Eligible Person or Participant or in the employ or service of the Company or its affiliates, (ii) interfering in any way with the right of the Company or its affiliates to terminate any Eligible Person’s or Participant’s employment or service relationship at any time, (iii) giving an Eligible Person or Participant any claim to be granted any Award under this Plan or to be treated uniformly with other Participants and/or employees and/or other service providers, or (iv) conferring on a Participant any of the rights of a stockholder or unitholder of the Company or Focus LLC, as applicable, unless and until the Participant is duly issued or transferred Securities in accordance with the terms of an Award.

 

(e)                                   Unfunded Status of Awards .  This Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for certain incentive awards.

 

(f)                                    Nonexclusivity of this Plan .  Neither the adoption of this Plan by the Board nor its submission to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or a committee thereof to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including incentive arrangements.

 

(g)                                   Fractional Shares .  No fractional Securities shall be issued or delivered pursuant to this Plan or any Award.  The Committee shall determine whether cash, other Awards or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

 

(h)                                  Severability .  If any provision of this Plan is held to be illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions hereof, but

 

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such provision shall be fully severable and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had never been included herein.  If any of the terms or provisions of this Plan or any Award agreement conflict with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 (as those terms or provisions are applied to Eligible Persons who are subject to section 16(b) of the Exchange Act) or section 422 of the Code (with respect to Incentive Stock Options), then those conflicting terms or provisions shall be deemed inoperative to the extent they so conflict with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 (unless the Board or the Committee, as appropriate, has expressly determined that the Plan or such Award should not comply with Rule 16b-3) or section 422 of the Code.  With respect to Incentive Stock Options, if this Plan does not contain any provision required to be included herein under section 422 of the Code, that provision shall be deemed to be incorporated herein with the same force and effect as if that provision had been set out at length herein; provided , further, that, to the extent any Option that is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option cannot so qualify, that Option (to that extent) shall be deemed an Option not subject to section 422 of the Code for all purposes of the Plan.

 

(i)                                      Governing Law .  All questions arising with respect to the provisions of the Plan and Awards shall be determined by application of the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any conflict of law provisions thereof, except to the extent Delaware law is preempted by federal law.

 

(j)                                     Conditions to Delivery of Securities .  Nothing herein or in any Award granted hereunder or any Award agreement shall require the Company to issue, sell or deliver any Securities with respect to any Award if that issuance, sale or delivery would, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, constitute a violation of the Securities Act or any similar or superseding statute or statutes, any other applicable statute or regulation, or the rules of any applicable securities exchange or securities association, as then in effect. In addition, each Participant who receives an Award under the Plan shall not sell or otherwise dispose of Securities that are acquired upon grant, exercise or vesting of an Award in any manner that would constitute a violation of any applicable federal or state securities laws, the Plan or the rules, regulations or other requirements of the SEC or any stock exchange upon which the Security is then listed. At the time of any exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, or at the time of any grant of any other Award the Company may, as a condition precedent to the exercise of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right or settlement of any other Award, require from the Participant (or in the event of his or her death, his or her legal representatives, heirs, legatees, or distributees) such written representations, if any, concerning the holder’s intentions with regard to the retention or disposition of the Securities being acquired pursuant to the Award and such written covenants and agreements, if any, as to the manner of disposal of such shares as, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, may be necessary to ensure that any disposition by that holder (or in the event of the holder’s death, his or her legal representatives, heirs, legatees, or distributees) will not involve a violation of the Securities Act or any similar or superseding statute or statutes, any other applicable state or federal statute or regulation, or any rule of any applicable securities exchange or securities association, as then in effect.  No Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable and no settlement of any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit shall occur with respect to a Participant unless and until the holder thereof shall have paid cash or property to, or performed services for, the Company that the Committee believes is equal to or greater in value than the par value of the Securities subject to such Award.

 

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(k)                                  Section 409A of the Code .  It is the general intention, but not the obligation, of the Committee to design Awards to comply with or to be exempt from the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules, and Awards will be operated and construed accordingly. Neither this Section 9(k) nor any other provision of the Plan is or contains a representation to any Participant regarding the tax consequences of the grant, vesting, exercise, settlement, or sale of any Award (or the Security underlying such Award) granted hereunder, and should not be interpreted as such.  In no event shall the Company be liable for all or any portion of any taxes, penalties, interest or other expenses that may be incurred by the Employee on account of non-compliance with the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules.  Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, in the event that a “specified employee” (as defined under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules) becomes entitled to a payment under an Award that would be subject to additional taxes and interest under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules if the Participant’s receipt of such payment or benefits is not delayed until the earlier of (i) the date of the Participant’s death, or (ii) the date that is six months after the Participant’s “separation from service,” as defined under the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules (such date, the “ Section 409A Payment Date ”), then such payment or benefit shall not be provided to the Participant until the Section 409A Payment Date.  Any amounts subject to the preceding sentence that would otherwise be payable prior to the Section 409A Payment Date will be aggregated and paid in a lump sum without interest on the Section 409A Payment Date.  The applicable provisions of the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Rules are hereby incorporated by reference and shall control over any Plan or Award Agreement provision in conflict therewith.

 

(l)                                      Clawback .  This Plan and all Awards granted hereunder after the Effective Date are subject to any written clawback policies that the Company, with the approval of the Board, may adopt.  Any such policy may subject a Participant’s Awards and amounts paid or realized with respect to Awards under this Plan to reduction, cancelation, forfeiture or recoupment if certain specified events or wrongful conduct occur, including but not limited to an accounting restatement due to the Company’s material noncompliance with financial reporting regulations or other events or wrongful conduct specified in any such clawback policy adopted to conform to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and rules promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission and that the Company determines should apply to this Plan. Any such policy may also be applied retroactively to this Plan and to any Award granted thereunder after the Effective Date.

 

(m)                              Facility of Payment .  Any amounts payable hereunder to any individual under legal disability or who, in the judgment of the Committee, is unable to manage properly his financial affairs, may be paid to the legal representative of such individual, or may be applied for the benefit of such individual in any manner that the Committee may select, and the Company shall be relieved of any further liability for payment of such amounts.

 

(n)                                  Plan Effective Date and Term .  This Plan was adopted by the Board to be effective on the Effective Date.  No Awards may be granted under this Plan on and after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date. However, any Award granted prior to such termination (or any earlier termination pursuant to the terms of this Plan), and the authority of the Board or Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue, or terminate any such Award or to

 

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waive any conditions or rights under such Award in accordance with the terms of the Plan, shall extend beyond such termination until the final disposition of such Award.

 

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Exhibit 10.6

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of July 30, 2018 by and between Focus Financial Partners Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Ruediger Adolf (“Indemnitee”).  This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all previous Agreements between the Company and Indemnitee covering the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) believes that highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors or officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;

 

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers, and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (as may be amended, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (as may be amended, the “Bylaws”) require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).  The Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the board of directors, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification;

 

WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification may increase the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;

 

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

 

WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws, and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, as well as any rights

 



 

of Indemnitees under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy, and this Agreement and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and

 

WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve or continue to serve as an officer or director without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                                            Services to the Company.   Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director or officer of the Company or, by mutual agreement of the Company and Indemnitee, as a director or officer of another Enterprise (as defined below), as applicable. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Company shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), if any, is at will, and the Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Company, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, and the DGCL. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or any Enterprise, as applicable, as provided in Section 16 hereof.

 

Section 2.                                            Definitions.   As used in this Agreement:

 

(a)                                  References to “agent” shall mean any person who is or was a director, officer, or employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or other person authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such person serving in such capacity as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or other official of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.

 

(b)                                  A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

 

i.                                           Acquisition of Stock by Third Party.  Any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities unless the change in relative Beneficial Ownership of the

 

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Company’s securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;

 

ii.                                        Change in Board of Directors.  During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 2(b)(i), 2(b)(iii) or 2(b)(iv)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;

 

iii.                                     Corporate Transactions.  The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Surviving Entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Surviving Entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such Surviving Entity;

 

iv.                                    Liquidation.  The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; and

 

v.                                       Other Events.  There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

 

For purposes of this Section 2(b), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(A)                                “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

(B)                                “Person” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person shall exclude (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

 

(C)                                “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner shall exclude any Person otherwise

 

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becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity.

 

(D)                                “Surviving Entity” shall mean the surviving entity in a merger or consolidation or any entity that controls, directly or indirectly, such surviving entity.

 

(c)                                   “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, trustee, partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership or joint venture, trust or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

 

(d)                                  “Disinterested Director” shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(e)                                   “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, employee, agent or fiduciary.

 

(f)                                    “Expenses” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees and other costs of experts and other professionals, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and all other disbursements, obligations or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with, or as a result of, prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a deponent or witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding.  Expenses also shall include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, (ii) expenses incurred in connection with recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee is ultimately determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or Expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be, and (iii) for purposes of Section 14(d) only, Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, by litigation or otherwise.  The parties agree that for the purposes of any advancement of Expenses for which Indemnitee has made written demand to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses included in such demand that are certified by affidavit of Indemnitee’s counsel as being reasonable in the good faith judgment of such counsel shall be presumed conclusively to be reasonable.  Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

 

(g)                                   “Independent Counsel” shall mean a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent:  (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either

 

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such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.  The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

(h)                                  The term “Proceeding” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, counterclaim, cross claim, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, regulatory or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, by reason of any action taken by Indemnitee (or a failure to take action by Indemnitee) or of any action (or failure to act) on Indemnitee’s part while acting pursuant to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement.  If the Indemnitee believes in good faith that a given situation may lead to or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding, this shall be considered a Proceeding under this paragraph.

 

(i)                                      Reference to “other enterprise” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company 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 a person who acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee  reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

 

Section 3.                                            Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings.   The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. The parties hereto intend that this Agreement shall provide to the fullest extent permitted by law for

 

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indemnification in excess of that expressly permitted by statute, including, without limitation, any indemnification provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, vote of the Company’s stockholders or disinterested directors or applicable law.

 

Section 4.                                            Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company.   The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.  If applicable law so provides, no indemnification for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction (after the time for an appeal has expired) to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court (as hereinafter defined) or any court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

 

Section 5.                                            Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection therewith.  If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with or related to each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter to the fullest extent permitted by law.  For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

Section 6.                                            Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness.   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a witness, is or was made (or asked) to respond to discovery requests in any Proceeding or otherwise asked to participate in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.

 

Section 7.                                            Partial Indemnification.   If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of Expenses, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.

 

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Section 8.                                            Additional Indemnification.

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if Indemnitee, by reason of his or her Corporate Status is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status.

 

(b)                                  For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase “to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to:

 

i.                                           to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the DGCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL, and

 

ii.                                        to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

 

Section 9.                                            Exclusions.   Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification payment in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:

 

(a)                                  for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision; or

 

(b)                                  for (i) an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (as defined in Section 2(b) hereof) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law; provided that the Company shall advance Expenses in connection with Indemnitee’s defense of a claim under Section 16(b), which advances shall be repaid to the Company if it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification; or (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements); or (iii) any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any compensation pursuant to any compensation recoupment or clawback policy adopted by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board, including but not limited to any such policy adopted to comply with stock exchange listing requirements implementing Section 10D of the Exchange Act; or

 

(c)                                   except as provided in Section 14(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any

 

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part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) such payment arises in connection with any mandatory counterclaim or cross claim or affirmative defense brought or raised by Indemnitee in any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding), or (iii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.

 

Section 10.                                     Advances of Expenses.   Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary (other than Section 14(d)), the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, the Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) not initiated by Indemnitee or any Proceeding initiated by Indemnitee with the prior approval of the Board as provided in Section 9(c), and such advancement shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event no later than within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding.  Advances shall be unsecured and interest free.  Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement.  In accordance with Section 14(d), advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed.  The Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that the Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced (without interest) by the Company pursuant to this Section 10, if and only to the extent that it is ultimately determined by final non-appealable judgment or other final non-appealable adjudication under the provisions of any applicable law (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.  No other form of undertaking shall be required other than the execution of this Agreement.  This Section 10 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 9.

 

Section 11.                                     Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim.

 

(a)                                  Indemnitee shall notify the Company in writing of any matter with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof.  The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding, in each case, to the extent known to Indemnitee.  To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding.  The omission by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement.  The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

 

(b)                                  The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.

