Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 25, 2013

Registration No. 333-189841

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Amendment No. 2 to

FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   3751  

           26-1647258            

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

915 Disc Drive

Scotts Valley, CA 95066

831.274.6500

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

 

 

Larry L. Enterline

Chief Executive Officer

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

915 Disc Drive

Scotts Valley, CA 95066

831.274.6500

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

 

 

Copies to:

 

Stephen D. Cooke, Esq.

Justin T. Hughes, Esq.

Paul Hastings LLP

695 Town Center Drive

Seventeenth Floor

Costa Mesa, California 92656

714.668.6200

 

David Haugen, Esq.

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

915 Disc Drive

Scotts Valley, California 95066

831.274.6500

 

Kevin P. Kennedy, Esq.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

2475 Hanover Street

Palo Alto, California 94304

650.251.5000

Jeffrey T. Hartlin, Esq.

Paul Hastings LLP

1117 S. California Avenue

Palo Alto, California 94304

650.320.1804

   

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this registration statement becomes effective.

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

 

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


Table of Contents

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. Neither we nor the selling stockholders may sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities, and neither we nor the selling stockholders are soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to completion, dated July 25, 2013

Prospectus

     shares

 

LOGO

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

Common stock

This is an initial public offering of common stock by Fox Factory Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation. We are selling              shares of common stock. The selling stockholders identified in this prospectus are selling              shares of common stock. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the shares by the selling stockholders.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. The estimated initial public offering price is between $     and $     per share.

We have applied to have our shares of common stock listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, subject to notice of issuance, under the symbol “FOXF.” We are an “emerging growth company” as that term is used in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act, and, as such, will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements.

 

       Per share      Total  

Initial public offering price

   $                    $                    

Underwriting discounts and commissions

   $         $     

Proceeds to us, before expenses(1)

   $         $     

Proceeds to selling stockholders, before expenses

   $         $     

 

(1)   We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain FINRA-related expenses. See “Underwriting”.

Delivery of the shares of common stock is expected to be made on or about     , 2013. The selling stockholders identified in this prospectus have granted the underwriters an option for a period of 30 days to purchase, on the same terms and conditions as set forth above, up to an additional      shares of our common stock. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares by these selling stockholders if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of common stock.

Investing in our common stock involves substantial risk. Please read “ Risk factors ” beginning on page 19.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

Baird

 

William Blair

 

Piper Jaffray

Stifel      SunTrust Robinson Humphrey   
BB&T Capital Markets      CJS Securities, Inc.   

             , 2013


Table of Contents

LOGO


Table of Contents

Table of contents

 

Prospectus

  
     Page  

Prospectus summary

     1   

Risk factors

     19   

Special note regarding forward-looking statements

     42   

Use of proceeds

     44   

Dividend policy

     45   

Capitalization

     46   

Dilution

     48   

Selected consolidated financial data

     50   

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations

     53   

Business

     81   

Management

     95   

Executive compensation

     104   

Certain relationships and related party transactions

     114   

Principal and selling stockholders

     120   

Description of capital stock

     122   

Shares eligible for future sale

     128   

Material U.S. federal income tax consequences to non-U.S. holders

     131   

Underwriting

     135   

Legal matters

     141   

Experts

     141   

Additional information

     141   

Index to consolidated financial statements

     F-2   

 

 

Neither we, the selling stockholders, nor any of the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than as contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectuses we have prepared. We do not, and the selling stockholders and underwriters do not, take responsibility for, and provide no assurance as to, the reliability of any information that others may give you. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the shares offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of the common stock.

 

-i-


Table of Contents

Prospectus summary

This summary highlights selected information that is presented in greater detail elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider before investing in our common stock. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, including the sections titled “Risk factors,” “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, before deciding whether to purchase shares of our common stock. Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “FOX,” the “company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” in this prospectus refer to Fox Factory Holding Corp. and its wholly-owned operating subsidiary, Fox Factory, Inc., on a consolidated basis, and this “offering” refers to the offering contemplated in this prospectus.

Our company

We are a designer, manufacturer and marketer of high-performance suspension products used primarily on mountain bikes, side-by-side vehicles, or Side-by-Sides, on-road vehicles with off-road capabilities, off-road vehicles and trucks, all-terrain vehicles, or ATVs, snowmobiles, specialty vehicles and applications, and motorcycles. Through our products we enhance ride dynamics, which we define as the interplay between the rider, the vehicle and the terrain, by improving performance and control. Our brand is associated with high-performance and technologically advanced products, by which we generally mean products that provide users with improved control and a smoother ride while riding over rough terrain in varied environments. We believe that the performance of our products has been demonstrated by, and our brand benefits from, the success of professional athletes who use our products in elite competitive events, such as the Union Cycliste Internationale Mountain Bike World Cup and the X Games. We believe the exposure our products receive when used by successful professional athletes positively influences the purchasing habits of enthusiasts and other consumers seeking high-performance products. We believe that our strategic focus on the performance and racing segments in our markets influences many aspiring and enthusiast consumers who we believe seek to emulate the performance of professional and other elite athletes. We believe our products are generally sold at premium prices, which to us means manufacturer suggested retail sale prices that are generally in the upper quartile of their respective product categories.

We design our products for, and market our products to, some of the world’s leading original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, in our markets, and to consumers through the aftermarket channel. Many of our OEM customers, including Scott, Specialized and Trek in mountain bikes and BRP, Ford and Polaris in powered vehicles, are among the market leaders in their respective product categories, and help shape, as well as respond to, consumer trends in their respective categories. In addition, consumers select our products in the aftermarket channel where we market through a global network of dealers and distributors. We currently sell to more than 150 OEMs and distribute our products to more than 2,300 retail dealers and distributors worldwide. In 2012, 81% of our sales resulted from sales to OEM customers and 19% resulted from sales to dealers and distributors for resale in the aftermarket channel.

We have experienced strong sales and profit growth during the past few years. Our sales increased from approximately $45.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 to

 

 

-1-


Table of Contents

$54.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. Over the same period, our net income increased from $2.6 million to $3.5 million, and our adjusted EBITDA increased from approximately $6.4 million to $8.8 million. Our sales increased from approximately $131.7 million in 2008 to $235.9 million in 2012. Over the same period, our net income increased from approximately $3.8 million to $14.2 million. Our Adjusted EBITDA increased from approximately $26.8 million in 2010 to $36.0 million in 2012. See “Summary consolidated financial data—Non-GAAP financial measures” for the definition of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation from net income to Adjusted EBITDA.

Market opportunity

We participate in the large global markets for mountain bikes and powered vehicles used by recreational and professional users. Today, our products for powered vehicles are used primarily on Side-by-Sides, on-road vehicles with off-road capabilities, off-road vehicles and trucks, ATVs, snowmobiles, specialty vehicles and applications, and motorcycles.

We focus on premium priced products within each of these categories, which we consider to be the high-end segment because of their higher retail sale prices, where we believe consumers have a preference for well-designed, performance-oriented equipment. We believe that suspension systems are critical to the performance of the mountain bikes and powered vehicles in the product categories in which we focus and that technical features, component performance, product design, durability, reliability and brand recognition strongly influence the purchasing decisions of consumers. Over the past decade, there have been significant technological advances in materials and features that have increased product functionality and performance, allowing our suspension products to be adapted for use in additional end-markets and in the mountain bike and powered vehicle categories.

We believe the high-end segments in which we participate are well positioned for growth due to several factors, including:

 

 

increasing average retail sales prices, which we believe are driven by differentiated and feature-rich products with advanced technologies;

 

 

continuing product cycle innovation, which we have observed often motivates consumers to upgrade and purchase new products for enhanced performance;

 

 

branded auto OEMs introducing on-road vehicles with off-road capabilities, such as the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor; and

 

 

increased sales opportunities for high-end mountain bikes and powered vehicles in international markets.

As vehicles in our end-markets evolve and grow more capable, suspension products and components have become, and we believe will continue to become, increasingly more important for improved performance and control. Additionally, we believe there are opportunities to continue to leverage our technical know-how in suspension products to provide solutions beyond our current end-markets.

 

 

-2-


Table of Contents

Our competitive strengths

Broad offering of high-performance products across multiple consumer markets

Our suspension products enhance ride dynamics across multiple consumer markets. Through the use of adjustable suspension, position sensitive damping, multiple air spring technologies, lightweight and rigid materials, and other technologies and methods, our products improve the performance and control of the vehicles used by our consumers. We believe our reputation for high-performance products is reinforced by the successful finishes in world class competitive events by athletes incorporating our products in their vehicles, including the following examples in 2012:

 

 

three out of four Union Cycliste Internationale World Cup Mountain Bike Series titles;

 

 

World Off Road Championship Series Side x Side Production 1000 Class Championship;

 

 

American Motorcyclist Association, or AMA, Pro ATV Championship and first place finishes in 10 out of 10 races;

 

 

International Series of Champions National Pro Open Championship for snowmobiles and first place finishes in 16 out of 16 races; and

 

 

two out of two overall Pro 2 Championships and first place finishes in 21 out of 29 Pro 2 races in the TORC and LOORRS off-road short course racing series.

Premium brand with strong consumer loyalty

We believe that we have developed a reputation for high-performance products and that we have established a premium brand, as our high-performance suspension products are generally sold at premium prices. Our logo is prominently displayed on our products used on mountain bikes and powered vehicles sold by our OEM customers, which helps further reinforce our brand image. To support our brand, we introduce new products that we believe feature innovative technologies designed to improve vehicle performance and enhance our brand loyalty with consumers. For instance, according to a 2012 independent survey conducted by Bike Germany Magazine, a leading European mountain bike magazine, FOX was voted as the best brand for suspension forks and 81.7% of FOX consumers surveyed stated that they would buy a FOX suspension fork again, and in a 2011 Audience Survey by Vital MTB, a popular mountain bike website: (i) of the 44.5% of survey respondents that stated they would buy a mountain bike suspension fork within 12 months, 41.0% of these respondents, the highest percentage of all brands included, stated that they would buy a FOX suspension fork; and (ii) of the 22.4% of survey respondents that stated they would buy a rear mountain bike shock within 12 months, 42.2% of these respondents, again the highest percentage of all brands included, stated that they would buy a FOX rear shock.

Track record of innovation and new product introductions

Innovation, including new product development, is a key component of our growth strategy. Due to our experience in suspension engineering and design in multiple markets and with a variety of

 

 

-3-


Table of Contents

vehicles, we are able to bring unique ride dynamics solutions to our customers, often developed for use in one market and ultimately deployed across multiple markets. For example, our success in the high-end ATV category led to the wide-spread adoption of our suspension technology in the Side-by-Side market, which became our second largest product category by sales in 2012. Our innovative product development and speed to market are supported by:

 

 

our racing culture, including on-site technical race support of professional athletes, which provides us with unique real-time insights as to the evolving ride dynamic needs of those participating in world-class events;

 

 

ongoing research and development through a team of more than 20 full-time engineers and numerous other technicians and employees who spend at least part of their time testing and using our products and helping develop engineering-based solutions to enhance our product offerings;

 

 

feedback from professional athletes, race teams, enthusiasts and other consumers seeking to improve the performance and control of their vehicles through our products;

 

 

strategic and collaborative relationships with OEM customers, which furthers our ability to extend technologies and applications across end-markets; and

 

 

our integrated manufacturing facilities and performance testing center, which allow us to quickly move from concept to product.

During 2012, we launched more than 20 new products and generated more than 70% of our sales from products introduced by us during the last three years, such as the:

 

 

Podium RC3, which provides external adjustment that allows the shock to easily be tuned for different rider skill, terrain, and racing type without having to be disassembled;

 

 

Float X Evol, which allows the rider to tune the spring characteristics of the shock via an air pump without having to remove the shock;

 

 

ECS Shock, which has an external cooling system that significantly lowers shock temperatures, allowing powered vehicles to operate at higher speeds for extended periods without sacrificing driver control, particularly in extreme environments; and

 

 

Float iCD, which provides riders the ability to adjust modes for different skills, terrains and activity levels on mountain bikes, resulting in increased utilization of the modes and an overall more efficient ride dynamics experience.

Strategic brand for OEMs, dealers and distributors

Through our strategic relationships, we are often sought out by our OEM customers and work closely with them to develop and design new products and product enhancements. We believe our collaborative approach and product development processes strengthen our relationships with our OEM customers. We believe consumers value our branded suspension products when selecting high-performance mountain bikes and powered vehicles, and as a result, OEMs purchase and incorporate our products in their mountain bikes and powered vehicles in order to increase the sales of their premium priced products. In addition, we believe the inclusion of our

 

 

-4-


Table of Contents

products on high-end mountain bikes and powered vehicles reinforces our premium brand image, which helps to drive our sales in the aftermarket channel where dealers and distributors sell our products to consumers.

Experienced management team

We have an experienced senior management team led by Larry L. Enterline, our Chief Executive Officer. Collectively, our eight member senior management team has an average tenure at FOX of approximately eight years per person. In addition, many members of our management team and many of our employees are avid users of our products, which further extends their knowledge of, and expertise in, our products and end-markets. We are able to attract and retain highly-trained and specialized employees who enhance our company culture and serve as strong brand advocates.

Our strategy

Our goal is to expand our leadership position as a designer, manufacturer and marketer of high-performance products designed to enhance ride dynamics. We intend to focus on the following key strategies in pursuit of this goal:

Continue to develop new and innovative products in current end-markets

We intend to continue to develop and introduce new and innovative products in our current end-markets to improve ride dynamics for our consumers. For example, our patented position sensitive damping systems provide terrain optimized ride characteristics across many of our product lines. We believe that high-performance and control are important to a large portion of our consumer base and that our frequent introduction of products with innovative and improved technologies increases both OEM and aftermarket demand as consumers seek out components for their vehicles that can deliver these characteristics. We also believe evolving market trends, such as changing mountain bike wheel sizes and increasing adoption rates of Side-by-Side vehicles, should increase demand for vehicles in our end-markets, which, in turn, should increase demand for our suspension products.

Leverage technology and brand to expand into new categories and end-markets

We believe that we have developed a reputation as a leader in ride dynamics, and that our reputation combined with our ability to improve the performance of vehicles by incorporating high-performance suspension products, results in us often being approached by OEM product development teams, athletes and others looking to improve the performance of their vehicles, including in end-markets in which we have not previously offered products We believe that our ride dynamics technologies have applications in end-markets in which we do not currently participate in a meaningful way, and we intend to selectively develop products for and forge relationships with customers in additional markets. These markets may include military, recreational vehicles (RVs), on-road motorcycles, commercial trucks and “performance street” cars. We also intend to evaluate selective potential acquisition opportunities for high-performance products and technologies that we believe will help us extend our ride dynamics platform.

 

 

-5-


Table of Contents

Increase our aftermarket penetration

We currently have a broad aftermarket distribution network of more than 2,300 retail dealers and distributors worldwide. We intend to further penetrate the aftermarket channel by selectively adding dealers and distributors in certain geographic markets, increasing our internal sales force and strategically expanding aftermarket-specific products and services to existing vehicle platforms.

Accelerate international growth

While a significant percentage of our current sales are to OEMs and dealers and distributors located outside the United States, we believe international expansion represents a significant opportunity for us and we intend to selectively increase infrastructure investments and focus on identified geographic regions. We believe that rising consumer discretionary income in a number of developing markets and increasing consumer preferences for premium, high-performance mountain bikes and powered vehicles, should contribute to increasing demand for our products. We intend to leverage our brand recognition to capitalize on these trends by increasing our sales to both OEMs and dealers and distributors globally, particularly in markets where we perceive significant opportunities. Our areas of greatest interest include Asia-Pacific (including China, South Korea and Australia) and South America (particularly Brazil, Argentina and Chile).

Improve operating and supply chain efficiencies

We intend to improve operating margins in the medium term by enhancing our design and production processes to increase efficiencies, reducing new product time to market and lowering production costs. Specifically, we have begun the process of moving a majority of the manufacturing of our mountain bike products to Taiwan and intend to complete this process in 2015. We believe this transition to Taiwan, once completed, will shorten production lead times to our mountain bike OEM customers, improve supply chain efficiencies and reduce manufacturing costs.

Risks related to our business

Our business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including those highlighted in the section titled “Risk factors,” which you should read carefully before making a decision to invest in our common stock. Some of these risks include:

 

 

we may not be able to continue to enhance existing products and develop and market new products that respond to consumer needs and preferences and achieve market acceptance;

 

 

we face intense competition across all product lines and may be unable to effectively compete against our competitors, which would harm our business and operating results;

 

 

our suspension products, and the products into which they are incorporated, are discretionary purchases and may be adversely impacted by changes in the economy and economic conditions that impact consumer spending;

 

 

if we are unable to maintain our premium brand image, our business may suffer;

 

 

-6-


Table of Contents
 

our dependence on the demand for high-end mountain bikes and their suspension components to maintain and foster sales;

 

 

our dependence upon the expansion of the market for powered vehicles that require high-performance suspension systems to continue our growth in this product category;

 

 

a disruption in our operations or manufacturing facilities, including any disruption in connection with the transition of a majority of the manufacturing of our mountain bike products to Taiwan, would adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations;

 

 

we depend on the continuing efforts of our senior management and skilled engineers, and our business may be severely disrupted and adversely impacted if we lose their services;

 

 

we depend on a relatively small number of customers for a substantial portion of our sales; and

 

 

the trading price of our common stock may be volatile, a market for our securities may not develop or be maintained and our stock price may decline.

Our history

Robert C. Fox, Jr. began developing suspension products in 1974 when, having participated in motocross racing, he sought to create a racing suspension shock that performed better than existing coil spring shocks. Working in a friend’s garage, Mr. Fox created the “Fox AirShox.” The product was successful, and went into production in 1975. The next year, in 1976, Fox AirShox were used by the rider who won the AMA 500cc National Motocross Championship.

Sales of Fox AirShox grew rapidly and, in 1978, our operating subsidiary, Fox Factory, Inc., was incorporated in California. From 1978 to 1983, FOX suspension users won numerous major races including 500cc Grand Prix races (motocross), Baja 1000 races (off-road), AMA SuperBike races (motorcycle road racing), and the Indianapolis 500 race (auto racing), generating greater market awareness of the FOX brand among enthusiasts.

As FOX grew, we applied many of the same core suspension technologies developed for motocross racing to other categories. For example, in 1987 we started selling high-performance suspension products for snowmobiles. By 1991, we began supplying the mountain bike industry with rear shocks and we entered the ATV and other off-road vehicle markets in the mid-1990s. Starting in 2001, we began offering front fork suspension products for mountain bikes.

Fox Factory Holding Corp., the registrant of this offering, is the holding company of Fox Factory, Inc. Fox Factory Holding Corp. was incorporated in Delaware on December 28, 2007 by Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC, or our Sponsor. Our Sponsor purchased a controlling interest in us on January 4, 2008.

For clarification, we are not affiliated with Fox Head, Inc., or Fox Head, an action sports apparel company, although we have entered into an agreement with Fox Head clarifying the parties’ respective use of ”Fox” tradenames and service marks.

 

 

-7-


Table of Contents

Our Sponsor

Our Sponsor, Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC, acquires and manages a diversified group of leading middle-market businesses headquartered in North America. Our Sponsor’s parent, Compass Diversified Holdings, is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “CODI.” As of March 31, 2013, in addition to us, our Sponsor owned a controlling interest in the following businesses: (i) Compass AC Holdings, Inc., or Advanced Circuits, a provider of prototype, quick-turn and volume production rigid printed circuit boards; (ii) American Furniture Manufacturing, Inc., a leading domestic manufacturer of upholstered furniture for the promotional segment of the marketplace; (iii) Arnold Magnetic Technologies Holdings Corporation, a leading global manufacturer of engineered magnetic solutions for a wide range of specialty applications and end-markets; (iv) CamelBak Products, LLC, a designer and manufacturer of personal hydration products for outdoor, recreation and military use; (v) The ERGO Baby Carrier, Inc., a premier designer, marketer and distributor of baby wearing products, a premium line of stroller travel systems and related accessories; (vi) Liberty Safe and Security Products, Inc., a designer, manufacturer and marketer of premium home and gun safes in North America; and (vii) Anodyne Medical Device, Inc., rebranded as Tridien, a leading designer and manufacturer of powered and non-powered medical therapeutic support surfaces and patient positioning devices serving the acute care, long-term care and home health care markets.

Our Sponsor is a selling stockholder in this offering, and upon completion of this offering, is expected to own approximately     % of our outstanding common stock.

Recapitalization

In June 2012, we engaged in a recapitalization involving our debt, stock options and various share purchases. In connection with our recapitalization, we entered into an amendment to our credit facility with our Sponsor, which we refer to as our Existing Credit Facility, which, among other changes, provided for a $60.0 million term loan and increased the revolver commitment under that facility by $2.0 million to a total commitment of $30.0 million. Borrowings under our Existing Credit Facility in large part enabled us to fund a $67.0 million cash dividend to our stockholders as part of the recapitalization. The recapitalization also included other transactions, including various transactions involving our stock options and purchases and sales of shares of our stock among us, our sponsor and certain of our executives and directors. Concurrently with the closing of this offering, we intend to use the net proceeds that we will receive from this offering to repay our then outstanding indebtedness under our Existing Credit Facility and enter into a new credit facility with a third party lender, which we refer to as the New Credit Facility. The consummation of this offering is conditioned on the closing of the New Credit Facility. To the extent the net proceeds from this offering are insufficient to allow us to fully repay the indebtedness then outstanding under our Existing Credit Facility, we intend to use borrowings under our New Credit Facility to pay any remaining balance outstanding under our Existing Credit Facility. We intend to terminate the Existing Credit Facility upon the consummation of this offering. See “Use of proceeds,” “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations” and “Related party transactions—Recapitalization.”

 

 

-8-


Table of Contents

Recent developments

Set forth below is selected preliminary, unaudited consolidated financial data as of June 30, 2013 and for the three months ended June 30, 2013. The financial data are unaudited and have been prepared by, and are the responsibility of, our management. Our financial statements for this period have not yet been completed and are not yet available. For instance, we have not finished our closing procedures for the quarter, completed allocations within our operating expenses for the period, or prepared notes to our financial information. In addition, our independent registered public accounting firm, Grant Thornton LLP, has not completed its review of our financial information for this period in accordance with PCAOB standards. We anticipate that our financial statements as of, and for the period ended June 30, 2013, will not be available until the week of August 19, 2013 and will be included in our first periodic report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission following this offering.

Grant Thornton LLP has not audited, or performed a review under PCAOB standards of, or compiled the financial data below, and does not express an opinion or any other form of assurance with respect thereto. This summary is not meant to be a comprehensive presentation of our unaudited consolidated financial position as of June 30, 2013 and results of operations for the three months then ended. Our actual results may change from those set forth below as a result of the completion of our consolidated financial statements, financial adjustments and other developments that may arise between now and the time the financial results for this period are finalized.

Preliminary Second Quarter Results

Our sales for the three months ended June 30, 2013 are expected to be approximately $70.3 million, or an expected increase of approximately $9.6 million, or 15.8%, compared to sales of $60.7 million for the corresponding period in 2012. We estimate that sales of mountain bike and powered vehicle products increased approximately 17.7% and 12.3%, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the corresponding prior year period. Sales growth was primarily driven by sales to OEMs, which we estimate increased $7.2 million to $54.5 million during the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to $47.3 million for the same period in 2012. The increase in sales to OEMs was largely driven by increased specification, or spec, with our OEM customers. The remaining increase in sales reflects increased sales to aftermarket customers in the three-months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the same period in 2012. The increase in sales to aftermarket customers is due to higher end user demand for our products.

Cost of sales for the three months ended June 30, 2013 are expected to be approximately $50.0 million or an expected increase of approximately $5.7 million, or 12.8%, compared to cost of sales of $44.3 million for the corresponding period in 2012. The increase in cost of sales was primarily due to increased sales during the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to the same period in 2012. For the three months ended June 30, 2013, we expect that our gross profit expressed as a percentage of sales was 29.0% for the three months ended June 30, 2013 compared to 27.1% for the same period in 2012. We attribute the improvement in our gross profit margin primarily to our cost initiatives designed to improve our operating efficiencies.

Operating expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2013 are expected to be approximately $10.2 million, or an expected increase of approximately $0.6 million, or 6.7%, over the same

 

 

-9-


Table of Contents

period in 2012. The increase of total operating expenses was primarily attributable to supporting our increased sales for the period. Within operating expenses, amortization of purchased intangible assets was approximately $1.3 million for each of the three months ended June 30, 2013 and the comparable prior year period.

Income from operations for the three months ended June 30, 2013 is expected to be $10.1 million, compared to income from operations of $6.9 million in the corresponding period in 2012. The expected increase in income from operations was primarily the result of the increase in gross profit partially offset by increases in operating expenses, as described above.

Our net income for the three months ended June 30, 2013 is expected to be approximately $5.7 million compared to net income of $4.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012.

Other Financial Data

As of June 30, 2013, our outstanding borrowings under our Existing Credit Facility with our Sponsor were $65.5 million compared to $52.9 million as of March 31, 2013. Our borrowings under our Existing Credit Facility increased during the current period due to our increased level of business during the three months ended June 30, 2013 and the somewhat seasonal nature of our business.

As of June 30, 2013, our total assets are expected to be approximately $174.5 million. Within total assets, as of June 30, 2013 our accounts receivable, goodwill, and identifiable assets are expected to be $40.4 million, $31.4 million and $102.7 million, respectively. Our depreciation and amortization for the three months ended June 30, 2013 is expected to be $1.9 million.

Non-GAAP f inancial measures

Adjusted EBITDA is a financial measure that is not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in United States, or GAAP. See “Summary consolidated financial data—Non-GAAP financial measures” for a definition of Adjusted EBITDA, as well as reasons why management believes the inclusion of Adjusted EBITDA is appropriate. The following table presents a reconciliation of expected Adjusted EBITDA to our expected net income, the most comparable GAAP measure, for the three months ended June 30, 2013.

 

       For the three months  ended
June 30, 2013

(unaudited)
 
(in thousands)   

Reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA

  

Net income

   $ 5,721   

Interest expense

     997   

Other (income) expense, net(1)

     51   

Provision for income taxes

     3,374   

Depreciation and amortization

     1,928   

Stock-based compensation(2)

     426   

Management fee paid(3)

     125   
  

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 12,622   
  

 

 

 
  

 

 

 
    

 

 

 

 

(1)   Other (income) expense, net includes gain or loss on the disposal of fixed assets, foreign currency transaction gain or loss, forgiveness of indebtedness under our loan with the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Watsonville, and other miscellaneous items.

 

 

10


Table of Contents
(2)   Represents non-cash, stock-based compensation (before tax effect).

 

(3)   Represents management fees paid to an affiliate of our Sponsor pursuant to a management services agreement that will terminate on the consummation of this offering. Such fees are paid by us quarterly in arrears and other than paying any accrued but unpaid fees for the quarter during which this offering closes, no separate termination fee will be due under this agreement when it is terminated.

Corporate information

Our principal executive offices are located at 915 Disc Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066, and our telephone number is (831) 274-6500. Our website address is www.ridefox.com. In addition, we maintain a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fox , a YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/foxracingshox1 , a Vimeo page at www.vimeo.com / foxracingshox and a Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/foxracingshox. Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website, Facebook page, YouTube channel, Vimeo page or Twitter feed does not constitute part of this prospectus and inclusions of our website address, Facebook page address, YouTube channel address, Vimeo page address and Twitter feed address in this prospectus are inactive textual references only.

We have a number of registered marks, including, without limitation, FOX ® , FOX RACING SHOX ® and REDEFINE YOUR LIMITS ® in several jurisdictions, including the United States, and we have also applied to register a number of other marks in various jurisdictions. This prospectus includes trademarks and trade names of other companies. All trademarks and trade names appearing in this prospectus are the property of their respective holders. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names or trademarks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, these other companies.

Emerging growth company status

We are an “emerging growth company,” as that term is defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. For as long as we qualify as an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that do not qualify as emerging growth companies, including, without limitation, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, reduced disclosure obligations relating to executive compensation and exemptions from the requirements of holding advisory “say-on-pay,” “say-when-on-pay” and “golden parachute” executive compensation votes.

Under the JOBS Act, we will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of:

 

 

the last day of the fiscal year during which we have total annual gross revenues of $1 billion or more;

 

 

the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering;

 

 

the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt; or

 

 

-11-


Table of Contents
 

the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act (i.e., the first day of the fiscal year after we have (i) more than $700 million in outstanding common equity held by our non-affiliates, measured each year on the last day of our second fiscal quarter, and (ii) been public for at least 12 months).

The JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can utilize the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act, for complying with new or revised accounting standards. However, we are choosing to “opt out” of such extended transition period, and, as a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for companies that are not emerging growth companies. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that our decision to opt out of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards is irrevocable.

 

 

-12-


Table of Contents

The offering

 

Common stock offered by us

     shares

 

Common stock offered by the selling stockholders

     shares

 

Underwriters option to purchase additional shares

The underwriters have an option, exercisable for 30 days after the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to an additional      shares from the selling stockholders.

 

Common stock to be outstanding after this offering

     shares

 

Use of proceeds

We estimate that the net proceeds from the sale of shares of our common stock that we are selling in this offering will be approximately $     million, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, assuming an initial public offering price of $     per share, which is the midpoint of the initial public offering price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling stockholders.

 

  We currently intend to use the net proceeds that we will receive from this offering to repay the then outstanding indebtedness under our Existing Credit Facility. To the extent the net proceeds from this offering are insufficient to allow us to fully repay the indebtedness then outstanding under our Existing Credit Facility, we intend to use borrowings under our New Credit Facility to pay any remaining balance outstanding under the Existing Credit Facility. To the extent we receive net proceeds from this offering in excess of the then outstanding indebtedness under our Existing Credit Facility, we intend to use such excess net proceeds for working capital and other general corporate purposes. See “Use of proceeds.”

 

Directed share program

The underwriters have reserved for sale, at the initial public offering price, up to approximately      shares of our common stock being offered for sale to certain of our business associates, officers, directors, employees and certain of their family members. We will offer these shares to the extent permitted under applicable regulations in the United States and in various countries. The number of shares available for sale to the general public in this offering will be reduced to the extent these persons purchase reserved shares. Any reserved shares not purchased will be offered by the underwriters to the general public on the same terms as the other shares.

 

 

-13-


Table of Contents

Concentration of ownership

Upon completion of this offering, our executive officers and directors, and their affiliates, will beneficially own, in the aggregate, approximately     % of our outstanding shares of common stock, and our Sponsor will own approximately     % of our outstanding shares of common stock.

 

Dividend policy

Currently, we do not anticipate paying cash dividends.

 

Proposed Nasdaq Global Select Market symbol

“FOXF”

The number of shares of common stock that will be outstanding after this offering is based on      shares outstanding as of March 31, 2013, and excludes:

 

 

54,062 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options to purchase common stock that were outstanding as of March 31, 2013, with a weighted average exercise price of $226.22 per share; and

 

 

     shares of common stock reserved for issuance under our 2013 Omnibus Plan.

Except as otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus assumes:

 

 

a     -for-     split of our common stock, which will occur prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part;

 

 

the filing and effectiveness of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in Delaware and the adoption of our Amended and Restated Bylaws, each of which will occur immediately prior to the completion of this offering; and

 

 

no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase up to an additional      shares of common stock from the selling stockholders in this offering.

 

 

-14-


Table of Contents

Summary consolidated financial data

The following table sets forth our summary consolidated financial data as of the dates and for the periods indicated. We have derived the summary statements of income data for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary statements of income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2013, and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of March 31, 2013 are derived from our unaudited consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. The unaudited consolidated financial statements were prepared on a basis consistent with our audited consolidated financial statements and include, in the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of the financial information set forth in those statements.

The historical results presented below are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period, and the results for any interim period may not necessarily be indicative of the results for the full year. The following summaries of our consolidated financial data for the periods presented should be read in conjunction with “Risk factors,” “Selected consolidated financial data,” “Capitalization,” “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes, which are included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

       For the years ended
December 31,
   

For the three months

ended March 31,

 
  

 

 

 
(in thousands, except per share data)    2010     2011     2012     2012     2013  

 

 

Sales

   $ 170,983      $ 197,739      $ 235,869      $ 45,671      $ 54,878   

Cost of sales(1)

     122,373        140,849        173,040        32,572        39,163   
  

 

 

 

Gross profit

     48,610        56,890        62,829        13,099        15,715   

Operating expenses:

          

Sales and marketing(1)

     10,293        11,748        12,570        3,177        3,284   

Research and development(1)

     7,321        9,750        9,727        2,376        2,355   

General and administrative(1)

     6,202        7,588        9,063        1,951        2,673   

Amortization of purchased intangibles

     5,217        5,217        5,315        1,304        1,341   
  

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     29,033        34,303        36,675        8,808        9,653   
  

 

 

 

Income from operations

     19,577        22,587        26,154        4,291        6,062   

Other expense, net:

          

Interest expense

     (2,637     (1,982     (3,486     (233     (957

Other income (expense), net

     39        (13     (277     (46     34   
  

 

 

 

Total other expense, net

     (2,598     (1,995     (3,763     (279     (923
  

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     16,979        20,592        22,391        4,012        5,139   

Provision for income taxes

     6,210        7,054        8,181        1,373        1,590   
  

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 10,769      $ 13,538      $ 14,210      $ 2,639      $ 3,549   
  

 

 

 

Earnings per share (actual and pro forma):

          

Basic

   $ 16.62      $ 20.92      $ 20.59      $ 4.04      $ 4.93   

Diluted

   $ 15.72      $ 19.45      $ 20.30      $ 3.76      $ 4.83   

Weighted average common shares used to compute net income per share (actual and pro forma):

          

Basic

     648        647        690        653        720   

Diluted

     685        696        700        701        735   

Supplemental pro forma net income per share (unaudited)(2)

          

Shares used to calculate supplemental pro forma net income per share (unaudited)

          

Dividends per share

   $      $      $ 92.99      $      $   

 

 

 

 

-15-


Table of Contents
(1)   Includes stock-based compensation (excluding tax effect) as follows:

 

       For the years ended
December 31,
     For the three months
ended March 31,
 
  

 

 

 

(in thousands)

   2010      2011      2012      2012      2013  

 

 

Cost of sales

   $       $       $       $       $   

Sales and marketing

     40         78         160         33         33   

Research and development

     12         12         29         3         17   

General and administrative

     472         940         1,959         267         652   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 524       $ 1,030       $ 2,148       $ 303       $ 702   
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2)   Unaudited supplemental pro forma net income per share has been presented in accordance with the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 1.B.3, or SAB 1.B.3. As outlined in SAB 1.B.3, the special dividend paid in June 2012 was in excess of the net income for the twelve-months ended March 31, 2013 of $15.1 million. Accordingly, under SAB 1.B.3, the company has included all shares, for which proceeds accrue to the company, issued under this offering in the shares used to calculate supplemental pro forma net income per share.

The following table presents our summary consolidated balance sheet data as of March 31, 2013 and is presented:

 

 

on an actual basis; and

 

 

on a pro forma, as adjusted basis: (i) reflecting the filing of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation immediately prior to the consummation of this offering; (ii) the sale of      shares of common stock by us in this offering at an estimated initial offering price of $     per share, which is the midpoint of the range of the initial public offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us; and (iii) the application of such proceeds to repay a majority of the then outstanding indebtedness under our Existing Credit Facility concurrently with the closing of this offering.

 

As of March 31, 2013

(in thousands)

   Actual      Pro forma, as
adjusted
(unaudited)
 

 

 

Consolidated balance sheet data(1):

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 136       $                

Inventory

     42,734      

Working capital

     23,786      

Property and equipment, net

     12,105      

Total assets

     147,429      

Total debt, including current portion

     52,850      

Total stockholders’ equity

   $ 33,828       $                

 

 

 

(1)   A $1.00 increase in the assumed initial public offering price of $     per share would decrease total debt, including current portion, and would increase total stockholders’ equity by $     million, assuming the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us. A $1.00 decrease in the assumed initial offering price of $     per share would increase total debt, including current portion, and would decrease total stockholders’ equity by $     million, assuming the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us. An increase of 100,000 shares in the number of shares sold in this offering by us would decrease total debt, including current portion, and would increase total stockholders’ equity from this offering by $     million, assuming an initial public offering price of $     per share and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us. A decrease of 100,000 shares in the number of shares sold in this offering by us would increase total debt, including current portion, and would decrease total stockholders’ equity from this offering by $     million, assuming an initial public offering price of $     per share and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us.

 

 

-16-


Table of Contents

Non-GAAP financial measures

Adjusted EBITDA is a financial measure that is not calculated in accordance with GAAP. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income adjusted for interest expense, other income (expense), net, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation and the management fee payable to an affiliate of our Sponsor (which fee will be discontinued upon completion of this offering). Below, we have provided a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to our net income, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income or any other measure of financial performance calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.

We include Adjusted EBITDA in this prospectus because we believe it allows investors to understand and evaluate our core operating performance and trends. In particular, the exclusion of certain expenses in calculating adjusted EBITDA can provide a useful measure for period-to-period comparisons of our core business.

Our use of Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool. Some of these limitations are:

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA does not include the impact of equity-based compensation;

 

 

although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized may have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect capital expenditure requirements for such replacements;

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the interest expense or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our indebtedness;

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA does not include other income or expense such as gain or loss on the disposal of fixed assets, foreign currency transaction gain or loss and other miscellaneous items;

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect income tax payments that may represent a reduction in cash available to us;

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the cash fees which we paid to our Sponsor; and

 

 

other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate Adjusted EBITDA measures differently, which reduces its usefulness as a comparative measure.

In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we will incur expenses similar to the adjustments in this presentation. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by these expenses or any unusual or non-recurring items. When evaluating our performance, you should consider Adjusted EBITDA alongside other financial performance measures, including our net income and other GAAP results.

 

 

-17-


Table of Contents

The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to our net income, the most comparable GAAP measure, for each of the periods indicated:

 

       For the years ended December 31,      For the three months
ended March 31,
 
  

 

 

 
(in thousands)    2010     2011      2012      2012      2013  

 

 

Reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA

             

Net income

   $ 10,769      $ 13,538       $ 14,210       $ 2,639       $ 3,549   

Interest expense

     2,637        1,982         3,486         233         957   

Other (income) expense, net(1)

     (39     13         277         46         (34

Provision for income taxes

     6,210        7,054         8,181         1,373         1,590   

Depreciation and amortization

     6,150        6,598         7,204         1,713         1,885   

Stock-based compensation(2)

     524        1,030         2,148         303         702   

Management fee paid(3)

     500        500         500         125         125   
  

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 26,751      $ 30,715       $ 36,006       $ 6,432       $ 8,774   
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)   Other (income) expense, net includes gain or loss on the disposal of fixed assets, foreign currency transaction gain or loss, forgiveness of indebtedness under our loan with the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Watsonville, and other miscellaneous items.

 

(2)   Represents non-cash, stock-based compensation (before tax effect).

 

(3)   Represents management fees paid to an affiliate of our Sponsor pursuant to a management services agreement that will terminate on the consummation of this offering. Such fees are paid by us quarterly in arrears and other than paying any accrued but unpaid fees for the quarter during which this offering closes, no separate termination fee will be due under this agreement when it is terminated.

 

 

-18-


Table of Contents

Risk factors

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, together with all of the other information in this prospectus, before making a decision to invest in our common stock. If any of the risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, operating results and prospects could be materially and adversely affected. In that event, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment.

Risks related to our business

If we are unable to continue to enhance existing products and develop and market new products that respond to consumer needs and preferences and achieve market acceptance, we may experience a decrease in demand for our products, and our business and financial results could suffer.

Our growth strategy involves the continuous development of innovative high-performance products. For instance, during 2012, we generated more than 70% of our sales from products that we introduced during the last three years. We may not be able to compete as effectively with our competitors, and ultimately satisfy the needs and preferences of our customers and the end users of our products, unless we can continue to enhance existing products and develop new, innovative products in the global markets in which we compete. In addition, we must continuously compete not only for end users who purchase our products through the dealers and distributors who are our customers, but also for the OEMs which incorporate our products into their mountain bikes and powered vehicles. These OEMs regularly evaluate our products against those of our competitors to determine if they are allowing the OEMs to achieve higher sales and market share on a cost-effective basis. Should one or more of our OEM customers determine that they could achieve overall better financial results by incorporating a competitors’ new or existing product, they would likely do so, which could harm our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Product development requires significant financial, technological and other resources. While we expended approximately $7.3 million, $9.8 million and $9.7 million for our research and development efforts in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively, there can be no assurance that this level of investment in research and development will be sufficient in the future to maintain our competitive advantage in product innovation, which could cause our business, financial condition or results of operations to suffer.

Product improvements and new product introductions require significant planning, design, development and testing at the technological, product and manufacturing process levels, and we may experience unanticipated delays in our introduction of product improvements or new products. Our competitors’ new products may beat our products to market, be more effective and/or less expensive than our products, obtain better market acceptance or render our products obsolete. Any new products that we develop may not receive market acceptance or otherwise generate any meaningful sales or profits for us relative to our expectations. In addition, one of our competitors could develop an unforeseen and entirely new product or technology that renders our products less desirable or obsolete, which could negatively affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

-19-


Table of Contents

We face intense competition in all product lines, including from some competitors that may have greater financial and marketing resources. Failure to compete effectively against competitors would negatively impact our business and operating results.

The suspension industry is highly competitive. We compete with a number of other manufacturers that produce and sell suspension products to OEMs and aftermarket dealers and distributors, including OEMs that produce their own line of suspension products for their own use. Our continued success depends on our ability to continue to compete effectively against our competitors, some of which have significantly greater financial, marketing and other resources than we have. Also, several of our competitors offer broader product lines to OEMs, which they may sell in connection with suspension products as part of a package offering. In the future, our competitors may be able to maintain and grow brand strength and market share more effectively or quickly than we do by anticipating the course of market developments more accurately than we do, developing products that are superior to our products, creating manufacturing or distribution capabilities that are superior to ours, producing similar products at a lower cost than we can or adapting more quickly than we do to new technologies or evolving regulatory, industry or customer requirements, among other possibilities. In addition, we may encounter increased competition if our current competitors broaden their product offerings by beginning to produce additional types of suspension products or through competitor consolidations. We could also face competition from well-capitalized entrants into the high-performance suspension product market, as well as aggressive pricing tactics by other manufacturers trying to gain market share. As a result, our products may not be able to compete successfully with our competitors’ products, which could negatively affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our business is sensitive to economic conditions that impact consumer spending. Our suspension products, and the mountain bikes and powered vehicles into which they are incorporated, are discretionary purchases and may be adversely impacted by changes in the economy.

Our business depends substantially on global economic and market conditions. In particular, we believe that currently a significant majority of the end users of our products live in the United States and countries in Europe. These areas are either in the process of recovering from recession or, in some cases, are still struggling with recession, disruption in banking and/or financial systems, economic weakness and uncertainty. In addition, our products are recreational in nature and are generally discretionary purchases by consumers. Consumers are usually more willing to make discretionary purchases during periods of favorable general economic conditions and high consumer confidence. Discretionary spending may also be affected by many other factors, including interest rates, the availability of consumer credit, taxes and consumer confidence in future economic conditions. During periods of unfavorable economic conditions, or periods when other negative market factors exist, consumer discretionary spending is typically reduced, which in turn could reduce our product sales and have a negative effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

There could also be a number of secondary effects resulting from an economic downturn, such as insolvency of our suppliers resulting in product delays, an inability of our OEM and distributor and dealer customers to obtain credit to finance purchases of our products, customers delaying payment to us for the purchase of our products due to financial hardship or an increase in bad debt expense. Any of these effects could negatively affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

-20-


Table of Contents

If we are unable to maintain our premium brand image, our business may suffer.

Our products are selected by both OEMs and dealers and distributors in part because of the premium brand reputation we hold with them and our end users. Therefore, our success depends on our ability to maintain and build our brand image. We have focused on building our brand through producing products that we believe are innovative, high in performance and highly reliable. In addition, our brand benefits from our strong relationships with our OEM customers and dealers and distributors and through marketing programs aimed at mountain bike and powered vehicle enthusiasts in various media and other channels. For example, we sponsor a number of professional athletes and professional race teams. In order to continue to enhance our brand image, we will need to maintain our position in the suspension products industry and continue to provide high quality products and services. Also, we will need to continue to invest in sponsorships, marketing and public relations.

There can be no assurance, however, that we will be able to maintain or enhance the strength of our brand in the future. Our brand could be adversely impacted by, among other things:

 

 

failure to develop new products that are innovative, high-performance and reliable;

 

 

internal product quality control issues;

 

 

product quality issues on the mountain bikes and powered vehicles on which our products are installed;

 

 

product recalls;

 

 

high profile component failures (such as a component failure during a race on a mountain bike ridden by an athlete that we sponsor);

 

 

negative publicity regarding our sponsored athletes;

 

 

high profile injury or death to one of our sponsored athletes;

 

 

inconsistent uses of our brand and our other intellectual property assets, as well as failure to protect our intellectual property; and

 

 

changes in consumer trends and perceptions.

Any adverse impact on our brand could in turn negatively affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

A significant portion of our sales are highly dependent on the demand for high-end mountain bikes and their suspension components and a material decline in the demand for these bikes or their suspension components could have a material adverse effect on our business or results of operations.

During 2012, approximately 67% of our sales were generated from the sale of suspension products for high-end mountain bikes. Part of our success has been attributable to the growth in the high-end mountain bike industry, including increases in average retail sales prices, as better-performing product designs and technologies have been incorporated into these products. If the popularity of high-end or premium priced mountain bikes does not increase or declines, the number of mountain bike enthusiasts seeking such mountain bikes or premium priced suspension products for their mountain bikes does not increase or declines, or the average price point of

 

-21-


Table of Contents

these bikes declines, we may fail to achieve future growth or our sales could decrease, and our business, financial condition or results of operations could be negatively affected. In addition, if current mountain bike enthusiasts stop purchasing our products due to changes in preferences, we may fail to achieve future growth or our sales could be decreased, and our business, financial condition or results of operations could be negatively affected.

Our growth in the powered vehicle category is dependent upon our continued ability to expand our product sales into powered vehicles that require high-performance suspension and the continued expansion of the market for these powered vehicles.

Our growth in the powered vehicle category is in part attributable to the expansion of the market for powered vehicles that require high-performance suspension products. Such market growth includes the creation of new classes of vehicles that need our products, such as Side-by-Sides, and our ability to create products for these vehicles. In the event these markets stopped expanding or contracted, or we were unsuccessful in creating new products for these markets or other competitors successfully enter into these markets, we may fail to achieve future growth or our sales could decrease, and our business, financial condition or results of operations could be negatively affected.

A disruption in the operations of our manufacturing facilities, including any disruption in connection with moving a majority of the manufacturing of our mountain bike products to Taiwan, could have a negative effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

During 2012, the sale of mountain bike suspension products accounted for approximately 67% of our sales. We recently began to transfer a majority of the manufacturing of our mountain bike products to Taiwan. We contemplate that this transition will continue through 2015, at which time we anticipate that virtually all of the manufacturing of our mountain bike products will be completed in Taiwan. During our transition process, we will incur some duplication of facilities, equipment and personnel, the amount of which could vary materially from our projections. Also, the transition process could cause manufacturing problems and give rise to execution risks, including disruptions to employees, negative impact on employee morale and retention, delays in recognizing efficiencies or increased costs of manufacturing, and adverse impacts on our product quality and delivery times. In addition, we could encounter unforeseen difficulties resulting from the distance and time zone differences between our main operations in California and our new Taiwan manufacturing facility. Should any of these problems occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be negatively affected.

Equipment failures, delays in deliveries or catastrophic loss at any of our facilities could lead to production or service disruptions, curtailments or shutdowns. In the event of a stoppage in production or a slowdown in production due to high employee turnover or a labor dispute at any of our facilities, even if only temporary, or if we experience delays as a result of events that are beyond our control, delivery times to our customers could be severely affected. If there was a manufacturing disruption in any of our manufacturing facilities, we might be unable to meet product delivery requirements and our business, financial condition or results of operations could be negatively affected, even if the disruption was covered in whole or in part by our business interruption insurance. Any significant delay in deliveries to our customers could lead to increased returns or cancellations, expose us to damage claims from our customers or damage our brand and, in turn, negatively affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

-22-


Table of Contents

Our business depends substantially on the continuing efforts of our senior management, and our business may be severely disrupted if we lose their services.

We are heavily dependent upon the contributions, talent and leadership of our senior management team, particularly our Chief Executive Officer, Larry L. Enterline. We do not have a “key person” life insurance policy on Mr. Enterline or any other key employees. We believe that the top eight members of our senior management team are key to establishing our focus and executing our corporate strategies as they have extensive knowledge of our systems and processes. Given our senior management team’s knowledge of the suspension products industry and the limited number of direct competitors in the industry, we believe that it could be difficult to find replacements should any of the members of our senior management team leave. Our inability to find suitable replacements for any of the members of our senior management team could negatively affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We depend on skilled engineers to develop and create our products, and the failure to attract and retain such individuals could adversely affect our business.

We rely on skilled and well-trained engineers for the design and production of our products, as well as in our research and development functions. Competition for such individuals is intense, particularly in Silicon Valley near where our headquarters are located. Our inability to attract or retain qualified employees in our design, production or research and development functions or elsewhere in our company could result in diminished quality of our product and delinquent production schedules, impede our ability to develop new products and harm our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We may not be able to sustain our past growth or successfully implement our growth strategy, which may have a negative effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We grew our sales from approximately $171.0 million in 2010 to approximately $235.9 million in 2012. This growth rate may be unsustainable. Our future growth will depend upon various factors, including the strength of our brand image, our ability to continue to produce innovative suspension products, consumer acceptance of our products, competitive conditions in the marketplace, the growth in emerging markets for products requiring high-end suspension products and, in general, the continued growth of the high-end mountain bike and powered vehicle markets into which we sell our products. Our beliefs regarding the future growth of markets for high-end suspension products are based largely on qualitative judgments and limited sources and may not be reliable. If we are unable to sustain our past growth or successfully implement our growth strategy, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be negatively affected.

The professional athletes and race teams who use our products are an important aspect of our brand image. The loss of the support of professional athletes for our products or the inability to attract new professional athletes may harm our business.

If our products are not used by current or future professional athletes and race teams, our brand could lose value and our sales could decline. While our sponsorship agreements typically restrict our sponsored athletes and race teams from promoting, endorsing or using competitors’ products that compete directly within our product categories during the term of the sponsorship agreements, we do not typically have long-term contracts with any of the athletes or race teams whom we sponsor.

 

-23-


Table of Contents

If we are unable to maintain our current relationships with these professional athletes and race teams, if these professional athletes and race teams are no longer popular, if our sponsored athletes and race teams fail to have success or if we are unable to continue to attract the endorsement of new professional athletes and race teams in the future, the value of our brand and our sales could decline.

We depend on our relationships with dealers and distributors and their ability to sell and service our products. Any disruption in these relationships could harm our sales.

We sell our aftermarket products to dealers and distributors, and we depend on their willingness and ability to market and sell our products to consumers and provide customer and product service as needed. We also rely on our dealers and distributors to be knowledgeable about our products and their features. If we are not able to educate our dealers and distributors so that they may effectively sell our products as part of a positive buying experience, or if they fail to implement effective retail sales initiatives, focus selling efforts on our competitors’ products, reduce the quantity of our products that they sell or reduce their operations due to financial difficulties or otherwise, our brand and business could suffer.

We do not control our dealers or distributors and many of our contracts allow these entities to offer our competitors’ products. Our competitors may incentivize our dealers and distributors to favor their products. In addition, we do not have long-term contracts with a majority of our dealers and distributors, and our dealers and distributors are not obligated to purchase specified amounts of our products. In fact, the majority of our dealers and distributors buy from us on a purchase order basis. Consequently, with little or no notice, many of these dealers and distributors may terminate their relationships with us or materially reduce their purchases of our products. If we were to lose one or more of our dealers or distributors, we would need to obtain a new dealer or distributor to cover the particular location or product line, which may not be possible on favorable terms or at all. Alternatively, we could use our own sales force to replace such a dealer or distributor, but expanding our sales force into new locations takes a significant amount of time and resources and may not be successful. Further, many of our international distribution contracts contain exclusivity arrangements, which may prevent us from replacing or supplementing our current distributors under certain circumstances.

We are a supplier in the high-end mountain bike and powered vehicles markets, and our business is dependent in large part on the orders we receive from our OEM customers and from their success.

As a supplier to OEM customers, we are dependent in large part on the success of the business of our OEM customers. Model year changes by our OEM customers may adversely impact our sales or cause our sales to vary from quarter to quarter. In addition, losses in market share individually or a decline in the overall market of our OEM customers or the discontinuance by our OEM customers of their products which incorporate our products could negatively impact our business, financial condition or results of operations. For example, if our mountain bike producing OEM customers reduce production of their high-end mountain bikes, their orders to us for our products would in turn be reduced, which could negatively affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

-24-


Table of Contents

A relatively small number of customers account for a substantial portion of our sales. The loss of all or a substantial portion of our sales to any of these customers or the loss of market share by these customers could have a material adverse impact on us and our results of operations.

Sales attributable to our 10 largest OEM customers, which can vary from year to year, collectively accounted for approximately 54%, 53% and 56% of our sales in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. The loss of all or a substantial portion of our sales to any of these OEM customers or the loss of market share by these customers could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Although we refer to the branded mountain bike OEMs that use our products throughout this document as “our customers,” “our OEM customers” or “our mountain bike OEM customers,” branded mountain bike OEMs often use contract manufacturers to manufacture and assemble their bikes. As a result, even though we typically negotiate price and volume requirements directly with our mountain bike OEM customers, it is the contract manufacturers that usually place the purchase orders with us and are responsible for paying us (rather than the branded mountain bike OEMs). Giant is an OEM and contract manufacturer used by certain of our mountain bike OEM customers. Sales to Giant accounted for approximately 16%, 12% and 13% of our sales in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. In the event Giant were to experience manufacturing or other problems, or were to fail to pay us, it could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Currency exchange rate fluctuations could result in decreased gross margins.

Foreign currency fluctuations could in the future have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. We sell our products inside and outside of the United States in U.S. Dollars. As the majority of our expenses are also in U.S. Dollars, we are somewhat insulated from currency fluctuations. However, some of the OEMs purchasing products from us sell their products in Europe and other foreign markets using the Euro and other foreign currencies. As a result, as the U.S. Dollar appreciates against these foreign currencies, our products will become relatively more expensive for these OEMs. Accordingly, competitive products that our OEM customers can purchase in other currencies may become more attractive and we could lose sales as these OEMs seek to replace our products with cheaper alternatives. In addition, should the U.S. Dollar depreciate significantly, this could have the effect of decreasing our gross margins and adversely impact our business, financial condition or results of operations. Furthermore, as we transfer a majority of our manufacturing operations for our mountain bike products to Taiwan, we anticipate that a growing percentage of our expenses will be denominated in the New Taiwan Dollar. Should the New Taiwan Dollar appreciate against the U.S. Dollar, this could have the effect of decreasing our gross margins.

Our sales could be adversely impacted by the disruption or cessation of sales by other bike component manufacturers or if other mountain bike component manufacturers enter into the suspension market.

Most of the mountain bikes incorporating our suspension products also utilize products and components manufactured by other mountain bike component manufacturers. If such component manufacturers were to cease selling their products and components on a stand-alone basis, their sales are disrupted, or their competitive market position or reputation is diminished, customers could migrate to competitors that sell both suspension and other complementary mountain bike products which we do not sell. Moreover, such mountain bike component

 

-25-


Table of Contents

manufacturers could begin manufacturing mountain bike suspension products or bundle their bike components with suspension products manufactured by competitors. If any of the foregoing were to occur, our sales could decrease and our business, financial condition or results of operations could suffer.

We have been and may become subject to intellectual property disputes that could cause us to incur significant costs or pay significant damages or that could prohibit us from selling our products.

As we develop new products or attempt to utilize our brands in connection with new products, we seek to avoid infringing the valid patents and other intellectual property rights of our competitors. However, from time to time, third parties have alleged, or may allege in the future, that our products and/or trademarks infringe upon their proprietary rights. We will evaluate any such claims and, where appropriate, may obtain or seek to obtain licenses or other business arrangements. To date, there have been no significant interruptions in our business as a result of any claims of infringement, and we do not hold patent infringement insurance. Any claim, regardless of its merit, could be expensive, time consuming to defend and distract management from our business. Moreover, if our products or brands are found to infringe third-party intellectual property rights, we may be unable to obtain a license to use such technology or associated intellectual property rights on acceptable terms. A court determination that our brands, products or manufacturing processes infringe the intellectual property rights of others could result in significant liability and/or require us to make material changes to our products and/or manufacturing processes or preclude our ability to use certain brands. In most circumstances, we are not indemnified for our use of a licensor’s intellectual property, if such intellectual property is found to be infringing. Any of the foregoing results could cause us to, and we could incur substantial costs to, redesign our products or defend legal actions and such costs could negatively affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

If we are unable to enforce our intellectual property rights, our reputation and sales could be adversely affected.

Intellectual property is an important component of our business. As of March 31, 2013, we had 37 patents and had approximately 82 patents pending on file in the U.S. and European Patent offices. Additionally, we have registered or have applied for trademarks and service marks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and a number of foreign countries, including the marks FOX ® , FOX RACING SHOX ® and REDEFINE YOUR LIMITS ® , to be utilized with certain goods and services. When appropriate, we may from time to time assert our rights against those who infringe on our patents, trademarks and trade dress. We may not, however, be successful in enforcing our patents or asserting trademark, trade name or trade dress protection with respect to our brand names and our product designs, and third parties may seek to oppose or challenge our patents or trademark registrations. Further, these legal efforts may not be successful in reducing sales of suspension products by those infringing. In addition, our pending patent applications may not result in the issuance of patents, and even issued patents may be contested, circumvented or invalidated and may not provide us with proprietary protection or competitive advantages. If our efforts to protect our intellectual property are unsuccessful, or if a third party misappropriates our rights, this may adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. Additionally, intellectual property protection may be unavailable or limited in some foreign countries where laws or law enforcement practices may not protect our proprietary rights as fully as in the United States, and it may be more difficult for us to successfully challenge

 

-26-


Table of Contents

the use of our proprietary rights by other parties in these countries. Furthermore, other competitors may be able to successfully produce products which imitate certain of our products without infringing upon any of our patents, trademarks or trade dress. The failure to prevent or limit infringements and imitations, could have a permanent negative impact on the pricing of our products or reduce our product sales and product margins, even if we are ultimately successful in limiting the distribution of a product that infringes our rights, which in turn may affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

While we enter into non-disclosure agreements with employees, OEMs, distributors and others to protect our confidential information and trade secrets, we may be unable to prevent such parties from breaching these agreements with us and using our intellectual property in an unauthorized manner. If our efforts to protect our intellectual property are unsuccessful, or if a third party misappropriates our rights this may adversely affect our business. Defending our intellectual property rights can be very expensive and time consuming, and there is no assurance that we will be successful.

Our international operations are exposed to risks associated with conducting business globally.

As a result of our international presence, we are exposed to increased risks inherent in conducting business outside of the United States. In addition to foreign currency risks, these risks include:

 

 

increased difficulty in protecting our intellectual property rights and trade secrets;

 

 

changes in tax laws and the interpretation of those laws;

 

 

exposure to local economic conditions;

 

 

unexpected government action or changes in legal or regulatory requirements;

 

 

geopolitical regional conflicts, terrorist activity, political unrest, civil strife, acts of war and other political uncertainty;

 

 

changes in tariffs, quotas, trade barriers and other similar restrictions on sales;

 

 

the effects of any anti-American sentiments on our brands or sales of our products;

 

 

increased difficulty in ensuring compliance by employees, agents and contractors with our policies as well as with the laws of multiple jurisdictions, including but not limited to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, local international environmental, health and safety laws, and increasingly complex regulations relating to the conduct of international commerce;

 

 

increased difficulty in controlling and monitoring foreign operations from the United States, including increased difficulty in identifying and recruiting qualified personnel for our foreign operations; and

 

 

increased difficulty in staffing and managing foreign operations or international sales.

An adverse change in any of these conditions could have a negative effect upon our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

-27-


Table of Contents

If we inaccurately forecast demand for our products, we may manufacture insufficient or excess quantities or our manufacturing costs could increase, which could adversely affect our business.

We plan our manufacturing capacity based upon the forecasted demand for our products. In the OEM channel, our forecasts are based in large part on the number of our product specifications on new mountain bikes and powered vehicles and on projections from our OEM customers. In the aftermarket channel, our forecasts are based partially on discussions with our dealers and distributors as well as our own assessment of markets. For example, due to increased demand for our products beyond what was forecasted, our 2012 production exceeded our budgeted production, which resulted in increased expedited freight costs. In addition, if we incorrectly forecast demand we may incur capacity issues in our manufacturing plant and supply chain, increased material costs, increased freight costs and additional overtime, all of which in turn adversely impact our cost of sales and our gross margin. The current continuing economic weakness and uncertainty in the United States, Europe and other countries has made, and may continue to make, accurate forecasting particularly challenging.

In the future, if actual demand for our products exceeds forecasted demand, the margins on our incremental sales in excess of anticipated sales may be lower due to temporary higher costs, which could result in a decrease in our overall margins. While we generally manufacture our products upon receipt of customer orders, if actual demand is less than the forecasted demand for our products and we have already manufactured the products or committed to purchase materials in support of forecasted demand, we could be forced to hold excess inventories. In short, either excess or insufficient production due to inaccurate forecasting could have a negative effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Product recalls, and significant product repair and/or replacement due to product warranty costs and claims have had, and in the future could have, a material adverse impact on our business.

Unless otherwise required by law, we generally provide a limited warranty for our products for a one or two year period beginning on: (i) in the case of OEM sales, the date the mountain bike or powered vehicle is purchased from an authorized OEM where our product is incorporated as original equipment on the purchased mountain bike or powered vehicle; or (ii) in the case of aftermarket sales, the date the product is originally purchased from an authorized dealer. From time to time, our customers may negotiate for longer or different warranty coverage. In the ordinary course of business, we incur warranty costs and reserve against such costs in our financial statements. However, there is risk that we could experience higher than expected warranty costs or become aware of an underperforming product. For example, during calendar year 2012, we experienced warranty costs in connection with certain dampers contained in our suspension products that went beyond the normal warranty amounts for which we have typically reserved, causing us to increase our reserves by approximately $1.8 million. We also experienced other related costs in 2012 estimated to be approximately $1.0 million. Future unforeseen product warranty issues could be expensive and could adversely affect our brand image, relationships with our sponsored athletes and race teams and have a negative effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Some of our competitors’ products have been subject to recalls, and in the future, we may be required to or voluntarily participate in recalls involving our products or components if any prove to be defective. In addition to the direct costs of any claim or product recall, any such claim or recall could adversely affect our brand image and have a negative effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

-28-


Table of Contents

An adverse determination in any material product liability claim against us could adversely affect our operating results or financial condition.

The use of our products by consumers, often under extreme conditions, exposes us to risks associated with product liability claims. If our products are defective or used incorrectly by our customers, bodily injury, property damage or other injury, including death, may result and could give rise to product liability claims against us, which could adversely affect our brand image or reputation. We have encountered product liability claims in the past and carry product liability insurance to help protect us against the costs of such claims, although our insurance may not be sufficient to cover all losses. Any losses that we may suffer from any liability claims, and the effect that any product liability litigation may have upon the reputation and marketability of our products, may have a negative impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our New Credit Facility will place operating restrictions on us and create default risks.

We intend to enter into our New Credit Facility with third party lenders concurrently with the closing of this offering. The New Credit Facility will contain covenants that place restrictions on our operating activities. These covenants, among other things, will limit our ability to:

 

 

pay dividends and make distributions or redeem our stock;

 

 

incur additional indebtedness or permit additional encumbrances on our assets; and

 

 

make acquisitions or complete mergers or sales of assets, or engage in new businesses.

These restrictions may interfere with our ability to obtain financing or to engage in other business activities, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

If we are unable to comply with the covenants contained in our New Credit Facility, it could constitute an event of default and our lenders could declare all borrowings outstanding, together with accrued and unpaid interest, to be immediately due and payable. If we are unable to repay or otherwise refinance these borrowings when due, our lenders could sell the collateral securing our credit facilities, which constitutes substantially all of our assets.

Our outstanding indebtedness under our secured credit facility bears interest at a variable rate, which makes us more vulnerable to increases in interest rates and could cause our interest expense to increase and decrease cash available for operations and other purposes.

As of June 30, 2013, we had $65.5 million of indebtedness, bearing interest at a variable rate, outstanding under our Existing Credit Facility as compared to $52.9 million of indebtedness as of March 31, 2013. Recent interest rates in the United States have been at historically low levels, and any increase in these rates would increase our interest expense and reduce our funds available for operations and other purposes. Although from time to time we may enter into agreements to hedge a portion of our interest rate exposure, these agreements may be costly and may not protect against all interest rate fluctuations. Accordingly, we may experience material increases in our interest expense as a result of increases in interest rate levels generally. Based on the $65.5 million of variable interest rate indebtedness that was outstanding as of June 30, 2013, a hypothetical 100 basis point increase or decrease in the interest rate on our variable rate debt would have resulted in an approximately $0.6 million change to our interest expense for fiscal 2012. Concurrently with the closing of this offering, we intend to enter into our New Credit

 

-29-


Table of Contents

Facility, which is expected to consist of a $60.0 million revolving line of credit, a $5.0 million sublimit for swingline loans and a $10.0 million sublimit for the issuance of letters of credit. Subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent, we have the ability to increase the aggregate revolving loan commitments under the New Credit Facility by an aggregate amount of up to $50.0 million, subject to the agreement of any existing lenders and/or any additional lenders who are providing such increased commitments. Borrowings under the New Credit Facility will bear interest on a variable rate which will increase and decrease based upon changes in the underlying interest rate and/or our leverage ratio. Any such increases in the interest rate or increases of our borrowings under the New Credit Facility will increase our interest expense.

We may be adversely affected by negative publicity relating to our CEO’s participation as a witness in an SEC action unrelated to our company and the diversion of his attention while participating in such SEC action.

Between 2006 and April 2010, our CEO, Larry L. Enterline, acted as the Chief Executive Officer of COMSYS IT Partners, Inc., a public company. During his tenure at COMSYS, COMSYS was acquired by Manpower, Inc. The Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, has brought an action alleging that a long time personal friend of Mr. Enterline’s, Larry Schvacho, engaged in insider trading of COMSYS’s stock based on material non-public information he wrongfully misappropriated from Mr. Enterline about the transaction with Manpower in advance of that transaction being publicly announced in February 2010. The SEC’s civil suit against Mr. Schvacho was filed on July 24, 2012.

Mr. Enterline has not been named as a defendant in the SEC’s suit nor has he been accused of any wrongdoing by the SEC. Mr. Enterline has been identified as a witness in the SEC’s case against Mr. Schvacho and has been deposed in connection with that case. The deadline for completion of all discovery in the SEC’s case against Mr. Schvacho was May 15, 2013. The Court has established a timetable for the briefing of dispositive motions that might resolve the SEC’s claims against Mr. Schvacho without a trial. If no such motions are filed by July 26, 2013, counsel for the SEC and Mr. Schvacho are required to file papers that will prepare the case for trial. No trial date for the SEC’s action against Mr. Schvacho has yet been set. If and when the SEC’s case against Mr. Schvacho proceeds to trial, Mr. Enterline would likely be subpoenaed to give testimony at that trial. If this occurs, Mr. Enterline’s participation in the trial as a witness could be time consuming and could divert some of his attention and effort from our business. In addition, there could be adverse publicity associated with the trial of Mr. Schvacho that could draw public attention to Mr. Enterline. This adverse publicity could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We are subject to certain risks in our manufacturing and in the testing of our products.

As of March 31, 2013, we employed approximately 545 full-time employees worldwide, a large percentage of which work at our manufacturing facilities. Our business involves complex manufacturing processes that can be dangerous to our employees. Although we employ safety procedures in the design and operation of our facilities, there is a risk that an accident or death could occur in one of our facilities. Also, prior to the introduction of new products, our employees test the products under rigorous conditions, which involve the risk of injury or death. Any accident could result in manufacturing or product delays, which could negatively affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. The outcome of litigation is difficult to assess or quantify and the cost to defend litigation can be significant. As a result, the costs to defend any action or the potential liability resulting from any such accident or death or arising

 

-30-


Table of Contents

out of any other litigation, and any negative publicity associated therewith, could have a negative effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We are subject to extensive United States federal and state, foreign and international safety, environmental, employment practices and other government regulations that may require us to incur expenses or modify product offerings in order to maintain compliance with such regulation, which could have a negative effect on our business and results of operations.

We are subject to extensive laws and regulations relating to safety, environmental, employment practices, including wage and hour, wrongful termination and discrimination, and other laws and regulations promulgated by the United States federal and state governments, as well as foreign and international regulatory authorities. Complying with such laws and regulations, and defending against allegations of our failure to comply (including meritless allegations), can be expensive and time consuming. In addition, we are subject to risks of litigation by employees and others which might involve allegations of illegal, unfair or inconsistent employment practices, including wage and hour violations and employment discrimination, misclassification of independent contractors as employees, wrongful termination and other concerns. Although we believe that our products, policies and processes comply with applicable safety, environmental, employment and other standards and related regulations, future regulations may require additional safety standards that would require additional expenses and/or modification of product offerings in order to maintain such compliance. Failure to comply with applicable regulations could result in fines, increased expenses to modify our products and harm to our reputation, all of which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Moreover, certain of our customer contracts require us to comply with the standards of voluntary standard-setting organizations, such as the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission and European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Failure to comply with the voluntary requirements of such organizations could result in the loss of certain customer contracts, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We are subject to environmental laws and regulation and potential exposure for environmental costs and liabilities.

Our operations, facilities and properties are subject to a variety of foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to health, safety and the protection of the environment. These environmental laws and regulations include those relating to the use, generation, storage, handling, transportation, treatment and disposal of solid and hazardous materials and wastes, emissions to air, discharges to waters and the investigation and remediation of contamination. Many of these laws impose strict, retroactive, joint and several liability upon owners and operators of properties, including with respect to environmental matters that occurred prior to the time the party became an owner or operator. In addition, we may have liability with respect to third party sites to which we send waste for disposal. Failure to comply with such laws and regulations can result in significant fines, penalties, costs, liabilities or restrictions on operations that could negatively affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. From time to time, we have been involved in administrative or legal proceedings relating to environmental, health or safety matters and have in the past incurred expenditures relating to such matters.

We believe that our operations are in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations. However, additional environmental issues relating to presently known or

 

-31-


Table of Contents

unknown matters could give rise to currently unanticipated investigation, assessment or expenditures. Compliance with more stringent laws or regulations, as well as different interpretations of existing laws, more vigorous enforcement by regulators or unanticipated events, could require additional expenditures that may materially affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Federal, state, local, foreign and international laws and regulations relating to land-use, noise and air pollution may have a negative impact on our future sales and results of operations.

The products in our powered vehicles line are used in vehicles which are subject to numerous federal, state, local, foreign and international laws and regulations relating to noise and air-pollution. Powered vehicles, and even mountain bikes, have also become subject to laws and regulations prohibiting their use on certain lands and trails. For example, in San Mateo County, California, mountain bikes are not allowed on county trails, and ATV and Side-by-Side riding is not allowed in Zion National Park, among many other national and state parks. In addition, recreational snowmobiling has been restricted in some national parks and federal lands in Canada, the United States and other countries. If more of these laws and regulations are passed and the users of our products lose convenient locations to ride their mountain bikes and powered vehicles, our sales could decrease and our business, financial condition or results of operations could suffer.

Fuel shortages, or high prices for fuel, could have a negative effect on the use of powered vehicles that use our products.

Gasoline or diesel fuel is required for the operation of the powered vehicles that use our products. There can be no assurance that the supply of these fuels will continue uninterrupted, that rationing will not be imposed or that the price of or tax on these petroleum products will not significantly increase in the future. Shortages of gasoline and diesel fuel and substantial increases in the price of fuel could have a material adverse effect on our powered vehicle product category in the future, which could have a negative effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We do not control our suppliers or OEMs, or require them to comply with a formal code of conduct, and actions that they might take could harm our reputation and sales.

We do not control our suppliers or OEMs or their labor, environmental or other practices. A violation of labor, environmental or other laws by our suppliers or OEMs, or a failure of these parties to follow generally accepted ethical business practices, could create negative publicity and harm our reputation. In addition, we may be required to seek alternative suppliers or OEMs if these violations or failures were to occur. We do not inspect or audit compliance by our suppliers or OEMs with these laws or practices, and we do not require our suppliers or OEMs or licensees to comply with a formal code of conduct. Other consumer products companies have faced significant criticism for the actions of their suppliers and OEMs, and we could face such problems ourselves. Any of these events could reduce demand for our products, harm our ability to meet demand or harm our reputation, brand image, business, financial condition or results of operations.

We depend on a limited number of suppliers for our materials and component parts for some of our products, and the loss of any of these suppliers or an increase in cost of raw materials could harm our business.

We depend on a limited number of suppliers for certain components. If our current suppliers, in particular the minority of those which are “single-source” suppliers, are unable to timely fulfill

 

-32-


Table of Contents

orders, or if we are required to transition to other suppliers, we could experience significant production delays or disruption to our business. We define a single-source supplier as a supplier from which we purchase all of a particular raw material or input used in our manufacturing operations, although other suppliers are available from which to purchase the same raw material or input or an equivalent substitute. We do not maintain long term supply contracts with any of our suppliers and instead purchase these components on a purchase order basis. As a result, we cannot force any supplier to sell us the necessary components we use in creating our products and we could face significant supply disruptions should they refuse to do so. In connection with the transfer of a majority of the manufacturing of our mountain bike products to Taiwan, we could experience difficulties locating new qualified suppliers geographically located closer to these facilities. Furthermore, such new suppliers could experience difficulties in providing us with some or all of the materials we require, which could result in disruptions in our manufacturing operations. If we experience difficulties with our suppliers or manufacturing delays caused by our suppliers, whether in connection with our manufacturing operations in the United States or in Taiwan, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely impacted.

In addition, we purchase various raw materials in order to manufacture our products. The main commodity items purchased for production include aluminum, magnesium and steel. Historically, price fluctuations for these components and raw materials have not had a material impact on our business. In the future, however, if we experience material increases in the price of components or raw materials and are unable to pass on those increases to our customers, or there are shortages in the availability of such component parts or raw materials, it could negatively affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

In addition to our various single-source suppliers, we also rely on one “sole-source” supplier, Miyaki Corporation, or Miyaki. We define a sole-source supplier as a supplier of a raw material or input for which there is no other supplier of the same product or an equivalent substitute. Miyaki is the exclusive producer of the Kashima coating for our suspension component tubes. As part of our agreement with Miyaki, we have been granted the exclusive right to use the trademark “KASHIMACOAT” on products comprising the aluminum finished parts for suspension components (e.g., tubes) and on related sales and marketing material worldwide, subject to certain exclusions. Although we believe we could obtain other coatings of comparable utility from other sources if necessary, we could no longer obtain this specific Kashima coating or use the trademark “KASHIMACOAT” if Miyaki were to stop supplying us with this coating. The need to replace the Kashima coating could temporarily disrupt our business and harm our business, financial condition or results of operations.

The transition of a majority of the manufacturing of our mountain bike products to Taiwan may negatively impact our brand image and consumer loyalty, which in turn could have a material adverse impact on our business and results of operations.

As we transition the majority of the manufacturing of our mountain bike products to Taiwan, no assurances can be given that consumers may not be adversely influenced by the fact that such products will no longer be manufactured in the United States or that consumers and OEM customers may not otherwise perceive that the quality of our products is lowered as a result of the fact that they will be manufactured overseas. Such perceptions could adversely impact our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

-33-


Table of Contents

Federal health care reform legislation could increase our expenses and adversely impact our results of operations.

In March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 were signed into law in the U.S. These health care reform laws require employers such as us to provide health insurance for all qualifying employees or pay penalties for not providing coverage. We are unable at this time to accurately predict the impact that these laws will have on our future health care benefit and insurance premium costs and also on our costs for temporary employees that we obtain through agencies. If these costs increase and we are unable to raise the prices we charge our customers to cover these increased expenses, such increases in costs could adversely impact our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We rely on increasingly complex information systems for management of our manufacturing, distribution, sales and other functions. If our information systems fail to perform these functions adequately or if we experience an interruption in our operations, our business could suffer.

All of our major operations, including manufacturing, distribution, sales and accounting, are dependent upon our complex information systems. Our information systems are vulnerable to damage or interruption from, among other things:

 

 

earthquake, fire, flood, hurricane and other natural disasters;

 

 

power loss, computer systems failure, internet and telecommunications or data network failure; and

 

 

hackers, computer viruses, software bugs or glitches.

Any damage or significant disruption in the operation of such systems or the failure of our information systems to perform as expected could disrupt our operations, reduce our efficiency, delay our fulfillment of customer orders or require significant unanticipated expenditures to correct, and thereby have a negative effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We may grow in the future through acquisitions. Growth by acquisitions involves risks and we may not be able to effectively integrate businesses we acquire or we may not be able to identify or consummate any future acquisitions on favorable terms, or at all.

Although we have not traditionally made acquisitions, we intend to selectively evaluate acquisitions in the future. Any acquisitions that we might make are subject to various risks and uncertainties and could have a negative impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations. These risks include the inability to integrate effectively the operations, products, technologies and personnel of the acquired companies (some of which may be spread out in different geographic regions), the inability to achieve anticipated cost savings or operating synergies, and the risk we may not be able to effectively manage our operations at an increased scale of operations resulting from such acquisitions. In the event we do complete acquisitions in the future, such acquisitions could affect our cash flows and net income as we expend funds, increase indebtedness and incur additional expenses in connection with pursuing acquisitions. We may also issue shares of our common stock or other securities from time to time as consideration for future acquisitions and investments. We may not be able to identify or consummate any future acquisitions on favorable terms, or at all.

 

-34-


Table of Contents

Our operating results are subject to quarterly variations in our sales, which could make our operating results difficult to predict and could adversely affect the price of our common stock.

We have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, substantial quarterly variations in our sales and net income. Our quarterly results of operations fluctuate, in some cases significantly, as a result of a variety of other factors, including, among other things:

 

 

the timing of new product releases or other significant announcements by us or our competitors;

 

 

new advertising initiatives;

 

 

fluctuations in raw materials and component costs; and

 

 

changes in our practices with respect to building inventory.

As a result of these quarterly fluctuations, comparisons of our operating results between different quarters within a single year are not necessarily meaningful and may not be accurate indicators of our future performance. Any quarterly fluctuations that we report in the future may differ from the expectations of market analysts and investors, which could cause the price of our common stock to fluctuate significantly. We also believe that the seasonal nature of our business may have been overshadowed over each of the past few years due to the rapid growth in sales we have experienced during the same period.

Our beliefs regarding the future growth of the high-performance suspension product market are supported by qualitative data and limited sources and may not be reliable. A reduction or lack of continued growth in the popularity of high-end mountain bikes or powered vehicles or in the number of consumers who are willing to pay premium prices for well-designed performance-oriented equipment in the markets in which we sell our products could adversely affect our product sales and profits, financial condition or results of operations.

We generate virtually all of our revenues from sales of high-performance suspension products. Our beliefs regarding the outlook of the high-performance suspension product market come from qualitative data and limited sources, which may not be reliable. If our beliefs regarding the opportunities in the market for our products are incorrect or the number of consumers who we believe are willing to pay premium prices for well-designed performance-oriented equipment in the markets in which we sell our products does not increase, or declines, we may fail to achieve future growth and our business, financial condition or results of operations could be negatively affected.

Risks related to this offering and ownership of our common stock

The trading price of our common stock may be volatile, and you might not be able to sell your shares at or above the initial public offering price.

Our common stock has no prior trading history. The trading price of our common stock could be volatile, and you could lose all or part of your investment in our common stock. Factors affecting the trading price of our common stock could include:

 

 

variations in our operating results or those of our competitors;

 

 

new product or other significant announcements by us or our competitors;

 

 

changes in our product mix;

 

-35-


Table of Contents
 

changes in consumer preferences;

 

 

fluctuations in currency exchange rates;

 

 

the gain or loss of significant customers;

 

 

recruitment or departure of key personnel;

 

 

changes in the estimates of our operating results or changes in recommendations by any securities analysts that elect to follow our common stock;

 

 

changes in general economic conditions as well as conditions affecting our industry in particular;

 

 

sales of our common stock by us, our significant stockholders or our directors or executive officers; and

 

 

the expiration of contractual lock-up agreements.

In addition, in recent years, the stock market has experienced significant price fluctuations. Fluctuations in the stock market generally or with respect to companies in our industry could cause the trading price of our common stock to fluctuate for reasons unrelated to our business, operating results or financial condition. Some companies that have had volatile market prices for their securities have had securities class actions filed against them. A suit filed against us, regardless of its merits or outcome, could cause us to incur substantial costs and could divert management’s attention.

A market for our securities may not develop or be maintained and our stock price may decline after this offering.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for shares of our common stock. An active public trading market for our common stock may not develop or, if it develops, may not be maintained, after this offering. Our company, the selling stockholders and the representatives of the underwriters will negotiate to determine the initial public offering price, and the initial public offering price does not necessarily reflect the price at which investors will be willing to buy and sell our shares following this offering. The initial public offering price may be higher than the trading price of our common stock following this offering. As a result, you could lose all or part of your investment.

Future sales of our shares, or the perception that such sales may occur, could cause our stock price to decline.

If our existing stockholders sell substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, or are perceived by the public market as intending to sell, the trading price of our common stock could decline below the initial public offering price. Based on shares outstanding as of March 31, 2013, upon completion of this offering, we will have      shares of common stock outstanding after this offering. Of these shares,      shares of common stock will be freely tradable, without restriction, in the public market. Our executive officers, directors and the holders of substantially all of our shares of common stock have entered into contractual lock-up agreements with the underwriters pursuant to which they have agreed, subject to certain exceptions, not to sell or otherwise transfer any of their common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock for a period through the date 180 days after the date of the final prospectus for this offering.

 

-36-


Table of Contents

Upon the expiration of the contractual lock-up agreements pertaining to this offering, up to an additional      shares will be eligible for sale in the public market,      of which are held by directors, executive officers and other affiliates and will be subject to volume and manner of sale limitations under Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Certain of our existing stockholders have demand and piggyback rights to require us to register with the SEC up to      shares of our common stock. See “Description of capital stock—Registration rights” for more information. If we register any of these shares of common stock, those stockholders would be able to sell those shares freely in the public market.

In addition, the shares that are either subject to outstanding options or that may be granted in the future under our equity incentive plans will become eligible for sale in the public market to the extent permitted by the provisions of various vesting agreements, the contractual lock-up agreements and Rules 144 and 701 under the Securities Act.

The following table shows when the      shares of our common stock that will be outstanding when this offering is complete, will be eligible for sale in the public market:

 

       Shares eligible for sale
Date available for sale into public market   

Number

of

shares

  

Percentage

of

outstanding

shares

 

On the date of this prospectus

     

At various times beginning 181 days or more after the date of this prospectus

     

 

After this offering, we intend to register the shares of our common stock that we have issued or may issue under our equity plans. Once we register these shares, they can be freely sold in the public market upon issuance, subject to any vesting or contractual lock-up agreements.

In addition, our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering authorizes us to issue      shares of common stock, of which      shares will be outstanding after this offering.

If any of these additional shares described are sold, or if it is perceived that they will be sold, in the public market, the trading price of our common stock could decline. For additional information, see “Shares eligible for future sale.”

We are an “emerging growth company,” and the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies could make our common stock less attractive to investors.

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act. For as long as we are an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements and exemptions from the requirements of holding advisory “say-on-pay” and “say-when-on-pay” votes on executive compensation and shareholder advisory votes on golden parachute compensation. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year during which we have total annual gross revenues of $1 billion or more; (ii) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering;

 

-37-


Table of Contents

(iii) the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt; or (iv) the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the Exchange Act.

We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive to the extent we rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile.

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish unfavorable research about our business, our stock price and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our common stock will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. We do not currently have and may never obtain research coverage by securities and industry analysts. If securities and industry analysts do not commence and continue coverage of our company, the trading price for our stock would suffer. In the event we obtain securities or industry analyst coverage, if one or more of the analysts who covers us downgrades our stock or publishes unfavorable research about our business or our industry, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases coverage of our company or fails to publish reports on us regularly, demand for our stock could decrease, which could cause our stock price and trading volume to decline.

Our Sponsor and our directors and officers and insiders will continue to have substantial control over us after this offering and will be able to influence corporate matters.

Upon completion of this offering, Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC, or our Sponsor, and the director affiliated with our Sponsor will beneficially own approximately     % of our outstanding common stock (or approximately     % if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares from the selling stockholders in full), and our other directors and executive officers and their affiliates will beneficially own, in the aggregate, approximately     % of our outstanding common stock (or approximately     % if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares from the selling stockholders in full). As a result, these stockholders will be able to exercise significant influence and, in the case of our Sponsor, control over all matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors, amendment of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, and approval of any merger, consolidation, or sale of all, or substantially all, of our assets or other significant corporate transactions. In addition, our Sponsor will have input on all matters before our board of directors as our director Elias Sabo is affiliated with our Sponsor. Our Sponsor may also delay or prevent a change of control or otherwise discourage a potential acquirer from attempting to obtain control of us, even if such a change of control would benefit our other stockholders. So long as our Sponsor or any of its affiliates continue to indirectly own a significant amount of our outstanding common stock, even if such amount drops below 50%, they will continue to be able to significantly influence our decisions.

In addition, our Sponsor is in the business of making investments in companies and may from time to time acquire and hold interests in businesses that may compete directly or indirectly with us. Our Sponsor may also pursue acquisition opportunities that are complementary to our business and, as a result, those acquisition opportunities may not be available to us. For information regarding the ownership of our outstanding stock by our Sponsor and our executive officers and directors and their affiliates, see “Principal and selling stockholders.”

 

-38-


Table of Contents

We will incur increased costs and demands upon management as a result of complying with the laws and regulations affecting public companies, which could adversely affect our operating results.

As a public company, we will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company, including costs associated with public company reporting and corporate governance requirements. These requirements include eventual compliance with Section 404 and other provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as rules implemented by the SEC and the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, or Nasdaq. In addition, our management team will also have to adapt to the requirements of being a public company. We expect complying with these rules and regulations will substantially increase our legal and financial compliance costs and to make some activities more time-consuming and costly.

The increased costs associated with operating as a public company will decrease our net income or increase our net loss, and may require us to reduce costs in other areas of our business or increase the prices of our products or services. Additionally, if these requirements divert our management’s attention from other business concerns, they could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.

As a public company, we also expect that it may be more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. As a result, it may be more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve on our board of directors or as our executive officers.

If you purchase shares of our common stock in this offering, you will experience immediate dilution and additional dilution in the future.

If you purchase shares of our common stock in this offering, you will experience immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $     per share because the price that you pay will be substantially greater than the net tangible book value per share of the common stock that you acquire. This dilution is due in large part to the fact that our earlier investors paid substantially less than the initial public offering price when they purchased their shares of our common stock. In addition, you will experience additional dilution upon the exercise of options to purchase common stock under our equity incentive plans. See “Dilution.”

Anti-takeover provisions in our charter documents and Delaware law could discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company.

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, or our Charter Documents, as well as Delaware law, contain provisions that may discourage, delay or prevent a change in our management or control over us that stockholders may consider favorable. Among other things, these provisions:

 

 

authorize the issuance of “blank check” preferred stock that could be issued by our board of directors to discourage a takeover attempt;

 

 

establish a classified board of directors, as a result of which the successors to the directors whose terms have expired will be elected to serve from the time of election and qualification until the third annual meeting following their election;

 

 

require that directors be removed from office only for cause;

 

-39-


Table of Contents
 

provide that vacancies on our board of directors, including newly created directorships, may be filled only by a majority vote of directors then in office;

 

 

from and after the date that our Sponsor and its affiliates no longer collectively beneficially own (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, or the Trigger Date, prohibit stockholder action by written consent, requiring all actions to be taken at a meeting of the stockholders;

 

 

provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by our board of directors, our Chairperson of the board of directors, our Lead Director (if we do not have a Chairperson or the Chairperson is disabled), our Chief Executive Officer or our President (in the absence of a Chief Executive Officer) or, until the Trigger Date, our Sponsor;

 

 

from and after the Trigger Date, require supermajority stockholder voting for our stockholders to effect certain amendments to our Charter Documents; and

 

 

establish advance notice requirements for nominations for elections to our board of directors or for proposing other matters that can be acted upon by stockholders at stockholder meetings.

In addition, we will be subject to Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or DGCL, which generally prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any broad range of business combinations with a stockholder owning 15% or more of such corporation’s outstanding voting stock for a period of three years following the date on which such stockholder became an “interested” stockholder. In order for us to consummate a business combination with an interested stockholder within three years of the date on which the stockholder became interested, either (i) the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming interested must be approved by our board of directors prior to the date the stockholder became interested, (ii) the interested stockholder must own at least 85% of our outstanding voting stock at the time the transaction commences (excluding voting stock owned by directors who are also officers and certain employee stock plans) or (iii) the business combination must be approved by our board of directors and authorized by at least two-thirds of our stockholders (excluding the interested stockholder) at a special or annual meeting (not by written consent). This provision could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control, whether or not it is desired by or beneficial to our stockholders. Any delay or prevention of a change in control transaction or changes in our board of directors and management could deter potential acquirers or prevent the completion of a transaction in which our stockholders could receive a substantial premium over the then-current market price for their shares of our common stock. For more information regarding these and other provisions, see “Description of capital stock—Anti-takeover provisions.”

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation designates the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees .

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that, with certain limited exceptions, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of

 

-40-


Table of Contents

Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of our company owed to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our Charter Documents, (iv) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of our Charter Documents, or (v) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock is deemed to have received notice of and consented to the foregoing provisions. This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and employees. Alternatively, if a court were to find this choice of forum provision inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

-41-


Table of Contents

Special note regarding forward-looking statements

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “contemplate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “likely,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern our expectations, strategy, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus include, but are not limited to, statements about:

 

 

our ability to develop new and innovative products in our current end-markets;

 

 

our ability to leverage our technologies and brand to expand into new categories and end-markets;

 

 

our ability to increase our aftermarket penetration;

 

 

our ability to accelerate international growth;

 

 

our ability to improve operating and supply chain efficiencies;

 

 

our future financial performance, including our sales, cost of sales, gross profit or gross margins, operating expenses, ability to generate positive cash flow and ability to maintain our profitability;

 

 

our ability to maintain our premium brand image and high-performance products;

 

 

our ability to maintain relationships with the professional athletes and race teams we sponsor;

 

 

our transition of the majority of our mountain bike manufacturing operations to Taiwan and our expectations related to such transition;

 

 

our ability to selectively add additional dealers and distributors in certain geographic markets;

 

 

the growth of the markets in which we compete, our expectations regarding consumer preferences and our ability to respond to changes in consumer preferences;

 

 

changes in demand for high-end suspension and ride dynamics products;

 

 

our ability to successfully identify, evaluate and manage potential acquisitions and to benefit from such acquisitions; and

 

 

future economic or market conditions.

We caution you that the forward-looking statements highlighted above do not encompass all of the forward-looking statements made in this prospectus.

You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We have based the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects. The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors

 

-42-


Table of Contents

described in the section titled “Risk factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and challenging environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus. We cannot assure you that the results, events, and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur, and actual results, events, or circumstances could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements made in this prospectus relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this prospectus to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments we may make.

This prospectus also contains statistical data, estimates, and forecasts that are based on independent industry publications or other publicly available information, as well as other information based on our internal sources. Although we believe that the third-party sources referred to in this prospectus are reliable, neither we nor the underwriters have independently verified the information provided by these third parties. While we are not aware of any misstatements regarding any third-party information presented in this prospectus, their estimates in particular, as they relate to projections, involve numerous assumptions, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the section titled “Risk factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

-43-


Table of Contents

Use of proceeds

We estimate that the net proceeds from the sale of shares of our common stock that we are selling in this offering will be approximately $     million, assuming an initial public offering price of $     per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated offering price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling stockholders.

Each $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $     per share would increase or decrease the net proceeds that we receive from this offering, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us, by approximately $     million, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same. Similarly, each increase or decrease of 100,000 shares of common stock sold in this offering by us would increase or decrease the net proceeds that we receive from this offering, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us, by approximately $        million, assuming an initial public offering price of $    .

We intend to use the net proceeds that we will receive from this offering to repay a majority of the then outstanding indebtedness under our Existing Credit Facility. To the extent that the net proceeds from this offering are insufficient to allow us to fully repay the indebtedness then outstanding under our Existing Credit Facility, we intend to use borrowings under our New Credit Facility to pay any remaining balance outstanding under the Existing Credit Facility. Assuming we receive $     of net proceeds from this offering and the amount of our indebtedness which is outstanding under our Existing Credit Facility at the consummation of this offering is the same as the outstanding indebtedness at June 30, 2013, then we would expect to borrow $         million from the revolver under our New Credit Facility in order to repay the full amount of the indebtedness of our Existing Credit Facility. Our Existing Credit Facility is with our Sponsor who will therefore receive all such repayments. We intend to terminate the Existing Credit Facility upon the consummation of this offering. As of June 30, 2013, $65.5 million of indebtedness was outstanding under our Existing Credit Facility and the interest rate on such outstanding balance was 5.9%. The outstanding balance under our Existing Credit Facility matures on June 18, 2018. See “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations—Liquidity and capital resources—Credit facility.” We have used borrowings under our Existing Credit Facility for working capital purposes, capital expenditures and to fund the cash dividend we paid in connection with our June 2012 recapitalization. To the extent we receive net proceeds from this offering in excess of the then outstanding indebtedness under our Existing Credit Facility, we intend to use such excess net proceeds for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

 

-44-


Table of Contents

Dividend policy

In June 2012, in connection with our recapitalization, we paid a cash dividend to our stockholders equal to an aggregate of $67.0 million. See “Certain relationships and related party transactions—Recapitalization” for additional information. We did not declare or pay any dividends in the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2011 or during the three months ended March 31, 2013. Although we declared a cash dividend on our common stock in June 2012 in connection with our recapitalization, we intend to retain any future earnings upon completion of this offering and do not expect to pay any dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, our New Credit Facility will contain covenants limiting our ability to pay dividends to our stockholders. See “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations—Credit facility.” Any future determination to declare cash dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors, subject to applicable laws, and will depend on a number of factors, including our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, contractual restrictions, general business conditions and any other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.

 

-45-


Table of Contents

Capitalization

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of March 31, 2013 and is presented:

 

 

on an actual basis; and

 

 

on a pro forma, as adjusted basis, reflecting: (i) the filing of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation immediately prior to the consummation of this offering; (ii) the sale of                     shares of common stock by us in this offering at an assumed initial offering price of $     per share, which is the midpoint of the range of the initial public offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us; and (iii) the application of such proceeds to repay a majority of the then outstanding indebtedness under our Existing Credit Facility concurrently with the closing of this offering.

The information in this table should be read in conjunction with “Use of proceeds,” “Selected consolidated financial data,” and “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

As of March 31, 2013

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

   Actual    

Pro forma, as

adjusted(1)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 136      $     
  

 

 

 
  

 

 

 

Long-term debt, less current portion

   $ 49,850      $                

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share; no shares authorized, issued or outstanding, actual;      shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding, pro forma, as adjusted

              

Common stock, $0.001 par value per share: 1,500,000 shares authorized, actual; 720,343 shares issued and outstanding, actual;     shares authorized,     shares issued and outstanding, pro forma, as adjusted

     1     

Additional paid-in capital

     49,903     

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     (6  

Accumulated deficit

     (16,070  
  

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     33,828     
  

 

 

 

Total capitalization

   $ 83,678     
  

 

 

 
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)   A $1.00 increase in the assumed initial public offering price of $     per share would decrease long-term debt, less current portion, and would increase additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization by $     million, assuming the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions. A $1.00 decrease in the assumed initial offering price of $     per share would increase long-term debt, less current portion payable by us, and would decrease additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization by $     million, assuming the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us. An increase of 100,000 shares in the number of shares sold in this offering by us would decrease long-term debt, less current portion, and would increase additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization from this offering by $     million, assuming an initial public offering price of $     per share and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us. A decrease of 100,000 shares in the number of shares sold in this offering by us would increase long-term debt, less current portion, and would decrease additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization from this offering by $     million, assuming an initial public offering price of $     per share and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us.

 

-46-


Table of Contents

The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding following this offering is based on                      shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2013, and excludes:

 

 

54,062 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options to purchase common stock that were outstanding as of March 31, 2013, with a weighted average exercise price of $226.22 per share; and

 

 

     shares of common stock reserved for issuance under our 2013 Omnibus Plan.

See “Executive compensation—Equity-based incentive plans.”

 

-47-


Table of Contents

Dilution

Our net tangible book value as of March 31, 2013, was $     million, or approximately $     per share of our common stock. Net tangible book value per share represents the amount of our total tangible assets, reduced by the amount of our total liabilities, and divided by the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding.

Net tangible book value dilution per share to new investors represents the difference between the amount per share paid by new investors in this offering and the net tangible book value per share of common stock immediately after completion of this offering. After giving effect to the pro forma adjustments described above in “Capitalization” and receipt of the net proceeds from our sale of shares of common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $     per share, which is the midpoint of the range of the initial public offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, and reflecting the application of the net proceeds to us from this offering to repay approximately $     million of the outstanding indebtedness under our Existing Credit Facility, our pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2013, would have been $     million, or $     per share. This represents an immediate increase in pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value of $     per share to existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in pro forma net tangible book value of $     per share to new investors in this offering, as illustrated in the following table:

 

Assumed initial public offering price per share

            $                

Net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2013

   $               

Increase in pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value per share attributable to new investors in this offering

     
  

 

 

    

Pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect to this offering

     
     

 

 

 

Dilution per share to new investors in this offering

      $        
     

 

 

 

 

 

A $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $     per share, which is the midpoint of the range of the initial offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease our pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect to this offering by $     and increase or decrease dilution per share to new investors in this offering by $     , assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us.

An increase or decrease of 100,000 shares sold in this offering by us would increase or decrease our pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect to this offering by $     , and increase or decrease dilution per share to new investors in this offering by $     , assuming an initial public offering price of $     per share, which is the midpoint of the range of the initial offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us.

 

-48-


Table of Contents

The following table presents on a pro forma, as adjusted basis as of March 31, 2013, after giving effect to the differences between the existing stockholders and the new investors in this offering with respect to the number of shares purchased from us, the total consideration paid and the average price paid per share. The table below assumes an initial public offering price of $     per share, which is the midpoint of the range of the initial public offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus, and excludes estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

       Shares purchased      Total consideration      Average
price
per
share
 
       Number      Percent      Amount        Percent     

 

 

Existing stockholders

            %       $                  %       $        

New investors in this offering(1)

              

 

 

Totals

            %       $                  %       $        

 

 

 

(1)   Does not reflect shares purchased by new investors from the selling stockholders.

A $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $     per share, which is the midpoint of the range of the initial public offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease the total consideration paid by new investors in this offering and the total consideration paid by all stockholders by $     , assuming the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same. An increase or decrease of 100,000 shares in the number of shares sold in this offering by us would increase or decrease the total consideration paid by new investors in this offering and the total consideration paid by all stockholders by $     , assuming an initial public offering price of $     per share, which is the midpoint of the range of the initial public offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus.

Sales of shares of common stock by the selling stockholders in this offering will reduce the number of shares of common stock held by existing stockholders to     , or approximately     % of the total shares of common stock outstanding after our initial public offering, and will increase the number of shares held by new investors to     , or approximately     % of the total shares of common stock outstanding after our initial public offering.

If the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full, our existing stockholders would own     % and new investors in this offering would own     % of the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding after this offering.

The tables and calculations above assume no exercise of outstanding options. As of March 31, 2013, there were      shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding options at a weighted average exercise price of approximately $     per share. To the extent outstanding options are exercised, there will be further dilution to new investors purchasing common stock in this offering. See “Description of capital stock” and “Executive compensation—Equity-based incentive plans.”

 

-49-


Table of Contents

Selected consolidated financial data

The following selected consolidated statements of income data for each of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, and the consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2011 and 2012, have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements which are included elsewhere in this prospectus. The selected consolidated statements of income data for each of the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2009, and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements which are not included in this prospectus. The selected consolidated statements of income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2013 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of March 31, 2013, are derived from our unaudited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The unaudited consolidated financial statements were prepared on a basis consistent with our audited consolidated financial statements and include, in the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of the financial information set forth in those statements.

The historical results presented below are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period, and the results for any interim period may not necessarily be indicative of the results for the full year. You should read the selected consolidated financial and operating data for the periods presented in conjunction with “Risk factors,” “Capitalization,” “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes, which are included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

      For the years ended December 31,     For the three months
ended March 31,
 
 

 

 

 
(in thousands, except per
share data)
  2008     2009     2010     2011     2012     2012     2013  

 

 

Sales

  $ 131,734      $ 121,519      $ 170,983      $ 197,739      $ 235,869      $ 45,671      $ 54,878   

Cost of sales(1)

    95,860        87,038        122,373        140,849        173,040        32,572        39,163   
 

 

 

 

Gross profit

    35,874        34,481        48,610        56,890        62,829        13,099        15,715   

Operating expenses:

             

Sales and marketing(1)

    8,667        8,269        10,293        11,748        12,570        3,177        3,284   

Research and development(1)

    4,804        5,545        7,321        9,750        9,727        2,376        2,355   

General and administrative(1)

    6,195        4,792        6,202        7,588        9,063        1,951        2,673   

Amortization of purchased intangibles

    5,500        5,217        5,217        5,217        5,315        1,304        1,341   
 

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

    25,166        23,823        29,033        34,303        36,675        8,808        9,653   
 

 

 

 

Income from operations

    10,708        10,658        19,577        22,587        26,154        4,291        6,062   

Other expense, net:

             

Interest expense

    (4,871     (3,089     (2,637     (1,982     (3,486     (233     (957

Other income (expense), net

    14        44        39        (13     (277     (46     34   
 

 

 

 

Total other expense, net

    (4,857     (3,045     (2,598     (1,995     (3,763     (279     (923
 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

    5,851        7,613        16,979        20,592        22,391        4,012        5,139   

 

-50-


Table of Contents
      For the years ended December 31,    

For the three months

ended March 31,

 
 

 

 

 
(in thousands, except per
share data)
  2008     2009     2010     2011     2012     2012     2013  

 

 

Provision for income taxes

    2,015        2,585        6,210        7,054        8,181        1,373        1,590   
 

 

 

 

Net income

  $ 3,836      $ 5,028      $ 10,769      $ 13,538      $ 14,210      $ 2,639      $ 3,549   
 

 

 

 

Earnings per share (actual and pro forma):

             

Basic

  $ 5.94      $ 7.75      $ 16.62      $ 20.92      $ 20.59      $ 4.04      $ 4.93   

Diluted

  $ 5.77      $ 7.46      $ 15.72      $ 19.45      $ 20.30      $ 3.76      $ 4.83   

Weighted average common shares used to compute net income per share (actual and pro forma):

             

Basic

    646        649        648        647        690        653        720   

Diluted

    665        674        685        696        700        701        735   

Supplemental pro forma net income per share (unaudited)(2)

             

Shares used to calculate supplemental pro forma net income per share (unaudited)

             

Dividends per share

  $      $      $      $      $ 92.99      $      $   

 

 

 

(1)   Includes stock-based compensation (excluding tax effect) as follows:

 

      

For the years ended December 31,

     For the three months
ended March 31,
 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

(in thousands)

   2008      2009      2010      2011      2012      2012      2013  

 

 

Cost of sales

   $       $       $       $       $       $       $   

Sales and marketing

     27         27         40         78         160         33         33   

Research and development

     12         12         12         12         29         3         17   

General and administrative

     264         385         472         940         1,959         267         652   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     304         425       $ 524       $ 1,030       $ 2,148       $ 303       $ 702   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(2)   Unaudited supplemental pro forma net income per share has been presented in accordance with the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 1.B.3, or SAB 1.B.3. As outlined in SAB 1.B.3, the special dividend paid in June 2012 was in excess of the net income for the twelve-months ended March 31, 2013 of $15.1 million. Accordingly, under SAB 1.B.3, the company has included all shares, for which proceeds accrue to the company, issued under this offering in the shares used to calculate supplemental pro forma net income per share.

 

-51-


Table of Contents

Our consolidated balance sheet data is as follows:

 

       As of December 31,     As of March 31,  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     2011      2012     2013  
(in thousands)                 (unaudited)  

 

 

Consolidated balance sheet data:

       

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 114       $ 15       $ 136   

Inventory

     29,531         34,255        42,734   

Working capital

     23,108         25,142        23,786   

Property and equipment, net

     9,005         11,789        12,105   

Total assets

     129,956         142,120        147,429   

Total debt, including current portion

     15,293         59,250 (1)      52,850   

Total stockholders’ equity

   $ 67,295       $ 29,584 (2)    $ 33,828   

 

 

 

(1)   In June 2012, we engaged in a recapitalization involving our debt, stock options and share purchases. In connection with the recapitalization, we amended our Existing Credit Facility. Concurrently with the closing of this offering, we intend to use the net proceeds that we receive from this offering to repay our then outstanding indebtedness under our Existing Credit Facility. To the extent the net proceeds from this offering are insufficient to allow us to fully repay the indebtedness then outstanding under our Existing Credit Facility, we intend to use borrowings under our New Credit Facility to pay any remaining balance outstanding under our Existing Credit Facility in full. We intend to terminate the Existing Credit Facility upon the consummation of this offering. See “Capitalization,” “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations” and “Related party transactions—Recapitalization.”
(2)   In June 2012, we paid a $67.0 million cash dividend as part of our recapitalization. See “Related party transactions—Recapitalization.”

 

-52-


Table of Contents

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the section titled “Selected consolidated financial data” and the consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed below. You should review the “Risk factors” and “Special note regarding forwarding-looking statements” sections of this prospectus for a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis.

Overview

We are a designer, manufacturer and marketer of high-performance suspension products used primarily on mountain bikes, side-by-side vehicles, or Side-by-Sides, on-road vehicles with off-road capabilities, off-road vehicles and trucks, all-terrain vehicles, or ATVs, snowmobiles, specialty vehicles and applications, and motorcycles. We currently sell to over 150 OEMs and distribute our products to more than 2,300 retail dealers and distributors worldwide. In each of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, approximately 78%, 80% and 81%, respectively, of our sales were attributable to sales made to our OEM customers. The remaining sales were to our aftermarket customers. Virtually all of our sales are from sales of our products; miscellaneous sources of revenue such as royalty income and service related repair work and the associated sale of components represented less than 1% of our sales in each of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

We have determined that we operate in one reportable segment, which is the manufacturing, sale and service of ride dynamics products. Our products fall into the following two categories:

 

 

mountain bikes; and

 

 

powered vehicles, including Side-by-Sides, on-road vehicles with off-road capabilities, off-road vehicles and trucks, ATVs, snowmobiles, specialty vehicles and applications, and motorcycles.

A significant portion of our sales are dependent on the demand for high-end or premium priced mountain bikes and their suspension components. In each of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, approximately 75%, 69% and 67%, respectively, of our sales were attributable to sales of suspension products for mountain bikes and approximately 25%, 31% and 33%, respectively, of our sales were attributable to sales of suspension products for powered vehicles.

Our domestic sales totaled $53.5 million, $65.8 million and $84.3 million, or 31%, 33% and 36% of our total sales in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Our international sales totaled $117.4 million, $132.0 million and $151.6 million, or 69%, 67% and 64% of our total sales in each of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Sales attributable to countries outside the United States are based on shipment location. Our international sales, however, do not necessarily reflect the location of the end users of our products as many of our products are incorporated into mountain bikes that are assembled at international locations and then shipped back to the United States. We estimate, based on our internal projections, that approximately one-third of the end users of our products are located outside the United States.

 

-53-


Table of Contents

In January 2008, our Sponsor acquired a controlling equity interest in us. Our Sponsor acquires and manages a diversified group of leading middle-market businesses headquartered in North America. Our Sponsor’s parent, Compass Diversified Holdings, is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “CODI.” In connection with our Sponsor’s acquisition of a controlling interest in us, we entered into the Existing Credit Facility with our Sponsor and a management services agreement, as amended, or the Management Services Agreement, with Compass Group Management LLC, or CGM, a Delaware limited liability company and the manager of Compass Diversified Holdings. As a subsidiary of a public company listed on the NYSE, we have implemented certain corporate governance practices and adhere to a variety of reporting requirements and accounting rules as they relate to Compass Diversified Holdings. Following the completion of this offering, however, we will be required to implement additional corporate governance practices and to adhere to additional reporting requirements and compliance with these and other obligations as a public company will require significant time and resources from management, require the hiring of additional personnel, and will increase our legal, insurance, and financial costs. Following the completion of this offering, the Management Services Agreement with CGM, under which we paid $0.5 million in management fees in each of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, will be terminated. We pay such fees quarterly in arrears and other than paying any accrued but unpaid fees for the quarter during which this offering closes, no separate termination fee will be due under this agreement when it is terminated. We expect the elimination of such management fees following the completion of this offering to offset a portion of the additional significant legal, insurance and financial costs we will incur as a result of becoming a public company.

In June 2012, we engaged in a recapitalization involving our debt, stock options and various share purchases. In connection with our recapitalization, we entered into an amendment to our Existing Credit Facility with our Sponsor, which, among other changes, provided for a $60.0 million term loan and increased the revolver commitment under that facility by $2.0 million to a total commitment of $30.0 million. Borrowings under our Existing Credit Facility in large part enabled us to fund a $67.0 million cash dividend to our stockholders as part of the recapitalization. The recapitalization also included other transactions, including various transactions involving stock options and the purchase and sale of shares among us, our Sponsor and certain of our executives and directors. Concurrently with the closing of this offering, we intend to use the net proceeds that we will receive from this offering to repay the then outstanding indebtedness under our Existing Credit Facility. To the extent the net proceeds from this offering are insufficient to allow us to fully repay the indebtedness then outstanding under our Existing Credit Facility, we intend to use borrowings under our New Credit Facility to pay any remaining balance outstanding under the Existing Credit Facility. As of March 31, 2013, the outstanding borrowings under our Existing Credit Facility were $52.9 million. The New Credit Facility is expected to consist of a $60.0 million revolving line of credit, including a $5.0 million sublimit for swingline loans and a $10.0 million sublimit for the issuance of letters of credit. In connection with the termination of the Existing Credit Facility, we expect to have a non-cash charge of approximately $1.6 million related to our unamortized loan origination costs. See “—Liquidity and capital resources” and “Related party transactions—Recapitalization.”

Opportunities, challenges and risks

We intend to focus on generating sales of our high-performance suspension products through OEMs and in the aftermarket channel. To do this, we intend to continue to develop and introduce new and innovative products in our current end-markets and we intend to selectively develop products for applications and end-markets in which we do not currently participate.

 

-54-


Table of Contents

Currently, virtually all of our sales are dependent on the demand for high-performance suspension products. While we have recently introduced a new non-suspension product (our adjustable seat post for mountain bikes), this product comprised less than 1% of our sales in 2012. We may not achieve the desired level of sales for this product or for other new products that we introduce in the future.

Our aftermarket distribution network currently consists of more than 2,300 retail dealers and distributors worldwide. To further penetrate the aftermarket channel, we intend to selectively add additional dealers and distributors in certain geographic markets, expand our internal sales force and strategically increase the number of aftermarket specific products and services which we offer for existing vehicle platforms. In addition, we believe international expansion represents a significant opportunity for us and we intend to selectively increase infrastructure investments and focus on identified geographic regions.

As a supplier to OEM customers, we are largely dependent on the success of the business of our OEM customers. Model year changes by our OEM customers may adversely impact our sales or cause our sales to vary from quarter to quarter. Losses in market share or a decline in the overall market of our OEM customers or the discontinuance by our OEM customers of their products which incorporate our products could negatively impact our business and our results of operations.

We have begun the process of transitioning a majority of the manufacturing of our mountain bike products to our facility in Taiwan and we contemplate that this transition will continue through 2015. We anticipate that this transition, when completed, will enable us to shorten production lead times to our mountain bike OEM customers, improve supply chain efficiencies and reduce our manufacturing costs. We also believe that this transition, once completed, will improve operating margins in the medium to long term. However, in the short term during this transition process we expect to incur some duplication of facilities, equipment and personnel which will increase our costs and could vary materially from our projections. In addition, this transition process could also cause manufacturing problems and give rise to execution risks which could negatively impact our business, financial condition or results of operations.

From time to time we have experienced, and may continue to experience, warranty costs and claims relating to our products. In the ordinary course of business we reserve against such costs and claims in our financial statements. There is a risk, however, that in the future we will experience higher than expected warranty costs and claims, as well as other related costs.

We intend to evaluate selective potential acquisition opportunities for high-performance products and technologies that we believe will help us extend our ride dynamics product platform. Any acquisitions that we might make are subject to various risks and uncertainties and could have a negative impact on our results of operations.

Basis of presentation

Sales are comprised of:

Sales from:

 

 

Product sales: consists of sales of products sold primarily to our OEM and aftermarket customers. We recognize revenue when products are shipped, title has transferred, collection

 

-55-


Table of Contents
 

of the receivable is probable, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, and the sales price to our customers is fixed or determinable;

 

 

Service sales: consists of sales of service related repair work and the associated sale of products. We recognize revenue when service products are shipped, title has transferred, collection of the receivable is probable, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, and the sales price to our customers is fixed or determinable;

 

 

Royalty income: consists of licensing fees and royalties earned by us from contractual relationships we have with third parties that allow them to use our intellectual property in return for fees. We recognize royalty income when collection of the receivable is probable, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, and generally upon the reporting of royalties by the licensee; and

 

 

Shipping and handling fees: we include shipping and handling fees billed to customers in sales.

Net of:

 

 

Sales returns allowances: consists of an estimate of our sales returns. This allowance is based upon estimates of the projected returns in future periods based on our experience with returns recorded in previous periods; and

 

 

Rebates: consists of incentives we provide to customers based on sales of eligible products.

We attribute our past growth in sales predominantly to increases in the number of units sold to our OEM customers in both our mountain bike and powered vehicle product categories. To a lesser degree, increases in our average sales prices have also contributed to our past sales growth, as we have introduced innovations to and improved the functionality of many of our products, which enabled us, in many cases, to increase our sale prices for such products.

Cost of sales

The cost of sales includes the cost of manufactured products (raw materials consumed, the cost to procure materials, labor costs, including wages, and employee benefits, and factory overhead to produce finished good products), including:

 

 

the cost to inspect and repair products;

 

 

shipping costs associated with inbound freight. These costs are capitalized as part of inventory and included in cost of sales as the inventory is sold;

 

 

royalty expenses, including payments to certain parties for our use of licensed technology incorporated into our products;

 

 

freight expense incurred for certain shipments to customers, excluding customers who pay for their own freight;

 

 

warranty costs associated with the repair or replacement of products under warranty; and

 

 

reductions in the cost of inventory to its net realizable value, if required, for estimated excess, obsolescence or impaired balances.

 

-56-


Table of Contents

Gross profit/gross margin

Our gross profit equals our sales minus cost of sales. Our gross margin measures our gross profit as a percentage of sales.

Our gross margins fluctuate based on product, customer and channel mix as certain of our products are sold at higher gross margins than others. Generally, we earn higher gross margins on our products sold to the aftermarket channel and we typically earn lower gross margins on the products we sell to OEMs. In the near term, we anticipate our gross margins will be generally in line with our historical results. We anticipate that the improvements we are pursuing from our cost initiatives, which are designed to improve our operating efficiencies, will be offset in the short term by duplicative costs we expect to incur as a result of our planned transition of a majority of the manufacturing of our mountain bike products to our operations in Taiwan. In the medium to long term, we anticipate that this transition should benefit our gross margins.

Operating expenses

Our operating expenses consist of the following:

 

 

sales and marketing;

 

 

research and development;

 

 

general and administrative; and

 

 

amortization of purchased intangibles.

Our sales and marketing expenses include costs related to our sales, customer service and marketing personnel, including their wages, employee benefits and related stock-based compensation, and occupancy related expenses. Other significant sales and marketing expenses include race support and sponsorships of events and athletes, advertising and promotions related to trade shows, travel and entertainment, and promotional materials, products and our sales offices costs.

Our research and development expenses consist primarily of salaries and personnel costs, including wages, employee benefits and related stock-based compensation for our engineering, research and development teams, occupancy related expenses, fees for third party consultants, service fees, and expenses for prototype tooling and materials, travel, and supplies. We expense research and development costs as incurred and such costs are included as research and development expenses on our consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

Our general and administrative expenses include costs related to our executive, finance, information technology, human resources and administrative personnel, including wages, employee benefits and related stock-based compensation expenses. We record professional and contract service expenses, occupancy related expenses associated with corporate locations and equipment, and legal expenses in general and administrative expenses. Currently we pay annual management fees of $0.5 million to CGM, which are paid quarterly in arrears and are included as part of general and administrative expenses. These fees will discontinue upon the closing of this offering. We expect the elimination of these management fees following the completion of this offering will offset a portion of the additional legal, insurance, and accounting costs we expect to incur related to compliance and other public company expenses.

 

-57-


Table of Contents

Our amortization of intangibles includes amortization over their respective useful lives of our purchased intangible assets, such as customer lists and our core technology. Our intangible assets, the substantial majority of which were established as a result of our Sponsor’s acquisition of us in 2008, are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be fully recoverable. No impairments on intangible assets were identified in the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively.

In the near term, we anticipate that our general and administrative expenses will increase both in terms of absolute dollars and when expressed as a percentage of sales as we incur additional expenses, including those associated with becoming a public company. In the long term, we generally anticipate that our sales and marketing, and research and development expenses will increase in terms of absolute dollars, but we anticipate these expenses, excluding stock-based compensation expenses, should remain relatively constant when expressed as a percentage of our sales. We can give no assurance that these expectations will be realized.

Income from operations

We define income from operations as gross profit less our operating expenses. We use income from operations as an indicator of the profitability of our business and our ability to manage costs.

Other expense, net

Other expense, net consists of interest expense and other income (expense), net. Interest expense consists of interest charged to us under our credit facility. In connection with the closing of this offering, we intend to enter into our New Credit Facility. See “—Liquidity and capital resources.”

Other income (expense), net consists of gains and losses on the disposal of fixed assets, foreign currency transaction gains and losses, forgiveness of indebtedness under our loan with the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Watsonville, and other miscellaneous items.

In connection with the termination of the Existing Credit Facility at the closing of this offering, we expect to have a non-cash charge of approximately $1.6 million related to our unamortized loan origination costs.

Income taxes

We are subject to income taxes in the United States and various other foreign jurisdictions in which we do business. Some of these foreign jurisdictions have higher statutory tax rates than those in the United States, and certain of our international earnings are also taxable in the United States. Accordingly, our effective tax rates will vary depending on the relative proportion of foreign to U.S. income and absorption of foreign tax credits, changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities and changes in tax laws. In addition, we are subject to examination of our income tax returns by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, and other tax authorities. We regularly assess the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of our income tax liabilities and expense. Should actual events or results differ from our current expectations, charges or credits to our income tax liabilities and income tax expense may become necessary. Any such adjustments could have a significant impact on our results of operations.

 

-58-


Table of Contents

Under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, an uncertain income tax position will not be recognized unless it has a greater than 50% likelihood (i.e., more-likely-than-not) of being sustained and then, measured only to the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. We established liabilities for uncertain tax positions and deferred taxes associated with the deductibility of certain amortization and depreciation expenses. The liability for uncertain income tax positions represents the amount of tax we would be required to pay if certain tax deductions previously claimed on tax returns were not allowed upon examination by the taxing authorities. The liability for deferred taxes represents additional taxes that would be payable in future periods because of the potential non-deductibility of future amortization and depreciation expenses.

As of December 31, 2012, our balance sheet reflected a liability for unrecognized tax benefits of $7.3 million. The unrecognized tax benefits are primarily due to the uncertainty of the deductibility of amortization and depreciation expenses which were incurred as a result of our Sponsor’s acquisition of us in 2008. In addition, as of December 31, 2012, our balance sheet reflected a related deferred tax liability of $15.2 million based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of certain assets, which represents the amount of tax we would be required to pay in the future based on the current enacted tax rates if the tax deductions associated with this amortization and depreciation were not claimed and allowed on our income tax returns. This deferred tax liability will decrease each year we expense the associated amortization and depreciation for accounting purposes. However, this reduction is not anticipated to be associated with actual cash payments. We expect to decrease our liability for unrecognized tax benefits and recognize a reduction in income tax expense (and an increase in net income) because of the expiration of statutes of limitations in the amount of approximately $1.5 million in the third quarter of 2013. However, reductions in the related deferred tax liability will over time be associated with offsetting increases to our liability for unrecognized tax benefits. We generally expect to recognize a reduction in income tax expense (and an increase in net income) through the expiration of statutes of limitations in the amount of approximately $1.4 to $1.5 million in each third quarter from 2014 through 2027 and approximately $0.1 to $0.3 million in each fourth quarter from 2014 through 2028. These annual reductions in our income tax expense will cease if it is determined upon examination of the tax authorities that the deductions are not valid and the liabilities for the uncertain income tax position and the associated deferred tax liability will have to be settled for cash. If we subsequently determine that we have met the more-likely-than-not threshold that these deductions will be sustained, the balance of the liability for unrecognized tax benefits that would be recognized as a reduction of income tax expense, except for approximately $1.0 million, which would increase the deferred tax liability to the extent of taxes associated with tax amortization of intangibles with indeterminate lives, and the related unamortized deferred tax liabilities will be recognized as a one-time income tax benefit.

Income taxes are computed using the asset and liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. As of December 31, 2012, we did not have any valuation allowances recorded as we expect to fully utilize all of our deferred tax assets and we did not have any net operating loss or tax credit carry-forwards. For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, we had effective tax rates of 36.6%, 34.3% and 36.5%, respectively. We anticipate that our effective tax rate in 2013

 

-59-


Table of Contents

will be slightly less than our effective tax rate for 2012 and that in the medium term our effective annual tax rates should be approximately 34% to 36%, however our actual effective annual tax rates will vary based on several factors, including the geographic mix of our sales, changes in future tax rates, and the treatment of the unrecognized tax benefits mentioned above.

Results of operations

The table below summarizes our results of operations for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 and for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2013.

 

      Years Ended December 31,    

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 
 

 

 

 
(in thousands)   2010     2011     2012     2012     2013  

 

 

Sales

  $ 170,983      $ 197,739      $ 235,869      $ 45,671      $ 54,878   

Cost of sales

    122,373        140,849        173,040        32,572        39,163   
 

 

 

 

Gross profit

    48,610        56,890        62,829        13,099        15,715   

Operating expenses:

         

Sales and marketing

    10,293        11,748        12,570        3,177        3,284   

Research and development

    7,321        9,750        9,727        2,376        2,355   

General and administrative

    6,202        7,588        9,063        1,951        2,673   

Amortization of purchased intangibles

    5,217        5,217        5,315        1,304        1,341   
 

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

    29,033        34,303        36,675        8,808        9,653   
 

 

 

 

Income from operations

    19,577        22,587        26,154        4,291        6,062   

Other expense, net:

         

Interest expense

    (2,637     (1,982     (3,486     (233     (957

Other income (expense), net

    39        (13     (277     (46     34   
 

 

 

 

Total other expense, net

    (2,598     (1,995     (3,763     (279     (923
 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

    16,979        20,592        22,391        4,012        5,139   

Provision for income taxes

    6,210        7,054        8,181        1,373        1,590   
 

 

 

 

Net income

  $ 10,769      $ 13,538      $ 14,210      $ 2,639      $ 3,549   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-60-


Table of Contents

The following table sets forth our gross profit as well as our operating and other income and expenses and other information for the periods presented, expressed as a percentage of total revenues.

 

       Years Ended December 31,     Three Months Ended
March 31,
  

 

 

     2010     2011     2012     2012     2013      

 

Sales

     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0  

Cost of sales

     71.6        71.2        73.4        71.3        71.4     
  

 

 

Gross profit

     28.4        28.8        26.6        28.7        28.6     

Operating expenses:

            

Sales and marketing

     6.0        6.0        5.3        7.0        6.0     

Research and development

     4.3        4.9        4.1        5.2        4.3     

General and administrative

     3.6        3.8        3.8        4.3        4.9     

Amortization of purchased intangibles

     3.1        2.6        2.3        2.8        2.4     
  

 

 

Total operating expenses

     17.0        17.3        15.5        19.3        17.6     
  

 

 

Income from operations

     11.4        11.5        11.1        9.4        11.0     

Other expense, net:

            

Interest expense

     (1.5     (1.0     (1.6     (0.5     (1.7  

Other income (expense), net

     *        *        *        (0.1     0.1     
  

 

 

Total other expense, net

     (1.5     (1.0     (1.6     (0.6     (1.6  
  

 

 

Income before income taxes

     9.9        10.5        9.5        8.8        9.4     

Provision for income taxes

     3.6        3.6        3.5        3.0        2.9     
  

 

 

Net income

     6.3     6.9     6.0     5.8     6.5  
  

 

 

 

 

*   Represents less than 0.1%

Three months ended March 31, 2013 compared to three months ended March 31, 2012

Sales

Sales for the three months ended March 31, 2013 increased approximately $9.2 million, or 20.2%, compared to the same period in 2012. Sales of mountain bike and powered vehicle products increased 16.1% and 27.8%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2013 compared to the comparable prior year period. Sales growth was primarily driven by sales to OEMs which increased $7.7 million to $43.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2013 compared to $36.0 million for the same period in 2012. The increase in sales to OEMs was largely driven by increased specification, or spec, positions with our OEM customers. The remaining increase in sales totaling $1.5 million reflects increased sales to aftermarket customers in the three months ended March 31, 2013 compared to the same period in 2012. The increase in sales to aftermarket customers is due to higher end user demand for our products.

Cost of sales

Cost of sales for the year three months ended March 31, 2013 increased approximately $6.6 million, or 20.2% compared to the same period in 2012. The increase in cost of sales was due to increased sales during the three months ended March 31, 2013 when compared to the same period in 2012. For the three months ended March 31, 2013 our gross margin was 28.6% compared to 28.7% for the same period in 2012.

 

-61-


Table of Contents

Operating expenses

Operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2013 increased approximately $0.8 million, or 9.6%, over the same period in 2012. When expressed as a percentage of sales, operating expenses declined to 17.6% of sales for the three months ended March 31, 2013 compared to 19.3% of sales in the same period in 2012.

Within operating expenses, our sales and marketing expenses increased in the three months ended March 31, 2013 by $0.1 million to $3.3 million from $3.2 million in the same period in 2012 primarily due to increases of personnel related expenditures for new hires of approximately $0.2 million, which was partially offset by a $0.1 million reduction in other marketing related expenses.

Our research and development expenses were essentially unchanged in the three months ended March 31, 2013 compared to the same period in 2012 as increases in personnel related expenses for additional employees of approximately $0.1 million were offset by a reduction of approximately $0.1 million in project and prototype expenses.

Our general and administrative expenses increased in the three months ended March 31, 2013 by $0.7 million to $2.7 million from $2.0 million in the same period in 2012. The increase was primarily due to an increase of $0.4 million in stock compensation expenses and an increase of $0.3 million in other non-personnel general and administrative expenses.

Amortization of purchased intangible assets increased slightly due to the acquisition of intellectual property.

Income from operations

Income from operations for the three months ended March 31, 2013 increased approximately $1.8 million, or 41.3%, compared to income from operations in the same period in 2012. The increase in income from operations was primarily the result of our increase in gross profit of $2.6 million, partially offset by our increases in general and administrative and sales and marketing expenses in total of $0.8 million.

Other expense, net

Other expense, net for the three months ended March 31, 2013 increased by approximately $0.6 million to $0.9 million in the three months ended March 31, 2013 compared to $0.3 million in the same period in 2012. Within Other expense, net, interest expense increased in the three months ended March 31, 2013 by $0.7 million due primarily to increased average borrowings under our existing credit facility. Other income (expense), net for the three months ended March 31, 2013 was effectively unchanged from the same period in 2012.

Income tax expense

Income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2013 increased by approximately $0.2 million to $1.6 million compared to income tax expense of $1.4 million in the same period in 2012. Effective tax rates were 30.9% and 34.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rates for the three months ended March 31, 2013 was primarily caused by retroactive extension of the R&D tax credit as a result of a recent change in tax law.

 

-62-


Table of Contents

Net income

As a result of the factors discussed above, our net income increased $0.9 million, or 34.5%, to $3.5 million in the three months ended March 31, 2013 from $2.6 million for the same period in 2012.

Year ended December 31, 2012 compared to year ended December 31, 2011

Sales

Sales for the year ended December 31, 2012 increased approximately $38.1 million, or 19.3%, compared to 2011. Sales of mountain bike and powered vehicle products increased 16.2% and 26.1%, respectively, in 2012 compared to 2011. Sales growth was primarily driven by sales to OEMs which increased $32.0 million to $189.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to $157.9 million for the same period in 2011. The increase in sales to OEMs was largely driven by increased specification, or spec, positions with our OEM customers and, to a lesser degree, by increased sales on vehicle models where our products had previously been specified in prior years. The remaining increase in sales totaling $6.1 million reflects increased sales to aftermarket customers in the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to 2011. The increase in sales to aftermarket customers is due to higher end user demand for our products.

Cost of sales

Cost of sales for the year ended December 31, 2012 increased approximately $32.2 million, or 22.9% compared to 2011. The increase in cost of sales in absolute dollars was primarily due to increased sales during 2012 when compared to the prior year. For the year ended December 31, 2012 our gross margin was 26.6% compared to 28.8% for the same period in 2011. Several factors contributed to the 2.2% decrease in gross margin in 2012, including an aggregate of $2.8 million in the year for higher warranty related costs for upgrades to our dampers contained in our suspension products, which costs included a $1.8 million increase in our warranty reserve to replace these dampers and approximately $1.0 million in other warranty related costs. In addition, due to increases in customer orders above the amounts forecasted, we incurred $1.7 million of incremental expedited in-bound freight costs related to products sold to customers. The other material factors contributing to the margin decrease in 2012 included increased overhead costs of approximately $0.9 million associated with consolidating our Watsonville operations and increased costs of approximately $1.1 million associated with expanding our operations in Taiwan.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2012 increased approximately $2.4 million, or 6.9%, over 2011. When expressed as a percentage of sales, operating expenses declined to 15.5% of sales for the year ended December 31, 2012 compared to 17.3% of sales in 2011.

Within operating expenses, our sales and marketing expenses increased in 2012 by $0.8 million to $12.6 million from $11.7 million in 2011 primarily due to increases of personnel related expenditures for new hires of approximately $0.6 million, and increased expenditures for marketing and business travel and supplies, equipment and services of approximately $0.2 million.

Our research and development expenses were essentially unchanged in 2012 compared to 2011 as increases in personnel related expenses for additional employees of approximately $0.2 million

 

-63-


Table of Contents

and additional expenses for projects and prototypes and other expenses of approximately $0.3 million were offset by a reduction of approximately $0.5 million in third party consulting fees.

Our general and administrative expenses increased in 2012 by $1.5 million to $9.1 million from $7.6 million in 2011, primarily due to increased levels of personnel related expenses of approximately $1.4 million, which was primarily due to stock compensation expenses of approximately $1.0 million. In addition, there were increases in general corporate overhead in 2012 of approximately $0.1 million.

Amortization of purchased intangible assets increased by $0.1 million due to the acquisition of intellectual property.

Income from operations

Income from operations for the year ended December 31, 2012 increased approximately $3.6 million, or 15.8%, compared to income from operations in 2011. The increase in income from operations was primarily the result of our increased sales in 2012 compared to 2011, which was partially offset by the increases in cost of sales and operating expenses described above.

Other expense, net

Other expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2012 increased by approximately $1.8 million to $3.8 million in 2012 compared to $2.0 million of other expense, net in 2011. Within other income (expense), interest expense increased in 2012 by $1.5 million due primarily to increased average borrowings under our Existing Credit Facility. In addition, other expenses, net increased in 2012 by $0.3 million primarily due to a loss on the disposal of assets which were no longer needed.

Income tax expense

Income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2012 increased by approximately $1.1 million to $8.2 million compared to income tax expense of $7.1 million in 2011. Effective tax rates were 36.5% and 34.3% for 2012 and 2011, respectively. The increase in the effective tax rates for 2012 was primarily caused by the December 31, 2011 expiration of the ability to generate additional federal research and development credit. As of December 31, 2012, this credit had lapsed, although it has been subsequently extended.

Net income

As a result of the factors discussed above, our net income increased $0.7 million, or 5.2%, to $14.2 million in 2012 from $13.5 million for 2011.

Year ended December 31, 2011 compared to year ended December 31, 2010

Sales

Sales for the year ended December 31, 2011 increased approximately $26.8 million, or 15.6%, compared to 2010. Sales of mountain bike and powered vehicle products increased 6.2% and 43.7%, respectively, in 2011 compared to 2010. The increases in sales was primarily driven by sales to OEMs which increased $23.7 million to $157.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to $134.2 million in 2010. The increase in sales to OEMs was largely driven by increased

 

-64-


Table of Contents

spec positions with our OEM customers and, to a lesser degree, by increased sales on vehicle models where our products had previously been specified in prior years. The remaining increase in sales totaling $3.1 million reflects increased sales to aftermarket customers in 2011 compared to the prior year. The increase in sales to aftermarket customers was due to higher end user demand for our products.

Cost of sales

Cost of sales for the year ended December 31, 2011 increased approximately $18.5 million, or 15.1%, compared to the corresponding period in 2010. The increase in cost of sales in absolute dollars is primarily attributable to the increase in sales for the period. For the year ended December 31, 2011 our gross margin was 28.8% compared to 28.4% for 2010. The 0.4% increase in gross margin during the year ended December 31, 2011 was primarily attributable to efficiencies achieved in connection with the increased production volume during 2011. These gains were partially offset by an unfavorable product and customer mix compared to 2010, increased raw material commodity costs and unfavorable foreign exchange rates.

Operating expenses

Operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2011 increased approximately $5.3 million over the corresponding period in 2010. When expressed as a percentage of sales, operating expenses were 17.3% of sales for the year ended December 31, 2011 compared to 17.0% of sales in 2010.

Within operating expenses, our sales and marketing expenses increased in 2011 by $1.4 million to $11.7 million from $10.3 million in 2010 primarily due to increases of personnel related expenditures of approximately $0.6 million, which increases were primarily a result of the hiring of additional personnel. In addition, expenses for marketing and related travel increased by approximately $0.5 million and for supplies, equipment, services and other related expenses increased by approximately $0.3 million in 2011 compared to 2010.

Our research and development expenses increased in 2011 by $2.5 million to $9.8 million from $7.3 million in 2010. The increase in research and development expenses was primarily as a result of increased employee costs related to additional employees of approximately $1.2 million and increases in supplies, equipment and services costs of approximately $0.3 million, expenses for research and development related projects and prototypes of approximately $0.6 million and other related expenses of approximately $0.4 million in 2011 when compared to 2010.

Our general and administrative expenses increased in 2011 by $1.4 million to $7.6 million from $6.2 million in 2010. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to increased personnel related expenses of approximately $0.9 million, including $0.5 million of stock compensation expenses, and increases in other general and administrative expenses of approximately $0.5 million in 2011 when compared to 2010.

Amortization of purchased intangible assets remained the same in 2011 compared to 2010.

Income from operations

Income from operations for the year ended December 31, 2011 increased approximately $3.0 million, or 15.4%, compared to income from operations in 2010, based principally on the increase in sales, offset in part by the increases in selling, general and administrative costs, as described above.

 

-65-


Table of Contents

Other expense, net

Other expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2011 decreased by approximately $0.6 million to $2.0 million from $2.6 million in 2010. The decrease in other expense, net was due primarily to decreased interest expense in 2011 of $0.8 million compared to 2010 as result of less average borrowings outstanding under our Existing Credit Facility, which decrease was partially offset by an increase of other expenses of $0.2 million.

Income tax expense

Income tax expense for 2011 increased by approximate $0.9 million to $7.1 million compared to income tax expense of $6.2 million in 2010. Effective tax rates were 34.3% and 36.6% for 2011 and 2010, respectively. The decline in the effective tax rates for 2011 was primarily caused by a one-time adjustment in 2010 for a change in the effective tax rate applied to our deferred tax liabilities from 34% to 35%.

Net income

As a result of the factors discussed above net income increased $2.7 million, or 25.7%, to $13.5 million in 2011 from $10.8 million in 2010.

 

-66-


Table of Contents

Quarterly Results of Operations

The following tables set forth our unaudited quarterly consolidated statements of operations data and our unaudited statement of operations data as a percentage of total revenue for each of the five quarters in the period ended March 31, 2013. The unaudited quarterly consolidated statements of operation data were prepared on a basis consistent with the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. In the opinion of management, the quarterly financial information reflects all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of this data. This information should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. The historical results presented below are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period, and the results for any interim period may not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for a full year.

 

       Three Months Ended  
(in thousands, except per share data)    Mar 31,
2012
    Jun 30,
2012
    Sep 30,
2012
    Dec 31,
2012
    Mar 31,
2013
 

 

 

Sales

   $ 45,671      $ 60,721      $ 72,864      $ 56,613      $ 54,878   

Cost of sales

     32,572        44,275        52,745        43,448        39,163   
  

 

 

 

Gross profit

     13,099        16,446        20,119        13,165        15,715   

Operating expenses:

          

Sales and marketing

     3,177        2,961        3,150        3,282        3,284   

Research and development

     2,376        2,393        2,427        2,531        2,355   

General and administrative

     1,951        2,895        2,223        1,994        2,673   

Amortization of purchased intangibles

     1,304        1,329        1,341        1,341        1,341   
  

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     8,808        9,578        9,141        9,148        9,653   
  

 

 

 

Income from operations

     4,291        6,868        10,978        4,017        6,062   

Other expense, net:

          

Interest expense

     (233     (637     (1,424     (1,192     (957

Other income (expense), net

     (46     (255     14        10        34   
  

 

 

 

Total other expense, net

     (279     (892     (1,410     (1,182     (923
  

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     4,012        5,976        9,568        2,835        5,139   

Provision for income taxes

     1,373        1,659        4,099        1,050        1,590   
  

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 2,639      $ 4,317      $ 5,469      $ 1,785      $ 3,549   
  

 

 

 

Earnings per share

          

Basic

   $ 4.04      $ 6.48      $ 7.60      $ 2.48      $ 4.93   

Diluted

   $ 3.76      $ 6.44      $ 7.54      $ 2.44      $ 4.83   

Weighted-average shares used to compute earnings per share:

          

Basic

     653        666        720        720        720   

Diluted

     701        670        725        731        735   

 

 

 

-67-


Table of Contents
       Three Months Ended
(as a percentage of revenue)    Mar 31,
2012
    Jun 30,
2012
    Sep 30,
2012
    Dec 31,
2012
    Mar 31,
2013
     

 

Sales

     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0  

Cost of sales

     71.3        72.9        72.4        76.7        71.4     
  

 

 

Gross profit

     28.7        27.1        27.6        23.3        28.6     

Operating expenses:

            

Sales and marketing

     7.0        4.9        4.3        5.8        6.0     

Research and development

     5.2        3.9        3.3        4.5        4.3     

General and administrative

     4.3        4.8        3.1        3.5        4.9     

Amortization of purchased intangibles

     2.9        2.2        1.8        2.4        2.4     
  

 

 

Total operating expenses

     19.3        15.8        12.5        16.2        17.6     
  

 

 

Income from operations

     9.4        11.3        15.1        7.1        11.0     

Other expense, net:

            

Interest expense

     (0.5     (1.0     (2.0     (2.1     (1.7  

Other income (expense), net

     (0.1     (0.4     0.0        0.0        0.1     
  

 

 

Total other expense, net

     (0.6     (1.5     (1.9     (2.1     (1.6  
  

 

 

Income before income taxes

     8.8        9.8        13.1        5.0        9.4     

Provision for income taxes

     3.0        2.7        5.6        1.8        2.9     
  

 

 

Net income

     5.8     7.1     7.5     3.2     6.5  
  

 

 

 

Liquidity and capital resources

Our primary cash needs are to support inventory purchases, working capital and capital expenditures. Historically, we have generally financed these needs with operating cash flows and borrowings under our Existing Credit Facility. These sources of liquidity may be impacted by fluctuations in various matters, including demand for our products, investments made by us in our plant and equipment and other capital expenditures, and expenditures on general infrastructure and intellectual technology. A summary of our operating, investing and financing activities are shown in the following table:

 

       Years ended December 31,     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
  

 

 

 
(in thousands)    2010     2011     2012     2012     2013  

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 10,208      $ 21,038      $ 17,367      $ 5,734      $ 7,374   

Net cash used in investing activities

     (2,418     (3,056     (5,761     (1,454     (853

Net cash used in financing activities

     (7,614     (18,370     (11,705     (4,288     (6,400
  

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

   $ 176      $ (388   $ (99   $ (8   $ 121   
  

 

 

 

 

 

We expect that proceeds, cash on hand, cash flow from operations and availability under our New Credit Facility will be sufficient to fund our operations for at least the next 18 months from the date of this prospectus.

 

-68-


Table of Contents

Net cash provided by operating activities

Cash provided by operating activities primarily consists of net income, adjusted for certain non-cash items including provision for allowances for accounts receivable (including product returns and cash discounts), depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, deferred income taxes, amortization of loan costs and the effect of changes in working capital and other activities.

In the three months ended March 31, 2013, cash provided by operating activities was $7.4 million and consisted of net income of $3.5 million plus non-cash items totaling $2.6 million plus changes in operating assets and liabilities and other adjustments totaling $1.2 million. Non-cash items and other adjustments consisted primarily of depreciation and amortization of $1.9 million and stock-based compensation of $0.7 million. Cash provided in operating assets and liabilities consisted primarily of an increase in accounts payable of $8.2 million, a decrease in accounts receivable of $2.3 million, and a decrease in income taxes receivable and other assets of $1.5 million, partially offset by an increase in inventory of $8.5 million and a decrease in accrued expenses of $2.3 million.

In the three months ended March 31, 2012, cash provided by operating activities was $5.7 million and consisted of net income of $2.6 million plus non-cash items totaling $1.1 million plus changes in operating assets and liabilities and other adjustments totaling $1.9 million. Non-cash items and other adjustments consisted primarily of depreciation and amortization of $1.7 million and stock-based compensation of $0.3 million, partially offset by the excess tax benefit from the exercise of stock options of $0.8 million and a deferred income tax benefit of $0.1 million. Cash provided in operating assets and liabilities consisted primarily of an increase in accounts payable of $5.6 million, a decrease in accounts receivable of $1.9 million, a decrease in income taxes receivable and other assets of $1.4 million, and an increase in deferred rent of $0.6 million, partially offset by an increase in inventory of $4.7 million, a decrease in accrued expenses of $2.7 million and an increase in other current assets of $0.2 million.

In 2012, cash provided by operating activities was $17.4 million and consisted of net income of $14.2 million plus non-cash items totaling $0.8 million plus changes in operating assets and liabilities and other adjustments totaling $2.4 million. Non-cash items and other adjustments consisted primarily of depreciation and amortization of $7.2 million, stock-based compensation of $2.1 million and loss on sale of assets of $0.3 million, partially offset by the excess tax benefit from the exercise of stock options of $5.8 million and a deferred income tax benefit of $3.2 million. Cash used in operating assets and liabilities consisted primarily of an increase in accounts receivable of $7.0 million as a result of increased sales volume, an increase in other current assets of $0.5 million, and an increase in inventory of $4.7 million related to increased sales and components for new products, partially offset by an increase in accounts payable of $3.0 million, an increase in accrued expenses of $2.8 million, in each case primarily related to the increase in sales, and an increase in income taxes receivable and other assets of $8.2 million.

In 2011, cash provided by operating activities was $21.0 million and consisted of net income of $13.5 million plus non-cash items totaling $5.3 million plus changes in operating assets and liabilities and other adjustments totaling $2.2 million. Non-cash items and other adjustments consisted primarily of depreciation and amortization of $6.6 million and stock-based compensation of $1.0 million, partially offset by a deferred income tax benefit of $2.4 million. Cash used in operating assets and liabilities consisted primarily of increases in accounts receivable of $1.1 million, other current assets of $0.8 million and an increase in inventory of $1.5 million,

 

-69-


Table of Contents

partially offset by an increase in accounts payable of $0.6 million, an increase in accrued expenses of $2.1 million and an increase in income taxes receivable and other assets of $2.7 million.

In 2010, cash provided by operating activities was $10.2 million and consisted of net income of $10.8 million plus non-cash items totaling $6.7 million minus changes in operating assets and liabilities and other adjustments totaling $7.3 million. Non-cash items and other adjustments consisted primarily of depreciation and amortization of $6.2 million and stock-based compensation of $0.5 million, partially offset by a deferred income tax benefit of $1.4 million. Cash used in operating assets and liabilities consisted primarily of an increase in accounts receivable of $2.0 million and inventory of $11.1 million, partially offset by a decrease in other current assets of $0.3 million and an increase in accounts payable of $3.9 million, an increase in accrued expenses of $2.0 million and an increase in income taxes receivable and other assets of $0.6 million.

Net cash used in investing activities

Cash used in investing activities primarily relates to purchases by us of property and equipment and investments in our manufacturing and general infrastructure.

In the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2013, cash used by investing activities was $1.5 million and $0.9 million, respectively, which consisted of purchases of property and equipment.

In 2010, 2011 and 2012, cash used in investing activities was $2.4 million, $3.1 million and $5.8 million, respectively. In 2012, cash used in investing activities consisted primarily of purchases of property and equipment of $4.9 million, and an acquisition of an intangible asset consisting of patents related to bicycle suspension technology for $0.8 million. In 2010 and 2011, cash used in investing activities consisted primarily of purchases of property and equipment. We estimate that our capital expenditures for 2013 will be approximately $4.0 million to $5.0 million, primarily related to investments in our manufacturing and general infrastructure and expenditures for our operations in Taiwan.

Net cash used in financing activities

In the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2013, net cash used by financing activities was $4.3 million and $6.4 million, respectively, which consisted primarily of payments to repay indebtedness under our Existing Credit Facility. In the three months ended March 31, 2012, we had an excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options of $0.8 million.

Net cash used by financing activities was $11.7 million in 2012 compared to $18.4 million in 2011. The decrease in net cash used by financing activities was partially attributable to our recapitalization in 2012. In 2010, net cash used by financing activities was $7.6 million and was primarily related to payments of debt and the repurchase of common stock.

Credit facility

Our Existing Credit Facility consists of a term loan and a revolving facility of up to $30.0 million. As of March 31, 2013, the outstanding borrowings under our Existing Credit Facility were $52.9 million, compared to $59.3 million as of December 31, 2012. The total borrowings as of March 31, 2013 consisted of $5.1 million outstanding under the revolving line of credit and approximately $47.8 million under the term loan. As of March 31, 2013, we had $24.9 million available to borrow pursuant to the revolving portion of the Existing Credit Facility. Concurrently with the closing of this offering, we intend to use the net proceeds that we receive from this offering to repay the then outstanding indebtedness under our Existing Credit Facility. To the

 

-70-


Table of Contents

extent that the net proceeds from this offering are insufficient to allow us to fully repay the indebtedness then outstanding under our Existing Credit Facility, we intend to use borrowings under our New Credit Facility to pay any remaining balance outstanding under the Existing Credit Facility. In connection with the termination of the Existing Credit Facility, we expect to incur a non-cash charge of approximately $1.6 million related to our unamortized loan origination costs.

Concurrently with the closing of this offering we intend to enter into the New Credit Facility with SunTrust Bank and the lenders identified therein. The consummation of this offering is conditioned on the closing of the New Credit Facility. The New Credit Facility is expected to consist of a $60.0 million revolving line of credit, including a $5.0 million sublimit for swingline loans, and a $10.0 million sublimit for the issuance of standby letters of credit. The maximum amount we will be permitted to borrow under the revolving line of credit will be subject to certain borrowing limitations. Subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent, we have the ability to increase the aggregate revolving loan commitments under the New Credit Facility by an aggregate amount of up to $50.0 million, subject to the agreement of any existing lenders and/or any additional lenders who are providing such increased commitments. When we enter into the New Credit Facility, we will borrow any amounts under the revolving line of credit to pay any remaining borrowings then outstanding under the Existing Credit Facility and the Existing Credit Facility will be terminated. Amounts borrowed under the New Credit Facility will bear interest at a rate based on the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, plus a margin ranging from 1.50% to 2.50%, or a note based on the prime rate offered by SunTrust Bank plus a margin ranging from 0.50% to 1.50%.

The New Credit Facility will be secured, subject to permitted liens and other agreed upon exceptions, by a first-priority lien on and perfected security interest in substantially all of our and our subsidiary’s assets including accounts receivable and a pledge of the equity in our operating subsidiary. In addition, we expect the New Credit Facility will require that we satisfy a maximum total leverage ratio and a fixed charge coverage ratio. We expect that the New Credit Facility will contain customary representations and warranties and customary events of default, as well as certain affirmative and negative covenants, including restrictions on: indebtedness; liens; mergers, consolidations and acquisitions; sales of assets; engaging in business other than our current business and those reasonably related thereto; investments; dividends; redemptions and distributions; affiliate transactions; and other restrictions.

Contractual obligations and commitments

As of December 31, 2012, we had the following contractual obligations (in thousands):

 

            
Payments due by period    Total     Less than
1 year
     1-3 years      4-5 years      After
5 years
 

 

 

Current borrowings(1)

   $ 3,272 (2)    $ 3,272       $       $       $   

Long-term borrowings(1)

     73,674 (2)      3,375         12,735         12,015         45,549   

Operating lease obligations

     13,057        2,926         5,345         4,186         600   

Purchase obligations and other

     1,071        1,071                           
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 91,074      $ 10,644       $ 18,080       $ 16,201       $ 46,149   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 
(1)   Includes principal and interest.
(2)  

The current borrowings of $3.0 million and $56.3 million of the long-term borrowings in the above table were borrowed by us pursuant to our Existing Credit Facility. Concurrently with the closing of this offering we intend to use the net proceeds

 

-71-


Table of Contents
 

that we receive from this offering to repay our then outstanding indebtedness under our Existing Credit Facility. To the extent the net proceeds from this offering are insufficient to allow us to fully repay the indebtedness under our Existing Credit Facility, we intend to use borrowings under our New Credit Facility to pay any remaining balance outstanding under our Existing Credit Facility. We intend to terminate the Existing Credit Facility upon the consummation of this offering. See “—Liquidity and capital resources—Credit facility” above.

Seasonality

Our business is somewhat seasonal. In each of the last three fiscal years, our quarterly sales have been the lowest in the first quarter and the highest during our third quarter of the year. For example, our sales in our first and third quarters of 2012 represented 19% and 31% of our total sales for the year, respectively. We believe this seasonality is due to the delivery of new products containing our suspension products related to the new mountain bike season for each year. We also believe that the seasonal nature of our business may have been overshadowed over each of the past few years due to the rapid growth in sales we have experienced during the same periods.

Off-balance sheet arrangements

We have no material off-balance sheet arrangements.

Inflation

Historically, inflation has not had a material effect on our results of operations. However, significant increases in inflation, particularly those related to wages and increases in the cost of raw materials could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Critical accounting policies and estimates

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, sales, expenses and related disclosures. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Our estimates are based on historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Our actual results could differ from these estimates.

We believe that the assumptions and estimates associated with revenue recognition, our allowance for doubtful accounts, inventory, goodwill and intangible assets, warranty, income taxes and stock-based compensation have the greatest potential impact on our consolidated financial statements. Therefore, we consider these to be our critical accounting policies and estimates. For further information on all of our significant accounting policies, please see Note 1 of the accompanying notes to our consolidated financial statements.

We are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the rules under the Securities Act, and we will utilize certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to public companies that are not emerging growth companies. For example, we will not have to provide an auditor’s attestation report on our internal controls in future annual reports on Form 10-K as otherwise required by Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can utilize the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. Thus, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption

 

-72-


Table of Contents

of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have irrevocably elected to opt out of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards pursuant to Section 107(b) of the JOBS Act. As a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies.

Revenue recognition

We recognize sales when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, title has transferred, the sales price is fixed or determinable, and collectability of the receivable is probable. Provisions for discounts, rebates, sales incentives, returns, and other adjustments are provided for in the period the related sales are recorded based on management’s assessment of historical trends and projection of future results. Sales are recorded net of sales tax.

Allowance for doubtful accounts

We record a provision for doubtful accounts deemed not collectable based on historical experience and a detailed assessment of the collectability of our accounts receivable. In estimating the allowance for doubtful accounts, we consider, among other factors, the aging of the accounts receivable, historical write-offs, and the credit-worthiness of each customer. If circumstances change, such as higher-than-expected defaults or an unexpected material adverse change in a major customer’s ability to meet its financial obligations, we estimate if the recoverability of the amounts due could be reduced by a material amount.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of standard cost (which generally approximates actual costs on a first-in first-out basis) or market. Cost includes raw materials, direct labor and manufacturing overhead. Market value is based on current replacement cost for raw materials and on a net realizable value for finished goods. Adjustments to reduce the cost of inventory to its net realizable value are made, if required, for estimated excess, obsolescence or impaired balances.

We regularly monitor inventory quantities on hand and on order and record write-downs for excess and obsolete inventories based on our estimate of the demand for our products, potential obsolescence of technology, product life cycles, and when pricing trends or forecasts indicate that the carrying value of inventory exceeds our estimated selling price. These factors are affected by market and economic conditions, technology changes, and new product introductions and require estimates that may include elements that are uncertain. Actual demand may differ from forecasted demand and may have a material effect on our gross margin. If inventory is written down, a new cost basis will be established that cannot be increased in future periods.

Goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair value of the net assets of businesses acquired. Annually, we either make a qualitative assessment prior to proceeding to step one of the annual goodwill impairment test or perform a two-step impairment test. If we make a qualitative assessment and it determines that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, we would perform step one of the annual goodwill impairment test

 

-73-


Table of Contents

and, if necessary, proceed to step two. Otherwise, no further evaluation is necessary. For the two-step impairment test, in the first step, we compare the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. We determine the fair value of the reporting unit based on a weighting of income and market approaches. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the net assets assigned to that unit, goodwill is not impaired and no further testing is performed. If the carrying value of the net assets assigned to the reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, then we perform the second step of the impairment test in order to determine the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill. Impairments, if any, are charged directly to earnings. We have a single reporting unit for purposes of assessing goodwill impairment. We completed our most recent annual impairment test in the second quarter of 2013. No impairment charges have been incurred to date.

Indefinite-lived intangible assets

Trademarks are considered to be indefinite life intangibles, and are not amortized but are subject to testing for impairment annually.

Finite-lived intangible assets

We assess the impairment of identifiable finite-lived intangible assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that an asset group’s carrying amount may not be recoverable. Recoverability of certain finite-lived intangible assets, particularly customer relationships and core technology, would be measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset group to which the assets are assigned to the sum of the undiscounted estimated future cash flows the asset group is expected to generate. If the asset is considered to be impaired, the amount of such impairment would be measured by the difference between the carrying amount of the asset and its fair value. Recoverability and impairment of other finite-lived intangible assets, particularly developed technology and patents, would be measured by the comparison of the carrying amount of the asset to the sum of undiscounted estimated future product revenues offset by estimated future costs to dispose of the product to which the asset relates. No impairment charges have been incurred to date.

Warranty

Unless otherwise required by law, we generally provide limited warranties on our products for one to two years. We accrue estimated costs related to warranty activities as a component of cost of sales upon product shipment or when information becomes available indicating that an adjustment to the warranty reserves is appropriate. Management estimates are based upon historical and projected product failure rates and historical costs incurred in correcting product failures. The warranty reserve is assessed from time to time for adequacy and adjusted as necessary. Actual warranty expenses are charged against our estimated warranty liability when incurred. Factors that affect our liability include the number of units, historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims, and the cost per claim. An increase in warranty claims or the related costs associated with satisfying these warranty obligations could increase our cost of sales and negatively affect our operating results.

Income taxes

We record our income tax expenses or benefits in each federal, state and foreign jurisdiction in which we operate using an asset and liability approach. This process requires that we compute the

 

-74-


Table of Contents

current tax expense or benefit and deferred tax expense or benefit, which result from changes in temporary differences between the accounting and tax treatment of assets and liabilities, including items such as accruals and allowances, which are recorded in different periods for financial statement and income tax return purposes. The income tax effects of these differences we identify are classified as current or long-term deferred tax assets and liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. Our judgments, assumptions, and estimates relative to the current provision for income taxes take into account enacted tax laws, our interpretation of enacted tax laws, and possible outcomes of current and future audits conducted by tax authorities. Changes in tax laws or our interpretation of tax laws and the resolution of current and future tax audits could significantly impact the amounts provided for income taxes in our consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of income. Interest and penalties associated with income taxes are recorded as income tax expense in our consolidated statements of income.

We account for uncertain tax positions on a two-step approach to recognize and measure those positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The first step is to determine if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. We adjust liabilities for our uncertain tax positions due to changing facts and circumstances, such as the closing of a tax audit, expiration of a statute of limitations for assessment of income tax, the refinement of estimates, or the realization of earnings or deductions that differ from our estimates. To the extent that the final outcome of these matters is different than the amounts recorded, such differences will impact our tax provision in our consolidated statements of income in the period in which such determination is made.

We must also assess the likelihood that deferred tax assets will be realized from future taxable income and, based on this assessment establish a valuation allowance, if required. The determination of our valuation allowance involves assumptions, judgments, and estimates, including forecasted earnings, future taxable income, and the relative proportions of revenue and income before taxes in the various domestic and international jurisdictions in which we operate. To the extent we establish a valuation allowance or change the valuation allowance in a period, we reflect the change with a corresponding increase or decrease of our income tax provision in our consolidated statements of income.

Stock-based compensation

Compensation expense related to stock-based compensation, including employee and non-employee director awards, is measured and recognized in the financial statements based on fair value. The fair value of the common stock underlying our stock options was determined by our board of directors. The valuations of our common stock were determined in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Practice Aid, Valuation of Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation. The assumptions we use in the valuation model are based on future expectations regarding our business, combined with management judgment. Under the fair value recognition provisions of this guidance, stock-based compensation is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense, net of estimated forfeitures, over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the award.

 

-75-


Table of Contents

Determining the fair value of stock-based awards at the grant date represents our board of directors’ best estimates; however, the estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of judgment. We use the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of stock options. The determination of the grant date fair value of options using an option pricing model is affected by our estimated common stock fair value as well as assumptions regarding a number of other complex and subjective variables. These variables include the fair value of our common stock, our expected stock price volatility over the expected term of the options, stock option exercise and cancellation behaviors, risk-free interest rates and expected dividends, which are estimated as follows:

Fair value of our common stock

Because our stock is not publicly traded, we must estimate the fair value of our common stock, as discussed in “Common Stock Valuations” below.

Expected term

The expected term represents the period that our stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding. The expected term was generally estimated using the simplified method allowed under SEC guidance. The simplified method calculates the expected term as the average of the time-to-vesting and the contractual life of the awards. We intend to continue to utilize the simplified method for all “regular” awards until we have established a reasonable period of representative trading history as a public company, at which time we will determine the expected term based on the historical option exercise behavior of our option holders, expectations about future option exercise behavior and post-vesting cancellation.

Volatility

As we have been a private company and do not have a trading history for our common stock, we estimated the expected stock price volatility by taking the average historic price volatility for industry peers that we selected based on daily price observations over a period equivalent to the expected term of the stock option grants. We selected the peer group of companies from publicly traded companies in the same or similar lines of business to us, with consideration given to the fact that these companies had longer operating lives and were larger when compared to us, typically both in terms of revenue and net worth. We also selected companies with similar growth rates to us. We did not rely on implied volatilities of traded options in these industry peers’ common stock because the volume of activity was relatively low. We intend to continue to consistently apply this process using the same or similar public companies until a sufficient amount of historical information regarding the volatility of our own common stock share price becomes available, or unless circumstances change such that the identified companies are no longer similar to us, in which case more suitable companies whose share prices are publicly available would be utilized in the calculation. Higher volatility and longer expected lives would result in an increase to stock-based compensation expense determined at the date of grant.

Risk-free rate

The risk-free interest rate is based on the yields of zero coupon U.S. Treasury securities with maturities similar to the expected term of the options.

 

-76-


Table of Contents

Dividend yield

Although we paid a dividend as part of the recapitalization, we do not intend to pay cash dividends in the future, as such, expected dividends are zero.

The following table presents the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of options granted during the periods presented:

 

For the years ended December 31,    2010     2011     2012       

 

 

Expected term (years)

     6.5        6.5        5.5-6.5       

Volatility

     43     25     36%   

Risk-free interest rate

     0.42     3.31-3.41     0.60-1.40%   

Dividend yield

                   —       

 

 

In addition to assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option pricing model, we must also estimate a forfeiture rate to calculate the stock-based compensation for our awards. To date, we have experienced and expect to continue to experience limited forfeitures for options granted. As a result, we have not historically applied a forfeiture rate.

Quarterly changes in the estimated forfeiture rate can have a significant impact on our stock-based compensation expense as the cumulative effect of adjusting the forfeiture rate is recognized in the period the forfeiture estimate is changed. If a revised forfeiture rate is higher than the previously estimated forfeiture rate, an adjustment is made that will result in a decrease to the stock-based compensation expense recognized in the financial statements. If a revised forfeiture rate is lower than the previously estimated forfeiture rate, an adjustment is made that will result in an increase to the stock-based compensation expense recognized in the financial statements.

We will continue to use judgment in evaluating the assumptions related to our stock-based compensation on a prospective basis. If any of the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model change significantly, stock-based compensation for future awards may differ materially compared with stock-based compensation associated with the awards granted previously.

Common stock valuations

We are required to estimate the fair value of the common stock underlying our stock-based compensation awards when performing the fair value calculations with the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The fair values of the common stock underlying our stock-based compensation awards were determined by our board of directors, with input from management. Our board of directors has been and continues to be comprised of a majority of non-employee directors that we believe have the relevant experience and expertise to determine the fair value of our common stock on each respective grant date.

Given the absence of a public trading market of our common stock, and in accordance with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Practice Guide, Valuation of Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation, our board of directors exercised reasonable judgment and considered numerous objective and subjective factors to determine the best estimate of the fair value of our common stock.

In order to determine the fair value of our common stock underlying option grants issued prior to this initial public offering, we considered objective and subjective factors to determine the best estimate of the fair value. Given the absence of an active market for our common stock, our board of directors estimates the fair value of our common stock at the time of each grant of

 

-77-


Table of Contents

stock-based awards. The valuations performed by our majority stockholder are completed for the purpose of their financial reporting, are validated annually by an independent investment banking firm, and reviewed quarterly by our majority stockholder and updated as necessary.

The following stock options were granted between January 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013 to employees and members of our board of directors with the following fair value per share of our common stock for purposes of calculating stock-based compensation:

 

Option grant date   

Number of
shares
underlying
options

    

Exercise
price per
share

    

Common
stock fair
value per
share

 

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

February 10, 2012

     7,000         $340.91         $340.91   

February 27, 2012

     200         340.91         340.91   

June 15, 2012(1)

     33,082         239.33         239.33   

October 3, 2012

     7,000         287.86         287.86   

December 6, 2012

     500         287.86         287.86   

March 19, 2013

     200         352.52         352.52   

 

 

 

(1)   Includes options to purchase 26,883 shares issued in connection with our recapitalization in June 2012.

As of March 31, 2013, the aggregate intrinsic value of vested and unvested options was $     million and $     million, respectively, based on the estimated fair value for our common stock of $     per share, which is the midpoint of the range of the initial public offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus. As of December 31, 2012, we had $2.5 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense that is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of three years with $1.6 million expected to be recognized in 2013. In future periods, we expect our stock-based compensation expense to increase in dollar amount as a result of our existing stock-based compensation to be recognized as these options vest and as we issue additional stock-based awards to attract and retain employees.

Recent accounting pronouncements

Fair value measurement

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued ASU No. 2011-04, “Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs,” or ASU 2011-04. ASU 2011-04 is intended to improve the comparability of fair value measurements presented and disclosed in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS. The amendments in ASU 2011-04 explain how to measure fair value. They do not require additional fair value measurements and are not intended to establish valuation standards or affect valuation practices outside of financial reporting. The adoption of ASU No. 2011-04 did not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Comprehensive income: Presentation

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, “Presentation of Comprehensive Income,” or ASU 2011-05, to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income and to facilitate convergence of GAAP and IFRS. ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity and requires that all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity be presented either in a

 

-78-


Table of Contents

single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In the two-statement approach, the first statement should present total net income and its components followed consecutively by a second statement that should present total other comprehensive income, the components of other comprehensive income, and the total of comprehensive income. We adopted the provisions of ASU 2011-05 on January 1, 2012. The adoption of ASU 2011-05 did not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Comprehensive income: Reclassifications

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02, “Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income,” or ASU 2013-02, to supersede and replace the presentation requirements for reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income in ASU 2011-05, which were deferred indefinitely under ASU No. 2011-12, “Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05,” or ASU 2011-12, issued in December 2011. The amendments in ASU 2013-02 would require an entity to provide additional information about reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income. For public entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2012. The adoption of ASU 2013-02 will not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Goodwill impairment testing

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, “Testing Goodwill for Impairment,” or ASU 2011-08, which simplifies how entities test goodwill for impairment and permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. We adopted the provisions of ASU 2011-08 on January 1, 2012. The adoption of ASU 2011-08 did not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Release of cumulative translation adjustment

In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-05, “Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity,” or ASU 2013-05, which resolves diversity in practice regarding the release of the cumulative translation adjustment into net income when a parent either sells a part or all of its investment in a foreign entity or no longer holds a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets within a foreign entity. The amendments in ASU 2013-05 are effective prospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2013-05 will not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk

Interest rate sensitivity

We are exposed to market risk in the normal course of our business operations due to our ongoing investing and financing activities. The risk of loss can be assessed from the perspective

 

-79-


Table of Contents

of adverse changes in fair values, cash flows and future earnings. We have established policies and procedures governing our management of market risks and the use of financial instruments to manage exposure to such risks and, at the completion of this offering, we will terminate our Existing Credit Facility and all outstanding borrowings thereunder will become amounts borrowed under the New Credit Facility. We generally do not hedge our interest rate exposure. We had $52.9 million of debt, bearing interest at a variable rate, outstanding under our credit facilities as of March 31, 2013. Based on the $52.9 million of variable interest rate indebtedness that was outstanding as of March 31, 2013, a hypothetical 100 basis point increase or decrease in the interest rate on our interest rate variable debt would have resulted in an approximately $0.5 million change to our interest expense for fiscal 2012. We intend to use the net proceeds we receive from this offering to pay a majority of the then outstanding indebtedness under our Existing Credit Facility which will reduce our outstanding indebtedness. After the closing of this offering we expect to borrow under our New Credit Facility in the future in order to finance our short term working capital and other needs. These borrowings will be subject to variable interest rates.