 

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(c)                                   The Company shall not settle any Proceeding (in whole or in part) if such settlement would impose any Expense, judgment, liability, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee which Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder without Indemnitee’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

Section 12.                                     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification.

 

(a)                                  Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a), a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case:  (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination.  Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination.  Any costs or Expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.  The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied.

 

(b)                                  In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 12(b).  If a Change in Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising Indemnitee of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  If a Change in Control shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided , however , that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion.  Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall

 

9



 

act as Independent Counsel.  If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or the Delaware Court has determined that such objection is without merit.  If, within twenty (20) days after the later of submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof and the final disposition of the Proceeding, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by such court or by such other person as such court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 12(a) hereof.  Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

(c)                                   If the Company disputes a portion of the amounts for which indemnification is requested, the undisputed portion shall be paid and only the disputed portion withheld pending resolution of any such dispute.

 

Section 13.                                     Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

 

(a)                                  In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption.  Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

(b)                                  Subject to Section 14(e), if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 13(b) shall not

 

10



 

apply (i) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement and if ( A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination the Board has resolved to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

 

(d)                                  For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors or officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser, financial advisor or other expert selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Enterprise.  The provisions of this Section 13(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement. Whether or not the foregoing provisions of this Section 13(d) are satisfied, it shall in any event be presumed that Indemnitee has at all times acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.

 

(e)                                   The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

Section 14.                                     Remedies of Indemnitee.

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 14(e), in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ninety (90) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5, 6 or 7 or the second to last sentence of Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3, 4 or 8 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been

 

11



 

made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses.  Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.  Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 14(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his rights under Section 5 of this Agreement.  The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

 

(b)                                  In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.  In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.

 

(c)                                   If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(d)                                  The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.  It is the intent of the Company that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Indemnitee hereunder.  The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company if, in the case of indemnification, Indemnitee is wholly successful on the underlying claims; if Indemnitee is not wholly successful on the underlying claims, then such indemnification shall be only to the extent Indemnitee is successful on such underlying claims or otherwise as permitted by law, whichever is greater.

 

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(e)                                   Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement of Indemnitee to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.

 

Section 15.                                     Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.

 

(a)                                  The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement (i) shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise and (ii) shall be interpreted independently of, and without reference to, any other such rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled.  No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change.  No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

(b)                                  To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents of the Enterprise, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies.  If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such claim or of the commencement of a Proceeding, as the case may be, to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.  The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

 

(c)                                   The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (or for which advancement is provided hereunder) if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

 

(d)                                  The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Company shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any Proceeding, Expense, liability or matter that is the subject of the Indemnity Obligations (as defined below), (ii) the

 

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Company shall be primarily liable for all Indemnity Obligations and any indemnification afforded to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding, Expense, liability or matter that is the subject of Indemnity Obligations, whether created by applicable law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise, (iii) any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated to indemnify Indemnitee or advance Expenses or liabilities to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Company hereunder, (iv) the Company shall be required to indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses or liabilities to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or insurer of any such Person and (v) the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company hereunder. In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss which is the subject of any Indemnity Obligation owed by the Company or payable under any Company insurance policy, the payor shall have a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurer or insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurer or insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment of an Indemnity Obligation by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for any Indemnity Obligation to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. Any indemnification, insurance or advancement provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated with respect to any liability arising as a result of Indemnitee’s status as director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or capacity as an officer or director of any Person is specifically in excess over any Indemnity Obligation of the Company or valid and any collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company under this Agreement. As used herein, the term “Indemnity Obligations” shall mean all obligations of the Company to Indemnitee under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, this Agreement or otherwise, including the Company’s obligations to provide indemnification to Indemnitee and advance Expenses to Indemnitee under this Agreement.

 

Section 16.                                     Duration of Agreement.   This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the later of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or any other Enterprise, as applicable, or (b) one (1) year after the final termination of any Proceeding then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any proceeding (including any appeal thereof) commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement relating thereto.  The indemnification and advancement of expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives. The Company shall require and shall cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company to, by written agreement, expressly assume and agree to perform this

 

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Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

Section 17.                                     Severability.   Nothing in this Agreement is intended to require or shall be construed as requiring the Company to do or fail to do any act in violation of applicable law. The Company’s inability, pursuant to court order or other applicable law, to perform its obligations hereunder shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

 

Section 18.                                     Enforcement.

 

(a)                                  The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving or continuing to serve as a director or officer of the Company.

 

(b)                                  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any directors’ and officers’ insurance maintained by the Company and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

Section 19.                                     Modification and Waiver.   No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

Section 20.                                     Notice by Indemnitee.   Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder.  The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

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Section 21.                                     Notices.   All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (c) mailed by reputable overnight courier and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed or (d) sent by facsimile transmission, with receipt of oral confirmation that such transmission has been received:

 

(a)                                  If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

(b)                                  If to the Company to

 

Focus Financial Partners Inc.

825 Third Avenue, 27 th  Floor

New York, NY 10022

Attn: General Counsel

 

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.

 

Section 22.                                     Contribution.   To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

 

Section 23.                                     Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction.   This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.  Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

Section 24.                                     Identical Counterparts.   This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.  Only one such counterpart signed by the

 

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party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

Section 25.                                     Miscellaneous.   Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.  The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

INDEMNITEE

 

 

By:

/s/ James Shanahan

 

/s/ Ruediger Adolf

Name:

James Shanahan

Name:

Ruediger Adolf

Office:

Chief Financial Officer

Address:

825 Third Avenue

 

 

New York, NY 10022

 

17


Exhibit 10.7

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of July 30, 2018 by and between Focus Financial Partners Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Rajini Sundar Kodialam (“Indemnitee”).  This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all previous Agreements between the Company and Indemnitee covering the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) believes that highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors or officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;

 

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers, and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (as may be amended, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (as may be amended, the “Bylaws”) require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).  The Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the board of directors, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification;

 

WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification may increase the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;

 

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

 

WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws, and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, as well as any rights

 



 

of Indemnitees under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy, and this Agreement and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and

 

WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve or continue to serve as an officer or director without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                                            Services to the Company.   Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director or officer of the Company or, by mutual agreement of the Company and Indemnitee, as a director or officer of another Enterprise (as defined below), as applicable. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Company shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), if any, is at will, and the Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Company, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, and the DGCL. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or any Enterprise, as applicable, as provided in Section 16 hereof.

 

Section 2.                                            Definitions.   As used in this Agreement:

 

(a)                                  References to “agent” shall mean any person who is or was a director, officer, or employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or other person authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such person serving in such capacity as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or other official of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.

 

(b)                                  A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

 

i.                                           Acquisition of Stock by Third Party.  Any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities unless the change in relative Beneficial Ownership of the

 

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Company’s securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;

 

ii.                                        Change in Board of Directors.  During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 2(b)(i), 2(b)(iii) or 2(b)(iv)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;

 

iii.                                     Corporate Transactions.  The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Surviving Entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Surviving Entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such Surviving Entity;

 

iv.                                    Liquidation.  The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; and

 

v.                                       Other Events.  There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

 

For purposes of this Section 2(b), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(A)                                “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

(B)                                “Person” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person shall exclude (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

 

(C)                                “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner shall exclude any Person otherwise

 

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becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity.

 

(D)                                “Surviving Entity” shall mean the surviving entity in a merger or consolidation or any entity that controls, directly or indirectly, such surviving entity.

 

(c)                                   “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, trustee, partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership or joint venture, trust or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

 

(d)                                  “Disinterested Director” shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(e)                                   “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, employee, agent or fiduciary.

 

(f)                                    “Expenses” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees and other costs of experts and other professionals, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and all other disbursements, obligations or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with, or as a result of, prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a deponent or witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding.  Expenses also shall include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, (ii) expenses incurred in connection with recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee is ultimately determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or Expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be, and (iii) for purposes of Section 14(d) only, Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, by litigation or otherwise.  The parties agree that for the purposes of any advancement of Expenses for which Indemnitee has made written demand to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses included in such demand that are certified by affidavit of Indemnitee’s counsel as being reasonable in the good faith judgment of such counsel shall be presumed conclusively to be reasonable.  Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

 

(g)                                   “Independent Counsel” shall mean a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent:  (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either

 

4



 

such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.  The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

(h)                                  The term “Proceeding” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, counterclaim, cross claim, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, regulatory or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, by reason of any action taken by Indemnitee (or a failure to take action by Indemnitee) or of any action (or failure to act) on Indemnitee’s part while acting pursuant to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement.  If the Indemnitee believes in good faith that a given situation may lead to or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding, this shall be considered a Proceeding under this paragraph.

 

(i)                                      Reference to “other enterprise” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company 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 a person who acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee  reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

 

Section 3.                                            Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings.   The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. The parties hereto intend that this Agreement shall provide to the fullest extent permitted by law for

 

5



 

indemnification in excess of that expressly permitted by statute, including, without limitation, any indemnification provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, vote of the Company’s stockholders or disinterested directors or applicable law.

 

Section 4.                                            Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company.   The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.  If applicable law so provides, no indemnification for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction (after the time for an appeal has expired) to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court (as hereinafter defined) or any court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

 

Section 5.                                            Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection therewith.  If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with or related to each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter to the fullest extent permitted by law.  For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

Section 6.                                            Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness.   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a witness, is or was made (or asked) to respond to discovery requests in any Proceeding or otherwise asked to participate in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.

 

Section 7.                                            Partial Indemnification.   If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of Expenses, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.

 

6



 

Section 8.                                            Additional Indemnification.

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if Indemnitee, by reason of his or her Corporate Status is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status.

 

(b)                                  For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase “to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to:

 

i.                                           to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the DGCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL, and

 

ii.                                        to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

 

Section 9.                                            Exclusions.   Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification payment in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:

 

(a)                                  for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision; or

 

(b)                                  for (i) an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (as defined in Section 2(b) hereof) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law; provided that the Company shall advance Expenses in connection with Indemnitee’s defense of a claim under Section 16(b), which advances shall be repaid to the Company if it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification; or (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements); or (iii) any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any compensation pursuant to any compensation recoupment or clawback policy adopted by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board, including but not limited to any such policy adopted to comply with stock exchange listing requirements implementing Section 10D of the Exchange Act; or

 

(c)                                   except as provided in Section 14(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any

 

7



 

part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) such payment arises in connection with any mandatory counterclaim or cross claim or affirmative defense brought or raised by Indemnitee in any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding), or (iii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.

 

Section 10.                                     Advances of Expenses.   Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary (other than Section 14(d)), the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, the Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) not initiated by Indemnitee or any Proceeding initiated by Indemnitee with the prior approval of the Board as provided in Section 9(c), and such advancement shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event no later than within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding.  Advances shall be unsecured and interest free.  Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement.  In accordance with Section 14(d), advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed.  The Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that the Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced (without interest) by the Company pursuant to this Section 10, if and only to the extent that it is ultimately determined by final non-appealable judgment or other final non-appealable adjudication under the provisions of any applicable law (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.  No other form of undertaking shall be required other than the execution of this Agreement.  This Section 10 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 9.

 

Section 11.                                     Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim.

 

(a)                                  Indemnitee shall notify the Company in writing of any matter with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof.  The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding, in each case, to the extent known to Indemnitee.  To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding.  The omission by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement.  The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

 

(b)                                  The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.

 

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(c)                                   The Company shall not settle any Proceeding (in whole or in part) if such settlement would impose any Expense, judgment, liability, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee which Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder without Indemnitee’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

Section 12.                                     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification.

 

(a)                                  Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a), a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case:  (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination.  Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination.  Any costs or Expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.  The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied.

 

(b)                                  In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 12(b).  If a Change in Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising Indemnitee of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  If a Change in Control shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided , however , that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion.  Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall

 

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act as Independent Counsel.  If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or the Delaware Court has determined that such objection is without merit.  If, within twenty (20) days after the later of submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof and the final disposition of the Proceeding, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by such court or by such other person as such court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 12(a) hereof.  Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

(c)                                   If the Company disputes a portion of the amounts for which indemnification is requested, the undisputed portion shall be paid and only the disputed portion withheld pending resolution of any such dispute.