Exchange rate sensitivity

As of March 31, 2013, we were not exposed to significant foreign currency exchange rate risks that could have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations. Foreign currency fluctuations could in the future have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations. We sell our products inside and outside of the United States in U.S. Dollars. As the

majority of our expenses are also in U.S. Dollars, we are somewhat insulated from currency

fluctuations. We do not currently hedge our foreign currency exposure.

Credit and other risks

We are exposed to credit risk associated with cash equivalents, investments, and trade

receivables. We do not believe that our cash equivalents or investments present significant credit

risks because the counterparties to the instruments consist of major financial institutions and we

manage the notional amount of contracts entered into with any one counterparty. Our cash and

cash equivalents as of March 31, 2013 consisted principally of FDIC insured certificates of deposit

and cash balances in non-interest bearing checking accounts. Substantially all trade receivable

balances of our businesses are unsecured. The concentration of credit risk with respect to trade

receivables is concentrated by the number of significant customers that we have in our customer

base and a prolonged economic downturn could increase our exposure to credit risk on our trade

receivables. We perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers and maintain an allowance

for potential credit losses.

We do not currently hedge our exposure to increases in the prices for our primary raw materials.

 

-80-


Table of Contents

Business

Overview

Our company

We are a designer, manufacturer and marketer of high-performance suspension products used primarily on mountain bikes, side-by-side vehicles, or Side-by-Sides, on-road vehicles with off-road capabilities, off-road vehicles and trucks, all-terrain vehicles, or ATVs, snowmobiles, specialty vehicles and applications, and motorcycles. We believe our products offer innovative design, performance, durability and reliability. Through our products we enhance ride dynamics, which we define as the interplay between the rider, the vehicle and the terrain, by improving performance and control. Our brand is associated with high-performance and technologically advanced products, by which we generally mean products that provide users with improved control and a smoother ride while riding over rough terrain in varied environments. We believe that the performance of our products has been demonstrated by, and our brand benefits from, the success of professional athletes who use our products in elite competitive events, such as the Union Cycliste Internationale Mountain Bike World Cup and the X Games. We believe the exposure our products receive when used by successful professional athletes positively influences the purchasing habits of enthusiasts and other consumers seeking high-performance products. We believe that our strategic focus on the performance and racing segments in our markets influences many aspiring and enthusiast consumers who we believe seek to emulate the performance of professional and other elite athletes. We believe our products are generally sold at premium prices, which to us means manufacturer suggested retail sale prices that are generally in the upper quartile of their respective product categories.

We design our products for, and market our products to, some of the world’s leading original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, in our markets, and to consumers through the aftermarket channel. Many of our OEM customers, including Scott, Specialized and Trek in mountain bikes and BRP, Ford and Polaris in powered vehicles, are among the market leaders in their respective product categories, and help shape, as well as respond to, consumer trends in their respective categories. We believe that OEMs often prominently display and incorporate our products to improve the marketability and consumer demand for their high-performance models, which reinforces our brand image. In addition, consumers select our products in the aftermarket channel where we market through a global network of dealers and distributors.

We have experienced strong sales and profit growth over the past few years. Our sales increased from approximately $171.0 million in 2010 to $235.9 million in 2012. Over the same period, our net income increased from approximately $10.8 million to $14.2 million, and our Adjusted EBITDA increased from approximately $26.8 million to $36.0 million. See “Summary consolidated financial data—Non-GAAP financial measures” for the definition of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation from net income to Adjusted EBITDA.

Our history

Robert C. Fox, Jr. began developing suspension products in 1974 when, having participated in motocross racing, he sought to create a racing suspension shock that performed better than existing coil spring shocks. Working in a friend’s garage, Mr. Fox created the “Fox AirShox.” The product was successful, and went into production in 1975. The next year, in 1976, Fox AirShox were used by the rider who won the AMA 500cc National Motocross Championship.

 

-81-


Table of Contents

Sales of Fox AirShox grew rapidly and, in 1978, our operating subsidiary, Fox Factory, Inc., was incorporated in California. From 1978 to 1983, FOX suspension users won numerous major races including 500cc Grand Prix races (motocross), Baja 1000 races (off-road), AMA SuperBike races (motorcycle road racing), and the Indianapolis 500 race (auto racing), generating greater market awareness of the FOX brand among enthusiasts.

As FOX grew, we applied many of the same core suspension technologies developed for motocross racing to other categories. For example, in 1987 we started selling high-performance suspension products for snowmobiles. By 1991, we began supplying the mountain bike industry with rear shocks and we entered the ATV and other off-road vehicle markets in the mid-1990s. Starting in 2001, we began offering front fork suspension products for mountain bikes.

Fox Factory Holding Corp., the registrant of this offering, is the holding company of Fox Factory, Inc. Fox Factory Holding Corp. was incorporated in Delaware on December 28, 2007 by Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC, or our Sponsor. Our Sponsor purchased a controlling interest in us on January 4, 2008.

For clarification, we are not affiliated with Fox Head, Inc., an action sports apparel company.

Market opportunity

We participate in the large global markets for mountain bikes and powered vehicles used by recreational and professional users. Today, our products for powered vehicles are used primarily on Side-by-Sides, on-road vehicles with off-road capabilities, off-road vehicles and trucks, ATVs, snowmobiles, specialty vehicles and applications, and motorcycles.

The markets in which we participate are diverse geographically and by product type. The following third party data sources provide unit volumes in selected geographies for the following markets in which we participate:

 

 

Suspended mountain bikes . Approximately 1,022,000 mountain bikes with front or full suspension systems were shipped from suppliers to U.S. bicycle shops and outdoor specialty retailers in 2012, according to the National Bicycle Dealer Association.

 

 

Side-by-Sides. Approximately 323,000 Side-by-Sides were sold in North America in 2012, according to Power Products Marketing.

 

 

ATVs. Approximately 278,000 ATVs in total were sold in the U.S. and Canada in 2012, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council, the Motorcycle and Moped Industry Council and Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle Distributors Council.

 

 

Snowmobiles. Approximately 145,000 snowmobiles were sold globally during the 2012-2013 snowmobile-selling season, according to the International Snowmobiling Manufacturers Association.

The following third party data sources provide unit volumes in selected geographies for portions of the motorcycle market, in which we currently participate to a lesser degree, but are in the process of expanding.

 

 

Off-highway motorcycles. Approximately 75,000 in total off-highway motorcycles were sold in the U.S. and Canada in 2012, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council, the Motorcycle and Moped Industry Council and Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle Distributors Council.

 

 

On-highway motorcycles. Approximately 318,000 on-highway motorcycles were sold in the U.S. in 2012, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council.

 

-82-


Table of Contents

We focus on the premium priced products within each of these categories, which we consider to be the high-end segment because of their higher retail sale prices, where we believe consumers have a preference for well-designed, performance-oriented equipment. We believe that suspension systems are critical to the performance of the mountain bikes and powered vehicles in the product categories in which we focus and that technical features, component performance, product design, durability, reliability and brand recognition strongly influence the purchasing decisions of consumers. Over the past decade, there have been significant technological advances in materials and features that have increased product functionality and performance, allowing high-end suspension products to be adapted for use in additional end-markets and mountain bike and powered vehicle categories.

We believe the high-end segments in which we participate are well positioned for growth due to several factors, including:

 

 

increasing average retail sales prices, which we believe are driven by differentiated and feature-rich products with advanced technologies;

 

 

continuing product cycle innovation, which we have observed often motivates consumers to upgrade and purchase new products for enhanced performance;

 

 

branded auto OEMs introducing on-road vehicles with off-road capabilities, such as the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor; and

 

 

increased sales opportunities for high-end mountain bikes and powered vehicles in international markets.

As vehicles in our end-markets evolve and grow more capable, suspension products and components have become, and we believe will continue to become, increasingly more important for improved performance and control. Additionally, we believe there are opportunities to continue to leverage our technical know-how in suspension products to provide solutions beyond our current end-markets.

Our competitive strengths

Broad offering of high-performance products across multiple consumer markets

Our suspension products enhance ride dynamics across multiple consumer markets. Through the use of adjustable suspension, position sensitive damping, multiple air spring technologies, lightweight and rigid materials, and other technologies and methods, our products improve the performance and control of the vehicles used by our consumers. We believe our reputation for high-performance products is reinforced by the successful finishes in world class competitive events by athletes incorporating our products in their vehicles, including the following examples in 2012:

 

 

three out of four Union Cycliste Internationale World Cup Mountain Bike Series titles;

 

 

World Off Road Championship Series Side x Side Production 1000 Class Championship;

 

 

American Motorcyclist Association, or AMA, Pro ATV Championship and first place finishes in 10 out of 10 races;

 

 

International Series of Champions National Pro Open Championship for snowmobiles and first place finishes in 16 out of 16 races; and

 

-83-


Table of Contents
 

two out of two overall Pro 2 Championships and first place finishes in 21 out of 29 Pro 2 races in the TORC and LOORRS off-road short course racing series.

Premium brand with strong consumer loyalty

We believe that we have developed a reputation for high-performance products and that we have established a premium brand, as our high-performance suspension products are generally sold at premium prices. Our logo is prominently displayed on our products used on mountain bikes and powered vehicles sold by our OEM customers, which helps further reinforce our brand image. We believe that our brand has achieved strong loyalty from our consumers. To support our brand, we introduce new products that we believe feature innovative technologies designed to improve vehicle performance and enhance our brand loyalty with consumers. For instance, according to a 2012 independent survey conducted by Bike Germany Magazine, a leading European mountain bike magazine, FOX was voted as the best brand for suspension forks and 81.7% of FOX consumers surveyed stated that they would buy a FOX suspension fork again, and in a 2011 Audience Survey by Vital MTB, a popular mountain bike website: (i) of the 44.5% of survey respondents that stated they would buy a mountain bike suspension fork within 12 months, 41.0% of these respondents, the highest percentage of all brands included, stated that they would buy a FOX suspension fork; and (ii) of the 22.4% of survey respondents that stated they would buy a rear mountain bike shock within 12 months, 42.2% of these respondents, again the highest percentage of all brands included, stated that they would buy a FOX rear shock.

Track record of innovation and new product introductions

Innovation, including new product development, is a key component of our growth strategy. Due to our experience in suspension engineering and design in multiple markets and with a variety of vehicles, we are able to bring unique ride dynamics solutions to our customers, often developed for use in one market and ultimately deployed across multiple markets. For example, our success in the high-end ATV category led to the widespread adoption of our suspension technology in the Side-by-Side market, which became our second largest product category by sales in 2012. Our innovative product development and speed to market are supported by:

 

 

our racing culture, including on-site technical race support of professional athletes, which provides us with unique real-time insights as to the evolving ride dynamic needs of those participating in world-class events;

 

 

ongoing research and development through a team of more than 20 full-time engineers and numerous other technicians and employees who spend at least part of their time testing and using our products and helping develop engineering-based solutions to enhance our product offerings;

 

 

feedback from professional athletes, race teams, enthusiasts and other consumers who use our products;

 

 

strategic and collaborative relationships with OEM customers, which furthers our ability to extend technologies and applications across end-markets; and

 

 

our integrated manufacturing facilities and performance testing center, which allow us to quickly move from concept to product.

 

-84-


Table of Contents

During 2012, we launched more than 20 new products and generated more than 70% of our sales from products introduced by us during the last three years, such as the:

 

 

Podium RC3, which provides external adjustment that allows the shock to easily be tuned for different rider skill, terrain, and racing type without having to be disassembled;

 

 

Float X Evol, which allows the rider to tune the spring characteristics of the shock via an air pump without having to remove the shock;

 

 

ECS Shock, which has an external cooling system that significantly lowers shock temperatures, allowing powered vehicles to operate at higher speeds for extended periods without sacrificing driver control, particularly in extreme environments; and

 

 

Float iCD, which provides riders the ability to adjust modes for different skills, terrains and activity levels on mountain bikes, resulting in increased utilization of the modes and an overall more efficient ride dynamics experience.

Strategic brand for OEMs, dealers and distributors

Through our strategic relationships, we are often sought out by our OEM customers and work closely with them to develop and design new products and product enhancements. We believe our collaborative approach and product development processes strengthen our relationships with our OEM customers. We believe consumers value our branded suspension products when selecting high-performance mountain bikes and powered vehicles, and as a result, OEMs purchase and incorporate our products in their mountain bikes and powered vehicles in order to increase the sales of their premium priced products. In addition, we believe the inclusion of our products on high-end mountain bikes and powered vehicles reinforces our premium brand image which helps to drive our sales in the aftermarket channel where dealers and distributors sell our products to consumers.

Experienced management team

We have an experienced senior management team led by Larry L. Enterline, our Chief Executive Officer. Collectively, our eight member senior management team has an average tenure at FOX of approximately eight years per person. In addition, many members of our management team and many of our employees are avid users of our products, which further extends their knowledge of, and expertise in, our products and end-markets. We are able to attract and retain highly trained and specialized employees who enhance our company culture and serve as strong brand advocates.

Our strategy

Our goal is to expand our leadership position as a designer, manufacturer and marketer of high-performance products designed to enhance ride dynamics. We intend to focus on the following key strategies in pursuit of this goal:

Continue to develop new and innovative products in current end-markets

We intend to continue to develop and introduce new and innovative products in our current end-markets to improve ride dynamics for our consumers. For example, our patented position-sensitive damping systems provide terrain optimized ride characteristics across many of our product lines. We believe that high-performance and control are important to a large portion of our consumer base,

 

-85-


Table of Contents

and that our frequent introduction of products with innovative and improved technologies increases both OEM and aftermarket demand as consumers seek out products for their vehicles that can deliver these characteristics. We also believe evolving market trends, such as changing mountain bike wheel sizes and increasing adoption rates of Side-by-Side vehicles, should increase demand for vehicles in our end-markets, which, in turn, should increase demand for our suspension products.

Leverage technology and brand to expand into new categories and end-markets

We believe that we have a reputation as a leader in ride dynamics, and that our reputation combined with our ability to improve the performance of vehicles by incorporating high-performance suspension products, results in us often being approached by OEM product development teams, athletes and others looking to improve the performance of their vehicles, including in end-markets in which we have not previously offered products We believe that our ride dynamics technologies have applications in end-markets in which we do not currently participate in a meaningful way, and we intend to selectively develop products for and forge relationships with customers in additional markets. These markets may include military, recreational vehicles (RVs), on-road motorcycles, commercial trucks and “performance street” cars. We also intend to evaluate selective potential acquisition opportunities for high-performance products and technologies that we believe will help us extend our ride dynamics platform.

Increase our aftermarket penetration

We currently have a broad aftermarket distribution network of more than 2,300 retail dealers and distributors worldwide. We intend to further penetrate the aftermarket channel by selectively adding dealers and distributors in certain geographic markets, increasing our internal sales force and strategically expanding aftermarket-specific products and services to existing vehicle platforms.

Accelerate international growth

While a significant percentage of our current sales are to OEMs and dealers and distributors located outside the United States, we believe international expansion represents a significant opportunity for us and we intend to selectively increase infrastructure investments and focus on identified geographic regions. We believe that rising consumer discretionary income in a number of developing markets and increasing consumer preferences for premium, high-performance mountain bikes and powered vehicles, should contribute to increasing demand for our products. In addition, we believe increasing international viewership of racing and extreme sports and other outdoor events, such as the X Games, is contributing to growing international participation in activities where our products are used. We intend to leverage our brand recognition to capitalize on these trends by increasing our sales to both OEMs and dealers and distributors globally, particularly in markets where we perceive significant opportunities. Our areas of greatest interest include Asia-Pacific (including China, South Korea and Australia) and South America (particularly Brazil, Argentina and Chile).

Improve operating and supply chain efficiencies

We intend to improve operating margins in the medium term by enhancing our design and production processes to increase efficiencies, reducing new product time to market and lowering production costs. Specifically, we have begun the process of moving a majority of the manufacturing of our mountain bike products to Taiwan and intend to complete this process in

 

-86-


Table of Contents

2015. We believe this transition to Taiwan, once completed, will shorten production lead times to our mountain bike OEM customers, improve supply chain efficiencies and reduce manufacturing costs.

Our products

We design and manufacture high-performance suspension products that dissipate the energy and force generated by mountain bikes and powered vehicles while they are in motion. A suspension product allows wheels or skis (in the case of snowmobiles) to move up and down to absorb bumps and shocks while maintaining contact with the ground for better control. Our products use adjustable suspension, position sensitive damping, multiple air spring tehnologies, low weight and structural rigidity, all of which improve user control for greater performance.

We use high-grade materials in our products and have developed a number of sophisticated assembly machines to maintain quality across all product lines. Our suspension products are assembled according to precise specifications throughout the assembly process to create consistently high-performance levels and customer satisfaction.

Mountain bikes

In our mountain bike product category, we offer upper mid-end and high-end front fork and rear suspension products designed for cross-country, trail, all-mountain, free-ride and downhill riding. We also offer a ride-height adjustable seat post product, our D.O.S.S. remote adjustable seat post, which we introduced in 2012 to allow a rider to adjust his or her seat position for uphill, rolling trail or downhill riding without having to stop the mountain bike to adjust the seat. Our mountain bike products are sold in three series: (i) our Evolution series, designed for demanding, yet value-minded, enthusiasts; (ii) our Performance series, designed for experienced enthusiasts and expert riders; and (iii) our Factory series, which is designed for maximum performance at a professional level.

Powered vehicles

In our powered vehicle product category, we offer high-end suspension products for Side-by-Sides, on-road vehicles with off-road capabilities, off-road vehicles and trucks, ATVs, snowmobiles, specialty vehicles and applications, and motorcycles. Products for these vehicles are designed for trail riding, racing and performance. Our products have also been used on limited quantities of off-road military vehicles and other small-scale select military applications. Our products in the powered vehicle category range from two inch aluminum bolt-on shocks to our patented position sensitive internal bypass shocks.

 

-87-


Table of Contents

The following chart highlights select products from our two product categories:

LOGO

Product development

We are committed to the development and introduction of technologically advanced products that feature innovative designs and high-quality materials. We strive to maintain our product leadership through the introduction of new and innovative products and enhancements and refinements to our existing products. In 2012, we launched more than 20 new products, including our Float iCD fork and rear shock, 34 Factory FIT CTD fork, Dual Speed Compression module and our Bottom Out Cup position-sensitive damping module.

Research and development is at the core of our product innovation and market leadership strategy. We have a team of more than 20 full-time engineers focused on product development. We also employ numerous other technicians and employees who spend at least part of their time testing and using our products and helping develop engineering-based solutions to enhance our product offerings. In addition, a large number of our other employees, many of whom use our products in their recreational activities, contribute to our research and development and product innovation initiative. Their involvement in the development of new products ranges from participating in initial brainstorming sessions to ride testing products in development. Product development also includes collaborating with OEM customers across end-markets, field testing by professional athletes and sponsored race teams and working with enthusiasts and other users of our products. This feedback helps us to develop innovative products which meet our demanding standards as well as the evolving needs of professional and recreational end users and to quickly commercialize these products.

Our research and development activities are supported by state-of-the-art engineering software design tools, integrated manufacturing facilities and a performance testing center equipped to enhance product safety, durability and high-performance. Our testing center collects data and

 

-88-


Table of Contents

tests products prior to and after commercial introduction. Suspension products undergo a variety of rigorous performance and accelerated life tests before they are introduced into the market. The research and development portion of our total engineering costs totaled approximately $7.3 million, $9.8 million and $9.7 million in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively.

Intellectual property

Intellectual property is an important aspect of our business. We rely upon a combination of patents, trademarks, trade names, licensing arrangements, trade secrets, know-how and proprietary technology in order to secure and protect our intellectual property rights.

Our in-house intellectual property department and in-house counsel diligently protect our new technologies with patents and trademarks and defend against patent infringement allegations. As of March 31, 2013, we owned 37 patents on proprietary technologies related to vehicle suspension and other products and had approximately 82 patent pending applications on file in the U.S. and European Patent Offices. Our principal intellectual property also includes our trademarks. We have more than 50 pending or registered trademarks in the U.S. and a number of international jurisdictions, including the marks FOX ® , FOX RACING SHOX ® and REDEFINE YOUR LIMITS ® . Although our intellectual property is important to our business operations and in the aggregate constitutes a valuable asset, we do not believe that any single patent, trademark or trade secret is critical to the success of our business as a whole. We cannot be certain that our patent applications will be issued or that any issued patents will provide us with any competitive advantages or will not be challenged by third parties.

In addition to the foregoing protections, we generally control access to and use of our proprietary and other confidential information through the use of internal and external controls, including contractual protections with employees, OEMs, distributors and others. Despite these protections, we may be unable to prevent third parties from using our intellectual property without our authorization, breaching any nondisclosure agreements with us, or independently developing products that are similar to ours, particularly in those countries where the laws do not protect our proprietary rights as fully as in the United States.

Customers

Our OEM customers include market leaders in their respective categories, and help define, as well as respond to, consumer trends in their respective industries. These OEM customers include our products on a number of their high-performance models. We believe OEMs will often use our products to improve the marketability and demand of their own products, which, in turn, strengthens our brand image. In addition, consumers select our high-performance products in the aftermarket channel, where we market through a global network of dealers and distributors. We currently sell to more than 150 OEMs and distribute our products to more than 2,300 retail dealers and distributors worldwide. In 2012, 81% of our sales resulted from sales to OEM customers and 19% resulted from sales to dealers and distributors for resale in the aftermarket channel.

Sales attributable to our 10 largest OEM customers, which can vary from year-to-year, collectively accounted for approximately 54%, 53% and 56% of our sales in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively.

Although we refer to the branded mountain bike OEMs that use our products throughout this document as “our customers,” “our OEM customers” or “our mountain bike OEM customers,”

 

-89-


Table of Contents

branded mountain bike OEMs often use contract manufacturers to manufacture and assemble their bikes. As a result, even though we typically negotiate price and volume requirements directly with our mountain bike OEM customers, it is the contract manufacturer that usually places the purchase order with us and is responsible for paying us (rather than the branded mountain bike OEMs). Giant is an OEM and a contract manufacturer used by certain of our mountain bike OEM customers. Sales to Giant accounted for approximately 16%, 12% and 13% of our sales in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. In the event Giant were to experience manufacturing or other problems, or were to fail to pay us, it could have a material adverse impact on our business and our results of operations.

Our domestic sales totaled $53.5 million, $65.8 million and $84.3 million, or 31%, 33% and 36% of our total sales in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Our international sales totaled $117.4 million, $132.0 million and $151.6 million or 69%, 67% and 64% of our total sales in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Sales attributable to countries outside the United States are based on shipment location. Our international sales, however, do not necessarily reflect the location of the end users of our products, as many of our products are incorporated into mountain bikes that are assembled at international locations and then shipped back to the United States. We estimate, based on our internal projections, that approximately one-third of the end users of our products are located outside the United States.

Mountain bikes

We sell our mountain bike suspension products to more than 150 domestic and international bike OEMs, including Scott, Specialized and Trek. We have long-standing relationships with many of the top mountain bike OEMs. After incorporating our products on their mountain bikes, OEMs typically sell their mountain bikes to independent dealers, which then sell directly to consumers.

In the aftermarket, we typically sell to dealers in the U.S. and through distributors internationally. Our dealers sell directly to aftermarket consumers. Our overseas distributors sell to independent dealers, which then sell directly to consumers.

Powered vehicles

We sell our suspension products for the powered vehicles industry to OEMs, including BRP, Ford and Polaris. We are also currently developing relationships with new OEMs, as the powered vehicles market continues to grow. After incorporating our products on their powered vehicles, OEMs typically sell their powered vehicles to independent dealers, which then sell directly to consumers.

In the aftermarket, we typically sell through dealers and distributors, both in the U.S. and internationally. Our dealers sell directly to aftermarket consumers. When we sell to our distributors, they sell to independent dealers, which then sell directly to consumers.

Our product offerings currently target high-performance suspension products for Side-by-Sides, on-road vehicles with off-road capabilities, off-road vehicles and trucks, ATVs, snowmobiles, specialty vehicles and applications, and motorcycles. Our products have also been used on limited quantities of off-road military vehicles and other small-scale select military applications.

Sales and marketing

As of March 31, 2013, we employed 36 specialized and dedicated sales professionals. Each sales person is fully committed to servicing either OEM or aftermarket customers within our product

 

-90-


Table of Contents

categories, which ensures that our customers are in contact with capable and knowledgeable sales persons to address their specific needs. We strongly believe that providing a high level of service to our end customers is essential to maintaining our reputational excellence in the marketplace. Our sales personnel receive training on the latest FOX products and technologies and attend trade shows to increase their market knowledge.

Our marketing strategy focuses on strengthening and promoting the FOX brand in the marketplace. We strategically focus our marketing efforts on enthusiasts seeking high-end suspension systems through promotions at destination riding locations and individual and team sponsorships. We believe that the performance of our products has been demonstrated by, and our brand benefits from, the success of professional athletes who use our products in elite competitive events, such as the Union Cycliste Internationale Mountain Bike World Cup and the X Games, which we believe positively influences the purchasing habits of enthusiasts and other consumers seeking high-performance products. We believe that our strategic focus on the performance and racing segments in our markets influences many aspiring and enthusiast consumers and enables our products to be sold at premium price points. For example, we sponsor a number of professional athletes and professional race teams. In order to continue to enhance our brand image, we will need to maintain our position in the suspension products industry and to continue to provide high quality products and services. Additionally, we have been able to develop long-term strategic relationships with leading OEMs. Our reputation for high-performance suspension products plays a critical role in our aftermarket sales to consumers.

In addition to our website and traditional marketing channels, such as print advertising and tradeshows, we maintain an active social media platform, including a Facebook page, YouTube channel, Vimeo page and Twitter feed to increase brand awareness, foster loyalty and build a community of users. As strategies and marketing plans are developed for our products, our internal marketing and communications group works to ensure brand cohesion and consistency.

Suppliers

The primary raw materials used in the production of our products are aluminum, magnesium and steel. We generally use multiple suppliers for our raw materials and believe that our raw materials are in adequate supply and available from many suppliers at competitive prices. Prices for our raw materials fluctuate from time to time, but historically, price fluctuations have not had a material impact on our business.

We work closely with our supply base, and depend upon certain suppliers to provide raw inputs, such as forgings, castings and molded polymers that have been optimized for weight, structural integrity, wear and cost. In certain circumstances, we depend upon a limited number of suppliers for such raw inputs. We typically have no firm contractual sourcing agreements with our suppliers other than purchase orders.

Miyaki is the exclusive producer of the Kashima coating for our suspension component tubes. As part of our agreement with Miyaki, which we entered into in 2009, or the Kashima Agreement, we have been granted the exclusive right to use the trademark “KASHIMACOAT” on products comprising the aluminum finished parts for suspension components (e.g., tubes) and on related sales and marketing material worldwide, subject to a minimum model year order and certain other exclusions. The Kashima Agreement does not contain minimum purchase obligations, except to the extent that Miyaki reasonably commits to purchase, or purchases, materials or tubes based on a run rate forecast in anticipation of a purchase order that we ultimately do not

 

-91-


Table of Contents

submit and such materials or tubes cannot be otherwise be used by Miyaki. The Kashima Agreement has an initial term of five (5) years and automatically renews for successive one year periods unless and until one party gives the other notice of non-renewal prior to the then applicable expiration date.

Employees

As of March 31, 2013, we had approximately 545 full-time employees in the United States, Europe and Taiwan. We also use part-time employees at our manufacturing facilities to help us meet seasonal demands. None of our employees are subject to collective bargaining agreements. We have never experienced a material work stoppage or disruption to our business relating to employee matters. We believe that our relationship with our employees is good.

Facilities

The following sets forth our principal facilities as of March 31, 2013. All of our principal facilities are leased.

 

Location    Principal uses    Approximate
sq. footage
 

 

 

Scotts Valley, California

   Corporate headquarters, sales, research and development      51,236   

Scotts Valley, California

   Manufacturing      42,813   

Watsonville, California

   Manufacturing and service      86,000   

Watsonville, California

  

Distribution and warehousing

     12,947   

El Cajon, California

   Manufacturing, sales, service and research and development      30,152   

Taichung, Taiwan

   Manufacturing and sales      28,000   

 

 

Manufacturing and backlog

We manufacture and complete final assembly on our products. By controlling the manufacturing process of our products, we are able to maintain our strict quality standards, customize our machines and processes for the specific requirements of our products, and quickly respond to feedback we receive on our products in development and otherwise. Furthermore, manufacturing our own products enables us to adjust our labor and production inputs to meet seasonal demands and the customized requirements of some of our customers.

Although we currently manufacture most of our suspension products at our California facilities, we are in the process of transitioning the majority of our mountain bike products manufacturing operations to our new facility in Taichung, Taiwan over the next three years, with the final completion of the transition scheduled for 2015. In connection with our transition, we expect to utilize suppliers who are located closer to our facility in Taichung, Taiwan for a number of materials and components. We currently have limited manufacturing operations at our Taiwan facility, where we presently manufacture our adjustable seat post and other select mountain bike products. During the transition period, we intend to manufacture mountain bike suspension products at both our facility in Watsonville, California and in Taichung, Taiwan, thereby providing us with dual manufacturing facilities and reducing the risk of interruptions. In

 

-92-


Table of Contents

addition, during the transition period, we intend to train certain of our Taichung employees at our Watsonville facility as a way to help us maintain our quality controls. We believe that the orderly transition of the majority of our mountain bike manufacturing operations from California to our new facility in Taiwan should enable us to maintain our strict quality control standards, meet product demand requirements and relocate the majority of the manufacturing of our products for mountain bikes to a location that is geographically close to a number of our mountain bike OEMs, many of which are located in Taiwan. We estimate that our sales to mountain bike OEMs located in Taiwan represented approximately 47% of our total sales to mountain bike OEMs in the year ended December 31, 2012.

Once the transition of the majority of our mountain bike product manufacturing operations is complete, we anticipate converting the Watsonville facility primarily to the manufacturing of powered vehicle suspension products. We believe that this conversion process will help us to increase our manufacturing capacity for our powered vehicle products, which should help us to reduce our lead time to our powered vehicle OEMs.

Competition

The markets for suspension products are highly competitive. We compete with other companies that produce suspension products for sale to OEMs, dealers and distributors, as well as with OEMs that produce their own line of suspension products for their own use. Some of our competitors may have greater financial, research and development or marketing resources than we do. Competition in the high-end segment of the suspension products market revolves around technical features, performance, product design, innovation, reliability and durability, brand, time to market, customer service and reliable order execution, and we compete on such basis. While the pricing of competing products is always a factor, we believe the high-performance of our products helps justify our premium pricing. We compete with several large suspension providers and numerous small manufacturers that provide branded and unbranded products across all of our product lines. These competitors can be divided into the following categories:

Mountain bikes

Within the market for mountain bike suspension products, we compete with several companies that manufacture front and rear suspension products, including RockShox (a subsidiary of SRAM Corporation), X-Fusion Shox (a wholly-owned subsidiary of A-Pro), Manitou (a subsidiary of HB Performance Systems), SR Suntour, DT Swiss (a subsidiary of Vereinigte Drahtwerke AG) and Marzocchi (Tenneco).

Powered vehicles

Within the market for powered vehicle suspension products, we compete with several companies in different submarkets. We believe a significant competitor for suspension products in the snowmobile market is KYB (Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.). Other suppliers of suspension products for snowmobiles include Öhlins Racing AB, Walker Evans Racing, Works Performance Products, Inc. and Penske Racing Shocks / Custom Axis, Inc. In the ATV and Side-by-Side markets, outside of captive OEM suppliers, we compete with ZF Sachs (ZF Friedrichshafen AG) and Walker Evans Racing for OEM business and Elka Suspension Inc., Öhlins Racing AB, Works Performance Products and Penske Racing Shocks / Custom Axis, Inc. for aftermarket business. In the market for off-road and specialty vehicle suspension products, we believe our two biggest competitors are ThyssenKrupp Bilstein Suspension GmbH (commonly known as Bilstein) and King Shock

 

-93-


Table of Contents

Technology, Inc. (commonly known as King Shock). Other competitors include Icon Vehicle Dynamics, Sway-A-Way, Pro Comp USA Suspension and Rancho (Tenneco).

Government regulation

Environmental

Our manufacturing operations, facilities and properties in the United States and Taiwan are subject to evolving foreign, international, federal, state and local environmental and occupational health and safety laws and regulations, including those governing air emissions, wastewater discharge and the storage and handling of chemicals and hazardous substances. If we fail to comply with such laws and regulations, we could be subject to significant fines, penalties, costs, liabilities or restrictions on operations, which could negatively affect our financial condition.

We believe that our operations are in compliance, in all material respects, with applicable environmental and occupational health and safety laws and regulations, and our compliance with such laws and regulations has not had, nor is it expected to have, a material impact on our earnings or competitive position. However, new requirements, more stringent application of existing requirements or the discovery of previously unknown environmental conditions could result in material environmental related expenditures in the future.

Employment

We are also subject to numerous foreign, federal, state and local government laws and regulations governing our relationships with our employees, including those relating to minimum wage, overtime, working conditions, hiring and firing, non-discrimination, work permits and employee benefits. We believe that our operations are conducted in compliance, in all material respects, with such laws and regulations.

Consumer safety

We are subject to the jurisdiction of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, or the CPSC, and other federal, state and foreign regulatory bodies. Under CPSC regulations, a manufacturer of consumer goods is obligated to notify the CPSC, if, among other things, the manufacturer becomes aware that one of its products has a defect that could create a substantial risk of injury. If the manufacturer has not already undertaken to do so, the CPSC may require a manufacturer to recall a product, which may involve product repair, replacement or refund. We have never had any of our products recalled and are not aware of any current defects in our products that would require a recall.

Legal proceedings

From time to time we are involved in legal proceedings incidental to our business, in particular intellectual property related disputes, product liability claims, as well as other litigation of a non-material nature in the ordinary course of business. In connection with ASC 450, Contingencies , we have not accrued for material loss contingencies relating to any legal proceedings because we believe that, although unfavorable outcomes in proceedings may be possible, they are not considered by our management to be probable and reasonably estimable. We believe that the outcome of any such pending matters, either individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material impact on our business or financial condition.

 

-94-


Table of Contents

Management

Executive officers and directors

The following table provides the names, ages and positions of our executive officers and directors as of July 15, 2013:

 

Name    Age    Position

 

Executive Officers :

     

Larry L. Enterline

   60    Chief Executive Officer and Director

Zvi Glasman

   49    Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer

John Boulton

   51    Senior Vice President, Global Operations

Mario Galasso

   47    Senior Vice President, Business Divisions

Non-Employee Directors:

     

Elias Sabo

   42    Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors

Robert C. Fox, Jr.

   74    Director

Joseph Hagin

   57    Director

Dudley Mendenhall

   58    Lead Independent Director

Carl Nichols

   58    Director

Ted Waitman

   63    Director

 

Executive officers

Larry L. Enterline has served as Chief Executive Officer and director of our wholly-owned operating subsidiary, Fox Factory, Inc., or our Subsidiary, since March 2011. In anticipation of this offering, we engaged Mr. Enterline to serve directly as our Chief Executive Officer, in addition to his positions with our Subsidiary, in May 2013, and we appointed him directly to our board of directors in June 2013. Since April 2010, he has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Vulcan Holdings, Inc., his private investment holding and consulting services company. From January 2006 to April 2010, Mr. Enterline was Chief Executive Officer of COMSYS IT Partners, Inc., an IT staffing and solutions company. Since October 2005, Mr. Enterline has served on the board of directors of Concurrent Computer Corporation (NASDAQ: CCUR), a provider of software, hardware and professional services for the video market and the high-performance, real-time market. From April 2005 to September 2011, Mr. Enterline served on the board of directors of Raptor Networks Technology, Inc., now known as Mabwe Minerals Inc. (PINK: MBWE), which, at the time of Mr. Enterline’s membership on the board, was engaged in the data network switching industry. From 1989 to 2000, Mr. Enterline served in various management roles, including Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Service Organization, at Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., a Georgia-based manufacturer of cable television, telecommunications and broadband equipment. Mr. Enterline earned a BSEE in Engineering from Case Western Reserve University in 1974, and an MBA from Cleveland State University in 1988. We believe that Mr. Enterline’s current position as our Chief

 

-95-


Table of Contents

Executive Officer and as Chief Executive Officer of our Subsidiary, service on other public company boards and leadership experience give him the qualifications and skills to serve as our director.

Zvi Glasman first joined us in January 2008 as Chief Financial Officer of our Subsidiary, initially as a consultant until his employment under the same title in September 2008. In anticipation of this offering, we engaged Mr. Glasman to serve directly as our Chief Financial Officer, in addition to his position with our Subsidiary, in May 2013. Prior to joining our Subsidiary, Mr. Glasman served as Chief Financial Officer of Motive Eyewear, Inc., an eyewear supplier, from 2005 until 2008. From 2003 to 2005, he was Chief Financial Officer at Marshall & Swift, a software company focused on providing valuation solutions to the insurance and real estate industries, and from 2001 to 2003, he served as Chief Financial Officer of RealTimeImage Inc. (RTI), an internet infrastructure company providing imaging products and services for the graphic arts and medical communities. Mr. Glasman is an inactive certified public accountant. He earned a BS in Finance from Pennsylvania State University in 1985.

John Boulton has served as Senior Vice President, Global Operations of our Subsidiary since February 2012. In anticipation of this offering, we engaged Mr. Boulton to serve directly as our Senior Vice President, Global Operations, in addition to his position with our Subsidiary, in June 2013 from January 2011 to February 2012, he served in a similar capacity with our Subsidiary. Prior to joining our Subsidiary, Mr. Boulton served as Vice President, Operations, of Utilimaster Corporation, a producer of walk-in vans and delivery trucks, from 2007 until 2010. From September 1985 to June 2004 he worked for General Electric Company in various management positions, most recently under the title Vice President of Operations for Fleet Services, GE Capital. Mr. Boulton earned a BSEE in Electrical Engineering from Reading College of Technology in 1983.

Mario Galasso has served as Senior Vice President, Business Divisions of our Subsidiary since January 2013. In anticipation of this offering, we engaged Mr. Galasso to serve directly as our Senior Vice President, Business Divisions, in addition to his position with our Subsidiary, in June 2013. From February 2003 to January 2013, Mr. Galasso held a number of positions with our Subsidiary including Vice President, Bicycle & Corporate Engineering and Corporate Senior Vice President from February 2012 to February 2013. Mr. Galasso earned a BSME in Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1988.

Non-employee directors

Elias Sabo has served as a director of our company since December 2007. Mr. Sabo served as our President from January 2008 until June 2013. Since 1998, Mr. Sabo has served as a founding partner at Compass Group Management LLC, the manager of Compass Diversified Holdings (NYSE: CODI), our Sponsor’s parent, and other alternative asset vehicles. Prior to joining Compass Group, Mr. Sabo worked in the acquisition department of Colony Capital, LLC, a Los Angeles-based real estate private equity firm, from 1992 to 1996, and as a healthcare investment banker for CIBC World Markets (formerly Oppenheimer & Co.) from 1996 to 1998. Mr. Sabo also serves on the boards of directors of several private companies. Mr. Sabo earned a BS in Business from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1992. Mr. Sabo brings to our board of directors business leadership experience, an extensive understanding of investment activities, and public company experience with respect to governance and risk management. His in-depth investment experience

with our Sponsor enables him to advise our board of directors on various strategic and business matters.

 

-96-


Table of Contents

Robert C. Fox, Jr. is the founder of our Subsidiary and has served as a director of our company since January 2008. He served as Chief Executive Officer of our Subsidiary from its inception in February 1978 until January 2008. From January 2008 to June 2009, he served as Chief Engineering Officer of our Subsidiary. Mr. Fox earned a BS in Physics from Santa Clara University in 1961, and an MBA from Santa Clara University in 1968. As the founder of our Subsidiary, Mr. Fox brings a deep understanding of our history, culture and technology to our board of directors, which enables him to advise our board of directors on all aspects of our business, while bringing historic knowledge and continuity to our board of directors.

Joseph Hagin joined us as a director of our Subsidiary in January 2009. In anticipation of this offering, he was appointed to serve directly as a member of our board of directors in June 2013. Mr. Hagin has served as senior partner at Command Consulting Group, an international security and intelligence consulting firm since January 2009. From September 2008 to August 2010, he was the Chairman of S Mobile Corporation, a technology company. Mr. Hagin served as White House Deputy Chief of Staff for President George W. Bush from January 2001 until August 2008. Mr. Hagin earned a BA in English from Kenyon College in 1979. Mr. Hagin’s executive management experience and expertise brings a unique perspective to our board of directors and enables him to provide insight with respect to the management of our company.

Dudley Mendenhall joined us as a director of our Subsidiary in February 2012. In anticipation of this offering, he was appointed to serve directly as a member of our board of directors in June 2013. Mr. Mendenhall also serves as the Lead Independent Director on our board of directors. Since July 2012, Mr. Mendenhall has been an independent consultant providing financial advisory services. From January 2011 to July 2012, he was Vice President, Strategy, Planning and Operations in the office of Strategy and Technology at Hewlett-Packard Company. From March 2009 to August 2010, Mr. Mendenhall served as Chief Financial Officer of Solera Holdings, Inc., a provider of software and services to the automobile insurance claims processing industry. From September 2007 to March 2009, Mr. Mendenhall was Chief Financial Officer of Websense, Inc., a company providing integrated web, data and email security solutions. From April 2003 to September 2007, Mr. Mendenhall was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of K2, Inc., an international sporting equipment manufacturer. Mr. Mendenhall holds a BA in economics from Colorado College. Mr. Mendenhall’s experience as a chief financial officer at public companies, and background in finance and accounting, assists our board of directors with financial review and risk management obligations.

Carl Nichols joined us as a director of our Subsidiary in May 2008. In anticipation of this offering, he was appointed to serve directly as a member of our board of directors in June 2013. Since 2003, Mr. Nichols has served as Chief Executive Officer of david ID, LLC, a strategic brand consulting company. He also serves on the boards of directors of several private companies. Mr. Nichols has also served as a business council member of Solera Capital, LLC, an investment firm, since 2007. Mr. Nichols earned a BA in Economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1978. Mr. Nichols’ experience with strategic consulting, serving on the boards of companies and advising the portfolio companies of Solera Capital, LLC give him the qualifications and skills to serve as our director.

Ted Waitman has served as a director of our company since June 2013. Since 1978, Mr. Waitman has held various leadership positions, including serving as President and Chief Executive Officer since 1996 and as a director since 2003, at CPM Holdings, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of process equipment for the animal feed and oilseed processing industries. From 2006 to 2008, he served as an independent director of Compass Diversified Holdings, our Sponsor’s parent.

 

-97-


Table of Contents

Mr. Waitman was also previously a director of the American Feed Industry Association and president of the Process Equipment Manufacturers’ Association. Mr. Waitman earned a BS in Industrial Engineering from the University of Evansville. Mr. Waitman’s various leadership positions and extensive management and operating experience qualifies him to serve on our board of directors.

Involvement in certain legal proceedings

Except as stated below, during the past 10 years, none of our current directors, nominees for directors or current executive officers has been involved in any legal proceeding identified in Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K, including, without limitation any: (i) involvement in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, (ii) conviction or is a named subject of a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or other minor offenses), (iii) involvement in any judicial or administrative proceeding (except for matters that were dismissed without sanction or settlement or were subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated) that resulted in a judgment, decree or final order enjoining the person from future violations of, or prohibiting activities subject to, federal or state securities, commodities or business laws, or a finding of any violation of federal or state securities or commodities laws, laws respecting financial institutions or insurance companies or laws respecting mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity, (iv) involvement in any disciplinary sanction or order imposed by a stock, commodities or derivatives exchange or other self-regulatory organization, or (v) involvement in any proceeding adverse to our company. In February 2012, Mr. Boulton, our Senior Vice President, Global Operations, was charged with a misdemeanor offense related to driving under the influence and pled no contest. We believe that this matter does not adversely affect Mr. Boulton’s integrity or his fitness or ability to serve as an executive officer.

Code of business conduct and ethics

Prior to the completion of this offering, our board of directors will adopt a code of business conduct and ethics that will apply to all of our employees, officers and directors involved in the oversight of our day-to-day operations, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and other executive and senior officers. Upon completion of this offering, the code of business conduct and ethics will be posted on our website. The code of business conduct and ethics can only be amended by the approval of a majority of our board of directors, including a majority of our independent directors. Any waiver to the code of business conduct and ethics for an executive officer or director may only be granted by our board of directors and must be timely disclosed as required by applicable law. We expect that any amendments to the code of business conduct and ethics, or any waivers of its requirements, will be disclosed on our website.

Board of directors

Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of our board of directors, which currently consists of seven members. The primary responsibilities of our board of directors are to provide oversight, strategic guidance, counseling and direction to our management.

In accordance with our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and our Amended and Restated Bylaws, immediately after the completion of this offering, our board of directors will be divided into three classes with staggered three-year terms. Only one class of directors will be elected at each annual meeting of our stockholders, with the other classes continuing for the

 

-98-


Table of Contents

remainder of their respective three-year terms. Our directors will be divided among the three classes as follows:

 

 

our class I directors will be Mr. Mendenhall and Mr. Hagin and their term will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2014;

 

 

our class II directors will be Mr. Nichols and Mr. Waitman and their term will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2015; and

 

 

our class III directors will be Messrs. Sabo, Enterline and Fox and their term will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2016.

At each annual meeting of stockholders after the initial classification, the successors to the directors whose term will then expire will be elected to serve from the time of election and qualification until the third annual meeting following election. In addition, the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of our board of directors. Any additional directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors will be distributed among the three classes so that, as nearly as possible, each class will consist of one-third of the directors. This classification of our board of directors may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of our management or a change in control.

Director independence

Under the rules and listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, or the Nasdaq Listing Rules, a majority of the members of our board of directors must satisfy the Nasdaq Listing Rules criteria for “independence.” No director qualifies as independent under the Nasdaq Listing Rules unless our board of directors affirmatively determines that the director does not have a relationship with us that would impair independence (directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with us). Our board of directors has determined that Messrs. Hagin, Mendenhall, Nichols and Waitman are independent directors as defined under the Nasdaq Listing Rules. Mr. Enterline is not independent under the Nasdaq Listing Rules as a result of his position as our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Sabo is not independent under the Nasdaq Listing Rules as a result of his relationship with our Sponsor and Mr. Fox is not independent under the Nasdaq Listing Rules as a result of the fact that we rent our Watsonville, California manufacturing and office facilities from Mr. Fox. See “Certain relationships and related party transactions—Our Sponsor” and “Certain relationships and related party transactions—Real property leases” below for additional information.

Governance guidelines

Our board of directors has adopted a set of governance guidelines, the Governance Guidelines, to assist our board of directors and its committees in performing their duties and serving the best interests of our company and our stockholders. The Governance Guidelines cover topics including, but not limited to, director selection and qualification, director responsibilities and operation of our board of directors, director access to management and independent advisors, director compensation, director orientation and continuing education, succession planning, recoupment of performance-based compensation and the annual evaluations of our board of directors.

 

-99-


Table of Contents

Committees of the board of directors

Our board of directors will, effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering, establish an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee. The composition and responsibilities of each of the committees of our board of directors are described below. Members will serve on these committees until their resignation or until otherwise determined by our board of directors.

Audit committee

Our audit committee is comprised of Messrs. Hagin, Mendenhall and Nichols, with Mr. Mendenhall serving as Chairman of the committee. Each member of the audit committee must be independent as defined under the applicable Nasdaq and SEC rules and financially literate under the Nasdaq Listing Rules. Our board of directors has determined that each member of the audit committee is “independent” and “financially literate” under the Nasdaq Listing Rules and the SEC and that Mr. Mendenhall is an “audit committee financial expert” under the rules of the SEC. The responsibilities of the audit committee are included in its written charter. The functions of this committee include, among others:

 

 

appointing, retaining, terminating, determining compensation for, and overseeing the independent registered public accounting firm;

 

 

reviewing the scope of the audit by the independent registered public accounting firm;

 

 

inquiring into the effectiveness of our accounting and internal control functions;

 

 

assisting our board of directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities relating to the integrity of our financial statements, our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, our adherence to policies regarding ethics and business practices and our enterprise risk-management practices;

 

 

approving, or pre-approving, all audit and all permissible non-audit services, other than de minimis non-audit services, to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm; and

 

 

obtaining and reviewing a report by the independent registered public accounting firm, at least annually, that describes our internal control procedures, any material issues with such procedures, and any steps taken to deal with such issues.

Compensation committee

Our compensation committee is comprised of Messrs. Mendenhall, Nichols and Waitman, with Mr. Waitman serving as Chairman of the committee. Our board of directors has determined that each member of the committee is “independent” under the Nasdaq Listing Rules and all applicable laws. Each of the members of this committee is also a “nonemployee director” as that term is defined under Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act and an “outside director” as that term is defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.162-27(3). The responsibilities of the compensation committee are included in its written charter. The functions of this committee include, among others:

 

 

determining, or recommending to our board of directors for determination, the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and our other executive officers and reviewing and approving or

 

-100-


Table of Contents
 

recommending to our board of directors for approval performance goals relevant to such compensation;

 

 

evaluating and recommending the type and amount of compensation to be paid or awarded to the members of our board of directors;

 

 

approving, periodically evaluating and proposing amendments to long-term incentive plans;

 

 

evaluating and recommending to our board of directors new equity incentive plans, compensation plans and similar programs advisable for us, as well as recommending to our board of directors the modification or termination existing plans and programs; and

 

 

establishing or recommending policies with respect to compensation arrangements, including recoupment policies.

The compensation committee may delegate authority to the Chief Executive Officer to grant rights in, or options to purchase, shares of our common stock to eligible employees who are not executive officers, subject to certain limitations.

Nominating and corporate governance committee

Our nominating and corporate governance committee is comprised of Messrs. Hagin, Mendenhall and Waitman, with Mr. Hagin serving as Chairman of the committee. Our board of directors has determined that each member of the committee is “independent” under the Nasdaq Listing Rules and all applicable laws. The responsibilities of the nominating and corporate governance committee are included in its written charter. The functions of this committee include, among others:

 

 

interviewing, evaluating and recommending to our board of directors candidates for election as our directors, including nominations by stockholders;

 

 

responsibility for matters relating to nomination of directors;

 

 

maintaining formal criteria for selecting director nominees who will best serve the interests of our company and our stockholders;

 

 

considering and assessing the independence of members of our board of directors;

 

 

evaluating director performance on our board of directors and applicable committees of our board of directors and determining whether continued service on our board of directors is appropriate;

 

 

evaluating the adequacy of our corporate governance practices and policies;

 

 

reviewing and approving all related party transactions;

 

 

developing and periodically reviewing and recommending to our board of directors appropriate revisions to our corporate governance framework, including our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Amended and Restated Bylaws and Governance Guidelines;

 

-101-


Table of Contents
 

monitoring compliance with our Governance Guidelines;

 

 

reviewing the composition of each committee annually and presenting recommendations for committee membership for our board of directors to consider; and

 

 

reviewing and discussing with the CEO and reporting to our board of directors plans for executive officer development and corporate succession plans for the CEO and other executive officers.

Executive officers

Our executive officers are elected by, and serve at the discretion of, our board of directors. There are no familial relationships between our directors and executive officers.

Compensation committee interlocks and insider participation

Prior to establishing our compensation committee, the compensation committee of Fox Factory, Inc., our wholly-owned subsidiary, made decisions relating to the compensation of our executive officers since all of our executive officers (or, in the case of Mr. Enterline, his wholly-owned consulting services corporation) had a consulting agreement, employment agreement or offer letter directly with Fox Factory, Inc. None of our executive officers currently serves, or in the past year has served, as a member of a board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our board of directors or compensation committee.

Non-employee director compensation

The following table presents the total compensation for each person who served as a non-employee member of our board of directors during 2012. Other than as set forth in the table and described more fully below, in 2012 we did not pay any compensation to, reimburse any expense of, or grant any equity awards or non-equity awards to any of the non-employee members of our board of directors.

In 2012, the standard fee arrangements for our non-employee directors (other than those serving on our board of directors on behalf of our Sponsor) included an annual cash retainer of $20,000, payable quarterly, for service as a director of Fox Factory, Inc. In addition, each non-employee director generally received options to purchase shares of our common stock upon his or her election or appointment to the board of directors of Fox Factory, Inc. Historically, the number of shares of our common stock subject to the options has varied from year to year and the options have generally vested in a single installment on the one-year anniversary of the grant date.

In connection with this offering, we intend to approve and implement a compensation program for our non-employee directors that consists of annual retainer fees and long-term equity awards.

The following table sets forth information for the year ended December 31, 2012 regarding the compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to persons who served as our directors during 2012 who are not named executive officers. Each of Messrs. Sabo, Maciariello, Bottiglieri and Massoud served on our board of directors on behalf of our Sponsor and received no compensation for his services as a director in 2012. We pay CGM management fees pursuant to the Management Services Agreement, as described below under “Certain relationships and related party

 

-102-


Table of Contents

transactions—Management Services Agreement.” Mr. Fox, the founder of Fox Factory, Inc., also received no compensation for his services as a director in 2012.

 

Name   

Fees earned

or paid in

cash ($)

   

Option

awards(1)

    

All other

compensation

    Total  

 

 

Elias Sabo

            —                      

Robert C. Fox, Jr.

            —                      

Patrick A. Maciariello(2)

            —                      

James J. Bottiglieri(3)

            —                      

I. Joseph Massoud(4)

            —                      

Dudley Mendenhall

   $ 20,000 (5)(6)    $ 19,031(7)              $ 39,031   

Carl Nichols

     20,000 (6)      —           $ 13,020 (8)      33,020   

Joseph Hagin

     20,000 (6)      19,031(7)                39,031   

 

 
(1)   Options exercisable for the following number of shares of our common stock were outstanding as of December 31, 2012: Mr. Mendenhall—100 shares; Mr. Nichols—140 shares and Mr. Hagin—100 shares.

 

(2)   Mr. Maciariello resigned from our board of directors on April 11, 2013.

 

(3)   Mr. Bottiglieri resigned from our board of directors on February 27, 2012.

 

(4)   Mr. Massoud resigned from our board of directors on November 30, 2012.

 

(5)   Mr. Mendenhall’s service as a director of Fox Factory, Inc. commenced on February 27, 2012. His compensation was not pro-rated even though he did not serve on the board of directors of Fox Factory, Inc. during all of 2012.

 

(6)   The director joined our board of directors on June 13, 2013. During 2012, the director served on the board of directors of Fox Factory, Inc. and received $20,000 as an annual retainer for such service.

 

(7)   The director was granted an option to purchase 100 shares of our common stock on February 27, 2012 with an exercise price of $340.91 per share as consideration for service as a director of Fox Factory, Inc. In June 2012, in connection with our recapitalization, this option was subsequently cancelled and the director was granted a new option to purchase 100 shares of our common stock with an exercise price of $239.33 per share. See “Certain relationships and related party transactions—Recapitalization—Cancellation and issuance of director options” below. The amounts in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of both the cancelled and new option awards computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 10 to our financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. These amounts do not reflect the actual economic value that will be realized by the director upon the vesting of the stock options, the exercise of the stock options or the sale of the common stock underlying such stock options.

 

(8)   Represents amounts paid to Mr. Nichols in June 2012 in connection with the recapitalization transaction to compensate him for the loss in value of his outstanding stock options. See “Certain relationships and related party transactions—Recapitalization—Cancellation and issuance of director options” below.

 

-103-


Table of Contents

Executive compensation

Summary compensation table for 2012

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the compensation paid to our named executive officers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012:

 

Name and principal position    Salary      Non-equity
incentive plan
compensation(2)
    

Option

awards(3)

    All other
compensation
    Total  

 

 

Larry L. Enterline(1)

   $ 700,000       $ 750,000       $ 1,316,193 (4)    $ 30,000 (5)    $ 2,796,193   

Chief Executive Officer

            

John Boulton

   $ 246,539       $ 140,000       $ 275,072 (6)           $ 661,611   

Senior Vice President,
Global Operations

            

Zvi Glasman

   $ 253,923       $ 150,000       $ 189,499 (7)           $ 593,422   

Chief Financial Officer

            

 

 

 

(1)   In 2012, Mr. Enterline served as Chief Executive Officer of Fox Factory, Inc. pursuant to the terms of a Services and Secondment Agreement, as amended, or the Enterline Services Agreement, by and among us, Fox Factory, Inc. and Vulcan Holdings, Inc., Mr. Enterline’s wholly-owned consulting services corporation, or Vulcan. All amounts listed in the Summary Compensation Table for Mr. Enterline were paid to Vulcan as provided in the Enterline Services Agreement. See “Narrative disclosure to summary compensation table—2012 employment agreements and arrangements” below for additional information on the terms of this arrangement.

 

(2)   Amounts in this column represent cash performance bonuses earned for fiscal 2012 by the respective named executive officer pursuant to, in the case of Mr. Enterline, the Enterline Services Agreement and, in the case of Messrs. Boulton and Glasman, our offer letter or employment agreement, respectively, with the named executive officer. Cash performance bonuses were awarded to our named executive officers based on the achievement of specified company performance metrics and the achievement of individual performance goals. In addition, in June 2013 we paid to Mr. Enterline pursuant to the Enterline Services Agreement a bonus of $500,000 based on his superior performance and the overall strong performance of our company over the two-year period ended March 31, 2013. See “Narrative disclosure to summary compensation table—2012 employment agreements and arrangements” below for additional information.

 

(3)   The amounts in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of the option awards computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 10 of the accompanying notes to our consolidated financial statements. These amounts do not reflect the actual economic value that will be realized by the named executive officer upon the vesting of the stock options, the exercise of the stock options or the sale of the common stock underlying such stock options.

 

(4)   Consists of: (i) the aggregate grant date fair value of the new options to purchase 12,749 shares of our common stock with an exercise price of $239.33 per share granted to Vulcan; and (ii) the additional compensation expense, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, incurred by us with respect to options to purchase an aggregate of 8,932 shares of our common stock that were subject to accelerated vesting, in each case, in connection with our recapitalization effected on June 15, 2012. See “Certain relationships and related party transactions—Recapitalization—Exercise of options and new option grants” below for additional information.

 

(5)   Consists of $30,000 for miscellaneous general and administrative costs paid to Vulcan. See “Narrative disclosure to summary compensation table—2012 employment agreements and arrangements” below for additional information on the terms of this arrangement.

 

(6)   Consists of: (i) the aggregate grant date fair value of an option to purchase 1,500 shares of our common stock with an exercise price of $287.86 per share granted to Mr. Boulton on October 3, 2012; (ii) the aggregate grant date fair value of a new option to purchase 1,415 shares of our common stock with an exercise price of $239.33 per share granted to Mr. Boulton in connection with our recapitalization effected on June 15, 2012; and (iii) the additional compensation expense, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, incurred by us with respect to options to purchase an aggregate of 900 shares of our common stock that were subject to accelerated vesting in connection with our recapitalization effected on June 15, 2012. See “Certain relationships and related party transactions—Recapitalization—Exercise of options and new option grants” below for additional information.

 

(7)   Consists of: (i) the aggregate grant date fair value of the new option to purchase 2,287 shares of our common stock with an exercise price of $239.33 per share granted to Mr. Glasman; and (ii) the additional compensation expense, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, incurred by us with respect to options to purchase an aggregate of 2,147 shares of our common stock that were subject to accelerated vesting, in each case in connection with our recapitalization effected on June 15, 2012. See “Certain relationships and related party transactions—Recapitalization—Exercise of options and new option grants” below for additional information.

 

-104-


Table of Contents

Narrative disclosure to summary compensation table for 2012

2012 employment agreements and arrangements

During 2012, Mr. Enterline served as the Chief Executive Officer of Fox Factory, Inc. pursuant to a Services and Secondment Agreement, as amended, or the Enterline Services Agreement, by and among us, Fox Factory, Inc. and Vulcan Holdings, Inc., Mr. Enterline’s wholly-owned consulting services company, or Vulcan. Under the Enterline Services Agreement, we agreed to pay Vulcan an annual fee of $700,000, an annual incentive fee equal to the sum of (1) an escalating percentage of up to 100% of $500,000 and (2) an escalating percentage of up to 100% of $250,000, with each escalating percentage based on our company-wide EBITDA as compared to a target EBITDA for the year as provided for in the agreement. The amount listed under the column “Non-equity incentive plan compensation” in the Summary compensation table above represents the cash bonus amount that Vulcan received in 2012 based on the achievement of such targets. In addition, the agreement provided that we will pay a fee of up to $1.0 million if, our board of directors determines, in its reasonable discretion, that certain performance measures have been achieved. In June 2013, we paid to Mr. Enterline a $500,000 bonus in satisfaction of this obligation in light of his performance and the overall strong performance of the company. We also agreed to pay Vulcan $2,500 per month for general and administrative costs, as well as to reimburse Vulcan for reasonable, ordinary and necessary business expenses incurred by Mr. Enterline in connection with providing services to us under the Enterline Services Agreement.

During 2012, Mr. Boulton served as the Senior Vice President, Global Operations, of Fox Factory, Inc. pursuant to an offer letter with Fox Factory, Inc. Mr. Boulton’s annual base salary in 2012 was initially $240,000, which was increased to $250,000 in May 2012. In 2012, Mr. Boulton was eligible to receive an annual cash bonus equal to 20% to 60% of his annual base salary based on our achievement of certain EBITDA targets on a company-wide basis as provided for in the agreement and Mr. Boulton’s achievement of individual performance measures. The amount listed under the column “Non-equity incentive plan compensation” in the Summary compensation table for 2012 represents the cash bonus amount that Mr. Boulton received in 2012 based on the achievement of such targets and performance measures.

During 2012, Mr. Glasman served as the Chief Financial Officer of Fox Factory, Inc. pursuant to an employment agreement with Fox Factory, Inc. Mr. Glasman’s annual base salary in 2012 was initially $250,000, which was increased to $256,000 in May 2012. In 2012, Mr. Glasman was eligible to receive an annual cash bonus based on our achievement of certain EBITDA targets as provided for in the agreement on a company-wide basis and Mr. Glasman’s achievement of individual performance measures. The amount listed under the column “Non-equity incentive plan compensation” in the Summary compensation table for 2012 represents the cash bonus amount that Mr. Glasman received in 2012 based on the achievement of such targets and performance measures.

New Employment Agreements

In July 2013, Fox Factory Holding Corp. entered into new employment agreements with each of our named executive officers. These new employment agreements will become effective upon the closing of our public offering, at which time the Enterline Services Agreement, under which Mr. Enterline currently provides CEO services to us will terminate, and the employment agreement or offer letter, as applicable, between Fox Factory, Inc. and Messrs. Boulton and

 

-105-


Table of Contents

Glasman will terminate (other than the right to receive a pro-rated incentive fee or bonus, as applicable, for 2013). The new employment agreements provide for base salaries, incentive compensation benefits, and, in certain circumstances, severance benefits.

The new employment agreements with each of Messrs. Enterline, Boulton, and Glasman provide for an initial base salary of $750,000, $250,000, and $295,000, respectively. Mr. Enterline is eligible to receive a lump sum cash performance bonus of $250,000 to $750,000 based on our achievement of certain EBITDA targets as provided for in his new employment agreement. Mr. Boulton and Mr. Glasman are each eligible to receive bonuses ranging from 14% to 42% and 25% to 75%, respectively, of their annual base salaries based on our achievement of certain EBITDA targets as provided for in their new employment agreements. Mr. Boulton is also eligible to receive a bonus ranging from 6% to 18% of his annual base salary based on his achievement of individual performance measures. In addition to base salary and performance bonuses, the new employment agreements provide for paid time off and the ability to participate in our employee benefit plans on the same terms as other similarly situated executive officers.

As described below, the new employment agreements also provide the named executive officers with certain payments and benefits upon certain terminations of employment. Under the new employment agreements, in order to receive certain severance benefits, each named executive officer is required to execute a general release in favor of our company. Furthermore, the new employment agreements prohibit the named executive officers from soliciting our employees for two years following their cessation of employment.

Under the terms of the new employment agreements, in the event that a named executive officer resigns without “Good Reason” (as defined below), or his employment terminates due to mutual agreement, death, disability (as defined in the new employment agreements), or for “Cause” (as defined below), such executive is entitled to receive the following payments and compensation: (i) accrued and unpaid annual base salary for services rendered prior to the date of termination or resignation and (ii) reimbursement of any un-reimbursed business expenses as of the date of termination or resignation. In addition, in the event of an executive’s cessation of employment due to his death or disability, such executive is also entitled to receive a pro rata lump sum cash payment of the executive’s performance bonus (which the executive would have earned under his new employment agreement if employed for the entire fiscal year in which such termination occurs, and payable during the year the applicable audited financial statements become available).

In the event a named executive officer’s employment is terminated for any reason other than death, disability, or for “Cause,” or if a named executive officer resigns for “Good Reason,” such executive officer is entitled, provided he executes a release in our favor, to receive the following payments and compensation: (i) accrued and unpaid annual base salary for services rendered prior to the date of termination or resignation; (ii) reimbursement of any un-reimbursed business expenses as of the date of termination or resignation; (iii) (a) severance in an amount equal to the named executive’s annual base salary as of the date of termination, unless the executive’s base salary was reduced in such a way as to trigger a “Good Reason” resignation, in which case the severance amount will be equal to the executive’s annual base salary prior to such reduction, provided that such severance amount is greater than the executive’s base salary at termination, payable in 12 substantially equal payments following execution of a release, or (b) if we terminate Mr. Enterline or Mr. Glasman without Cause within 24 months after a change of control, or Mr. Enterline or Mr. Glasman resign for Good Reason within 24 months after a change

 

-106-


Table of Contents

of control, severance in an amount equal to two times (in the case of Mr. Enterline) or 1.5 times (in the case of Mr. Glasman) such executive’s annual base salary, payable in 24 (in the case of Mr. Enterline) or 18 (in the case of Mr. Glasman) equal monthly payments following execution of a release; (iv) a pro rata payment of the executive’s performance bonus (which the executive would have earned under his new employment agreement if employed for the entire fiscal year in which termination occurs, payable during the year the applicable audited financial statements become available); and (v) continued company sharing in the cost of health care insurance during the period executive receives severance.

For purposes of the new employment agreements, termination for “Cause” means with respect to a named executive, one or more of the following: (i) willful or grossly negligent violation of any law which causes material injury to the business of our company (or any subsidiary) or entry of a plea of nolo contendere (or similar plea) to a charge of such an offense; (ii) conduct causing us or any of our subsidiaries significant public disgrace or disrepute; (iii) any act or omission aiding or abetting a competitor, supplier, or customer of ours or any of our subsidiaries to the material disadvantage or detriment of us and our subsidiaries; (iv) the executive’s willful violation of fiduciary duties to our company or any subsidiary, including the duty of loyalty and the corporate opportunity doctrine; (v) commission of, or the act of fraud, dishonesty, misappropriation or embezzlement, or the executive’s commission of any felony offense; (vi) material breach of the executive’s representations, warranties, or covenants under his new employment agreement or any other agreement between the parties hereto that, if curable and unrelated to a breach of his confidentiality obligations, remains uncured for 15 days following written notice thereof from us to executive; and (vii) refusal to comply with our reasonable orders or directives (including refusal to perform, other than as a result of death or disability, material assigned duties or responsibilities that are consistent with normal business practices and his new employment agreement) or our (or our subsidiaries’) material and reasonable rules, regulations, policies, procedures or practices that are not inconsistent with the terms of his new employment agreement or applicable law, which continues uncured for 15 days following written notice thereof from us to the executive.

A resignation by a named executive officer will be deemed a resignation for “Good Reason” if the executive provides written notice to the company of the specific circumstances alleged to constitute Good Reason within 90 days after any one or more of the following events: (i) a reduction in executive’s base salary below the amount as of the date of his new employment agreement (other than a substantially similar reduction applicable to all executives); (ii) for Mr. Boulton only, our requiring, without the executive’s consent, that the executive relocate the executive’s principal place of business outside a 30-mile radius from the location where the executive is employed as of the effective date of his new employment agreement or such other location as consented to by the executive; (iii) material breach by us of his new employment agreement; or (iv) without the executive’s consent, a material reduction in the executive’s duties or responsibilities. Where curable, we will have 30 days to cure such circumstances upon the receipt of notice from the executive.

 

-107-


Table of Contents

Perquisites, health, welfare and retirement plans and benefits

Health and welfare benefits

Our named executive officers are eligible to participate in all of our employee benefit plans, including our medical, dental, vision, group life and disability insurance plans, in each case on the same basis as other employees.

401(k) plan

We maintain a tax-qualified retirement plan, our 401(k) plan, which provides all regular employees with an opportunity to save for retirement on a tax-advantaged basis. Under our 401(k) plan, participants may elect to defer a portion of their compensation on a pre-tax basis and have it contributed to the plan subject to applicable annual limits set forth in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. Pre-tax contributions are allocated to each participant’s individual account and are then invested in select investment alternatives according to the participants’ directions. Our 401(k) plan allows for matching contributions to be made by us. As a tax-qualified retirement plan, contributions to our 401(k) plan and earnings on those contributions are not taxable to the employees until distributed and all contributions are deductible by us when made.

Perquisites and personal benefits

We do not provide perquisites or personal benefits to our named executive officers. We do, however, pay certain premiums for term life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment for all of our employees, including all of our named executive officers, other than Mr. Enterline prior to completion of this offering since, prior to such time, he was a consultant and not an employee.

Pension benefits and non-qualified deferred compensation

None of our named executive officers participate in or have account balances in qualified or non-qualified defined benefit plans sponsored by us.

Outstanding equity-based awards at fiscal year-end 2012

The following table presents certain information concerning outstanding equity awards held by each of our named executive officers as of December 31, 2012:

 

Name    Option awards  
  

Number of securities
underlying
unexercised options

(#) exercisable

   

Number of securities
underlying
unexercised options

(#) unexercisable

    

Option exercise

price per share

    

Option

expiration

date

 

 

 

Larry L. Enterline(1)

     —  (2)      12,749       $ 239.33         6/15/2022   

John Boulton

     —  (3)      2,700         241.53         3/1/2021   
     —  (4)      1,415         239.33         6/15/2022   
     —  (5)      1,500         287.86         10/3/2022   

Zvi Glasman

     —  (6)      2,287         239.33         6/15/2022   

 

 

 

(1)   Options were granted to Vulcan.

 

(2)   The option was granted pursuant to the 2008 Plan and will vest in a single installment on June 15, 2013, the one year anniversary of the grant date of the award, subject to full acceleration of vesting upon the occurrence of a change of control of our company or the death or permanent and total disability of Mr. Enterline.

 

-108-


Table of Contents
(3)   The option was granted pursuant to the 2008 Plan and was originally exercisable for a total of 4,500 shares of our common stock. As granted, this option vests as to 1/5 of the total number of shares covered by the option on the first anniversary of the grant date of March 1, 2011 and vests as to 1/5 of the shares each anniversary thereafter until fully vested, subject to full acceleration of vesting upon the occurrence of a change of control of our company or the death or permanent and total disability of Mr. Boulton. In connection with our recapitalization in June 2012, vesting of options exercisable for 1/5 of the total number of shares was accelerated and options as to 2/5 of the total number of shares were exercised.

 

(4)   The option was granted pursuant to the 2008 Plan and vests as to 1/3 of the shares on March 1, 2014 and vests as to 1/3 of the shares each anniversary thereafter until fully vested, subject to full acceleration of vesting upon the occurrence of a change of control of our company or the death or permanent and total disability of Mr. Boulton.

 

(5)   The option was granted pursuant to the 2008 Non-Statutory Plan and vests as to 1/5 of the shares on the first anniversary of the grant date of October 3, 2012 and vests as to 1/5 of the shares each anniversary thereafter until fully vested, subject to full acceleration of vesting upon the occurrence of a change of control of our company or the death or permanent and total disability of Mr. Boulton.

 

(6)   The option was granted pursuant to the 2008 Plan and vests as to 1/2 of the shares on the first anniversary of the grant date of June 15, 2012, with the remainder vesting on the second anniversary of the grant date, subject to full acceleration of vesting upon the occurrence of a change of control of our company or the death or permanent and total disability of Mr. Glasman.

Equity-based incentive plans

2008 Stock Option Plan

Our board of directors adopted our 2008 Stock Option Plan, or the 2008 Plan, on January 4, 2008, and the 2008 Plan was approved by our stockholders in January 2008. The 2008 Plan was subsequently amended in November 2008 to increase the total number of shares issuable under the 2008 Plan by 53,444 shares of our common stock. The 2008 Plan will be terminated upon the effective date of the 2013 Omnibus Plan (as defined under “—2013 Omnibus Plan” below). The purpose of the 2008 Plan was to enable us to attract and retain the best available talent and to encourage the highest level of performance. Employees and directors of our company and our subsidiaries are eligible to receive option grants under the 2008 Plan. The 2008 Plan is currently administered by our compensation committee. Prior to the establishment of our compensation committee in July 2013, the 2008 Plan was administered by our board of directors based on recommendations of the compensation committee of Fox Factory, Inc.

Stock subject to the 2008 Plan .    The maximum aggregate number of shares that can be issued under the 2008 Plan is 125,000 shares of our common stock. As of March 31, 2013, 78,483 shares of our common stock had been issued under the 2008 Plan and options to purchase an additional 46,222 shares of our common stock were outstanding under the 2008 Plan.

Stock options .    Our compensation committee is authorized to grant incentive and/or non-statutory stock options under the 2008 Plan. The exercise price of all stock options granted under the 2008 Plan must equal at least 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant (except for greater than 10% owners, as provided below). Incentive stock options granted under the 2008 Plan must be exercised within 10 years from the date of grant, and the period for exercising any non-statutory stock options is set by our compensation committee; provided, however, that an incentive stock option held by a participant who owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock or of the stock of our parents or subsidiaries, may not have a term in excess of five years and must have an exercise price of at least 110% of the fair market value of our common stock on the grant date. The option price is payable only in cash, except if our company undergoes a change of control, in which case the option price may be satisfied through shares obtained through exercise of the option in connection with the change of control. Subject to the provisions of the 2008 Plan, our compensation committee determines the remaining terms of the options (e.g., vesting and the

 

-109-


Table of Contents

period following a participant’s termination of service during which the participant may exercise his or her option, provided that in no event may an option be exercised later than the expiration of its term).

Plan termination.     Upon the completion of this offering, the 2008 Plan will be terminated and no shares of our common stock will remain available for future issuance under the 2008 Plan. However, the 2008 Plan will continue to govern the terms and conditions of awards originally granted under the 2008 Plan. Shares originally reserved for issuance under the 2008 Plan but which are not issued or subject to outstanding grants on the effective date of the 2013 Omnibus Plan, and shares subject to outstanding options under the 2008 Plan on the effective date of the 2013 Omnibus Plan that are subsequently forfeited or terminated for any reason before being exercised, and shares subject to vesting restrictions under the 2008 Plan that are subsequently forfeited will again become available for awards under the 2013 Omnibus Plan on or after the date the 2013 Omnibus Plan becomes effective.

2008 Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan

Our board of directors adopted our 2008 Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan, or the 2008 Non-Statutory Plan, on May 6, 2008. The 2008 Non-Statutory Plan was subsequently amended in December 2012 to increase the total number of shares issuable under the 2008 Non-Statutory Plan by 30,000 shares of our common stock. The 2008 Non-Statutory Plan will be terminated upon the effective date of the 2013 Omnibus Plan. The purpose of the 2008 Non-Statutory Plan was to enable us to attract and retain the best available talent and to encourage the highest level of performance. Employees and directors of our company and our subsidiaries are eligible to receive option grants under the 2008 Non-Statutory Plan. The 2008 Non-Statutory Plan is currently administered by our compensation committee. Prior to the establishment of our compensation committee in July 2013, the 2008 Non-Statutory Plan was administered by our board of directors based on recommendations of the compensation committee of Fox Factory, Inc.

Stock subject to the 2008 Non-Statutory Plan .    The maximum aggregate number of shares that can be issued under the 2008 Non-Statutory Plan is 40,900 shares of our common stock. As of March 31, 2013, 2,540 shares of our common stock had been issued under the 2008 Non-Statutory Plan and options to purchase an additional 7,840 shares of our common stock were outstanding under the 2008 Non-Statutory Plan.

Stock options.     Our compensation committee is authorized to grant non-statutory stock options under the 2008 Non-Statutory Plan. The period for exercising any options granted under the 2008 Non-Statutory Plan is set by our compensation committee. The option price is payable only in cash, except if our company undergoes a change of control, in which case the option price may be satisfied through shares obtained through exercise of the option in connection with the change of control. Subject to the provisions of the 2008 Non-Statutory Plan, our compensation committee determines the remaining terms of the options (e.g., vesting and the period following a participant’s termination of service during which the participant may exercise his or her option, provided that in no event may an option be exercised later than the expiration of its term).

Plan termination.     Upon the completion of this offering, the 2008 Non-Statutory Plan will be terminated and no shares of our common stock will remain available for future issuance under the 2008 Non-Statutory Plan. However, the 2008 Non-Statutory Plan will continue to govern the terms and conditions of awards originally granted under the 2008 Non-Statutory Plan. Shares originally reserved for issuance under the 2008 Non-Statutory Plan but which are not issued or

 

-110-


Table of Contents

subject to outstanding grants on the effective date of the 2013 Omnibus Plan, and shares subject to outstanding options under the 2008 Non-Statutory Plan on the effective date of the 2013 Omnibus Plan that are subsequently forfeited or terminated for any reason before being exercised, and shares subject to vesting restrictions under the 2008 Non-Statutory Plan that are subsequently forfeited will again become available for awards under the 2013 Omnibus Plan on or after the date the 2013 Omnibus Plan becomes effective.

2013 Omnibus Plan

In July 2013, our board of directors and stockholders adopted the 2013 Omnibus Plan, which will become effective on the closing of this offering, and which will serve as the successor to our 2008 Plan and 2008 Non-Statutory Plan. The 2013 Omnibus Plan will be the sole plan under which we make equity-based awards to our employees, directors and consultants upon the closing of this offering. However, the 2008 Plan and the 2008 Non-Statutory Plan will continue to govern the terms and conditions of awards originally granted under the 2008 Plan and the 2008 Non-Statutory Plan, respectively.

Effective upon the closing of this offering, we expect to grant to Messrs. Enterline, Glasman, and Galasso, each an executive officer, awards of restricted stock units representing             ,             and              underlying shares of common stock, respectively. The awards are expected to vest in four equal annual increments of 25% each, commencing with the one year anniversary date of the grant date. In addition, we expect to grant on the date of the consummation of this offering an award of restricted stock units to each of Messrs. Hagin, Mendenhall, Nichols and Waitman, each a non-employee director. Such awards are expected to vest on the day before our annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2014 and the number of shares subject to these awards shall be determined by dividing $20,000 by the initial public offering price in this offering.

Share reserve .    We have reserved      shares of our common stock for issuance under the 2013 Omnibus Plan, plus an additional number of shares equal to any shares that are subject to outstanding awards under the 2008 Plan and the 2008 Non-Statutory Plan and which either cease for any reason to be subject to such awards or are forfeited, cancelled or repurchased at their original issue price. In addition, the following shares of our common stock will again be available for grant or issuance under the 2013 Omnibus Plan:

 

 

shares subject to awards granted under the 2013 Omnibus Plan that are subsequently forfeited or cancelled;

 

 

shares subject to awards granted under the 2013 Omnibus Plan that otherwise terminate without shares being issued; and

 

 

shares surrendered, cancelled or exchanged for cash (but not shares surrendered to pay the exercise price or withholding taxes associated with the award).

Term.     We anticipate that the 2013 Omnibus Plan will terminate 10 years from the date our board of directors approves the plan, unless it is terminated earlier by our board of directors.

Award forms and limitations.     We anticipate that the 2013 Omnibus Plan will authorize the award of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, unrestricted stock, performance-based compensation and other stock-based awards. For stock options that are intended to qualify as incentive stock options, or ISOs, under Section 422 of the Code, the maximum number of shares subject to ISO awards will be     . The maximum will be      shares for each of the following award types granted to any one person within any fiscal year

 

-111-


Table of Contents

of ours: (i) the shares subject to ISOs, (ii) the shares subject to stock options and stock appreciation rights, (iii) the shares subject to performance-based compensation awards, (iv) restricted stock, restricted stock units and unrestricted stock, and (v) all other stock-based awards.

Eligibility.     Only our and our affiliates’ employees, consultants and board members are eligible to receive awards under the 2013 Omnibus Plan, although awards may be made to employees and consultants to whom an offer of employment has been or is being extended. Our compensation committee determines who will receive awards, and all of their terms and conditions.

Administration.     The 2013 Omnibus Plan will be administered by our compensation committee, all of the members of which will be non-employee directors under applicable federal securities laws and outside directors as defined under applicable federal tax laws. Our compensation committee will have the authority to construe and interpret the 2013 Omnibus Plan, grant awards and make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the plan. Awards under the 2013 Omnibus Plan may be made subject to “performance factors” and other terms in order to qualify as performance based compensation for the purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.

Stock options.     The 2013 Omnibus Plan will provide for the grant of ISOs only to our employees. All options other than ISOs may be granted to our employees, directors, consultants, independent contractors and advisors. The exercise price of each stock option must be at least equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. The exercise price of ISOs granted to 10% or more stockholders must be at least equal to 110% of that value. Our compensation committee may provide for options to be exercised only as they vest or to be immediately exercisable with any shares issued on exercise being subject to our right of repurchase that lapses as the shares vest. In general, options will vest over a four-year period. The maximum term of options granted the 2013 Omnibus Plan is 10 years (five years in the case of ISOs granted to 10% or more stockholders).

Stock appreciation rights.     Stock appreciation rights provide for a payment, or payments, in cash, shares of our common stock or a combination of both, to the holder based upon the difference between the fair market value of our common stock on the date of exercise and the stated exercise price that must be at least equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. Stock appreciation rights may vest based on time or achievement of performance conditions.

Restricted stock.     A restricted stock award is an offer by us to issue or to sell shares of our common stock subject to restrictions. The price (if any) of a restricted stock award will be determined by our compensation committee. Unless otherwise determined by our compensation committee at the time of award, vesting will cease on the date the participant no longer provides services to us and unvested shares will be forfeited to or repurchased by us.

Restricted stock units.     A restricted stock unit is an award that covers a number of shares of our common stock that may be settled upon vesting in cash, by the issuance of the underlying shares or a combination of both. These awards are subject to forfeiture prior to settlement because of termination of employment or failure to achieve certain performance conditions.

Unrestricted stock.     An unrestricted stock award is an award of shares of our common stock that is issued without forfeiture restrictions.

 

-112-


Table of Contents

Performance-based compensation.     An award of performance-based compensation is an award that covers a number of shares of our common stock (or a designated cash value) that may be settled upon achievement of the pre-established performance conditions in cash or by issuance of the underlying shares. These awards are subject to forfeiture prior to settlement because of termination of employment or failure to achieve the performance conditions. We will have the flexibility, but not the obligation, to structure these awards in a manner that is intended to exempt them from the deduction limitations set forth in Section 162(m) of the Code.

Other stock-based awards.     Stock-based awards, such as dividend equivalent rights and other awards denominated or payable in shares of our common stock, may be granted as additional compensation for services or performance.

Additional provisions.     Awards granted under the 2013 Omnibus Plan may not be transferred in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, or as determined by our compensation committee. Unless otherwise restricted by our compensation committee, awards that are non-ISOs or stock appreciation rights may be exercised during the lifetime of the optionee only by the optionee, the optionee’s guardian or legal representative, or a family member of the optionee who has acquired the non-ISOs or stock appreciation rights by a permitted transfer. Awards that are ISOs may be exercised during the lifetime of the optionee only by the optionee or the optionee’s guardian or legal representative.

If we experience a change of control transaction, and unless an award provides otherwise: outstanding awards, including any vesting provisions, may be assumed or substituted by the successor company, and outstanding awards that are not assumed or substituted will become fully vested and non-forfeitable, exercisable in the case of options and stock appreciation rights, and satisfied at target levels in the case of performance-based awards. Unless an award provides otherwise, if an award is assumed or substituted by the successor company in connection with a change of control transaction and the holder’s employment or service to us is terminated without cause or the holder terminates his or her employment or service to us for good reason, in each case within 24 months of such change of control transaction, all assumed or substituted awards held by such holder will become fully vested and non-forfeitable. All awards will be equitably adjusted in the case of stock splits, recapitalizations and similar transactions.

 

-113-


Table of Contents

Certain relationships and related party transactions

In addition to the director and executive officer compensation arrangements discussed above under “Executive compensation,” the following is a summary of material provisions of transactions occurring since January 1, 2011, of which we have been a party and in which the amount involved exceeded or will exceed $120,000 and in which any of our directors, executive officers, beneficial holders of more than 5% of our capital stock, or entities affiliated with them, have had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

Our Sponsor

Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC, our Sponsor, is a selling stockholder in this offering. Our Sponsor is managed by CGM. CGM also provides services to us as described in “—Management Services Agreement” below. In addition, one of our directors, Elias Sabo, owns a portion and is the sole manager of CGM.

Management Services Agreement

Under a Management Services Agreement between Fox Factory, Inc. and CGM, CGM performs executive, financial and managerial oversight services for us. During each of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, CGM received a management fee of $0.5 million paid quarterly in arrears, plus reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the provision of services to us. For the three months ended March 31, 2013, we paid CGM a management fee of $125,000. The Management Services Agreement provides our Sponsor with customary exculpation and indemnification protections. In connection with this offering, we will terminate the Management Services Agreement and will pay CGM any accrued but unpaid management fees. The exculpation and indemnification provisions will survive the termination.

Existing Credit Facility

Our Sponsor provides us with our Existing Credit Facility. As of March 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013, our outstanding borrowings from our Sponsor under the Existing Credit Facility were $52.9 million and $65.5 million, respectively. For a description of the Existing Credit Facility, see “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations—Liquidity and capital resources—Credit facility.” Currently with the closing of this offering, we intend to use the net proceeds we receive from this offering to repay a majority of the then outstanding indebtedness under our Existing Credit Facility. We also intend to enter into our New Credit Facility and to terminate the Existing Credit Facility upon the consummation of this offering.

Recapitalization

On June 15, 2012, we engaged in a recapitalization involving our debt, outstanding stock and stock options. As discussed below, the recapitalization involved (1) borrowing additional funds from our Sponsor, (2) paying dividends to our stockholders, (3) the acceleration of the vesting of certain options, (4) the net exercise of stock options by certain officers and directors, (5) the granting of new options to certain employees, officers and directors, (6) the cancellation and re-issuance of options to two of our directors, (7) the purchase of shares of our common stock by our Sponsor from certain of our employees, officers and directors, and (8) the purchase of shares of our common stock by certain of our employees, officers and directors from us. All purchases of

 

-114-


Table of Contents

common stock (other than purchases under pre-existing options) and grants of new options occurred at the same price per share.

Credit facility and dividends

In connection with our recapitalization, we entered into an amendment to our Existing Credit Facility with our Sponsor. Among other changes, the amendment provided for a $60.0 million term loan and increased the revolver commitment by $2.0 million to $30.0 million. Borrowings under our Existing Credit Facility in large part enabled us to fund a $67.0 million cash dividend to our stockholders in June 2012, approximately $62.3 million of which was issued to the following directors, executive officers and beneficial holders of more than 5% of our voting stock in the following respective amounts: our Sponsor, $50.7 million; Robert C. Fox, Jr., $9.3 million; Mario Galasso, $1.1 million; Zvi Glasman, $0.8 million; John Boulton, $0.03 million; Larry L. Enterline, $0.3 million; Carl Nichols, $0.04 million; and Joseph Hagin, $0.03 million.

Exercise of options and new option grants

At the time of our recapitalization, we accelerated the vesting of certain options and certain of our option holders exercised outstanding options on a net exercise basis (by paying their exercise price and applicable tax withholdings by receiving fewer shares upon exercise). Our participating directors and executive officers received an aggregate of 22,029 shares of our common stock upon exercise, with an aggregate value of approximately $7.3 million, as follows: Mario Galasso (7,140 shares); Zvi Glasman (8,572 shares); John Boulton (486 shares); Larry L. Enterline (4,827 shares); Carl Nichols (578 shares) and Joseph Hagin (426 shares). We also granted new options to certain of our employees, officers and directors at such time. Our participating directors and executive officers received options to purchase an aggregate of 18,927 shares of our common stock, with an exercise price of $239.33 per share, as follows: Mario Galasso (2,276 shares); Zvi Glasman (2,287 shares); John Boulton (1,415 shares); Larry L. Enterline (12,749 shares); Joseph Hagin (100 shares) and Dudley Mendenhall (100 shares).

Cancellation and issuance of director options

As part of our recapitalization, to reflect the reduced value of our common stock caused by our cash dividend, we cancelled 100 outstanding options held by each of our directors, Joseph Hagin and Dudley Mendenhall, each with an exercise price of $340.91 per share, and issued them the same number of replacement options, each at an exercise price of $239.33 per share. In addition, Carl Nichols, one of our directors, was paid a cash bonus of $13,020 to compensate him for the loss in value on his outstanding options.

Purchases and sales of common stock

In connection with our recapitalization, our Sponsor purchased shares of our common stock from our employees, officers and directors. Our participating directors and executive officers sold an aggregate of 11,576 shares of our common stock to our Sponsor at a sales price of $330.96 per share, as follows: Mario Galasso (7,140 shares); Zvi Glasman (2,308 shares); John Boulton (486 shares); Larry L. Enterline (1,390 shares); Carl Nichols (145 shares) and Joseph Hagin (107 shares). In addition, we sold an aggregate of 5,350 and 364 shares of our common stock to our executive officers Mario Galasso and John Boulton, respectively, at a purchase price of $330.96 per share. In December 2012, our Sponsor purchased an aggregate of an additional 194 and 232 shares of our

 

-115-


Table of Contents

common stock from our executive officers Mario Galasso and Zvi Glasman, respectively, at a purchase price of $287.86 per share, to cover additional taxes owed by such executive officers in connection with our recapitalization.

Stockholders’ agreement

In connection with our Sponsor’s acquisition of a majority interest in us in January 2008, we entered into a stockholders’ agreement with our Sponsor and certain other stockholders, including executive officers, which was most recently amended in May 2013. The stockholders’ agreement contains provisions relating to (i) restrictions on transfer of shares, which generally prohibited stockholders from transferring shares of our common stock, other than in connection with a tag along right, a drag along transaction, our exercise of a call right following the resignation of an officer or director on less than 90 days’ notice to us, or otherwise in limited circumstances such as to affiliates or for estate planning purposes, (ii) tag along rights in connection with certain sales of shares by our Sponsor, (iii) drag along rights in favor of our Sponsor in connection with any sale of at least a majority of the shares held by our Sponsor, (iv) preemptive rights, and (v) prohibitions on certain stockholders (other than our Sponsor and other institutional owners) from competing with our company, or soliciting our customers or employees, while such persons are stockholders of our company until one year after the final disposition of such person’s shares. The stockholders’ agreement will be terminated upon the closing of this offering.

Registration rights agreement

We have entered into a registration rights agreement with our Sponsor and certain other stockholders, which was most recently amended and restated in May 2013. The registration rights agreement provides our stockholders and their permitted transferees with certain demand registration rights in respect of the shares of our common stock held by them. In addition, in the event that we register additional shares of our common stock for sale to the public following the consummation of this offering, we will be required to give notice of such registration to our Sponsor and the other stockholders party to the agreement of our intention to effect such a registration, and, subject to certain limitations, our Sponsor and such holders will have piggyback registration rights providing them with the right to require us to include shares of our common stock held by them in such registration. We will be required to bear the registration expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, associated with any registration of shares described above. In addition, under the registration rights agreement, all expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, incurred in connection with registration, filings or qualifications pursuant to this offering (but excluding the fees and disbursements of counsel for the selling stockholders) will be borne by us.

For a more complete description of our registration rights agreement, see “Description of capital stock—Registration rights”.

Real property leases

Under a triple net lease dated July 1, 2003, we rent our Watsonville, California manufacturing and office facilities from Robert C. Fox, Jr., the founder of Fox Factory, Inc. and a minority stockholder of our company. Under this lease we paid Mr. Fox $1.1 million each year during the

 

-116-


Table of Contents

years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The lease ends on June 30, 2018, and is subject to annual adjustments for cost-of-living based upon the Consumer Price Index.

Under a sublease dated January 1, 2012 and sublease Addendum dated June 28, 2013, we sublease approximately 3,665 square feet of space on the first floor of the building of our headquarters, 915 Disc Drive, Scotts Valley, California, to Robert C. Fox, Jr. These premises are permitted to be used for research and development and office space. Under this sublease, Mr. Fox pays rent in the amount of $5,000 per month, subject to pro ration in the event Mr. Fox occupies subleased premises for less than a month.

Loan

In June 2012, Fox Factory, Inc. provided a one-time loan to John Boulton for personal reasons in the amount of $150,000. Mr. Boulton received a bonus from us in the amount of $251,095 in April 2013 in recognition of his outstanding service to our company, the after-tax net proceeds of which were used to repay the loan in full ($150,000 of such payment represented the outstanding principal amount under the loan and $380 of such payment represented interest accrued on such principal amount). This loan is no longer outstanding.

Vendor relationship

During the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2011, Staffmark Holdings, Inc., or Staffmark, provided temporary staffing services to our company in the amounts of $6.5 million and $7.1 million, respectively. Our Sponsor owned a majority of Staffmark from 2000 until October 2011, when it sold its interest in Staffmark.

Information sharing and cooperation agreement

In connection with this offering, we intend to enter into an Information Sharing and Cooperation Agreement, or the Information Agreement, with Compass Diversified Holdings, on behalf of itself and our Sponsor. Under the Information Agreement, the parties will agree to share certain information with each other, refrain from changing their respective fiscal year without the consent of the other party, refrain from making or adopting certain changes to their accounting estimates or accounting policies and principles and consult and cooperate with each other as to the timing of certain SEC filings, earnings releases, press releases and other public disclosures. Subject to its terms, under the Information Agreement we also agreed to select the same registered public accounting firm as our Sponsor; maintain appropriate disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting; prepare and deliver to our Sponsor certain financial information and reports, including reports to be filed with the SEC. The majority of our obligations in the Information Agreement terminate at such time as our Sponsor is no longer required to consolidate our results of operations and financial position while our remaining obligations terminate at such time as our Sponsor is no longer required to account for its investment in us under the equity method of accounting.

Limitation of liability and indemnification of officers and directors

Prior to the completion of this offering, we expect to adopt an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering, and which will contain provisions that limit the liability of our directors for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Consequently, our directors

 

-117-


Table of Contents

will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duties as directors, except liability for the following:

 

 

any breach of their duty of loyalty to our company or our stockholders;

 

 

any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

 

unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the DGCL; or

 

 

any transaction from which they derived an improper personal benefit.

Any amendment to, or repeal of, these provisions will not eliminate or reduce the effect of these provisions in respect of any act, omission or claim that occurred or arose prior to that amendment or repeal. If the DGCL is amended to provide for further limitations on the personal liability of directors of corporations, then the personal liability of our directors will be further limited to the greatest extent permitted by the DGCL.

Further, prior to the completion of this offering, we expect to enter into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers and selected advisors that may be broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the DGCL. These indemnification agreements will require us, among other things, to indemnify our directors and executive officers and such advisors against liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service. These indemnification agreements will also require us to advance all expenses incurred by such individuals in investigating or defending any such action, suit, or proceeding. We believe that these agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve as directors and executive officers and as our advisors.

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions that will be included in our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and in indemnification agreements that we enter into with our directors and executive officers may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors and executive officers for breach of their fiduciary duties. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and executive officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and other stockholders. Further, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent that we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and executive officers as required by these indemnification provisions. At present, we are not aware of any pending litigation or proceeding involving any person who is or was one of our directors, officers, employees or other agents or is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, for which indemnification is sought, and we are not aware of any threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification.

We will obtain prior to the closing of this offering insurance under which, subject to the limitations of the insurance policies, coverage is provided to our directors and executive officers against loss arising from claims made by reason of breach of fiduciary duty or other wrongful acts as a director or executive officer, including claims relating to public securities matters, and to us with respect to payments that may be made by us to these directors and executive officers pursuant to our indemnification obligations or otherwise as a matter of law.

 

 

-118-


Table of Contents

Certain of our non-employee directors may, through their relationships with their employers, be insured and/or indemnified against certain liabilities incurred in their capacity as members of our board of directors.

The underwriting agreement provides for indemnification by the underwriters of us and our officers, directors and employees for certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act or otherwise.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling our company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Directed share program

The underwriters have reserved for sale, at the initial public offering price, up to approximately      shares of our common stock being offered to certain of our business associates, officers, directors, employees and certain of their family members, as part of a directed share program. The directed share program will not limit the ability of our directors, officers and their family members, or holders of more than 5% of our capital stock, to purchase more than $120,000 in value of our common stock. We do not currently know the extent to which these related persons will participate in our directed share program, if at all, or the extent to which they will purchase more than $120,000 in value of our common stock.

Policies and procedures for related party transactions

Our board of directors will adopt a written related person transaction policy to be effective upon completion of this offering to set forth the policies and procedures for the review and approval or ratification of related person transactions. This policy will cover, with certain exceptions set forth in Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, any transaction, arrangement, or relationship, or any series of similar transactions, arrangements, or relationships in which we were or are to be a participant, the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and a related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, including, without limitation, purchases of goods or services by or from the related person or entities in which the related person has a material interest, indebtedness, guarantees of indebtedness, and employment by us of a related person. As provided by our nominating and corporate governance committee charter to be effective upon completion of this offering, our nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for reviewing and approving in advance any related party transaction. Prior to the creation of our nominating and corporate governance committee, our full board of directors will review related party transactions.

 

-119-


Table of Contents

Principal and selling stockholders

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of March 31, 2013, and the beneficial ownership of our common stock as adjusted to reflect the sale of common stock in this offering, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, for:

 

 

each of our named executive officers;

 

 

each of our directors;

 

 

all of our current directors and executive officers as a group;

 

 

each person, or group of affiliated persons, known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of any class of our voting securities; and

 

 

each selling stockholder.

We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. We have deemed shares of our common stock subject to options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2013 to be outstanding and to be beneficially owned by the person holding the option for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person but have not treated them as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.

We have based percentage ownership of our common stock before this offering on      shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2013. Percentage ownership of our common stock after this offering assumes the sale of              shares of common stock will be sold by us in this offering.

 

-120-


Table of Contents

Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner listed in the table below is c/o Fox Factory Holding Corp., 915 Disc Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066. Unless otherwise indicated below, to our knowledge, the persons and entities named in the table have sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all shares that they beneficially owned, subject to community property laws where applicable.

 

Beneficial owner name   Shares beneficially
owned before this
offering
    Shares being offered   Shares beneficially
owned after this
offering
  Number     %     Excluding
exercise of
over-
allotment
  Including
exercise of
over-
allotment
  Excluding
exercise of
over-
allotment
  Including
exercise of
over-
allotment
          Number   %   Number   %

 

Greater than 5% stockholders:

               

Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC(1)

    546,297        75.8            

Named executive officers and directors:

               

Larry L. Enterline(2)

    3,437        *               

John Boulton

    364        *               

Zvi Glasman(3)

    8,031        1.1            

Robert C. Fox, Jr.

    100,000        13.9            

Joseph Hagin(4)

    419        *               

Dudley Mendenhall(5)

    100        *               

Carl Nichols(6)

    573        *               

Elias Sabo

                         

Ted Waitman

                         

All current executive officers and directors as a group (10 persons)(7)

    124,582        17.3            

Other selling stockholders:

               

Madison Capital Funding Co-Investment Fund LP(8)

    13,000        1.8            

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*   Denotes beneficial ownership of less than 1%.

 

(1)   Compass Diversified Holdings, a Delaware statutory trust, is the parent of Compass Group Diversified Holdings, LLC. Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC, as the sponsor of Compass Diversified Holdings, beneficially owns our shares of common stock. Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC’s address is Sixty One Wilton Road, Second Floor, Westport, CT 06880. All shares of our common stock beneficially owned by Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC, or our Sponsor, have been pledged to our Sponsor’s lenders as security under our Sponsor’s credit facility with a group of lenders led by TD Securities (USA) LLC.

 

(2)   Consists solely of shares held by Vulcan Holdings, Inc. Mr. Enterline is the Chief Executive Officer and owns all of the capital stock of Vulcan Holdings, Inc. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of our company.

 

(3)   Consists of 6,032 shares of our common stock held directly by Mr. Glasman and 2,000 shares of our common stock held by the Zvi & Marlise Glasman Family Trust, of which Mr. Glasman is a trustee. Mr. Glasman is the Chief Financial Officer of our company.

 

(4)   Consists of 319 shares of our common stock held directly by Mr. Hagin and options to purchase 100 shares of our common stock that are exercisable in whole or in part within 60 days of March 31, 2013. Mr. Hagin serves on our board of directors.

 

(5)   Consists of 100 shares of our common stock that are exercisable by Mr. Mendenhall in whole or in part within 60 days of March 31, 2013. Mr. Mendenhall serves on our board of directors.

 

(6)   Consists of 433 shares of our common stock held directly by Mr. Nichols and options to purchase 140 shares of our common stock that are exercisable in whole or in part within 60 days of March 31, 2013. Mr. Nichols serves on our board of directors.

 

(7)   Consists of shares included under “Executive officers and directors,” and 11,657 shares of our common stock held by one of our other executive officers.

 

(8)   Madison Capital Funding Co-Investment Fund LP is managed by its general partner, MCF Co-Investment GP LP. MCF Co- Investment GP LP is controlled by its general partner, MCF Co-Investment GP LLC, an entity wholly-owned by Madison Capital Funding LLC. Trevor Clark, K. Thomas Klimmeck, Devon Russell, Hugh Wade and Christopher Williams are Senior Managing Directors of Madison Capital Funding LLC and members of the Executive Committee of Madison Capital Funding LLC and have voting and dispositive power over shares of our common stock. Madison Capital Funding Co-Investment Fund LP’s address is 30 South Wacker Drive, Suite 3700, Chicago, IL 60606.

 

-121-


Table of Contents

Description of capital stock

General

The following description summarizes the most important terms of our capital stock, as they will be in effect upon the closing of this offering. We expect to adopt an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, or our Charter Documents which will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering, and this description summarizes the provisions that will be included in such documents. Because it is only a summary, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. For a complete description of the matters set forth in this “Description of capital stock,” you should refer to our Charter Documents and Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, which are included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and to the applicable provisions of Delaware law. Immediately following the closing of this offering, our authorized capital stock will consist of      shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, and      shares of undesignated preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share.

As of March 31, 2013, there were      shares of our common stock outstanding, held by 20 stockholders of record, and no shares of our preferred stock outstanding. Our board of directors is authorized, without stockholder approval except as required by the listing standards of the Nasdaq Global Select Market to issue additional shares of our capital stock.

Common stock

Dividend rights

Subject to preferences that may apply to any shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of funds legally available if our board of directors, in its discretion, determines to issue dividends and then only at the times and in the amounts that our board of directors may determine.

Voting rights

Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. We have not provided for cumulative voting for the election of directors in our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation establishes a classified board of directors that is divided into three classes with staggered three-year terms. Only the directors in one class will be subject to election at each annual meeting of our stockholders, with the directors in the other classes continuing for the remainder of their respective three-year terms.

No preemptive or similar rights

Our common stock is not entitled to preemptive rights, and is not subject to conversion, redemption or sinking fund provisions.

Right to receive liquidation distributions

If we become subject to a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders would be distributable ratably among the holders of our

 

-122-


Table of Contents

common stock and any participating preferred stock outstanding at that time, subject to prior satisfaction of all outstanding debt and liabilities and the preferential rights of and the payment of liquidation preferences, if any, on any outstanding shares of preferred stock.

Preferred stock

Following this offering, our board of directors will be authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by Delaware law, to issue preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences, and rights of the shares of each series and any of its qualifications, limitations or restrictions, in each case without further vote or action by our stockholders. Our board of directors can also increase or decrease the number of shares of any series of preferred stock, but not below the number of shares of that series then outstanding, without any further vote or action by our stockholders. Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring, or preventing a change in our control of our company and might adversely affect the market price of our common stock and the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock. We have no current plan to issue any shares of preferred stock.

Options

As of March 31, 2013, we had outstanding options to purchase an aggregate of 54,062 shares of our common stock, with a weighted average exercise price of $226.22, pursuant to our 2008 Plan and 2008 Non-Statutory Plan.

Registration rights

After the completion of this offering, our Sponsor and certain other of our stockholders (and their permitted transferees) that are party to our Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement dated as of May 12, 2013, or the Rights Agreement, will be entitled to rights regarding the registration of their unregistered shares of our common stock under the Securities Act.

Under the Rights Agreement, we have agreed that all expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, incurred in connection with registrations, filings or qualifications effected pursuant to the Rights Agreement (but excluding the fees and disbursements of counsel to the holders of registration rights) will be borne by us. We are also obligated to indemnify the holders of registration rights and any underwriter, and the holders of registration rights are required to indemnify us, for certain liabilities in connection with offerings conducted under the Rights Agreement.

Piggyback registration rights

Pursuant to the terms of the Rights Agreement, if, subject to certain exceptions, we propose to register any of our securities under the Securities Act, either for our own account or for the account of other stockholders, we are required to give prompt written notice of such registration to our stockholders who are a party to the Rights Agreement. Upon the written request of such

 

-123-


Table of Contents

stockholders, we will, subject to certain limitations, use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be registered under the Securities Act all registrable securities that our stockholders have requested to be registered. The underwriters of any underwritten offering will have the right to limit, due to marketing reasons, the number of shares registered to the amount that the underwriters determine in their sole discretion will not jeopardize the success of the offering.

Registration rights

Stockholders who are a party to the Rights Agreement can request that we register all or a portion of their registrable securities. As soon as practicable after receiving such request, we will effect such registration unless: (1) such registration of registrable securities on Form S-3 (or if Form S-3 is not permitted for such registration, then pursuant to Form S-1) would become effective prior to 90 days following the effective date of a registration initiated by us, subject to certain exceptions; (2) such stockholders propose to sell shares of our common stock or other securities at an aggregate price to the public (before deduction of any underwriters’ discounts or commissions) of less than $10.0 million with respect to a Form S-3 registration or $30.0 million with respect to a Form S-1 registration; (3) such registration is to remain effective for a period exceeding 180 days from the effective date thereof; or (4) within the 12 month period preceding the date of such request, we have already effected two registrations for our stockholders under the Rights Agreement.

Additionally, we will have the right to delay the filing of or suspend the use of a registration statement under certain circumstances when we are in possession of material non-public information.

Expiration of registration rights

The registration rights expire as to a holder in May 2018 or earlier if a holder no longer holds “registrable securities” as defined in the Rights Agreement.

Anti-takeover provisions

The provisions of Delaware law, our Charter Documents, as will take effect immediately prior to the completion of this offering, and which are summarized below, may have the effect of delaying, deferring, or discouraging another person from acquiring control of our company. These provisions are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed, in part, to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of our company to first negotiate with our board of directors. However, these provisions could have the effect of delaying, discouraging or preventing attempts to acquire us, which could deprive our stockholders of opportunities to sell their shares of common stock at prices higher than prevailing market prices.

Delaware law

We are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL. In general, Section 203 prohibits a public Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A “business combination” includes mergers, asset sales, or other transactions resulting in

 

-124-


Table of Contents

a financial benefit to the stockholder. An “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or within three years did own, 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock. These provisions may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in our control.

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaw provisions

Our Charter Documents, as will take effect immediately prior to the completion of this offering, include a number of provisions that could deter hostile takeovers or delay or prevent changes relating to the control of our board of directors or management team, including the following:

 

 

Board of directors vacancies.     Our Charter Documents authorize only our board of directors to fill vacant directorships, including newly created seats. In addition, the number of directors constituting our board of directors will be permitted to be set only by a resolution adopted by a majority vote of our entire board of directors. These provisions would prevent a stockholder from increasing the size of our board of directors and then gaining control of our board of directors by filling the resulting vacancies with its own nominees. This makes it more difficult to change the composition of our board of directors and promotes continuity of management.

 

 

Classified board.     Our Charter Documents provide that our board of directors is classified into three classes of directors. A third party may be discouraged from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us as it is more difficult and time consuming for stockholders to replace a majority of the directors on a classified board of directors. See “Management—Board of directors.”

 

 

Stockholder action; special meeting of stockholders .    Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that our stockholders may take action by written consent, but only until the date that our Sponsor and its affiliates no longer collectively beneficially own (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of our capital stock, or the Trigger Date. From and after the Trigger Date, our stockholders may not take action by written consent and may only take action at annual or special meetings of our stockholders. In addition, our Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by our board of directors, our Chairperson of the board of directors, our Lead Director (if we do not have a Chairperson or the Chairperson is disabled), our Chief Executive Officer or our President (in the absence of a Chief Executive Officer) or, until the Trigger Date, our Sponsor, thus prohibiting a stockholder from calling a special meeting (other than, prior to the Trigger Date, the Sponsor). These provisions could delay the ability of our stockholders (other than, prior to the Trigger Date, our Sponsor) to force consideration of a proposal or take action, including the removal of directors.

 

 

Advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and director nominations.     Our Amended and Restated Bylaws provides advance notice procedures for stockholders seeking to bring business before our annual meeting of stockholders or to nominate candidates for election as directors at our annual meeting of stockholders. Our Amended and Restated Bylaws also specify certain requirements regarding the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. These provisions might preclude our stockholders from bringing matters before our annual meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at our annual meeting of

 

-125-


Table of Contents
 

stockholders if the proper procedures are not followed . We expect that these provisions may also discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our company.

 

 

No cumulative voting.     The DGCL provides that stockholders may cumulate votes in the election of directors if the corporation’s certificate of incorporation allows for such mechanism. Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation does not permit cumulative voting.

 

 

Directors removed only for cause.     Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that stockholders may remove directors only for cause.

 

 

Issuance of undesignated preferred stock.     Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by the stockholders, to issue up to      shares of undesignated preferred stock with rights and preferences, including voting rights, designated from time to time by our board of directors. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock would enable our board of directors to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest, or other means.

 

 

Amendment of Charter Document provisions .    Until the Trigger Date, any amendment or repeal of the above provisions in our Charter Documents, with the exception of the ability of our board of directors to issue shares of preferred stock and designate any rights, powers and preferences thereto, will require approval by holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. From and after the Trigger Date, any amendment or repeal of the above provisions in our Charter Documents, with the exception of the ability of our board of directors to issue shares of preferred stock and designate any rights, powers and preferences thereto, will require approval by holders of at least two-thirds of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

Choice of forum

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that, with certain limited exceptions, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of our company owed to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our Charter Documents, (iv) any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of our Charter Documents, or (v) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock is deemed to have received notice of and consented to the foregoing provisions. The enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ charters has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that a court could find these types of provisions to be inapplicable or unenforceable.

 

-126-


Table of Contents

Transfer agent and registrar

Upon the completion of this offering, the transfer agent and registrar for our common stock will be Computershare Trust Company, N.A. The transfer agent and registrar’s address is 250 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021.

Listing

We have applied for the listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “FOXF.”

 

-127-


Table of Contents

Shares eligible for future sale

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock, and we cannot predict the effect, if any, that market sales of shares of our common stock or the availability of shares of our common stock for sale will have on the market price of our common stock prevailing from time to time. Future sales of our common stock in the public market, or the availability of such shares for sale in the public market, could adversely affect market prices prevailing from time to time. As described below, only a limited number of shares will be available for sale shortly after this offering due to contractual and legal restrictions on resale. Nevertheless, sales of our common stock in the public market after such restrictions lapse, or the perception that those sales may occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market price at such time and our ability to raise equity capital in the future.

Upon the completion of this offering, based on the number of shares of our capital stock outstanding as of March 31, 2013, we will have a total of      shares of our common stock outstanding, assuming no exercise of options. Of these outstanding shares, all of the      shares of common stock sold in this offering will be freely tradable, except that any shares purchased in this offering by our affiliates, as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, would only be able to be sold in compliance with the Rule 144 limitations described below.

The remaining outstanding shares of our common stock will be deemed “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144. Restricted securities may be sold in the public market only if they are registered or if they qualify for an exemption from registration under Rule 144 or Rule 701 under the Securities Act, which rules are summarized below. Subject to the lock-up agreements described below and the provisions of Rules 144 and 701 under the Securities Act, these shares will be available for sale in the public market as follows:

 

 

beginning on the date of this prospectus, the      shares of common stock sold in this offering will be immediately available for sale in the public market;

 

 

beginning 181 days after the date of this prospectus,     additional shares of common stock will become eligible for sale in the public market, of which      shares will be held by affiliates and subject to the volume and other restrictions of Rule 144, as described below; and

 

 

the remainder of the shares of common stock will be eligible for sale in the public market from time to time thereafter, subject in some cases to the volume and other restrictions of Rule 144, as described below.

Lock-up agreements

We, the selling stockholders, our executive officers, directors, and holders of substantially all of our common stock and securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock, have agreed or will agree that, subject to certain exceptions, for a period of 180 days from the date of this prospectus, we and they will not, without the prior written consent of Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated and William Blair & Company, L.L.C., dispose of or hedge any shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our capital stock. Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated and William Blair & Company, L.L.C. may, in their discretion, and with our consent, release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time.

 

-128-


Table of Contents

Rule 144

In general, under Rule 144 of the Securities Act, as currently in effect, once we have been subject to the public company reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act for at least 90 days, a person who is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates for purposes of the Securities Act at any time during the 90 days preceding a sale and who has beneficially owned the shares proposed to be sold for at least six months, including the holding period of any prior owner other than our affiliates, is entitled to sell such shares without complying with the manner of sale, volume limitation or notice provisions of Rule 144, subject to compliance with the public information requirements of Rule 144. If such a person has beneficially owned the shares proposed to be sold for at least one year, including the holding period of any prior owner other than our affiliates, then that person would be entitled to sell those shares without complying with any of the requirements of Rule 144.

In general, under Rule 144, as currently in effect, our affiliates or persons selling shares on behalf of our affiliates are entitled to sell upon expiration of the lock-up agreements described above, within any three-month period, a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of:

 

 

1% of the number of shares of our common stock then outstanding, which will equal approximately      shares as of immediately after this offering; or

 

 

the average weekly trading volume of our common stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to that sale.

Sales under Rule 144 by our affiliates or persons selling shares on behalf of our affiliates are also subject to certain manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.

Rule 701

Rule 701 of the Securities Act, as currently in effect, generally allows a stockholder who purchased shares of our common stock pursuant to a written compensatory plan or contract and who is not deemed to have been an affiliate of our company during the immediately preceding 90 days to sell these shares in reliance upon Rule 144, but without being required to comply with the public information, holding period, volume limitation or notice provisions of Rule 144. Rule 701 also permits affiliates of our company to sell their Rule 701 shares under Rule 144 without complying with the holding period requirements of Rule 144. All holders of Rule 701 shares, however, are required by such rule to wait until 90 days after the date of this prospectus before selling those shares pursuant to Rule 701.

As of March 31, 2013, options to purchase a total of 54,062 shares of common stock pursuant to our 2008 Plan and 2008 Non-Statutory Plan were outstanding, of which options to purchase 10,260 shares were exercisable, and no options were outstanding or exercisable under the 2013 Omnibus Plan.

Registration statement on Form S-8

As promptly as possible after the completion of this offering, we intend to file a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register all of the shares of common stock reserved for issuance under our 2008 Plan, 2008 Non-Statutory Plan and our 2013 Omnibus Plan. The registration statement on Form S-8 is expected to become effective

 

-129-


Table of Contents

immediately upon filing, and shares covered by the registration statement will then become eligible for sale in the public market, subject to the Rule 144 limitations applicable to affiliates, vesting restrictions and any applicable lock-up agreements and market standoff agreements. See the section titled “Executive compensation—Equity-based incentive plans” for a description of our equity incentive plans.

Registration rights

Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, the holders of up to      shares of our common stock, or their permitted transferees, will be entitled to certain rights with respect to the registration of the offer and sale of those shares under the Securities Act. If the offer and sale of these shares is registered, the shares will be freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act, except for shares purchased by affiliates, and a large number of shares may be sold into the public market. Any sales of securities by these stockholders could have a material adverse effect on the trading price of our common stock. See the section titled “Description of capital stock—Registration rights” for a description of these registration rights.

 

-130-


Table of Contents

Material U.S. federal income tax consequences to non-U.S. holders

This section summarizes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of our common stock by a non-U.S. holder. For purposes of this section, a “non-U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of our common stock (other than a partnership) that is not for U.S. federal income tax purposes any of the following:

 

 

An individual citizen or resident of the United States;

 

 

A corporation (or any other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;

 

 

An estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

 

 

A trust if it (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.

This section does not consider the specific facts and circumstances that may be relevant to a particular non-U.S. holder, nor does it address any estate or gift tax consequences or the treatment of a non-U.S. holder under the laws of any state, local or foreign taxing jurisdiction. In addition, it does not represent a detailed description of the United States federal income tax consequences applicable to you if you are subject to special treatment under the United States federal income tax laws (including if you are a United States expatriate, “controlled foreign corporation,” “passive foreign investment company” or a partnership or other pass-through entity for United States federal income tax purposes). Except where noted, this section deals only with common stock that is held as a capital asset. This section is based on the tax laws of the United States, including the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, existing and proposed regulations, and administrative and judicial interpretations, all as currently in effect. These laws are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis, which may result in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those summarized below.

If a partnership (or any other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds our common stock, the United States federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the tax treatment of the partnership. A partner in a partnership holding the common stock should consult its tax advisor with regard to the United States federal income tax treatment of an investment in the common stock.

You should consult a tax advisor regarding the United States federal tax consequences of acquiring, holding and disposing of common stock in your particular circumstances, as well as any tax consequences that may arise under the laws of any state, local or foreign tax jurisdiction.

 

-131-


Table of Contents

Distributions on common stock

If we make cash or other property distributions on shares of our common stock, such distributions generally will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Amounts not treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes will constitute a return of capital and will first be applied against and reduce a holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common stock, but not below zero. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits and in excess of a non-U.S. holder’s tax basis in its shares will be treated as gain realized on the sale or other disposition of the common stock and will be treated as described under “Gain on disposition of common stock” below.

Except as described below, if you are a non-U.S. holder of common stock, dividends paid to you are subject to withholding of United States federal income tax at a 30% rate or at a lower rate if you are eligible for the benefits of an income tax treaty that provides for a lower rate. Even if you are eligible for a lower treaty rate, we will generally be required to withhold at a 30% rate (rather than the lower treaty rate) on dividend payments to you, unless you have furnished us with:

 

 

a valid Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or other applicable form upon which you certify, under penalties of perjury, your status as a non-United States person and your entitlement to the lower treaty rate with respect to such payments, or

 

 

in the case of payments made to certain foreign intermediaries, other documentary evidence establishing your entitlement to the lower treaty rate in accordance with U.S. Treasury regulations. Special certification and other requirements apply to certain non-U.S. holders that are pass-through entities rather than corporations or individuals.

If you are eligible for a reduced rate of United States withholding tax under a tax treaty, you may obtain a refund of any amounts withheld in excess of that rate by filing a refund claim with the United States Internal Revenue Service.

If dividends paid to you are “effectively connected” with your conduct of a trade or business within the United States, and, if required by a tax treaty, the dividends are attributable to a permanent establishment maintained in the United States, we generally are not required to withhold tax from the dividends, provided that you have furnished to us a valid Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI or other applicable form upon which you represent, under penalties of perjury, that:

 

 

you are a non-United States person, and

 

 

the dividends are effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business within the United States and are includible in your gross income.

“Effectively connected” dividends are taxed at rates applicable to United States citizens, resident aliens and domestic United States corporations.

If you are a corporate non-U.S. holder, “effectively connected” dividends that you receive may, under certain circumstances, be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate or at a lower rate if you are eligible for the benefits of an income tax treaty that provides for a lower rate.

 

-132-


Table of Contents

Gain on disposition of common stock

Subject to the discussion of backup withholding and withholding tax relating to foreign accounts below, if you are a non-U.S. holder, you generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax on gain that you recognize on a disposition of our common stock unless:

 

 

the gain is “effectively connected” with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States, and the gain is attributable to a permanent establishment that you maintain in the United States, if that is required by an applicable income tax treaty as a condition for subjecting you to United States taxation on a net income basis,

 

 

you are an individual, you hold the common stock as a capital asset, you are present in the United States for 183 or more days in the taxable year of the sale and certain other conditions exist, or

 

 

we are or have been a United States real property holding corporation for federal income tax purposes and you held, directly or indirectly, at any time during the five-year period ending on the date of disposition, more than 5% of the common stock and you are not eligible for any treaty exemption.

An individual non-U.S. holder described in the first bullet point immediately above will be subject to tax on the net gain derived from the sale under regular graduated United States federal income tax rates. An individual non-U.S. holder described in the second bullet point immediately above will be subject to a flat 30% tax on the gain derived from the sale, which may be offset by United States source capital losses, even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States. If you are a corporate non-U.S. holder, “effectively connected” gains that you recognize may also, under certain circumstances, be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate or at a lower rate if you are eligible for the benefits of an income tax treaty that provides for a lower rate.

We have not been, are not and do not anticipate becoming a United States real property holding corporation for United States federal income tax purposes.

Additional withholding tax relating to foreign accounts

A 30% United States federal withholding tax may apply to any dividends paid after December 31, 2013, and the gross proceeds from a disposition of our common stock occurring after December 31, 2016, in each case paid to (i) a “foreign financial institution” (as specifically defined in the legislation), whether such foreign financial institution is the beneficial owner or an intermediary, unless such foreign financial institution agrees to verify, report and disclose its United States “account” holders (as specifically defined in the legislation) and meets certain other specified requirements or (ii) a non-financial foreign entity, whether such non-financial foreign entity is the beneficial owner or an intermediary, unless such entity provides a certification that the beneficial owner of the payment does not have any substantial United States owners or provides the name, address and taxpayer identification number of each such substantial United States owner and certain other specified requirements are met. In certain cases, the relevant foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity may qualify for an exemption from, or be deemed to be in compliance with, these rules. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding this legislation and whether it may be relevant to your ownership and disposition of our common stock.

 

-133-


Table of Contents

Backup withholding and information reporting

We must report annually to the IRS and to each non-U.S. holder the amount of distributions on our common stock paid to such holder and the amount of tax withheld, if any, with respect to those distributions. These information reporting requirements apply even if no withholding was required. This information also may be made available under a specific treaty or agreement to the tax authorities in the country in which the non-U.S. holder resides or is established.

Backup withholding may apply to distribution payments to a non-U.S. holder of our common stock and information reporting and backup withholding may apply to the payments of the proceeds of a sale of our common stock within the U.S. or through certain U.S.-related financial intermediaries, unless the non-U.S. holder furnishes to us or our paying agent the required certification as to its non-U.S. status, such as by providing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8ECI, or certain other requirements are met. Notwithstanding the foregoing, backup withholding may apply if either we have or our paying agent has actual knowledge, or reason to know, that the holder is a U.S. person that is not an exempt recipient.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the information reporting and backup withholding rules to them.

 

-134-


Table of Contents

Underwriting

We and the selling stockholders are offering the shares of common stock described in this prospectus through a number of underwriters. Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, William Blair & Company, L.L.C. and Piper Jaffray & Co. are acting as joint book-running managers of this offering and as representatives of the underwriters. We and the selling stockholders have entered into an underwriting agreement with the underwriters. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, including the closing of the New Credit Facility, we and the selling stockholders have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase, at the public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, the number of shares of common stock listed next to its name in the following table:

 

Name    Number of
shares

 

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

  

William Blair & Company, L.L.C.

  

Piper Jaffray & Co.

  

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated

  

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.

  

BB&T Capital Markets, a division of BB&T Securities, LLC

  

CJS Securities, Inc.

  
  

 

Total

  
  

 

 

The underwriters are committed to purchase all of the common shares offered by us and the selling stockholders if they purchase any shares. The underwriting agreement also provides that if an underwriter defaults, the purchase commitments of non-defaulting underwriters may also be increased or this offering may be terminated.

The underwriters propose to offer the common shares directly to the public at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and to certain dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $     per share. Any such dealers may resell shares to certain other brokers or dealers at a discount of up to $     per share from the initial public offering price. After the initial public offering of the shares, the offering price and other selling terms may be changed by the underwriters.

The underwriters have an option to buy up to      additional shares of common stock from the selling stockholders to cover sales of shares by the underwriters which exceed the number of shares specified in the table above. The underwriters have 30 days from the date of this prospectus to exercise this over-allotment option. If any shares are purchased with this over-allotment option, the underwriters will purchase shares in approximately the same proportion as shown in the table above. If any additional shares of common stock are purchased, the underwriters will offer the additional shares on the same terms as those on which the shares are being offered.

In connection with the offering of shares of our common stock described in this prospectus, a selling stockholder may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

At our request, the underwriters have reserved for sale at the initial public offering price up to approximately     shares of our common stock being offered for sale to certain of our business

 

-135-


Table of Contents

associates, officers, directors, employees and certain of their family members. We will offer these shares to the extent permitted under applicable regulations in the United States. The sales will be made by Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated through a directed share program. The number of shares of common stock available for sale to the general public will be reduced to the extent that such persons purchase such reserved shares. Any reserved shares not so purchased will be offered by the underwriters to the general public on the same basis as the other shares offered hereby. We have agreed to indemnify Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated in connection with the directed share program, including for the failure of any participant to pay for its shares. Other than the underwriting discounts and commissions listed on the cover page of this prospectus, the underwriters will not be entitled to any commission with respect to shares of common stock sold pursuant to the directed share program. To the extent such shares are purchased by any of our existing stockholders who have entered into lock-up agreements with the underwriters, then such shares will be subject to the restrictions contained in such agreements.

The underwriting fee is equal to the public offering price per share of common stock less the amount paid by the underwriters to us per share of common stock. The underwriting fee is $     per share. The following table shows the per share and total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares.

 

      Per share     Total  
    Without
option
exercise
   

With
full
option

exercise

    Without
option
exercise
    With
full
option
exercise
 

 

 

Underwriting discounts and commissions paid by us

  $                   $                   $                   $                

Underwriting discounts and commissions paid by the selling stockholder

  $       

$

 

  

  $        $     

 

 

We estimate that the total expenses of this offering, including registration, filing and listing fees, printing fees and legal and accounting expenses, but excluding the underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $3.4 million, which will be paid by us. We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for expenses related to clearing of this offering with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) in an amount up to $50,000. Such reimbursement is deemed to be underwriting compensation by FINRA.

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the web sites maintained by one or more underwriters, or selling group members, if any, participating in this offering. The underwriters may agree to allocate a number of shares to underwriters and selling group members for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the representatives to underwriters and selling group members that may make Internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations.

We have agreed that we will not (i) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, 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 dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of our common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of our common stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any

 

-136-


Table of Contents

offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers all or a portion of the economic consequences associated with the ownership of any shares of common stock or any such other securities (regardless of whether any of these transactions are to be settled by the delivery of shares of common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise), in each case without the prior written consent of Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated and William Blair & Company, L.L.C. for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, other than the shares of our common stock to be sold hereunder and any shares of our common stock issued upon the exercise of options granted under our existing management incentive plans.

Our directors and executive officers and certain of our significant stockholders have entered into lock-up agreements with the underwriters prior to the commencement of this offering pursuant to which each of these persons or entities, with limited exceptions, for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, may not, without the prior written consent of Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated and William Blair & Company, L.L.C., (1) 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, directly or indirectly, any shares of our common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our common stock (including, without limitation, common stock or such other securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by such directors, executive officers, managers and members in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant) or (2) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the common stock or such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or (3) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any shares of our common stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our common stock, other than the shares of our common stock to be sold hereunder.

We and the selling stockholders have agreed to indemnify the underwriters and their controlling persons against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

We have applied to have our common stock approved for listing/quotation on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “FOXF.”

In connection with this offering, the underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, which involves making bids for, purchasing and selling shares of common stock in the open market for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common stock while this offering is in progress. These stabilizing transactions may include making short sales of the common stock, which involves the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares of common stock than they are required to purchase in this offering, and purchasing shares of common stock on the open market to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales may be “covered” shorts, which are short positions in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ over-allotment option referred to above, or may be “naked” shorts, which are short positions in excess of that amount. The underwriters may close out any covered short position either by exercising their over-allotment option, in whole or in part, or by purchasing shares in the open market. In making this determination, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market compared to the price at which the underwriters may purchase shares through the over-allotment option. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward

 

-137-


Table of Contents

pressure on the price of the common stock in the open market that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering. To the extent that the underwriters create a naked short position, they will purchase shares in the open market to cover the position.

The underwriters have advised us that, pursuant to Regulation M of the Securities Act, they may also engage in other activities that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the common stock, including the imposition of penalty bids. This means that if the representatives of the underwriters purchase common stock in the open market in stabilizing transactions or to cover short sales, the representatives can require the underwriters that sold those shares as part of this offering to repay the underwriting discount received by them.

These activities may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of the common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common stock, and, as a result, the price of the common stock may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If the underwriters commence these activities, they may discontinue them at any time. The underwriters may carry out these transactions on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. The initial public offering price will be determined by negotiations between us, the selling stockholders and the representatives of the underwriters. In determining the initial public offering price, we, the selling stockholders and the representatives of the underwriters expect to consider a number of factors including:

 

 

the information set forth in this prospectus and otherwise available to the representatives;

 

 

our prospects and the history and prospects for the industry in which we compete;

 

 

an assessment of our management;

 

 

our prospects for future earnings;

 

 

the general condition of the securities markets at the time of this offering;

 

 

the recent market prices of, and demand for, publicly traded common stock of generally comparable companies; and

 

 

other factors deemed relevant by the underwriters, the selling stockholders and us.

Neither we nor the underwriters can assure investors that an active trading market will develop for our common stock, or that the shares will trade in the public market at or above the initial public offering price.

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have provided in the past to us and our affiliates and may provide from time to time in the future certain commercial banking, financial advisory, investment banking and other services for us and such affiliates in the ordinary course of their business, for which they have received and may continue to receive customary fees and commissions. In addition, in the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities)

 

-138-


Table of Contents

and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and securities activities may involve our securities and instruments. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations and publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

Selling restrictions

Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us or the underwriters that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The securities offered by this prospectus may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securities be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to this offering and the distribution of this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities referred to by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is unlawful.

This document is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) to investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, or the Order, or (iii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling with Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). The securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a ‘‘Relevant Member State’’), from and including the date on which the European Union Prospectus Directive, or the EU Prospectus Directive, is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the ‘‘Relevant Implementation Date’’) an offer of securities described in this prospectus may not be made to the public in that Relevant Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the shares which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the EU Prospectus Directive, except that it may, with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date, make an offer of shares to the public in that Relevant Member State at any time:

 

 

to legal entities which are authorized or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities;

 

 

to any legal entity which has two or more of (1) an average of at least 250 employees during the last financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than 43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover of more than 50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts;

 

-139-


Table of Contents
 

to fewer than 100 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the EU Prospectus Directive) subject to obtaining the prior consent of the book-running managers for any such offer; or

 

 

in any other circumstances which do not require the publication by the Issuer of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the EU Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an ‘‘offer of securities to the public’’ in relation to any securities in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the securities, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the EU Prospectus Directive in that Member State and the expression EU Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.

Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have provided in the past to us and our affiliates and may provide from time to time in the future, certain commercial banking, financial advisory, investment banking and other services for us and such affiliates in the ordinary course of their business, for which they have received and may continue to receive customary fees and commissions. Specifically, SunTrust Bank, an affiliate of SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., will serve as administrative agent and a lender under our New Credit Facility, and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. will serve as sole lead arranger and sole book manager under our New Credit Facility. In addition, from time to time, certain of the underwriters and their affiliates may effect transactions for their own account or the account of customers, and hold on behalf of themselves or their customers, long or short positions in our debt or equity securities or loans, and may do so in the future.

 

-140-


Table of Contents

Legal matters

Paul Hastings LLP, Orange County, California, which has acted as our counsel in connection with this offering, will pass upon the validity of the shares of common stock being offered by this prospectus. The underwriters have been represented by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, Palo Alto, California.

Experts

The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2011 and 2012, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2012, included in this prospectus and elsewhere in this registration statement have been so included in reliance upon the report of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

Additional information

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement, some of which is contained in exhibits to the registration statement as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information with respect to us and our common stock, we refer you to the registration statement, including the exhibits filed as a part of the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus concerning the contents of any contract or any other document are not necessarily complete. If a contract or document has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, please see the copy of the contract or document that has been filed. Each statement is this prospectus relating to a contract or document filed as an exhibit is qualified in all respects by the filed exhibit. You may obtain copies of this information by mail from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference rooms by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov .

As a result of this offering, we will become subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance with this law, will file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These periodic reports, proxy statements and other information will be available for inspection and copying at the SEC’s public reference facilities and the website of the SEC referred to above. We also maintain a website at www.ridefox.com . Upon completion of this offering, you may access these materials free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Information contained on our website is not a part of this prospectus and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.

 

-141-


Table of Contents

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

Index to consolidated financial statements

 

       Page  

 

 

Report of independent registered public accounting firm

     F-2   

Consolidated balance sheets

     F-3   

Consolidated statements of income

     F-4   

Consolidated statements of comprehensive income

     F-5   

Consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity

     F-6   

Consolidated statements of cash flows

     F-7   

Notes to financial statements

     F-8   

 

F-1


Table of Contents

Independent auditors’ report

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

Scotts Valley, California

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Fox Factory Holding Corp. and subsidiary (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2011 and 2012 and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2012. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Fox Factory Holding Corp. and subsidiary as of December 31, 2011 and 2012, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2012, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

San Jose, California

May 13, 2013

 

F-2


Table of Contents

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

Consolidated balance sheets

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

 

      As of
December 31,
    As of
March 31,
    Pro Forma
March 31,
 
    2011     2012     2013     2013  
                (unaudited)  

 

 

Assets

       

Current Assets:

       

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 114      $ 15      $ 136     

Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $372, $440, $423 at December 31, 2011, and 2012, and March 31, 2013, respectively)

    18,263        25,224        22,912     

Inventory

    29,531        34,255        42,734     

Income tax receivable

    209                   

Prepaids and other current assets

    1,768        2,242        2,271     

Deferred tax assets

    2,605        3,405        3,537     
 

 

 

   

Total current assets

    52,490        65,141        71,590     

Property and equipment, net

    9,005        11,789        12,105     

Loan fees, net—related party

    456        1,665        1,550     

Goodwill

    31,372        31,372        31,372     

Intangibles, net

    36,633        32,153        30,812     
 

 

 

   

Total assets

  $ 129,956      $ 142,120      $ 147,429     
 

 

 

   

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

       

Current liabilities:

       

Accounts payable

    16,570        19,551        27,779     

Accrued expenses

    7,398        10,156        9,257     

Liability reserve for uncertain tax positions

    5,410        7,292        7,768     

Current portion of long-term debt—related party

    4        3,000        3,000     
 

 

 

   

Total current liabilities

    29,382        39,999        47,804     

Line of credit—related party

    1,450        750        5,100     

Long-term debt, less current portion—related party

    13,839        55,500        44,750     

Deferred rent

    451        1,132        1,119     

Deferred tax liabilities

    17,539        15,155        14,828     
 

 

 

   

Total liabilities

  $ 62,661      $ 112,536      $ 113,601     
 

 

 

   

Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)

       

Stockholders’ Equity

       

Common stock, $0.001 par value—1,500,000 authorized as of December 31, 2011, 2012, and March 31, 2013; 646,500 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2011; 720,343 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2013; 720,343 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma

    1        1        1        1   

Additional paid-in capital

    34,123        49,201        49,903        49,903   

Accumulated other comprehensive income

           1        (6     (6

Retained earnings (deficit)

    33,171        (19,619 )     (16,070     (16,070
 

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

    67,295        29,584        33,828        33,828   
 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

  $ 129,956      $ 142,120      $ 147,429      $ 147,429   

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

 

F-3


Table of Contents

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

Consolidated statements of income

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

       For the years ended December 31,     For the three  months
ended March 31,
 
     2010     2011     2012         2012         2013  
                       (unaudited)  

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Sales

   $ 170,983      $ 197,739      $ 235,869      $ 45,671      $ 54,878   

Cost of sales

     122,373        140,849        173,040        32,572        39,163   
  

 

 

 

Gross profit

     48,610        56,890        62,829        13,099        15,715   

Operating expenses:

          

Sales and marketing

     10,293        11,748        12,570        3,177        3,284   

Research and development

     7,321        9,750        9,727        2,376        2,355   

General and administrative

     6,202        7,588        9,063        1,951        2,673   

Amortization of purchased intangibles

     5,217        5,217        5,315        1,304        1,341   
  

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     29,033        34,303        36,675        8,808        9,653   
  

 

 

 

Income from operations

     19,577        22,587        26,154        4,291        6,062   

Other expense, net:

          

Interest expense

     (2,637 )     (1,982 )     (3,486 )     (233     (957 )

Other income (expense), net

     39        (13 )     (277 )     (46     34   
  

 

 

 

Other expense, net

     (2,598 )     (1,995 )     (3,763 )     (279     (923 )
  

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     16,979        20,592        22,391        4,012        5,139   

Provision for income taxes

     6,210        7,054        8,181        1,373        1,590   
  

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 10,769      $ 13,538      $ 14,210      $ 2,639      $ 3,549   
  

 

 

 

Earnings per share:

          

Basic

   $ 16.62      $ 20.92      $ 20.59      $ 4.04      $ 4.93   

Diluted

   $ 15.72      $ 19.45      $ 20.30      $ 3.76      $ 4.83   

Weighted average shares used to compute earnings per share:

          

Basic

     648        647        690        653        720   

Diluted

     685        696        700        701        735   
          

Pro forma earnings per share (unaudited):

          

Basic

       $ 20.59        $ 4.93   

Diluted

       $ 20.30        $ 4.83   
          

Weighted average shares used to compute pro forma earnings per share (unaudited):

          

Basic

         690          720   

Diluted

         700          735   

Supplemental pro forma net income per share (unaudited)(1)

          

Shares used to calculate supplemental pro forma net income per share (unaudited)

          

 

 

 

(1)   Unaudited supplemental pro forma net income per share has been presented in accordance with the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 1.B.3, or SAB 1.B.3. As outlined in SAB 1.B.3, the special dividend paid in June 2012 was in excess of the net income for the twelve-months ended March 31, 2013 of $15.1 million. Accordingly, under SAB 1.B.3, the Company has included all shares, for which proceeds accrue to the Company, issued under this offering in the shares used to calculate supplemental pro forma net income per share.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

 

F-4


Table of Contents

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

Consolidated statements of comprehensive income

(In thousands)

 

       For the years ended December 31,      For the three months
ended March 31,
 
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     2010      2011      2012              2012      2013  
                          (unaudited)  

 

 

Net income

   $ 10,769       $ 13,538       $ 14,210       $ 2,639       $ 3,549   

Other comprehensive income (loss):

              

Foreign currency translation adjustments

                     1                 (7
  

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

                     1                 (7
  

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

   $ 10,769       $ 13,538       $ 14,211       $ 2,639       $ 3,542   

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

 

F-5


Table of Contents

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

Consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity

for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011, and 2012, and three months ended March 31, 2013

(In thousands, except share data)

 

      Common stock     Additional
paid-in
capital
    Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income
    Retained
earnings
(deficit)
    Total
stockholders’
equity
 
    Shares     Amount          

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance—January 1, 2010

    648,500      $ 1      $ 33,306      $  —      $ 8,864      $ 42,171   

Repurchase of common stock

    (4,862            (1,102                   (1,102

Issuance of common stock upon exercises of employee stock options

    2,862               334                      334   

Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options

                  31                      31   

Stock-based compensation expense

                  524                      524   

Net income

                                10,769        10,769   
 

 

 

 

Balance—December 31, 2010

    646,500      $ 1      $ 33,093      $      $ 19,633      $ 52,727   

Stock-based compensation expense

                  1,030                      1,030   

Net income

                                13,538        13,538   
 

 

 

 

Balance—December 31, 2011

    646,500      $ 1      $ 34,123      $      $ 33,171      $ 67,295   

Repurchase of common stock

    (100 )            (29 )                   (29 )

Issuance of common stock upon exercises of employee stock options

    52,177                                      

Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options

                  5,755                      5,755   

Proceeds from equity issuance, net

    21,766               7,204                      7,204   

Dividend distribution

                                (67,000     (67,000

Stock-based compensation expense

                  2,148                      2,148   

Foreign currency translation adjustment

                         1               1   

Net income

                                14,210        14,210   
 

 

 

 

Balance—December 31, 2012

    720,343      $ 1      $ 49,201      $ 1      $ (19,619 )   $ 29,584   

Stock-based compensation expense(*)

                  702                      702   

Foreign currency translation adjustment (*)

                         (7 )            (7

Net income (*)

                                3,549        3,549   
 

 

 

 

Balance—March 31, 2013(*)

    720,343      $ 1      $ 49,903      $ (6   $ (16,070   $ 33,828   

 

 
(*)   Unaudited

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

 

F-6


Table of Contents

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

Consolidated statements of cash flows

(In thousands)

 

      For the years ended December 31,     For the three  months
ended March 31,
 
    2010     2011     2012     2012     2013  
                      (unaudited)  

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

         

Net income

  $ 10,769      $ 13,538      $ 14,210      $ 2,639      $ 3,549   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

         

Depreciation and amortization

    6,150        6,598        7,204        1,713        1,885   

Provision for doubtful accounts

    35        46        68        42        (17 )

Stock-based compensation

    524        1,030        2,148        303        702   

Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options

    (31            (5,755     (800       

(Gain) loss on disposal of property and equipment

    (7     63        253               (7 )

Deferred taxes

    (1,374     (2,430     (3,184     (110     16   

City of Watsonville loan credit

    (32     (32     (4              

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

         

Accounts receivable

    (1,984     (1,153     (7,029 )     1,869        2,329   

Inventory

    (11,087     (1,476     (4,723     (4,729     (8,479

Income taxes receivable

    386        2,744        7,846        1,361        1,369   

Prepaids and other current assets

    263        (762     (474 )     (219     (28 )

Other assets

    215        207        387        51        115   

Accounts payable

    3,904        636        2,981        5,633        8,227   

Accrued expenses

    1,995        2,060        2,758        (2,683     (2,269

Deferred rent

    482        (31     681        664        (18
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

    10,208        21,038        17,367        5,734        7,374   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

         

Purchases of property and equipment

    (2,425     (3,067 )     (4,928 )     (1,454     (860 )

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

    7        11        2               7   

Purchase of intangible assets

                  (835 )              
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

    (2,418     (3,056 )     (5,761 )     (1,454     (853 )
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

         

Repurchase of common stock

    (1,102            (29 )              

Proceeds from exercise of common stock options

    334                               

Proceeds from equity issuance

                  7,204                 

Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options

    31               5,755        800          

Dividends paid

                  (67,000              

Proceeds (payments) on related party line of credit

    4,107        (7,682     (700     (5,089     (6,400

Proceeds from issuance of related party debt

                  58,404                 

Repayment of related party debt

    (10,984     (10,688     (15,339              
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

    (7,614     (18,370 )     (11,705 )     (4,288     (6,400 )
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

    176        (388 )     (99 )     (8     121   

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—Beginning of period

    326        502        114        114        15   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—End of period

  $ 502      $ 114      $ 15      $ 106      $ 136   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF OTHER CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

         

Cash paid for income taxes

  $ 7,197      $ 6,738      $ 3,510      $ 121      $ 202   

Cash paid for interest

  $ 2,565      $ 1,809      $ 2,787      $ 241      $ 869   

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

 

F-7


Table of Contents

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

Notes to consolidated financial statements

Years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

and the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2013 (unaudited)

1. Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Fox Factory Holding Corp. (the “Company”) is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of high end suspension products for mountain bikes and powered vehicles, which includes all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and other off-road vehicles. The Company acts both as a tier one supplier to leading action sports original equipment manufacturers (“OEM”) and provides aftermarket products to retailers and distributors (“AM”).

Basis of Presentation —The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP).

Principles of Consolidation —The consolidated financial statements include the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Fox Factory, Inc. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates —The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of sales and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Such estimates include the useful lives of fixed assets and intangible assets, allowances for doubtful accounts, warranty reserve, stock-based compensation, income taxes and inventory write-downs. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Certain Significant Risks and Uncertainties —The Company is subject to those risks common in manufacture-driven markets, including, but not limited to, competitive forces, dependence on key personnel, customer demand for its products, the successful protection of its proprietary technologies, compliance with government regulations, and the possibility of not being able to obtain additional financing when needed.

Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Information —The accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2013, the consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2013 and the consolidated statement of stockholders’ equity for the three months ended March 31, 2013 are unaudited. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual consolidated financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of March 31, 2013 and its results of operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2013. The financial data and the other information disclosed in these notes to the consolidated financial statements related to these three month periods are unaudited. The results of the three months ended March 31, 2013 are not necessarily indicative

 

F-8


Table of Contents

of the results to be expected for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013 or for any other interim period or other future year.

Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Balance Sheet —Upon the consummation of the initial public offering contemplated by the Company, the Company does not expect the capital structure to change as the Company does not have any outstanding convertible instruments or other equity awards that would convert to common stock. As a result the March 31, 2013 unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet data has been prepared assuming no changes to the Company’s capital structure.

Foreign Currency Translation —The Company’s foreign branch records its assets, liabilities, and results of operations in its local currency, which is its functional currency. The Company translates its branch financial statements into U.S. dollars each reporting period for purposes of consolidation.

Assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign branch are translated at the period-end currency exchange rates while sales, expenses, gains, and losses are translated at the average currency exchange rates in effect for the period, the effects of these translation adjustments are reported in the statements of comprehensive income.

Cash and Cash Equivalents —Cash consists of cash maintained in a checking account. All highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity date of 90 days or less at the date of purchase are considered to be cash equivalents.

Concentration of Credit Risk —Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk, consist primarily of cash and accounts receivable. A significant portion of the Company’s cash is held at one large financial institution. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts.

The Company mitigates its credit risk with respect to accounts receivable by performing ongoing credit evaluations and monitoring of its customers’ accounts receivable balances. In aggregate, as of December 31, 2011, two customers accounted for 26% of accounts receivable. In aggregate, as of December 31, 2012 three customers accounted for 36% of accounts receivable. In aggregate, as of March 31, 2013, two customers accounted for 35%, of accounts receivable.

During the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011, and 2012, one customer represented 16%, 12% and 13%, of sales, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2013, one customer represented 14% of revenue. No customers accounted for more than 10% of revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2012.

The Company purchased approximately 58%, 58%, and 43% of its product components for the years ended December, 31, 2010, 2011, and 2012, respectively, from ten vendors. The Company purchased approximately 52%, and 49% of its product components for the three months ended March, 31, 2012 and 2013, respectively, from ten vendors. As of December 31, 2011 and 2012, and March 31, 2013 amounts due to these vendors represented approximately 38%, 43% and 39% of accounts payable, respectively.

Provision for Doubtful Accounts —The Company records a provision for doubtful accounts based on historical experience and a detailed assessment of the collectability of its accounts receivable. In estimating the allowance for doubtful accounts, management considers, among other factors, the aging of the accounts receivable, historical write-offs, and the credit-worthiness of each

 

F-9


Table of Contents

customer. If circumstances change, such as higher-than-expected defaults or an unexpected material adverse change in a major customer’s ability to meet its financial obligations, the Company’s estimate of the recoverability of the amounts due could be reduced by a material amount.

The following table presents the changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts (in thousands):

 

       For the years ended
December 31,
    For the three months
ended March 31,
 
     2010     2011     2012     2012      2013  
                       (unaudited)  

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Allowance for doubtful accounts:

           

Balance, beginning of period

   $ 291      $ 326      $ 372      $ 372       $ 440   

Add: bad debt expense

     68        104        87        42         1   

Less: write-offs, net of recoveries

     (33 )     (58 )     (19 )             (18 )
  

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

   $ 326      $ 372      $ 440      $ 414       $ 423   

 

 

Inventories —Inventories are stated at the lower of standard cost (which generally approximates actual costs on a first-in first-out basis) or market. Cost includes raw materials, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead. Market value is based on current replacement cost for raw materials and on a net realizable value for finished goods. Adjustments to reduce the cost of inventory to its net realizable value are made, if required, for estimated excess, obsolescence or impaired balances.

Property and Equipment —Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred, and improvements and betterments are capitalized. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from the balance sheet and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in operations in the period realized.

Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the lease, or the useful lives of the assets, whichever is shorter. Depreciation and amortization periods for the Company’s property and equipment are as follows:

 

Asset Classification   

Estimated

useful life

 

 

 

Machine shop equipment

     15 years   

Manufacturing equipment

     5-7 years   

Office equipment and furniture

     5-7 years   

Transportation equipment

     5 years   

 

 

Impairment of Long-lived Asset —The Company periodically reviews property and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset is impaired or the estimated useful lives are no longer appropriate. If indicators of impairment exist and the undiscounted projected cash flows associated with such assets are less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss is recorded to write the asset down to their estimated fair values. Fair value is estimated based on discounted future cash flows. No impairment charges were recorded during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 or during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2013.

 

F-10


Table of Contents

Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets —Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair value of the net assets of businesses acquired. Annually the Company either makes a qualitative assessment prior to proceeding to step 1 of the annual goodwill impairment test or performs a two-step impairment test. If the Company makes a qualitative assessment and it determines that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the Company would perform step 1 of the annual goodwill impairment test and, if necessary, proceed to step 2. Otherwise, no further evaluation is necessary. For the two-step impairment test, in the first step, the Company compares the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. The Company determines the fair value of the reporting unit based on a weighting of income and market approaches. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the net assets assigned to that unit, goodwill is not impaired and no further testing is performed. If the carrying value of the net assets assigned to the reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, then the Company performs the second step of the impairment test in order to determine the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill. Impairments, if any, are charged directly to earnings. The Company has a single reporting unit for purposes of assessing goodwill impairment. No impairment charges have been incurred to date.

Intangible assets include customer relationships and our core technology, are subject to amortization over their respective useful lives, and are classified in intangibles, net in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. These intangibles are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be fully recoverable. If facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying value might not be recoverable, projected undiscounted net cash flows associated with the related asset or group of assets over their estimated remaining useful lives is compared against their respective carrying amounts. Trademarks are considered to be indefinite life intangibles, and are not amortized but are subject to testing for impairment annually. No impairments of intangible assets were identified in the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 or during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2013.

Revenue Recognition —The Company recognizes sales when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, title has transferred, the sales price is fixed or determinable, and collectability of the receivable is probable. Provisions for discounts, rebates, sales incentives, returns, and other adjustments are provided for in the period the related sales are recorded based on an assessment of historical trends and current projection of future results. Sales are recorded net of sales tax.

Cost of Sales —Cost of sales primarily consists of materials and labor expense in the manufacturing of the Company’s products. Cost of sales also includes provisions for excess and obsolete inventory, warranty costs, certain allocated costs for facilities, depreciation and other expenses associated with logistics and quality control. Additionally, it includes stock-based compensation for personnel directly involved with manufacturing the Company’s product offerings.

Sales and Marketing —Sales and marketing expenses include costs related to sales, customer service and marketing personnel, including their wages, employee benefits and related stock based compensation, and occupancy related expenses. Other significant sales and marketing expenses include race support and sponsorships of events and athletes, advertising and promotions related to trade shows, travel and entertainment, and promotional materials, products and sales offices costs.

 

F-11


Table of Contents

Research and Development —Research and development expenses consist primarily of salaries and personnel costs, including wages, employee benefits and related stock based compensation for our engineering, research and development teams, occupancy related expenses, fees for third party consultants, service fees, and expenses for prototype tooling and materials, travel, and supplies. The company expenses research and development costs as incurred.

General and Administrative —General and administrative expenses include costs related to executive, finance, information technology, human resources and administrative personnel, including wages, employee benefits and related stock based compensation expenses. The Company records professional and contract service expenses, occupancy related expenses associated with corporate locations and equipment, and legal expenses in general and administrative expenses. Currently the Company pays annual management fees of $0.5 million to an affiliate of the Company’s majority stockholder, Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC (“Compass”), which fees are included as part of general and administrative expenses.

Stock-Based Compensation —The Company measures compensation expense for all stock-based payment awards, including stock options granted to employees based on the estimated fair values on the date of the grant. The fair value of each stock option granted is estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Stock-based compensation is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, net of estimated forfeitures. The forfeiture rate is based on an analysis of the Company’s actual historical forfeitures.

Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs —The Company includes shipping and handling fees billed to customers in sales. Shipping costs associated with inbound freight are capitalized as part of inventory and included in cost of sales as products are sold.

Income Taxes —The Company accounts for income taxes using an asset and liability approach. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Operating loss and tax credit carryforwards are measured by applying currently enacted tax laws. Valuation allowances are provided when necessary to reduce net deferred tax assets to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized.

The Company recognizes the tax effects of an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not to be sustained based solely on its technical merits as of the reporting date and then only in an amount more likely than not to be sustained upon review by the tax authorities. The Company considers many factors when evaluating and estimating its tax positions and tax benefits, which may require periodic adjustments and which may not accurately anticipate actual outcomes.

Advertising —Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Costs incurred for advertising totaled $0.4 million, $0.4 million, and $0.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively, and $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2013.

Warranties —The Company offers limited warranties on its products for one to two years. The Company recognizes estimated costs related to warranty activities as a component of cost of sales upon product shipment. The estimates are based upon historical product failure rates and historical costs incurred in correcting product failures. The recorded amount is adjusted from time to time for specifically identified warranty exposures. Actual warranty expenses are charged against the Company’s estimated warranty liability when incurred. Factors that affect the Company’s liability include the number of units, historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims, and the cost per claim.

 

F-12


Table of Contents

Comprehensive Income —In June 2011, the FASB issued an accounting standards update that requires an entity to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. This guidance eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of equity. The Company retrospectively adopted these new standards in the first quarter of 2012 and has presented a separate consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 and for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2013.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments —The carrying value of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their fair value. Debt with a carrying value $15.3 million at December 31, 2011 had a fair value of approximately $14.2 million. Debt with a carrying value of $59.3 million at December 31, 2012 had a fair value of approximately $58.4 million. Debt with a carrying value of $52.9 million at March 31, 2013 had a fair value of approximately $51.8 million. The fair value is based on interest rates that are currently available to the Company for issuance of debt with similar terms and remaining maturities.

Subsequent Events —The Company has evaluated subsequent events after the audited balance sheet date of December 31, 2012 through May 13, 2013, the date the consolidated financial statements were issued. With respect to the unaudited consolidated financial statements as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2013, the Company has evaluated subsequent events through June 11, 2013, the date these unaudited consolidated financial statements were issued.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Fair Value Measurement —In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued ASU No. 2011-04, “Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs,” or ASU 2011-04. ASU 2011-04 is intended to improve the comparability of fair value measurements presented and disclosed in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS. The amendments in ASU 2011-04 explain how to measure fair value. They do not require additional fair value measurements and are not intended to establish valuation standards or affect valuation practices outside of financial reporting. The adoption of ASU No. 2011-04 did not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Comprehensive Income: Presentation —In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, “Presentation of Comprehensive Income,” or ASU 2011-05, to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income and to facilitate convergence of GAAP and IFRS. ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity and requires that all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In the two-statement approach, the first statement should present total net income and its components followed consecutively by a second statement that should present total other comprehensive income, the components of other comprehensive income, and the total of comprehensive income. We adopted the provisions of ASU 2011-05 on January 1, 2012. The adoption of ASU 2011-05 did not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations.

 

F-13


Table of Contents

Comprehensive Income: Reclassifications —In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02, “Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income,” or ASU 2013-02, to supersede and replace the presentation requirements for reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income in ASU 2011-05, which were deferred indefinitely under ASU No. 2011-12, “Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05,” or ASU 2011-12, issued in December 2011. The amendments in ASU 2013-02 would require an entity to provide additional information about reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income. For public entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2012. The adoption of ASU 2013-02 will not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Goodwill Impairment Testing —In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, “Testing Goodwill for Impairment,” or ASU 2011-08, which simplifies how entities test goodwill for impairment and permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. We adopted the provisions of ASU 2011-08 on January 1, 2012. The adoption of ASU 2011-08 did not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Release of Cumulative Translation Adjustment —In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-05, “Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity,” or ASU 2013-05, which resolves diversity in practice regarding the release of the cumulative translation adjustment into net income when a parent either sells a part or all of its investment in a foreign entity or no longer holds a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets within a foreign entity. The amendments in ASU 2013-05 are effective prospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2013-05 will not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

2. Recapitalization

On June 18, 2012, the Company entered into an amendment to the inter-company loan agreement (“Loan Agreement”) with its majority stockholder, Compass. The Loan Agreement was amended to (i) provide for term loan borrowings of $60.0 million and an increase to the revolving loan commitment of $2.0 million and to permit the proceeds thereof to fund cash distributions totaling $67.0 million by the Company to stockholders, (ii) extend the maturity dates of the term loans under the Loan Agreement, and (iii) modify borrowing rates under the Loan Agreement. All other material terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement were unchanged.

 

F-14


Table of Contents

3. Inventory

Inventory consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

       As of December 31,      As of March 31,  
     2011      2012      2013  
                   (unaudited)  

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Raw materials

   $ 21,761       $ 25,822       $ 32,070   

Work-in-process

     1,194         1,460         2,058   

Finished goods

     6,576         6,973         8,606   
  

 

 

 

Total inventory

   $ 29,531       $ 34,255       $ 42,734   
  

 

 

 

 

 

4. Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

       As of December 31,     As of March 31,  
     2011     2012     2013  
                 (unaudited)  

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Machinery and manufacturing equipment

   $ 9,479      $ 11,099      $ 11,592   

Office equipment and furniture

     3,292        4,095        3,832   

Transportation equipment

     1,016        1,315        1,436   

Leasehold improvements

     2,821        4,729        4,998   
  

 

 

 

Total

     16,608        21,238        21,858   

Accumulated depreciation

     (7,603     (9,449     (9,753
  

 

 

 

Net property and equipment

   $ 9,005      $ 11,789        12,105   
  

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense was approximately $0.9 million, $1.4 million and $1.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011, and 2012, respectively and $0.4 million and $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2013, respectively.

 

F-15


Table of Contents

5. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Intangible assets, excluding goodwill, are comprised of the following (in thousands):

 

       Gross
carrying
amount
     Accumulated
amortization
    Net
carrying
amount
     Weighted
average life
(years)
 

 

 

December 31, 2011:

          

Customer relationships OEM

   $ 7,400       $ (2,467   $ 4,933         11   

Customer relationships AM

     4,300         (2,150     2,150         7   

Core technology

     32,500         (16,250     16,250         7   
  

 

 

    

Total

     44,200         (20,867     23,333      

Trademarks, not subject to amortization

          13,300      
       

 

 

    

Total

        $ 36,633      
       

 

 

    

December 31, 2012:

          

Customer relationships OEM

   $ 7,400       $ (3,083   $ 4,317         11   

Customer relationships AM

     4,300         (2,688     1,612         7   

Core technology

     32,500         (20,313     12,187         7   

Patents

     835         (98     737         5   
  

 

 

    

Total

     45,035         (26,182     18,853      

Trademarks, not subject to amortization

          13,300      
       

 

 

    

Total

        $ 32,153      
       

 

 

    

March 31, 2013: (unaudited)

          

Customer relationships OEM

   $ 7,400       $ (3,238   $ 4,162         11   

Customer relationships AM

     4,300         (2,822     1,478         7   

Core technology

     32,500         (21,328     11,172         7   

Patents

     835         (135     700         5   
  

 

 

    

Total

     45,035         (27,523     17,512      

Trademarks, not subject to amortization

          13,300      
       

 

 

    

Total

        $ 30,812      
       

 

 

    

 

 

Goodwill was $31.4 million as of December 31, 2011 and 2012 and March 31, 3013. None of the goodwill is deductible for tax purposes.

Amortization of intangibles was approximately $5.2 million, $5.2 million and $5.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011, and 2012, respectively and $1.3 million and $1.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2013, respectively.

 

F-16


Table of Contents

The following is the expected amortization schedule for the years 2013 through 2017 and thereafter (in thousands) as of December 31, 2012:

 

Year         

 

 

2013 (remainder)

   $ 5,346   

2014

     5,364   

2015

     5,364   

2016

     752   

2017

     690   

Thereafter

     1,319   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 18,853   
  

 

 

 

 

 

6. Accrued Expenses

Accrued expenses consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

       As of December 31,      As of March 31,  
     2011      2012      2013  
                   (unaudited)  

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Payroll and related expenses

   $ 4,381       $ 5,256       $ 3,550   

Warranty(2)

     2,799         4,582         4,058   

Related party—Compass(1)

     184         292         265   

Income tax payable

             9         1,378   

Other accrued expenses

     34         17         6   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 7,398       $ 10,156         9,257   
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)   Activity relates to interest and management fees payable to Compass.

 

(2)   Activity related to warranties is as follows (in thousands):

 

   

Balance at December 31, 2010

   $ 1,695   

Charge to cost of sales

     3,317   

Costs incurred

     (2,213
  

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2011

     2,799   

Charge to cost of sales

     5,180   

Costs incurred

     (3,397
  

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2012

     4,582   

Charge to cost of sales

     776   

Costs incurred

     (1,300
  

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2013 (unaudited)

   $ 4,058   
  

 

 

 

 

 

7. Related Party Transactions

During fiscal year 2008, the Company entered into various loans with its majority stockholder, Compass. Amounts outstanding were $15.3 million, $59.3 million and $52.9 million as of December 31, 2011 and 2012 and March 31, 2013, respectively. Interest expense on the Compass loans was approximately $2.6 million, $1.8 million and $2.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively and $0.2 million and $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2013, respectively. In addition, there were annual

 

F-17


Table of Contents

management fees of $0.5 million paid to an affiliate of Compass for each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010, 2011, and 2012 and $0.1 million and $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2013, respectively.

Fox Factory, Inc. has a triple-net building lease for its manufacturing and office facilities in Watsonville, California. The building is owned by Robert Fox, a founder and minority stockholder of the Company. The term of the lease ends June 30, 2018, with monthly rental payments, which are adjusted annually for a cost-of-living increase based upon the consumer price index. Payments made under this lease were $1.1 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 and $0.3 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2013, respectively. See Note 9 for a detail of the future minimum rental payments under this operating lease.

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, The Company utilized Staffmark, a provider of temporary staffing, temp to hire and permanent placement services. Compass was an investor in Staffmark, up to October 2011, when the investment was sold. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, Staffmark provided $7.1 million in temporary staffing services, of which $0.6 million was included in accounts payable as of December 31, 2011.

8. Debt

Line of Credit

In connection with the acquisition of the Fox Factory, Inc. on January 4, 2008, the Company obtained a $22 million revolving line of credit (“Line of Credit”) from Compass, the majority stockholder. The line of credit matures in January 2014, or such earlier date pursuant to an event of default as defined in the agreement. In March 2011, the amount available under the Line of Credit was increased to $28.0 million. The Line of Credit carried an interest rate of 6.75%, as of December 31, 2011, and 2012 and March 31, 2013.

The balance under the Line of Credit as of December 31, 2011 and 2012, and March 31, 2013 of $1.5 million, $0.8 million and $5.1 million, respectively, was classified as a long-term liability as the maturity date is June 2018.

Term-Debt

In January 2008, in connection with the acquisition of Fox Factory, Inc, the Company also obtained a $23.0 million Term A Loan Commitment (‘Term A”) from Compass. The Term A loan was originally scheduled to mature in January 2014, or such earlier date pursuant to an event of default as defined in the agreement. As of December 31, 2011 the initial Term A loan was paid in full.

In January 2008, the Company also obtained a $20.0 million Term B Loan Commitment (“Term B”) from Compass, the majority stockholder. The Term B loan had a maturity date of January 4, 2015, or such earlier date pursuant to an event of default as defined in the respective agreement. The Term B loan carried an interest rate of 8.04% as of December 31, 2011. As of December 31, 2012, the Term B loan was paid in full.

In June 2012, the Company performed a recapitalization of debt with Compass. The Loan Agreement was amended to (i) provide for Term A loan borrowings of $60.0 million and an

 

F-18


Table of Contents

increase to the revolving loan commitment of $2.0 million, increasing the total available under the Line of Credit to $30.0 million, (ii) extend the maturity dates of the term loans under the Loan Agreement to June 18, 2018, and (iii) modify borrowing rates under the Loan Agreement to a fluctuating rate between 3.50% and 5.50% above either LIBOR or the Prime Rate, respectively, whichever is more favorable for the Company.

The Loan Agreement is subject to certain financial covenants, with which the Company was in compliance at December 31, 2011 and 2012 and March 31, 2013. The Term Debt and Line of Credit with Compass are collateralized by the Company’s right, title and interest in the Company’s net assets except for certain excluded intangible assets as defined in the collateral agreement with Compass.

City of Watsonville (“City”)

The City note payable is due to the Redevelopment Agency, with an original balance of $0.3 million. Interest accrues on the note at a variable rate. The effective interest rate at December 31, 2011 and 2012 was 3.25%. Terms of the note include performance by the Company of a Relocation and Rehabilitation Agreement, whereby the Company is to maintain a minimum number of full-time employees that are also Watsonville residents. If the Company complies with this agreement, it is entitled to an annual credit against the principal and accrued interest due in the amount of $32,000. Noncompliance with this agreement will alter the payment terms of the note. As of December 31, 2011, the balance of $4,000 was recorded as current portion of long term debt. The note was fully paid as of December 31, 2012.