 

Section 13.                                     Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

 

(a)                                  In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption.  Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

(b)                                  Subject to Section 14(e), if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 13(b) shall not

 

10



 

apply (i) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement and if ( A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination the Board has resolved to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

 

(d)                                  For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors or officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser, financial advisor or other expert selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Enterprise.  The provisions of this Section 13(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement. Whether or not the foregoing provisions of this Section 13(d) are satisfied, it shall in any event be presumed that Indemnitee has at all times acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.

 

(e)                                   The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

Section 14.                                     Remedies of Indemnitee.

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 14(e), in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ninety (90) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5, 6 or 7 or the second to last sentence of Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3, 4 or 8 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been

 

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made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses.  Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.  Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 14(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his rights under Section 5 of this Agreement.  The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

 

(b)                                  In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.  In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.

 

(c)                                   If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(d)                                  The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.  It is the intent of the Company that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Indemnitee hereunder.  The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company if, in the case of indemnification, Indemnitee is wholly successful on the underlying claims; if Indemnitee is not wholly successful on the underlying claims, then such indemnification shall be only to the extent Indemnitee is successful on such underlying claims or otherwise as permitted by law, whichever is greater.

 

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(e)                                   Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement of Indemnitee to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.

 

Section 15.                                     Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.

 

(a)                                  The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement (i) shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise and (ii) shall be interpreted independently of, and without reference to, any other such rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled.  No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change.  No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

(b)                                  To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents of the Enterprise, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies.  If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such claim or of the commencement of a Proceeding, as the case may be, to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.  The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

 

(c)                                   The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (or for which advancement is provided hereunder) if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

 

(d)                                  The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Company shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any Proceeding, Expense, liability or matter that is the subject of the Indemnity Obligations (as defined below), (ii) the

 

13



 

Company shall be primarily liable for all Indemnity Obligations and any indemnification afforded to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding, Expense, liability or matter that is the subject of Indemnity Obligations, whether created by applicable law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise, (iii) any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated to indemnify Indemnitee or advance Expenses or liabilities to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Company hereunder, (iv) the Company shall be required to indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses or liabilities to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or insurer of any such Person and (v) the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company hereunder. In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss which is the subject of any Indemnity Obligation owed by the Company or payable under any Company insurance policy, the payor shall have a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurer or insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurer or insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment of an Indemnity Obligation by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for any Indemnity Obligation to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. Any indemnification, insurance or advancement provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated with respect to any liability arising as a result of Indemnitee’s status as director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or capacity as an officer or director of any Person is specifically in excess over any Indemnity Obligation of the Company or valid and any collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company under this Agreement. As used herein, the term “Indemnity Obligations” shall mean all obligations of the Company to Indemnitee under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, this Agreement or otherwise, including the Company’s obligations to provide indemnification to Indemnitee and advance Expenses to Indemnitee under this Agreement.

 

Section 16.                                     Duration of Agreement.   This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the later of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or any other Enterprise, as applicable, or (b) one (1) year after the final termination of any Proceeding then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any proceeding (including any appeal thereof) commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement relating thereto.  The indemnification and advancement of expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives. The Company shall require and shall cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company to, by written agreement, expressly assume and agree to perform this

 

14



 

Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

Section 17.                                     Severability.   Nothing in this Agreement is intended to require or shall be construed as requiring the Company to do or fail to do any act in violation of applicable law. The Company’s inability, pursuant to court order or other applicable law, to perform its obligations hereunder shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

 

Section 18.                                     Enforcement.

 

(a)                                  The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving or continuing to serve as a director or officer of the Company.

 

(b)                                  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any directors’ and officers’ insurance maintained by the Company and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

Section 19.                                     Modification and Waiver.   No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

Section 20.                                     Notice by Indemnitee.   Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder.  The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

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Section 21.                                     Notices.   All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (c) mailed by reputable overnight courier and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed or (d) sent by facsimile transmission, with receipt of oral confirmation that such transmission has been received:

 

(a)                                  If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

(b)                                  If to the Company to

 

Focus Financial Partners Inc.

825 Third Avenue, 27 th  Floor

New York, NY 10022

Attn: General Counsel

 

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.

 

Section 22.                                     Contribution.   To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

 

Section 23.                                     Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction.   This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.  Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

Section 24.                                     Identical Counterparts.   This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.  Only one such counterpart signed by the

 

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party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

Section 25.                                     Miscellaneous.   Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.  The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

 

INDEMNITEE

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ruedgier Adolf

 

/s/ Rajini Sundar Kodialam

Name:

Ruediger Adolf

 

Name:

Rajini Sundar Kodialam

Office:

Chief Executive Officer

 

Address: 

825 Third Avenue

 

 

 

New York, NY 10022

 

17


Exhibit 10.8

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of July 30, 2018 by and between Focus Financial Partners Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and James Shanahan (“Indemnitee”).  This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all previous Agreements between the Company and Indemnitee covering the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) believes that highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors or officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;

 

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers, and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (as may be amended, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (as may be amended, the “Bylaws”) require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).  The Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the board of directors, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification;

 

WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification may increase the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;

 

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

 

WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws, and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, as well as any rights

 



 

of Indemnitees under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy, and this Agreement and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and

 

WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve or continue to serve as an officer or director without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                                            Services to the Company.   Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director or officer of the Company or, by mutual agreement of the Company and Indemnitee, as a director or officer of another Enterprise (as defined below), as applicable. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Company shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), if any, is at will, and the Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Company, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, and the DGCL. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or any Enterprise, as applicable, as provided in Section 16 hereof.

 

Section 2.                                            Definitions.   As used in this Agreement:

 

(a)                                  References to “agent” shall mean any person who is or was a director, officer, or employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or other person authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such person serving in such capacity as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or other official of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.

 

(b)                                  A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

 

i.                                           Acquisition of Stock by Third Party.  Any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities unless the change in relative Beneficial Ownership of the

 

2



 

Company’s securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;

 

ii.                                        Change in Board of Directors.  During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 2(b)(i), 2(b)(iii) or 2(b)(iv)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;

 

iii.                                     Corporate Transactions.  The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Surviving Entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Surviving Entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such Surviving Entity;

 

iv.                                    Liquidation.  The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; and

 

v.                                       Other Events.  There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

 

For purposes of this Section 2(b), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(A)                                “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

(B)                                “Person” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person shall exclude (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

 

(C)                                “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner shall exclude any Person otherwise

 

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becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity.

 

(D)                                “Surviving Entity” shall mean the surviving entity in a merger or consolidation or any entity that controls, directly or indirectly, such surviving entity.

 

(c)                                   “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, trustee, partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership or joint venture, trust or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

 

(d)                                  “Disinterested Director” shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(e)                                   “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, employee, agent or fiduciary.

 

(f)                                    “Expenses” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees and other costs of experts and other professionals, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and all other disbursements, obligations or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with, or as a result of, prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a deponent or witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding.  Expenses also shall include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, (ii) expenses incurred in connection with recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee is ultimately determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or Expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be, and (iii) for purposes of Section 14(d) only, Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, by litigation or otherwise.  The parties agree that for the purposes of any advancement of Expenses for which Indemnitee has made written demand to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses included in such demand that are certified by affidavit of Indemnitee’s counsel as being reasonable in the good faith judgment of such counsel shall be presumed conclusively to be reasonable.  Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

 

(g)                                   “Independent Counsel” shall mean a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent:  (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either

 

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such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.  The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

(h)                                  The term “Proceeding” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, counterclaim, cross claim, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, regulatory or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, by reason of any action taken by Indemnitee (or a failure to take action by Indemnitee) or of any action (or failure to act) on Indemnitee’s part while acting pursuant to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement.  If the Indemnitee believes in good faith that a given situation may lead to or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding, this shall be considered a Proceeding under this paragraph.

 

(i)                                      Reference to “other enterprise” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company 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 a person who acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee  reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

 

Section 3.                                            Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings.   The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. The parties hereto intend that this Agreement shall provide to the fullest extent permitted by law for

 

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indemnification in excess of that expressly permitted by statute, including, without limitation, any indemnification provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, vote of the Company’s stockholders or disinterested directors or applicable law.

 

Section 4.                                            Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company.   The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.  If applicable law so provides, no indemnification for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction (after the time for an appeal has expired) to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court (as hereinafter defined) or any court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

 

Section 5.                                            Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection therewith.  If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with or related to each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter to the fullest extent permitted by law.  For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

Section 6.                                            Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness.   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a witness, is or was made (or asked) to respond to discovery requests in any Proceeding or otherwise asked to participate in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.

 

Section 7.                                            Partial Indemnification.   If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of Expenses, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.

 

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Section 8.                                            Additional Indemnification.

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if Indemnitee, by reason of his or her Corporate Status is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status.

 

(b)                                  For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase “to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to:

 

i.                                           to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the DGCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL, and

 

ii.                                        to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

 

Section 9.                                            Exclusions.   Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification payment in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:

 

(a)                                  for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision; or

 

(b)                                  for (i) an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (as defined in Section 2(b) hereof) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law; provided that the Company shall advance Expenses in connection with Indemnitee’s defense of a claim under Section 16(b), which advances shall be repaid to the Company if it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification; or (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements); or (iii) any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any compensation pursuant to any compensation recoupment or clawback policy adopted by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board, including but not limited to any such policy adopted to comply with stock exchange listing requirements implementing Section 10D of the Exchange Act; or

 

(c)                                   except as provided in Section 14(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any

 

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part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) such payment arises in connection with any mandatory counterclaim or cross claim or affirmative defense brought or raised by Indemnitee in any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding), or (iii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.

 

Section 10.                                     Advances of Expenses.   Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary (other than Section 14(d)), the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, the Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) not initiated by Indemnitee or any Proceeding initiated by Indemnitee with the prior approval of the Board as provided in Section 9(c), and such advancement shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event no later than within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding.  Advances shall be unsecured and interest free.  Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement.  In accordance with Section 14(d), advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed.  The Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that the Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced (without interest) by the Company pursuant to this Section 10, if and only to the extent that it is ultimately determined by final non-appealable judgment or other final non-appealable adjudication under the provisions of any applicable law (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.  No other form of undertaking shall be required other than the execution of this Agreement.  This Section 10 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 9.

 

Section 11.                                     Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim.

 

(a)                                  Indemnitee shall notify the Company in writing of any matter with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof.  The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding, in each case, to the extent known to Indemnitee.  To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding.  The omission by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement.  The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

 

(b)                                  The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.

 

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(c)                                   The Company shall not settle any Proceeding (in whole or in part) if such settlement would impose any Expense, judgment, liability, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee which Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder without Indemnitee’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

Section 12.                                     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification.

 

(a)                                  Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a), a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case:  (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination.  Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination.  Any costs or Expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.  The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied.

 

(b)                                  In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 12(b).  If a Change in Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising Indemnitee of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  If a Change in Control shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided , however , that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion.  Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall

 

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act as Independent Counsel.  If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or the Delaware Court has determined that such objection is without merit.  If, within twenty (20) days after the later of submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof and the final disposition of the Proceeding, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by such court or by such other person as such court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 12(a) hereof.  Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

(c)                                   If the Company disputes a portion of the amounts for which indemnification is requested, the undisputed portion shall be paid and only the disputed portion withheld pending resolution of any such dispute.

 

Section 13.                                     Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

 

(a)                                  In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption.  Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

(b)                                  Subject to Section 14(e), if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 13(b) shall not

 

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apply (i) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement and if ( A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination the Board has resolved to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

 

(d)                                  For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors or officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser, financial advisor or other expert selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Enterprise.  The provisions of this Section 13(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement. Whether or not the foregoing provisions of this Section 13(d) are satisfied, it shall in any event be presumed that Indemnitee has at all times acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.

 

(e)                                   The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

Section 14.                                     Remedies of Indemnitee.

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 14(e), in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ninety (90) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5, 6 or 7 or the second to last sentence of Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3, 4 or 8 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been

 

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made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses.  Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.  Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 14(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his rights under Section 5 of this Agreement.  The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

 

(b)                                  In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.  In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.

 

(c)                                   If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(d)                                  The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.  It is the intent of the Company that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Indemnitee hereunder.  The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company if, in the case of indemnification, Indemnitee is wholly successful on the underlying claims; if Indemnitee is not wholly successful on the underlying claims, then such indemnification shall be only to the extent Indemnitee is successful on such underlying claims or otherwise as permitted by law, whichever is greater.

 

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(e)                                   Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement of Indemnitee to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.

 

Section 15.                                     Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.

 

(a)                                  The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement (i) shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise and (ii) shall be interpreted independently of, and without reference to, any other such rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled.  No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change.  No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

(b)                                  To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents of the Enterprise, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies.  If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such claim or of the commencement of a Proceeding, as the case may be, to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.  The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

 

(c)                                   The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (or for which advancement is provided hereunder) if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

 

(d)                                  The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Company shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any Proceeding, Expense, liability or matter that is the subject of the Indemnity Obligations (as defined below), (ii) the

 

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Company shall be primarily liable for all Indemnity Obligations and any indemnification afforded to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding, Expense, liability or matter that is the subject of Indemnity Obligations, whether created by applicable law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise, (iii) any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated to indemnify Indemnitee or advance Expenses or liabilities to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Company hereunder, (iv) the Company shall be required to indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses or liabilities to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or insurer of any such Person and (v) the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company hereunder. In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss which is the subject of any Indemnity Obligation owed by the Company or payable under any Company insurance policy, the payor shall have a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurer or insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurer or insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment of an Indemnity Obligation by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for any Indemnity Obligation to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. Any indemnification, insurance or advancement provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated with respect to any liability arising as a result of Indemnitee’s status as director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or capacity as an officer or director of any Person is specifically in excess over any Indemnity Obligation of the Company or valid and any collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company under this Agreement. As used herein, the term “Indemnity Obligations” shall mean all obligations of the Company to Indemnitee under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, this Agreement or otherwise, including the Company’s obligations to provide indemnification to Indemnitee and advance Expenses to Indemnitee under this Agreement.

 

Section 16.                                     Duration of Agreement.   This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the later of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or any other Enterprise, as applicable, or (b) one (1) year after the final termination of any Proceeding then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any proceeding (including any appeal thereof) commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement relating thereto.  The indemnification and advancement of expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives. The Company shall require and shall cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company to, by written agreement, expressly assume and agree to perform this

 

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Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

Section 17.                                     Severability.   Nothing in this Agreement is intended to require or shall be construed as requiring the Company to do or fail to do any act in violation of applicable law. The Company’s inability, pursuant to court order or other applicable law, to perform its obligations hereunder shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

 

Section 18.                                     Enforcement.

 

(a)                                  The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving or continuing to serve as a director or officer of the Company.

 

(b)                                  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any directors’ and officers’ insurance maintained by the Company and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

Section 19.                                     Modification and Waiver.   No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

Section 20.                                     Notice by Indemnitee.   Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder.  The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

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Section 21.                                     Notices.   All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (c) mailed by reputable overnight courier and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed or (d) sent by facsimile transmission, with receipt of oral confirmation that such transmission has been received:

 

(a)                                  If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

(b)                                  If to the Company to

 

Focus Financial Partners Inc.

825 Third Avenue, 27 th  Floor

New York, NY 10022

Attn: General Counsel

 

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.

 

Section 22.                                     Contribution.   To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

 

Section 23.                                     Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction.   This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.  Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

Section 24.                                     Identical Counterparts.   This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.  Only one such counterpart signed by the

 

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party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

Section 25.                                     Miscellaneous.   Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.  The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

INDEMNITEE

 

 

By:

/s/ Ruediger Adolf

 

/s/ James Shanahan

Name:

Ruediger Adolf

Name:

James Shanahan

Office:

Chief Executive Officer

Address:

825 Third Avenue

 

 

New York, NY 10022

 

17


Exhibit 10.9

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of July 30, 2018 by and between Focus Financial Partners Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and James D. Carey (“Indemnitee”).  This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all previous Agreements between the Company and Indemnitee covering the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) believes that highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors or officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;

 

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers, and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (as may be amended, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (as may be amended, the “Bylaws”) require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).  The Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the board of directors, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification;

 

WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification may increase the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;

 

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

 

WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws, and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, as well as any rights

 



 

of Indemnitees under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy, and this Agreement and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and

 

WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve or continue to serve as an officer or director without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                                            Services to the Company.   Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director or officer of the Company or, by mutual agreement of the Company and Indemnitee, as a director or officer of another Enterprise (as defined below), as applicable. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Company shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), if any, is at will, and the Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Company, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, and the DGCL. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or any Enterprise, as applicable, as provided in Section 16 hereof.

 

Section 2.                                            Definitions.   As used in this Agreement:

 

(a)                                  References to “agent” shall mean any person who is or was a director, officer, or employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or other person authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such person serving in such capacity as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or other official of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.

 

(b)                                  A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

 

i.                                           Acquisition of Stock by Third Party.  Any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities unless the change in relative Beneficial Ownership of the

 

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Company’s securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;

 

ii.                                        Change in Board of Directors.  During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 2(b)(i), 2(b)(iii) or 2(b)(iv)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;

 

iii.                                     Corporate Transactions.  The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Surviving Entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Surviving Entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such Surviving Entity;

 

iv.                                    Liquidation.  The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; and

 

v.                                       Other Events.  There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

 

For purposes of this Section 2(b), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(A)                                “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

(B)                                “Person” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person shall exclude (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

 

(C)                                “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner shall exclude any Person otherwise

 

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becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity.

 

(D)                                “Surviving Entity” shall mean the surviving entity in a merger or consolidation or any entity that controls, directly or indirectly, such surviving entity.

 

(c)                                   “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, trustee, partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership or joint venture, trust or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

 

(d)                                  “Disinterested Director” shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(e)                                   “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, employee, agent or fiduciary.

 

(f)                                    “Expenses” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees and other costs of experts and other professionals, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and all other disbursements, obligations or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with, or as a result of, prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a deponent or witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding.  Expenses also shall include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, (ii) expenses incurred in connection with recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee is ultimately determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or Expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be, and (iii) for purposes of Section 14(d) only, Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, by litigation or otherwise.  The parties agree that for the purposes of any advancement of Expenses for which Indemnitee has made written demand to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses included in such demand that are certified by affidavit of Indemnitee’s counsel as being reasonable in the good faith judgment of such counsel shall be presumed conclusively to be reasonable.  Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

 

(g)                                   “Independent Counsel” shall mean a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent:  (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either

 

4



 

such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.  The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

(h)                                  The term “Proceeding” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, counterclaim, cross claim, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, regulatory or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, by reason of any action taken by Indemnitee (or a failure to take action by Indemnitee) or of any action (or failure to act) on Indemnitee’s part while acting pursuant to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement.  If the Indemnitee believes in good faith that a given situation may lead to or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding, this shall be considered a Proceeding under this paragraph.

 

(i)                                      Reference to “other enterprise” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company 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 a person who acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee  reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

 

Section 3.                                            Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings.   The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. The parties hereto intend that this Agreement shall provide to the fullest extent permitted by law for

 

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indemnification in excess of that expressly permitted by statute, including, without limitation, any indemnification provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, vote of the Company’s stockholders or disinterested directors or applicable law.

 

Section 4.                                            Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company.   The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.  If applicable law so provides, no indemnification for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction (after the time for an appeal has expired) to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court (as hereinafter defined) or any court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

 

Section 5.                                            Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection therewith.  If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with or related to each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter to the fullest extent permitted by law.  For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

Section 6.                                            Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness.   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a witness, is or was made (or asked) to respond to discovery requests in any Proceeding or otherwise asked to participate in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.

 

Section 7.                                            Partial Indemnification.   If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of Expenses, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.

 

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Section 8.                                            Additional Indemnification.

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if Indemnitee, by reason of his or her Corporate Status is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status.

 

(b)                                  For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase “to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to:

 

i.                                           to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the DGCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL, and

 

ii.                                        to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

 

Section 9.                                            Exclusions.   Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification payment in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:

 

(a)                                  for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision; or

 

(b)                                  for (i) an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (as defined in Section 2(b) hereof) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law; provided that the Company shall advance Expenses in connection with Indemnitee’s defense of a claim under Section 16(b), which advances shall be repaid to the Company if it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification; or (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements); or (iii) any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any compensation pursuant to any compensation recoupment or clawback policy adopted by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board, including but not limited to any such policy adopted to comply with stock exchange listing requirements implementing Section 10D of the Exchange Act; or

 

(c)                                   except as provided in Section 14(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any

 

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part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) such payment arises in connection with any mandatory counterclaim or cross claim or affirmative defense brought or raised by Indemnitee in any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding), or (iii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.

 

Section 10.                                     Advances of Expenses.   Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary (other than Section 14(d)), the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, the Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) not initiated by Indemnitee or any Proceeding initiated by Indemnitee with the prior approval of the Board as provided in Section 9(c), and such advancement shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event no later than within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding.  Advances shall be unsecured and interest free.  Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement.  In accordance with Section 14(d), advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed.  The Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that the Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced (without interest) by the Company pursuant to this Section 10, if and only to the extent that it is ultimately determined by final non-appealable judgment or other final non-appealable adjudication under the provisions of any applicable law (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.  No other form of undertaking shall be required other than the execution of this Agreement.  This Section 10 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 9.

 

Section 11.                                     Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim.

 

(a)                                  Indemnitee shall notify the Company in writing of any matter with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof.  The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding, in each case, to the extent known to Indemnitee.  To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding.  The omission by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement.  The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

 

(b)                                  The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.

 

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(c)                                   The Company shall not settle any Proceeding (in whole or in part) if such settlement would impose any Expense, judgment, liability, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee which Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder without Indemnitee’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

Section 12.                                     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification.

 

(a)                                  Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a), a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case:  (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination.  Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination.  Any costs or Expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.  The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied.

 

(b)                                  In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 12(b).  If a Change in Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising Indemnitee of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  If a Change in Control shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided , however , that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion.  Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall

 

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act as Independent Counsel.  If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or the Delaware Court has determined that such objection is without merit.  If, within twenty (20) days after the later of submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof and the final disposition of the Proceeding, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by such court or by such other person as such court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 12(a) hereof.  Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

(c)                                   If the Company disputes a portion of the amounts for which indemnification is requested, the undisputed portion shall be paid and only the disputed portion withheld pending resolution of any such dispute.

 

Section 13.                                     Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

 

(a)                                  In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption.  Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

(b)                                  Subject to Section 14(e), if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 13(b) shall not

 

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apply (i) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement and if ( A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination the Board has resolved to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

 

(d)                                  For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors or officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser, financial advisor or other expert selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Enterprise.  The provisions of this Section 13(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement. Whether or not the foregoing provisions of this Section 13(d) are satisfied, it shall in any event be presumed that Indemnitee has at all times acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.

 

(e)                                   The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

Section 14.                                     Remedies of Indemnitee.

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 14(e), in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ninety (90) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5, 6 or 7 or the second to last sentence of Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3, 4 or 8 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been

 

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made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses.  Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.  Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 14(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his rights under Section 5 of this Agreement.  The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

 

(b)                                  In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.  In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.

 

(c)                                   If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(d)                                  The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.  It is the intent of the Company that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Indemnitee hereunder.  The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company if, in the case of indemnification, Indemnitee is wholly successful on the underlying claims; if Indemnitee is not wholly successful on the underlying claims, then such indemnification shall be only to the extent Indemnitee is successful on such underlying claims or otherwise as permitted by law, whichever is greater.

 

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(e)                                   Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement of Indemnitee to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.

 

Section 15.                                     Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.