Long-term debt and the related current portion consist of the following (in thousands):

 

       As of December 31,     As of March 31,  
     2011     2012     2013  
                 (unaudited)  

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Term A loan

   $      $ 58,500      $ 47,750   

Term B loan

     13,839                 

City note payable

     4                 
  

 

 

 
     13,843        58,500        47,750   

Less current portion

     (4 )     (3,000     (3,000
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 13,839      $ 55,500        44,750   
  

 

 

 

 

 

Future principal payments of long-term debt as of December 31, 2012, are as follows (in thousands):

 

Year         

 

 

2013

   $ 3,000   

2014

     3,000   

2015

     3,000   

2016

     3,000   

2017

     3,000   

Thereafter

     43,500   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 58,500   
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

F-19


Table of Contents

9. Commitments and Contingencies

Operating Leases —The Company has operating lease agreements for office, research and development, and sales and marketing space that expire at various dates. The Company recognizes rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term and records the difference between cash rent payments and the recognition of rent expense as a deferred rent liability. Rent expense was $1.9 million, $2.2 million, and $2.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively and $0.7 million and $0.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2013, respectively. See Note 7, for additional information on related party operating leases.

Approximate remaining future minimum lease payments under these operating leases as of December 31, 2012, are as follows (in thousands):

 

Year    Future
payments
     Related party
future payments
     Total future
payments
 

 

 

2013

   $ 1,783       $ 1,143       $ 2,926   

2014

     1,573         1,143         2,716   

2015

     1,486         1,143         2,629   

2016

     1,188         1,143         2,331   

2017

     712         1,143         1,855   

Thereafter

     29         571         600   
  

 

 

 
   $ 6,771       $ 6,286       $ 13,057   
  

 

 

 

 

 

The Company has entered into licensing and consulting agreements with various third parties, of which, non-cancelable future minimum payments under such agreements total $1.1 million as of December 31, 2012.

Indemnification Agreements— In the ordinary course of business, the Company may provide indemnifications of varying scope and terms to customers, vendors, lessors, business partners, and other parties with respect to certain matters, including, but not limited to, losses arising out of breach of such agreements, services to be provided by the Company or from intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties. In addition, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with directors and certain officers and employees that will require the Company, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors, officers or employees. While the outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company does not believe that the outcome of any claims under indemnification arrangements will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, consolidated statement of operations, consolidated statements of comprehensive loss, or consolidated statements of cash flows.

10. Stock-Based Compensation

Stock Option Plan —The Company has two stock option plans (the “Plans”). The Company’s Plans have authorized 165,900 shares of the Company’s common stock for options, which may be granted to employees or directors of any subsidiary of the Company. Options have various vesting schedules. Shares under the Plans are available for grant from authorized, but unissued or reacquired, shares of the Company.

 

F-20


Table of Contents

The Plans are administered by the Board of the Company or, if established by the Board, the Compensation Committee of the Board, which has the authority to determine the type of incentive award, as well as the terms and conditions of the awards, including (i) the number of shares of common stock subject to the option; (ii) when the option becomes exercisable; (iii) the option exercise price; and (iv) the duration of the option. Options granted under the Plans generally vest over five years and expire no later than 10 years from the date of grant. As of December 31, 2011 and 2012, 38,018 and 82,038 shares were available for grant under the Plans, respectively.

Stock option activity under the Plans was as follows:

 

       Number of
shares
outstanding
    Weighted-
average
exercise
price
     Weighted
average
remaining
contractual 
life
(years)
     Aggregate
intrinsic value
(in thousands)
 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2010

     72,378      $ 77.95         6       $ 11,833   

Options granted (weighted average fair value of $38.20 per share)

     25,504        245.58         
  

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2011

     97,882      $ 121.69         6       $ 16,218   

Options granted (weighted average fair value of $73.69 per share)

     40,722      $ 248.29         

Options exercised

     (81,023   $ 112.62         

Options forfeited

     (3,719   $ 275.58         
  

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2012

     53,862      $ 225.76         9       $ 6,828   

Options granted (weighted average fair value of $120.48 per share)

     200      $ 352.52         

Options exercised

                    

Options forfeited

                    
  

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2013 (unaudited)

     54,062      $ 226.22         9       $ 6,828   
  

 

 

 

Options vested and expected to vest—December 31, 2012

     53,862      $ 225.76         9       $ 6,828   
  

 

 

 

Options exercisable—December 31, 2012

     8,208      $ 106.51         9       $ 2,018   
  

 

 

 

Options vested and expected to vest—March 31, 2013 (unaudited)

     54,062      $ 226.22         8       $ 6,828   
  

 

 

 

Options exercisable—March 31, 2013 (unaudited)

     10,260      $ 133.71         6       $ 2,245   

 

 

 

F-21


Table of Contents

A summary of options outstanding and exercisable as of December 31, 2012, is as follows:

 

       Options Outstanding  

 

 
Exercise prices   

Number

outstanding

    

Weighted-

average

remaining

contractual

life

(years)

    

Number

exercisable

 

 

 

$50.00

     3,220         5         3,220   

$100.00

     3,220         5         3,220   

$177.99

     2,000         8         800   

$239.33

     33,082         9           

$241.53

     2,700         8         540   

$275.92

     2,000         8         400   

$287.38

     140         9         28   

$287.86

     7,500         10           
  

 

 

 
     53,862         9         8,208   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

Employee Stock-Based Compensation —The fair value of options on the date of grant is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model using the single-option award approach with the weighted average assumptions set forth below. The Company estimates the expected term of options granted by taking the average of the vesting term and the contractual term of the option. Estimated volatilities are based on an analysis of comparable companies and the Company’s leverage. The Company bases the risk-free interest rate on the implied yield currently available on U.S. Treasury strips maturing at the expected option term. Although the Company paid a dividend as part of the recapitalization, the Company does not intend to pay cash dividends in the future, as such, expected dividends are zero. Expected forfeitures are based on the Company’s historical experience.

In conjunction with the Company’s recapitalization, discussed in Note 2, modifications were made to certain employee stock option agreements. These modifications included the acceleration of vesting of options exercisable for the purchase of 19,421 shares of common stock and adding a net share settlement feature to the agreements. Additionally, certain stock option agreements were cancelled and replacement options were issued with a lower exercise price, pursuant to the grants anti-dilution provisions in the underlying agreements. The lower exercise price of the replacement options reflects the change in value of the underlying stock, which resulted from the recapitalization. Modification accounting was applied to the replacement options and any excess fair value of the replacement award over the fair value of the cancelled award will be recorded as compensation cost over the remaining vesting period of the grants. The vested options were exercised through a cashless net share settlement, and the resulting shares were immediately repurchased by Compass. Settlement accounting was applied to these options and stock-based compensation expense was recorded to recognize expense for the previously unvested portion.

 

F-22


Table of Contents

The assumptions used to value stock-based awards granted to employees were as follows:

 

       For the years ended December 31,     For the three months
ended March 31,
 
     2010     2011     2012     2012     2013  
                       (unaudited)  

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expected term (years)

     6.5        6.5        5.5-6.5        6.5        5.5   

Volatility

     43     25     36     35     36

Risk-free interest rate

     0.42     3.31-3.41     0.60-1.40     1.36     0.79

Dividend yield

                                   

 

 

The following table summarizes the allocation of stock-based compensation in the accompanying consolidated statements of income (in thousands):

 

       For the years ended December 31,      For the three months
ended March 31,
 
     2010      2011      2012      2012      2013  
                          (unaudited)  

 

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cost of sales

   $       $       $       $       $   

Sales and marketing

     40         78         160         33         33   

Research and development

     12         12         29         3         17   

General and administrative

     472         940         1,959         267         652   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 524       $ 1,030       $ 2,148       $ 303       $ 702   
  

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2011 and 2012 and March 31, 2013, unamortized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested common stock options was $1.7 million, $2.5 million and $2.4 million, respectively. The weighted average period over which such stock-based compensation expense will be recognized is approximately three years.

The total intrinsic value of options exercised was $3.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. There were no stock options exercised for the year ended December 31, 2011. There were no options exercised for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2013.

There were no options granted to non-employees during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 or in the three months ended March 31, 2013.

11. Earnings Per Share and Unaudited Pro Forma Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share —Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income for the period by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income for the period by the weighted average number of shares of common stock and potentially dilutive common stock outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive common shares include shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options, which are reflected in diluted earnings per share by application of the treasury stock method.

 

F-23


Table of Contents

The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands except earnings per share):

 

       For the years ended
December 31,
     For the three months
ended March 31,
 
     2010      2011      2012      2012      2013  
                          (unaudited)  

 

 

Net income

   $ 10,769       $ 13,538       $ 14,210       $ 2,639       $ 3,549   
  

 

 

 

Weighted average shares used to compute basic earnings per share

     648         647         690         653         720   

Dilutive effect of employee stock plans

     37         49         10         48         15   
  

 

 

 

Weighted average shares used to compute diluted earnings per share

     685         696         700         701         735   
  

 

 

 

Earnings per share:

              

Basic

   $ 16.62       $ 20.92       $ 20.59       $ 4.04       $ 4.93   

Diluted

   $ 15.72       $ 19.45       $ 20.30       $ 3.76       $ 4.83   

 

 

The Company did not exclude any potentially dilutive shares from the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, or the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2013, as none of these shares would have been antidilutive.

12. Income Taxes

The components of income tax (expense) benefit, all of which is domestic, are as follows (in thousands):

 

       For the years ended December 31,  
     2010     2011     2012  

 

 

Current:

      

Federal

   $ 5,904      $ 7,802      $ 8,959   

State

     1,680        1,682        2,406   
  

 

 

 

Total

     7,584        9,484        11,365   
  

 

 

 

Deferred:

      

Federal

     (1,004     (2,025     (2,674

State

     (370     (405     (510
  

 

 

 

Total

     (1,374     (2,430     (3,184
  

 

 

 

Total provision

   $ 6,210      $ 7,054      $ 8,181   
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

F-24


Table of Contents

The following table presents a reconciliation of the statutory federal rate and the Company’s effective tax rate for the periods presented:

 

       For the years ended December 31,  
     2010     2011     2012  

 

 

Tax at federal statutory rate

     35.0     35.0     35.0

State taxes, net of federal benefit

     4.7        3.1        4.8   

Manufacturing deduction

     (3.6     (3.8     (1.3

Stock options

     0.6        1.7        (2.5

Research and development tax credit

     (2.8     (1.6       

Other

     2.7        (0.1     0.5   
  

 

 

 

Total provision

     36.6     34.3     36.5
  

 

 

 

 

 

The provision for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 was $1.6 million and $1.4 million, respectively. Effective tax rates were 30.9% and 34.2%. The decrease in the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2013 reflects the retroactive extension of the R&D tax credit as a result of a recent change in tax law.

The following table presents the significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities for the periods presented (in thousands):

 

       As of December 31,  
     2011     2012  

 

 

Deferred tax assets:

    

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   $ 151      $ 179   

Other reserves and prepaid assets

     1,421        2,716   

Inventory

     483        640   

State income taxes

     621        533   
  

 

 

 

Total deferred tax asset

     2,676        4,068   
  

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

    

Intangible assets

     (14,926     (12,761

Property and equipment

     (628     (524

Depreciation

     (2,056     (2,533
  

 

 

 

Total deferred tax liability

     (17,610     (15,818
  

 

 

 

Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)

   $ (14,934   $ (11,750
  

 

 

 

 

 

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):

 

       For the years
ended December 31,
 
     2011      2012  

 

 

Balance—beginning of period

   $ 3,521       $ 5,410   

Gross increases—current year tax positions

     1,889         1,882   
  

 

 

 

Balance—end of period

   $ 5,410       $ 7,292   
  

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2011 and 2012, some of the unrecognized tax benefits would impact the effective tax rate if recognized. However the Company does not believe that a material amount of its unrecognized tax benefits will be recognized.

 

F-25


Table of Contents

At December 31, 2011 and 2012, the Company had no cumulative interest and penalties related to the uncertain tax positions, and has elected to treat interest and penalties as a component of income tax expense.

The Company’s tax returns remain open to examination as follows: U.S. federal, 2009 through 2012; U.S. states, generally 2008 through 2012.

13. Retirement Plans

The Company established a 401(k) plan to provide tax deferred salary deductions for all eligible employees. Participants may make voluntary contributions to the 401(k) plan, limited by certain Internal Revenue Service restrictions. The Company made matching contributions of $0.2 million for each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010, 2011, and 2012 and $48,000 and $51,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2013.

14. Segments

The Company has determined that it has a single operating and reportable segment. The Company considers operating segments to be components of the Company in which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the Company’s chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The chief operating decision maker for the Company is the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer reviews financial information presented on a consolidated basis for purposes of allocating resources and evaluating financial performance. The following table summarizes total sales generated by geographic location of the customer (in thousands):

 

       For the years ended December 31,      For the three months
ended March 31,
 
     2010      2011      2012      2012      2013  
                          (unaudited)  

 

 

United States

   $ 53,538       $ 65,764       $ 84,283       $ 17,910       $ 18,905   

International

     117,445         131,975         151,586         27,761         35,973   
  

 

 

 

Total Sales

   $ 170,983       $ 197,739       $ 235,869       $ 45,671       $ 54,878   
  

 

 

 

 

 

The Company’s long-lived assets are primarily located in the United States and not allocated to any specific region. Therefore, geographic information is presented only for total sales.

Customers with accounts receivable balance of 10% or greater of the total accounts receivable are as follows:

 

       Percentage of accounts receivable  
     As of December 31,     As of March 31,  
     2011     2012     2013  
                 (unaudited)  

 

 

Customer A

     12     13     12

Customer B

     *     12     *

Customer C

     14     11     23

 

 

 

(*   Represents less than 10%)

One customer represented 16%, 12%, 13% and 14% of sales in the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, and for the three months ended March 31, 2013, respectively. No customer accounted for 10% of sales in the three months ended March 31, 2012.

 

F-26


Table of Contents

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

 

 

 

     shares

 

LOGO

FOX FACTORY HOLDING CORP.

Common stock

Prospectus

 

Baird

  William Blair   Piper Jaffray
Stifel      SunTrust Robinson Humphrey   
BB&T Capital Markets      CJS Securities, Inc.   

    , 2013

No action is being taken in any jurisdiction outside the United States to permit a public offering of the common stock or possession or distribution of this prospectus in that jurisdiction. Persons who come into possession of this prospectus in jurisdictions outside the United States are required to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions as to this offering and the distribution of the prospectus applicable to that jurisdiction.

Through and including     , 2013 (the 25th day after the date of this prospectus), all dealers effecting transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to a dealer’s obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to an unsold allotment or subscription.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Part II

Information not required in prospectus

Item 13.    Other expenses of issuance and distribution

The following table sets forth all expenses to be paid by Fox Factory Holding Corp. (the Registrant), other than underwriting discounts and commissions, in connection with this offering. All amounts shown are estimates except for the SEC registration fee, the FINRA filing fee, and the listing fee.

 

SEC registration fee

   $ 16,368   

FINRA filing fee

     18,500   

Listing fee

     150,000   

Printing and engraving

     220,000   

Legal fees and expenses

     2,000,000   

Accounting fees and expenses

     865,000   

Custodian transfer agent and registrar fees

     3,500   

Miscellaneous

     112,000   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 3,385,368   
  

 

 

 

 

 

Item 14.    Indemnification of directors and officers

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, authorizes a corporation’s board of directors to grant, and authorizes a court to award, indemnity to officers, directors, and other corporate agents.

The Registrant expects to adopt an amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering, and which will contain provisions that limit the liability of the Registrant’s directors for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Consequently, the Registrant’s directors will not be personally liable to the Registrant or the Registrant’s stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duties as directors, except for liability for the following:

 

 

any breach of their duty of loyalty to the Registrant or the Registrant’s stockholders;

 

 

any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

 

unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the DGCL; or

 

 

any transaction from which they derived an improper personal benefit.

Any amendment to, or repeal of, these provisions will not eliminate or reduce the effect of these provisions in respect of any act, omission or claim that occurred or arose prior to such amendment or repeal. If the DGCL is amended to provide for further limitations on the personal liability of directors of corporations, then the personal liability of the Registrant’s directors will be further limited to the greatest extent permitted by the DGCL.

 

II-1


Table of Contents

The Registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation will also provide that the Registrant will indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each person who was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative by reason of the fact that he or she is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer of the Registrant, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the request of the Registrant, as a director, officer, incorporator, employee or agent of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity. In addition, the Registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the Registrant must advance expenses incurred by or on behalf of a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of any action or proceeding, subject to very limited exceptions.

Further, prior to the completion of this offering, the Registrant expects to enter into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers and certain of its other officers that may be broader than the specific indemnification provisions provided for in the DGCL. These indemnification agreements will require the Registrant, among other things, to indemnify its directors and officers that are party to such indemnification agreements against liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service. These indemnification agreements will also require the Registrant to advance all expenses incurred by the directors and officers that are party to such indemnification agreements in investigating or defending any such action, suit, or proceeding. The Registrant believes that these agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve as directors and officers.

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions that will be included in the Registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and in indemnification agreements that the Registrant enters into with its directors and officers may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against its directors and officers for breach of their fiduciary duties. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against the Registrant’s directors and executive officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit the Registrant and other stockholders. Further, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent that the Registrant pays the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and executive officers as required by these indemnification provisions. At present, the Registrant is not aware of any pending litigation or proceeding involving any person who is or was one of its directors, officers, employees or other agents or is or was serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, for which indemnification is sought, and the Registrant is not aware of any threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification.

The Registrant will obtain prior to the closing of this offering insurance under which, subject to the limitations of the insurance policies, coverage is provided to the Registrant’s directors and executive officers against loss arising from claims made by reason of breach of fiduciary duty or other wrongful acts as a director or executive officer, including claims relating to public securities matters, and to the Registrant with respect to payments that may be made by the Registrant to these directors and executive officers pursuant to the Registrant’s indemnification obligations or otherwise as a matter of law.

The underwriting agreement filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this registration statement provides for indemnification by the underwriters of the Registrant and its officers and directors for certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act and otherwise.

 

II-2


Table of Contents

Item 15.    Recent sales of unregistered securities

Since January 1, 2010, the Registrant has issued the following securities that were not registered under the Securities Act:

1. The Registrant granted stock options to purchase an aggregate of 81,593 shares of common stock at exercise prices of $161.17 per share on May 4, 2010, $177.99 per share on August 3, 2010, $177.99 per share on August 19, 2010, $241.53 per share on March 1, 2011, $241.53 per share on March 21, 2011, $275.92 per share on May 2, 2011, $287.38 per share on August 19, 2011, $340.91 per share on February 10, 2012, $340.91 per share on February 27, 2012, $239.33 per share on June 15, 2012, $287.86 per share on October 3, 2012, $287.86 per share on December 6, 2012 and $352.52 per share on March 19, 2013, in each case to employees, consultants and directors under the Registrant’s 2008 Stock Option Plan and the Registrant’s 2008 Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan.

2. The Registrant issued an aggregate of 52,177 shares of common stock upon the net exercise of stock options on January 19, 2012 and June 15, 2012, in each case to employees, consultants and directors under the Registrant’s 2008 Stock Option Plan and the Registrant’s 2008 Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan.

3. In connection with a recapitalization transaction, the Registrant issued and sold an aggregate of 21,766 shares of common stock to certain of its employees for an aggregate consideration of $7,203,757 on June 15, 2012.

The offers, sales and issuances of the securities described in paragraphs 1 and 2 were deemed to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance on Rule 701 in that the transactions were under compensatory benefit plans and contracts relating to compensation as provided under Rule 701. The recipients of such securities were the Registrant’s employees, directors or bona fide consultants and received the securities under the Registrant’s 2008 Stock Option Plan and the Registrant’s 2008 Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan. Appropriate legends were affixed to the securities issued in these transactions. Each of the recipients of securities in these transactions had adequate access, through employment, business or other relationships, to information about the Registrant.

The offers, sales and issuances of the securities described in paragraph 3 were deemed to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance upon Section 4(2) of the Securities Act or Regulation D promulgated thereunder as transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering. The recipients of such securities were the Registrant’s employees and represented their intentions to acquire the securities for investment only and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof. Appropriate legends were affixed to the securities issued in these transactions. Each of the recipients of securities in these transactions had adequate access, through employment, business or other relationships, to information about the Registrant.

Item 16.    Exhibits and financial statement schedules

 

(a)   Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed herewith.

 

Exhibit
Number
     Description

 

 

    

 

    1.1       Form of Underwriting Agreement.
    3.1    Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be effective upon closing.

 

II-3


Table of Contents
Exhibit
Number
     Description

 

 

    

 

    3.2       Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws to be effective upon closing.
    4.1 †     Form of Common Stock certificate.
    4.2 †     Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 12, 2013, by and among Fox Factory Holding Corp., Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC, Madison Capital Funding Co-Investment Fund LP and certain other stockholders listed on the signature page thereto.
    4.3 †     Stockholders’ Agreement, as amended, dated January 4, 2008, by and among Fox Factory Holding Corp., Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC, Madison Capital Funding LLC, Robert C. Fox, Jr. and certain other stockholders listed on the signature page thereto.
    5.1       Form of Opinion of Paul Hastings LLP.
  10.1 †     Form of Indemnification Agreement between Fox Factory Holding Corp. and certain of its directors and officers.
  10.2 †     Form of Indemnification Agreement between Fox Factory Holding Corp. and Elias Sabo and certain advisors.
  10.3 †     2008 Stock Option Plan, as amended.
  10.4 †     2008 Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan, as amended.
  10.5    2013 Omnibus Plan.
  10.6       Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under 2013 Omnibus Plan.
  10.7       Employment Agreement, dated July 22, 2013, by and between Fox Factory Holding Corp. and Larry L. Enterline.
  10.8       Employment Agreement, dated July 22, 2013, by and between Fox Factory Holding Corp. and Zvi Glasman.
  10.9       Employment Agreement, dated July 22, 2013, by and between Fox Factory Holding Corp. and John Boulton.
  10.10       Employment Agreement, dated July 22, 2013, by and between Fox Factory Holding Corp. and Mario Galasso.
  10.11 †     Air Commercial Real Estate Association Standard Industrial / Commercial Single-Tenant Lease – Gross, dated October 31, 2011, by and between Fox Factory, Inc. and Sammie Rae Abitbol, LLC.
  10.12 †     Air Commercial Real Estate Association Standard Industrial / Commercial Single-Tenant-Gross, March 24, 2010, by and between Fox Factory, Inc. and Scarborough Gilbert Partners, and related addenda.
  10.13 †     Lease Agreement, dated July 1, 2003, by and between Fox Factory, Inc. and Robert C. Fox, Jr.
  10.14 †     Lease Agreement, dated June 13, 2006, by and between Fox Factory, Inc. and Freedom Associates, LLC, and related addenda.
  10.15 †     Air Commercial Real Estate Association Standard Industrial/Commercial Multi-Tenant Lease - Net, dated April 19, 2012, by and between Fox Factory, Inc. and North Johnson Vernon Property, LLC, and related addendum.

 

 

    

 

 

II-4


Table of Contents
Exhibit
Number
     Description
  10.16 †     Land and Factory Lease Agreement, dated April 2, 2012, by and among Fox Factory, Inc., Hong-Ming Lee, Zhi-Ming Lee, Qing-Yu Lee, Fu-Zhong Lu, Yu-Wei Lu and Guan-Lun Lu.
  10.17 †     Sublease, dated January 1, 2012, by and between Fox Factory, Inc. and Robert C. Fox, Jr., and related addendum.
  10.18 †     Services and Secondment Agreement, as amended, dated March 10, 2011, by and among Fox Factory, Inc., Fox Factory Holding Corp. and Vulcan Holdings, Inc.
  10.19 †     Employment Agreement, dated September 1, 2008, by and between Fox Factory, Inc. and Zvi Glasman and 409A Amendment thereto.
  10.20 †     Employment Agreement, dated January 4, 2008, by and between Fox Factory, Inc. and Mario Galasso and 409 Amendment thereto.
  10.21 †     Offer Letter with John Boulton, dated December 15, 2010.
  10.22       Form of Information Sharing and Cooperation Agreement by and between Compass Diversified Holdings, on its behalf and on behalf of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC, and Fox Factory Holding Corp., on its behalf and on behalf of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Fox Factory, Inc.
  10.23       Form of Revolving Credit Agreement to be entered into, by and among Fox Factory Holding Corp., Fox Factory, Inc., SunTrust Bank and the other parties thereto.
  10.24       Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy.
  10.25 †     KASHIMACOAT Agreement, dated September 17, 2009, by and between Fox Factory, Inc. and Miyaki.
  10.26 †     Credit Agreement, as amended, dated January 4, 2008, by and among Fox Factory, Inc., Fox Factory Holding Corp. and Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC.
  10.27 †     Management Services Agreement dated January 4, 2008 between Compass Group Management LLC and Fox Factory, Inc., as amended.
  21.1 †     List of subsidiaries.
  23.1       Consent of Grant Thornton LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
  23.2    Consent of Paul Hastings LLP (to be contained in the final Exhibit 5.1).
  24.1 †     Power of Attorney (contained in the signature page to this registration statement).

 

*   To be filed by amendment.

 

  Previously filed as an exhibit to this registration statement.

 

II-5


Table of Contents

(b) Financial statement schedules .    All financial statement schedules are omitted because they are not applicable, the required information is not present in amounts sufficient to require submission of such schedules or the information is included in the registrant’s consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.

Item 17.    Undertakings

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

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

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:

 

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

 

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

 

II-6


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Scotts Valley, State of California, on July 24, 2013.

 

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

By:

 

/s/ Larry L. Enterline

  Larry L. Enterline
  Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Amendment No. 2 to the registration statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature   Title   Date

 

/s/ Larry L. Enterline

 

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  July 24, 2013
Larry L. Enterline    

/s/ Zvi Glasman

 

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Accounting and Financial Officer)

  July 24, 2013
Zvi Glasman    

*

  Director   July 24, 2013
Elias Sabo    

*

  Director   July 24, 2013
Robert C. Fox, Jr.    

*

  Director   July 24, 2013
Dudley Mendenhall    

*

  Director   July 24, 2013
Carl Nichols    

*

  Director   July 24, 2013
Joseph Hagin    

*

Ted Waitman

  Director   July 24, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* By:

  /s/ Larry L. Enterline    
  Larry L. Enterline    
  Attorney-in-Fact    

 

II-7


Table of Contents

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit
Number
     Description

 

 

    

 

    1.1       Form of Underwriting Agreement.
    3.1    Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be effective upon closing.
    3.2       Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws to be effective upon closing.
    4.1 †     Form of Common Stock certificate.
    4.2 †     Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 12, 2013, by and among Fox Factory Holding Corp., Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC, Madison Capital Funding Co-Investment Fund LP and certain other stockholders listed on the signature page thereto.
    4.3 †     Stockholders’ Agreement, as amended, dated January 4, 2008, by and among Fox Factory Holding Corp., Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC, Madison Capital Funding LLC, Robert C. Fox, Jr. and certain other stockholders listed on the signature page thereto.
    5.1       Form of Opinion of Paul Hastings LLP.
  10.1 †     Form of Indemnification Agreement between Fox Factory Holding Corp. and certain of its directors and officers.
  10.2 †     Form of Indemnification Agreement between Fox Factory Holding Corp. and Elias Sabo and certain advisors.
  10.3 †     2008 Stock Option Plan, as amended.
  10.4 †     2008 Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan, as amended.
  10.5    2013 Omnibus Plan.
  10.6       Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under 2013 Omnibus Plan.
  10.7       Employment Agreement, dated July 22, 2013, by and between Fox Factory Holding Corp. and Larry L. Enterline.
  10.8       Employment Agreement, dated July 22, 2013, by and between Fox Factory Holding Corp. and Zvi Glasman.
  10.9       Employment Agreement, dated July 22, 2013, by and between Fox Factory Holding Corp. and John Boulton.
  10.10       Employment Agreement, dated July 22, 2013, by and between Fox Factory Holding Corp. and Mario Galasso.
  10.11 †     Air Commercial Real Estate Association Standard Industrial / Commercial Single-Tenant Lease – Gross, dated October 31, 2011, by and between Fox Factory, Inc. and Sammie Rae Abitbol, LLC.
  10.12 †     Air Commercial Real Estate Association Standard Industrial / Commercial Single-Tenant-Gross, March 24, 2010, by and between Fox Factory, Inc. and Scarborough Gilbert Partners, and related addenda.
  10.13 †     Lease Agreement, dated July 1, 2003, by and between Fox Factory, Inc. and Robert C. Fox, Jr.
  10.14 †     Lease Agreement, dated June 13, 2006, by and between Fox Factory, Inc. and Freedom Associates, LLC, and related addenda.


Table of Contents
Exhibit
Number
     Description

 

 

    

 

  10.15 †     Air Commercial Real Estate Association Standard Industrial/Commercial Multi-Tenant Lease - Net, dated April 19, 2012, by and between Fox Factory, Inc. and North Johnson Vernon Property, LLC, and related addendum.
  10.16 †     Land and Factory Lease Agreement, dated April 2, 2012, by and among Fox Factory, Inc., Hong-Ming Lee, Zhi-Ming Lee, Qing-Yu Lee, Fu-Zhong Lu, Yu-Wei Lu and Guan-Lun Lu.
  10.17 †     Sublease, dated January 1, 2012, by and between Fox Factory, Inc. and Robert C. Fox, Jr., and related addendum.
  10.18 †     Services and Secondment Agreement, as amended, dated March 10, 2011, by and among Fox Factory, Inc., Fox Factory Holding Corp. and Vulcan Holdings, Inc.
  10.19 †     Employment Agreement, dated September 1, 2008, by and between Fox Factory, Inc. and Zvi Glasman and 409A Amendment thereto.
  10.20 †     Employment Agreement, dated January 4, 2008, by and between Fox Factory, Inc. and Mario Galasso and 409 Amendment thereto.
  10.21 †     Offer Letter with John Boulton, dated December 15, 2010.
  10.22       Form of Information Sharing and Cooperation Agreement by and between Compass Diversified Holdings, on its behalf and on behalf of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC, and Fox Factory Holding Corp., on its behalf and on behalf of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Fox Factory, Inc.
  10.23       Form of Revolving Credit Agreement to be entered into, by and among Fox Factory Holding Corp., Fox Factory, Inc., SunTrust Bank and the other parties thereto.
  10.24       Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy.
  10.25 †     KASHIMACOAT Agreement, dated September 17, 2009, by and between Fox Factory, Inc. and Miyaki.
  10.26 †     Credit Agreement, as amended, dated January 4, 2008, by and among Fox Factory, Inc., Fox Factory Holding Corp. and Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC.
  10.27 †     Management Services Agreement dated January 4, 2008 between Compass Group Management LLC and Fox Factory, Inc., as amended.
  21.1 †     List of subsidiaries.
  23.1       Consent of Grant Thornton LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
  23.2    Consent of Paul Hastings LLP (to be contained in the final Exhibit 5.1).
  24.1 †     Power of Attorney (contained in the signature page to this registration statement).

 

*   To be filed by amendment.

 

  Previously filed as an exhibit to this registration statement.

Exhibit 1.1

FOX FACTORY HOLDING CORP.

Shares of Common Stock

Underwriting Agreement

, 2013

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

William Blair & Company, L.L.C.

Piper Jaffray & Co.

As Representatives of the

several Underwriters listed

in Schedule 1 hereto

c/o Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

227 West Monroe Street, Suite 2100

Chicago, Illinois 60606

c/o William Blair & Company, L.L.C.

222 West Adams Street

Chicago, Illinois 60606

c/o Piper Jaffray & Co.

345 Park Avenue, 12th Floor

New York, New York 10154

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Fox Factory Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell to the several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”), an aggregate of                 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company, and certain stockholders of the Company named in Schedule 2 hereto (the “Selling Stockholders”) propose, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to sell to the several Underwriters an aggregate of                 shares of common stock of the Company (collectively, the “Underwritten Shares”) and the Selling Stockholders propose to sell, at the option of the Underwriters, up to an additional                 shares of Common Stock of the Company (the “Option Shares”). The Underwritten Shares and the Option Shares are herein referred to as the “Shares”. The shares of Common Stock of the Company to be outstanding after giving effect to the sale of the Shares are referred to herein as the “Stock”.

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated has agreed to reserve a portion of the Shares to be purchased by it under this Agreement, up to                 Shares, for sale to certain of the Company’s business associates, directors, officers, employees and certain of their family members


(collectively, “Participants”), as set forth in the Prospectus (as hereinafter defined) under the heading “Underwriting” (the “Directed Share Program”). The Shares to be sold by Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated and its affiliates pursuant to the Directed Share Program are referred to hereinafter as the “Directed Shares”. Any Directed Shares not orally confirmed for purchase by any Participant by [            ] [A/P].M., New York City time on the business day on which this Agreement is executed will be offered to the public by the Underwriters as set forth in the Prospectus.

The Company and each Selling Stockholder, severally and not jointly, hereby confirm their agreement with the several Underwriters concerning the purchase and sale of the Shares (in the case of each Selling Stockholder, to be sold by such Selling Stockholder), as follows:

1. Registration Statement . The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-189841), including a prospectus, relating to the Shares. Such registration statement, as amended at the time it became effective, including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness (“Rule 430A Information”), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement”; and as used herein, the term “Preliminary Prospectus” means each prospectus included in such registration statement (and any amendments thereto) before effectiveness, any prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Securities Act and the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness that omits Rule 430A Information, and the term “Prospectus” means the prospectus in the form first used (or made available upon request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) in connection with confirmation of sales of the Shares. If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “Rule 462 Registration Statement”), then any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

At or prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below), the Company had prepared the following information (collectively with the pricing information set forth under Item (b) of Annex B hereto, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”): a Preliminary Prospectus dated             , 2013 and each “free-writing prospectus” (as defined pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act) listed under Item (a) of Annex B hereto.

“Applicable Time” means [            ] [A/P].M., New York City time, on             , 2013.

2. Purchase of the Shares by the Underwriters . (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company agrees to issue and sell, and each of the Selling Stockholders agrees, severally and not jointly, to sell the Underwritten Shares to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and each Underwriter, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase at a purchase price per share (the “Purchase Price”) of $        from the Company the respective number of Underwritten Shares set forth

 

-2-


opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule 1 hereto and from each of the Selling Stockholders the number of Underwritten Shares (to be adjusted by the Representatives in their sole discretion so as to eliminate fractional shares) determined by multiplying the aggregate number of Underwritten Shares to be sold by each of the Selling Stockholders as set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule 2 hereto by a fraction, the numerator of which is the aggregate number of Underwritten Shares to be purchased by such Underwriter as set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule 1 hereto and the denominator of which is the aggregate number of Underwritten Shares to be purchased by all the Underwriters from all of the Selling Stockholders hereunder.

In addition, each of the Selling Stockholders agrees, severally and not jointly, as and to the extent indicated in Schedule 2 hereto, to sell, the Option Shares to the several Underwriters, and the Underwriters shall have the option to purchase at their election up to Option Shares at the Purchase Price less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Underwritten Shares but not payable on the Option Shares. The Underwriters, on the basis of the representations and warranties and agreements herein contained and subject to the conditions set forth herein, shall have the option to purchase at their election, severally and not jointly, from each Selling Stockholder the Option Shares at the Purchase Price less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Underwritten Shares but not payable on the Option Shares. If any Option Shares are to be purchased, the number of Option Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the number of Option Shares which bears the same ratio to the aggregate number of Option Shares being purchased as the number of Underwritten Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule 1 hereto (or such number increased as set forth in Section 12 hereof) bears to the aggregate number of Underwritten Shares being purchased from the Selling Stockholders by the several Underwriters, subject, however, to such adjustments to eliminate any fractional Shares as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make. Any such election to purchase Option Shares shall be made in proportion to the maximum number of Option Shares to be sold by each Selling Stockholder as set forth in Schedule 2 hereto.

The Underwriters may exercise the option to purchase Option Shares at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, on or before the thirtieth day following the date of the Prospectus, by written notice from each of the Representatives to each of the Company and the Attorneys-in-Fact (as defined below). Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Option Shares as to which the option is being exercised and the date and time when the Option Shares are to be delivered and paid for, which may be the same date and time as the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) but shall not be earlier than the Closing Date or later than the tenth full business day (as hereinafter defined) after the date of such notice (unless such time and date are postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 12 hereof). Any such notice shall be given at least two business days prior to the date and time of delivery specified therein.

(b) The Company and the Selling Stockholders understand that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Shares as soon after the effectiveness of this Agreement as in the judgment of the Representatives is advisable, and initially to offer the Shares on the terms set forth in the Prospectus. The Company and the Selling Stockholders acknowledge and agree that the Underwriters may offer and sell Shares to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter.

 

-3-


(c) Payment for the Shares shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Company and the Attorneys-in-Fact (with regard to payment to the Selling Shareholders), to the Representatives in the case of the Underwritten Shares, at the offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, 2475 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, California 94304 at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on             , 2013, or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Representatives, the Company and the Attorneys-in-Fact may agree upon in writing or, in the case of the Option Shares, on the date and at the time and place specified by the Representatives in the written notice of the Underwriters’ election to purchase such Option Shares. The time and date of such payment for the Underwritten Shares is referred to herein as the “Closing Date”, and the time and date for such payment for the Option Shares, if other than the Closing Date, is herein referred to as the “Additional Closing Date.”

Payment for the Shares to be purchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall be made against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters of the Shares to be purchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the sale of such Shares duly paid by the Company and the Selling Stockholders, as applicable. Delivery of the Shares shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct. The certificates for the Shares will be made available for inspection and packaging by the Representatives at the office of DTC or its designated custodian not later than 1:00 P.M., New York City time, on the business day prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

(d) Each of the Company and the Selling Stockholders acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Company and the Selling Stockholders with respect to the offering of Shares contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company, the Selling Stockholders or any other person. Additionally, neither the Representatives nor any other Underwriter is advising the Company, the Selling Stockholders or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Company and the Selling Stockholders shall consult with their own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making their own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Underwriters shall have no responsibility or liability to the Company or the Selling Stockholders with respect thereto. Any review by the Underwriters of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Company or the Selling Stockholders.

 

-4-


3. Representations and Warranties of the Company . The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:

(a) Preliminary Prospectus. No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and the Preliminary Prospectus, dated             , 2013, included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act.

(b) Pricing Disclosure Package . The Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 9(c) hereof; and provided , further , that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Selling Stockholder furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder expressly for use in such Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Selling Stockholder consists of the information described as such in Section 4(e).

(c) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Other than the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not prepared, used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, use, authorize, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Shares (each such communication by the Company or its agents and representatives (other than a communication referred to in clause (i) below) an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”) other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act or (ii) the documents listed on Annex B hereto, each electronic road show and any other written communications approved in writing in advance by the Representatives. Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433) filed in accordance with the Securities Act (to the extent required thereby) and, when taken together with the Preliminary Prospectus accompanying, or delivered prior to delivery of, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or 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; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in

 

-5-


writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 9(c) hereof; and provided , further that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to statements or omissions made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Selling Stockholder furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder expressly for use in the Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Selling Stockholder consists of the information described as such in Section 4(e).

(d) Emerging Growth Company . From the time of 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 (as defined below)) through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”). “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Securities Act.

(e) Testing-the-Waters Materials. The Company (i) has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communications 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 Securities Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and (ii) has not authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company reconfirms that the Representatives have been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed or approved for distribution any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications (as defined below) other than those listed on Annex D hereto. “Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act. Any individual Written Testing-the-Waters Communication does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Pricing Disclosure Package, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, and when taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or 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; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty as to the information contained in or omitted from any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication in reliance upon, or in conformity with, information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described in Section 9(c)

 

-6-


hereof; and provided , further that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to statements or omissions made in any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Selling Stockholder furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Selling Stockholder consists of the information described as such in Section 4(e).

(f) Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the offering of the Shares has been initiated or threatened by the Commission; as of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, the Registration Statement and any such post-effective amendment complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act, and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or 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; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 9(c) hereof; and provided , further that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to statements or omissions made in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Selling Stockholder furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Selling Stockholder consists of the information described as such in Section 4(e).

(g) Financial Statements. The financial statements (including the related notes thereto) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates and for the periods indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the

 

-7-


United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby (except as noted therein), and any supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein; and the other financial information included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and presents fairly in all material respects the information shown thereby.

(h) No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been any change in the capital stock (other than the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of stock options and warrants described as outstanding in, and the grant of options and awards under existing equity incentive plans described in, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus), any material change in short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock, or any material adverse change in or affecting the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its business that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and that is either from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except in each case as otherwise disclosed in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(i) Organization and Good Standing. The Company and each of its subsidiaries have been duly organized and are validly existing and in good standing (where such concept is legally relevant) under the laws of their respective jurisdictions in which it is chartered or organized with full corporate or other organizational power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or other entity and is in good standing (where such concept is legally relevant) under the law of each jurisdiction where the ownership or leasing of its property or the conduct of its respective businesses requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so organized or qualified or in good standing or have such power or authority would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement (a “Material Adverse Effect”). The subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement are the only “significant subsidiaries” (as such term is defined in Item 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X) of the Company.

 

-8-


(j) Capitalization. The Company on a consolidated basis has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Capitalization”; except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, all the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company (including the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholders) have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to any pre-emptive or similar rights upon the proposed transfer of such shares; except as disclosed in or expressly contemplated by the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding rights (including, without limitation, pre-emptive rights), warrants or options to acquire, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock or other equity interest in the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any contract, commitment, agreement, understanding or arrangement of any kind relating to the issuance of any capital stock of the Company or any such subsidiary, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or any such rights, warrants or options; the capital stock of the Company conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each subsidiary owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of any lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party (other than as disclosed in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, including liens, encumbrances and restrictions disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus).

(k) Stock Options. With respect to the stock options (the “Stock Options”) granted pursuant to the stock-based compensation plans of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Company Stock Plans”), (i) each Stock Option intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) so qualifies, (ii) each grant of a Stock Option was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Stock Option was by its terms to be effective (the “Grant Date”) by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the board of directors of the Company (or a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof) and any required stockholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, (iii) each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Plans and all other applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, and (iv) each such grant was accounted for in accordance with GAAP in the financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company in all material respects.

 

-9-


(l) Due Authorization. The Company has the corporate right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder; and all corporate action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery by it of this Agreement and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly taken.

(m) Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(n) The Shares. The Shares to be issued and sold by the Company hereunder have been duly authorized by the Company and, when issued and delivered and paid for as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued, will be fully paid and nonassessable and will conform to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and the issuance of the Shares is not subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

(o) Descriptions of the Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(p) No Violation or Default. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents; (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject; or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(q) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

-10-


(r) No Consents Required. No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Shares and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for (i) the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required by FINRA and under applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters or (ii) such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or qualifications as shall have been obtained or made prior to the Closing Date.

(s) Legal Proceedings. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, suits or proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may be a party or to which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may be the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; to the knowledge of the Company, no such investigations, actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or, to the knowledge of the Company, contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or threatened by others; and (i) there are no current or pending legal, governmental or regulatory actions, suits or proceedings that are required under the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (ii) there are no contracts or other documents that are required under the Securities Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(t) Independent Accountants . Grant Thornton LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act.

(u) Title to Real and Personal Property. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple (in the case of real property) to, or have valid and marketable rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real and personal property and assets that are material to the respective businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims and defects and imperfections of title except those that (i) do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries or (ii) could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

-11-


(v) Title to Intellectual Property. The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights to use all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, and any registrations or applications thereof, licenses, inventions, and know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) (“Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as currently conducted and as proposed to be conducted, and the conduct of their respective businesses will not conflict with any such rights of others, except where a failure to own or possess adequate rights to use any item of Intellectual Property, or the conflict with the rights of others, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its subsidiaries have not received any notice of any claim of infringement, misappropriation or conflict with any such rights of others in connection with its Intellectual Property which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(w) No Undisclosed Relationships. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the other, that is required by the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and that is not so described in such documents and in the Pricing Disclosure Package.

(x) Investment Company Act. The Company is not and, immediately after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof received by the Company as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be required to register as an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Investment Company Act”).

(y) Taxes. The Company and its subsidiaries have paid all U.S. federal, state, local and foreign taxes and filed all tax returns required to be paid or filed through the date hereof, other than those that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no tax deficiency that has been, or could reasonably be expected to be, asserted against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets other than those that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(z) Licenses and Permits. The Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate U.S. federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in the

 

-12-


Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure to possess or make the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any such license, certificate, permit or authorization or has any reason to believe that any such license, certificate, permit or authorization will not be renewed in the ordinary course that could reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(aa) No Labor Disputes. No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is contemplated or threatened, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by, or dispute with, the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(bb) Compliance with and Liability Under Environmental Laws. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) the Company and its subsidiaries (a) are, and at all prior times were, in compliance with any and all applicable U.S. federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules, regulations, requirements, decisions, judgments, decrees, orders and the common law relating to pollution or the protection of the environment, natural resources or human health or safety, including those relating to the generation, storage, treatment, use, handling, transportation, Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (b) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations or approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, (c) have not received notice of any actual or potential liability under or relating to, or actual or potential violation of, any Environmental Laws, including for the investigation or remediation of any Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice, (d) are not conducting or paying for, in whole or in part, any investigation, remediation or other corrective action pursuant to any Environmental Law at any location, and (e) are not a party to any order, decree or agreement that imposes any obligation or liability under any Environmental Law, and (ii) there are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws of or relating to the Company or its subsidiaries, except in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, for any such matter, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii)(a) there are no proceedings that are pending, or that are known to be contemplated, against the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws in which a governmental entity is also a party, other than such proceedings regarding which it is reasonably believed no material monetary sanctions be imposed, (b) the Company and its subsidiaries are not aware of any facts or issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws, including the Release (as defined below) or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials (as defined below), that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of the Company and its subsidiaries, and (c) none of the Company and its subsidiaries anticipates material capital expenditures relating to any Environmental Laws.

 

-13-


(cc) Hazardous Materials . Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there has been no storage, generation, transportation, use, handling, treatment, Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials by, relating to or caused by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (or, to the knowledge of the Company and its subsidiaries, any other entity (including any predecessor) for whose acts or omissions the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or could reasonably be expected to be liable) at, on, under or from any property or facility now or previously owned, operated or leased by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or at, on, under or from any other property or facility, in violation of any Environmental Laws or in a manner or amount or to a location that could reasonably be expected to result in any liability under any Environmental Law, except for any violation or liability which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. “Hazardous Materials” means any material, chemical, substance, waste, pollutant, contaminant, compound, mixture, or constituent thereof, in any form or amount, including petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof) and petroleum products, natural gas liquids, asbestos and asbestos containing materials, naturally occurring radioactive materials, brine, and drilling mud, regulated or which can give rise to liability under any Environmental Law. “Release” means any spilling, leaking, seepage, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing, depositing, dispersing, or migrating in, into or through the environment, or in, into, from or through any building or structure.

(dd) Compliance with ERISA. (i) Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), for which the Company or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code would have any liability (each, a “Plan”) has been maintained in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to, ERISA and the Code, except for noncompliance that could not reasonably be expected to result in material liability to the Company or its subsidiaries; (ii) except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect to the Company or its subsidiaries; (iii) for each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, as applicable, has been satisfied (without taking into account any waiver thereof or extension of any amortization period) and is reasonably expected to be satisfied in the future (without taking into account any waiver thereof or extension of any amortization period); (iv) the fair market value of the assets of each Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA exceeds the present value of

 

-14-


all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan); (v) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that either has resulted, or could reasonably be expected to result, in material liability to the Company or its subsidiaries; (vi) neither the Company nor any member of the Controlled Group has incurred, nor reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plans or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a “multiemployer plan”, within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA) that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (vii) there is no pending audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other governmental agency or any foreign regulatory agency with respect to any Plan that could reasonably be expected to result in material liability to the Company or its subsidiaries.

(ee) Disclosure Controls . The Company maintains an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, collectively, the “Exchange Act”)) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and that has been designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(ff) Accounting Controls. The Company maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting (to the extent required by and as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to the Company and has been designed by the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or under their supervision, sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States, including, but not limited to, internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) 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 disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no material weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls. The Company’s auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company have been advised of: (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal

 

-15-


controls over financial reporting which have adversely affected or are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

(gg) Insurance. The Company and its subsidiaries have insurance covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses, including business interruption insurance, which insurance is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as are adequate to protect the Company and its subsidiaries and their respective businesses; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has (i) received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance or (ii) any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business.

(hh) No Unlawful Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.

(ii) Compliance with Money Laundering Laws . The operations of the Company and its 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 jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”), in each case, to the extent applicable to the Company and its subsidiaries, and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(jj) Compliance with OFAC. None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”); and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering of the Shares hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

-16-


(kk) No Restrictions on Subsidiaries . Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s properties or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company.

(ll) No Broker’s Fees. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment to any person other than the Underwriters and their affiliates pursuant to this Agreement in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares.

(mm) No Registration Rights . Except for such rights as have been duly exercised or waived, no person has the right to require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register any securities for sale under the Securities Act by reason of the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission, the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, the sale of the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholders hereunder.

(nn) No Stabilization. The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares.

(oo) Margin Rules . The application of the proceeds received by the Company from the issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.

(pp) Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

(qq) Statistical and Market Data. Nothing has come to the attention of the Company that has caused the Company to believe that the statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus is not based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material respects.

 

-17-


(rr) Sarbanes-Oxley Act . There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

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

(tt) Directed Share Program . The Company represents and warrants that (i) the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses comply in all material respects, and any further amendments or supplements thereto will comply in all material respects, with any applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and as amended or supplemented, if applicable, are distributed in connection with the Directed Share Program, and that (ii) no authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration or qualification of or with any government, governmental instrumentality or court, other than such as have been obtained, is necessary under the securities laws and regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the Directed Shares are offered outside the United States. The Company has not offered, or caused the Underwriters to offer, Shares to any person pursuant to the Directed Share Program with the specific intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier of the Company to alter the customer or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company, or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or its products.

4. Representations and Warranties of the Selling Stockholders . Each of the Selling Stockholders severally, and not jointly, represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:

(a) Required Consents; Authority . All consents, approvals, authorizations and orders necessary for the execution and delivery by such Selling Stockholder of this Agreement and the Power of Attorney (the “Power of Attorney”) and the Custody Agreement (the “Custody Agreement”) hereinafter referred to, and for the sale and delivery of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder, have been obtained; and such Selling Stockholder has full right, power and corporate authority to enter into this Agreement, the Power of Attorney and the Custody Agreement and to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder; this Agreement, the Power of Attorney and the Custody Agreement have each been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Selling Stockholder.

 

-18-


(b) No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance by such Selling Stockholder of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney and the Custody Agreement, the sale of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder and the consummation by such Selling Stockholder of the transactions contemplated herein or therein will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of such Selling Stockholder pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which such Selling Stockholder is a party or by which such Selling Stockholder is bound or to which any of the property or assets of such Selling Stockholder is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of such Selling Stockholder or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory agency, except in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, violation, default, lien, charge, encumbrance or violation, as applicable, that would not have a material adverse effect on the ability of such Selling Stockholder to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

(c) Title to Shares. Such Selling Stockholder has good and valid title to the Shares to be sold at the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, by such Selling Stockholder hereunder, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or adverse claims; such Selling Stockholder will have, immediately prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, good and valid title to the Shares to be sold at the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, by such Selling Stockholder, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or adverse claims; and, upon delivery of the certificates representing such Shares and payment therefor pursuant hereto, good and valid title to such Shares, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or adverse claims, will pass to the several Underwriters.

(d) No Stabilization. Such Selling Stockholder has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares.

(e) Pricing Disclosure Package . The Pricing Disclosure Package, at the Applicable Time did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or 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; provided that the representations and warranties set forth in this Section 4(e) are limited in all respects to statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Selling Stockholder furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that such information furnished by or on behalf of any Selling Stockholder consists only of (A) such Selling Stockholder’s legal name, address and the number of shares of Common Stock owned by such Selling Stockholder, and (B) the other information (excluding percentages) with respect to the Selling Stockholder which appears in the table (and corresponding footnotes) and the caption “Principal and Selling Stockholder” in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus

 

-19-


or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and provided, further that such Selling Stockholder makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 9(c) hereof.

(f) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and Written Testing-the-Waters Communication. Other than the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, such Selling Stockholder (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not prepared, used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, use, authorize, approve or refer to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act or (ii) the documents listed on Annex B or Annex D hereto, each electronic road show and any other written communications approved in writing in advance by the Company and the Representatives.

(g) Registration Statement and Prospectus. As of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, the Registration Statement and any such post-effective amendment complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act, and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the representations and warranties set forth in this Section 4(g) are limited in all respects to statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Selling Stockholder furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that such information furnished by the Selling Stockholder consists of the information described as such in Section 4(e) and provided , further that such Selling Stockholder makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 9(c) hereof.

 

-20-


(h) Material Information . As of the date hereof, as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the sale of the Shares by such Selling Stockholder is not and will not be prompted by any material information concerning the Company which is not set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto.

Each of the Selling Stockholders, severally and not jointly, with respect to only itself and the Shares to be sold by it, represents and warrants that certificates in negotiable form representing all of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholders hereunder have been placed in custody under a Custody Agreement relating to such Shares, in the form heretofore furnished to you, duly executed and delivered by such Selling Stockholder to Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC, as custodian (the “Custodian”), and that such Selling Stockholder has duly executed and delivered Powers of Attorney, in the form heretofore furnished to you, appointing the person or persons indicated in Schedule 2 hereto, and each of them, as such Selling Stockholder’s Attorneys-in-fact (the “Attorneys-in-Fact” or any one of them the “Attorney-in-Fact”) with authority to execute and deliver this Agreement on behalf of such Selling Stockholder, to determine the purchase price to be paid by the Underwriters to the Selling Stockholders as provided herein, to authorize the delivery of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder and otherwise to act on behalf of such Selling Stockholder in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Custody Agreement.

Each of the Selling Stockholders specifically agrees that the Shares represented by the certificates held in custody for such Selling Stockholder under the Custody Agreement, are subject to the interests of the Underwriters hereunder, and that the arrangements made by such Selling Stockholder for such custody, and the appointment by such Selling Stockholder of the Attorneys-in-Fact by the Power of Attorney, are to that extent irrevocable. Each of the Selling Stockholders specifically agrees that the obligations of such Selling Stockholder hereunder shall not be terminated by operation of law, whether by the death or incapacity of any individual Selling Stockholder, or, in the case of an estate or trust, by the death or incapacity of any executor or trustee or the termination of such estate or trust, or in the case of a partnership, corporation or similar organization, by the dissolution of such partnership, corporation or organization, or by the occurrence of any other event. If any individual Selling Stockholder or any such executor or trustee should die or become incapacitated, or if any such estate or trust should be terminated, or if any such partnership, corporation or similar organization should be dissolved, or if any other such event should occur, before the delivery of the Shares hereunder, certificates representing such Shares shall be delivered by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Custody Agreement, and actions taken by the Attorneys-in-Fact pursuant to the Powers of Attorney shall be as valid as if such death, incapacity, termination, dissolution or other event had not occurred, regardless of whether or not the Custodian, the Attorneys-in-Fact, or any of them, shall have received notice of such death, incapacity, termination, dissolution or other event.

 

-21-


5. Further Agreements of the Company . The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter that:

(a) Required Filings. The Company will file the final Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A under the Securities Act, will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; and will furnish copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered) to the Underwriters in New York City prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request.

(b) Delivery of Copies. The Company will deliver, without charge, (i) to the Representatives, upon request, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case including all exhibits and consents filed therewith; and (ii) to each Underwriter (A) a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) and (B) during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below), as many copies of the Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus) as the Representatives may reasonably request. As used herein, the term “Prospectus Delivery Period” means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Shares is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Shares by any Underwriter or dealer.

(c) Amendments or Supplements, Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Before preparing, using, authorizing, approving, referring to or filing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, amendment or supplement for review and will not prepare, use, authorize, approve, refer to or file any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object.

(d) Notice to the Representatives. The Company will advise the Representatives promptly, and confirm such advice in writing, (i) when the Registration Statement has become effective; (ii) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective; (iii) when any supplement to the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or any amendment to the Prospectus has been filed or distributed; (iv) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or any other request by the Commission for any additional information including, but not limited to, any request for information concerning any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication; (v) of the issuance by the Commission of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A

 

-22-


of the Securities Act; (vi) of the occurrence of any event or development within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; and (vii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and the Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or suspending any such qualification of the Shares and, if any such order is issued, will obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

(e) Ongoing Compliance. (1) If during the Prospectus Delivery Period (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law and (2) if at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate, such amendments or supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package as may be necessary so that the statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Pricing Disclosure Package will comply with law.

 

-23-


(f) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for distribution of the Shares; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.

(g) Earnings Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders and the Representatives as soon as practicable an earnings statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the “effective date” (as defined in Rule 158) of the Registration Statement.

(h) Clear Market. For a period of 180 days after the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not (i) 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, directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Stock or any such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated and William Blair & Company, L.L.C., other than (A) the Shares to be sold hereunder, (B) any shares of Stock of the Company issued upon the exercise of options or pursuant to other awards granted under Company Stock Plans, (C) options, awards of restricted stock and restricted stock units or the issuance of shares of Common Stock granted to employees or directors or consultants by the Company in the ordinary course of business or pursuant to any of the Company’s Stock Plans existing on the date of this Agreement and described in the Registration Statement, (D) any securities of the Company issued upon the conversion, swap or exchange of convertible notes outstanding as of the date hereof and described in the Registration Statement, or (E) the shares of Common Stock issued in connection with the acquisition of the assets of, or a majority or controlling portion of the equity of, or a joint venture with another entity in connection with the acquisition by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of such entity; provided, however, the aggregate number of shares issued pursuant to clause (E) above, considered individually and together with all such previous acquisitions or joint ventures, if any, announced during the 180-day restricted period shall not exceed 10.0% of the Common Stock issued and outstanding on a fully diluted basis as of the date of such acquisition agreement or joint venture agreement, as the case may be.

 

-24-


If Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated and William Blair & Company, L.L.C., in their sole discretion, agree to release or waive the restrictions set forth in Section 6(a) or a lock-up letter described in Section 8(m) hereof for an officer or director 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 substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver.

(i) No Stabilization. The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Stock.

(j) Use of Proceeds . The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares sold by the Company as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Use of proceeds”.

(k) Exchange Listing. The Company will use its best efforts to list for quotation the Shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (the “Nasdaq Market”).

(l) Reports. For a period of two years from the date of this Agreement, so long as the Shares are outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Representatives, as soon as they are available, copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to all holders of the Shares, and copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange or automatic quotation system; provided the Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports and financial statements to the Representatives to the extent they are filed on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system.

(m) Record Retention . The Company will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 433 under the Securities Act.

(n) Filings. The Company will file with the Commission such reports with respect to the sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds therefrom as may be required by Rule 463 under the Securities Act.

(o) Directed Share Program. The Company will comply with all applicable securities and other laws, rules and regulations in each jurisdiction in which the Directed Shares are offered in connection with the Directed Share Program.

(p) Emerging Growth Company . 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 Shares within the meaning of the Securities Act and (ii) completion of the 180-day restricted period referred to in Section 5(h) hereof.

 

-25-


6. Further Agreements of the Selling Stockholders . Each of the Selling Stockholders, severally and not jointly, covenants and agrees with each Underwriter that:

(a) Clear Market . For a period of 180 days after the date of the initial public offering of the Shares, such Selling Stockholder will not (i) 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, directly or indirectly, any shares of Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Stock (including without limitation, Stock or such other securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by such Selling Stockholder in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant), or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge or disposition, (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Stock or any such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise or (iii) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any shares of Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Stock without the prior written consent of Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated and William Blair & Company, L.L.C., in each case other than (A) the Common Stock to be sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder, (B) transfers of the Common Stock as a bona fide gift or gifts, (C) as a distribution to direct or indirect affiliates, limited partners, members or shareholders of such Selling Stockholder, (D) transfers of Common Stock to any immediate family member, any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned or any of their successors upon death or any partnership or limited liability company, the partners or members of which consist of such Selling Stockholder and one or more members of such Selling Stockholder’s immediate family (for purposes of this Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin) and such transfer does not involve a disposition for value, (E) transfers of Common Stock to any beneficiary of such Selling Stockholder pursuant to a will, other testamentary document or applicable laws of descent, (F) transfers of Common Stock to such Selling Stockholder’s affiliates or to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed by such Selling Stockholder and (G) pledges of Common Stock (including transfer in connection with any such pledges) in favor of lenders under such Selling Stockholder’s credit facilities in existence as of the date hereof.

(b) Tax Form. It will deliver to the Representatives prior to or at the Closing Date a properly completed and executed United States Treasury Department Form W-9 (or other applicable form or statement specified by the Treasury Department regulations in lieu thereof) in order to facilitate the Underwriters’ documentation of their compliance with the reporting and withholding provisions of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 with respect to the transactions herein contemplated.

 

-26-


7. Certain Agreements of the Underwriters . Each Underwriter hereby represents and agrees that:

(a) It has not used, authorized use of, referred to or participated in the planning for use of, and will not use, authorize use of, refer to or participate in the planning for use of, any “free writing prospectus”, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (which term includes use of any written information furnished to the Commission by the Company and not incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and any press release issued by the Company) other than (i) a free writing prospectus that contains no “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) under the Securities Act) that was not included (including through incorporation by reference) in the Preliminary Prospectus or a previously filed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Annex B or prepared pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 4(c) above (including any electronic road show), or (iii) any free writing prospectus prepared by such underwriter and approved by the Company in advance in writing (each such free writing prospectus referred to in clauses (i) or (iii), an “Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus”).

(b) It has not and will not distribute any Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus referred to in clause (a)(i) in a manner reasonably designed to lead to its broad unrestricted dissemination.

(c) It has not and will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, use any free writing prospectus that contains the final terms of the Shares unless such terms have previously been included in a free writing prospectus filed with the Commission; provided that Underwriters may use a term sheet substantially in the form of Annex C hereto without the consent of the Company; provided further that any Underwriter using such term sheet shall notify the Company, and provide a copy of such term sheet to the Company, prior to the first use of such term sheet.

(d) It is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act with respect to the offering (and will promptly notify the Company and the Selling Stockholders if any such proceeding against it is initiated during the Prospectus Delivery Period).

8. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligation of each Underwriter to purchase the Underwritten Shares on the Closing Date or the Option Shares on the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, as provided herein is subject to the performance by the Company and each of the Selling Stockholders of their respective covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

(a) Registration Compliance; No Stop Order. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose, or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Securities Act (in the case of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act) and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives.

 

-27-


(b) Representations and Warranties. The respective representations and warranties of the Company and the Selling Stockholders contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be; and the statements of the Company and its officers and of each of the Selling Stockholders and their officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

(c) No Downgrade. Subsequent to the earlier of (A) the Applicable Time and (B) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, if there are any debt securities or preferred stock of or guaranteed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries that are rated by a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as such term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded any such debt securities or preferred stock and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of any such debt securities or preferred stock (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading).

(d) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the Applicable Time or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto), no event or condition of a type described in Section 3(h) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Pricing Disclosure Package (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representatives is so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(e) Officer’s Certificate and Selling Stockholders’ Certificate. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, (x) a certificate of the chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of the Company and one additional senior executive officer of the Company who is satisfactory to the Representatives (i) confirming that such officers have carefully reviewed the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and, to the knowledge of such officers, the representations of the Company set forth in Sections 3(b) and 3(d) hereof are true and correct, (ii) confirming that the other representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct and that the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and (iii) to the effect set forth in paragraphs (a), (c) and (d) above and (y) a certificate of each of the Selling Stockholders or appropriate representative or Attorney-in-Fact, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, (A) confirming that the representations of such Selling Stockholder set forth in Sections 4(e), 4(f) and 4(g) hereof is true and correct and (B) confirming that the other representations and warranties of such Selling Stockholder in this agreement are true and correct and that the such Selling Stockholder has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Closing Date.

 

-28-


(f) Comfort Letters. On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, Grant Thornton LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; provided, that the letter delivered on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall use a “cut-off” date no more than three business days prior to such Closing Date or such Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

(g) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Company. Paul Hastings LLP, counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, their written opinion and 10b-5 statement, dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Annex A-1 hereto.

(h) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Selling Stockholders. Squire Sanders (US) LLP, counsel for Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC, and Whalen LLP, counsel for Madison Capital Partners, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC and Madison Capital Partners, respectively, their written opinions and 10b-5 statements, dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Annex A-2 hereto.

(i) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Underwriters. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion and 10b-5 statement of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, counsel for the 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.

(j) No Legal Impediment to Issuance and/or Sale. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any U.S. federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance or sale of the Shares by the Company or the sale of the Shares by the Selling Stockholders; and no injunction or order of any U.S. federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance or sale of the Shares by the Company or the sale of the Shares by the Selling Stockholders.

 

-29-


(k) Good Standing . The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company and its subsidiaries in their respective jurisdictions of organization and their good standing (where legally relevant) as foreign entities in such other jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.

(l) Exchange Listing. The Shares to be delivered on the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall have been approved for listing on The NASDAQ Stock Market, subject to official notice of issuance.

(m) Lock-up Agreements . The “lock-up” agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, between you and certain shareholders, officers and directors of the Company relating to sales and certain other dispositions of shares of Stock or certain other securities, delivered to you on or before the date hereof, shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.”

(n) Credit Agreement. The closing and funding of the loans under the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of , 2013, among the Company and Fox Factory, Inc., as borrowers, the lenders party thereto, and SunTrust Bank, as Administrative Agent, shall be consummated prior to or simultaneously with the purchase of the Underwritten Shares by the Underwriters on the Closing Date.

(o) Additional Documents. On or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall have furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

9. Indemnification and Contribution .

(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, reasonable and documented legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required

 

-30-


to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, not misleading, (ii) or any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or any Pricing Disclosure Package (including any Pricing Disclosure Package that has subsequently been amended), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with (A) any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in subsection (c) below, and (B) any information relating to any Selling Stockholder furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Selling Stockholder consists of the information described as such in Section 4(e).

(b) Indemnification of the Underwriters by the Selling Stockholders. Each of the Selling Stockholders severally in proportion to the number of Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, provided that such Selling Stockholder shall only be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus , any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or any Pricing Disclosure Package, in reliance upon and in conformity with the information furnished by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder as described in Section 4(e); provided , further , that the liability of such Selling Stockholder pursuant to this paragraph (b) and the contribution by such Selling Stockholder under paragraph (e) below shall not exceed the net proceeds (after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, but without deducting expenses of the Company or the Selling Stockholders) received by such Selling Stockholder from the sale of the Shares sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder.

(c) Indemnification of the Company and the Selling Stockholders. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each of the Selling Stockholders to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the

 

-31-


Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or any Pricing Disclosure Package (including any Pricing Disclosure Package that has subsequently been amended), it being understood and agreed upon that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the paragraph under the caption “Underwriting”, the information contained in the paragraph under the caption “Underwriting”, and the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of .

(d) Notice and Procedures. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9, such person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interest between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be paid or reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated and William Blair & Company, L.L.C., any such separate firm for the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company and any such separate firm for the Selling Stockholders shall be designated in writing by the Attorneys-in-Fact or any one of them. The Indemnifying Person

 

-32-


shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

(e) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein (other than as a result of the limitations imposed on indemnification described in such preceding sections of this Section 9), then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, from the offering of the Shares 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) but also the relative fault of the Company and the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Selling Stockholders from the sale of the Shares and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection therewith, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Shares. The relative fault of the Company and the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company and the Selling Stockholders or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

-33-


(f) Limitation on Liability. The Company, the Selling Stockholders and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to paragraph (e) above were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Selling Stockholders or the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (e) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (e) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of (i) paragraphs (e) and (f), in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Shares exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission and (ii) in no event shall the total amount payable by a Selling Stockholder pursuant to Sections 9(b) and 9(e) be an amount in excess of the net proceeds (after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, but without deducting expenses of the Company or the Selling Stockholders) received by such Selling Stockholder from the sale of the Shares sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder. 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 Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to paragraphs (e) and (f) are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.

(g) Non-Exclusive Remedies. The remedies provided for in this Section 9 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

(h) Directed Share Program Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each a “Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entity”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any reasonable and documented legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with defending or investigating any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred) (i) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any material prepared by or with the consent of the Company for distribution to Participants in connection with the Directed Share Program or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; (ii) caused by the failure of any Participant to pay for and accept delivery of Directed Shares that the Participant agreed to purchase; or (iii) related to, arising out of, or in connection with the Directed Share Program, other than losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or expenses relating thereto) that are finally judicially determined to have resulted from the bad faith or gross negligence of the Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entities.

 

-34-


(i) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entity in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to paragraph (h) above, the Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entity seeking indemnity shall promptly notify the Company in writing and the Company, upon request of the Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entity, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entity to represent the Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entity and any others the Company may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entity shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entity unless (i) the Company and such Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entity shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel, (ii) the Company has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entity, (iii) the Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entity shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Company or (iv) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Company and the Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entity and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. The Company shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of the Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entities in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entities. The Company shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Company agrees to indemnify the Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entities from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time any Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entity shall have requested the Company to reimburse such Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated LLC Entity for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the Company agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Company of the aforesaid request and (ii) the Company shall not have reimbursed such Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entity in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entity is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entity, unless (x) such settlement includes an unconditional release of the Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entities from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of the Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entity.

(j) To the extent the indemnification provided for in paragraph (h) above is unavailable to a Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entity or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein (other than as a result of the limitations imposed on indemnification described in paragraph (h) above), then the Company in lieu of indemnifying the Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entity thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entity as a result of such

 

-35-


losses, claims, damages or liabilities (1) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entities on the other hand from the offering of the Directed Shares or (2) if the allocation provided by clause 9(j)(1) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 9(j)(1) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entities on the other hand in connection with any statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entities on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Directed Shares shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Directed Shares (before deducting expenses) and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entities for the Directed Shares, bear to the aggregate public offering price of the Directed Shares. If the loss, claim, damage or liability is caused by an untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entities on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entities and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

(k) The Company and the Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entities agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to paragraph (j) above were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entities were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (j) above. The amount paid or payable by the Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entities as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entities in connection with investigating or defending such any action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (i) above, no Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entity shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Directed Shares distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entity has otherwise been required to pay. 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 remedies provided for in paragraphs (h) through (k) are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

(l) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in paragraphs (h) through (k) shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Entity or the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Directed Shares.

 

-36-


10. Effectiveness of Agreement . This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.

11. Termination . This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice to the Company and the Selling Stockholders, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date or, in the case of the Option Shares, prior to the Additional Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by any of the New York Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by U.S. federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

12. Defaulting Underwriter .

(a) If, on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Shares that it has agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, the non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Shares by other persons satisfactory to the Company and the Selling Stockholders on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Shares, then the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Shares on such terms. If other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company and the Selling Stockholders may postpone the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company, counsel for the Selling Stockholders or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in Schedule 1 hereto that, pursuant to this Section 12, purchases Shares that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.

(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters, the Company and the Selling Stockholders as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Shares that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be,

 

-37-


does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate number of Shares to be purchased on such date, then the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder on such date plus such Underwriter’s pro rata share (based on the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase on such date) of the Shares of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made.

(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters, the Company and the Selling Stockholders as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Shares that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate amount of Shares to be purchased on such date, or if the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement or, with respect to any Additional Closing Date, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase Shares on the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 12 shall be without liability on the part of the Company and the Selling Stockholders, except that the Company will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 13 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 9 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.

(d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company, the Selling Stockholders or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.

13. Payment of Expenses .

(a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incurred by the Company incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Shares and any taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof; (iii) the fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and independent accountants; (iv) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification and determination of eligibility for investment of the Shares under the state or foreign securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters related thereto, such fees and expenses not to exceed $50,000); (v) the cost of preparing stock certificates; (vi) the costs and charges of any transfer agent and any registrar; (vii) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of the offering by, FINRA; (vii) all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any “road show” presentation to potential investors provided, however , that the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show shall be paid 50% by the Company and 50% by the Underwriters; and (ix) all expenses and application

 

-38-


fees related to the listing of the Shares on the Nasdaq Market and (x) all of the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of counsel incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program and stamp duties, similar taxes or duties or other taxes, if any, incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program.

(b) If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) of Section 11, (ii) the Company or the Selling Stockholders for any reason fail to tender the Shares for delivery to the Underwriters (other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters) or (iii) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Shares for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby; provided that, if a Selling Stockholder fails to tender its Shares for delivery to the Underwriters (without any fault on the part of the Company or the other Selling Stockholders), such Selling Stockholder agrees to reimburse the Underwriters only for its pro rata portion of such reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of their counsel) based upon the number of Shares agreed to be sold by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement relative to the total number of Shares agreed to be sold by the Selling Stockholders and the Company pursuant to this Agreement.

14. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and any controlling persons referred to in Section 9 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.

15. Survival . The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company, the Selling Stockholders and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company, the Selling Stockholders or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Shares and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company, the Selling Stockholders or the Underwriters.

16. Certain Defined Terms . For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term “affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; (b) the term “business day” means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; and (c) the term “subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

-39-


17. Miscellaneous .

(a) Authority of Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, William Blair & Company, L.L.C. and Piper Jaffray & Co. Any action by the Underwriters hereunder may be taken by Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, William Blair & Company, L.L.C. and Piper Jaffray & Co. on behalf of the Underwriters, and any such action taken by Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, William Blair & Company, L.L.C. and Piper Jaffray & Co. shall be binding upon the Underwriters.

(b) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be given to the Representatives c/o Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, 777 East Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 2800, Milwaukee, WI 53202 (fax: (414)765-3912), Attention: General Counsel, c/o William Blair & Company, L.L.C., 222 West Adams Street, Chicago, IL 60606 (fax: (312) 551-4646), Attention: General Counsel, and c/o Piper Jaffray & Co., 800 Nicollet Mall, Suite 800, Minneapolis, MN (fax: (612)303-1068), Attention: Legal Counsel. Notices to the Company shall be given to it at Fox Factory Holding Corp., 915 Disc Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066, (fax: (831) 768-9342), Attention: Larry Enterline; with a copy to Paul Hastings LLP, 695 Town Center Drive, Seventeenth Floor, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, (fax: (714) 668-6364), Attention: Stephen D. Cooke, Esq. Notices to the Selling Stockholders shall be given to the Attorneys-in-Fact at Compass Diversified Holdings LLC, 2010 Main Street, Suite 1020, Irvine, CA 92614, (Fax: (949) 333-5043); Attention: Elias Sabo and Jim Bottiglieri.

(c) 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 applicable to agreements made and to be performed in such state.

(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts (which may include counterparts delivered by any standard form of telecommunication), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

(e) Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

(f) Patriot Act . In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

(g) Headings. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

 

-40-


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.

 

Very truly yours,
FOX FACTORY HOLDING CORP.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

-41-


SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

As Attorneys-in-Fact acting on

behalf of each of the Selling

Stockholders named in

Schedule 2 to this Agreement.

 

-42-


Accepted:             , 2013
ROBERT W. BAIRD & CO. INCORPORATED
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
WILLIAM BLAIR & COMPANY, L.L.C.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
PIPER JAFFRAY & CO.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

For themselves and on behalf of the

several Underwriters listed

in Schedule 1 hereto.

 

-43-


Schedule 1

 

Underwriter

   Number of Underwritten Shares to be  Purchased
from the Company

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

  

William Blair & Company, L.L.C.

  

Piper Jaffray & Co.

  

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated

  

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.

  

BB&T Capital Markets, a division of BB&T Securities, LLC

  

CJS Securities, Inc.

  
   Total:                                       

Exhibit 3.2

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

OF

FOX FACTORY HOLDING CORP.

These Amended and Restated Bylaws (as may from time to time be amended or restated, these “ Bylaws ”) amend and restate the Bylaws of Fox Factory Holding Corp. (hereinafter the “ Corporation ”) as heretofore in effect and are made and adopted as of this          day of                     , 2013. All words and terms capitalized but not defined in these Bylaws shall have the meaning or meanings set forth for such words or terms in that certain Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation as may from time to time be amended or restated (hereinafter the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”).

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

1.1 Registered Office . The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware shall be established and maintained at Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, in the city of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware 19801 and The Corporation Trust Company shall be the registered agent of the Corporation in charge thereof.

1.2 Other Offices . The Corporation’s board of directors (the “ Board of Directors ”) may at any time establish other offices both within and without the State of Delaware at any place or places where the Corporation is qualified to do business.

1.3 Books and Records . The books of the Corporation may be kept within or without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

ARTICLE II

MEETINGS OF THE STOCKHOLDERS

2.1 Time and Place of Meetings . All meetings of the stockholders shall be held at such time and place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”).

2.2 Annual Meeting . The annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors shall be held on such date and at such time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors. Any other proper business may be brought before the meeting in accordance with these Bylaws.


2.3 Special Meetings .

(1) A special meeting of the stockholders, other than those required by statute, may be called at any time by the Board of Directors, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Lead Director (in the event the Company does not have a Chairperson or the Chairperson is disabled), Chief Executive Officer or President (in the absence of a Chief Executive Officer), but a special meeting may not be called by any other person or persons; provided , however , notwithstanding the foregoing, until the Trigger Date (as defined below), special meetings of the stockholders may also be called by the Sponsor (as defined below). The Board of Directors may cancel, postpone or reschedule any previously scheduled special meeting at any time, before or after the notice for such meeting has been sent to the stockholders (except, prior to the Trigger Date, in the case of a special meeting called by the Sponsor).

(2) The notice of a special meeting shall include the purpose for which the meeting is called. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Lead Director (in the event the Company does not have a Chairperson or the Chairperson is disabled), Chief Executive Officer (in the absence of a Lead director), President (in the absence of a Chief Executive Officer) or, until the Trigger Date, the Sponsor. Nothing contained in this Section 2.3(2)  shall be construed as limiting, fixing or affecting the time when a meeting of stockholders called by action of the Board of Directors may be held.

2.4 Advance Notice Procedures .

(1) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be (i) brought before the meeting by the Corporation and specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (ii) brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder who (A) was a stockholder of record of the Corporation (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such business is proposed, only if such beneficial owner was the beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation) both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.4 and at the time of the meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (C) has complied with this Section 2.4 as to such business. Except for the Sponsor prior to the Trigger Date, stockholders shall not be permitted to propose business to be brought before a special meeting of the stockholders, and the only matters that may be brought before a special meeting are the matters specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person or entity calling the meeting pursuant to Section 2.3(2)  of this ARTICLE II . Stockholders seeking to nominate persons for election to the Board of Directors must comply with Section 2.5 of this ARTICLE II and this Section 2.4 shall not be applicable to nominations except as expressly provided in Section 2.5 of this ARTICLE II .

(2) Without qualification, for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must (i) provide Timely Notice (as defined below) thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation and (ii) provide


any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.4 . In addition to the foregoing, the proposed business must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the one (1)-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided , however , that if the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than seventy (70) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered, or mailed and received, not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or, if later, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was first made (such notice within such time periods, “ Timely Notice ”). In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of Timely Notice as described above.

(3) To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 2.4 , a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary of the Corporation shall set forth:

(a) As to each Proposing Person (as defined below), (A) the name and address of such Proposing Person (including, if applicable, the name and address that appear on the Corporation’s books and records); and (B) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned of record or beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13 d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (as so amended and inclusive of such rules and regulations, the “ Exchange Act ”)) by such Proposing Person, except that such Proposing Person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series of the Corporation as to which such Proposing Person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) and (B) are referred to as “ Stockholder Information ”);

(b) As to each Proposing Person, (A) any derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such Proposing Person, the purpose or effect of which is to give such Proposing Person economic risk similar to ownership of shares of any class or series of the Corporation, including due to the fact that the value of such derivative, swap or other transactions are determined by reference to the price, value or volatility of any shares of any class or series of the Corporation, or which derivative, swap or other transactions provide, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit from any increase in the price or value of shares of any class or series of the Corporation (“ Derivative Instruments ”), which Derivative Instruments shall be disclosed without regard to whether (x) the derivative, swap or other transactions convey any voting rights in such shares to such Proposing Person, (y) the derivative, swap or other transactions are required to be, or are capable of being, settled through delivery of such shares or (z) such Proposing Person may have entered into other transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effect of such derivative, swap or other transactions, (B) any proxy (other than a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act by way of a solicitation statement filed on Schedule 14A), agreement, arrangement, understanding or


relationship pursuant to which such Proposing Person has or shares a right to vote any shares of any class or series of the Corporation, (C) any agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship, including any repurchase or similar so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such Proposing Person, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of shares of any class or series of the Corporation by, manage the risk of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such Proposing Person with respect to the shares of any class or series of the Corporation, or which provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit from any decrease in the price or value of the shares of any class or series of the Corporation (“ Short Interests ”), (D) any rights to dividends on the shares of any class or series of the Corporation owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (E) any performance related fees (other than an asset based fee) that such Proposing Person is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the price or value of shares of any class or series of the Corporation, or any Derivative Instruments or Short Interests, if any, and (F) any other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies or consents by such Proposing Person in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (F) are referred to as “ Disclosable Interests ”); provided , however , that Disclosable Interests shall not include any such disclosures with respect to the ordinary course of business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these Bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner; and

(c) As to each Proposing Person, (A) 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 propose such business and (B) a representation whether the Proposing Person intends or is part of a group which intends (a) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal and/or (b) otherwise to solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such proposal.

(d) As to each item of business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting, (A) a reasonably brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting and any material interest in such business of each Proposing Person, (B) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment), and (C) a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings (x) between or among any of the Proposing Persons or (y) between or among any Proposing Person and any other person or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder.

(e) For purposes of this Section 2.4 , the term “ Proposing Person ” shall mean (i) the stockholder providing the notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, (ii) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the


notice of the business proposed to be brought before the annual meeting is made, (iii) any affiliate or associate (each within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act for purposes of these Bylaws) of such stockholder or beneficial owner and (iv) any other person with whom such stockholder or beneficial owner (or any of their respective affiliates or associates) is Acting in Concert (as defined below).

(f) A person shall be deemed to be “ Acting in Concert ” with another person for purposes of these Bylaws if such person knowingly acts (whether or not pursuant to an express agreement, arrangement or understanding) in concert with, or toward a common goal relating to the management, governance or control of the Corporation in parallel with, such other person where (A) each person is conscious of the other person’s conduct or intent and this awareness is an element in their decision-making processes and (B) at least one (1) additional factor suggests that such persons intend to act in concert or in parallel, which such additional factors may include, without limitation, exchanging information (whether publicly or privately), attending meetings, conducting discussions or making or soliciting invitations to act in concert or in parallel; provided , that a person shall not be deemed to be Acting in Concert with any other person solely as a result of the solicitation or receipt of revocable proxies or consents from such other person in response to a solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act by way of a proxy or consent solicitation statement filed on Schedule 14A. A person Acting in Concert with another person shall be deemed to be Acting in Concert with any third party who is also Acting in Concert with such other person.

(4) A stockholder providing notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date) and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).

(5) The foregoing notice requirements of this Section 2.4 shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder with respect to business other than a nomination if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his, her or its intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting.

(6) Except as otherwise expressly provided in any applicable rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act, no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting except in accordance with this Section 2.4 . Except as otherwise provided by law, the chairperson of the meeting shall have the power and duty, if the facts warrant, (a) to determine


whether business was properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.4 (including whether the Proposing Person solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies or votes in support of such Proposing Person’s proposal in compliance with such Proposing Person’s representation as required by clause (3)(c)(B) of this Section 2.4 ) and (b) if he or she should so determine that the business was not proposed in compliance with this Section 2.4 , he or she shall so declare at the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.4 , unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present the proposed business, such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of these Bylaws, 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 a 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.