 

(a)                                  The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement (i) shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise and (ii) shall be interpreted independently of, and without reference to, any other such rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled.  No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change.  No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

(b)                                  To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents of the Enterprise, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies.  If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such claim or of the commencement of a Proceeding, as the case may be, to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.  The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

 

(c)                                   The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (or for which advancement is provided hereunder) if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

 

(d)                                  The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Company shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any Proceeding, Expense, liability or matter that is the subject of the Indemnity Obligations (as defined below), (ii) the

 

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Company shall be primarily liable for all Indemnity Obligations and any indemnification afforded to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding, Expense, liability or matter that is the subject of Indemnity Obligations, whether created by applicable law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise, (iii) any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated to indemnify Indemnitee or advance Expenses or liabilities to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Company hereunder, (iv) the Company shall be required to indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses or liabilities to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or insurer of any such Person and (v) the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company hereunder. In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss which is the subject of any Indemnity Obligation owed by the Company or payable under any Company insurance policy, the payor shall have a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurer or insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurer or insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment of an Indemnity Obligation by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for any Indemnity Obligation to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. Any indemnification, insurance or advancement provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated with respect to any liability arising as a result of Indemnitee’s status as director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or capacity as an officer or director of any Person is specifically in excess over any Indemnity Obligation of the Company or valid and any collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company under this Agreement. As used herein, the term “Indemnity Obligations” shall mean all obligations of the Company to Indemnitee under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, this Agreement or otherwise, including the Company’s obligations to provide indemnification to Indemnitee and advance Expenses to Indemnitee under this Agreement.

 

Section 16.                                     Duration of Agreement.   This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the later of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or any other Enterprise, as applicable, or (b) one (1) year after the final termination of any Proceeding then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any proceeding (including any appeal thereof) commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement relating thereto.  The indemnification and advancement of expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives. The Company shall require and shall cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company to, by written agreement, expressly assume and agree to perform this

 

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Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

Section 17.                                     Severability.   Nothing in this Agreement is intended to require or shall be construed as requiring the Company to do or fail to do any act in violation of applicable law. The Company’s inability, pursuant to court order or other applicable law, to perform its obligations hereunder shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

 

Section 18.                                     Enforcement.

 

(a)                                  The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving or continuing to serve as a director or officer of the Company.

 

(b)                                  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any directors’ and officers’ insurance maintained by the Company and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

Section 19.                                     Modification and Waiver.   No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

Section 20.                                     Notice by Indemnitee.   Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder.  The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

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Section 21.                                     Notices.   All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (c) mailed by reputable overnight courier and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed or (d) sent by facsimile transmission, with receipt of oral confirmation that such transmission has been received:

 

(a)                                  If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

(b)                                  If to the Company to

 

Focus Financial Partners Inc.

825 Third Avenue, 27 th  Floor

New York, NY 10022

Attn: General Counsel

 

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.

 

Section 22.                                     Contribution.   To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

 

Section 23.                                     Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction.   This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.  Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

Section 24.                                     Identical Counterparts.   This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.  Only one such counterpart signed by the

 

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party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

Section 25.                                     Miscellaneous.   Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.  The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

*                                          *                                          *                                          *                                          *

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

 

INDEMNITEE

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ruediger Adolf

 

/s/ James D. carey

Name:

Ruediger Adolf

 

Name:

James D. Carey

Office:

Chief Executive Officer

 

Address:

20 Horseneck Lane

 

 

 

Greenwich, CT 06830

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 


Exhibit 10.10

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of July 30, 2018 by and between Focus Financial Partners Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Fayez S. Muhtadie (“Indemnitee”).  This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all previous Agreements between the Company and Indemnitee covering the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) believes that highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors or officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;

 

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers, and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (as may be amended, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (as may be amended, the “Bylaws”) require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).  The Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the board of directors, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification;

 

WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification may increase the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;

 

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

 

WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws, and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, as well as any rights

 



 

of Indemnitees under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy, and this Agreement and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and

 

WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve or continue to serve as an officer or director without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                                            Services to the Company.   Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director or officer of the Company or, by mutual agreement of the Company and Indemnitee, as a director or officer of another Enterprise (as defined below), as applicable. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Company shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), if any, is at will, and the Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Company, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, and the DGCL. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or any Enterprise, as applicable, as provided in Section 16 hereof.

 

Section 2.                                            Definitions.   As used in this Agreement:

 

(a)                                  References to “agent” shall mean any person who is or was a director, officer, or employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or other person authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such person serving in such capacity as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or other official of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.

 

(b)                                  A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

 

i.                                           Acquisition of Stock by Third Party.  Any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities unless the change in relative Beneficial Ownership of the

 

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Company’s securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;

 

ii.                                        Change in Board of Directors.  During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 2(b)(i), 2(b)(iii) or 2(b)(iv)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;

 

iii.                                     Corporate Transactions.  The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Surviving Entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Surviving Entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such Surviving Entity;

 

iv.                                    Liquidation.  The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; and

 

v.                                       Other Events.  There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

 

For purposes of this Section 2(b), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(A)                                “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

(B)                                “Person” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person shall exclude (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

 

(C)                                “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner shall exclude any Person otherwise

 

3



 

becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity.

 

(D)                                “Surviving Entity” shall mean the surviving entity in a merger or consolidation or any entity that controls, directly or indirectly, such surviving entity.

 

(c)                                   “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, trustee, partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership or joint venture, trust or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

 

(d)                                  “Disinterested Director” shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(e)                                   “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, employee, agent or fiduciary.

 

(f)                                    “Expenses” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees and other costs of experts and other professionals, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and all other disbursements, obligations or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with, or as a result of, prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a deponent or witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding.  Expenses also shall include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, (ii) expenses incurred in connection with recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee is ultimately determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or Expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be, and (iii) for purposes of Section 14(d) only, Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, by litigation or otherwise.  The parties agree that for the purposes of any advancement of Expenses for which Indemnitee has made written demand to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses included in such demand that are certified by affidavit of Indemnitee’s counsel as being reasonable in the good faith judgment of such counsel shall be presumed conclusively to be reasonable.  Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

 

(g)                                   “Independent Counsel” shall mean a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent:  (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either

 

4



 

such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.  The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

(h)                                  The term “Proceeding” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, counterclaim, cross claim, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, regulatory or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, by reason of any action taken by Indemnitee (or a failure to take action by Indemnitee) or of any action (or failure to act) on Indemnitee’s part while acting pursuant to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement.  If the Indemnitee believes in good faith that a given situation may lead to or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding, this shall be considered a Proceeding under this paragraph.

 

(i)                                      Reference to “other enterprise” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company 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 a person who acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee  reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

 

Section 3.                                            Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings.   The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. The parties hereto intend that this Agreement shall provide to the fullest extent permitted by law for

 

5



 

indemnification in excess of that expressly permitted by statute, including, without limitation, any indemnification provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, vote of the Company’s stockholders or disinterested directors or applicable law.

 

Section 4.                                            Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company.   The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.  If applicable law so provides, no indemnification for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction (after the time for an appeal has expired) to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court (as hereinafter defined) or any court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

 

Section 5.                                            Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection therewith.  If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with or related to each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter to the fullest extent permitted by law.  For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

Section 6.                                            Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness.   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a witness, is or was made (or asked) to respond to discovery requests in any Proceeding or otherwise asked to participate in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.

 

Section 7.                                            Partial Indemnification.   If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of Expenses, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.

 

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Section 8.                                            Additional Indemnification.

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if Indemnitee, by reason of his or her Corporate Status is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status.

 

(b)                                  For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase “to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to:

 

i.                                           to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the DGCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL, and

 

ii.                                        to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

 

Section 9.                                            Exclusions.   Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification payment in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:

 

(a)                                  for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision; or

 

(b)                                  for (i) an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (as defined in Section 2(b) hereof) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law; provided that the Company shall advance Expenses in connection with Indemnitee’s defense of a claim under Section 16(b), which advances shall be repaid to the Company if it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification; or (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements); or (iii) any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any compensation pursuant to any compensation recoupment or clawback policy adopted by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board, including but not limited to any such policy adopted to comply with stock exchange listing requirements implementing Section 10D of the Exchange Act; or

 

(c)                                   except as provided in Section 14(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any

 

7



 

part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) such payment arises in connection with any mandatory counterclaim or cross claim or affirmative defense brought or raised by Indemnitee in any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding), or (iii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.

 

Section 10.                                     Advances of Expenses.   Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary (other than Section 14(d)), the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, the Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) not initiated by Indemnitee or any Proceeding initiated by Indemnitee with the prior approval of the Board as provided in Section 9(c), and such advancement shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event no later than within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding.  Advances shall be unsecured and interest free.  Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement.  In accordance with Section 14(d), advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed.  The Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that the Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced (without interest) by the Company pursuant to this Section 10, if and only to the extent that it is ultimately determined by final non-appealable judgment or other final non-appealable adjudication under the provisions of any applicable law (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.  No other form of undertaking shall be required other than the execution of this Agreement.  This Section 10 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 9.

 

Section 11.                                     Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim.

 

(a)                                  Indemnitee shall notify the Company in writing of any matter with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof.  The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding, in each case, to the extent known to Indemnitee.  To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding.  The omission by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement.  The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

 

(b)                                  The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.

 

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(c)                                   The Company shall not settle any Proceeding (in whole or in part) if such settlement would impose any Expense, judgment, liability, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee which Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder without Indemnitee’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

Section 12.                                     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification.

 

(a)                                  Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a), a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case:  (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination.  Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination.  Any costs or Expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.  The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied.

 

(b)                                  In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 12(b).  If a Change in Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising Indemnitee of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  If a Change in Control shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided , however , that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion.  Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall

 

9



 

act as Independent Counsel.  If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or the Delaware Court has determined that such objection is without merit.  If, within twenty (20) days after the later of submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof and the final disposition of the Proceeding, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by such court or by such other person as such court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 12(a) hereof.  Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

(c)                                   If the Company disputes a portion of the amounts for which indemnification is requested, the undisputed portion shall be paid and only the disputed portion withheld pending resolution of any such dispute.

 

Section 13.                                     Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

 

(a)                                  In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption.  Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

(b)                                  Subject to Section 14(e), if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 13(b) shall not

 

10



 

apply (i) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement and if ( A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination the Board has resolved to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

 

(d)                                  For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors or officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser, financial advisor or other expert selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Enterprise.  The provisions of this Section 13(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement. Whether or not the foregoing provisions of this Section 13(d) are satisfied, it shall in any event be presumed that Indemnitee has at all times acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.

 

(e)                                   The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

Section 14.                                     Remedies of Indemnitee.

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 14(e), in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ninety (90) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5, 6 or 7 or the second to last sentence of Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3, 4 or 8 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been

 

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made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses.  Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.  Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 14(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his rights under Section 5 of this Agreement.  The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

 

(b)                                  In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.  In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.

 

(c)                                   If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(d)                                  The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.  It is the intent of the Company that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Indemnitee hereunder.  The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company if, in the case of indemnification, Indemnitee is wholly successful on the underlying claims; if Indemnitee is not wholly successful on the underlying claims, then such indemnification shall be only to the extent Indemnitee is successful on such underlying claims or otherwise as permitted by law, whichever is greater.

 

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(e)                                   Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement of Indemnitee to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.

 

Section 15.                                     Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.

 

(a)                                  The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement (i) shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise and (ii) shall be interpreted independently of, and without reference to, any other such rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled.  No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change.  No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

(b)                                  To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents of the Enterprise, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies.  If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such claim or of the commencement of a Proceeding, as the case may be, to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.  The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

 

(c)                                   The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (or for which advancement is provided hereunder) if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

 

(d)                                  The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Company shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any Proceeding, Expense, liability or matter that is the subject of the Indemnity Obligations (as defined below), (ii) the

 

13



 

Company shall be primarily liable for all Indemnity Obligations and any indemnification afforded to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding, Expense, liability or matter that is the subject of Indemnity Obligations, whether created by applicable law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise, (iii) any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated to indemnify Indemnitee or advance Expenses or liabilities to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Company hereunder, (iv) the Company shall be required to indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses or liabilities to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or insurer of any such Person and (v) the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company hereunder. In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss which is the subject of any Indemnity Obligation owed by the Company or payable under any Company insurance policy, the payor shall have a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurer or insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurer or insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment of an Indemnity Obligation by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for any Indemnity Obligation to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. Any indemnification, insurance or advancement provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated with respect to any liability arising as a result of Indemnitee’s status as director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or capacity as an officer or director of any Person is specifically in excess over any Indemnity Obligation of the Company or valid and any collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company under this Agreement. As used herein, the term “Indemnity Obligations” shall mean all obligations of the Company to Indemnitee under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, this Agreement or otherwise, including the Company’s obligations to provide indemnification to Indemnitee and advance Expenses to Indemnitee under this Agreement.

 

Section 16.                                     Duration of Agreement.   This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the later of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or any other Enterprise, as applicable, or (b) one (1) year after the final termination of any Proceeding then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any proceeding (including any appeal thereof) commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement relating thereto.  The indemnification and advancement of expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives. The Company shall require and shall cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company to, by written agreement, expressly assume and agree to perform this

 

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Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

Section 17.                                     Severability.   Nothing in this Agreement is intended to require or shall be construed as requiring the Company to do or fail to do any act in violation of applicable law. The Company’s inability, pursuant to court order or other applicable law, to perform its obligations hereunder shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

 

Section 18.                                     Enforcement.

 

(a)                                  The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving or continuing to serve as a director or officer of the Company.

 

(b)                                  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any directors’ and officers’ insurance maintained by the Company and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

Section 19.                                     Modification and Waiver.   No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

Section 20.                                     Notice by Indemnitee.   Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder.  The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

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Section 21.                                     Notices.   All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (c) mailed by reputable overnight courier and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed or (d) sent by facsimile transmission, with receipt of oral confirmation that such transmission has been received:

 

(a)                                  If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

(b)                                  If to the Company to

 

Focus Financial Partners Inc.

825 Third Avenue, 27 th  Floor

New York, NY 10022

Attn: General Counsel

 

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.

 

Section 22.                                     Contribution.   To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

 

Section 23.                                     Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction.   This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.  Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

Section 24.                                     Identical Counterparts.   This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.  Only one such counterpart signed by the

 

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party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

Section 25.                                     Miscellaneous.   Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.  The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

*                                          *                                          *                                          *                                          *

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

 

INDEMNITEE

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ruediger Adolf

 

/s/ Fayez S. Muhtadie

Name:

Ruediger Adolf

 

Name:

Fayez S. Muhtadie

Office:

Chief Executive Officer

 

Address:

20 Horseneck Lane

 

 

 

Greenwich, CT 06830

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 


Exhibit 10.1 1

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of July 30, 2018 by and between Focus Financial Partners Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Christopher J. Harrington (“Indemnitee”).  This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all previous Agreements between the Company and Indemnitee covering the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) believes that highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors or officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;

 

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers, and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (as may be amended, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (as may be amended, the “Bylaws”) require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).  The Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the board of directors, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification;

 

WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification may increase the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;

 

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

 

WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws, and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, as well as any rights

 



 

of Indemnitees under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy, and this Agreement and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and

 

WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve or continue to serve as an officer or director without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                                            Services to the Company.   Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director or officer of the Company or, by mutual agreement of the Company and Indemnitee, as a director or officer of another Enterprise (as defined below), as applicable. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Company shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), if any, is at will, and the Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Company, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, and the DGCL. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or any Enterprise, as applicable, as provided in Section 16 hereof.

 

Section 2.                                            Definitions.   As used in this Agreement:

 

(a)                                  References to “agent” shall mean any person who is or was a director, officer, or employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or other person authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such person serving in such capacity as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or other official of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.

 

(b)                                  A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

 

i.                                           Acquisition of Stock by Third Party.  Any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities unless the change in relative Beneficial Ownership of the

 

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Company’s securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;

 

ii.                                        Change in Board of Directors.  During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 2(b)(i), 2(b)(iii) or 2(b)(iv)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;

 

iii.                                     Corporate Transactions.  The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Surviving Entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Surviving Entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such Surviving Entity;

 

iv.                                    Liquidation.  The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; and

 

v.                                       Other Events.  There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

 

For purposes of this Section 2(b), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(A)                                “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

(B)                                “Person” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person shall exclude (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

 

(C)                                “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner shall exclude any Person otherwise

 

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becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity.

 

(D)                                “Surviving Entity” shall mean the surviving entity in a merger or consolidation or any entity that controls, directly or indirectly, such surviving entity.

 

(c)                                   “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, trustee, partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership or joint venture, trust or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

 

(d)                                  “Disinterested Director” shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(e)                                   “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, employee, agent or fiduciary.

 

(f)                                    “Expenses” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees and other costs of experts and other professionals, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and all other disbursements, obligations or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with, or as a result of, prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a deponent or witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding.  Expenses also shall include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, (ii) expenses incurred in connection with recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee is ultimately determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or Expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be, and (iii) for purposes of Section 14(d) only, Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, by litigation or otherwise.  The parties agree that for the purposes of any advancement of Expenses for which Indemnitee has made written demand to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses included in such demand that are certified by affidavit of Indemnitee’s counsel as being reasonable in the good faith judgment of such counsel shall be presumed conclusively to be reasonable.  Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

 

(g)                                   “Independent Counsel” shall mean a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent:  (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either

 

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such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.  The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

(h)                                  The term “Proceeding” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, counterclaim, cross claim, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, regulatory or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, by reason of any action taken by Indemnitee (or a failure to take action by Indemnitee) or of any action (or failure to act) on Indemnitee’s part while acting pursuant to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement.  If the Indemnitee believes in good faith that a given situation may lead to or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding, this shall be considered a Proceeding under this paragraph.

 

(i)                                      Reference to “other enterprise” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company 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 a person who acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee  reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

 

Section 3.                                            Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings.   The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. The parties hereto intend that this Agreement shall provide to the fullest extent permitted by law for

 

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indemnification in excess of that expressly permitted by statute, including, without limitation, any indemnification provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, vote of the Company’s stockholders or disinterested directors or applicable law.

 

Section 4.                                            Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company.   The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.  If applicable law so provides, no indemnification for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction (after the time for an appeal has expired) to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court (as hereinafter defined) or any court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

 

Section 5.                                            Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection therewith.  If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with or related to each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter to the fullest extent permitted by law.  For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

Section 6.                                            Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness.   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a witness, is or was made (or asked) to respond to discovery requests in any Proceeding or otherwise asked to participate in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.

 

Section 7.                                            Partial Indemnification.   If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of Expenses, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.

 

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Section 8.                                            Additional Indemnification.

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if Indemnitee, by reason of his or her Corporate Status is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status.

 

(b)                                  For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase “to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to:

 

i.                                           to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the DGCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL, and

 

ii.                                        to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

 

Section 9.                                            Exclusions.   Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification payment in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:

 

(a)                                  for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision; or

 

(b)                                  for (i) an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (as defined in Section 2(b) hereof) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law; provided that the Company shall advance Expenses in connection with Indemnitee’s defense of a claim under Section 16(b), which advances shall be repaid to the Company if it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification; or (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements); or (iii) any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any compensation pursuant to any compensation recoupment or clawback policy adopted by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board, including but not limited to any such policy adopted to comply with stock exchange listing requirements implementing Section 10D of the Exchange Act; or

 

(c)                                   except as provided in Section 14(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any

 

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part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) such payment arises in connection with any mandatory counterclaim or cross claim or affirmative defense brought or raised by Indemnitee in any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding), or (iii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.

 

Section 10.                                     Advances of Expenses.   Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary (other than Section 14(d)), the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, the Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) not initiated by Indemnitee or any Proceeding initiated by Indemnitee with the prior approval of the Board as provided in Section 9(c), and such advancement shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event no later than within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding.  Advances shall be unsecured and interest free.  Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement.  In accordance with Section 14(d), advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed.  The Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that the Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced (without interest) by the Company pursuant to this Section 10, if and only to the extent that it is ultimately determined by final non-appealable judgment or other final non-appealable adjudication under the provisions of any applicable law (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.  No other form of undertaking shall be required other than the execution of this Agreement.  This Section 10 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 9.

 

Section 11.                                     Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim.

 

(a)                                  Indemnitee shall notify the Company in writing of any matter with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof.  The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding, in each case, to the extent known to Indemnitee.  To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding.  The omission by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement.  The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

 

(b)                                  The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.

 

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(c)                                   The Company shall not settle any Proceeding (in whole or in part) if such settlement would impose any Expense, judgment, liability, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee which Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder without Indemnitee’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

Section 12.                                     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification.

 

(a)                                  Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a), a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case:  (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination.  Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination.  Any costs or Expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.  The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied.

 

(b)                                  In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 12(b).  If a Change in Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising Indemnitee of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  If a Change in Control shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided , however , that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion.  Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall

 

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act as Independent Counsel.  If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or the Delaware Court has determined that such objection is without merit.  If, within twenty (20) days after the later of submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof and the final disposition of the Proceeding, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by such court or by such other person as such court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 12(a) hereof.  Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

(c)                                   If the Company disputes a portion of the amounts for which indemnification is requested, the undisputed portion shall be paid and only the disputed portion withheld pending resolution of any such dispute.

 

Section 13.                                     Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

 

(a)                                  In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption.  Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

(b)                                  Subject to Section 14(e), if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 13(b) shall not

 

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apply (i) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement and if ( A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination the Board has resolved to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

 

(d)                                  For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors or officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser, financial advisor or other expert selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Enterprise.  The provisions of this Section 13(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement. Whether or not the foregoing provisions of this Section 13(d) are satisfied, it shall in any event be presumed that Indemnitee has at all times acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.

 

(e)                                   The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

Section 14.                                     Remedies of Indemnitee.

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 14(e), in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ninety (90) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5, 6 or 7 or the second to last sentence of Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3, 4 or 8 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been

 

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made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses.  Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.  Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 14(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his rights under Section 5 of this Agreement.  The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

 

(b)                                  In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.  In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.

 

(c)                                   If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(d)                                  The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.  It is the intent of the Company that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Indemnitee hereunder.  The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company if, in the case of indemnification, Indemnitee is wholly successful on the underlying claims; if Indemnitee is not wholly successful on the underlying claims, then such indemnification shall be only to the extent Indemnitee is successful on such underlying claims or otherwise as permitted by law, whichever is greater.

 

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(e)                                   Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement of Indemnitee to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.

 

Section 15.                                     Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.

 

(a)                                  The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement (i) shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise and (ii) shall be interpreted independently of, and without reference to, any other such rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled.  No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change.  No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

(b)                                  To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents of the Enterprise, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies.  If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such claim or of the commencement of a Proceeding, as the case may be, to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.  The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

 

(c)                                   The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (or for which advancement is provided hereunder) if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

 

(d)                                  The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Company shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any Proceeding, Expense, liability or matter that is the subject of the Indemnity Obligations (as defined below), (ii) the

 

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Company shall be primarily liable for all Indemnity Obligations and any indemnification afforded to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding, Expense, liability or matter that is the subject of Indemnity Obligations, whether created by applicable law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise, (iii) any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated to indemnify Indemnitee or advance Expenses or liabilities to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Company hereunder, (iv) the Company shall be required to indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses or liabilities to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or insurer of any such Person and (v) the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company hereunder. In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss which is the subject of any Indemnity Obligation owed by the Company or payable under any Company insurance policy, the payor shall have a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurer or insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurer or insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment of an Indemnity Obligation by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for any Indemnity Obligation to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. Any indemnification, insurance or advancement provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated with respect to any liability arising as a result of Indemnitee’s status as director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or capacity as an officer or director of any Person is specifically in excess over any Indemnity Obligation of the Company or valid and any collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company under this Agreement. As used herein, the term “Indemnity Obligations” shall mean all obligations of the Company to Indemnitee under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, this Agreement or otherwise, including the Company’s obligations to provide indemnification to Indemnitee and advance Expenses to Indemnitee under this Agreement.

 

Section 16.                                     Duration of Agreement.   This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the later of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or any other Enterprise, as applicable, or (b) one (1) year after the final termination of any Proceeding then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any proceeding (including any appeal thereof) commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement relating thereto.  The indemnification and advancement of expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives. The Company shall require and shall cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company to, by written agreement, expressly assume and agree to perform this

 

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Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

Section 17.                                     Severability.   Nothing in this Agreement is intended to require or shall be construed as requiring the Company to do or fail to do any act in violation of applicable law. The Company’s inability, pursuant to court order or other applicable law, to perform its obligations hereunder shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

 

Section 18.                                     Enforcement.

 

(a)                                  The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving or continuing to serve as a director or officer of the Company.