(7) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.4 with respect to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, each Proposing Person shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to any such business proposals; provided , however , that references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements of these Bylaws applicable to proposals or any other business to be considered pursuant to this Section 2.4 (including paragraphs (1)(iii) and (2) hereof) and compliance with paragraphs (1)(iii) and (2) of this Section 2.4 shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to submit other business (other than, as provided in paragraph (5) of this Section 2.4 , business other than nominations brought properly under and in compliance with Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, as may be amended from time to time). Nothing in this Section 2.4 shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act.

(8) For purposes of these Bylaws, “ public disclosure ” shall include disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or other national news service or disclosure 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.

2.5 Advance Notice Provisions for Nominations of Directors .

(1) Nominations of any person for election to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting may be made at such meeting only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, including by any committee or persons appointed by the Board of Directors, (ii) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) or (iii) by a stockholder who (A) was a stockholder of record of the Corporation (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such nomination is proposed to be made, only if


such beneficial owner was the beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation) both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.5 and at the time of the meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election, and (C) has complied with this Section 2.5 as to such nomination.

(2) Without qualification, for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting, the stockholder must (i) provide Timely Notice (as defined in Section 2.4(2)  of this ARTICLE II ) thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation and (ii) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.5 . Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders if the election of directors is a matter specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person or entity calling such special meeting and (i) the nomination is made by or at the direction of the person or entity calling such special meeting, or (ii) the nomination is made by any stockholder of the Corporation, who is a stockholder of record of the Corporation at the time the notice provided for in this Section 2.5 is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation, who is entitled to vote at the special meeting and upon such election and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.5 . The stockholder must (i) provide timely notice thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, and (ii) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.5 . To be timely, a stockholder’s notice for nominations to be made at a special meeting must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or, if later, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public disclosure (as defined in Section 2.4(8)  of this ARTICLE II ) of the date of such special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting was first made; provided that, until the Trigger Date, in the case of a special meeting called by the Sponsor in accordance with Section 2.3(2) of this ARTICLE II , the foregoing requirements shall not apply to the Sponsor. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or special meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(3) To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 2.5 , a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary of the Corporation shall set forth:

(a) As to each Nominating Person (as defined below), the Stockholder Information (as defined in Section 2.4(3)(a)  of this ARTICLE II , except that for purposes of this Section 2.5 the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 2.4(3)(a)  of this ARTICLE II );

(b) As to each Nominating Person, any Disclosable Interests (as defined in Section 2.4(3)(b) of this ARTICLE II , except that for purposes of this Section 2.5 of this ARTICLE II the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 2.4(3)(b)  of this ARTICLE II and the disclosure in clause (F) of Section 2.4(3)(b)  of this ARTICLE II shall be made with respect to the election of directors at the meeting);


(c) As to each Nominating Person, the information required to be disclosed pursuant to Section 2.4(3)(c)  of this ARTICLE II , except that for purposes of this Section 2.5 of this ARTICLE II , the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 2.4(3)(c)  of this ARTICLE II and the references to “proposal” or “business” shall be deemed to be reference to “nomination”;

(d) As to each person whom a Nominating Person proposes to nominate for election as a director, (A) all information with respect to such proposed nominee that would be required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice pursuant to this Section 2.5 if such proposed nominee were a Nominating Person, (B) all information relating to such proposed nominee that is 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(a) under the Exchange Act (including such proposed nominee’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected), (C) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three (3) years, and any other material relationships, between or among any Nominating Person, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, his or her respective affiliates and associates and any other persons with whom such proposed nominee (or any of his or her respective affiliates and associates) is Acting in Concert (as defined in Section 2.4(3)(f)  of this ARTICLE II ), on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K if such Nominating Person were the “ registrant ” for purposes of such rule and the proposed nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant, and (D) a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement as provided in Section 2.5(6)  of this ARTICLE II ;

(e) The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information (A) 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 (B) that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence or lack of independence of such proposed nominee; and

(f) For purposes of this Section 2.5 , the term “ Nominating Person ” shall mean (A) the stockholder providing the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting, (B) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting is made, (C) any affiliate or associate of such stockholder or beneficial owner, and (D) any other person with whom such stockholder or such beneficial owner (or any of their respective affiliates or associates) is Acting in Concert; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing definition, until the Trigger Date, in the case of a special meeting called by the Sponsor in accordance with Section 2.3(2) of this ARTICLE II , the Sponsor shall not be deemed to be a “Nominating Person”.

(4) A stockholder providing notice of any nomination proposed to be made at an annual or special meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and


such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date) and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting, or if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).

(5) Except as otherwise expressly provided in any applicable rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act, no person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with this Section 2.5 . Except as otherwise provided by law, the chairperson of the meeting shall have the power and duty, if the facts warrant, (a) to determine whether a nomination was properly made in accordance with this Section 2.5 (including whether the stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies or votes in support of such stockholder’s nominee or proposal in compliance with such stockholder’s representation as required by clause (3)(c) of this Section 2.5 ) and (b) if he or she should so determine that any proposed nomination was not made in compliance with this Section 2.5 , he or she shall declare such determination at the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.5 , unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination, such nomination shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation.

(6) To be eligible to be a nominee for election as a director of the Corporation, the proposed nominee must deliver (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under this Section 2.5 ) to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such proposed nominee (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary of the Corporation upon written request) and a written representation and agreement (in form provided by the Secretary of the Corporation upon written request) that such proposed nominee (i) is not and will not become a party to (A) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such proposed nominee, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “ Voting Commitment ”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (B) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such proposed nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such proposed nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (ii) is not, and will not become a party to, any agreement, arrangement or understanding 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 that has not been disclosed to the Corporation and (iii) in such proposed nominee’s individual capacity and on behalf of the stockholder (or the beneficial owner, if different) on whose behalf the nomination is made, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation.


(7) Notwithstanding anything in the first sentence of Section 2.5(2)  to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting is increased effective after the time period for which nominations would otherwise be due under Section 2.5(2)  and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.5 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public disclosure is first made by the Corporation.

(8) In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.5 with respect to any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting, each Nominating Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to any such nominations; provided , however , that references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements of these Bylaws applicable to nominations to be considered pursuant to these Bylaws (including Section 2.5(l)(iii)  and (2) ), and compliance with Section 2.5(l)(iii)  and (2)  shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations. Nothing in this Section 2.5 shall be deemed to affect any rights (a) of stockholders to request inclusion of nominations in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act or (b) of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.

2.6 Adjournments . Any meeting of the stockholders, including one at which Directors are to be elected, may be adjourned for such periods as the presiding officer of the meeting or the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall direct.

2.7 List of Stockholders . The officer of the Corporation in charge of the stock ledger shall prepare a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders (provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares of each class of capital stock of the Corporation registered in the name of each stockholder at least ten days before any meeting of the stockholders. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, the list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting the whole time thereof and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is held solely by means of remote communication, the list shall also be open for inspection by any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting as provided by applicable law. Except as 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 stock ledger and the list of stockholders or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.


2.8 Quorum . Unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, at each meeting of the stockholders, a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall adjourn the meeting, with notice required other than the announcement of the adjournment at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the subsequent withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum. At any such adjourned meeting at which there is a quorum, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting originally called.

2.9 Conduct of Meetings . The Board of Directors of the Corporation may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of the stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. At every meeting of stockholders, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, or in his or her absence or inability to act, the Lead Director, or in the Lead Director’s absence or inability to act, the Chief Executive Officer, or in his or her absence or inability to act, the person whom the Secretary shall appoint, shall act as chairperson of and preside at the meeting. The Secretary or, in his or her absence or inability to act, the person whom the Chairperson of the meeting shall appoint secretary of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the Chairperson of any meeting of the stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures, and to do all such acts, as (in the judgment of such Chairperson) are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairperson of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following; (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) the determination of when the polls shall open and close for any given matter to be voted on at the meeting; (iii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and safety of those present; (iv) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairperson of the meeting shall determine; (v) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (vi) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants.

2.10 Voting . Unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any question brought before any meeting of stockholders, other than the election of directors, shall be decided by the vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of votes of the Corporation’s stock represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on such question, voting as a single class. The election of directors shall be decided by a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting of the stockholders by the holders of stock entitled to vote in the election. No stockholder shall be permitted to cumulate votes at any election of directors. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws, each stockholder shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote for each share of the stock entitled to vote thereat held by such stockholder. Such votes may be cast in person or by proxy as provided in Section 2.11 . The Board of Directors, in its discretion, or the officer of the Corporation presiding at a meeting of the stockholders, in such officer’s discretion, may require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.


2.11 Proxies . Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing or by a transmission permitted by law filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the secretary of the Corporation a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date. Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot.

2.12 Action by Written Consent .

(1) Until the Trigger Date, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders may be taken (a) by vote of stockholders at an annual or special meeting duly noticed and called in accordance with these Bylaws and the DGCL or (b) 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 of the Corporation having at least 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.

(2) From and after the Trigger Date: (a) any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken only upon the vote of stockholders at an annual or special meeting duly noticed and called in accordance with these Bylaws and the DGCL, and (b) no action may be taken by written consent of stockholders without a meeting.

For purposes of these Bylaws, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Affiliate ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person; the term “control,” as used in this definition, means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and “controlled” and “controlling” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

beneficially own ” shall mean “beneficially own” as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 (or any successor provision thereto) under the Exchange Act.

Person ” shall mean any individual, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, business trust, joint stock company, joint venture, unincorporated association, cooperative or association or any other legal entity or organization of whatever nature.


Sponsor ” shall mean Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, Compass Diversified Holdings and any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries).

Trigger Date ” shall mean the first date on which Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, Compass Diversified Holdings and any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries) no longer collectively beneficially own (directly or indirectly) at least a majority of the voting power of all the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

2.13 Inspectors of Election . Before any meeting of the stockholders, the Board of Directors shall appoint an inspector or inspectors of election to act at the meeting or its adjournment. The number of inspectors shall be either one (1) or three (3). Unless otherwise required by applicable law, inspectors may be officers, employees or agents of the Corporation. If any person appointed as inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, then the chairperson of the meeting may and upon the request of any stockholder or a stockholder’s proxy shall, appoint a person to fill that vacancy.

Such inspectors shall:

(1) determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the number of shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum and the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies;

(2) receive votes, ballots or consents;

(3) hear and determine all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote;

(4) count and tabulate all votes or consents;

(5) oversee the polls, including determining when the polls shall open and close;

(6) determine the results of the votes taken; and

(7) do any other acts that may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders.

The inspectors of election shall perform their duties impartially, in good faith, to the best of their ability and as expeditiously as is practical. If there are three (3) inspectors of election, the decision, act or certificate of a majority is effective in all respects as the decision, act or certificate of all. Any report or certificate made by the inspectors of election is prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.


2.14 Fixing the Record Date .

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

(2) 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 the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

ARTICLE III

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

3.1 Powers . Subject to the provisions of the DGCL and any limitations in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws relating to action required to be approved by the stockholders or by the outstanding shares, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed and all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

3.2 Number of Directors . Pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, the initial authorized number of directors shall be seven (7). The authorized number of directors may be adjusted from time to time exclusively by resolution of the Board of Directors. No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director before that director’s term of office expires.

3.3 Election, Qualification and Term of Office of Directors .

(1) Classes of Directors . The Board of Directors shall be and is divided into three classes as nearly equal in number as possible, designated: Class I, Class II and Class III. In


the event that there is an increase or decrease, from time to time, in the number of authorized directors, then the number of directors in each class shall be apportioned as nearly equal as possible. No decrease in the number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

(2) Terms of Office. Each director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the third annual meeting following the annual meeting at which such director was elected; provided , that each director initially appointed to Class I shall serve for an initial term expiring at the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of these Bylaws; each director initially appointed to Class II shall serve for an initial term expiring at the Corporation’s second annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of these Bylaws; and each director initially appointed to Class III shall serve for an initial term expiring at the Corporation’s third annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of these Bylaws; provided further , that the term of each director shall continue until the election and qualification of a successor and be subject to such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.

(3) Removal . Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, no director may be removed from office by the stockholders except for cause and only with the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total voting power of all outstanding securities of the Corporation then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

(4) Resignation. Any director may resign at any time by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Board of Directors or Secretary of the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect upon receipt of notice thereof or at such later time as is therein specified; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

(5) Vacancies. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, vacancies on the Board of Directors for any reason and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors shall be solely filled by a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director and shall not be filled by the stockholders. A director elected to fill a vacancy or a newly created directorship shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen, subject to the election and qualification of a successor and to such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, when one or more directors shall resign from the Board of Directors, effective at a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have the power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office as provided in the filling of the other vacancies.

3.4 Time and Place of Meetings . The Board of Directors shall hold its meetings at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors (or the Chairperson in the absence of a determination by the Board of Directors).


3.5 Regular Meetings . Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such times and at such places as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors or its Chairperson.

3.6 Annual Meetings . The Board of Directors may meet for the purpose of organization, the election of officers and the transaction of other business, as soon as practicable after each annual meeting of stockholders, on the same day and at the same place where such annual meeting of stockholders shall be held. Notice of such meeting need not be given. In the event such annual meeting of stockholders is not so held, the annual meeting of the Board of Directors may be held at such place either within or without the State of Delaware, on such date and at such time as shall be specified in a notice thereof given as hereinafter provided in Section 3.10 herein or in a waiver of notice thereof signed by any director who chooses to waive the requirement of notice.

3.7 Special Meetings . Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Board of Directors, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary of the Corporation and may not be called by any other person. Notice of special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director on at least 24 hours notice to each director given by one of the means specified in Section 3.10 hereof other than by mail or on at least three days notice if given by mail.

3.8 Telephone Meetings . Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, members of the Board of Directors or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

3.9 Adjourned Meetings . A majority of the directors present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, including an adjourned meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn and reconvene such meeting to another time and place. Unless otherwise provide in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, at least 24 hours notice of any adjourned meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director whether or not present at the time of the adjournment, if such notice shall be given by one of the means specified in Section 3.10 hereof other than by mail, or at least three days notice if by mail. Any business may be transacted at an adjourned meeting that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.

3.10 Notice .

(1) Form of Notice. Subject to Sections 3.6 and 3.7 hereof, whenever notice is required to be given to any director by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, such notice shall be deemed given effectively if given in person or by telephone, mail addressed to such director at such director’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, facsimile, email or by other means of electronic transmission.

(2) Waiver of Notice. Whenever the giving of any notice to directors is required by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof,


given by the director entitled to the notice, whether before or after such notice is required, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance by a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except when the director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting was not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special Board of Directors or committee meeting need be specified in any waiver of notice.

3.11 Organization . At each meeting of the Board of Directors, the Chairperson or, in his or her absence, another director selected by the Board of Directors shall preside. The Secretary shall act as Secretary at each meeting of the Board of Directors. If the Secretary is absent from any meeting of the Board of Directors, an Assistant Secretary shall perform the duties of Secretary at such meeting; and in the absence from any such meeting of the Secretary and all Assistant Secretaries, the person presiding at the meeting may appoint any person to act as Secretary of the meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary or such other person shall be entitled to delegate the taking and/or certifying of minutes with respect to any meeting.

3.12 Quorum of Directors . Unless the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws require a lesser or greater number, the presence of a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting, from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for that meeting.

3.13 Action by Majority Vote . Except as otherwise expressly required by these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation or by applicable law, the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. If the Certificate of Incorporation provides that one or more directors shall have more or less than one vote per director on any matter, every reference in these Bylaws to a majority or other proportion of the directors shall refer to a majority or other proportion of the votes of the directors.

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

3.15 Compensation . Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors or a committee thereof shall have authority to fix the compensation of directors, including fees and reimbursement of expenses.


ARTICLE IV

COMMITTEES

4.1 Committees of Directors . The Board of Directors shall appoint from among its members an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, each composed of at least two directors or such higher number of directors as may be required by law or the standards of any stock exchange on which shares of the Corporation are listed, with such lawfully delegable powers and duties as it thereby confers or that are required by law or such standards of any stock exchange on which shares of the Corporation are listed.

The Board of Directors may designate one or more other committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors or in these Bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (i) approving, adopting or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval; or (ii) adopting, amending or repealing any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

4.2 Committee Minutes . Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required.

4.3 Term . The Board of Directors, subject to the requirements specifically set forth in this Section, may at any time change, increase or decrease the number of members of a committee or terminate the existence of a committee. The membership of a committee member shall terminate on the date of his death or resignation, but the Board of Directors may at any time for any reason remove any individual committee member and the Board of Directors may, subject to the requirements specifically set forth in this Section 4.3 , fill any committee vacancy created by death, resignation, removal or increase in the number of members of the committee. The Board of Directors may, subject to the requirements specifically set forth in this Section, designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee and, in addition, in the absence or disqualification of any member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may, subject to the requirements specifically set forth in this Section 4.3 , unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.


4.4 Meetings and Actions of Committees .

(1) Meetings and actions of committees, shall be governed by and held and taken in accordance with, the provisions of:

(a) Section 3.4 (place of meetings);

(b) Section 3.8 (meetings by telephone);

(c) Section 3.5 (regular meetings);

(d) Section 3.7 (special meetings);

(e) Section 3.10 (notice and waiver of notice);

(f) Section 3.12 (quorum);

 

(g) Section 3.13 (voting); and

(h) Section 3.14 (action without a meeting)

with such changes in the context of those bylaws as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the Board of Directors and its members.

(2) However:

(a) the time of regular meetings of committees may be determined either by resolution of the Board of Directors or by resolution of the committee;

(b) special meetings of committees may also be called by resolution of the Board of Directors; and

(c) notice of special meetings of committees shall also be given to all alternate members, who shall have the right to attend all meetings of the committee. The Board of Directors may adopt rules for the government of any committee not inconsistent with the provisions of these Bylaws.

(3) Any provision in the Certificate of Incorporation providing that one or more directors shall have more or less than one vote per director on any matter shall apply to voting in any committee or subcommittee, unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

4.5 Subcommittees . Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or the resolutions of the Board of Directors designating the committee, a committee may create one or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one or more members of the committee and delegate to a subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee, unless the committee is prohibited from doing so under the committee’s charter.


ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

5.1 Positions and Election . The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall include a Chief Executive Officer and/or a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Treasurer and a Secretary who shall have the duty, among other things, to record the proceedings of the meetings of stockholders and directors in a book kept for that person. The Corporation may also have such other principal officers as the Board of Directors may, in its discretion, appoint. Any individual may be elected to and may hold, more than one office of the Corporation, except that no one person shall simultaneously hold the offices and perform the duties of President and Secretary.

5.2 Election, Term and Compensation . Each officer of the Corporation may be elected annually by the Board of Directors at the annual meeting thereof. Each such officer shall hold office until such officer’s successor is elected and qualified or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation or removal. The compensation of all officers of the Corporation shall be fixed by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof. Any vacancy in any office shall be filled in such manner as the Board of Directors shall determine.

5.3 Subordinate Officers . In addition to the principal officers enumerated in Section 5.01 above, the Corporation may have one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant Treasurers, Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Controllers and such other subordinate officers, agents and employees as the Board of Directors may deem necessary, each of whom shall hold office for such period as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. Any Vice President (whether a principal officer or subordinate officer) may be designated Executive, Senior or Corporate, or may be given such other designation or combination of designations as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may determine. The Board of Directors may delegate to any principal officer the power to appoint and to remove any such subordinate officers, agents or employees.

5.4 Removal . Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed by the Board of Directors at any time with or without cause by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors then in office. The Chief Executive Officer, upon authority delegated by the Board of Directors, may remove any other principal officer, with or without cause.

5.5 Resignations . Any officer of the Corporation may resign at any time by giving written notice of his or her resignation to the Board of Directors or to a principal officer if the Board of Directors has delegated such principal officer the power to appoint and to remove such officer. Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time when it shall become effective shall not be specified therein, immediately upon its receipt. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

5.6 Powers and Duties . The officers of the Corporation shall have such powers and perform such duties incident to each of their respective offices and such other duties as may from time to time be conferred upon or assigned to them by the Board of Directors.


ARTICLE VI

STOCK

6.1 Certificates; Direct Registration System . Shares of the capital stock of the Corporation may be certificated or uncertificated, as provided under the DGCL. Each stockholder, upon written request to the transfer agent or registrar of the Corporation, shall be entitled to a certificate of the capital stock of the Corporation, in such form as shall be approved by the Board of Directors and required by law, certifying the number of shares of the Corporation owned by such stockholder. Shares of the Corporation’s capital stock may also be evidenced by registration in the holder’s name in uncertificated, book-entry form on the books of the Corporation in accordance with a direct registration system approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission and by the Nasdaq Stock Market or any national securities exchange on which the capital stock of the Corporation may from time to time be traded.

6.2 Transfer of Stock . Shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these Bylaws. Shares of stock may be transferred on the record of stockholders of the Corporation by the holder thereof or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney upon surrender of a certificate therefore properly endorsed or upon the receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered holder of uncertificated shares or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney and upon compliance with appropriate procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form, unless waived by the Corporation. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing from and to whom transferred. To the extent designated by the Chief Executive Officer, President, any Vice President or the Treasurer of the Corporation, the Corporation may recognize the transfer of fractional uncertificated shares, but shall not otherwise be required to recognize the transfer of fractional shares.

6.3 Transfer Agents and Registrars . The Board of Directors may appoint, or authorize any officer or officers to appoint, one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars.

6.4 Authority for Additional Transfer Rules . The Board of Directors shall have the power and authority to make all such rules and regulations as they may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificated or uncertificated shares of the Corporation.

6.5 Stock Transfer Agreements . The Corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes of stock of the Corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the Corporation of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL.

6.6 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates . The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate or uncertificated shares to be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or uncertificated shares, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or the owner’s legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify the Corporation and/or the transfer agents and/or the registrars against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.


6.7 Dividends . Subject to the DGCL and the Certificate of Incorporation, dividends upon the shares of capital stock of the Corporation may be declared by the Board of Directors. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of stock of the Corporation, unless otherwise provided by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation.

The Board of Directors may set apart out of any of the funds of the Corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve. Such purposes shall include but not be limited to equalizing dividends, repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation and meeting contingencies.

6.8 Registered Stockholders .

The Corporation:

(1) shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and to vote as such owner;

(2) shall be entitled to hold liable for calls and assessments the person registered on its books as the owner of shares; and

(3) shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of another person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the DGCL.

ARTICLE VII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

7.1 Execution of Corporate Contracts and Instruments . Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any document or instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation; such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

7.2 Checks, Notes, Drafts, Etc . All checks, notes, drafts or other orders for the payment of money of the Corporation shall be signed, endorsed or accepted in the name of the Corporation by such officer, officers, person or persons as from time to time may be designated by the Board of Directors or by an officer or officers authorized by the Board of Directors to make such designation.

7.3 Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors and may be changed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.

7.4 Seal . The seal of the Corporation shall be in such form as shall be approved by the Board of Directors. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise, as may be prescribed by law or custom or by the Board of Directors.


7.5 Reliance on Books, Reports and Records . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each director and each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, in performance of his or her duties, shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books or account or other records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation or by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors so designated, or by any other person as to matters which such director or committee 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.

7.6 Voting of Stock Owned by the Corporation . The Board of Directors may authorize any person, on behalf of the Corporation, to attend, vote at and grant proxies to be used at any meeting of stockholders of any corporation (except this Corporation) in which the Corporation may hold stock. Absent such direction by the Board of Directors, any principal officer of the Corporation may attend, vote at and grant proxies to be used at any meeting of stockholders of any corporation (except this Corporation) in which the Corporation may hold stock.

7.7 Conflict with Applicable Law or Certificate of Incorporation . These Bylaws are adopted subject to any applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation. Whenever these Bylaws may conflict with any applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, such conflict shall be resolved in favor of such law or the Certificate of Incorporation.

7.8 Construction; Definitions . Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction and definitions in the DGCL shall govern the construction of these Bylaws. Without limiting the generality of this provision, the singular number includes the plural, the plural number includes the singular and the term “person” includes both a corporation and a natural person.

ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS

The Board of Directors is expressly authorized and empowered to adopt, amend and repeal these Bylaws by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors present at a regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors at which there is a quorum (as defined in these Bylaws) or by written consent. Until the Trigger Date, the Stockholders of the Corporation may not adopt, amend or repeal any of these Bylaws, and no provision inconsistent therewith shall be adopted by the Stockholders, unless such action is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, in accordance with these Bylaws. From and after the Trigger Date, the Stockholders of the Corporation may not adopt, amend or repeal any of these Bylaws, and no provision inconsistent therewith shall be adopted by the Stockholders, unless such action is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least Sixty-Six and Two-Thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the voting power of all the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, in accordance with these Bylaws.

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

 

                        , 2013

     77210.00005   

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

915 Disc Drive

Scotts Valley, CA 95066

 

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-1

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Fox Factory Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with the preparation and filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”), pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), of the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-189841) of the Company (as amended through the date hereof and including all exhibits thereto, the “ Registration Statement ”), including a related prospectus filed with the Registration Statement (the “ Prospectus ”) relating to the proposed underwritten public offering (the “ Offering ”) of up to an aggregate of                  shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “ Common Stock ”), comprised of: (i) up to an aggregate of shares of Common Stock to be sold by the Company (the “ Company Shares ”); and (ii) up to an aggregate of                      shares of Common Stock to be sold by certain stockholders of the Company, which includes up to                      shares of Common Stock that may be sold by such stockholders of the Company upon exercise of the option to purchase additional shares granted to the underwriters of the Offering (the “ Selling Stockholder Shares ” and, together with the Company Shares, the “ Shares ”). The Shares are to be sold to the underwriters for resale to the public as described in the Registration Statement and pursuant to the underwriting agreement referred to in the Registration Statement (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”).

As such counsel and for purposes of our opinion set forth below, we have examined and relied upon originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, resolutions, certificates and other instruments of the Company and corporate records furnished to us by the Company, and have reviewed certificates of public officials, statutes, records and such other instruments and documents, and have made such investigations of law as we have considered necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth in this opinion letter. In such examination and in rendering the opinion expressed below, we have assumed, without independent investigation or verification: (i) the genuineness of all signatures on all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents submitted to us; (ii) the authenticity and completeness of all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents submitted to us as originals; (iii) that all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents submitted to us as certified, electronic, facsimile, conformed, photostatic or other copies conform to originals thereof, and that such originals are authentic and complete; (iv) the legal capacity and authority of all persons or entities executing all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents submitted to us; (v) the due authorization, execution and delivery of all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents by all parties thereto; (vi) that no documents submitted to us have been amended or terminated orally or in writing except as has been disclosed to us in writing; (vii) that the statements contained in the certificates and comparable documents of public officials, officers and representatives of the Company and other persons on which we have relied for the purposes of this opinion letter are true and correct; and (viii) that each of the officers and directors of the Company has properly exercised his or her fiduciary duties. As to all questions of fact material to this opinion letter and as to the materiality of any fact or other matter referred to herein, we have relied (without independent investigation or verification) upon representations and certificates or comparable documents of officers and representatives of the Company. Our knowledge of

 

LOGO


LOGO

 

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

                             , 2013

Page 2

 

the Company and its legal and other affairs is limited by the scope of our engagement, which scope includes the delivery of this opinion letter. We do not represent the Company with respect to all legal matters or issues. The Company may employ other independent counsel and, to our knowledge, handles certain legal matters and issues without the assistance of independent counsel.

We have also assumed that the Company Shares will be sold for a price per share not less than the par value per share of the Common Stock, and that the Shares will be issued and sold as described in the Registration Statement and the Underwriting Agreement.

Based upon the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, and subject to the limitations, qualifications and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that: (i) the Company Shares have been duly authorized by the Company and, when issued and sold in accordance with the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, with payment received by the Company in the manner described in the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; and (ii) the Selling Stockholder Shares have been duly authorized by the Company, and are validly issued, fully paid and nonassesable.

Without limiting any of the other limitations, exceptions and qualifications stated elsewhere herein, we express no opinion with regard to the applicability or effect of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as in effect on the date of this opinion letter.

This opinion letter deals only with the specified legal issues expressly addressed herein, and you should not infer any opinion that is not explicitly stated herein from any matter addressed in this opinion letter.

This opinion letter is rendered solely to you in connection with the Registration Statement. This opinion letter is rendered to you as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to advise you or any other person with regard to any change after the date hereof in the circumstances or the law that may bear on the matters set forth herein even if the change may affect the legal analysis or a legal conclusion or other matters in this opinion letter. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm in the Prospectus under the heading “Legal Matters.” In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules or regulations of the Commission thereunder.

Very truly yours,

Exhibit 10.6

FOX FACTORY HOLDING CORP.

2013 OMNIBUS PLAN

Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement

 

Name of Participant:

   [Name]

Grant Date:

   ______________, 20__

Performance Period:

   ____________, 20__ through ________, 20__

THIS AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”), is executed as of              , 20__, between Fox Factory Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation (“ Fox Factory ” or the “ Company ”), and [Name] , an Employee (the “ Participant ”), provided that the Company may rescind and nullify this Agreement and the award made hereunder if the Participant does not execute this Agreement within twenty-one (21) days after the date hereof. [Notwithstanding any provision contained herein, this Agreement will only become effective, and shall be contingent upon, the closing of a sale of the Company’s Common Stock during 2013 pursuant to an S-1 Registration Statement declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Grant Date ”).]

RECITALS :

Fox Factory desires to carry out the purposes of Fox Factory Holding Corp. 2013 Omnibus Plan, as it may be amended and/or restated (the “ Plan ”), by affording the Participant a long-term incentive compensation opportunity as hereinafter provided.

In consideration of the foregoing, of the mutual promises set forth below and of other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

1. Incorporation of Plan . The rights and duties of Fox Factory and the Participant under this Agreement shall in all respects be subject to and governed by the provisions of the Plan, the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference. In the event of any conflict between the provisions in the Agreement and those of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall govern. Unless otherwise provided herein, capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the same definitions as set forth in the Plan.

2. Grant of Award; Vesting .

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan, the Company hereby grants to the Participant the right (this “ Award ”) to earn an aggregate of                                                               (              ) shares (the “ Shares ”) of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Such Shares shall not be issued, and the Participant shall have no rights as a Shareholder of the Company, until unrestricted Shares are issued pursuant to Section 6 below.

 

- 1 -


(b) Subject to the terms of this Agreement and those of the Plan, this Award shall vest                      ; provided that the Participant’s service with the Company and its subsidiaries has not ceased before the particular vesting date. [Notwithstanding the foregoing, this award shall vest with respect to                      , upon the occurrence of                      .]

(c) Except as provided in the Plan and in this Agreement, if the Participant’s continuous service with the Company ceases, this Award, to the extent not then vested, shall immediately terminate without consideration.

3. Vesting of Award . The Committee has sole authority (unless arbitrary and capricious) to determine whether and to what degree the Award has vested and is payable and to interpret the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan.

4. Forfeiture of Award . Except as set forth in Section 13(c) of the Plan, in the event that the continuous service of the Participant with Fox Factory or an Affiliate terminates for any reason and the Award has not vested pursuant to Section 2, then the Award, to the extent not vested as of the Participant’s termination of continuous service date, shall be forfeited immediately upon such termination, and the Participant shall have no further rights with respect to the Award or the Shares underlying the Award. The Committee (or its designee, to the extent permitted under this Agreement or the Plan) shall have sole discretion (unless arbitrary and capricious) to determine if a Participant’s rights have terminated pursuant to the Plan and this Agreement, including but not limited to the authority to determine the basis for the Participant’s termination of continuous service. The Participant expressly acknowledges and agrees that, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or Section 13(c) of the Plan, the termination of the Participant’s continuous service shall result in forfeiture of the Award and any underlying payout to the extent the Award has not vested as of the Participant’s termination of continuous service date. For the purposes of this Agreement and the Plan, a legal leave under short term disability or FMLA or similar law shall not be deemed to be a termination of the Participant’s continuous service; provided, however, that no such leave shall last longer than six continuous months.

5. Award Payout.

(a) The Award and the number of Shares that the Award represents shall, to the extent vested on each particular vesting date, be payable, and paid, in whole shares of Common Stock, with cash being paid in lieu of fractional Shares and with each settlement to include any dividends that accrued on the vested Shares from the Grant Date through the settlement date.

(b) Award payout shall, upon vesting of the Award, be made to the Participant (or in the event of the Participant’s death, to the Participant’s beneficiary or beneficiaries) in a lump sum as soon as practicable, but in all cases within two and one-half (2-1/2) months following the applicable vesting date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Participant is or may be a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code), a distribution that is subject to Section 409A restrictions and that is due to Separation from Service may not be made until within the thirty- (30-) day period commencing with the first day of the seventh

 

- 2 -


month following the month of Separation from Service, or, if earlier, the date of death of the Participant (with all such payments that otherwise would have been made during such six-month period to be made during the seventh month following Separation from Service), in each case except as may be otherwise permitted under Section 409A.

6. No Right to Continued Employment or Service . Neither the Plan, the grant of the Award, nor any other action related to the Plan shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue in the employment or service of Fox Factory or an Affiliate or affect in any way the right of Fox Factory or an Affiliate to terminate the Participant’s employment or service at any time. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or this Agreement or as determined by the Committee, all rights of the Participant with respect to the Award shall terminate upon termination of the employment or service of the Participant with Fox Factory or an Affiliate. The grant of the Award does not create any obligation on the part of Fox Factory or an Affiliate to grant any further awards. So long as the Participant shall continue to be an employee of Fox Factory or an Affiliate, the Award shall not be affected by any change in the duties or position of the Participant.

7. Nontransferability of Award and Shares . The Award, and any Award payout, shall not be transferable (including by sale, assignment, pledge or hypothecation) other than by will or the laws of intestate succession. The designation of a beneficiary in accordance with Plan procedures does not constitute a transfer.

8. Superseding Agreement: Binding Effect . This Agreement supersedes any statements, representations or agreements of Fox Factory with respect to the grant of the Award or any related rights, and the Participant hereby waives any rights or claims related to any such statements, representations or agreements. This Agreement does not supersede or amend any existing confidentiality agreement, nonsolicitation agreement, noncompetition agreement, employment agreement or any other similar agreement between the Participant and Fox Factory or an Affiliate, including, but not limited to, any restrictive covenants contained in such agreements.

9. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law, and in accordance with applicable United States federal laws.

10. Amendment and Termination, Waiver . Subject to the terms of the Plan, this Agreement may be amended or terminated only by the written agreement of the parties hereto. The waiver by Fox Factory of a breach of any provision of the Agreement by the Participant shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach by the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall have unilateral authority to amend the Plan and this Agreement (without Participant consent) to the extent necessary to comply with applicable law or changes to applicable law (including but in no way limited to Section 409A and federal securities laws), and the Participant hereby consents to any such amendments to the Plan and this Agreement.

 

- 3 -


11. Withholding; Tax Matters .

(a) Fox Factory or an Affiliate shall report all income and withhold all required local, state, federal, foreign income and other taxes and any other amounts required to be withheld by any governmental authority or law from any amount payable in cash with respect to the Award. Prior to the delivery or transfer of any shares of Common Stock or any other benefit conferred under the Plan, Fox Factory shall require the Participant to pay to Fox Factory in cash the amount of any tax or other amount required by any governmental authority to be withheld and paid over by Fox Factory or an Affiliate to such authority for the account of such recipient. Alternatively, at the election of Participant, Participant shall be entitled (subject to procedures satisfactory to the Committee) to satisfy such obligation in whole or in part, and any local, state, federal, foreign or other income, employment and other tax obligations relating to the Award, by electing (the “ election ”) to have Fox Factory withhold shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock to which the recipient is entitled. The number of shares of Common Stock to be withheld shall have a Fair Market Value as of the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined as nearly equal as possible to the amount of such obligations being satisfied. Each election must be made in writing to the Committee in accordance with election procedures established by the Committee.

(b) Fox Factory has made no warranties or representations to the Participant with respect to the tax consequences (including but not limited to income tax consequences) related to the Award or the payout, if any, pursuant to the Award, and the Participant is in no manner relying on Fox Factory or its representatives for an assessment of such tax consequences. The Participant acknowledges that there may be adverse tax consequences with respect to the Award and that the Participant should consult a tax advisor. The Participant acknowledges that the Participant has been advised that the Participant should consult with the Participant’s own attorney, accountant, and/or tax advisor regarding the decision to enter into this Agreement and the consequences thereof. The Participant also acknowledges that Fox Factory has no responsibility to take or refrain from taking any actions in order to achieve a certain tax result for the Participant.

12. Administration . The authority to construe and interpret this Agreement and the Plan, and to administer all aspects of the Plan, shall be vested in the Committee, and the Committee shall have all powers with respect to this Agreement as are provided in the Plan. Any interpretation of the Agreement by the Committee and any decision made by it with respect to the Agreement are final and binding on the parties hereto.

13. Notices . Any and all notices under this Agreement shall be in writing and sent by hand delivery or by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested and first-class postage prepaid), in the case of Fox Factory, 915 Disc Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066; attention: Compensation Committee, and in the case of the Participant, to the last known address of the Participant as reflected in Fox Factory’s records.

14. Severability . The provisions of this Agreement are severable; and if any one or more provisions may be determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable.

 

- 4 -


15. Compliance with Laws, Restrictions on Award and Shares of Common Stock . Fox Factory may impose such restrictions on the Award and the shares of Common Stock or other benefits underlying the Award or relating to the payout of the Award as it may deem advisable in order to comply with restrictions under the federal securities laws, federal tax laws, the requirements of any stock exchange or similar organization and any blue sky, state or foreign securities laws applicable to such Award or shares of Common Stock. Notwithstanding any other provision in the Plan or this Agreement to the contrary, Fox Factory shall not be obligated to issue, deliver or transfer any shares of Common Stock, make any other distribution of benefits under the Plan, or take any other action, unless such delivery, distribution or action is in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations (including but not limited to the requirements of the Securities Act). Fox Factory may cause a restrictive legend or legends to be placed on any certificate for shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Award in such form as may be prescribed from time to time by applicable laws and regulations or as may be advised by legal counsel.

16. Successors and Assigns . Subject to the limitations stated herein and in the Plan, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Participant and the Participant’s executors, Committees and permitted transferees and beneficiaries and Fox Factory and its successors and assigns.

17. Counterparts, Further Instruments . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The parties hereto agree to execute such further instruments and to take such further action as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement.

18. Right of Offset . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, Fox Factory may reduce the amount of any benefit or payment otherwise payable to or on behalf of the Participant by the amount of any obligation of the Participant to Fox Factory or an Affiliate that is or becomes due and payable, and the Participant shall be deemed to have consented to such reduction; provided , however, that to the extent Section 409A is applicable, such offset shall not exceed the greater of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) or the maximum offset amount then permitted under Section 409A.

19. Adjustment of Award .

(a) In accordance with Section 4(b) of the Plan, the Committee shall have authority to make equitable adjustments to the terms and conditions of the Award in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting Fox Factory or any Affiliate, or the financial statements of Fox Factory or any Affiliate, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles, if the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable laws, rules or regulations.

 

- 5 -


(b) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan or elsewhere in this Agreement to the contrary, (i) the Committee, in order to comply with applicable law (including, without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), retains the right at all times to decrease or terminate the Award and payments under the Plan, and any and all amounts payable under the Plan or paid under the Plan shall be subject to clawback, forfeiture, and reduction to the extent determined by the Committee as necessary to comply with applicable law; and (ii) in the event any legislation, regulation(s), or formal guidance require(s) any compensation payable under the Plan (including, without limitation, the Award) to be deferred, reduced, eliminated, or subjected to vesting, the Award shall be deferred, reduced, eliminated, paid in a different form or subjected to vesting or other restrictions as, and solely to the extent, required by such legislation, regulation(s), or formal regulatory guidance.

[Signature Page to Follow]

 

- 6 -


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed in behalf of Fox Factory and by the Participant effective as of the day and year first above written.

 

FOX FACTORY HOLDING CORP.
By:    
Name:    
Its:    

 

PARTICIPANT
 
[Name]

 

- 7 -

Exhibit 10.7

FOX FACTORY HOLDING CORP.

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

(Larry L. Enterline)

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is executed on July 22, 2013, between Fox Factory Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Larry L. Enterline (“ Executive ”). Notwithstanding any provision contained herein, this Agreement will only become effective, and shall be contingent upon, the closing of a sale of the Company’s Common Stock during 2013 pursuant to an S-1 Registration Statement declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Effective Date ”).

In consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Employment . The Company shall employ Executive, and Executive hereby accepts employment with the Company (or, as applicable, a Subsidiary of the Company), upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement for the period beginning on the date hereof and ending as provided in paragraph 4 hereof. The employment relationship between Executive and the Company and any Subsidiary shall at all times be “at-will.” This means that the employment relationship is at the “will” of Executive and the Company and either Executive or the Company may elect to terminate the employment relationship at any time, for no particular reason or cause, upon notice to the other (including, if applicable, any notice required by Section 4(a)(v) or (vi) below), without further obligation to one another except as provided herein.

2. Position and Duties .

(a) Executive shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and shall have the normal duties, responsibilities, functions and authority customarily associated with such position and such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time to Executive by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”), all subject to the power and authority of the Board and Executive Committee of the Board (the “ Executive Committee ”) to expand or limit such duties, responsibilities, functions and authority and to overrule actions of officers of the Company.

(b) Executive shall report to the Board and Executive shall devote substantially all of Executive’s professional energies and attention to the business and affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Executive shall perform Executive’s duties, responsibilities and functions to the Company and its Subsidiaries hereunder in a diligent, trustworthy, professional, ethical and efficient manner and shall comply with the policies and procedures of the Company and its Subsidiaries and will cooperate fully with the Board in the advancement of the best interests of the Company. So long as Executive is employed by the Company or any Subsidiary, Executive shall not, except as provided herein or without the prior written consent of the Board, render to any other person, corporation, firm, company, joint venture or other entity any services of any kind for compensation, or engage in any other activity, that would compete

 

1


with the Company or its Subsidiaries, and/or interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties for the Company and its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding, Executive may engage in charitable, civic, fraternal and trade association activities that do not interfere materially with Executive’s obligations to the Company or any Subsidiary. Further, nothing in this Agreement shall limit Executive’s ability to: (i) serve as a member of any board of directors for any non-profit organization, so long as such membership does not interfere materially or conflict with Executive’s obligations to the Company or any Subsidiary; or (ii) as otherwise agreed by the Board in writing. Executive represents and warrants that Executive does not now, and will not during the Term of employment hereunder, have any financial interest in any competitor, supplier or customer of the Company or its Subsidiaries; provided that passive ownership (i.e., Executive does not directly or indirectly participate in the business or management of the applicable entity) of less than 5% of the stock of a publicly-held corporation whose stock is traded on a national securities exchange shall not be deemed to be a financial interest in a competitor, supplier or customer of the Company or its Subsidiaries.

(c) For purposes of this Agreement, “ Subsidiary ” shall mean any corporation or other entity of which the securities or other ownership interests having the voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other governing body are, now or hereafter, owned directly or indirectly by the Company.

(d) For purposes of this Agreement, “ Section 409A ” shall mean Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the final regulations issued thereunder.

3. Compensation and Benefits .

(a) Base Salary . Executive’s base salary shall be $750,000 per annum (the “ Base Salary ”), to be paid in accordance with the Company’s customary payroll practices. Executive’s Base Salary (as defined below) will be reviewed on an annual basis by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “ Compensation Committee ”) and may be increased (or decreased as part of substantially similar reductions applicable to all executives) from time to time thereafter, at the discretion of the Compensation Committee.

(b) Performance Bonus . Beginning with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013, Executive will be eligible to receive a bonus (the “ Performance Bonus ”) based on three levels: minimum, target and maximum. The bonus for Executive at each level will be based on the achievement of EBITDA targets (the “ EBITDA Bonus ”). The term “Executive’s Base Salary” means the Executive’s actual base salary, exclusive of any other compensation received by Executive regardless of form, received in the fiscal year for which the Performance Bonus is to be calculated. The term “ EBITDA ” means the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of the Company on a consolidated basis, calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles utilized in determining the Target EBITDA (as defined below) and applied on a consistent basis. Furthermore, non-operating income, currency translation impact, gains and losses attributable to the disposal of Company and/or its Subsidiaries’ assets, management fees paid to Compass Group Management LLC or any affiliate thereof, and stock compensation expenses shall be excluded from the calculation of EBITDA in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Additionally, from time to time the Compensation Committee, in its sole discretion, may elect to exclude other non-recurring

 

2


expenses from the calculation of EBITDA. All determinations of EBITDA shall be derived from the Company’s annual audited financial statements and determined by the Compensation Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive and final. Each Performance Bonus under this Section 3(b) shall be paid in cash, in a lump sum, within the same calendar year in which the Company receives its audited financials for such fiscal year.

(i) Minimum Target . If, for a particular year, the Company’s EBITDA for the year is less than Target EBITDA (as defined below) but equals or exceeds 90% of Target EBITDA, then Executive’s EBITDA Bonus shall be equal to the product of $250,000 plus the product of $25,000 times each full one percentage point positive variance to 90% of Target EBITDA. For example, if actual EBITDA is 97.6% of Target EBITDA, then Executive’s EBITDA Bonus shall be equal to $425,000. For clarity, if EBITDA is under 90% of Target EBITDA, then Executive shall not receive any bonus based on EBITDA.

(ii) Target Level . If, for a particular year, the Company’s EBITDA for the year is more than Target EBITDA but less than 110% of Target EBITDA, then Executive’s EBITDA Bonus shall be equal to the product of $500,000 plus the product of $25,000 times each full one percentage point positive variance to Target EBITDA. For example, if actual EBITDA is 107.6% of Target EBITDA, then Executive’s EBITDA Bonus shall be equal to $675,000.

(iii) Maximum Target . If, for a particular year, the Company’s EBITDA for the year equals or exceeds 110% of Target EBITDA, then Executive’s EBITDA Bonus shall be equal to $750,000.

(iv) Definition of Target EBITDA . For purposes of this Agreement, “ Target EBITDA ” means, for each fiscal year, the EBITDA set forth in the operating budget of the Company, as approved by the Board, for the particular year.

(v) 2013 Performance Bonus Pro Rated . Executive’s Performance Bonus shall be pro-rated for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013, by multiplying (A) the bonus Executive would otherwise have received if Executive had been an employee for the entire fiscal year by (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days from (and including) the Effective Date through (and including) December 31, 2013, and the denominator of which is 365.

(vi) Continued Employment Requirement . In order to encourage and reward longevity, except as otherwise specifically provided in Section 4(b)(ii) hereof, Executive shall not be entitled to any Performance Bonus unless Executive is employed by the Company on the day on which the Company actually pays performance bonuses to its executives.

(c) Employee Benefits . Executive shall be included, to the extent eligible under the terms and conditions, as such terms and conditions may be established or changed from time to time by the Board in its sole discretion, in any and all of the Company plans providing benefits for its executives. Except as otherwise provided herein, nothing contained herein shall obligate the Company to adopt or maintain any benefit plan and nothing herein shall restrict the Company’s right in its sole discretion to adopt, modify or otherwise alter, in whole or in part, any and/or all of its benefit plans, provided that such adoption, abolition, modification or alteration is of general effect and applicable to all of the Company’s employees and/or officers under such plans.

 

3


(d) Paid Time Off . Executive shall be entitled to a minimum of four weeks’ paid time off each fiscal year in accordance with the policies of the Company in effect for its executive officers from time to time. Executive shall take paid time off at such time or times as shall be approved by the Company, which approval shall not be withheld unreasonably.

(e) Business Expenses . The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable business expenses incurred by Executive in the course of performing Executive’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement which are consistent with the Company’s policies in effect from time to time with respect to travel, entertainment and other business expenses, subject to the Company’s requirements with respect to reporting and documentation of such expenses.

(f) Payroll Withholdings . From each payment to Executive of Base Salary and bonus, if any, the Company will report, withhold and pay to the proper governmental authorities any and all amounts required by law to be withheld for federal, state and local income and employment taxes, and any and all other amounts required by law to be reported and/or withheld from Executive’s wages. The Company will also deduct from Executive’s salary payments those sums authorized by Executive in writing and approved by the Company. The Company will make those payments and contributions, such as unemployment insurance premiums, workers’ compensation insurance premiums, the employer’s portion of state disability insurance premiums, and the employer’s portion of federal employment taxes, which are required by law to be made by the Company.

(g) Equity . Executive will be eligible to receive awards of stock options, restricted stock or other equity awards pursuant to any plans or arrangements the Company may have in effect from time to time. The Board or any authorized committee will determine in its discretion whether Executive will be granted any such equity awards and the terms of any such award in accordance with the terms of any applicable plan or arrangement that may be in effect from time to time. The foregoing notwithstanding, all future equity plans and arrangements will: (i) provide participant with the right to “net tax settlement” of restricted share units, (ii) provide participant with the right to “net exercise” of Executive’s vested stock options (whenever exercised), and (iii) include Board approved automatic “net exercise” of Executive’s unexercised stock options on their expiration date to prevent the expiration of stock options due to restrictions placed on the Executive’s trading in Company stock or other circumstances that prevent the Executive from financing stock option exercises using other available methods.

4. Termination of Employment .

(a) Termination . This Agreement and the employment of Executive by the Company and any Subsidiary may be terminated at any time as follows:

(i) By mutual agreement of the parties;

(ii) By the Company if Executive dies or becomes Disabled . For purposes of this Agreement, “ Disabled ” shall mean any mental or physical illness or disability that renders Executive unable to perform the essential functions of Executive’s position for a period of 90 consecutive days or 180 days during any twelve month period with or without reasonable accommodation;

 

4


(iii) By the Company for Cause . For purposes of this Agreement, “ Cause ” shall mean with respect to Executive, one or more of the following: (A) willful or grossly negligent violation of any law which causes material injury to the business of the Company (or any Subsidiary) or entry of a plea of nolo contendere (or similar plea) to a charge of such an offense, (B) conduct causing the Company or any of its Subsidiaries significant public disgrace or disrepute, (C) any act or omission aiding or abetting a competitor, supplier or customer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to the material disadvantage or detriment of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (D) Executive’s willful violation of Executive’s fiduciary duties to the Company or any Subsidiary, including the duty of loyalty and the corporate opportunity doctrine, (E) commission of, or the act of fraud, dishonesty, misappropriation or embezzlement, or Executive’s commission of any felony offense, (F) material breach of Executive’s representations, warranties, or covenants under this Agreement or any other agreement between the parties hereto that, if curable and unrelated to a breach of Section 5 of this Agreement, remains uncured for 15 days following written notice thereof from the Company to the Executive, and (G) refusal to comply with the Company’s reasonable orders or directives (including refusal to perform, other than as a result of death or Disability, material assigned duties or responsibilities that are consistent with normal business practices and this Agreement) or the Company’s (or its Subsidiaries’) material and reasonable rules, regulations, policies, procedures or practices that are not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement or applicable law, which continues uncured for 15 days following written notice thereof from the Company to Executive.

(iv) By the Company without Cause;

(v) By Executive for Good Reason . For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” means Executive’s resignation from employment at any time within ninety (90) days following the expiration of any Company cure period (discussed below) following the occurrence of one or more of the following: (A) a reduction in Executive’s Base Salary below the amount on the date hereof (other than a substantially similar reduction applicable to all executives), (B) material breach by the Company of this Agreement, or (C) without Executive’s consent, a material reduction in Executive’s duties or responsibilities such that Executive is no longer playing the role of a Chief Executive Officer. Under this Agreement, Executive will not be able to resign for Good Reason without first providing the Company with written notice of the acts or omissions constituting the grounds for “Good Reason” within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of the grounds for “Good Reason” and, if such grounds are curable, a reasonable cure period of not less than thirty (30) days following the date of such notice; or

(vi) By Executive, voluntarily, at any time; provided that Executive agrees to give the Company not less than 90 days written notice of Executive’s resignation unless such notice period is waived by the Company.

 

5


(b) Consequences of Termination . Executive shall be entitled to the following compensation in the event of termination of Executive’s employment pursuant to the terms of paragraph 4(a):

(i) Following any termination under paragraphs 4(a)(i), (ii), (iii) or (vi), Executive (or in the event of Executive’s death, Executive’s estate) shall be entitled to receive, immediately upon termination by the Company for Cause or based on mutual agreement, or within thirty (30) days of the date of termination based on death, Disability, or resignation by Executive without Good Reason, a lump sum payment in cash in an amount equal to Executive’s accrued and unpaid Base Salary plus any authorized business expenses incurred and un-reimbursed as of the date of termination or death. In addition, in the event of Executive’s cessation of employment because he has become Disabled, or due to his death, in addition to any Incentive Fee payable pursuant to Section 10(c) below, Executive shall receive a pro rata payment of Executive’s 3(b) Performance Bonus (taking into account the provisions of Section 3(b)(v)), such pro rata 3(b) Bonus payment being calculated as the product of that fiscal year’s 3(b) Bonus multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days Executive is employed with the Company in the fiscal year in which Executive’s termination from employment occurs and the denominator of which is 365 days, and such bonus payment, if any, shall be made in a cash lump sum within the same calendar year in which the Company receives its audited financials for such fiscal year.

(ii) Following any termination under paragraphs 4(a)(iv) or (v) (and despite his subsequent death), Executive (or, in the event of Executive’s death, Executive’s estate) shall be entitled to receive (A) immediately upon termination by the Company without Cause, or within fifteen (15) days of the date of termination by Executive for Good Reason, a lump sum payment in cash in an amount equal to Executive’s accrued and unpaid Base Salary plus any authorized business expenses incurred and un-reimbursed as of the date of termination, (B) severance (“ Severance ”) in an amount equal to: (a) Executive’s per annum Base Salary as of the date of termination, unless Executive’s Base Salary was reduced in violation of paragraph 4(a)(v)(A), in which case it shall be an amount equal to Executive’s per annum Base Salary as in effect prior to such reduction, provided such amount is greater than Executive’s Base Salary on the date of termination; or (b) if the Company terminates Executive Without Cause or if Executive resigns for Good Reason within 24 months following a Change of Control Event, then two times Executive’s per annum Base Salary as of the date of termination; and provided further that such amount shall be payable in twelve or twenty four, as the case may be regarding (a) or (b) respectively, substantially equal payments beginning, as provided in Section 4(b)(iii), on the first regular payroll date immediately following the eighth (8th) day following the Executive’s timely execution of a Release, (C) in addition to any Incentive Fee payable pursuant to Section 10(c) below, a pro rata payment of Executive’s 3(b) Performance Bonus, such pro rata 3(b) Bonus payment (taking into account the provisions of Section 3(b)(v)) being calculated as the product of that fiscal year’s 3(b) Bonus multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days Executive is employed with the Company in the fiscal year in which Executive’s termination from employment occurs and the denominator of which is 365 days, and such bonus payment, if any, shall be made in a cash lump sum within the same calendar year in which the Company receives its audited financials for such fiscal year and (D) during the period Executive receives severance, COBRA insurance benefits funded by the Company, and Executive agrees to reimburse the Company for such COBRA expenses in excess of the monthly amount the

 

6


Company was paying toward Executive’s Company-provided group health insurance coverage immediately prior to Executive’s cessation of employment; provided, however, if the COBRA insurance coverage period expires during the severance period, then during the remainder of the severance period, the Company shall make monthly payments to Executive to subsidize Executive’s health care insurance costs in an amount equal to the monthly dollar amount the Company was paying toward Executive’s Company-provided group health insurance coverage immediately prior to Executive’s cessation of employment. “Change of Control Event” as used herein means the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act); or (ii) any person or group, becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a person shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the voting stock of the Company, including by way of merger, consolidation, or otherwise; provided that a “Change of Control” shall not occur due to beneficial ownership by Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC (“Compass”) unless both its ownership has previously fallen below fifty percent (50%) of the Company and more than three consecutive years have passed without any Person employed by, or serving as a partner or manager of, Compass, or Compass Group Management LLC, having served as a Board member.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Severance shall not be paid nor begun prior to the eighth (8th) day following the return by Executive to the Company of an executed release as described in the immediately following sentence (the “ Release ”) and only if such Release is returned to the Company prior to the sixtieth (60th) day immediately following the Executive’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A). Any “Release” shall provide, in effect, that Executive thereby releases and waives, for Executive and Executive’s heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, all claims against the Company and its Subsidiaries, and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, shareholders, future shareholders, affiliates, divisions, successors, predecessors, representatives, attorneys, and assigns, and any persons acting with them (“ Releasees ”), from all claims (including claims for attorneys’ fees and costs), demands and causes of action, known or unknown, which Executive may have or claim to have against any Releasee, arising out of, or in any way relating to, Executive’s employment, or the termination of Executive’s employment, with the Company (including its Subsidiaries and affiliates), whether based on any act or omission to act or otherwise.

(iv) Subject to Executive’s timely execution of a release, any payment under paragraphs 4(b)(i) and (ii) shall be made in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll, or other applicable payment, practices, and, other than the payment of such amounts, the Company’s obligation to make any further payments of any kind or provide benefits, other than extended health coverage under 4(b)(ii), to Executive shall cease and terminate upon Executive’s date of termination.

 

7


(c) Resignation Upon Termination . Upon termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive agrees and covenants that Executive shall immediately tender a resignation to the Company for any position held by Executive as a member of the Company’s and each of its Subsidiaries’ Boards of Directors and any committee thereof.

(d) Suspension of 409A Payments . Any payment or benefit under this Agreement that Company reasonably determines is subject to Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be delayed to the extent required by Section 409A until a date that is six months and one day from the date of Executive’s Separation from Service (as such term is defined herein below) (the “ 409A Suspension Period ”). Within 10 days after the end of the 409A Suspension Period, Company shall pay to Executive a lump sum payment in cash equal to any payments, and any cash payments that the Company would otherwise have been required to provide, but for the imposition of the 409A Suspension Period. After the 409A Suspension Period, Executive shall receive any remaining cash payments or benefits in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (as if there had not been any 409A Suspension Period beforehand). For purposes of this Agreement, “ Separation from Service ” shall have the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(1)(i); provided, however, that pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(1)(ii), the parties hereby provide that a “separation from service” shall occur within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.409A-1(h)(1)(i) and (ii) as of the first date coincident with or following a termination of employment that the Company and Executive reasonably anticipate a permanent reduction in the level of bona fide services that Executive will perform for Company (and any entity that would be considered the same “service recipient” as Company under Internal Revenue Code Section 409A (collectively, the “ Service Recipient ”) in the future (whether as an employee or an independent contractor) will decrease to a level equal to twenty percent or less of the average level of bona fide services Executive provided to the Service Recipient in the 36 months immediately preceding such date (or the full period of service to the Service Recipient if Executive has been providing services to the Service Recipient for less than 36 months).

(e) All payments to be made to Executive upon a termination of employment may only be made upon a Separation from Service of Executive or a Change of Control Event. For purposes of Section 409A, (i) each payment made under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment; (ii) Executive may not, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of payment; and (iii) no acceleration of the time and form of payment of any nonqualified deferred compensation to Executive or any portion thereof, shall be permitted except in relation to a Change of Control Event.

5. Confidential Information .

(a) Executive acknowledges that the continued success of the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates, depends upon the use and protection of a large body of confidential and proprietary information. All of such confidential and proprietary information now existing or to be developed in the future will be referred to in this Agreement as “ Confidential Information .” Confidential Information will be interpreted as broadly as possible to include all information of any sort (whether merely remembered or embodied in a tangible or intangible form) that is (i) related to the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ or affiliates’ current or potential business or is disclosed to the Company or its Subsidiaries by any third party pursuant to a confidentiality agreement and (ii) is not generally or publicly known. Confidential Information includes, without specific limitation, information, observations and data obtained by Executive

 

8


during the course of Executive’s performance of the services under this Agreement, information concerning acquisition opportunities in or reasonably related to the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ or affiliates’ business or industry of which Executive becomes aware during the Employment Period, the persons or entities that are current, former or prospective suppliers or customers of any one or more of them during Executive’s course of performance of services under this Agreement, as well as development, transition and transformation plans, methodologies and methods of doing business, strategic marketing, product development and business expansion plans, including plans regarding planned and potential sales and financial projections, employee lists and telephone numbers, locations of sales representatives, product designs and specifications, including any future or proposed products, manufacturing techniques and information, integration processes and financial information and forecasts. Therefore, Executive agrees that Executive shall not at any time, directly or indirectly, (i) disclose or permit the disclosure of any Confidential Information to any person or firm other than Company (or its Subsidiaries) or any person or firm to which such disclosure would be protected by a confidentiality agreement with the Company (or its Subsidiaries), or (ii) use or permit the use of any Confidential Information except in the ordinary course of performance of Executive’s duties. Executive agrees to deliver to the Company at the end of the Employment Period, or at any other time the Company may request in writing, all memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports and other documents relating to the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries or affiliates (including, without limitation, all Confidential Information), whether on paper or in any other form or medium, and all copies thereof that Executive may then possess or have under Executive’s control.

(b) During Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive shall not use or disclose any confidential information or trade secrets, if any, of any former employers or any other person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality, and shall not bring onto the premises of the Company or its Subsidiaries or affiliates any unpublished documents or any property belonging to any former employer or any other person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality unless consented to in writing by the former employer or person. Executive shall use in the performance of Executive’s duties only information that is (i) generally known and used by persons with training and experience comparable to Executive’s and that is (x) common knowledge in the industry or (y) is otherwise legally in the public domain, (ii) otherwise provided or developed by the Company or its Subsidiaries or affiliates or (iii) in the case of materials, property or information belonging to any former employer or other person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality, approved for such use in writing by such former employer or person. If at any time during this employment with the Company or any Subsidiary, Executive believes Executive is being asked to engage in work that will, or will be likely to, jeopardize any confidentiality or other obligations Executive may have to former employers, Executive shall immediately advise the Board so that Executive’s duties can be modified appropriately.

(c) The obligations of Executive provided in this paragraph 5 shall last, as to any Confidential Information, for so long as that Confidential Information has proprietary value, whether during Executive’s employment or after the termination thereof.

 

9


6. Intellectual Property, Inventions and Patents .

(a) Executive acknowledges that all discoveries, concepts, ideas, inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods, designs, analyses, drawings, reports, patent applications, copyrightable works, mask works and moral rights (in each case, whether or not including any Confidential Information) and all registrations or applications related thereto, all other proprietary information and all similar or related information (whether or not patentable or trademarkable) which (i)(A) are developed using the equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secrets of the Company or its Subsidiaries, or (B) relate to the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ actual or demonstrably anticipated business, research and development or existing or future products or services, or (C) result from work performed by Executive for the Company or its Subsidiaries, and (ii) which are conceived, developed or made by Executive (whether solely or jointly with others) while employed by or as a result of Executive’s employment with the Company and/or its Subsidiaries, whether before or after the date of this Agreement (“ Work Product ”), belong to the Company or such Subsidiary. Executive shall promptly disclose such Work Product to the Board and, at the Company’s expense, perform all actions reasonably requested by the Board (whether during or after the Employment Period) to establish, confirm and perfect such ownership in the Company or its Subsidiaries, as applicable (including, without limitation, assignments, consents, powers of attorney, waivers of rights, including moral rights, and other instruments). Executive acknowledges that all original works of authorship protected by copyright included in the Work Product are “works made for hire” as defined in the United States Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. §101.

(b) As further consideration for the Company’s entering into this Agreement, Executive hereby assigns to the Company all right, title and interest Executive owns or at any time may have to the Work Product (whether during the Employment Period or after the termination of the Employment Period), and to any and all other Work Product in which Executive may have any right, title, or interest or which was at any time used in the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries or its affiliates. At any time, whether during the Employment Period or after the termination of the Employment Period, upon reasonable request of the Company, Executive shall fully cooperate with and assist the Company to protect the Company’s (and its Subsidiaries’) right to and interest in the Work Product in any and all countries of the world, and, upon reasonable request of the Company, shall execute all documents and instruments and do all things that may be required in connection therewith. If Executive is involuntarily terminated, Executive’s subsequent cooperation with the Company will be coordinated, at the Company’s expense, with Executive’s then employment commitments.

7. Non-Solicitation . In further consideration of the compensation to be paid to Executive hereunder, Executive acknowledges that during the course of Executive’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries (including its predecessors) Executive has and shall become familiar with the Company’s (and its Subsidiaries) trade secrets and with other Confidential Information concerning the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates and that Executive’s services have been and shall be of special, unique and extraordinary value to the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates, and, therefore, Executive agrees (i) that, from the date of this Agreement and for two years after the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive shall not directly or indirectly solicit or induce, attempt to solicit or induce or assist any person soliciting or inducing any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary to leave the employ of the Company or such Subsidiary, or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or any Subsidiary and any employee thereof, and (ii) that,

 

10


from the date of this Agreement until one year after the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive shall not make any negative or disparaging statements or communications about the Company, its Subsidiaries or affiliates, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or stockholders.

8. Severability; Remedies .

(a) Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement or any action in any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction to the extent required to be enforceable under applicable law. If, at the time of enforcement of paragraph 7, a court shall hold that the restrictions stated therein are unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties agree such restrictions are divisible and shall be reduced to the extent required to be enforceable under applicable law. Executive acknowledges that the restrictions contained in paragraph 7 are reasonable and that Executive has reviewed this Agreement with Executive’s legal counsel.

(b) In the event of the breach or a threatened breach by Executive of any of the provisions of paragraphs 5, 6, or 7, the Company (and its Subsidiaries) would suffer irreparable harm, and in addition and supplementary to other rights and remedies existing in its favor, the Company (and its Subsidiaries) shall be entitled to specific performance and/or injunctive or other equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions thereof (without posting a bond or other security). Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Company (and its Subsidiaries) from pursuing any other remedies available to them, at law or in equity, for any breach or threatened breach of this Agreement (including, any of the provisions of paragraphs 5, 6 or 7) by Executive, including recovery of damages from Executive and forfeiture of any and all Severance.

9. Executive’s Representations . Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company that (a) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Executive do not and shall not conflict with, breach, violate or cause a default under any contract, agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which Executive is a party or by which Executive is bound, (b) Executive is not a party to or bound by any employment agreement, noncompete agreement or confidentiality agreement with any other person or entity and (c) upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, this Agreement shall be a legal, valid and binding obligation of Executive, enforceable in accordance with its terms. Executive hereby acknowledges and represents that Executive has consulted with independent legal counsel regarding Executive’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and that Executive fully understands the terms and conditions contained herein.

10. Miscellaneous .

(a) Survival . Paragraphs 4 through 10 shall survive and continue in full force and effect notwithstanding the termination of Executive’s employment and this Agreement.

 

11


(b) Notices . Any notice provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be either personally delivered, sent by reputable overnight courier service or mailed by first class mail, return receipt requested, to the recipient at the address below indicated:

Notices to Executive:

 

  Larry L. Enterline   
 

 

  
 

 

  

Notices to the Company:

 

 

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

915 Disc Drive

Scotts Valley, CA 95066

Attn: Chairman of Board of Directors

Facsimile: (770) 331-2904

 

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

915 Disc Drive

Scotts Valley, CA 95066

Attn: General Counsel

With a copy to:

 

 

Paul Hastings LLP

695 Town Center Drive, 17th Floor

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Attention: William J. Simpson

Facsimile: (714) 668-6305

or such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Any notice under this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given when so delivered, sent or mailed.

(c) Termination of Agreement between Company, Fox Factory, Inc., and Vulcan Holdings, Inc.; Complete Agreement . This Agreement, those documents expressly referred to herein and other documents of even date herewith embody the complete agreement and understanding among the parties and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way. Upon the Effective Date, the Services and Secondment Agreement, as amended, under which Executive served as Chief Executive Officer, by and between Company, Fox Factory, Inc. (a California corporation) and Vulcan Holdings, Inc. (a Georgia corporation), (together with all amendments thereto, collectively the “Terminated Agreement”) shall be automatically terminated without further action by the parties; provided, however, that Vulcan Holdings, Inc. shall be entitled to receive the Incentive Fee under the

 

12


Terminated Agreement when and if the Incentive Fee would have otherwise been payable, but pro-rated for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013, by multiplying (A) the Incentive Fee Vulcan Holdings, Inc. would otherwise have received if Executive had served for the entire fiscal year by (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days from (and including) January 1, 2013 until the Effective Date (but excluding the Effective Date), and the denominator of which is 365. For the avoidance of doubt, the termination of the Terminated Agreement will not create any severance or other obligations to Vulcan Holdings, Inc.

(d) No Strict Construction . The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.

(e) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts (including by means of facsimile or portable document format (PDF)), each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.

(f) Successors and Assigns . Subject to the limitations stated herein and in the 2013 Omnibus Plan, this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor to the Company, including without limitation any persons acquiring directly or indirectly all or substantially all of the business or assets or interests of the Company whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise (and such successor shall thereafter be deemed the “Company” for purposes of this Agreement). This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees and legatees, but will not otherwise be assignable, transferable or delegable by Executive. This Agreement is personal in nature and neither of the parties hereto shall, without the consent of the other, assign, transfer or delegate this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder except as otherwise expressly provided in this paragraph 10(f).

(g) Choice of Law . All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement and the exhibits and schedules hereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of California or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of California.

(h) Amendment and Waiver . The provisions of this Agreement may be amended or waived only with the prior written consent of the Company (as approved by the Board) and Executive, and no course of conduct or course of dealing or failure or delay by any party hereto in enforcing or exercising any of the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, the Company’s right to terminate Executive’s employment with or without Cause) shall affect the validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Agreement or be deemed to be an implied waiver of any provision of this Agreement. For purposes of clarification, it is understood by the parties that Section 10(h) shall in no way invalidate Executive’s obligation to act within the sixty (60) day time limit of Section 4(b)(iii), as applied to Section 4(b)(ii)(B) and Section 4(b)(iv).

 

13


(i) Insurance . The Company may procure in its own name and for its own benefit life and/or disability insurance on Executive in any amount or amounts considered advisable. Executive agrees to cooperate in any reasonable medical or other examination, supply any available information and execute and delivery any applications or other instruments in writing as may be reasonably necessary to obtain and maintain such insurance.

(j) Corporate Opportunity . During his employment, Executive shall submit to the Company all business, commercial and investment opportunities or offers presented to Executive, or of which Executive becomes aware, at any time during Executive’s employment which relate to the business of design, manufacture, distribution, marketing, assembly or sale of suspension products for vehicles, including mountain bikes, snow mobiles, all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles and off-road automotive vehicles (“ Corporate Opportunities ”). Unless approved by the Board, Executive shall not accept or pursue, directly or indirectly, any Corporate Opportunities on Executive’s own behalf.

(k) Executive’s Cooperation . During his employment and thereafter, Executive shall cooperate, at the Company’s expense, with the Company and its Subsidiaries in any internal investigation or administrative, regulatory or judicial proceeding as reasonably requested by the Company (including, without limitation, Executive being available to the Company upon reasonable notice for interviews and factual investigations, appearing at the Company’s request to give testimony without requiring service of a subpoena or other legal process, volunteering to the Company all pertinent information and turning over to the Company copies of all relevant documents which are or may come into Executive’s possession to the extent they may be provided to the Company without civil or criminal penalty to Executive, all at times and on schedules that are reasonably consistent with Executive’s other permitted activities and commitments).

(l) Clawback Policy . Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all amounts payable pursuant to Article 3(b) of this Agreement shall be subject to the Company’s policy entitled “Recoupment of Incentive Compensation Upon Restatement or Misstatement of Financial Results, or as Required by Law” (as may be amended from time to time). Executive hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of such policy.

(m) Arbitration . Any controversy, claim, cause of action, in law or equity, or dispute involving the parties (or their affiliated persons or entities) directly or indirectly concerning this Agreement, Executive’s employment by the Company or cessation thereof, and/or the subject matter thereof, including its enforcement, performance, breach, or interpretation, shall be resolved solely and exclusively by final and binding arbitration held in Santa Cruz, California by one (1) arbitrator in accordance with the rules of employment arbitration then followed by JAMS or any successor to the functions thereof. The arbitrator shall apply California law in the resolution of all controversies, claims and disputes and shall have the right and authority to determine how his or her decision or determination as to each issue or matter in dispute may be implemented or enforced. Any decision or award of the arbitrator shall be final, conclusive and binding on the parties to this Agreement, and there shall be no appeal therefrom other than from gross negligence or willful misconduct. Notwithstanding the foregoing, claims regarding worker’s compensation and unemployment compensation benefits shall not be subject to arbitration under this Agreement. Each party in any such arbitration shall

 

14


be responsible for its own attorneys’ fees, costs and necessary disbursements; provided, however, that if one party refuses to arbitrate and the other party seeks to compel arbitration by court order, if such other party prevails, it shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and necessary disbursements. Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Company shall pay the arbitrator’s fees.

(i) The parties hereto agree that any action to compel arbitration pursuant to this Agreement may be brought in any appropriate state court in Santa Cruz County, California, and in connection with such action to compel, the laws of California shall control. Application may also be made to such court for confirmation of any decision or award of the arbitrator, for an order of the enforcement and for any other remedies which may be necessary to effectuate such decision or award. The parties hereto hereby consent to the jurisdiction of the arbitrator and of such court and waive any objection to the jurisdiction of such arbitrator and court.

(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief and other equitable remedies, in any court of competent jurisdiction, to enforce this Agreement.

* * * * *

 

15


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

 

COMPANY

 

FOX FACTORY HOLDING CORP.

By:   /s/ Elias Sabo
Its:   Chairman of the Board

 

EXECUTIVE :
  /s/ Larry L. Enterline
  Name: Larry L. Enterline

 

AGREED AS TO

SECTION 10(c) ABOVE:

FOX FACTORY, Inc.,

a California Corporation

By:   /s/ Zvi Glasman
Its:   Chief Financial Officer

 

VULCAN HOLDINGS, Inc.,

a Georgia Corporation

By:   /s/ Larry L. Enterline
Its:   Chief Executive Officer

 

- 16 -

Exhibit 10.8

FOX FACTORY HOLDING CORP.

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

(Zvi Glasman)

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is executed on July 22, 2013, between Fox Factory Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Zvi Glasman (“ Executive ”). Notwithstanding any provision contained herein, this Agreement will only become effective, and shall be contingent upon, the closing of a sale of the Company’s Common Stock during 2013 pursuant to an S-1 Registration Statement declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Effective Date ”).

In consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Employment . The Company shall employ Executive, and Executive hereby accepts employment with the Company (or, as applicable, a Subsidiary of the Company), upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement for the period beginning on the date hereof and ending as provided in paragraph 4 hereof. The employment relationship between Executive and the Company and any Subsidiary shall at all times be “at-will.” This means that the employment relationship is at the “will” of Executive and the Company and either Executive or the Company may elect to terminate the employment relationship at any time, for no particular reason or cause, upon notice to the other (including, if applicable, any notice required by Section 4(a)(v) or (vi) below), without further obligation to one another except as provided herein.

2. Position and Duties .

(a) Executive shall serve as the Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer of the Company and shall have the normal duties, responsibilities, functions and authority customarily associated with such position and such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time to Executive by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, all subject to the power and authority of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) and Executive Committee of the Board (the “ Executive Committee ”) to expand or limit such duties, responsibilities, functions and authority and to overrule actions of officers of the Company.

(b) Executive shall report to the Chief Executive Officer and Executive shall devote Executive’s full-time energies and attention to the business and affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Executive shall perform Executive’s duties, responsibilities and functions to the Company and its Subsidiaries hereunder in a diligent, trustworthy, professional, ethical and efficient manner and shall comply with the policies and procedures of the Company and its Subsidiaries and will cooperate fully with the Board in the advancement of the best interests of the Company. So long as Executive is employed by the Company or any Subsidiary, Executive shall not, except as provided herein or without the prior written consent of the Board, render to any other person, corporation, firm, company, joint venture or other entity any services of any kind for compensation, or engage in any other activity, that would compete with the Company or

 

1


its Subsidiaries, and/or interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties for the Company and its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding, Executive may engage in charitable, civic, fraternal and trade association activities that do not interfere materially with Executive’s obligations to the Company or any Subsidiary. Further, nothing in this Agreement shall limit Executive’s ability to: (i) serve as a member of any board of directors for any non-profit organization, so long as such membership does not interfere materially or conflict with Executive’s obligations to the Company or any Subsidiary; or (ii) as otherwise agreed by the Board in writing. Executive represents and warrants that Executive does not now, and will not during the Term of employment hereunder, have any financial interest in any competitor, supplier or customer of the Company or its Subsidiaries; provided that passive ownership (i.e., Executive does not directly or indirectly participate in the business or management of the applicable entity) of less than 5% of the stock of a publicly-held corporation whose stock is traded on a national securities exchange shall not be deemed to be a financial interest in a competitor, supplier or customer of the Company or its Subsidiaries.

(c) For purposes of this Agreement, “ Subsidiary ” shall mean any corporation or other entity of which the securities or other ownership interests having the voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other governing body are, now or hereafter, owned directly or indirectly by the Company.

(d) For purposes of this Agreement, “ Section 409A ” shall mean Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the final regulations issued thereunder.

3. Compensation and Benefits .

(a) Base Salary . Executive’s base salary shall be $295,000 per annum (the “ Base Salary ”), to be paid in accordance with the Company’s customary payroll practices. Executive’s Base Salary (as defined below) will be reviewed on an annual basis by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “ Compensation Committee ”) and may be increased (or decreased as part of substantially similar reductions applicable to all executives) from time to time thereafter, at the discretion of the Compensation Committee.

(b) Performance Bonus . Beginning with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013, Executive will be eligible to receive a bonus (the “ Performance Bonus ”) based on three levels: minimum, target and maximum. The bonus for Executive at each level will be based on the achievement of EBITDA targets (the “ EBITDA Bonus ”). The term “Executive’s Base Salary” means the Executive’s actual base salary, exclusive of any other compensation received by Executive regardless of form, received in the fiscal year for which the Performance Bonus is to be calculated. The term “ EBITDA ” means the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of the Company on a consolidated basis, calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles utilized in determining the Target EBITDA (as defined below) and applied on a consistent basis. Furthermore, non-operating income, currency translation impact, gains and losses attributable to the disposal of Company and/or its Subsidiaries’ assets, management fees paid to Compass Group Management LLC or any affiliate thereof, and stock compensation expenses shall be excluded from the calculation of EBITDA in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Additionally, from time to time the Compensation Committee, in its sole discretion, may elect to exclude other non-recurring

 

2


expenses from the calculation of EBITDA. All determinations of EBITDA shall be derived from the Company’s annual audited financial statements and determined by the Compensation Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive and final. Each Performance Bonus under this Section 3(b) shall be paid in cash, in a lump sum, within the same calendar year in which the Company receives its audited financials for such fiscal year.

(i) Minimum Target . If, for a particular year, the Company’s EBITDA for the year is less than Target EBITDA (as defined below) but equals or exceeds 90% of Target EBITDA, then Executive’s EBITDA Bonus shall be equal to the product of (A) 25% plus the product of 2.5% times each full one percentage point positive variance to 90% of Target EBITDA, times (B) Executive’s Base Salary. For example, if actual EBITDA is 97.6% of Target EBITDA, then Executive’s EBITDA Bonus shall be equal to 42.5% times Executive’s Base Salary (25% + (2.5% x 7) = 42.5%). For clarity, if EBITDA is under 90% of Target EBITDA, then Executive shall not receive any bonus based on EBITDA.

(ii) Target Level . If, for a particular year, the Company’s EBITDA for the year is more than Target EBITDA but less than 110% of Target EBITDA, then Executive’s EBITDA Bonus shall be equal to the product of (A) 50% plus the product of 2.5% times each full one percentage point positive variance to Target EBITDA, times (B) Executive’s Base Salary. For example, if actual EBITDA is 107.6% of Target EBITDA, then Executive’s EBITDA Bonus shall be equal to 67.5% times Executive’s Base Salary (50% + (2.5% x 7) = 67.5%).

(iii) Maximum Target . If, for a particular year, the Company’s EBITDA for the year equals or exceeds 110% of Target EBITDA, then Executive’s EBITDA Bonus shall be equal to (A) 75% times (B) Executive’s Base Salary.

 

(iv) Definition of Target EBITDA . For purposes of this Agreement, “ Target EBITDA ” means, for each fiscal year, the EBITDA set forth in the operating budget of the Company, as approved by the Board, for the particular year.

(v) 2013 Performance Bonus Pro Rated . Executive’s Performance Bonus shall be pro-rated for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013, by multiplying (A) the bonus Executive would otherwise have received if Executive had been an employee for the entire fiscal year by (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days from (and including) the Effective Date through (and including) December 31, 2013, and the denominator of which is 365.

(vi) Continued Employment Requirement . In order to encourage and reward longevity, except as otherwise specifically provided in Section 4(b)(ii) hereof, Executive shall not be entitled to any Performance Bonus unless Executive is employed by the Company on the day on which the Company actually pays performance bonuses to its executives.

 

3


(c) Employee Benefits . Executive shall be included, to the extent eligible under the terms and conditions, as such terms and conditions may be established or changed from time to time by the Board in its sole discretion, in any and all of the Company plans providing benefits for its executives. Except as otherwise provided herein, nothing contained herein shall obligate the Company to adopt or maintain any benefit plan and nothing herein shall restrict the Company’s right in its sole discretion to adopt, modify or otherwise alter, in whole or in part, any and/or all of its benefit plans, provided that such adoption, abolition, modification or alteration is of general effect and applicable to all of the Company’s employees and/or officers under such plans.

(d) Paid Time Off . Executive shall be entitled to a minimum of four weeks’ paid time off each fiscal year in accordance with the policies of the Company in effect for its executive officers from time to time. Executive shall take paid time off at such time or times as shall be approved by the Company, which approval shall not be withheld unreasonably.

(e) Business Expenses . The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable business expenses incurred by Executive in the course of performing Executive’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement which are consistent with the Company’s policies in effect from time to time with respect to travel, entertainment and other business expenses, subject to the Company’s requirements with respect to reporting and documentation of such expenses.

(f) Payroll Withholdings . From each payment to Executive of Base Salary and bonus, if any, the Company will report, withhold and pay to the proper governmental authorities any and all amounts required by law to be withheld for federal, state and local income and employment taxes, and any and all other amounts required by law to be reported and/or withheld from Executive’s wages. The Company will also deduct from Executive’s salary payments those sums authorized by Executive in writing and approved by the Company. The Company will make those payments and contributions, such as unemployment insurance premiums, workers’ compensation insurance premiums, the employer’s portion of state disability insurance premiums, and the employer’s portion of federal employment taxes, which are required by law to be made by the Company.

(g) Equity . Executive will be eligible to receive awards of stock options, restricted stock or other equity awards pursuant to any plans or arrangements the Company may have in effect from time to time. The Board or any authorized committee will determine in its discretion whether Executive will be granted any such equity awards and the terms of any such award in accordance with the terms of any applicable plan or arrangement that may be in effect from time to time. The foregoing notwithstanding, all future equity plans and arrangements will: (i) provide participant with the right to “net tax settlement” of restricted share units; (ii) provide participant with the right to “net exercise” of Executive’s vested stock options (whenever exercised); and (iii) include Board approved automatic “net exercise” of Executive’s unexercised stock options on their expiration date to prevent the expiration of stock options due to restrictions placed on the Executive’s trading in Company stock or other circumstances that prevent the Executive from financing stock option exercises using other available methods.