 

(b)                                  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any directors’ and officers’ insurance maintained by the Company and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

Section 19.                                     Modification and Waiver.   No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

Section 20.                                     Notice by Indemnitee.   Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder.  The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

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Section 21.                                     Notices.   All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (c) mailed by reputable overnight courier and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed or (d) sent by facsimile transmission, with receipt of oral confirmation that such transmission has been received:

 

(a)                                  If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

(b)                                  If to the Company to

 

Focus Financial Partners Inc.

 

825 Third Avenue, 27 th  Floor

 

New York, NY 10022

 

Attn: General Counsel

 

 

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.

 

Section 22.                                     Contribution.   To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

 

Section 23.                                     Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction.   This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.  Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

Section 24.                                     Identical Counterparts.   This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.  Only one such counterpart signed by the

 

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party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

Section 25.                                     Miscellaneous.   Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.  The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

*                                          *                                          *                                          *                                          *

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

 

INDEMNITEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ruediger Adolf

 

/s/ Christopher J. Harrington

Name:

Ruediger Adolf

 

Name:

Christopher J. Harrington

Office:

Chief Executive Officer

 

Address:

9 West 57 th  Street, 42 nd  Floor

 

 

 

 

New York, NY 10019

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 


Exhibit 10.12

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of July 30, 2018 by and between Focus Financial Partners Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Deborah D. McWhinney (“Indemnitee”).  This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all previous Agreements between the Company and Indemnitee covering the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) believes that highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors or officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;

 

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers, and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (as may be amended, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (as may be amended, the “Bylaws”) require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).  The Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the board of directors, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification;

 

WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification may increase the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;

 

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

 

WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws, and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, as well as any rights

 



 

of Indemnitees under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy, and this Agreement and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and

 

WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve or continue to serve as an officer or director without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                                            Services to the Company.   Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director or officer of the Company or, by mutual agreement of the Company and Indemnitee, as a director or officer of another Enterprise (as defined below), as applicable. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Company shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), if any, is at will, and the Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Company, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, and the DGCL. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or any Enterprise, as applicable, as provided in Section 16 hereof.

 

Section 2.                                            Definitions.   As used in this Agreement:

 

(a)                                  References to “agent” shall mean any person who is or was a director, officer, or employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or other person authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such person serving in such capacity as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or other official of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.

 

(b)                                  A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

 

i.                                           Acquisition of Stock by Third Party.  Any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities unless the change in relative Beneficial Ownership of the

 

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Company’s securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;

 

ii.                                        Change in Board of Directors.  During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 2(b)(i), 2(b)(iii) or 2(b)(iv)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;

 

iii.                                     Corporate Transactions.  The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Surviving Entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Surviving Entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such Surviving Entity;

 

iv.                                    Liquidation.  The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; and

 

v.                                       Other Events.  There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

 

For purposes of this Section 2(b), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(A)                                “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

(B)                                “Person” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person shall exclude (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

 

(C)                                “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner shall exclude any Person otherwise

 

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becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity.

 

(D)                                “Surviving Entity” shall mean the surviving entity in a merger or consolidation or any entity that controls, directly or indirectly, such surviving entity.

 

(c)                                   “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, trustee, partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership or joint venture, trust or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

 

(d)                                  “Disinterested Director” shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(e)                                   “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, employee, agent or fiduciary.

 

(f)                                    “Expenses” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees and other costs of experts and other professionals, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and all other disbursements, obligations or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with, or as a result of, prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a deponent or witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding.  Expenses also shall include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, (ii) expenses incurred in connection with recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee is ultimately determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or Expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be, and (iii) for purposes of Section 14(d) only, Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, by litigation or otherwise.  The parties agree that for the purposes of any advancement of Expenses for which Indemnitee has made written demand to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses included in such demand that are certified by affidavit of Indemnitee’s counsel as being reasonable in the good faith judgment of such counsel shall be presumed conclusively to be reasonable.  Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

 

(g)                                   “Independent Counsel” shall mean a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent:  (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either

 

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such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.  The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

(h)                                  The term “Proceeding” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, counterclaim, cross claim, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, regulatory or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, by reason of any action taken by Indemnitee (or a failure to take action by Indemnitee) or of any action (or failure to act) on Indemnitee’s part while acting pursuant to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement.  If the Indemnitee believes in good faith that a given situation may lead to or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding, this shall be considered a Proceeding under this paragraph.

 

(i)                                      Reference to “other enterprise” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company 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 a person who acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee  reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

 

Section 3.                                            Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings.   The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. The parties hereto intend that this Agreement shall provide to the fullest extent permitted by law for

 

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indemnification in excess of that expressly permitted by statute, including, without limitation, any indemnification provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, vote of the Company’s stockholders or disinterested directors or applicable law.

 

Section 4.                                            Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company.   The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.  If applicable law so provides, no indemnification for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction (after the time for an appeal has expired) to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court (as hereinafter defined) or any court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

 

Section 5.                                            Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection therewith.  If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with or related to each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter to the fullest extent permitted by law.  For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

Section 6.                                            Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness.   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a witness, is or was made (or asked) to respond to discovery requests in any Proceeding or otherwise asked to participate in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.

 

Section 7.                                            Partial Indemnification.   If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of Expenses, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.

 

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Section 8.                                            Additional Indemnification.

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if Indemnitee, by reason of his or her Corporate Status is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status.

 

(b)                                  For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase “to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to:

 

i.                                           to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the DGCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL, and

 

ii.                                        to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

 

Section 9.                                            Exclusions.   Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification payment in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:

 

(a)                                  for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision; or

 

(b)                                  for (i) an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (as defined in Section 2(b) hereof) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law; provided that the Company shall advance Expenses in connection with Indemnitee’s defense of a claim under Section 16(b), which advances shall be repaid to the Company if it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification; or (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements); or (iii) any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any compensation pursuant to any compensation recoupment or clawback policy adopted by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board, including but not limited to any such policy adopted to comply with stock exchange listing requirements implementing Section 10D of the Exchange Act; or

 

(c)                                   except as provided in Section 14(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any

 

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part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) such payment arises in connection with any mandatory counterclaim or cross claim or affirmative defense brought or raised by Indemnitee in any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding), or (iii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.

 

Section 10.                                     Advances of Expenses.   Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary (other than Section 14(d)), the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, the Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) not initiated by Indemnitee or any Proceeding initiated by Indemnitee with the prior approval of the Board as provided in Section 9(c), and such advancement shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event no later than within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding.  Advances shall be unsecured and interest free.  Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement.  In accordance with Section 14(d), advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed.  The Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that the Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced (without interest) by the Company pursuant to this Section 10, if and only to the extent that it is ultimately determined by final non-appealable judgment or other final non-appealable adjudication under the provisions of any applicable law (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.  No other form of undertaking shall be required other than the execution of this Agreement.  This Section 10 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 9.

 

Section 11.                                     Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim.

 

(a)                                  Indemnitee shall notify the Company in writing of any matter with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof.  The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding, in each case, to the extent known to Indemnitee.  To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding.  The omission by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement.  The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

 

(b)                                  The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.

 

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(c)                                   The Company shall not settle any Proceeding (in whole or in part) if such settlement would impose any Expense, judgment, liability, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee which Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder without Indemnitee’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

Section 12.                                     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification.

 

(a)                                  Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a), a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case:  (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination.  Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination.  Any costs or Expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.  The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied.

 

(b)                                  In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 12(b).  If a Change in Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising Indemnitee of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  If a Change in Control shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided , however , that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion.  Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall

 

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act as Independent Counsel.  If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or the Delaware Court has determined that such objection is without merit.  If, within twenty (20) days after the later of submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof and the final disposition of the Proceeding, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by such court or by such other person as such court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 12(a) hereof.  Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

(c)                                   If the Company disputes a portion of the amounts for which indemnification is requested, the undisputed portion shall be paid and only the disputed portion withheld pending resolution of any such dispute.

 

Section 13.                                     Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

 

(a)                                  In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption.  Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

(b)                                  Subject to Section 14(e), if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 13(b) shall not

 

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apply (i) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement and if ( A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination the Board has resolved to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

 

(d)                                  For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors or officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser, financial advisor or other expert selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Enterprise.  The provisions of this Section 13(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement. Whether or not the foregoing provisions of this Section 13(d) are satisfied, it shall in any event be presumed that Indemnitee has at all times acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.

 

(e)                                   The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

Section 14.                                     Remedies of Indemnitee.

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 14(e), in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ninety (90) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5, 6 or 7 or the second to last sentence of Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3, 4 or 8 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been

 

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made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses.  Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.  Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 14(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his rights under Section 5 of this Agreement.  The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

 

(b)                                  In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.  In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.

 

(c)                                   If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(d)                                  The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.  It is the intent of the Company that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Indemnitee hereunder.  The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company if, in the case of indemnification, Indemnitee is wholly successful on the underlying claims; if Indemnitee is not wholly successful on the underlying claims, then such indemnification shall be only to the extent Indemnitee is successful on such underlying claims or otherwise as permitted by law, whichever is greater.

 

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(e)                                   Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement of Indemnitee to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.

 

Section 15.                                     Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.

 

(a)                                  The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement (i) shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise and (ii) shall be interpreted independently of, and without reference to, any other such rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled.  No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change.  No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

(b)                                  To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents of the Enterprise, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies.  If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such claim or of the commencement of a Proceeding, as the case may be, to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.  The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

 

(c)                                   The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (or for which advancement is provided hereunder) if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

 

(d)                                  The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Company shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any Proceeding, Expense, liability or matter that is the subject of the Indemnity Obligations (as defined below), (ii) the

 

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Company shall be primarily liable for all Indemnity Obligations and any indemnification afforded to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding, Expense, liability or matter that is the subject of Indemnity Obligations, whether created by applicable law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise, (iii) any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated to indemnify Indemnitee or advance Expenses or liabilities to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Company hereunder, (iv) the Company shall be required to indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses or liabilities to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or insurer of any such Person and (v) the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company hereunder. In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss which is the subject of any Indemnity Obligation owed by the Company or payable under any Company insurance policy, the payor shall have a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurer or insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurer or insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment of an Indemnity Obligation by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for any Indemnity Obligation to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. Any indemnification, insurance or advancement provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated with respect to any liability arising as a result of Indemnitee’s status as director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or capacity as an officer or director of any Person is specifically in excess over any Indemnity Obligation of the Company or valid and any collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company under this Agreement. As used herein, the term “Indemnity Obligations” shall mean all obligations of the Company to Indemnitee under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, this Agreement or otherwise, including the Company’s obligations to provide indemnification to Indemnitee and advance Expenses to Indemnitee under this Agreement.

 

Section 16.                                     Duration of Agreement.   This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the later of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or any other Enterprise, as applicable, or (b) one (1) year after the final termination of any Proceeding then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any proceeding (including any appeal thereof) commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement relating thereto.  The indemnification and advancement of expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives. The Company shall require and shall cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company to, by written agreement, expressly assume and agree to perform this

 

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Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

Section 17.                                     Severability.   Nothing in this Agreement is intended to require or shall be construed as requiring the Company to do or fail to do any act in violation of applicable law. The Company’s inability, pursuant to court order or other applicable law, to perform its obligations hereunder shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

 

Section 18.                                     Enforcement.

 

(a)                                  The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving or continuing to serve as a director or officer of the Company.

 

(b)                                  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any directors’ and officers’ insurance maintained by the Company and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

Section 19.                                     Modification and Waiver.   No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

Section 20.                                     Notice by Indemnitee.   Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder.  The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

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Section 21.                                     Notices.   All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (c) mailed by reputable overnight courier and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed or (d) sent by facsimile transmission, with receipt of oral confirmation that such transmission has been received:

 

(a)                                  If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

(b)                                  If to the Company to

 

Focus Financial Partners Inc.

 

825 Third Avenue, 27 th  Floor

 

New York, NY 10022

 

Attn: General Counsel

 

 

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.

 

Section 22.                                     Contribution.   To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

 

Section 23.                                     Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction.   This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.  Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

Section 24.                                     Identical Counterparts.   This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.  Only one such counterpart signed by the

 

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party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

Section 25.                                     Miscellaneous.   Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.  The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

 

INDEMNITEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ruediger Adolf

 

/s/ Deborah D. McWhinney

Name:

Ruediger Adolf

 

Name:

Deborah D. McWhinney

Office:

Chief Executive Officer

 

Address:

25 East 86 th , #14A

 

 

 

New York, NY 10028

 

17


Exhibit 10.13

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of July 30, 2018 by and between Focus Financial Partners Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Noah Gottdiener (“Indemnitee”).  This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all previous Agreements between the Company and Indemnitee covering the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) believes that highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors or officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;

 

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers, and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (as may be amended, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (as may be amended, the “Bylaws”) require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).  The Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the board of directors, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification;

 

WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification may increase the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;

 

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

 

WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws, and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, as well as any rights

 



 

of Indemnitees under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy, and this Agreement and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and

 

WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve or continue to serve as an officer or director without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                                            Services to the Company.   Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director or officer of the Company or, by mutual agreement of the Company and Indemnitee, as a director or officer of another Enterprise (as defined below), as applicable. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Company shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), if any, is at will, and the Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Company, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, and the DGCL. The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or any Enterprise, as applicable, as provided in Section 16 hereof.

 

Section 2.                                            Definitions.   As used in this Agreement:

 

(a)                                  References to “agent” shall mean any person who is or was a director, officer, or employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or other person authorized by the Company to act for the Company, to include such person serving in such capacity as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or other official of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of, for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company.

 

(b)                                  A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

 

i.                                           Acquisition of Stock by Third Party.  Any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities unless the change in relative Beneficial Ownership of the

 

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Company’s securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;

 

ii.                                        Change in Board of Directors.  During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 2(b)(i), 2(b)(iii) or 2(b)(iv)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;

 

iii.                                     Corporate Transactions.  The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Surviving Entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Surviving Entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such Surviving Entity;

 

iv.                                    Liquidation.  The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; and

 

v.                                       Other Events.  There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.

 

For purposes of this Section 2(b), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(A)                                “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

(B)                                “Person” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person shall exclude (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

 

(C)                                “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner shall exclude any Person otherwise

 

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becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity.

 

(D)                                “Surviving Entity” shall mean the surviving entity in a merger or consolidation or any entity that controls, directly or indirectly, such surviving entity.

 

(c)                                   “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, trustee, partner, managing member, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership or joint venture, trust or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

 

(d)                                  “Disinterested Director” shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(e)                                   “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, employee, agent or fiduciary.

 

(f)                                    “Expenses” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees and other costs of experts and other professionals, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and all other disbursements, obligations or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with, or as a result of, prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a deponent or witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding.  Expenses also shall include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, (ii) expenses incurred in connection with recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee is ultimately determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement or Expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be, and (iii) for purposes of Section 14(d) only, Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, by litigation or otherwise.  The parties agree that for the purposes of any advancement of Expenses for which Indemnitee has made written demand to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses included in such demand that are certified by affidavit of Indemnitee’s counsel as being reasonable in the good faith judgment of such counsel shall be presumed conclusively to be reasonable.  Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

 

(g)                                   “Independent Counsel” shall mean a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent:  (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either

 

4



 

such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.  The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

(h)                                  The term “Proceeding” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, counterclaim, cross claim, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, regulatory or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, by reason of any action taken by Indemnitee (or a failure to take action by Indemnitee) or of any action (or failure to act) on Indemnitee’s part while acting pursuant to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement.  If the Indemnitee believes in good faith that a given situation may lead to or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding, this shall be considered a Proceeding under this paragraph.

 

(i)                                      Reference to “other enterprise” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise tax assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company 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 a person who acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee  reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred to in this Agreement.

 

Section 3.                                            Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings.   The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses, judgments, liabilities, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. The parties hereto intend that this Agreement shall provide to the fullest extent permitted by law for

 

5



 

indemnification in excess of that expressly permitted by statute, including, without limitation, any indemnification provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, vote of the Company’s stockholders or disinterested directors or applicable law.

 

Section 4.                                            Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company.   The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.  If applicable law so provides, no indemnification for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction (after the time for an appeal has expired) to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court (as hereinafter defined) or any court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

 

Section 5.                                            Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection therewith.  If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with or related to each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter to the fullest extent permitted by law.  For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

Section 6.                                            Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness.   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a witness, is or was made (or asked) to respond to discovery requests in any Proceeding or otherwise asked to participate in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.

 

Section 7.                                            Partial Indemnification.   If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of Expenses, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.

 

6



 

Section 8.                                            Additional Indemnification.

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if Indemnitee, by reason of his or her Corporate Status is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status.

 

(b)                                  For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase “to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to:

 

i.                                           to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the DGCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL, and

 

ii.                                        to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

 

Section 9.                                            Exclusions.   Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnification payment in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:

 

(a)                                  for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision; or

 

(b)                                  for (i) an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (as defined in Section 2(b) hereof) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law; provided that the Company shall advance Expenses in connection with Indemnitee’s defense of a claim under Section 16(b), which advances shall be repaid to the Company if it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification; or (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), if Indemnitee is held liable therefor (including pursuant to any settlement arrangements); or (iii) any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any compensation pursuant to any compensation recoupment or clawback policy adopted by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board, including but not limited to any such policy adopted to comply with stock exchange listing requirements implementing Section 10D of the Exchange Act; or

 

(c)                                   except as provided in Section 14(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any

 

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part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation, (ii) such payment arises in connection with any mandatory counterclaim or cross claim or affirmative defense brought or raised by Indemnitee in any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding), or (iii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.

 

Section 10.                                     Advances of Expenses.   Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary (other than Section 14(d)), the Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, the Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) not initiated by Indemnitee or any Proceeding initiated by Indemnitee with the prior approval of the Board as provided in Section 9(c), and such advancement shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event no later than within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding.  Advances shall be unsecured and interest free.  Advances shall be made without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement.  In accordance with Section 14(d), advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed.  The Indemnitee shall qualify for advances upon the execution and delivery to the Company of this Agreement, which shall constitute an undertaking providing that the Indemnitee undertakes to repay the amounts advanced (without interest) by the Company pursuant to this Section 10, if and only to the extent that it is ultimately determined by final non-appealable judgment or other final non-appealable adjudication under the provisions of any applicable law (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.  No other form of undertaking shall be required other than the execution of this Agreement.  This Section 10 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 9.

 

Section 11.                                     Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim.

 

(a)                                  Indemnitee shall notify the Company in writing of any matter with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof.  The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding, in each case, to the extent known to Indemnitee.  To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding.  The omission by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement.  The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

 

(b)                                  The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.

 

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(c)                                   The Company shall not settle any Proceeding (in whole or in part) if such settlement would impose any Expense, judgment, liability, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee which Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder without Indemnitee’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

Section 12.                                     Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification.

 

(a)                                  Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a), a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case:  (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (D) if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination.  Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination.  Any costs or Expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.  The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing with respect to any determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied.

 

(b)                                  In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 12(b).  If a Change in Control shall not have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising Indemnitee of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  If a Change in Control shall have occurred, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected.  In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided , however , that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion.  Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall

 

9



 

act as Independent Counsel.  If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or the Delaware Court has determined that such objection is without merit.  If, within twenty (20) days after the later of submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof and the final disposition of the Proceeding, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by such court or by such other person as such court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 12(a) hereof.  Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

(c)                                   If the Company disputes a portion of the amounts for which indemnification is requested, the undisputed portion shall be paid and only the disputed portion withheld pending resolution of any such dispute.

 

Section 13.                                     Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

 

(a)                                  In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption.  Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

(b)                                  Subject to Section 14(e), if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 12 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 13(b) shall not

 

10



 

apply (i) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement and if ( A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination the Board has resolved to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

 

(d)                                  For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors or officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser, financial advisor or other expert selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Enterprise.  The provisions of this Section 13(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement. Whether or not the foregoing provisions of this Section 13(d) are satisfied, it shall in any event be presumed that Indemnitee has at all times acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.

 

(e)                                   The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

 

Section 14.                                     Remedies of Indemnitee.

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 14(e), in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ninety (90) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5, 6 or 7 or the second to last sentence of Section 12(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3, 4 or 8 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been

 

11



 

made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses.  Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.  Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 14(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his rights under Section 5 of this Agreement.  The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

 

(b)                                  In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.  In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.

 

(c)                                   If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(d)                                  The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.  It is the intent of the Company that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Indemnitee hereunder.  The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company if, in the case of indemnification, Indemnitee is wholly successful on the underlying claims; if Indemnitee is not wholly successful on the underlying claims, then such indemnification shall be only to the extent Indemnitee is successful on such underlying claims or otherwise as permitted by law, whichever is greater.

 

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(e)                                   Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement of Indemnitee to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.

 

Section 15.                                     Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.

 

(a)                                  The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement (i) shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise and (ii) shall be interpreted independently of, and without reference to, any other such rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled.  No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change.  No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

(b)                                  To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents of the Enterprise, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent under such policy or policies.  If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such claim or of the commencement of a Proceeding, as the case may be, to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.  The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

 

(c)                                   The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (or for which advancement is provided hereunder) if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

 

(d)                                  The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement and insurance provided by one or more Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Company shall be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to any Proceeding, Expense, liability or matter that is the subject of the Indemnity Obligations (as defined below), (ii) the

 

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Company shall be primarily liable for all Indemnity Obligations and any indemnification afforded to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding, Expense, liability or matter that is the subject of Indemnity Obligations, whether created by applicable law, organizational or constituent documents, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise, (iii) any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated to indemnify Indemnitee or advance Expenses or liabilities to Indemnitee in respect of any Proceeding shall be secondary to the obligations of the Company hereunder, (iv) the Company shall be required to indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses or liabilities to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or insurer of any such Person and (v) the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated from any claim of contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company hereunder. In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss which is the subject of any Indemnity Obligation owed by the Company or payable under any Company insurance policy, the payor shall have a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurer or insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurer or insurers under this Agreement. In no event will payment of an Indemnity Obligation by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for any Indemnity Obligation to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated. Any indemnification, insurance or advancement provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated with respect to any liability arising as a result of Indemnitee’s status as director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or capacity as an officer or director of any Person is specifically in excess over any Indemnity Obligation of the Company or valid and any collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company under this Agreement. As used herein, the term “Indemnity Obligations” shall mean all obligations of the Company to Indemnitee under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, this Agreement or otherwise, including the Company’s obligations to provide indemnification to Indemnitee and advance Expenses to Indemnitee under this Agreement.

 

Section 16.                                     Duration of Agreement.   This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the later of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or any other Enterprise, as applicable, or (b) one (1) year after the final termination of any Proceeding then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any proceeding (including any appeal thereof) commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement relating thereto.  The indemnification and advancement of expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or of any other Enterprise, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives. The Company shall require and shall cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company to, by written agreement, expressly assume and agree to perform this

 

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Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

Section 17.                                     Severability.   Nothing in this Agreement is intended to require or shall be construed as requiring the Company to do or fail to do any act in violation of applicable law. The Company’s inability, pursuant to court order or other applicable law, to perform its obligations hereunder shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

 

Section 18.                                     Enforcement.

 

(a)                                  The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving or continuing to serve as a director or officer of the Company.

 

(b)                                  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any directors’ and officers’ insurance maintained by the Company and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

 

Section 19.                                     Modification and Waiver.   No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

Section 20.                                     Notice by Indemnitee.   Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder.  The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

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Section 21.                                     Notices.   All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (c) mailed by reputable overnight courier and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed or (d) sent by facsimile transmission, with receipt of oral confirmation that such transmission has been received:

 

(a)                                  If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

 

(b)                                  If to the Company to

 

Focus Financial Partners Inc.

825 Third Avenue, 27 th  Floor

New York, NY 10022

Attn: General Counsel

 

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.

 

Section 22.                                     Contribution.   To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

 

Section 23.                                     Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction.   This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.  Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

Section 24.                                     Identical Counterparts.   This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.  Only one such counterpart signed by the

 

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party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

Section 25.                                     Miscellaneous.   Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.  The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

FOCUS FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC.

 

INDEMNITEE

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ruediger Adolf

 

/s/ Noah Gottdiener

Name:

Ruediger Adolf

 

Name:

Noah Gottdiener

Office:

Chief Executive Officer

 

Address:

Duff & Phelps, LLC

 

 

 

55 East 52 nd  Street

 

 

 

New York, NY 10055

 

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