 

4


4. Termination of Employment .

(a) Termination . This Agreement and the employment of Executive by the Company and any Subsidiary may be terminated at any time as follows:

(i) By mutual agreement of the parties;

(ii) By the Company if Executive dies or becomes Disabled . For purposes of this Agreement, “ Disabled ” shall mean any mental or physical illness or disability that renders Executive unable to perform the essential functions of Executive’s position for a period of 90 consecutive days or 180 days during any twelve month period with or without reasonable accommodation;

(iii) By the Company for Cause . For purposes of this Agreement, “ Cause ” shall mean with respect to Executive, one or more of the following: (A) willful or grossly negligent violation of any law which causes material injury to the business of the Company (or any Subsidiary) or entry of a plea of nolo contendere (or similar plea) to a charge of such an offense, (B) conduct causing the Company or any of its Subsidiaries significant public disgrace or disrepute, (C) any act or omission aiding or abetting a competitor, supplier or customer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to the material disadvantage or detriment of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (D) Executive’s willful violation of Executive’s fiduciary duties to the Company or any Subsidiary, including the duty of loyalty and the corporate opportunity doctrine, (E) commission of, or the act of fraud, dishonesty, misappropriation or embezzlement, or Executive’s commission of any felony offense, (F) material breach of Executive’s representations, warranties, or covenants under this Agreement or any other agreement between the parties hereto that, if curable and unrelated to a breach of Section 5 of this Agreement, remains uncured for 15 days following written notice thereof from the Company to the Executive, and (G) refusal to comply with the Company’s reasonable orders or directives (including refusal to perform, other than as a result of death or Disability, material assigned duties or responsibilities that are consistent with normal business practices and this Agreement) or the Company’s (or its Subsidiaries’) material and reasonable rules, regulations, policies, procedures or practices that are not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement or applicable law, which continues uncured for 15 days following written notice thereof from the Company to Executive.

(iv) By the Company without Cause;

(v) By Executive for Good Reason . For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” means Executive’s resignation from employment at any time within ninety (90) days following the expiration of any Company cure period (discussed below) following the occurrence of one or more of the following: (A) a reduction in Executive’s Base Salary below the amount on the date hereof (other than a substantially similar reduction applicable to all executives), (B) material breach by the Company of this Agreement, or (C) without Executive’s consent, a material reduction in Executive’s duties or responsibilities such that Executive is no longer playing the role of a Chief Financial Officer. Under this Agreement, Executive will not be able to resign for Good Reason without first providing the Company with written notice of the acts or omissions constituting the grounds for “Good Reason” within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of the grounds for “Good Reason” and, if such grounds are curable, a reasonable cure period of not less than thirty (30) days following the date of such notice; or

 

5


(vi) By Executive, voluntarily, at any time; provided that Executive agrees to give the Company not less than 90 days written notice of Executive’s resignation unless such notice period is waived by the Company.

(b) Consequences of Termination . Executive shall be entitled to the following compensation in the event of termination of Executive’s employment pursuant to the terms of paragraph 4(a):

(i) Following any termination under paragraphs 4(a)(i), (ii), (iii) or (vi), Executive (or in the event of Executive’s death, Executive’s estate) shall be entitled to receive, immediately upon termination by the Company for Cause or based on mutual agreement, or within thirty (30) days of the date of termination based on death, Disability, or resignation by Executive without Good Reason, a lump sum payment in cash in an amount equal to Executive’s accrued and unpaid Base Salary plus any authorized business expenses incurred and un-reimbursed as of the date of termination or death. In addition, in the event of Executive’s cessation of employment because he has become Disabled, or due to his death, in addition to any bonus payable pursuant to Section 10(c) below, Executive shall receive a pro rata payment of Executive’s 3(b) Performance Bonus (taking into account the provisions of Section 3(b)(v)), such pro rata 3(b) Bonus payment being calculated as the product of that fiscal year’s 3(b) Bonus multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days Executive is employed with the Company in the fiscal year in which Executive’s termination from employment occurs and the denominator of which is 365 days, and such bonus payment, if any, shall be made in a cash lump sum within the same calendar year in which the Company receives its audited financials for such fiscal year.

(ii) Following any termination under paragraphs 4(a)(iv) or (v) (and despite his subsequent death), Executive (or, in the event of Executive’s death, Executive’s estate) shall be entitled to receive (A) immediately upon termination by the Company without Cause, or within fifteen (15) days of the date of termination by Executive for Good Reason, a lump sum payment in cash in an amount equal to Executive’s accrued and unpaid Base Salary plus any authorized business expenses incurred and un-reimbursed as of the date of termination, (B) severance (“ Severance ”) in an amount equal to: (a) Executive’s per annum Base Salary as of the date of termination, unless Executive’s Base Salary was reduced in violation of paragraph 4(a)(v)(A), in which case it shall be an amount equal to Executive’s per annum Base Salary as in effect prior to such reduction, provided such amount is greater than Executive’s Base Salary on the date of termination; or (b) if the Company terminates Executive Without Cause or if Executive resigns for Good Reason within 24 months following a Change of Control Event, then one and one-half (1.5) times Executive’s per annum Base Salary as of the date of termination; and provided further that such amount shall be payable in twelve or eighteen, as the case may be regarding (a) or (b) respectively, substantially equal payments beginning, as provided in Section 4(b)(iii), on the first regular payroll date immediately following the eighth (8th) day following the Executive’s timely execution of a Release, (C) in addition to any bonus payable pursuant to Section 10(c) below, a pro rata payment of Executive’s 3(b) Performance Bonus, such pro rata 3(b) Bonus payment (taking into account the provisions of Section 3(b)(v)) being calculated as the product of that fiscal year’s 3(b) Bonus multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days Executive is employed with the Company in the fiscal year in which Executive’s termination from employment occurs and the denominator of which is 365 days, and

 

6


such bonus payment, if any, shall be made in a cash lump sum within the same calendar year in which the Company receives its audited financials for such fiscal year and (D) during the period Executive receives severance, COBRA insurance benefits funded by the Company, and Executive agrees to reimburse the Company for such COBRA expenses in excess of the monthly amount the Company was paying toward Executive’s Company-provided group health insurance coverage immediately prior to Executive’s cessation of employment; provided, however, if the COBRA insurance coverage period expires during the severance period, then during the remainder of the severance period, the Company shall make monthly payments to Executive to subsidize Executive’s health care insurance costs in an amount equal to the monthly dollar amount the Company was paying toward Executive’s Company-provided group health insurance coverage immediately prior to Executive’s cessation of employment. “Change of Control Event” as used herein means the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act); or (ii) any person or group, becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a person shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the voting stock of the Company, including by way of merger, consolidation, or otherwise; provided that a “Change of Control” shall not occur due to beneficial ownership by Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC (“Compass”) unless both its ownership has previously fallen below fifty percent (50%) of the Company and more than three consecutive years have passed without any Person employed by, or serving as a partner or manager of, Compass, or Compass Group Management LLC, having served as a Board member.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Severance shall not be paid nor begun prior to the eighth (8th) day following the return by Executive to the Company of an executed release as described in the immediately following sentence (the “ Release ”) and only if such Release is returned to the Company prior to the sixtieth (60th) day immediately following the Executive’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A). Any “Release” shall provide, in effect, that Executive thereby releases and waives, for Executive and Executive’s heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, all claims against the Company and its Subsidiaries, and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, shareholders, future shareholders, affiliates, divisions, successors, predecessors, representatives, attorneys, and assigns, and any persons acting with them (“ Releasees ”), from all claims (including claims for attorneys’ fees and costs), demands and causes of action, known or unknown, which Executive may have or claim to have against any Releasee, arising out of, or in any way relating to, Executive’s employment, or the termination of Executive’s employment, with the Company (including its Subsidiaries and affiliates), whether based on any act or omission to act or otherwise.

(iv) Subject to Executive’s timely execution of a release, any payment under paragraphs 4(b)(i) and (ii) shall be made in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll, or other applicable payment, practices, and, other than the payment of such amounts, the Company’s obligation to make any further payments of any kind or provide benefits, other than extended health coverage under 4(b)(ii), to Executive shall cease and terminate upon Executive’s date of termination.

 

7


(c) Resignation Upon Termination . Upon termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive agrees and covenants that Executive shall immediately tender a resignation to the Company for any position held by Executive as a member of the Company’s and each of its Subsidiaries’ Boards of Directors and any committee thereof.

(d) Suspension of 409A Payments . Any payment or benefit under this Agreement that Company reasonably determines is subject to Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be delayed to the extent required by Section 409A until a date that is six months and one day from the date of Executive’s Separation from Service (as such term is defined herein below) (the “ 409A Suspension Period ”). Within 10 days after the end of the 409A Suspension Period, Company shall pay to Executive a lump sum payment in cash equal to any payments, and any cash payments that the Company would otherwise have been required to provide, but for the imposition of the 409A Suspension Period. After the 409A Suspension Period, Executive shall receive any remaining cash payments or benefits in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (as if there had not been any 409A Suspension Period beforehand). For purposes of this Agreement, “ Separation from Service ” shall have the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(1)(i); provided, however, that pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(1)(ii), the parties hereby provide that a “separation from service” shall occur within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.409A-1(h)(1)(i) and (ii) as of the first date coincident with or following a termination of employment that the Company and Executive reasonably anticipate a permanent reduction in the level of bona fide services that Executive will perform for Company (and any entity that would be considered the same “service recipient” as Company under Internal Revenue Code Section 409A (collectively, the “ Service Recipient ”) in the future (whether as an employee or an independent contractor) will decrease to a level equal to twenty percent or less of the average level of bona fide services Executive provided to the Service Recipient in the 36 months immediately preceding such date (or the full period of service to the Service Recipient if Executive has been providing services to the Service Recipient for less than 36 months).

(e) All payments to be made to Executive upon a termination of employment may only be made upon a Separation from Service of Executive or a Change of Control Event. For purposes of Section 409A, (i) each payment made under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment; (ii) Executive may not, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of payment; and (iii) no acceleration of the time and form of payment of any nonqualified deferred compensation to Executive or any portion thereof, shall be permitted except in relation to a Change of Control Event.

5. Confidential Information .

(a) Executive acknowledges that the continued success of the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates, depends upon the use and protection of a large body of confidential and proprietary information. All of such confidential and proprietary information now existing or to be developed in the future will be referred to in this Agreement as “ Confidential Information .” Confidential Information will be interpreted as broadly as possible to include all

 

8


information of any sort (whether merely remembered or embodied in a tangible or intangible form) that is (i) related to the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ or affiliates’ current or potential business or is disclosed to the Company or its Subsidiaries by any third party pursuant to a confidentiality agreement and (ii) is not generally or publicly known. Confidential Information includes, without specific limitation, information, observations and data obtained by Executive during the course of Executive’s performance of the services under this Agreement, information concerning acquisition opportunities in or reasonably related to the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ or affiliates’ business or industry of which Executive becomes aware during the Employment Period, the persons or entities that are current, former or prospective suppliers or customers of any one or more of them during Executive’s course of performance of services under this Agreement, as well as development, transition and transformation plans, methodologies and methods of doing business, strategic marketing, product development and business expansion plans, including plans regarding planned and potential sales and financial projections, employee lists and telephone numbers, locations of sales representatives, product designs and specifications, including any future or proposed products, manufacturing techniques and information, integration processes and financial information and forecasts. Therefore, Executive agrees that Executive shall not at any time, directly or indirectly, (i) disclose or permit the disclosure of any Confidential Information to any person or firm other than Company (or its Subsidiaries) or any person or firm to which such disclosure would be protected by a confidentiality agreement with the Company (or its Subsidiaries), or (ii) use or permit the use of any Confidential Information except in the ordinary course of performance of Executive’s duties. Executive agrees to deliver to the Company at the end of the Employment Period, or at any other time the Company may request in writing, all memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports and other documents relating to the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries or affiliates (including, without limitation, all Confidential Information), whether on paper or in any other form or medium, and all copies thereof that Executive may then possess or have under Executive’s control.

(b) During Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive shall not use or disclose any confidential information or trade secrets, if any, of any former employers or any other person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality, and shall not bring onto the premises of the Company or its Subsidiaries or affiliates any unpublished documents or any property belonging to any former employer or any other person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality unless consented to in writing by the former employer or person. Executive shall use in the performance of Executive’s duties only information that is (i) generally known and used by persons with training and experience comparable to Executive’s and that is (x) common knowledge in the industry or (y) is otherwise legally in the public domain, (ii) otherwise provided or developed by the Company or its Subsidiaries or affiliates or (iii) in the case of materials, property or information belonging to any former employer or other person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality, approved for such use in writing by such former employer or person. If at any time during this employment with the Company or any Subsidiary, Executive believes Executive is being asked to engage in work that will, or will be likely to, jeopardize any confidentiality or other obligations Executive may have to former employers, Executive shall immediately advise the Board so that Executive’s duties can be modified appropriately.

 

9


(c) The obligations of Executive provided in this paragraph 5 shall last, as to any Confidential Information, for so long as that Confidential Information has proprietary value, whether during Executive’s employment or after the termination thereof.

6. Intellectual Property, Inventions and Patents .

(a) Executive acknowledges that all discoveries, concepts, ideas, inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods, designs, analyses, drawings, reports, patent applications, copyrightable works, mask works and moral rights (in each case, whether or not including any Confidential Information) and all registrations or applications related thereto, all other proprietary information and all similar or related information (whether or not patentable or trademarkable) which (i)(A) are developed using the equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secrets of the Company or its Subsidiaries, or (B) relate to the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ actual or demonstrably anticipated business, research and development or existing or future products or services, or (C) result from work performed by Executive for the Company or its Subsidiaries, and (ii) which are conceived, developed or made by Executive (whether solely or jointly with others) while employed by or as a result of Executive’s employment with the Company and/or its Subsidiaries, whether before or after the date of this Agreement (“ Work Product ”), belong to the Company or such Subsidiary. Executive shall promptly disclose such Work Product to the Board and, at the Company’s expense, perform all actions reasonably requested by the Board (whether during or after the Employment Period) to establish, confirm and perfect such ownership in the Company or its Subsidiaries, as applicable (including, without limitation, assignments, consents, powers of attorney, waivers of rights, including moral rights, and other instruments). Executive acknowledges that all original works of authorship protected by copyright included in the Work Product are “works made for hire” as defined in the United States Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. §101.

(b) As further consideration for the Company’s entering into this Agreement, Executive hereby assigns to the Company all right, title and interest Executive owns or at any time may have to the Work Product (whether during the Employment Period or after the termination of the Employment Period), and to any and all other Work Product in which Executive may have any right, title, or interest or which was at any time used in the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries or its affiliates. At any time, whether during the Employment Period or after the termination of the Employment Period, upon reasonable request of the Company, Executive shall fully cooperate with and assist the Company to protect the Company’s (and its Subsidiaries’) right to and interest in the Work Product in any and all countries of the world, and, upon reasonable request of the Company, shall execute all documents and instruments and do all things that may be required in connection therewith. If Executive is involuntarily terminated, Executive’s subsequent cooperation with the Company will be coordinated, at the Company’s expense, with Executive’s then employment commitments.

7. Non-Solicitation . In further consideration of the compensation to be paid to Executive hereunder, Executive acknowledges that during the course of Executive’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries (including its predecessors) Executive has and shall become familiar with the Company’s (and its Subsidiaries) trade secrets and with other Confidential Information concerning the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates and that Executive’s services have been and shall be of special, unique and extraordinary value to the

 

10


Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates, and, therefore, Executive agrees (i) that, from the date of this Agreement and for two years after the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive shall not directly or indirectly solicit or induce, attempt to solicit or induce or assist any person soliciting or inducing any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary to leave the employ of the Company or such Subsidiary, or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or any Subsidiary and any employee thereof, and (ii) that, from the date of this Agreement until one year after the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive shall not make any negative or disparaging statements or communications about the Company, its Subsidiaries or affiliates, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or stockholders.

8. Severability; Remedies .

(a) Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement or any action in any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction to the extent required to be enforceable under applicable law. If, at the time of enforcement of paragraph 7, a court shall hold that the restrictions stated therein are unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties agree such restrictions are divisible and shall be reduced to the extent required to be enforceable under applicable law. Executive acknowledges that the restrictions contained in paragraph 7 are reasonable and that Executive has reviewed this Agreement with Executive’s legal counsel.

(b) In the event of the breach or a threatened breach by Executive of any of the provisions of paragraphs 5, 6, or 7, the Company (and its Subsidiaries) would suffer irreparable harm, and in addition and supplementary to other rights and remedies existing in its favor, the Company (and its Subsidiaries) shall be entitled to specific performance and/or injunctive or other equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions thereof (without posting a bond or other security). Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Company (and its Subsidiaries) from pursuing any other remedies available to them, at law or in equity, for any breach or threatened breach of this Agreement (including, any of the provisions of paragraphs 5, 6 or 7) by Executive, including recovery of damages from Executive and forfeiture of any and all Severance.

9. Executive’s Representations . Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company that (a) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Executive do not and shall not conflict with, breach, violate or cause a default under any contract, agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which Executive is a party or by which Executive is bound, (b) Executive is not a party to or bound by any employment agreement, noncompete agreement or confidentiality agreement with any other person or entity and (c) upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, this Agreement shall be a legal, valid and binding obligation of Executive, enforceable in accordance with its terms. Executive hereby acknowledges and represents that Executive has consulted with independent legal counsel regarding Executive’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and that Executive fully understands the terms and conditions contained herein.

 

11


10. Miscellaneous .

(a) Survival . Paragraphs 4 through 10 shall survive and continue in full force and effect notwithstanding the termination of Executive’s employment and this Agreement.

(b) Notices . Any notice provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be either personally delivered, sent by reputable overnight courier service or mailed by first class mail, return receipt requested, to the recipient at the address below indicated:

Notices to Executive:

 

  Zvi Glasman   
 

 

  
 

 

  

Notices to the Company:

 

 

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

915 Disc Drive

Scotts Valley, CA 95066

Attn: Chief Executive Officer

Facsimile: (770) 331-2904

 

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

915 Disc Drive

Scotts Valley, CA 95066

Attn: General Counsel

With a copy to:

 

 

Paul Hastings LLP

695 Town Center Drive, 17th Floor

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Attention: William J. Simpson

Facsimile: (714) 668-6305

or such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Any notice under this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given when so delivered, sent or mailed.

(c) Termination of Agreement with Fox Factory, Inc./Complete Agreement . This Agreement, those documents expressly referred to herein and other documents of even date herewith embody the complete agreement and understanding among the parties and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way. Upon the Effective Date, Executive’s Employment Agreement with Fox Factory, Inc., a California corporation, (together with all amendments thereto, collectively the “ Terminated Agreement ”)

 

12


shall be automatically terminated without further action by the parties; provided, however, that Executive shall be entitled to receive his Performance Bonus under the Terminated Agreement when and if his Performance Bonus would have otherwise been payable, but pro-rated for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013, by multiplying (A) the bonus Executive would otherwise have received if he had been an employee for the entire fiscal year by (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days from (and including) January 1, 2013 until the Effective Date (but excluding the Effective Date), and the denominator of which is 365. For the avoidance of doubt, the termination of the Terminated Agreement will not create any severance or other obligations to Executive.

(d) No Strict Construction . The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.

(e) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts (including by means of facsimile or portable document format (PDF)), each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.

(f) Successors and Assigns . Subject to the limitations stated herein and in the 2013 Omnibus Plan, this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor to the Company, including without limitation any persons acquiring directly or indirectly all or substantially all of the business or assets or interests of the Company whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise (and such successor shall thereafter be deemed the “Company” for purposes of this Agreement). This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees and legatees, but will not otherwise be assignable, transferable or delegable by Executive. This Agreement is personal in nature and neither of the parties hereto shall, without the consent of the other, assign, transfer or delegate this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder except as otherwise expressly provided in this paragraph 10(f).

(g) Choice of Law . All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement and the exhibits and schedules hereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of California or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of California.

(h) Amendment and Waiver . The provisions of this Agreement may be amended or waived only with the prior written consent of the Company (as approved by the Board) and Executive, and no course of conduct or course of dealing or failure or delay by any party hereto in enforcing or exercising any of the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, the Company’s right to terminate Executive’s employment with or without Cause) shall affect the validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Agreement or be deemed to be an implied waiver of any provision of this Agreement. For purposes of clarification, it is understood by the parties that Section 10(h) shall in no way invalidate Executive’s obligation to act within the sixty (60) day time limit of Section 4(b)(iii), as applied to Section 4(b)(ii)(B) and Section 4(b)(iv).

 

13


(i) Insurance . The Company may procure in its own name and for its own benefit life and/or disability insurance on Executive in any amount or amounts considered advisable. Executive agrees to cooperate in any reasonable medical or other examination, supply any available information and execute and delivery any applications or other instruments in writing as may be reasonably necessary to obtain and maintain such insurance.

(j) Corporate Opportunity . During his employment, Executive shall submit to the Company all business, commercial and investment opportunities or offers presented to Executive, or of which Executive becomes aware, at any time during Executive’s employment which relate to the business of design, manufacture, distribution, marketing, assembly or sale of suspension products for vehicles, including mountain bikes, snow mobiles, all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles and off-road automotive vehicles (“ Corporate Opportunities ”). Unless approved by the Board, Executive shall not accept or pursue, directly or indirectly, any Corporate Opportunities on Executive’s own behalf.

(k) Executive’s Cooperation . During his employment and thereafter, Executive shall cooperate, at the Company’s expense, with the Company and its Subsidiaries in any internal investigation or administrative, regulatory or judicial proceeding as reasonably requested by the Company (including, without limitation, Executive being available to the Company upon reasonable notice for interviews and factual investigations, appearing at the Company’s request to give testimony without requiring service of a subpoena or other legal process, volunteering to the Company all pertinent information and turning over to the Company copies of all relevant documents which are or may come into Executive’s possession to the extent they may be provided to the Company without civil or criminal penalty to Executive, all at times and on schedules that are reasonably consistent with Executive’s other permitted activities and commitments).

(l) Clawback Policy . Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all amounts payable pursuant to Article 3(b) of this Agreement shall be subject to the Company’s policy entitled “Recoupment of Incentive Compensation Upon Restatement or Misstatement of Financial Results, or as Required by Law” (as may be amended from time to time). Executive hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of such policy.

(m) Arbitration . Any controversy, claim, cause of action, in law or equity, or dispute involving the parties (or their affiliated persons or entities) directly or indirectly concerning this Agreement, Executive’s employment by the Company or cessation thereof, and/or the subject matter thereof, including its enforcement, performance, breach, or interpretation, shall be resolved solely and exclusively by final and binding arbitration held in Santa Cruz, California by one (1) arbitrator in accordance with the rules of employment arbitration then followed by JAMS or any successor to the functions thereof. The arbitrator shall apply California law in the resolution of all controversies, claims and disputes and shall have the right and authority to determine how his or her decision or determination as to each issue or matter in dispute may be implemented or enforced. Any decision or award of the arbitrator shall be final, conclusive and binding on the parties to this Agreement, and there shall be no appeal

 

14


therefrom other than from gross negligence or willful misconduct. Notwithstanding the foregoing, claims regarding worker’s compensation and unemployment compensation benefits shall not be subject to arbitration under this Agreement. Each party in any such arbitration shall be responsible for its own attorneys’ fees, costs and necessary disbursements; provided, however, that if one party refuses to arbitrate and the other party seeks to compel arbitration by court order, if such other party prevails, it shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and necessary disbursements. Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Company shall pay the arbitrator’s fees.

(i) The parties hereto agree that any action to compel arbitration pursuant to this Agreement may be brought in any appropriate state court in Santa Cruz County, California, and in connection with such action to compel, the laws of California shall control. Application may also be made to such court for confirmation of any decision or award of the arbitrator, for an order of the enforcement and for any other remedies which may be necessary to effectuate such decision or award. The parties hereto hereby consent to the jurisdiction of the arbitrator and of such court and waive any objection to the jurisdiction of such arbitrator and court.

(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief and other equitable remedies, in any court of competent jurisdiction, to enforce this Agreement.

* * * * *

 

15


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

 

COMPANY

 

FOX FACTORY HOLDING CORP.

By:   /s/ Larry L. Enterline
Its:   Chief Executive Officer

 

EXECUTIVE :
  /s/ Zvi Glasman
  Name: Zvi Glasman

 

AGREED AS TO

SECTION 10(c) ABOVE:

FOX FACTORY, Inc.,

a California Corporation

By:   /s/ Larry L. Enterline
Its:   Chief Executive Officer

 

- 16 -

Exhibit 10.9

FOX FACTORY HOLDING CORP.

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

(John Boulton)

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is executed on July 22, 2013, between Fox Factory Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and John Boulton (“ Executive ”). Notwithstanding any provision contained herein, this Agreement will only become effective, and shall be contingent upon, the closing of a sale of the Company’s Common Stock during 2013 pursuant to an S-1 Registration Statement declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Effective Date ”).

In consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Employment . The Company shall employ Executive, and Executive hereby accepts employment with the Company (or, as applicable, a Subsidiary of the Company), upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement for the period beginning on the date hereof and ending as provided in paragraph 4 hereof. The employment relationship between Executive and the Company and any Subsidiary shall at all times be “at-will.” This means that the employment relationship is at the “will” of Executive and the Company and either Executive or the Company may elect to terminate the employment relationship at any time, for no particular reason or cause, upon notice to the other (including, if applicable, any notice required by Section 4(a)(v) or (vi) below), without further obligation to one another except as provided herein.

2. Position and Duties .

(a) Executive shall serve as the Senior Vice President, Global Operations, of the Company and shall have the normal duties, responsibilities, functions and authority customarily associated with such position and such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time to Executive by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, all subject to the power and authority of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) and Executive Committee of the Board (the “ Executive Committee ”) to expand or limit such duties, responsibilities, functions and authority and to overrule actions of officers of the Company.

(b) Executive shall report to the Chief Executive Officer and Executive shall devote Executive’s full-time energies and attention to the business and affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Executive shall perform Executive’s duties, responsibilities and functions to the Company and its Subsidiaries hereunder in a diligent, trustworthy, professional, ethical and efficient manner and shall comply with the policies and procedures of the Company and its Subsidiaries and will cooperate fully with the Board in the advancement of the best interests of the Company. So long as Executive is employed by the Company or any Subsidiary, Executive shall not, except as provided herein or without the prior written consent of the Board, render to any other person, corporation, firm, company, joint venture or other entity any services of any kind for compensation, or engage in any other activity, that would compete with the Company or

 

1


its Subsidiaries, and/or interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties for the Company and its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding, Executive may engage in charitable, civic, fraternal and trade association activities that do not interfere materially with Executive’s obligations to the Company or any Subsidiary. Further, nothing in this Agreement shall limit Executive’s ability to: (i) serve as a member of any board of directors for any non-profit organization, so long as such membership does not interfere materially or conflict with Executive’s obligations to the Company or any Subsidiary; or (ii) as otherwise agreed by the Board in writing. Executive represents and warrants that Executive does not now, and will not during the Term of employment hereunder, have any financial interest in any competitor, supplier or customer of the Company or its Subsidiaries; provided that passive ownership (i.e., Executive does not directly or indirectly participate in the business or management of the applicable entity) of less than 5% of the stock of a publicly-held corporation whose stock is traded on a national securities exchange shall not be deemed to be a financial interest in a competitor, supplier or customer of the Company or its Subsidiaries.

(c) For purposes of this Agreement, “ Subsidiary ” shall mean any corporation or other entity of which the securities or other ownership interests having the voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other governing body are, now or hereafter, owned directly or indirectly by the Company.

(d) For purposes of this Agreement, “ Section 409A ” shall mean Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the final regulations issued thereunder.

3. Compensation and Benefits .

(a) Base Salary . Executive’s base salary shall be $250,000 per annum (the “ Base Salary ”), to be paid in accordance with the Company’s customary payroll practices. Executive’s Base Salary (as defined below) will be reviewed on an annual basis by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “ Compensation Committee ”) and may be increased (or decreased as part of substantially similar reductions applicable to all executives) from time to time thereafter, at the discretion of the Compensation Committee.

(b) Performance Bonus . Beginning with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013, Executive will be eligible to receive a bonus (the “ Performance Bonus ”) based on three levels: minimum, target and maximum. The bonus for Executive at each level will be comprised of an objective component based on the achievement of EBITDA targets (the “ EBITDA Bonus ”) and a discretionary component based on the achievement of individual performance ratings (the “ Individual Performance Rating Criteria ”) established by the Chief Executive Officer (the “ Rating Bonus ”). The term “Executive’s Base Salary” means the Executive’s actual base salary, exclusive of any other compensation received by Executive regardless of form, received in the fiscal year for which the Performance Bonus is to be calculated. The term “ EBITDA ” means the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of the Company on a consolidated basis, calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles utilized in determining the Target EBITDA (as defined below) and applied on a consistent basis. Furthermore, non-operating income, currency translation impact, gains and losses attributable to the disposal of Company and/or its Subsidiaries’ assets, management fees paid to Compass Group Management LLC or any affiliate thereof, and stock

 

2


compensation expenses shall be excluded from the calculation of EBITDA in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Additionally, from time to time the Compensation Committee, in its sole discretion, may elect to exclude other non-recurring expenses from the calculation of EBITDA. All determinations of EBITDA shall be derived from the Company’s annual audited financial statements and determined by the Compensation Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive and final. Each Performance Bonus under this Section 3(b) shall be paid in cash, in a lump sum, within the same calendar year in which the Company receives its audited financials for such fiscal year.

(i) Minimum Target . If, for a particular year, the Company’s EBITDA for the year is less than Target EBITDA (as defined below) but equals or exceeds 90% of Target EBITDA, then Executive’s EBITDA Bonus shall be equal to the product of (A) 14% plus the product of 1.4% times each full one percentage point positive variance to 90% of Target EBITDA, times (B) Executive’s Base Salary. For example, if actual EBITDA is 97.6% of Target EBITDA, then Executive’s EBITDA Bonus shall be equal to 23.8% times Executive’s Base Salary (14% + (1.4% x 7) = 23.8%). For clarity, if EBITDA is under 90% of Target EBITDA, then Executive shall not receive any bonus based on EBITDA.

(ii) Target Level . If, for a particular year, the Company’s EBITDA for the year is more than Target EBITDA but less than 110% of Target EBITDA, then Executive’s EBITDA Bonus shall be equal to the product of (A) 28% plus the product of 1.4% times each full one percentage point positive variance to Target EBITDA, times (B) Executive’s Base Salary. For example, if actual EBITDA is 107.6% of Target EBITDA, then Executive’s EBITDA Bonus shall be equal to 37.8% times Executive’s Base Salary (28% + (1.4% x 7) = 37.8%).

(iii) Maximum Target . If, for a particular year, the Company’s EBITDA for the year equals or exceeds 110% of Target EBITDA, then Executive’s EBITDA Bonus shall be equal to (A) 42% times (B) Executive’s Base Salary.

(iv) Rating Bonus . If, for a particular year, the Company’s EBITDA for the year equals or exceeds 90% of Target EBITDA (for clarity, if EBITDA is under 90% then Rating Bonus will not be considered or awarded), then if the Compensation Committee determines, in its sole discretion, that Executive achieved an Individual Rating Criteria as set forth in the chart below, then the Compensation Committee shall further determine the corresponding Rating Bonus percentage based on the chart below. For example, if the Compensation Committee so determines that Executive’s achievement of the Individual Rating Criteria was a 6.00, then Executive’s Rating Bonus shall be equal to 6% of the Executive’s Base Salary. If the Compensation Committee so determines that Executive’s achievement of the Individual Rating Criteria was a 7.50, then Executive’s Rating Bonus shall be equal to 12% of the Executive’s Base Salary. If the Compensation Committee so determines that Executive’s achievement of the Individual Rating Criteria was a 9.00, then Executive’s Rating Bonus shall be equal to 18% of the Executive’s Base Salary. The Compensation Committee may, in its sole discretion, determine that Executive’s Rating Bonus exceed that indicated by Executive’s Individual Rating Criteria.

 

3


Individual Rating

   Rating Bonus (percent)  

6.00 – 6.49

     6.00

6.50 – 6.99

     8.00

7.00 – 7.49

     10.00

7.50 – 7.99

     12.00

8.00 – 8.49

     14.00

8.50 – 8.99

     16.00

9.00 +

     18.00

(v) Definition of Target EBITDA . For purposes of this Agreement, “ Target EBITDA ” means, for each fiscal year, the EBITDA set forth in the operating budget of the Company, as approved by the Board, for the particular year.

(vi) 2013 Performance Bonus Pro Rated . Executive’s Performance Bonus shall be pro-rated for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013, by multiplying (A) the bonus Executive would otherwise have received if Executive had been an employee for the entire fiscal year by (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days from (and including) the Effective Date through (and including) December 31, 2013, and the denominator of which is 365.

(vii) Continued Employment Requirement . In order to encourage and reward longevity, except as otherwise specifically provided in Section 4(b)(ii) hereof, Executive shall not be entitled to any Performance Bonus unless Executive is employed by the Company on the day on which the Company actually pays performance bonuses to its executives.

(c) Employee Benefits . Executive shall be included, to the extent eligible under the terms and conditions, as such terms and conditions may be established or changed from time to time by the Board in its sole discretion, in any and all of the Company plans providing benefits for its executives. Except as otherwise provided herein, nothing contained herein shall obligate the Company to adopt or maintain any benefit plan and nothing herein shall restrict the Company’s right in its sole discretion to adopt, modify or otherwise alter, in whole or in part, any and/or all of its benefit plans, provided that such adoption, abolition, modification or alteration is of general effect and applicable to all of the Company’s employees and/or officers under such plans.

(d) Paid Time Off . Executive shall be entitled to a minimum of four weeks’ paid time off each fiscal year in accordance with the policies of the Company in effect for its executive officers from time to time. Executive shall take paid time off at such time or times as shall be approved by the Company, which approval shall not be withheld unreasonably.

 

4


(e) Business Expenses . The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable business expenses incurred by Executive in the course of performing Executive’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement which are consistent with the Company’s policies in effect from time to time with respect to travel, entertainment and other business expenses, subject to the Company’s requirements with respect to reporting and documentation of such expenses.

(f) Payroll Withholdings . From each payment to Executive of Base Salary and bonus, if any, the Company will report, withhold and pay to the proper governmental authorities any and all amounts required by law to be withheld for federal, state and local income and employment taxes, and any and all other amounts required by law to be reported and/or withheld from Executive’s wages. The Company will also deduct from Executive’s salary payments those sums authorized by Executive in writing and approved by the Company. The Company will make those payments and contributions, such as unemployment insurance premiums, workers’ compensation insurance premiums, the employer’s portion of state disability insurance premiums, and the employer’s portion of federal employment taxes, which are required by law to be made by the Company.

(g) Equity . Executive will be eligible to receive awards of stock options, restricted stock or other equity awards pursuant to any plans or arrangements the Company may have in effect from time to time. The Board or any authorized committee will determine in its discretion whether Executive will be granted any such equity awards and the terms of any such award in accordance with the terms of any applicable plan or arrangement that may be in effect from time to time. The foregoing notwithstanding, all future equity plans and arrangements will: (i) provide participant with the right to “net tax settlement” of restricted share units, (ii) provide participant with the right to “net exercise” of Executive’s vested stock options (whenever exercised), and (iii) include Board approved automatic “net exercise” of Executive’s unexercised stock options on their expiration date to prevent the expiration of stock options due to restrictions placed on the Executive’s trading in Company stock or other circumstances that prevent the Executive from financing stock option exercises using other available methods.

4. Termination of Employment .

(a) Termination . This Agreement and the employment of Executive by the Company and any Subsidiary may be terminated at any time as follows:

(i) By mutual agreement of the parties;

(ii) By the Company if Executive dies or becomes Disabled . For purposes of this Agreement, “ Disabled ” shall mean any mental or physical illness or disability that renders Executive unable to perform the essential functions of Executive’s position for a period of 90 consecutive days or 180 days during any twelve month period with or without reasonable accommodation;

(iii) By the Company for Cause . For purposes of this Agreement, “ Cause ” shall mean with respect to Executive, one or more of the following: (A) willful or grossly negligent violation of any law which causes material injury to the business of the

 

5


Company (or any Subsidiary) or entry of a plea of nolo contendere (or similar plea) to a charge of such an offense, (B) conduct causing the Company or any of its Subsidiaries significant public disgrace or disrepute, (C) any act or omission aiding or abetting a competitor, supplier or customer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to the material disadvantage or detriment of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (D) Executive’s willful violation of Executive’s fiduciary duties to the Company or any Subsidiary, including the duty of loyalty and the corporate opportunity doctrine, (E) commission of, or the act of fraud, dishonesty, misappropriation or embezzlement, or Executive’s commission of any felony offense, (F) material breach of Executive’s representations, warranties, or covenants under this Agreement or any other agreement between the parties hereto that, if curable and unrelated to a breach of Section 5 of this Agreement, remains uncured for 15 days following written notice thereof from the Company to the Executive, and (G) refusal to comply with the Company’s reasonable orders or directives (including refusal to perform, other than as a result of death or Disability, material assigned duties or responsibilities that are consistent with normal business practices and this Agreement) or the Company’s (or its Subsidiaries’) material and reasonable rules, regulations, policies, procedures or practices that are not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement or applicable law, which continues uncured for 15 days following written notice thereof from the Company to Executive.

(iv) By the Company without Cause;

(v) By Executive for Good Reason . For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” means Executive’s resignation from employment at any time within ninety (90) days following the expiration of any Company cure period (discussed below) following the occurrence of one or more of the following: (A) a reduction in Executive’s Base Salary below the amount on the date hereof (other than a substantially similar reduction applicable to all executives), (B) the Company requiring, without Executive’s consent, that Executive relocate Executive’s principal place of business outside a 30-mile radius from the location where Executive is employed as of the Effective Date or such other location as consented to by Executive, (C) material breach by the Company of this Agreement, or (D) without Executive’s consent, a material reduction in Executive’s duties or responsibilities such that Executive is no longer playing the role of a Senior Vice President (or some similar position). Under this Agreement, Executive will not be able to resign for Good Reason without first providing the Company with written notice of the acts or omissions constituting the grounds for “Good Reason” within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of the grounds for “Good Reason” and, if such grounds are curable, a reasonable cure period of not less than thirty (30) days following the date of such notice; or

(vi) By Executive, voluntarily, at any time; provided that Executive agrees to give the Company not less than 90 days written notice of Executive’s resignation unless such notice period is waived by the Company.

 

6


(b) Consequences of Termination . Executive shall be entitled to the following compensation in the event of termination of Executive’s employment pursuant to the terms of paragraph 4(a):

(i) Following any termination under paragraphs 4(a)(i), (ii), (iii) or (vi), Executive (or in the event of Executive’s death, Executive’s estate) shall be entitled to receive, immediately upon termination by the Company for Cause or based on mutual agreement, or within thirty (30) days of the date of termination based on death, Disability, or resignation by Executive without Good Reason, a lump sum payment in cash in an amount equal to Executive’s accrued and unpaid Base Salary plus any authorized business expenses incurred and un-reimbursed as of the date of termination or death. In addition, in the event of Executive’s cessation of employment because he has become Disabled, or due to his death, in addition to any bonus payable pursuant to Section 10(c) below, Executive shall receive a pro rata payment of Executive’s 3(b) Performance Bonus (taking into account the provisions of Section 3(b)(vi)), such pro rata 3(b) Bonus payment being calculated as the product of that fiscal year’s 3(b) Bonus multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days Executive is employed with the Company in the fiscal year in which Executive’s termination from employment occurs and the denominator of which is 365 days, and such bonus payment, if any, shall be made in a cash lump sum within the same calendar year in which the Company receives its audited financials for such fiscal year.

(ii) Following any termination under paragraphs 4(a)(iv) or (v) (and despite his subsequent death), Executive (or, in the event of Executive’s death, Executive’s estate) shall be entitled to receive (A) immediately upon termination by the Company without Cause, or within fifteen (15) days of the date of termination by Executive for Good Reason, a lump sum payment in cash in an amount equal to Executive’s accrued and unpaid Base Salary plus any authorized business expenses incurred and un-reimbursed as of the date of termination, (B) severance (“ Severance ”) in an amount equal to: Executive’s per annum Base Salary as of the date of termination, unless Executive’s Base Salary was reduced in violation of paragraph 4(a)(v)(A), in which case it shall be an amount equal to Executive’s per annum Base Salary as in effect prior to such reduction, provided such amount is greater than Executive’s Base Salary on the date of termination; and provided further that such amount shall be payable in twelve substantially equal payments beginning, as provided in Section 4(b)(iii), on the first regular payroll date immediately following the eighth (8th) day following the Executive’s timely execution of a Release, (C) in addition to any bonus payable pursuant to Section 10(c) below, a pro rata payment of Executive’s 3(b) Performance Bonus, such pro rata 3(b) Bonus payment (taking into account the provisions of Section 3(b)(vi)) being calculated as the product of that fiscal year’s 3(b) Bonus multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days Executive is employed with the Company in the fiscal year in which Executive’s termination from employment occurs and the denominator of which is 365 days, and such bonus payment, if any, shall be made in a cash lump sum within the same calendar year in which the Company receives its audited financials for such fiscal year and (D) during the period Executive receives severance, COBRA insurance benefits funded by the Company, and Executive agrees to reimburse the Company for such COBRA expenses in excess of the monthly amount the Company was paying toward Executive’s Company-provided group health insurance coverage immediately prior to Executive’s cessation of employment; provided, however, if the COBRA insurance coverage period expires during the severance period, then during the remainder of the severance period, the Company shall make monthly payments to Executive to subsidize Executive’s health care insurance costs in an amount equal to the monthly dollar amount the Company was paying toward Executive’s Company-provided group health insurance coverage immediately prior to Executive’s cessation of employment. “Change of Control Event” as used

 

7


herein means the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act); or (ii) any person or group, becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a person shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the voting stock of the Company, including by way of merger, consolidation, or otherwise; provided that a “Change of Control” shall not occur due to beneficial ownership by Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC (“Compass”) unless both its ownership has previously fallen below fifty percent (50%) of the Company and more than three consecutive years have passed without any Person employed by, or serving as a partner or manager of, Compass, or Compass Group Management LLC, having served as a Board member.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Severance shall not be paid nor begun prior to the eighth (8th) day following the return by Executive to the Company of an executed release as described in the immediately following sentence (the “ Release ”) and only if such Release is returned to the Company prior to the sixtieth (60th) day immediately following the Executive’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A). Any “Release” shall provide, in effect, that Executive thereby releases and waives, for Executive and Executive’s heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, all claims against the Company and its Subsidiaries, and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, shareholders, future shareholders, affiliates, divisions, successors, predecessors, representatives, attorneys, and assigns, and any persons acting with them (“ Releasees ”), from all claims (including claims for attorneys’ fees and costs), demands and causes of action, known or unknown, which Executive may have or claim to have against any Releasee, arising out of, or in any way relating to, Executive’s employment, or the termination of Executive’s employment, with the Company (including its Subsidiaries and affiliates), whether based on any act or omission to act or otherwise.

(iv) Subject to Executive’s timely execution of a release, any payment under paragraphs 4(b)(i) and (ii) shall be made in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll, or other applicable payment, practices, and, other than the payment of such amounts, the Company’s obligation to make any further payments of any kind or provide benefits, other than extended health coverage under 4(b)(ii), to Executive shall cease and terminate upon Executive’s date of termination.

(c) Resignation Upon Termination . Upon termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive agrees and covenants that Executive shall immediately tender a resignation to the Company for any position held by Executive as a member of the Company’s and each of its Subsidiaries’ Boards of Directors and any committee thereof.

(d) Suspension of 409A Payments . Any payment or benefit under this Agreement that Company reasonably determines is subject to Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be delayed to the extent required by Section 409A until a date that is six months and one day from the date of Executive’s Separation from Service (as such term is

 

8


defined herein below) (the “ 409A Suspension Period ”). Within 10 days after the end of the 409A Suspension Period, Company shall pay to Executive a lump sum payment in cash equal to any payments, and any cash payments that the Company would otherwise have been required to provide, but for the imposition of the 409A Suspension Period. After the 409A Suspension Period, Executive shall receive any remaining cash payments or benefits in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (as if there had not been any 409A Suspension Period beforehand). For purposes of this Agreement, “ Separation from Service ” shall have the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(1)(i); provided, however, that pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(1)(ii), the parties hereby provide that a “separation from service” shall occur within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.409A-1(h)(1)(i) and (ii) as of the first date coincident with or following a termination of employment that the Company and Executive reasonably anticipate a permanent reduction in the level of bona fide services that Executive will perform for Company (and any entity that would be considered the same “service recipient” as Company under Internal Revenue Code Section 409A (collectively, the “ Service Recipient ”) in the future (whether as an employee or an independent contractor) will decrease to a level equal to twenty percent or less of the average level of bona fide services Executive provided to the Service Recipient in the 36 months immediately preceding such date (or the full period of service to the Service Recipient if Executive has been providing services to the Service Recipient for less than 36 months).

(e) All payments to be made to Executive upon a termination of employment may only be made upon a Separation from Service of Executive or a Change of Control Event. For purposes of Section 409A, (i) each payment made under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment; (ii) Executive may not, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of payment; and (iii) no acceleration of the time and form of payment of any nonqualified deferred compensation to Executive or any portion thereof, shall be permitted except in relation to a Change of Control Event.

5. Confidential Information .

(a) Executive acknowledges that the continued success of the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates, depends upon the use and protection of a large body of confidential and proprietary information. All of such confidential and proprietary information now existing or to be developed in the future will be referred to in this Agreement as “ Confidential Information .” Confidential Information will be interpreted as broadly as possible to include all information of any sort (whether merely remembered or embodied in a tangible or intangible form) that is (i) related to the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ or affiliates’ current or potential business or is disclosed to the Company or its Subsidiaries by any third party pursuant to a confidentiality agreement and (ii) is not generally or publicly known. Confidential Information includes, without specific limitation, information, observations and data obtained by Executive during the course of Executive’s performance of the services under this Agreement, information concerning acquisition opportunities in or reasonably related to the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ or affiliates’ business or industry of which Executive becomes aware during the Employment Period, the persons or entities that are current, former or prospective suppliers or customers of any one or more of them during Executive’s course of performance of services under this Agreement, as well as development, transition and transformation plans, methodologies and methods of doing business, strategic marketing, product development and

 

9


business expansion plans, including plans regarding planned and potential sales and financial projections, employee lists and telephone numbers, locations of sales representatives, product designs and specifications, including any future or proposed products, manufacturing techniques and information, integration processes and financial information and forecasts. Therefore, Executive agrees that Executive shall not at any time, directly or indirectly, (i) disclose or permit the disclosure of any Confidential Information to any person or firm other than Company (or its Subsidiaries) or any person or firm to which such disclosure would be protected by a confidentiality agreement with the Company (or its Subsidiaries), or (ii) use or permit the use of any Confidential Information except in the ordinary course of performance of Executive’s duties. Executive agrees to deliver to the Company at the end of the Employment Period, or at any other time the Company may request in writing, all memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports and other documents relating to the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries or affiliates (including, without limitation, all Confidential Information), whether on paper or in any other form or medium, and all copies thereof that Executive may then possess or have under Executive’s control.

(b) During Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive shall not use or disclose any confidential information or trade secrets, if any, of any former employers or any other person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality, and shall not bring onto the premises of the Company or its Subsidiaries or affiliates any unpublished documents or any property belonging to any former employer or any other person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality unless consented to in writing by the former employer or person. Executive shall use in the performance of Executive’s duties only information that is (i) generally known and used by persons with training and experience comparable to Executive’s and that is (x) common knowledge in the industry or (y) is otherwise legally in the public domain, (ii) otherwise provided or developed by the Company or its Subsidiaries or affiliates or (iii) in the case of materials, property or information belonging to any former employer or other person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality, approved for such use in writing by such former employer or person. If at any time during this employment with the Company or any Subsidiary, Executive believes Executive is being asked to engage in work that will, or will be likely to, jeopardize any confidentiality or other obligations Executive may have to former employers, Executive shall immediately advise the Board so that Executive’s duties can be modified appropriately.

(c) The obligations of Executive provided in this paragraph 5 shall last, as to any Confidential Information, for so long as that Confidential Information has proprietary value, whether during Executive’s employment or after the termination thereof.

6. Intellectual Property, Inventions and Patents .

(a) Executive acknowledges that all discoveries, concepts, ideas, inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods, designs, analyses, drawings, reports, patent applications, copyrightable works, mask works and moral rights (in each case, whether or not including any Confidential Information) and all registrations or applications related thereto, all other proprietary information and all similar or related information (whether or not patentable or trademarkable) which (i)(A) are developed using the equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secrets of the Company or its Subsidiaries, or (B) relate to the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’

 

10


actual or demonstrably anticipated business, research and development or existing or future products or services, or (C) result from work performed by Executive for the Company or its Subsidiaries, and (ii) which are conceived, developed or made by Executive (whether solely or jointly with others) while employed by or as a result of Executive’s employment with the Company and/or its Subsidiaries, whether before or after the date of this Agreement (“ Work Product ”), belong to the Company or such Subsidiary. Executive shall promptly disclose such Work Product to the Board and, at the Company’s expense, perform all actions reasonably requested by the Board (whether during or after the Employment Period) to establish, confirm and perfect such ownership in the Company or its Subsidiaries, as applicable (including, without limitation, assignments, consents, powers of attorney, waivers of rights, including moral rights, and other instruments). Executive acknowledges that all original works of authorship protected by copyright included in the Work Product are “works made for hire” as defined in the United States Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. §101.

(b) As further consideration for the Company’s entering into this Agreement, Executive hereby assigns to the Company all right, title and interest Executive owns or at any time may have to the Work Product (whether during the Employment Period or after the termination of the Employment Period), and to any and all other Work Product in which Executive may have any right, title, or interest or which was at any time used in the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries or its affiliates. At any time, whether during the Employment Period or after the termination of the Employment Period, upon reasonable request of the Company, Executive shall fully cooperate with and assist the Company to protect the Company’s (and its Subsidiaries’) right to and interest in the Work Product in any and all countries of the world, and, upon reasonable request of the Company, shall execute all documents and instruments and do all things that may be required in connection therewith. If Executive is involuntarily terminated, Executive’s subsequent cooperation with the Company will be coordinated, at the Company’s expense, with Executive’s then employment commitments.

7. Non-Solicitation . In further consideration of the compensation to be paid to Executive hereunder, Executive acknowledges that during the course of Executive’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries (including its predecessors) Executive has and shall become familiar with the Company’s (and its Subsidiaries) trade secrets and with other Confidential Information concerning the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates and that Executive’s services have been and shall be of special, unique and extraordinary value to the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates, and, therefore, Executive agrees (i) that, from the date of this Agreement and for two years after the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive shall not directly or indirectly solicit or induce, attempt to solicit or induce or assist any person soliciting or inducing any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary to leave the employ of the Company or such Subsidiary, or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or any Subsidiary and any employee thereof, and (ii) that, from the date of this Agreement until one year after the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive shall not make any negative or disparaging statements or communications about the Company, its Subsidiaries or affiliates, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or stockholders.

 

11


8. Severability; Remedies .

(a) Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement or any action in any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction to the extent required to be enforceable under applicable law. If, at the time of enforcement of paragraph 7, a court shall hold that the restrictions stated therein are unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties agree such restrictions are divisible and shall be reduced to the extent required to be enforceable under applicable law. Executive acknowledges that the restrictions contained in paragraph 7 are reasonable and that Executive has reviewed this Agreement with Executive’s legal counsel.

(b) In the event of the breach or a threatened breach by Executive of any of the provisions of paragraphs 5, 6, or 7, the Company (and its Subsidiaries) would suffer irreparable harm, and in addition and supplementary to other rights and remedies existing in its favor, the Company (and its Subsidiaries) shall be entitled to specific performance and/or injunctive or other equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions thereof (without posting a bond or other security). Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Company (and its Subsidiaries) from pursuing any other remedies available to them, at law or in equity, for any breach or threatened breach of this Agreement (including, any of the provisions of paragraphs 5, 6 or 7) by Executive, including recovery of damages from Executive and forfeiture of any and all Severance.

9. Executive’s Representations . Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company that (a) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Executive do not and shall not conflict with, breach, violate or cause a default under any contract, agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which Executive is a party or by which Executive is bound, (b) Executive is not a party to or bound by any employment agreement, noncompete agreement or confidentiality agreement with any other person or entity and (c) upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, this Agreement shall be a legal, valid and binding obligation of Executive, enforceable in accordance with its terms. Executive hereby acknowledges and represents that Executive has consulted with independent legal counsel regarding Executive’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and that Executive fully understands the terms and conditions contained herein.

10. Miscellaneous .

(a) Survival . Paragraphs 4 through 10 shall survive and continue in full force and effect notwithstanding the termination of Executive’s employment and this Agreement.

 

12


(b) Notices . Any notice provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be either personally delivered, sent by reputable overnight courier service or mailed by first class mail, return receipt requested, to the recipient at the address below indicated:

Notices to Executive:

 

  John Boulton   
 

 

  
 

 

  

Notices to the Company:

 

 

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

915 Disc Drive

Scotts Valley, CA 95066

Attn: Chief Executive Officer

Facsimile: (770) 331-2904

 

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

915 Disc Drive

Scotts Valley, CA 95066

Attn: General Counsel

With a copy to:

 

 

Paul Hastings LLP

695 Town Center Drive, 17th Floor

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Attention: William J. Simpson

Facsimile: (714) 668-6305

or such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Any notice under this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given when so delivered, sent or mailed.

(c) Termination of Agreement with Fox Factory, Inc./Complete Agreement . This Agreement, those documents expressly referred to herein and other documents of even date herewith embody the complete agreement and understanding among the parties and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way. Upon the Effective Date, Executive’s Employment Agreement with Fox Factory, Inc., a California corporation, (together with all amendments thereto, collectively the “ Terminated Agreement ”) shall be automatically terminated without further action by the parties; provided, however, that Executive shall be entitled to receive his Performance Bonus under the Terminated Agreement when and if his Performance Bonus would have otherwise been payable, but pro-rated for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013, by multiplying (A) the bonus Executive would otherwise

 

13


have received if he had been an employee for the entire fiscal year by (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days from (and including) January 1, 2013 until the Effective Date (but excluding the Effective Date), and the denominator of which is 365. For the avoidance of doubt, the termination of the Terminated Agreement will not create any severance or other obligations to Executive.

(d) No Strict Construction . The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.

(e) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts (including by means of facsimile or portable document format (PDF)), each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.

(f) Successors and Assigns . Subject to the limitations stated herein and in the 2013 Omnibus Plan, this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor to the Company, including without limitation any persons acquiring directly or indirectly all or substantially all of the business or assets or interests of the Company whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise (and such successor shall thereafter be deemed the “Company” for purposes of this Agreement). This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees and legatees, but will not otherwise be assignable, transferable or delegable by Executive. This Agreement is personal in nature and neither of the parties hereto shall, without the consent of the other, assign, transfer or delegate this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder except as otherwise expressly provided in this paragraph 10(f).

(g) Choice of Law . All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement and the exhibits and schedules hereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of California or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of California.

(h) Amendment and Waiver . The provisions of this Agreement may be amended or waived only with the prior written consent of the Company (as approved by the Board) and Executive, and no course of conduct or course of dealing or failure or delay by any party hereto in enforcing or exercising any of the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, the Company’s right to terminate Executive’s employment with or without Cause) shall affect the validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Agreement or be deemed to be an implied waiver of any provision of this Agreement. For purposes of clarification, it is understood by the parties that Section 10(h) shall in no way invalidate Executive’s obligation to act within the sixty (60) day time limit of Section 4(b)(iii), as applied to Section 4(b)(ii)(B) and Section 4(b)(iv).

 

14


(i) Insurance . The Company may procure in its own name and for its own benefit life and/or disability insurance on Executive in any amount or amounts considered advisable. Executive agrees to cooperate in any reasonable medical or other examination, supply any available information and execute and delivery any applications or other instruments in writing as may be reasonably necessary to obtain and maintain such insurance.

(j) Corporate Opportunity . During his employment, Executive shall submit to the Company all business, commercial and investment opportunities or offers presented to Executive, or of which Executive becomes aware, at any time during Executive’s employment which relate to the business of design, manufacture, distribution, marketing, assembly or sale of suspension products for vehicles, including mountain bikes, snow mobiles, all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles and off-road automotive vehicles (“ Corporate Opportunities ”). Unless approved by the Board, Executive shall not accept or pursue, directly or indirectly, any Corporate Opportunities on Executive’s own behalf.

(k) Executive’s Cooperation . During his employment and thereafter, Executive shall cooperate, at the Company’s expense, with the Company and its Subsidiaries in any internal investigation or administrative, regulatory or judicial proceeding as reasonably requested by the Company (including, without limitation, Executive being available to the Company upon reasonable notice for interviews and factual investigations, appearing at the Company’s request to give testimony without requiring service of a subpoena or other legal process, volunteering to the Company all pertinent information and turning over to the Company copies of all relevant documents which are or may come into Executive’s possession to the extent they may be provided to the Company without civil or criminal penalty to Executive, all at times and on schedules that are reasonably consistent with Executive’s other permitted activities and commitments).

(l) Clawback Policy . Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all amounts payable pursuant to Article 3(b) of this Agreement shall be subject to the Company’s policy entitled “Recoupment of Incentive Compensation Upon Restatement or Misstatement of Financial Results, or as Required by Law” (as may be amended from time to time). Executive hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of such policy.

(m) Arbitration . Any controversy, claim, cause of action, in law or equity, or dispute involving the parties (or their affiliated persons or entities) directly or indirectly concerning this Agreement, Executive’s employment by the Company or cessation thereof, and/or the subject matter thereof, including its enforcement, performance, breach, or interpretation, shall be resolved solely and exclusively by final and binding arbitration held in Santa Cruz, California by one (1) arbitrator in accordance with the rules of employment arbitration then followed by JAMS or any successor to the functions thereof. The arbitrator shall apply California law in the resolution of all controversies, claims and disputes and shall have the right and authority to determine how his or her decision or determination as to each issue or matter in dispute may be implemented or enforced. Any decision or award of the arbitrator shall be final, conclusive and binding on the parties to this Agreement, and there shall be no appeal therefrom other than from gross negligence or willful misconduct. Notwithstanding the foregoing, claims regarding worker’s compensation and unemployment compensation benefits shall not be subject to arbitration under this Agreement. Each party in any such arbitration shall be responsible for its own attorneys’ fees, costs and necessary disbursements; provided, however, that if one party refuses to arbitrate and the other party seeks to compel arbitration by court order, if such other party prevails, it shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and necessary disbursements. Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Company shall pay the arbitrator’s fees.

 

15


(i) The parties hereto agree that any action to compel arbitration pursuant to this Agreement may be brought in any appropriate state court in Santa Cruz County, California, and in connection with such action to compel, the laws of California shall control. Application may also be made to such court for confirmation of any decision or award of the arbitrator, for an order of the enforcement and for any other remedies which may be necessary to effectuate such decision or award. The parties hereto hereby consent to the jurisdiction of the arbitrator and of such court and waive any objection to the jurisdiction of such arbitrator and court.

(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief and other equitable remedies, in any court of competent jurisdiction, to enforce this Agreement.

* * * * *

 

16


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

 

COMPANY

 

FOX FACTORY HOLDING CORP.

By:   /s/ Larry L. Enterline
Its:   Chief Executive Officer

 

EXECUTIVE :
  /s/ John Boulton
  Name: John Boulton

 

AGREED AS TO

SECTION 10(c) ABOVE:

FOX FACTORY, Inc.,

a California Corporation

By:   /s/ Larry L. Enterline
Its:   Chief Executive Officer

 

- 17 -

Exhibit 10.10

FOX FACTORY HOLDING CORP.

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

(Mario Galasso)

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is executed on July 22, 2013, between Fox Factory Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Mario Galasso (“ Executive ”). Notwithstanding any provision contained herein, this Agreement will only become effective, and shall be contingent upon, the closing of a sale of the Company’s Common Stock during 2013 pursuant to an S-1 Registration Statement declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Effective Date ”).

In consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Employment . The Company shall employ Executive, and Executive hereby accepts employment with the Company (or, as applicable, a Subsidiary of the Company), upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement for the period beginning on the date hereof and ending as provided in paragraph 4 hereof. The employment relationship between Executive and the Company and any Subsidiary shall at all times be “at-will.” This means that the employment relationship is at the “will” of Executive and the Company and either Executive or the Company may elect to terminate the employment relationship at any time, for no particular reason or cause, upon notice to the other (including, if applicable, any notice required by Section 4(a)(v) or (vi) below), without further obligation to one another except as provided herein.

2. Position and Duties .

(a) Executive shall serve as the Senior Vice President, Business Divisions, of the Company and shall have the normal duties, responsibilities, functions and authority customarily associated with such position and such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time to Executive by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, all subject to the power and authority of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) and Executive Committee of the Board (the “ Executive Committee ”) to expand or limit such duties, responsibilities, functions and authority and to overrule actions of officers of the Company.

(b) Executive shall report to the Chief Executive Officer and Executive shall devote Executive’s full-time energies and attention to the business and affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Executive shall perform Executive’s duties, responsibilities and functions to the Company and its Subsidiaries hereunder in a diligent, trustworthy, professional, ethical and efficient manner and shall comply with the policies and procedures of the Company and its Subsidiaries and will cooperate fully with the Board in the advancement of the best interests of the Company. So long as Executive is employed by the Company or any Subsidiary, Executive shall not, except as provided herein or without the prior written consent of the Board, render to any other person, corporation, firm, company, joint venture or other entity any services of any kind for compensation, or engage in any other activity, that would compete with the Company or

 

1


its Subsidiaries, and/or interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties for the Company and its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding, Executive may engage in charitable, civic, fraternal and trade association activities that do not interfere materially with Executive’s obligations to the Company or any Subsidiary. Further, nothing in this Agreement shall limit Executive’s ability to: (i) serve as a member of any board of directors for any non-profit organization, so long as such membership does not interfere materially or conflict with Executive’s obligations to the Company or any Subsidiary; or (ii) as otherwise agreed by the Board in writing. Executive represents and warrants that Executive does not now, and will not during the Term of employment hereunder, have any financial interest in any competitor, supplier or customer of the Company or its Subsidiaries; provided that passive ownership (i.e., Executive does not directly or indirectly participate in the business or management of the applicable entity) of less than 5% of the stock of a publicly-held corporation whose stock is traded on a national securities exchange shall not be deemed to be a financial interest in a competitor, supplier or customer of the Company or its Subsidiaries.

(c) For purposes of this Agreement, “ Subsidiary ” shall mean any corporation or other entity of which the securities or other ownership interests having the voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other governing body are, now or hereafter, owned directly or indirectly by the Company.

(d) For purposes of this Agreement, “ Section 409A ” shall mean Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the final regulations issued thereunder.

3. Compensation and Benefits .

(a) Base Salary . Executive’s base salary shall be $325,000 per annum (the “ Base Salary ”), to be paid in accordance with the Company’s customary payroll practices. Executive’s Base Salary (as defined below) will be reviewed on an annual basis by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “ Compensation Committee ”) and may be increased (or decreased as part of substantially similar reductions applicable to all executives) from time to time thereafter, at the discretion of the Compensation Committee.

(b) Performance Bonus . Beginning with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013, Executive will be eligible to receive a bonus (the “ Performance Bonus ”) based on three levels: minimum, target and maximum. The bonus for Executive at each level will be based on the achievement of EBITDA targets (the “ EBITDA Bonus ”). The term “Executive’s Base Salary” means the Executive’s actual base salary, exclusive of any other compensation received by Executive regardless of form, received in the fiscal year for which the Performance Bonus is to be calculated. The term “ EBITDA ” means the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of the Company on a consolidated basis, calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles utilized in determining the Target EBITDA (as defined below) and applied on a consistent basis. Furthermore, non-operating income, currency translation impact, gains and losses attributable to the disposal of Company and/or its Subsidiaries’ assets, management fees paid to Compass Group Management LLC or any affiliate thereof, and stock compensation expenses shall be excluded from the calculation of EBITDA in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Additionally, from time to time the Compensation Committee, in its sole discretion, may elect to exclude other non-recurring

 

2


expenses from the calculation of EBITDA. All determinations of EBITDA shall be derived from the Company’s annual audited financial statements and determined by the Compensation Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive and final. Each Performance Bonus under this Section 3(b) shall be paid in cash, in a lump sum, within the same calendar year in which the Company receives its audited financials for such fiscal year.

(i) Minimum Target . If, for a particular year, the Company’s EBITDA for the year is less than Target EBITDA (as defined below) but equals or exceeds 90% of Target EBITDA, then Executive’s EBITDA Bonus shall be equal to the product of (A) 25% plus the product of 2.5% times each full one percentage point positive variance to 90% of Target EBITDA, times (B) Executive’s Base Salary. For example, if actual EBITDA is 97.6% of Target EBITDA, then Executive’s EBITDA Bonus shall be equal to 42.5% times Executive’s Base Salary (25% + (2.5% x 7) = 42.5%). For clarity, if EBITDA is under 90% of Target EBITDA, then Executive shall not receive any bonus based on EBITDA.

(ii) Target Level . If, for a particular year, the Company’s EBITDA for the year is more than Target EBITDA but less than 110% of Target EBITDA, then Executive’s EBITDA Bonus shall be equal to the product of (A) 50% plus the product of 2.5% times each full one percentage point positive variance to Target EBITDA, times (B) Executive’s Base Salary. For example, if actual EBITDA is 107.6% of Target EBITDA, then Executive’s EBITDA Bonus shall be equal to 67.5% times Executive’s Base Salary (50% + (2.5% x 7) = 67.5%).

(iii) Maximum Target . If, for a particular year, the Company’s EBITDA for the year equals or exceeds 110% of Target EBITDA, then Executive’s EBITDA Bonus shall be equal to (A) 75% times (B) Executive’s Base Salary.

(iv) Definition of Target EBITDA . For purposes of this Agreement, “ Target EBITDA ” means, for each fiscal year, the EBITDA set forth in the operating budget of the Company, as approved by the Board, for the particular year.

(v) 2013 Performance Bonus Pro Rated . Executive’s Performance Bonus shall be pro-rated for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013, by multiplying (A) the bonus Executive would otherwise have received if Executive had been an employee for the entire fiscal year by (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days from (and including) the Effective Date through (and including) December 31, 2013, and the denominator of which is 365.

(vi) Continued Employment Requirement . In order to encourage and reward longevity, except as otherwise specifically provided in Section 4(b)(ii) hereof, Executive shall not be entitled to any Performance Bonus unless Executive is employed by the Company on the day on which the Company actually pays performance bonuses to its executives.

(c) Employee Benefits . Executive shall be included, to the extent eligible under the terms and conditions, as such terms and conditions may be established or changed from time to time by the Board in its sole discretion, in any and all of the Company plans

 

3


providing benefits for its executives. Except as otherwise provided herein, nothing contained herein shall obligate the Company to adopt or maintain any benefit plan and nothing herein shall restrict the Company’s right in its sole discretion to adopt, modify or otherwise alter, in whole or in part, any and/or all of its benefit plans, provided that such adoption, abolition, modification or alteration is of general effect and applicable to all of the Company’s employees and/or officers under such plans.

(d) Paid Time Off . Executive shall be entitled to a minimum of four weeks’ paid time off each fiscal year in accordance with the policies of the Company in effect for its executive officers from time to time. Executive shall take paid time off at such time or times as shall be approved by the Company, which approval shall not be withheld unreasonably.

(e) Business Expenses . The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable business expenses incurred by Executive in the course of performing Executive’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement which are consistent with the Company’s policies in effect from time to time with respect to travel, entertainment and other business expenses, subject to the Company’s requirements with respect to reporting and documentation of such expenses.

(f) Payroll Withholdings . From each payment to Executive of Base Salary and bonus, if any, the Company will report, withhold and pay to the proper governmental authorities any and all amounts required by law to be withheld for federal, state and local income and employment taxes, and any and all other amounts required by law to be reported and/or withheld from Executive’s wages. The Company will also deduct from Executive’s salary payments those sums authorized by Executive in writing and approved by the Company. The Company will make those payments and contributions, such as unemployment insurance premiums, workers’ compensation insurance premiums, the employer’s portion of state disability insurance premiums, and the employer’s portion of federal employment taxes, which are required by law to be made by the Company.

(g) Equity . Executive will be eligible to receive awards of stock options, restricted stock or other equity awards pursuant to any plans or arrangements the Company may have in effect from time to time. The Board or any authorized committee will determine in its discretion whether Executive will be granted any such equity awards and the terms of any such award in accordance with the terms of any applicable plan or arrangement that may be in effect from time to time. The foregoing notwithstanding, all future equity plans and arrangements will: (i) provide participant with the right to “net tax settlement” of restricted share units, (ii) provide participant with the right to “net exercise” of Executive’s vested stock options (whenever exercised), and (iii) include Board approved automatic “net exercise” of Executive’s unexercised stock options on their expiration date to prevent the expiration of stock options due to restrictions placed on the Executive’s trading in Company stock or other circumstances that prevent the Executive from financing stock option exercises using other available methods.

4. Termination of Employment .

(a) Termination . This Agreement and the employment of Executive by the Company and any Subsidiary may be terminated at any time as follows:

 

4


(i) By mutual agreement of the parties;

(ii) By the Company if Executive dies or becomes Disabled . For purposes of this Agreement, “ Disabled ” shall mean any mental or physical illness or disability that renders Executive unable to perform the essential functions of Executive’s position for a period of 90 consecutive days or 180 days during any twelve month period with or without reasonable accommodation;

(iii) By the Company for Cause . For purposes of this Agreement, “ Cause ” shall mean with respect to Executive, one or more of the following: (A) willful or grossly negligent violation of any law which causes material injury to the business of the Company (or any Subsidiary) or entry of a plea of nolo contendere (or similar plea) to a charge of such an offense, (B) conduct causing the Company or any of its Subsidiaries significant public disgrace or disrepute, (C) any act or omission aiding or abetting a competitor, supplier or customer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to the material disadvantage or detriment of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (D) Executive’s willful violation of Executive’s fiduciary duties to the Company or any Subsidiary, including the duty of loyalty and the corporate opportunity doctrine, (E) commission of, or the act of fraud, dishonesty, misappropriation or embezzlement, or Executive’s commission of any felony offense, (F) material breach of Executive’s representations, warranties, or covenants under this Agreement or any other agreement between the parties hereto that, if curable and unrelated to a breach of Section 5 of this Agreement, remains uncured for 15 days following written notice thereof from the Company to the Executive, and (G) refusal to comply with the Company’s reasonable orders or directives (including refusal to perform, other than as a result of death or Disability, material assigned duties or responsibilities that are consistent with normal business practices and this Agreement) or the Company’s (or its Subsidiaries’) material and reasonable rules, regulations, policies, procedures or practices that are not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement or applicable law, which continues uncured for 15 days following written notice thereof from the Company to Executive.

(iv) By the Company without Cause;

(v) By Executive for Good Reason . For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” means Executive’s resignation from employment at any time within ninety (90) days following the expiration of any Company cure period (discussed below) following the occurrence of one or more of the following: (A) a reduction in Executive’s Base Salary below the amount on the date hereof (other than a substantially similar reduction applicable to all executives), (B) the Company requiring, without Executive’s consent, that Executive relocate Executive’s principal place of business outside a 30-mile radius from the location where Executive is employed as of the Effective Date or such other location as consented to by Executive, (C) material breach by the Company of this Agreement, or (D) without Executive’s consent, a material reduction in Executive’s duties or responsibilities such that Executive is no longer playing the role of a Senior Vice President (or some higher position). Under this Agreement, Executive will not be able to resign for Good Reason without first providing the Company with written notice of the acts or omissions constituting the grounds for “Good Reason” within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of the grounds for “Good Reason” and, if such grounds are curable, a reasonable cure period of not less than thirty (30) days following the date of such notice; or

 

5


(vi) By Executive, voluntarily, at any time; provided that Executive agrees to give the Company not less than 90 days written notice of Executive’s resignation unless such notice period is waived by the Company.

(b) Consequences of Termination . Executive shall be entitled to the following compensation in the event of termination of Executive’s employment pursuant to the terms of paragraph 4(a):

(i) Following any termination under paragraphs 4(a)(i), (ii), (iii) or (vi), Executive (or in the event of Executive’s death, Executive’s estate) shall be entitled to receive, immediately upon termination by the Company for Cause or based on mutual agreement, or within thirty (30) days of the date of termination based on death, Disability, or resignation by Executive without Good Reason, a lump sum payment in cash in an amount equal to Executive’s accrued and unpaid Base Salary plus any authorized business expenses incurred and un-reimbursed as of the date of termination or death. In addition, in the event of Executive’s cessation of employment because he has become Disabled, or due to his death, in addition to any bonus payable pursuant to Section 10(c) below, Executive shall receive a pro rata payment of Executive’s 3(b) Performance Bonus (taking into account the provisions of Section 3(b)(v)), such pro rata 3(b) Bonus payment being calculated as the product of that fiscal year’s 3(b) Bonus multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days Executive is employed with the Company in the fiscal year in which Executive’s termination from employment occurs and the denominator of which is 365 days, and such bonus payment, if any, shall be made in a cash lump sum within the same calendar year in which the Company receives its audited financials for such fiscal year.

(ii) Following any termination under paragraphs 4(a)(iv) or (v) (and despite his subsequent death), Executive (or, in the event of Executive’s death, Executive’s estate) shall be entitled to receive (A) immediately upon termination by the Company without Cause, or within fifteen (15) days of the date of termination by Executive for Good Reason, a lump sum payment in cash in an amount equal to Executive’s accrued and unpaid Base Salary plus any authorized business expenses incurred and un-reimbursed as of the date of termination, (B) severance (“ Severance ”) in an amount equal to: (a) Executive’s per annum Base Salary as of the date of termination, unless Executive’s Base Salary was reduced in violation of paragraph 4(a)(v)(A), in which case it shall be an amount equal to Executive’s per annum Base Salary as in effect prior to such reduction, provided such amount is greater than Executive’s Base Salary on the date of termination; or (b) if the Company terminates Executive Without Cause or if Executive resigns for Good Reason within 24 months following a Change of Control Event, then one and one-half (1.5) times Executive’s per annum Base Salary as of the date of termination; and provided further that such amount shall be payable in twelve or eighteen, as the case may be regarding (a) or (b) respectively, substantially equal payments beginning, as provided in Section 4(b)(iii), on the first regular payroll date immediately following the eighth (8th) day following the Executive’s timely execution of a Release, (C) in addition to any bonus payable pursuant to Section 10(c) below, a pro rata payment of Executive’s 3(b) Performance Bonus, such pro rata 3(b) Bonus payment (taking into account the provisions of Section 3(b)(v)) being calculated as

 

6


the product of that fiscal year’s 3(b) Bonus multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days Executive is employed with the Company in the fiscal year in which Executive’s termination from employment occurs and the denominator of which is 365 days, and such bonus payment, if any, shall be made in a cash lump sum within the same calendar year in which the Company receives its audited financials for such fiscal year and (D) during the period Executive receives severance, COBRA insurance benefits funded by the Company, and Executive agrees to reimburse the Company for such COBRA expenses in excess of the monthly amount the Company was paying toward Executive’s Company-provided group health insurance coverage immediately prior to Executive’s cessation of employment; provided, however, if the COBRA insurance coverage period expires during the severance period, then during the remainder of the severance period, the Company shall make monthly payments to Executive to subsidize Executive’s health care insurance costs in an amount equal to the monthly dollar amount the Company was paying toward Executive’s Company-provided group health insurance coverage immediately prior to Executive’s cessation of employment. “Change of Control Event” as used herein means the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act); or (ii) any person or group, becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a person shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the voting stock of the Company, including by way of merger, consolidation, or otherwise; provided that a “Change of Control” shall not occur due to beneficial ownership by Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC (“Compass”) unless both its ownership has previously fallen below fifty percent (50%) of the Company and more than three consecutive years have passed without any Person employed by, or serving as a partner or manager of, Compass, or Compass Group Management LLC, having served as a Board member.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Severance shall not be paid nor begun prior to the eighth (8th) day following the return by Executive to the Company of an executed release as described in the immediately following sentence (the “ Release ”) and only if such Release is returned to the Company prior to the sixtieth (60th) day immediately following the Executive’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A). Any “Release” shall provide, in effect, that Executive thereby releases and waives, for Executive and Executive’s heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, all claims against the Company and its Subsidiaries, and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, shareholders, future shareholders, affiliates, divisions, successors, predecessors, representatives, attorneys, and assigns, and any persons acting with them (“ Releasees ”), from all claims (including claims for attorneys’ fees and costs), demands and causes of action, known or unknown, which Executive may have or claim to have against any Releasee, arising out of, or in any way relating to, Executive’s employment, or the termination of Executive’s employment, with the Company (including its Subsidiaries and affiliates), whether based on any act or omission to act or otherwise.

(iv) Subject to Executive’s timely execution of a release, any payment under paragraphs 4(b)(i) and (ii) shall be made in accordance with the Company’s normal

 

7


payroll, or other applicable payment, practices, and, other than the payment of such amounts, the Company’s obligation to make any further payments of any kind or provide benefits, other than extended health coverage under 4(b)(ii), to Executive shall cease and terminate upon Executive’s date of termination.

(c) Resignation Upon Termination . Upon termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive agrees and covenants that Executive shall immediately tender a resignation to the Company for any position held by Executive as a member of the Company’s and each of its Subsidiaries’ Boards of Directors and any committee thereof.

(d) Suspension of 409A Payments . Any payment or benefit under this Agreement that Company reasonably determines is subject to Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be delayed to the extent required by Section 409A until a date that is six months and one day from the date of Executive’s Separation from Service (as such term is defined herein below) (the “ 409A Suspension Period ”). Within 10 days after the end of the 409A Suspension Period, Company shall pay to Executive a lump sum payment in cash equal to any payments, and any cash payments that the Company would otherwise have been required to provide, but for the imposition of the 409A Suspension Period. After the 409A Suspension Period, Executive shall receive any remaining cash payments or benefits in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (as if there had not been any 409A Suspension Period beforehand). For purposes of this Agreement, “ Separation from Service ” shall have the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(1)(i); provided, however, that pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(1)(ii), the parties hereby provide that a “separation from service” shall occur within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.409A-1(h)(1)(i) and (ii) as of the first date coincident with or following a termination of employment that the Company and Executive reasonably anticipate a permanent reduction in the level of bona fide services that Executive will perform for Company (and any entity that would be considered the same “service recipient” as Company under Internal Revenue Code Section 409A (collectively, the “ Service Recipient ”) in the future (whether as an employee or an independent contractor) will decrease to a level equal to twenty percent or less of the average level of bona fide services Executive provided to the Service Recipient in the 36 months immediately preceding such date (or the full period of service to the Service Recipient if Executive has been providing services to the Service Recipient for less than 36 months).

(e) All payments to be made to Executive upon a termination of employment may only be made upon a Separation from Service of Executive or a Change of Control Event. For purposes of Section 409A, (i) each payment made under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment; (ii) Executive may not, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of payment; and (iii) no acceleration of the time and form of payment of any nonqualified deferred compensation to Executive or any portion thereof, shall be permitted except in relation to a Change of Control Event.

5. Confidential Information .

(a) Executive acknowledges that the continued success of the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates, depends upon the use and protection of a large body of confidential and proprietary information. All of such confidential and proprietary information now existing

 

8


or to be developed in the future will be referred to in this Agreement as “ Confidential Information .” Confidential Information will be interpreted as broadly as possible to include all information of any sort (whether merely remembered or embodied in a tangible or intangible form) that is (i) related to the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ or affiliates’ current or potential business or is disclosed to the Company or its Subsidiaries by any third party pursuant to a confidentiality agreement and (ii) is not generally or publicly known. Confidential Information includes, without specific limitation, information, observations and data obtained by Executive during the course of Executive’s performance of the services under this Agreement, information concerning acquisition opportunities in or reasonably related to the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ or affiliates’ business or industry of which Executive becomes aware during the Employment Period, the persons or entities that are current, former or prospective suppliers or customers of any one or more of them during Executive’s course of performance of services under this Agreement, as well as development, transition and transformation plans, methodologies and methods of doing business, strategic marketing, product development and business expansion plans, including plans regarding planned and potential sales and financial projections, employee lists and telephone numbers, locations of sales representatives, product designs and specifications, including any future or proposed products, manufacturing techniques and information, integration processes and financial information and forecasts. Therefore, Executive agrees that Executive shall not at any time, directly or indirectly, (i) disclose or permit the disclosure of any Confidential Information to any person or firm other than Company (or its Subsidiaries) or any person or firm to which such disclosure would be protected by a confidentiality agreement with the Company (or its Subsidiaries), or (ii) use or permit the use of any Confidential Information except in the ordinary course of performance of Executive’s duties. Executive agrees to deliver to the Company at the end of the Employment Period, or at any other time the Company may request in writing, all memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports and other documents relating to the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries or affiliates (including, without limitation, all Confidential Information), whether on paper or in any other form or medium, and all copies thereof that Executive may then possess or have under Executive’s control.

(b) During Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive shall not use or disclose any confidential information or trade secrets, if any, of any former employers or any other person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality, and shall not bring onto the premises of the Company or its Subsidiaries or affiliates any unpublished documents or any property belonging to any former employer or any other person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality unless consented to in writing by the former employer or person. Executive shall use in the performance of Executive’s duties only information that is (i) generally known and used by persons with training and experience comparable to Executive’s and that is (x) common knowledge in the industry or (y) is otherwise legally in the public domain, (ii) otherwise provided or developed by the Company or its Subsidiaries or affiliates or (iii) in the case of materials, property or information belonging to any former employer or other person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality, approved for such use in writing by such former employer or person. If at any time during this employment with the Company or any Subsidiary, Executive believes Executive is being asked to engage in work that will, or will be likely to, jeopardize any confidentiality or other obligations Executive may have to former employers, Executive shall immediately advise the Board so that Executive’s duties can be modified appropriately.

 

9


(c) The obligations of Executive provided in this paragraph 5 shall last, as to any Confidential Information, for so long as that Confidential Information has proprietary value, whether during Executive’s employment or after the termination thereof.

6. Intellectual Property, Inventions and Patents .

(a) Executive acknowledges that all discoveries, concepts, ideas, inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods, designs, analyses, drawings, reports, patent applications, copyrightable works, mask works and moral rights (in each case, whether or not including any Confidential Information) and all registrations or applications related thereto, all other proprietary information and all similar or related information (whether or not patentable or trademarkable) which (i)(A) are developed using the equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secrets of the Company or its Subsidiaries, or (B) relate to the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ actual or demonstrably anticipated business, research and development or existing or future products or services, or (C) result from work performed by Executive for the Company or its Subsidiaries, and (ii) which are conceived, developed or made by Executive (whether solely or jointly with others) while employed by or as a result of Executive’s employment with the Company and/or its Subsidiaries, whether before or after the date of this Agreement (“ Work Product ”), belong to the Company or such Subsidiary. Executive shall promptly disclose such Work Product to the Board and, at the Company’s expense, perform all actions reasonably requested by the Board (whether during or after the Employment Period) to establish, confirm and perfect such ownership in the Company or its Subsidiaries, as applicable (including, without limitation, assignments, consents, powers of attorney, waivers of rights, including moral rights, and other instruments). Executive acknowledges that all original works of authorship protected by copyright included in the Work Product are “works made for hire” as defined in the United States Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. §101.

(b) As further consideration for the Company’s entering into this Agreement, Executive hereby assigns to the Company all right, title and interest Executive owns or at any time may have to the Work Product (whether during the Employment Period or after the termination of the Employment Period), and to any and all other Work Product in which Executive may have any right, title, or interest or which was at any time used in the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries or its affiliates. At any time, whether during the Employment Period or after the termination of the Employment Period, upon reasonable request of the Company, Executive shall fully cooperate with and assist the Company to protect the Company’s (and its Subsidiaries’) right to and interest in the Work Product in any and all countries of the world, and, upon reasonable request of the Company, shall execute all documents and instruments and do all things that may be required in connection therewith. If Executive is involuntarily terminated, Executive’s subsequent cooperation with the Company will be coordinated, at the Company’s expense, with Executive’s then employment commitments.

7. Non-Solicitation . In further consideration of the compensation to be paid to Executive hereunder, Executive acknowledges that during the course of Executive’s employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries (including its predecessors) Executive has and shall become familiar with the Company’s (and its Subsidiaries) trade secrets and with other Confidential Information concerning the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates and that Executive’s services have been and shall be of special, unique and extraordinary value to the

 

10


Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates, and, therefore, Executive agrees (i) that, from the date of this Agreement and for two years after the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive shall not directly or indirectly solicit or induce, attempt to solicit or induce or assist any person soliciting or inducing any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary to leave the employ of the Company or such Subsidiary, or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or any Subsidiary and any employee thereof, and (ii) that, from the date of this Agreement until one year after the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive shall not make any negative or disparaging statements or communications about the Company, its Subsidiaries or affiliates, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or stockholders.

8. Severability; Remedies .

(a) Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement or any action in any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction to the extent required to be enforceable under applicable law. If, at the time of enforcement of paragraph 7, a court shall hold that the restrictions stated therein are unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties agree such restrictions are divisible and shall be reduced to the extent required to be enforceable under applicable law. Executive acknowledges that the restrictions contained in paragraph 7 are reasonable and that Executive has reviewed this Agreement with Executive’s legal counsel.

(b) In the event of the breach or a threatened breach by Executive of any of the provisions of paragraphs 5, 6, or 7, the Company (and its Subsidiaries) would suffer irreparable harm, and in addition and supplementary to other rights and remedies existing in its favor, the Company (and its Subsidiaries) shall be entitled to specific performance and/or injunctive or other equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions thereof (without posting a bond or other security). Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Company (and its Subsidiaries) from pursuing any other remedies available to them, at law or in equity, for any breach or threatened breach of this Agreement (including, any of the provisions of paragraphs 5, 6 or 7) by Executive, including recovery of damages from Executive and forfeiture of any and all Severance.

9. Executive’s Representations . Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company that (a) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Executive do not and shall not conflict with, breach, violate or cause a default under any contract, agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which Executive is a party or by which Executive is bound, (b) Executive is not a party to or bound by any employment agreement, noncompete agreement or confidentiality agreement with any other person or entity and (c) upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, this Agreement shall be a legal, valid and binding obligation of Executive, enforceable in accordance with its terms. Executive hereby acknowledges and represents that Executive has consulted with independent legal counsel regarding Executive’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and that Executive fully understands the terms and conditions contained herein.

 

11


10. Miscellaneous .

(a) Survival . Paragraphs 4 through 10 shall survive and continue in full force and effect notwithstanding the termination of Executive’s employment and this Agreement.

(b) Notices . Any notice provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be either personally delivered, sent by reputable overnight courier service or mailed by first class mail, return receipt requested, to the recipient at the address below indicated:

Notices to Executive:

Mario Galasso

 

 

 

 

Notices to the Company:

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

915 Disc Drive

Scotts Valley, CA 95066

Attn: Chief Executive Officer

Facsimile: (770) 331-2904

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

915 Disc Drive

Scotts Valley, CA 95066

Attn: General Counsel

With a copy to:

Paul Hastings LLP

695 Town Center Drive, 17th Floor

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Attention: William J. Simpson

Facsimile: (714) 668-6305

or such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Any notice under this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given when so delivered, sent or mailed.

(c) Termination of Agreement with Fox Factory, Inc./Complete Agreement . This Agreement, those documents expressly referred to herein and other documents of even date herewith embody the complete agreement and understanding among the parties and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way. Upon the Effective Date, Executive’s Employment Agreement with Fox Factory, Inc., a California corporation, (together with all amendments thereto, collectively the “ Terminated Agreement ”)

 

12


shall be automatically terminated without further action by the parties; provided, however, that Executive shall be entitled to receive his Performance Bonus under the Terminated Agreement when and if his Performance Bonus would have otherwise been payable, but pro-rated for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013, by multiplying (A) the bonus Executive would otherwise have received if he had been an employee for the entire fiscal year by (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days from (and including) January 1, 2013 until the Effective Date (but excluding the Effective Date), and the denominator of which is 365. For the avoidance of doubt, the termination of the Terminated Agreement will not create any severance or other obligations to Executive.

(d) No Strict Construction . The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.

(e) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts (including by means of facsimile or portable document format (PDF)), each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.

(f) Successors and Assigns . Subject to the limitations stated herein and in the 2013 Omnibus Plan, this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor to the Company, including without limitation any persons acquiring directly or indirectly all or substantially all of the business or assets or interests of the Company whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise (and such successor shall thereafter be deemed the “Company” for purposes of this Agreement). This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees and legatees, but will not otherwise be assignable, transferable or delegable by Executive. This Agreement is personal in nature and neither of the parties hereto shall, without the consent of the other, assign, transfer or delegate this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder except as otherwise expressly provided in this paragraph 10(f).

(g) Choice of Law . All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement and the exhibits and schedules hereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of California or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of California.

(h) Amendment and Waiver . The provisions of this Agreement may be amended or waived only with the prior written consent of the Company (as approved by the Board) and Executive, and no course of conduct or course of dealing or failure or delay by any party hereto in enforcing or exercising any of the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, the Company’s right to terminate Executive’s employment with or without Cause) shall affect the validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Agreement or be deemed to be an implied waiver of any provision of this Agreement. For purposes of clarification, it is understood by the parties that Section 10(h) shall in no way invalidate Executive’s obligation to act within the sixty (60) day time limit of Section 4(b)(iii), as applied to Section 4(b)(ii)(B) and Section 4(b)(iv).

 

13


(i) Insurance . The Company may procure in its own name and for its own benefit life and/or disability insurance on Executive in any amount or amounts considered advisable. Executive agrees to cooperate in any reasonable medical or other examination, supply any available information and execute and delivery any applications or other instruments in writing as may be reasonably necessary to obtain and maintain such insurance.

(j) Corporate Opportunity . During his employment, Executive shall submit to the Company all business, commercial and investment opportunities or offers presented to Executive, or of which Executive becomes aware, at any time during Executive’s employment which relate to the business of design, manufacture, distribution, marketing, assembly or sale of suspension products for vehicles, including mountain bikes, snow mobiles, all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles and off-road automotive vehicles (“ Corporate Opportunities ”). Unless approved by the Board, Executive shall not accept or pursue, directly or indirectly, any Corporate Opportunities on Executive’s own behalf.

(k) Executive’s Cooperation . During his employment and thereafter, Executive shall cooperate, at the Company’s expense, with the Company and its Subsidiaries in any internal investigation or administrative, regulatory or judicial proceeding as reasonably requested by the Company (including, without limitation, Executive being available to the Company upon reasonable notice for interviews and factual investigations, appearing at the Company’s request to give testimony without requiring service of a subpoena or other legal process, volunteering to the Company all pertinent information and turning over to the Company copies of all relevant documents which are or may come into Executive’s possession to the extent they may be provided to the Company without civil or criminal penalty to Executive, all at times and on schedules that are reasonably consistent with Executive’s other permitted activities and commitments).

(l) Clawback Policy . Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all amounts payable pursuant to Article 3(b) of this Agreement shall be subject to the Company’s policy entitled “Recoupment of Incentive Compensation Upon Restatement or Misstatement of Financial Results, or as Required by Law” (as may be amended from time to time). Executive hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of such policy.

(m) Arbitration . Any controversy, claim, cause of action, in law or equity, or dispute involving the parties (or their affiliated persons or entities) directly or indirectly concerning this Agreement, Executive’s employment by the Company or cessation thereof, and/or the subject matter thereof, including its enforcement, performance, breach, or interpretation, shall be resolved solely and exclusively by final and binding arbitration held in Santa Cruz, California by one (1) arbitrator in accordance with the rules of employment arbitration then followed by JAMS or any successor to the functions thereof. The arbitrator shall apply California law in the resolution of all controversies, claims and disputes and shall have the right and authority to determine how his or her decision or determination as to each issue or matter in dispute may be implemented or enforced. Any decision or award of the arbitrator shall be final, conclusive and binding on the parties to this Agreement, and there shall be no appeal

 

14


therefrom other than from gross negligence or willful misconduct. Notwithstanding the foregoing, claims regarding worker’s compensation and unemployment compensation benefits shall not be subject to arbitration under this Agreement. Each party in any such arbitration shall be responsible for its own attorneys’ fees, costs and necessary disbursements; provided, however, that if one party refuses to arbitrate and the other party seeks to compel arbitration by court order, if such other party prevails, it shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and necessary disbursements. Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Company shall pay the arbitrator’s fees.

(i) The parties hereto agree that any action to compel arbitration pursuant to this Agreement may be brought in any appropriate state court in Santa Cruz County, California, and in connection with such action to compel, the laws of California shall control. Application may also be made to such court for confirmation of any decision or award of the arbitrator, for an order of the enforcement and for any other remedies which may be necessary to effectuate such decision or award. The parties hereto hereby consent to the jurisdiction of the arbitrator and of such court and waive any objection to the jurisdiction of such arbitrator and court.

(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief and other equitable remedies, in any court of competent jurisdiction, to enforce this Agreement.

*    *    *    *    *

 

15


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

 

COMPANY
FOX FACTORY HOLDING CORP.
By:   /s/ Larry L. Enterline
Its:   Chief Executive Officer

 

EXECUTIVE :
  /s/ Mario Galasso
  Name: Mario Galasso

 

AGREED AS TO

SECTION 10(c) ABOVE:

FOX FACTORY, Inc.,

a California Corporation

By:   /s/ Larry L. Enterline
Its:   Chief Executive Officer

 

- 16 -

Exhibit 10.22

INFORMATION SHARING AND COOPERATION AGREEMENT

This Information Sharing and Cooperation Agreement, dated as of              , 2013 (this “ Agreement ”), is by and between Compass Diversified Holdings, a Delaware statutory trust, on its behalf and on behalf of its wholly-owned subsidiary Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (collectively, “ CODI ”), and Fox Factory Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation, on its behalf and on behalf of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Fox Factory, Inc., a California corporation, and its affiliates (collectively, “ FOX ”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, CODI has acquired controlling interests in, and actively manages, a diversified group of leading middle-market businesses headquartered in North America;

WHEREAS, CODI files reports pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “ NYSE ”);

WHEREAS, CODI acquired a controlling interest in FOX on January 4, 2008;

WHEREAS, CODI and FOX currently contemplate that FOX will engage in an initial public offering (“ IPO ”) of primary and secondary shares of FOX’s common stock (“ Shares ”) pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”);

WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO, FOX will apply to list the Shares for trading on the NASDAQ Global Market (“ NASDAQ ”);

WHEREAS, CODI’s majority ownership of FOX after the IPO will require CODI to continue consolidating FOX’s financial statements with its own under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“ GAAP ”) and SEC reporting requirements; and

WHEREAS, the parties intend that this Agreement, including all Exhibits hereto, set forth the principal arrangements between CODI and FOX regarding the sharing of information and cooperation of the parties in connection with the preparation of each party’s financial statements and their respective reporting obligations under the Exchange Act, and their respective applicable listing requirements, from and after the consummation of the IPO (the “ Effective Date ”).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the covenants and conditions set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:


ARTICLE I

EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY

Section 1.01 Agreement for Exchange of Information; Archives .

(a) Each of CODI and FOX agrees to provide, or cause to be provided, to the other at any time after the Effective Date, as soon as reasonably practicable after reasonable written request therefor, access to any information in the possession or under the control of such respective party that can be retrieved without unreasonable disruption to its business, or other harm or consequence as described in (c) below, which the requesting party reasonably needs (i) to comply with reporting, disclosure, filing, record retention or other requirements imposed on the requesting party (including under applicable securities or tax laws) by a governmental authority having jurisdiction over the requesting party, (ii) for use in any other judicial, regulatory, administrative, tax or other proceeding or in order to satisfy audit, accounting, regulatory, litigation, environmental, tax or other similar requirements, in each case other than claims or allegations that one party to this Agreement has against the other party, or (iii) to comply with its obligations under this Agreement.

(b) Subject to Section 1.01(a), after the Effective Date, each of CODI and FOX agrees to provide, or cause to be provided, to the other, as soon as reasonably practicable after reasonable written request therefor, access during regular business hours (as in effect from time to time) to information that relates to the business and operations of such requesting party that is located in archives retained or maintained by the other party (or, if such information does not exclusively relate to a party’s business, to the portions of such information that so exclusively relates), subject to appropriate restrictions for proprietary, Privileged (as defined below) or confidential information and to the requirements of an applicable state and/or federal regulation, to the personnel, properties and information of such party, and only insofar as (i) such access is reasonably required by the other party for legitimate business reasons, (ii) such access is only for the duration required, and (iii) the information relates to such other party or the conduct of its business prior to the Effective Date. FOX or CODI, as applicable, may obtain copies (but not originals) at their own expense of such information for bona fide business purposes. Nothing herein shall be deemed to restrict the access of the providing party to any information or to impose any liability on the providing party if any such information is not maintained or preserved by such party.

(c) In the event any party reasonably determines that any such provision of information could be commercially detrimental, violate any law or contractual restriction, or result in the waiver of any Privilege, the parties shall take all commercially reasonable measures to permit the compliance with the provision of information obligations in a manner that avoids any such harm or consequence, which shall include, but not be limited to, compliance with Sections 1.06, 1.07 and 1.08 hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “ Privilege ” shall mean information and advice that has been previously developed but is legally protected from disclosure under legal privileges, such as the attorney-client privilege, work product exemption or similar concept of legal protection.

Section 1.02 Ownership of Information . Any information owned by one party that is provided to a requesting party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be deemed to remain the property of the providing party. Unless expressly set forth in this Agreement, nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as granting or conferring any right, title or interest (whether by license or otherwise) in, to or under any such information.

 

2


Section 1.03 Record Retention . To facilitate the possible exchange of information pursuant to this Article I and other provisions of this Agreement after the Effective Date, the parties agree to retain all information in their respective possession or control on the Effective Date in accordance with their respective retention policies, as such policies may be reasonably amended or revised after the Effective Date. Each party shall provide the other party with reasonable notice of any material amendment or revision to its retention policy after the Effective Date.

Section 1.04 Limitations of Liability . No party shall have any liability to any other party in the event that any information exchanged or provided pursuant to this Agreement is found to be inaccurate or the requested information is not provided, in the absence of willful misconduct by, or gross negligence of, the party requested to provide such information. No party shall have any liability to any other party if any information is destroyed in compliance with its respective retention policies, as such policies may be reasonably amended or revised after the Effective Date.

Section 1.05 Other Agreements Providing for Exchange of Information . The rights and obligations granted under this Article I are subject to any specific limitations, qualifications or additional provisions on the sharing, exchange, retention, rights to use, or confidential treatment of information set forth in any other agreement between the parties.

Section 1.06 Confidentiality .

(a) Subject to Section 1.07, each of CODI and FOX (each, a “ Receiving Party ”), agrees to hold, and to cause its respective directors, officers, employees, agents, accountants, counsel and other advisors and representatives to hold in strict confidence, with at least the same degree of care that applies to the confidential and proprietary information of CODI pursuant to policies in effect as of the Effective Date, all information with respect to the other party (each, a “ Disclosing Party ”) that is accessible to it, in its possession (including information in its possession prior to the Effective Date) or furnished by the Disclosing Party, or accessible to, in the possession of, or furnished to the Receiving Party pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise, except, in each case, to the extent that such information (i) is or becomes part of the public domain through no breach of this Agreement by the Receiving Party or its directors, officers, employees, agents, accountants, counsel and other advisors and representatives, (ii) was independently developed following the Effective Date by employees or agents of the Receiving Party or its directors, officers, employees, agents, accountants, counsel and other advisors and representatives who have not accessed or otherwise received the applicable information; provided that such independent development can be demonstrated by competent, contemporaneous written records of the Receiving Party, (iii) becomes available to the Receiving Party following the Effective Date on a non-confidential basis from a third party who is not bound directly or indirectly by a duty of confidentiality to the Disclosing Party; or (iv) is provided by the Disclosing Party and appropriately disclosed by the Receiving Party in accordance with the terms of Article II.

 

3


(b) Each party acknowledges that it may have in their possession confidential or proprietary information of third parties that was received under confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements with such third party. Such party will hold in strict confidence the confidential and proprietary information of third parties to which they have access in accordance with the terms of any such agreements.

(c) Each party further acknowledges that United States securities laws prohibit any person who has material non-public information regarding the parties hereto from purchasing or selling securities of such party 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.

(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, following the Effective Date, CODI, its affiliates and Compass Group Management LLC, CODI’s manager, shall be permitted to (i) use the FOX trademark in their written materials when referencing FOX, (ii) provide confidential information regarding FOX (including but not limited to historical financial and other information) to persons who have a legitimate reason to know such information and who are under an obligation to keep such information confidential, and (iii) publish non-confidential information of FOX (including but not limited to historical financial and other information); provided, however, if CODI owns less than 20% of the outstanding shares of FOX and such non-confidential information is material and has not previously been published, then CODI shall obtain FOX’s prior written consent to such publication.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article I, a party hereto shall have no right to use any information of the Disclosing Party unless otherwise provided for in this Agreement or specifically provided for in any other agreement between the parties.

Section 1.07 Protective Arrangements . In the event that the Receiving Party either determines on the advice of its counsel that it is required to disclose any information pursuant to applicable law (including the rules and regulations of the SEC or any national securities exchange) or receives any request or demand from any governmental authority to disclose or provide information of the Disclosing Party that is subject to the confidentiality provisions hereof, such party shall notify the other party prior to disclosing or providing such information and shall cooperate at the expense of such other party in seeking any reasonable protective arrangements (including by seeking confidential treatment of such information) requested by such other party. Subject to the foregoing, the party that received such a request or determined that it is required to disclose information may thereafter disclose or provide information to the extent required by such law (as so advised by counsel) or requested or required by such governmental authority; provided , however , that such party provides the other party, to the extent legally permissible, upon request with a copy of the information so disclosed.

Section 1.08 Preservation of Legal Privileges .

(a) CODI and FOX recognize that they possess and will possess Privileged information. Each party recognizes that they shall be jointly entitled to the Privilege with respect to such Privileged information and that each shall be entitled to maintain, preserve and assert for its own benefit all such information and advice, but both parties shall ensure that such

 

4


information is maintained so as to protect the Privileges with respect to the other party’s interest. To that end, neither party will knowingly waive or compromise any Privilege associated with such information and advice without the prior written consent of the other party, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. In the event that Privileged information is required to be disclosed to any arbitrator or mediator in connection with a dispute between the parties, such disclosure shall not be deemed a waiver of Privilege with respect to such information, and any party receiving it in connection with a proceeding shall be informed of its nature and shall be required to safeguard and protect it.

(b) Upon receipt by either party of any subpoena, discovery or other request that may call for the production or disclosure of information that is the subject of a Privilege, or if a party obtains knowledge that any current or former employee of a party has received any subpoena, discovery or other request that may call for the production or disclosure of such information, such party shall provide the other party a reasonable opportunity to review the information and to assert any rights it may have under this Section 1.08 or otherwise to prevent the production or disclosure of such information. Absent receipt of written consent from the other party to the production or disclosure of information that may be covered by a Privilege, each party agrees that it will not produce or disclose any information that may be covered by a Privilege unless a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, nonappealable order finding that the information is not entitled to protection under any applicable Privilege.

(c) CODI’s transfer of information to FOX, CODI’s agreement to permit FOX to obtain information existing prior to the Effective Date, FOX’s transfer of information to CODI and FOX’s agreement to permit CODI to obtain information existing prior to the Effective Date are made in reliance on CODI’s and FOX’s respective agreements, as set forth in Section 1.06, Section 1.07 and this Section 1.08, to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to take the steps provided herein for the preservation of all Privileges that may belong to or be asserted by CODI or FOX, as the case may be. The access to information being granted pursuant to Section 1.01 hereof and the disclosure to CODI and FOX of Privileged information pursuant to this Agreement shall not be asserted by CODI or FOX to constitute, or otherwise deemed, a waiver of any Privilege that has been or may be asserted under this Section 1.08 or otherwise. Nothing in this Agreement shall operate to reduce, minimize or condition the rights granted to CODI and FOX in, or the obligations imposed upon the parties by, this Section 1.08.

ARTICLE II

FINANCIAL COVENANTS

Section 2.01 Disclosure and Financial Controls . The parties agree that, from and after the Effective Date and for so long as CODI is required by GAAP and SEC reporting requirements to consolidate the results of operations and financial position of FOX, that they will comply with the requirements set forth in this Section 2.01. Thereafter the parties agree that, from and after the period commencing when CODI no longer has to consolidate the results of operations and financial position of FOX and during the period that CODI is still required to account for its investment in FOX under the equity method of accounting (determined in accordance with GAAP and consistent with SEC reporting requirements) the parties will comply with Sections 2.01(c), 2.01(e) and 2.01(f) below.

 

5


(a) Disclosure of Financial Controls . FOX will: (i) maintain disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15; (ii) upon request by CODI, cause each of its principal executive and principal financial officers to sign and deliver certifications to FOX’s periodic reports and will include the certifications in FOX’s periodic reports, as and when required pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14 and Item 601 of Regulation S-K; (iii) upon request by CODI, cause its management to evaluate FOX’s disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting (including any change in internal control over financial reporting) as and when required pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15; (iv) disclose in its periodic reports filed with the SEC information concerning FOX management’s responsibilities for and evaluation of FOX’s disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting (including, without limitation, the annual management report and attestation report of FOX’s independent auditors relating to internal control over financial reporting) as and when required under Items 307 and 308 of Regulation S-K and other applicable SEC rules; and (v) without limiting the general application of the foregoing, maintain internal systems and procedures that will provide reasonable assurance that its financial statements are reliable and timely prepared in accordance with GAAP and applicable law.

(b) Fiscal Year . Neither party hereto will change its fiscal year without the prior written consent of the other party.

(c) Monthly Financial Information . FOX will deliver to CODI, in a timely manner consistent with the practice of the parties prior to the Effective Date, a trial balance sheet (so long as requested by CODI), an income statement and balance sheet, and supplemental data related to cash flows and other necessary disclosures, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A , for each month. FOX will inform CODI as soon as reasonably possible of any material adjustments or changes to the foregoing that come to its attention.

(d) Quarterly Financial Information . FOX will deliver to CODI, in a timely manner consistent with the practice of the parties prior to the Effective Date, an income statement and balance sheet, and supplemental data related to cash flows and other necessary disclosures, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B , for each quarter. FOX will inform CODI as soon as reasonably possible of any material adjustments or changes to the foregoing that come to its attention.

(e) Quarterly Financial Statements . On a quarterly basis, FOX will deliver to CODI drafts of (i) the consolidated financial statements of FOX (and notes thereto) for the quarterly periods and for the period from the beginning of the current fiscal year to the end of such quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form for each such fiscal quarter of FOX the consolidated figures (and notes thereto) for the corresponding quarter and periods of the previous fiscal year prepared in accordance with Article 10 of Regulation S-X and GAAP and (ii) a discussion and analysis by management of FOX’s financial condition and results of operations for such fiscal period, including, without limitation, an explanation of any material period-to-period change and any

 

6


off-balance sheet transactions, prepared in accordance with Item 303(b) of Regulation S-K. The information set forth in (i) and (ii) above is referred to in this Agreement as the “ FOX Quarterly Financial Statements. ” As soon as reasonably possible with sufficient time for CODI to incorporate such information into its own financial statements and related disclosures, FOX will deliver to CODI the final form of FOX Quarterly Financial Statements and certifications thereof by the principal executive and financial officers of FOX in substantially the forms required under the SEC rules for periodic reports; provided , however , that FOX may continue to revise such Quarterly Financial Statements prior to its filing thereof in order to make corrections, updates and changes, which corrections, updates and changes, if substantive, will be delivered by FOX to CODI as soon as reasonably possible. At CODI’s request, FOX’s representatives will consult and discuss with CODI’s representatives any such corrections, updates and changes. The foregoing requirement will not apply to the first quarterly reporting period of FOX after the IPO if FOX is not required to file its Form 10-Q for such period within forty-five (45) days of the end of such quarter.

(f) Annual Financial Statements . On an annual basis, FOX will deliver to CODI drafts of (i) the consolidated financial statements of FOX (and notes thereto) for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the consolidated figures (and notes thereto) for the previous fiscal years, prepared in accordance with Article 10 of Regulation S-X and GAAP and (ii) a discussion and analysis by management of FOX’s financial condition and results of operations for such year, including, without limitation, an explanation of any material period-to-period changes and any off-balance sheet transactions, prepared in accordance with Item 303(a) and 305 of Regulation S-K. The information set forth in (i) and (ii) above is referred to in this Agreement as the “ FOX Annual Financial Statements .” As soon as reasonably possible and with sufficient time f or CODI to incorporate such information into its own audited annual financial statements filed with the SEC (the “ CODI Annual Statements ”), FOX will deliver to CODI the final form of the FOX Annual Financial Statements, certifications thereof by the principal executive and financial officers of FOX in substantially the forms required under the SEC rules for periodic reports and an opinion on the FOX Annual Financial Statements by FOX’s independent certified public accountants; provided , however , that FOX may, if necessary, continue to revise such FOX Annual Financial Statements prior to the filing thereof in order to make corrections, updates and changes, which corrections, updates and changes, if substantive, will be delivered by FOX to CODI as soon as reasonably possible. At CODI’s request, FOX’s representatives will consult and discuss with CODI’s representatives any such corrections, updates and changes.

(g) Conformance of Financial Statements . Subject to the other terms in this Agreement, neither party hereto shall make or adopt any significant changes to their respective accounting estimates or accounting policies and principles from those in effect on the Effective Date to the extent that such changes would materially and adversely impact the other party or the other party’s obligations hereunder. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, nothing in this Agreement shall prevent either party from making those changes to their respective accounting estimates or accounting policies and principles if such changes are required by GAAP or which the audit committee of such party determines are necessary or appropriate for the proper presentation of such party’s financial statements. In addition, prior to one party making changes to its accounting estimates or accounting policies and principles, such party shall first consult with the other party and, if requested by the other party, such party’s independent certified public accountants. The parties shall give each other as much prior notice as reasonably possible of any such changes and will consult with each other and their independent certified public accountants prior to making or adopting such changes.

 

7


(h) Company Reports Generally . FOX will deliver to CODI: (i) substantially final drafts, as soon as reasonably possible, of (A) all reports on Forms 8-K, 10-K and 10-Q, Annual Reports to Stockholders and proxy statements, and (B) all Registration Statements and Prospectuses to be filed by FOX with the SEC or any securities exchange pursuant to the NASDAQ Listing Rules (collectively, the documents identified in clauses (A) and (B) are referred to in this Agreement as “ FOX Public Documents ”), and (ii) as soon as reasonably possible prior to the earliest of the dates the same are printed, sent or filed, current drafts of all such FOX Public Documents; provided , however , that FOX may continue to revise such FOX Public Documents prior to the filing thereof in order to make corrections, updates and changes, which will be delivered by FOX to CODI as soon as reasonably possible. At CODI’s request, FOX’s representatives will consult and discuss with CODI’s representatives any such corrections, updates and changes.

(i) Budgets and Financial Projections . Consistent with practices prior to the Effective Date, FOX will, as soon as such budgets and financial projections are prepared and approved by the FOX board of directors, deliver to CODI copies of all annual budgets and financial projections relating to FOX on a consolidated basis and will provide CODI an opportunity to meet with management of FOX to discuss such budgets and projections.

(j) Press Releases and Similar Information . FOX and CODI will consult with each other as to the timing of their annual and quarterly earnings releases and any interim financial guidance for a current or future period and, to the extent reasonably possible, will give each other the opportunity to review and comment on the information therein relating to the other. If the parties are unable to agree as to such timing, then CODI and FOX shall each make reasonable efforts to issue their respective annual and quarterly earnings releases at approximately the same time on the same date, which will include for these purposes during the same period of time beginning after the close of market on one day and ending just prior to the opening of market on the next day. CODI and FOX agree to consult with each other as to the timing of their respective earnings release conference calls. In addition, each party hereto agrees, a reasonable period of time prior to the time and date that it intends to publish its regular annual or quarterly earnings release or issue any financial guidance for a current or future period, that such party will deliver to the other party copies of substantially final drafts of all related press releases and other statements to be made available by that party to the public concerning any matters that could be reasonably related to, or otherwise likely to have a material financial impact on the earnings, results of operations, financial condition or prospects of FOX. In addition, prior to the issuance of any such press release or public statement, the issuing party will, to the extent reasonably practicable, consult with the other party regarding any changes (other than typographical or other minor changes) to such substantially final drafts.

(k) Cooperation on CODI Filings . FOX agrees to provide to CODI, and to instruct the FOX Auditors (as defined below) to provide to CODI, all material information with respect to FOX that CODI reasonably requires in connection with the preparation by CODI of its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Annual Reports to Shareholders, Annual Reports on Form 10-K,

 

8


any Current Reports on Form 8-K and Registration Statements, or other filings made by CODI with the SEC, any national securities exchange or otherwise made publicly available with respect to the disclosures pertaining to FOX (collectively, the “ CODI Public Filings ”). The parties agree to reasonably cooperate with each other with respect to the requesting and furnishing of such required information in order to enable CODI to file all CODI Public Filings within the deadlines as required by applicable law. FOX will cause the FOX Auditors (as defined below) to consent to any reference to them as experts in any CODI Public Filings required under any law, rule or regulation. CODI agrees a reasonable period of time prior to the time and date that it intends to file such CODI Public Filings that it will provide to FOX substantially final drafts of the portions of any CODI Public Filings that disclose or otherwise reasonably relate to FOX or its earnings, results of operations, financial condition or prospects prior to the filing of such CODI Public Filings. Prior to the filing any such CODI Public Filing, CODI will, to the extent reasonably practicable, consult with FOX regarding any changes (other than typographical or other minor changes) to such substantially final drafts.

(l) Other Information . FOX will promptly deliver to CODI such additional financial and other information and data with respect to FOX and FOX’s business, properties, financial position, results of operations and prospects as may be reasonably requested by CODI from time to time. In addition, FOX will (i) during the period that CODI is still required to account for its investment in FOX under the equity method of accounting (determined in accordance with GAAP and consistent with SEC reporting requirements), cause its appropriate personnel (as determined by CODI and FOX) to continue participating in CODI’s quarterly disclosure committee conferences as directed by CODI, and (ii) by January 31 of each calendar year, provide CODI with the characterization of all dividends paid for the prior calendar year.

Section 2.02 Auditors and Audits; Annual Statements and Accounting . The parties agree that, from and after the Effective Date and for so long as CODI is required by GAAP and SEC reporting requirements to consolidate the results of operations and financial position of FOX, that they will comply with the requirements set forth in this Section 2.02. Thereafter the parties agree that, commencing from and after the period when CODI no longer has to consolidate the results of operations and financial position of FOX and during which CODI is required to account for its investment in FOX under the equity method of accounting (determined in accordance with GAAP and consistent with SEC reporting requirements) that the parties will comply with Sections 2.02(d) and 2.02(e) of this Article II.

(a) Selection of FOX Auditors . FOX will use commercially reasonable efforts to select the same registered public accounting firm as CODI to serve as FOX’s independent registered public accounting firm (the “ FOX Auditors ”); provided, however, that the FOX Auditors may be different from CODI’s auditors if (i) CODI consents, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, or (ii) it is necessary to comply with applicable laws and listing requirements regarding auditor independence and qualifications. Further, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed so as to unlawfully limit any responsibility or authority of the audit committee of FOX’s board of directors, pursuant to Rule 10A-3(b)(2) under the Exchange Act or any listing requirement applicable to FOX or other rule or legal requirement applicable to FOX and its audit committee, to appoint, compensate, retain and oversee the work of the independent registered public accounting firm FOX engages. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as requiring FOX to change the FOX Auditors in the middle of a fiscal year if the audit committee of FOX’s board of directors determines that such change would cause FOX unreasonable expense or delay with respect to the preparation and review of the FOX Quarterly Financial Statements or the preparation and audit of the FOX Annual Statements. Each of the parties hereto shall provide the other party with as much prior written notice as reasonably practical of any change in their respective independent registered public accounting firm.

 

9


(b) Audit Timing . Beginning with fiscal year 2013, FOX will enable the FOX Auditors to complete their audit of the FOX Annual Statements such that they will date their opinion on the FOX Annual Statements on or before the same date that CODI’s independent registered public accountants (the “ CODI Auditors ”) date their opinion on the CODI Annual Statements, all in accordance with Section 2.01(f) hereof and as required by applicable law.

(c) Quarterly Review . FOX shall enable the FOX Auditors to complete their quarterly review procedures on the FOX Quarterly Financial Statements so that the CODI Auditors have sufficient time complete their quarterly review procedures on CODI’s quarterly financial statements.

(d) Access to the FOX Auditors . FOX will authorize the FOX Auditors to make reasonably available to the CODI Auditors both the personnel who performed, or are performing, the annual audit and quarterly reviews of FOX and work papers related to the annual audit and quarterly reviews of FOX, in all cases within a reasonable time prior to the FOX Auditors’ opinion date, so that the CODI Auditors are able to perform the procedures they consider necessary to take responsibility for the work of the FOX Auditors as it relates to the CODI Auditors’ report on CODI’s statements.

(e) Access to Records . If CODI determines in good faith that there may be some material inaccuracy in FOX’s financial statements or deficiency or inadequacy in FOX’s internal accounting controls or operations that could materially impact CODI’s financial statements, CODI must promptly notify FOX of such determination and the basis for such determination, and at CODI’s request, FOX will provide CODI’s internal auditors with reasonable access to FOX’s books and records so that CODI may conduct reasonable audits relating to the financial statements provided by FOX under this Agreement, as well as to the internal accounting controls and operations of FOX.

(f) Special Reports of Deficiencies, Violations or Events Requiring the Filing of a Current Report on Form 8-K . To the extent material to CODI, FOX will report in reasonable detail to CODI the following events or circumstances promptly after any executive officer of FOX or the audit committee of the board of directors of FOX becomes aware of such matter: (A) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect FOX’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; (B) any fraud that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in FOX’s internal control over financial reporting; (C) any illegal act within the meaning of Section 10A(b) and (f) of the Exchange Act; (D) any report of a material violation of law that an attorney representing FOX has formally made to any officers or directors of FOX pursuant to the SEC’s attorney conduct rules (17 C.F.R. Part 205); and (E) until CODI’s ownership interest in FOX is less than 20% of the Shares, any event or circumstance that requires the filing of a Current Report on Form 8-K (which shall include all reports reportable pursuant to Item 8.01 of Form 8-K).

 

10


ARTICLE III

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Section 3.01 Limitation on Monetary Damages; Equitable Remedies . FOX and CODI hereby agree that neither party shall have any liability for monetary damages for any breach of this Agreement so long as such party used commercially reasonable efforts to comply with the obligation such party breached and continues thereafter to use commercially reasonable efforts to remedy such breach. In addition to other remedies provided by applicable law, FOX and CODI may each enforce the provisions of this Agreement through such legal or equitable remedies as a court of competent jurisdiction shall allow without the necessity of proving actual damages or bad faith, and the party subject to a claim under this Agreement hereby waives any claim or defense that such party has an adequate remedy at law, and waives any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with such equitable remedy.

Section 3.02 Disputes . The procedures for discussion, negotiation and mediation set forth in this Article III shall apply to all disputes, controversies or claims (whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise) that may arise out of or relate to, or arise under or in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including all actions taken in furtherance of the transactions contemplated hereby on the Effective Date). FOX hereby agrees that its lead independent director or other member of the board of directors or senior management that is not affiliated with CODI shall lead all discussions, negotiations and mediations that occur pursuant to this Article III.

Section 3.03 Escalation; Mediation .

(a) It is the intent of the parties to use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to resolve expeditiously any dispute, controversy or claim between or among them with respect to the matters covered by this Agreement. In furtherance of the foregoing, any party involved in a dispute, controversy or claim with respect to such matters may deliver a notice (an “ Escalation Notice ”) demanding an in person meeting involving representatives of the parties at a senior level of management of the parties (or if the parties agree, of the appropriate strategic business unit or division within such entity). A copy of any such Escalation Notice shall be given to the general counsel, or like officer or official, of each party involved in the dispute, controversy or claim (which copy shall state that it is an Escalation Notice pursuant to this Agreement). Any agenda, location or procedures for such discussions or negotiations between the parties may be established by the parties from time to time; provided , however , that the parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to meet within 30 days of the Escalation Notice.

(b) If the parties are not able to resolve the dispute, controversy or claim through the escalation process referred to above, then the matter shall be referred to mediation. The parties shall retain a mediator to aid the parties in their discussions and negotiations by informally providing advice to the parties. Any opinion expressed by the mediator shall be strictly advisory and shall not be binding on the parties, nor shall any opinion expressed by the mediator be admissible in any other proceeding. The mediator may be chosen from a list of mediators previously selected by the parties or by other agreement of the parties. Costs of the mediation shall be borne equally by the parties involved in the matter, except that each party shall be responsible for its own expenses. Mediation shall be a prerequisite to the commencement of any action by either party.

 

11


Section 3.04 Court Actions .

(a) In the event that any party, after complying with the provisions set forth in Section 3.03 above, desires to commence an action, such party, subject to Section 6.15, may submit the dispute, controversy or claim (or such series of related disputes, controversies or claims) to any court of competent jurisdiction as set forth in Section 6.15.

(b) Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the parties will continue to provide service and honor all other commitments under this Agreement during the course of dispute resolution pursuant to the provisions of this Article III, except to the extent such commitments are the subject of such dispute, controversy or claim.

ARTICLE IV

FURTHER ASSURANCES

Section 4.01 Further Assurances .

(a) In addition to the actions specifically provided for elsewhere in this Agreement, each of the parties hereto will cooperate with each other and shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things, reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws, regulations and agreements to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(b) Without limiting the foregoing, prior to, on and after the Effective Date, each party hereto shall cooperate with the other party, and without any further consideration, but at the expense of the requesting party, to execute and deliver, or use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be executed and delivered, all instruments, including instruments of conveyance, assignment and transfer, and to make all filings with, and to obtain all consents, approvals or authorizations of, any governmental authority or any other person or entity under any permit, license, agreement, indenture, order, decree, financial assurance (including letter of credit) or other instrument, and to take all such other actions as such party may reasonably be requested to take by such other party hereto from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Agreement.

(c) Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to restrict or limit any right, responsibility or authority of either of parties hereto or their respective, independent registered public accountants, audit committee or board of directors in violation of any law, legal requirement or listing standard applicable to such party, whether existing today or hereafter. In the event either party hereto reasonably determines that any provision in this Agreement does or will so limit any right, responsibility or authority of such party or such party’s independent registered public accountants, audit committee or board of directors, then the parties hereto agree to attempt to negotiate in good faith any changes necessary or advisable to this Agreement to avoid or prevent such violation.

 

12


ARTICLE V

TERMINATION

Section 5.01 Termination .

(a) This Agreement may be terminated at any time after Effective Date by mutual consent of CODI and FOX.

(b) Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, this Agreement will automatically terminate at such time as CODI is no longer required to account for its investment in FOX under the equity method of accounting (determined in accordance with GAAP and consistent with SEC reporting requirements); provided that certain of obligations of the parties contained in Article II shall terminate when CODI is no longer required to consolidate the results of operations and financial position of FOX as provided for in Section 2.01 and Section 2.02.

Section 5.02 Effect of Termination . Except as otherwise set forth herein, in the event of any termination of this Agreement, no party to this Agreement (or any of its directors, officers, members or managers) shall have any liability or further obligation to any other party.

ARTICLE VI

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 6.01 Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Conflicting Agreements .

(a) 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 party. Execution of this Agreement or any other documents pursuant to this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be deemed to be, and shall have the same effect as, executed by an original signature.

(b) This Agreement and the Exhibits hereto contain the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, supersede all previous agreements, negotiations, discussions, writings, understandings, commitments and conversations with respect to such subject matter and there are no agreements or understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter other than those set forth or referred to herein or therein.

(c) In the event of any inconsistency between this Agreement and any Exhibit hereto, the Exhibit shall prevail. In the event and to the extent that there shall be a conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of any other agreement between the parties, the other agreement shall control with respect to the subject matter thereof, and this Agreement shall control with respect to all other matters.

 

13


Section 6.02 No Construction Against Drafter . The parties acknowledge that this Agreement and all the terms and conditions herein have been fully reviewed and negotiated by the parties and their respective attorneys. Having acknowledged the foregoing, the parties agree that any principle of construction or rule of law that provides that, in the event of any inconsistency or ambiguity, an agreement shall be construed against the drafter of the agreement shall have no application to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

Section 6.03 Governing law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof that would result in the application of any law other than the laws of the State of Delaware.

Section 6.04 Assignability . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns; provided , however , that no party hereto may assign its respective rights or delegate its respective obligations under this Agreement without the express prior written consent of the other party or parties hereto.

Section 6.05 Notices . All notices or other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be duly given when (a) delivered in person or (b) deposited in the United States mail or private express mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

If to CODI, to:

Compass Diversified Holdings

Sixty One Wilton Road

Westport, Connecticut 06880

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

If to FOX to:

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

915 Disc Drive

Scotts Valley, CA 95066

Attn: Chief Financial Officer

Any party may, by notice to the other party, change the address to which such notices are to be given.

Section 6.06 Severability . If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances or in jurisdictions other than those as to which it has been held invalid or unenforceable, shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby, so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner adverse to any party. Upon such determination, the parties shall negotiate in good faith in an effort to agree upon such a suitable and equitable provision to effect the original intent of the parties.

 

14


Section 6.07 Force Majeure . No party shall be deemed in default of this Agreement to the extent that any delay or failure in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement results from any cause beyond its reasonable control and without its fault or negligence, such as acts of God, acts of civil or military authority, embargoes, epidemics, war, riots, insurrections, fires, explosions, earthquakes, floods, unusually severe weather conditions or labor problems. In the event of any such excused delay, the time for performance shall be extended for a period equal to the time lost by reason of the delay.

Section 6.08 Headings . The article, section and paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

Section 6.09 Survival . Sections 1.02, 1.04, 1.06, 1.07, 1.08, Article III and Article VI of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect following the termination of this Agreement.

Section 6.10 Waivers of Default . Waiver by any party of any default by the other party of any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver by the waiving party of any subsequent or other default, nor shall it prejudice the rights of the other party.

Section 6.11 Specific Performance . In the event of any actual or threatened default in, or breach of, any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement, the party or parties who are or are to be thereby aggrieved shall have the right to specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief of its rights under this Agreement, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies at law or in equity, and all such rights and remedies shall be cumulative.

Section 6.12 Amendments . No provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed waived, amended, supplemented or modified by any party, unless such waiver, amendment, supplement or modification is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the party against whom it is sought to enforce such waiver, amendment, supplement or modification.

Section 6.13 Interpretation . Words in the singular shall be held to include the plural and vice versa and words of one gender shall be held to include the other genders as the context requires. The terms “hereof”, “herein” and “herewith” and words of similar import shall, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole (including all of the Exhibits hereto) and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. Article, Section and Exhibit references are to the Articles and Sections to this Agreement unless otherwise specified. The word “including” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall mean “including, without limitation,” unless the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise specified.

Section 6.14 Waiver of Jury Trial . SUBJECT TO ARTICLE III AND SECTIONS 6.10 AND 6.14 HEREIN, EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY COURT PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY

 

15


ARISING OUT OF AND PERMITTED UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF THE OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 6.13.

Section 6.15 Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers . With respect to any action relating to or arising out of this Agreement, subject to the provisions of Article III, each party to this Agreement irrevocably (a) consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware and any court of the United States located in Delaware; (b) waives any objection which such party may have at any time to the laying of venue of any action brought in any such court, waives any claim that such action has been brought in an inconvenient forum and further waives the right to object, with respect to such action, that such court does not have jurisdiction over such party; and (c) consents to the service of process at the address set forth for notices in Section 6.05 herein; provided , however , that such manner of service of process shall not preclude the service of process in any other manner permitted under applicable law.

Section 6.16 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is not intended, nor shall it be deemed, to confer any rights or remedies on any person other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Agreement does not create any third-party beneficiary hereto and FOX and CODI are the only persons entitled to commence any action, proceeding or claim under this Agreement.

Section 6.17 Expenses . Each party is responsible for its own fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

[ Signature page immediately follows. ]

 

16


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Information Sharing and Cooperation Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first set forth above.

 

COMPASS DIVERSIFIED HOLDINGS

By:

   

Name:

   

Title:

   

 

FOX FACTORY HOLDING CORP.

By:

   

Name:

   

Title:

   

 

17

Exhibit 10.23

Published Deal CUSIP: 35138WAA8

Revolver CUSIP: 35138WAB6

REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of [                           , 2013]

among

FOX FACTORY HOLDING CORP. and

FOX FACTORY, INC.,

as Borrowers,

THE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,

FIFTH THIRD BANK and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

as Co-Syndication Agents,

and

SUNTRUST BANK,

as Administrative Agent

 

 

 

SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY, INC.,

as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Book Manager


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

 

ARTICLE I      
DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION      1   

Section 1.1.

   Definitions      1   

Section 1.2.

   Classifications of Loans and Borrowings      29   

Section 1.3.

   Accounting Terms and Determination      29   

Section 1.4.

   Paid in Full      30   

Section 1.5.

   Terms Generally      30   
ARTICLE II      
AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE COMMITMENTS      30   

Section 2.1.

   General Description of Facilities      30   

Section 2.2.

   Revolving Loans      31   

Section 2.3.

   Procedure for Revolving Borrowings      31   

Section 2.4.

   Swingline Commitment      31   

Section 2.5.

   Funding of Borrowings      33   

Section 2.6.

   Interest Elections      33   

Section 2.7.

   Optional Reduction and Termination of Commitments      34   

Section 2.8.

   Repayment of Loans      35   

Section 2.9.

   Evidence of Indebtedness      35   

Section 2.10.

   Optional Prepayments      35   

Section 2.11.

   Mandatory Prepayments      36   

Section 2.12.

   Interest on Loans      36   

Section 2.13.

   Fees      37   

Section 2.14.

   Computation of Interest and Fees      38   

Section 2.15.

   Inability to Determine Interest Rates      38   

Section 2.16.

   Illegality      38   

Section 2.17.

   Increased Costs      39   

Section 2.18.

   Funding Indemnity      40   

Section 2.19.

   Taxes      40   

Section 2.20.

   Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs      43   

Section 2.21.

   Letters of Credit      45   

Section 2.22.

   Increase of Commitments; Additional Lenders      49   

Section 2.23.

   Mitigation of Obligations      52   

Section 2.24.

   Replacement of Lenders      52   

Section 2.25.

   Defaulting Lenders      53   

Section 2.26.

   All Obligations to Constitute Joint and Several Obligations      54   
ARTICLE III      
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT      56   

Section 3.1.

   Conditions to Effectiveness      56   

Section 3.2.

   Conditions to Each Credit Event      59   

Section 3.3.

   Delivery of Documents      60   


ARTICLE IV      
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES      60   

Section 4.1.

   Existence; Power      60   

Section 4.2.

   Organizational Power; Authorization      60   

Section 4.3.

   Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts      60   

Section 4.4.

   Financial Statements      60   

Section 4.5.

   Litigation and Environmental Matters      61   

Section 4.6.

   Compliance with Laws and Agreements      61   

Section 4.7.

   Investment Company Act      61   

Section 4.8.

   Taxes      61   

Section 4.9.

   Margin Regulations      62   

Section 4.10.

   ERISA      62   

Section 4.11.

   Ownership of Property; Insurance      63   

Section 4.12.

   Disclosure      63   

Section 4.13.

   Labor Relations      63   

Section 4.14.

   Subsidiaries      63   

Section 4.15.

   Solvency      63   

Section 4.16.

   Deposit and Disbursement Accounts      64   

Section 4.17.

   Collateral Documents      64   

Section 4.18.

   Material Agreements      64   

Section 4.19.

   OFAC      64   

Section 4.20.

   Patriot Act      65   
ARTICLE V      
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS      65   

Section 5.1.

   Financial Statements and Other Information      65   

Section 5.2.

   Notices of Material Events      66   

Section 5.3.

   Existence; Conduct of Business      68   

Section 5.4.

   Compliance with Laws      68   

Section 5.5.

   Payment of Obligations      68   

Section 5.6.

   Books and Records      68   

Section 5.7.

   Visitation and Inspection      68   

Section 5.8.

   Maintenance of Properties; Insurance      69   

Section 5.9.

   Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations      69   

Section 5.10.

   Cash Management      69   

Section 5.11.

   Additional Subsidiaries and Collateral      70   

Section 5.12.

   Additional Real Estate; Leased Locations      71   

Section 5.13.

   Further Assurances      71   
ARTICLE VI      
FINANCIAL COVENANTS      72   

Section 6.1.

   Leverage Ratio      72   

Section 6.2.

   Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio      72   
ARTICLE VII      
NEGATIVE COVENANTS      72   

Section 7.1.

   Indebtedness and Preferred Equity      72   

 

ii


Section 7.2.

   Liens      74   

Section 7.3.

   Fundamental Changes      75   

Section 7.4.

   Investments, Loans      76   

Section 7.5.

   Restricted Payments      78   

Section 7.6.

   Sale of Assets      78   

Section 7.7.

   Transactions with Affiliates      79   

Section 7.8.

   Restrictive Agreements      79   

Section 7.9.

   Sale and Leaseback Transactions      80   

Section 7.10.

   Hedging Transactions      80   

Section 7.11.

   Amendment to Material Documents      80   

Section 7.12.

   Accounting Changes      80   

Section 7.13.

   Government Regulation      80   
ARTICLE VIII      
EVENTS OF DEFAULT      81   

Section 8.1.

   Events of Default      81   

Section 8.2.

   Application of Proceeds from Collateral      83   
ARTICLE IX      
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT      84   

Section 9.1.

   Appointment of the Administrative Agent      84   

Section 9.2.

   Nature of Duties of the Administrative Agent      85   

Section 9.3.

   Lack of Reliance on the Administrative Agent      85   

Section 9.4.

   Certain Rights of the Administrative Agent      86   

Section 9.5.

   Reliance by the Administrative Agent      86   

Section 9.6.

   The Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity      86   

Section 9.7.

   Successor Administrative Agent      86   

Section 9.8.

   Withholding Tax      87   

Section 9.9.

   The Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim      88   

Section 9.10.

   Authorization to Execute Other Loan Documents      88   

Section 9.11.

   Collateral and Guaranty Matters      88   

Section 9.12.

   Documentation Agent; Syndication Agent      89   

Section 9.13.

   Right to Realize on Collateral and Enforce Guarantee      89   

Section 9.14.

   Secured Bank Product Obligations and Hedging Obligations      89   
ARTICLE X      
MISCELLANEOUS      90   

Section 10.1.

   Notices      90   

Section 10.2.

   Waiver; Amendments      92   

Section 10.3.

   Expenses; Indemnification      95   

Section 10.4.

   Successors and Assigns      97   

Section 10.5.

   Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process      100   

Section 10.6.

   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL      101   

Section 10.7.

   Right of Set-off      101   

Section 10.8.

   Counterparts; Integration      101   

Section 10.9.

   Survival      102   

Section 10.10.

   Severability      102   

Section 10.11.

   Confidentiality      102   

 

iii


Section 10.12.

   Interest Rate Limitation      103   

Section 10.13.

   Waiver of Effect of Corporate Seal      103   

Section 10.14.

   Patriot Act      103   

Section 10.15.

   No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility      103   

Section 10.16.

   Location of Closing      104   

 

iv


Schedules

 

  Schedule I       Commitment Amounts
  Schedule 4.5    -      Environmental Matters
  Schedule 4.14    -      Subsidiaries
  Schedule 5.14    -      Post-Closing Matters
  Schedule 7.1    -      Existing Indebtedness
  Schedule 7.2    -      Existing Liens
  Schedule 7.4    -      Existing Investments

Exhibits

 

  Exhibit A    -    Form of Assignment and Acceptance
  Exhibit B    -    Form of Guaranty and Security Agreement
  Exhibit 2.3    -    Form of Notice of Revolving Borrowing
  Exhibit 2.4    -    Form of Notice of Swingline Borrowing
  Exhibit 2.6    -    Form of Notice of Continuation/Conversion
  Exhibit 3.1(b)(ii)    -    Form of Secretary’s Certificate
  Exhibit 3.1(b)(v)    -    Form of Officer’s Certificate
  Exhibit 5.1(d)    -    Form of Compliance Certificate

 

v


REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of [              , 2013] , by and among FOX FACTORY HOLDING CORP., a Delaware corporation (“ FFH ”), FOX FACTORY, INC., a California corporation (“ FF ” and together with FFH, each a “ Borrower ” and, collectively, the “ Borrowers ”), the several banks and other financial institutions and lenders from time to time party hereto (the “ Lenders ”), SUNTRUST BANK, in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders (the “ Administrative Agent ”) and as swingline lender (the “ Swingline Lender ”) and SUNTRUST BANK, in its capacity as issuing bank and the other issuing banks from time to time party hereto (each, a “ Issuing Bank ”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Borrowers have requested that the Lenders establish a $60,000,000 revolving credit facility in favor of the Borrowers;

WHEREAS , subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Swingline Lender, to the extent of their respective Commitments as defined herein, are willing severally to establish the requested revolving credit facility, letter of credit subfacility and swingline subfacility in favor of the Borrowers;

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, the Borrowers, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Swingline Lender agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION

Section 1.1. Definitions . In addition to the other terms defined herein, the following terms used herein shall have the meanings herein specified (to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

Acquisition ” shall mean (a) any Investment by any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries in any other Person, pursuant to which such Person shall become a Subsidiary of any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries or shall be merged with any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries in which either Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries is the surviving Person, (b) any acquisition by any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries of the assets of any Person (other than a Subsidiary of FFH) that constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person or a division or business unit of such Person, whether through purchase, merger or other business combination or transaction. With respect to a determination of the amount of an Acquisition, such amount shall include all consideration (including any deferred payments) set forth in the applicable agreements governing such Acquisition as well as the assumption of any Indebtedness by any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries in connection therewith.

Additional Lender ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.22 .

Adjusted LIBO Rate ” shall mean, with respect to each Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing, the rate per annum obtained by dividing (i) LIBOR for such Interest Period by (ii) a percentage equal to 1.00 minus the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.


Administrative Agent ” shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph hereof.

Administrative Questionnaire ” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, an administrative questionnaire in the form provided by the Administrative Agent and submitted to the Administrative Agent duly completed by such Lender.

Affiliate ” shall mean, as to any Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such Person. For the purposes of this definition, “Control” shall mean the power, directly or indirectly, either to (i) vote 15% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of a Person or (ii) direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by control or otherwise. The terms “Controlled by” and “under common Control with” have the meanings correlative thereto.

Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount ” shall mean the aggregate principal amount of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments from time to time. On the Closing Date, the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount is $60,000,000.

Aggregate Revolving Commitments ” shall mean, collectively, all Revolving Commitments of all Lenders at any time outstanding.

Anti-Terrorism Order ” shall mean Executive Order 13224, signed by President George W. Bush on September 23, 2001.

Applicable Lending Office ” shall mean, for each Lender and for each Type of Loan, the “Lending Office” of such Lender (or an Affiliate of such Lender) designated for such Type of Loan in the Administrative Questionnaire submitted by such Lender or such other office of such Lender (or such Affiliate of such Lender) as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative as the office by which its Loans of such Type are to be made and maintained.

Applicable Margin ” shall mean, as of any date, with respect to interest on all Loans outstanding on such date or the letter of credit fee, as the case may be, the percentage per annum determined by reference to the applicable Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio in effect on such date as set forth in the pricing grid below (the “ Pricing Grid ”); provided that a change in the Applicable Margin resulting from a change in the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio shall be effective on the second Business Day after the Borrower Representative delivers each of the financial statements required by Section 5.1(a ) and ( b ) and the Compliance Certificate required by Section 5.1(d ); provided , further , that if at any time the Borrower Representative shall have failed to deliver such financial statements and such Compliance Certificate within 2 Business Days after the date when so required, the Applicable Margin shall be at Level I as set forth in the Pricing Grid until such time as such financial statements and Compliance Certificate are delivered, at which time the Applicable Margin shall be determined as provided above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable Margin from the Closing Date until the date that is 180 days after the Closing Date shall be no lower than Level III as set forth in the Pricing Grid. In the event that any financial statement or Compliance Certificate delivered hereunder is shown to be inaccurate (regardless of whether this Agreement or the Commitments are in effect when such inaccuracy is discovered), and such inaccuracy, if corrected, would have led to the application of a higher Applicable Margin based upon the Pricing Grid (the “ Accurate Applicable Margin ”) for any period that such financial statement or Compliance Certificate covered, then (i) the Borrower Representative shall immediately deliver to the Administrative Agent a correct financial statement or Compliance Certificate, as the case may be, for such period, (ii) the Applicable Margin shall be adjusted such that after giving

 

2


effect to the corrected financial statement or Compliance Certificate, as the case may be, the Applicable Margin shall be reset to the Accurate Applicable Margin based upon the Pricing Grid for such period and (iii) the Borrowers shall within one (1) Business Day of demand therefor by the Administrative Agent pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders, the accrued additional interest owing as a result of such Accurate Applicable Margin for such period. The provisions of this definition shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to Section 2.12(c) or Article VIII .

Pricing Grid

 

Pricing

Level

  

Consolidated Net

Leverage Ratio

   Applicable
Margin for
Eurodollar
Loans
  Applicable
Margin for
Base Rate
Loans
  Applicable
Percentage
for
Commitment
Fee

I

   Greater than or equal to 2.25:1.00    2.50%

per annum

  1.50%

per annum

  0.30%

per annum

II

   Less than 2.25:1.00 but greater than or equal to 1.50:1.00    2.00%

per annum

  1.00%

per annum

  0.25%

per annum

III

   Less than 1.50:1.00 but greater than or equal to 0.75:1.00    1.75%

per annum

  0.75%

per annum

  0.20%

per annum

IV

   Less than 0.75:1.00    1.50%

per annum

  0.50%

per annum

  0.20%

per annum

Applicable Percentage ” shall mean, as of any date, with respect to the commitment fee as of such date, the percentage per annum determined by reference to the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio in effect on such date as set forth in the Pricing Grid; provided that a change in the Applicable Percentage resulting from a change in the Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio shall be effective on the second Business Day after which the Borrower Representative delivers each of the financial statements required by Section 5.1(a ) and ( b ) and the Compliance Certificate required by Section 5.1(d ); provided , further , that if at any time the Borrower Representative shall have failed to deliver such financial statements and such Compliance Certificate within 2 Business Days after the date when so required, the Applicable Percentage shall be at Level I as set forth in the Pricing Grid until such time as such financial statements and Compliance Certificate are delivered, at which time the Applicable Percentage shall be determined as provided above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable Percentage for the commitment fee from the Closing Date until the date that is 180 days after the Closing Date shall be no lower than Level III as set forth in the Pricing Grid. In the event that any financial statement or Compliance Certificate delivered hereunder is shown to be inaccurate (regardless of whether this Agreement or the Commitments are in effect when such inaccuracy is discovered), and such inaccuracy, if corrected, would have led to the application of a higher Applicable Percentage based upon the Pricing Grid (the “ Accurate Applicable Percentage ”) for any period that such financial statement or Compliance Certificate covered, then (i) the Borrower Representative shall immediately deliver to the Administrative Agent a correct financial statement or Compliance Certificate, as the case may be, for such period, (ii) the Applicable Percentage shall be adjusted such that after giving effect to the corrected financial statement or Compliance Certificate, as the case may be, the Applicable Percentage shall be reset to the Accurate Applicable Percentage based upon the Pricing Grid for such period and (iii) the Borrowers shall within one (1) Business Day of demand therefor by the Administrative Agent pay to the Administrative Agent,

 

3


for the account of the Lenders, the accrued additional commitment fee owing as a result of such Accurate Applicable Percentage for such period. The provisions of this definition shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to Section 2.12(c) or Article VIII .

Approved Fund ” shall mean any Person (other than a natural Person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (i) a Lender, (ii) an Affiliate of a Lender or (iii) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

Assignment and Acceptance ” shall mean an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.4(b) ) and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto or any other substantially similar form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Authorized Representative ” shall mean Zvi Glassman, John Blocher and such other representatives of the Borrower Representative identified in writing by a Responsible Officer of Borrower Representative from time to time.

Availability Period shall mean the period from the Closing Date to but excluding the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.

Bank Product Obligations ” shall mean, collectively, all obligations and other liabilities of any Loan Party to any Bank Product Provider arising with respect to any Bank Products pursuant to or evidenced by an agreement to provide such Bank Products.

Bank Product Provider ” shall mean any Person that, at the time it provides any Bank Product to any Loan Party, (i) is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender and (ii) except when the Bank Product Provider is SunTrust Bank and its Affiliates, has provided prior written notice to the Administrative Agent which has been acknowledged by the Borrower Representative of (x) the existence of such Bank Product, (y) the maximum dollar amount of obligations arising thereunder (the “ Bank Product Amount ”) and (z) the methodology to be used by such parties in determining the obligations under such Bank Product from time to time. In no event shall any Bank Product Provider acting in such capacity be deemed a Lender for purposes hereof to the extent of and as to Bank Products except that each reference to the term “Lender” in Article IX and Section 10.3(b) shall be deemed to include such Bank Product Provider and in no event shall the approval of any such Person in its capacity as Bank Product Provider be required in connection with the release or termination of any security interest or Lien of the Administrative Agent. The Bank Product Amount may be changed from time to time upon written notice to the Administrative Agent by the applicable Bank Product Provider which has been acknowledged by the Borrower Representative. No Bank Product Amount may be established at any time that a Default or Event of Default exists.

Bank Products ” shall mean any of the following services provided to any Loan Party by any Bank Product Provider: (a) any treasury or other cash management services, including deposit accounts, automated clearing house (ACH) origination and other funds transfer, depository (including cash vault and check deposit), zero balance accounts and sweeps, return items processing, controlled disbursement accounts, positive pay, lockboxes and lockbox accounts, account reconciliation and information reporting, payables outsourcing, payroll processing, trade finance services, investment accounts and securities accounts, and (b) card services, including credit cards (including purchasing cards and commercial cards), prepaid cards, including payroll, stored value and gift cards, merchant services processing, and debit card services.

 

4


Base Rate ” shall mean the highest of (i) the rate which the Administrative Agent announces from time to time as its prime lending rate, as in effect from time to time, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate, as in effect from time to time, plus one-half of one percent (0.50%) per annum and (iii) the Adjusted LIBO Rate determined on a daily basis for an Interest Period of one (1) month, plus one percent (1.00%)  per annum (any changes in such rates identified in clauses (i) and (ii) to be effective as of the date of any change in such rate). The Administrative Agent’s prime lending rate is a reference rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest or best rate actually charged to any customer. The Administrative Agent may make commercial loans or other loans at rates of interest at, above, or below the Administrative Agent’s prime lending rate.

Borrower Representative ” shall mean FFH.

Borrower ” and “ Borrowers ” shall have the meanings set forth in the introductory paragraph hereof.

Borrowing ” shall mean a borrowing consisting of (i) Loans of the same Class and Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect, or (ii) a Swingline Loan.

Business Day ” shall mean any day other than (i) a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in Atlanta, Georgia are authorized or required by law to close and (ii) if such day relates to a Borrowing of, a payment or prepayment of principal or interest on, a conversion of or into, or an Interest Period for, a Eurodollar Loan or a notice with respect to any of the foregoing, any day on which banks are not open for dealings in Dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

Capital Expenditures ” shall mean, for any period, without duplication, the additions to property, plant and equipment and other capital expenditures of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries that are (or would be) set forth on a consolidated statement of cash flows of the Borrowers for such period prepared in accordance with GAAP, excluding (i) any expenditure to the extent such expenditure is part of the aggregate amounts payable in connection with, or other consideration for, any Permitted Acquisition consummated during or prior to such period, (ii) expenditures made in connection with the replacement, substitution, restoration or repair of assets to the extent financed with (x) insurance proceeds paid on account of the loss of or damage to the assets being replaced, restored or repaired, or (y) awards of compensation arising from the taking by eminent domain or condemnation of the assets being replaced, (iii) the purchase price of equipment that is purchased substantially contemporaneously with the trade-in of existing equipment to the extent that the gross amount of such purchase price is reduced by the credit granted by the seller of such equipment for the equipment being traded in at such time, (iv) the purchase of property, plant or equipment to the extent financed with the proceeds of any dispositions of assets or property not prohibited hereunder, (v) any expenditures which are contractually required to be, and are, advanced or reimbursed to the Loan Parties in cash by a third party (including landlords) during such period of calculation, and (vi) the purchase price of equipment purchased during such period to the extent the consideration consists of any combination of (A) used or surplus equipment traded in at the time of such purchase and (B) the proceeds of a concurrent sale of used or surplus equipment, in each case, in the ordinary course of business.

Capital Lease Obligations ” of any Person shall mean all obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) of real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

5


Capital Stock ” shall mean all shares, options, warrants, general or limited partnership interests, membership interests or other equivalents (regardless of how designated) of or in a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or equivalent entity whether voting or nonvoting, including common stock, preferred stock or any other “equity security” (as such term is defined in Rule 3a11-1 of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act).

Cash Collateralize ” shall mean, in respect of any Obligations, to provide and pledge (as a first priority perfected security interest) cash collateral for such Obligations in Dollars with the Administrative Agent pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or, if the Administrative Agent shall agree in its sole discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (and “ Cash Collateralized ” and “ Cash Collateralization ” have the corresponding meanings).

Change in Control ” shall mean the occurrence of one or more of the following events: (i) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the either Borrower to any Person or “group” (within the meaning of the Exchange Act and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder in effect on the date hereof) other than pursuant to a transaction between FF and another Loan Party (other than FFH) that is expressly permitted hereunder or approved by the Required Lenders in accordance herewith, (ii) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or “group” (within the meaning of the Exchange Act and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder as in effect on the date hereof but excluding any Permitted Holder of 30% or more of the outstanding shares of the voting equity interests of FFH, (iii) FFH ceases to own and control, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record 100% of the outstanding shares of the voting equity of FF or (iv) during any period of 24 consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of either Borrower cease to be composed of individuals who are Continuing Directors.

Change in Law ” shall mean (i) the adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation after the date of this Agreement, (ii) any change in any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change in the interpretation, implementation or application thereof, by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement, or (iii) compliance by any Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) or any Issuing Bank (or, for purposes of Section 2.17(b ), by the Parent Company of such Lender or such Issuing Bank, if applicable) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement; provided that for purposes of this Agreement, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

Class ”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or each of the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is a Revolving Loan, or a Swingline Loan and, when used in reference to any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is a Revolving Commitment or a Swingline Commitment.

Closing Date ” shall mean the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.1 have been satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.2 .

 

6


Closing Date IPO ” shall mean the issuance by FFH of its common Capital Stock in an underwritten primary public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement (on Form S-1) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with the Securities Act.

Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time.

Collateral ” shall mean all tangible and intangible personal property of any Loan Party that is or purports to be the subject of a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent pursuant to any Collateral Document to secure the whole or any part of the Obligations or any Guarantee thereof, and shall include, without limitation, all casualty insurance proceeds and condemnation awards with respect to any of the foregoing as provided for in the applicable Collateral Documents.

Collateral Access Agreement ” shall mean each landlord waiver or bailee agreement granted to, and in form and substance reasonably acceptable to, the Administrative Agent.

Collateral Documents ” shall mean, collectively, the Guaranty and Security Agreement, the Control Account Agreements, the Perfection Certificate, all Copyright Security Agreements, all Patent Security Agreements, all Trademark Security Agreements, all Collateral Access Agreements, and all other instruments and agreements now or hereafter securing or perfecting the Liens securing the whole or any part of the Obligations or any Guarantee thereof, all UCC financing statements, fixture filings and stock powers, and all other documents, instruments, agreements and certificates executed and delivered by any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the foregoing.

Commitment ” shall mean a Revolving Commitment or a Swingline Commitment or any combination thereof (as the context shall permit or require).

Commodity Exchange Act ” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

Compliance Certificate ” shall mean a certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Borrower Representative in substantially the form of, and containing the certifications set forth in, the certificate attached hereto as Exhibit 5.1(d) .

Consolidated EBITDA ” shall mean, for the Borrower Representative and its Subsidiaries for any period, an amount equal to the sum of (i) Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (ii) to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, and without duplication, (A) Consolidated Interest Expense, (B) tax expense (including based upon income, profits, or capital, including franchise, federal, foreign, local, excise, state, and similar taxes and including withholding taxes paid or accrued during such period (including, without limitation, in respect of repatriated funds)) determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, (C) depreciation and amortization determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, (D) to the extent not included in Consolidated Net Income, any cash, dividend or distribution received by either Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries with respect to the equity interests of any Person that is not a subsidiary, (E) transaction costs and expenses paid in cash in connection with the Borrowers’ initial public offering in an aggregate amount not to exceed $7,500,000, (F) fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement, provided that the aggregate amount of such fees, costs, and expenses incurred prior to the Closing Date shall not exceed $1,000,000, (G) non-cash charges, including goodwill, asset and other impairment charges, losses on early extinguishment of debt, write-downs of deferred financing costs and unamortized loan origination costs, (H) to the extent relating to any period prior to the Closing Date, the amount of management, monitoring, consulting and advisory fees, indemnities and related expenses paid or accrued in such period to (or on behalf of) direct or indirect equity holders of Borrowers (including any

 

7


termination fees payable in connection with the early termination of management and monitoring agreements), (I) non-cash compensation expense (including deferred non-cash compensation expense), stock option or restricted stock expense, and/or other non-cash expenses or charges arising from the sale or issuance of stock options and/or the granting of stock appreciation rights or similar arrangements (including any repricing, amendment, modification, substitution, or change of any such stock option, stock appreciation rights, or similar arrangements), (J) transaction costs, fees, losses and expenses in connection with the sale of Capital Stock, the incurrence of permitted indebtedness, permitted acquisitions, investments, and dispositions after the Closing Date, provided that the amount attributable to this section (J) shall not exceed $5,000,000 in any four quarter period; provided further that, for purposes of calculating compliance with the financial covenants, to the extent that during such period any Borrower or Subsidiary of a Borrower shall have consummated a Permitted Acquisition or other Acquisition approved in writing by the Required Lenders, or any sale, transfer or other disposition of any Person, business, property or assets, Consolidated EBITDA shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis with respect to such Person, business, property or assets so acquired or disposed of.

Consolidated Fixed Charges ” shall mean, for the Borrower Representative and its Subsidiaries for any period, the sum (without duplication) of (i) Consolidated Interest Expense paid in cash for such period, and (ii) scheduled principal payments made on Consolidated Total Indebtedness during such period .

Consolidated Interest Expense ” shall mean, for the Borrower Representative and its Subsidiaries for any period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, the sum of (i) total interest expense, including, without limitation, the interest component of any payments in respect of Capital Lease Obligations, capitalized or expensed during such period (whether or not actually paid during such period) plus (ii) the net amount payable (or minus the net amount receivable) with respect to Hedging Transactions during such period (whether or not actually paid or received during such period).

Consolidated Net Income ” shall mean, for the Borrower Representative and its Subsidiaries for any period, the net income (or loss) of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income (to the extent otherwise included therein) (i) any extraordinary gains or losses, (ii) any gains or losses attributable to write-ups (or write-downs) of assets or the sale of assets (other than the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business), (iii) any equity interest of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary of the Borrowers in the unremitted earnings of any Person that is not a Subsidiary and (iv) any income (or loss) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with any Borrower or any Subsidiary or the date that such Person’s assets are acquired by any Borrower or any Subsidiary.

Consolidated Net Leverage Ratio ” shall mean, as of any date, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Total Indebtedness minus cash and cash equivalents in which the Administrative Agent has a first priority Lien (subject to Permitted Encumbrances) and which are in Controlled Accounts to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA for the four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on or immediately prior to such date for which financial statements are required to have been delivered under this Agreement.

Consolidated Net Worth ” shall mean, as of any date, the consolidated stockholders’ equity of the Borrower Representative and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis as of such time, determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Total Indebtedness ” shall mean, as of any date, all Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower Representative and its Subsidiaries measured on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as of such date, but excluding Indebtedness of the type described in subsection (xi) of the definition thereto.

 

8


Continuing Director ” shall mean, with respect to any period, any individuals (A) who were members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of FFH on the first day of such period, (B) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (A) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body, or (C) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (A) and (B) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body (excluding, in the case of both clauses (B) and (C), any individual whose initial nomination for, or assumption of office as, a member of that board or equivalent governing body occurs as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents for the election or removal of one or more directors by any Person or group other than a solicitation for the election of one or more directors by or on behalf of the board of directors).

Contractual Obligation ” of any Person shall mean any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or undertaking under which such Person is obligated or by which it or any of the property in which it has an interest is bound other than the Obligations.

Control Account Agreement ” shall mean any tri-party agreement by and among a Loan Party, the Administrative Agent and a depositary bank or securities intermediary at which such Loan Party maintains a Controlled Account, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Controlled Account ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.10 .

Copyright ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Guaranty and Security Agreement.

Copyright Security Agreement ” shall mean any Copyright Security Agreement executed by a Loan Party owning registered Copyrights or applications for Copyrights in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, both on the Closing Date and thereafter.

Default ” shall mean any condition or event that, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

Default Interest ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.12(c ).

Defaulting Lender ” shall mean, at any time, subject to Section 2.25(b) , (i) any Lender that has failed for two (2) or more Business Days to comply with its obligations under this Agreement to make a Loan, to make a payment to any Issuing Bank in respect of a Letter of Credit or to the Swingline Lender in respect of a Swingline Loan or to make any other payment due hereunder (each a “ funding obligation ”), unless such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding has not been satisfied (which conditions precedent, together with any applicable Default, will be specifically identified in such writing), (ii) any Lender that has notified the Administrative Agent in writing, or has stated publicly, that it does not intend to comply with any such funding obligation hereunder, unless such writing or public statement states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding cannot be satisfied (which conditions precedent, together with any applicable Default, will be specifically identified in such writing or public statement), (iii) any Lender that has, for three (3) or more Business Days after written request of the Administrative Agent or the Borrower Representative, failed to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder ( provided that such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this

 

9


clause (iii) upon the Administrative Agent’s and the Borrower Representative’s receipt of such written confirmation), or (iv) any Lender with respect to which a Lender Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender will be conclusive and binding, absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.25(b) ) upon notification of such determination by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower Representative, the Issuing Banks, the Swingline Lender and the Lenders.

Disqualified Competitor ” means any direct competitor of the Borrowers or their Subsidiaries as may be mutually agreed to by the Sole Lead Arranger and the Borrowers, in each case, identified in writing to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the Closing Date; provided , that after the Closing Date, the Borrowers, with the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) shall be permitted to supplement such list of competitors (such list, as so supplemented from time to time, the “ Disqualified Competitor List ”) in the Compliance Certificate.

Disqualified Competitor List ” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of “Disqualified Competitor”.

Dollar(s) ” and the sign “ $ ” shall mean lawful money of the United States.

Domestic Subsidiary ” shall mean each Subsidiary of the Borrowers that is organized under the laws of the United States or any state or district thereof.

Environmental Laws ” shall mean all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Authority relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.

Environmental Liability ” shall mean any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental investigation and remediation, costs of administrative oversight, fines, natural resource damages, penalties or indemnities), of any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (i) any actual or alleged violation of any Environmental Law, (ii) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (iii) any actual or alleged exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (iv) the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials or (v) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

Equity Consideration ” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of “Permitted Acquisition”.

ERISA ” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended and in effect from time to time, and any successor statute thereto and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.

ERISA Affiliate ” shall mean any Person that for purposes of Title I or Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code would be deemed at any relevant time to be a “single employer” or otherwise aggregated with any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.

ERISA Event ” shall mean (i) any “reportable event” as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA with respect to a Plan (other than an event as to which the PBGC has waived the thirty (30)-day

 

10


requirement of Section 4043(a) of ERISA that it be notified of such event); (ii) any failure to make a required contribution to any Plan that is not cured within 30 days and that would result in the imposition of a lien or other encumbrance or the provision of security under Section 430 of the Code or Section 303 or 4068 of ERISA, or the arising of such a lien or encumbrance, there being or arising any “unpaid minimum required contribution” or “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined or otherwise set forth in Section 4971 of the Code or Part 3 of Subtitle B of Title 1 of ERISA), whether or not waived, or any filing of any request for or receipt of a minimum funding waiver under Section 412 of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA with respect to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan, or that such filing may be made, or any determination that any Plan is, or is expected to be, in at-risk status under Title IV of ERISA; (iii) any incurrence by any Borrower, any of their Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan (other than for premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iv) any institution of proceedings, or the occurrence of an event or condition which would reasonably be expected to constitute grounds for the institution of proceedings by the PBGC, under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan; (v) any incurrence by any Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan, or the receipt by any Borrower, any of their Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates of any notice that a Multiemployer Plan is in endangered or critical status under Section 305 of ERISA; (vi) any receipt by any Borrower, any of their Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates of any notice, or any receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from any Borrower, any of their Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA; (vii) any Borrower, any of their Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates engaging in a non-exempt prohibited transaction within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA; or (viii) any filing of a notice of intent to terminate any Plan if such termination would require material additional contributions in order to be considered a standard termination within the meaning of Section 4041(b) of ERISA, any filing under Section 4041(c) of ERISA of a notice of intent to terminate any Plan, or the termination of any Plan under Section 4041(c) of ERISA.

Eurodollar ”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

Eurodollar Reserve Percentage ” shall mean the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including, without limitation, any emergency, supplemental, special or other marginal reserves) expressed as a decimal (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) in effect on any day to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate pursuant to regulations issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions) with respect to eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “eurocurrency liabilities” under Regulation D). Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without the benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under Regulation D. The Eurodollar Reserve Percentage shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

Event of Default ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.1 .

Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect from time to time.

 

11


Excluded Taxes ” shall mean, with respect to any Recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrowers hereunder, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its Applicable Lending Office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, and (b) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes that (i) are imposed on amounts payable to such Recipient pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which such Recipient becomes a Recipient under this Agreement (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrowers under Section 2.24 ) or designates a new lending office, except in each case to the extent that amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either (A) to such Recipient’s assignor immediately before such Recipient became a Recipient under this Agreement, or (B) to such Recipient immediately before it designated a new lending office, (ii) are attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.19(f) , or (iii) are imposed as a result of a failure by such Recipient to satisfy the conditions for avoiding withholding under FATCA.

Excluded Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Guarantor of , or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) (a) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder at the time the Guarantee of such Guarantor or the grant of such security interest becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or (b) in the case of a Swap Obligation subject to a clearing requirement pursuant to Section 2(h) of the Commodity Exchange Act (or any successor provision thereto), because such Guarantor is a “financial entity,” as defined in Section 2(h)(7)(C)(i) the Commodity Exchange Act (or any successor provision thereto), at the time the Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor becomes or would become effective with respect to such related Swap Obligation. If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.

Existing Credit Agreement ” shall mean that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of January 4, 2008, by and among the Borrowers, and Compass Group Diversified Holdings, LLC, as the Lender, as amended or modified from time to time.

Existing Lender ” shall mean Compass Group Diversified Holdings, LLC.

FATCA ” shall mean Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code as of the date of this Agreement, any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b) of the Code.

Federal Funds Rate ” shall mean, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with member banks of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the next succeeding Business Day or, if such rate is not so published for any Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by the Administrative Agent.

Fee Letter ” shall mean that certain fee letter, dated as of June 14, 2013, executed by SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. and SunTrust Bank and accepted by the Borrowers.

 

12


Fiscal Quarter ” shall mean any fiscal quarter of the Borrowers.

Fiscal Year ” shall mean any fiscal year of the Borrowers.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” shall mean, as of any date, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA minus Unfinanced Cash Capital Expenditures minus tax expense (including based upon income, profits, or capital, including franchise, federal, foreign, local, excise, state, and similar taxes and including withholding taxes paid or accrued during such period (including, without limitation, in respect of repatriated funds)) determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP to (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges, in each case measured for the four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on or immediately prior to such date for which financial statements are required to have been delivered under this Agreement.

Foreign Person ” shall mean any Person that is not a U.S. Person.

Foreign Subsidiary ” shall mean each Subsidiary of the Borrowers that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than one of the fifty states of the United States or the District of Columbia.

GAAP ” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis and subject to the terms of Section 1.3 .

[“German Acquisition”] shall mean the Acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of [              ].

Governmental Authority ” shall mean the government of the United States, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

Guarantee ” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) shall mean any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of rendering such person liable for any Indebtedness or other monetary obligation of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly and including any obligation, direct or indirect, of the guarantor (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (iv) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued in support of such Indebtedness or obligation; provided that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business or product warranties given in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not so stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as determined by such Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

Guarantor ” shall mean each of the Subsidiary Loan Parties.

 

13


Guaranty and Security Agreement ” shall mean the Guaranty and Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof and substantially in the form of Exhibit B , made by the Loan Parties in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

Hazardous Materials ” shall mean all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law but excluding substances of kinds and in amounts ordinarily and customarily used or stored for the purposes of cleaning or other maintenance or operations and otherwise in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws.

Hedging Obligations ” of any Person shall mean any and all obligations of such Person, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired under (i) any and all Hedging Transactions, (ii) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any Hedging Transactions and (iii) any and all renewals, extensions and modifications of any Hedging Transactions and any and all substitutions for any Hedging Transactions.

Hedging Transaction ” of any Person shall mean (a) any transaction (including an agreement with respect to any such transaction) now existing or hereafter entered into by such Person that is a rate swap transaction, swap option, basis swap, forward rate transaction, commodity swap, commodity option, equity or equity index swap or option, bond option, interest rate option, foreign exchange transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction, collar transaction, currency swap transaction, cross-currency rate swap transaction, currency option, spot transaction, credit protection transaction, credit swap, credit default swap, credit default option, total return swap, credit spread transaction, repurchase transaction, reverse repurchase transaction, buy/sell-back transaction, securities lending transaction, or any other similar transaction (including any option with respect to any of these transactions) or any combination thereof, whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “ Master Agreement ”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

Increasing Lender ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.22 .

Incremental Commitment ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.22 .

Incremental Revolving Commitment ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.22 .

Indebtedness ” of any Person shall mean, without duplication, (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business and contingent obligations incurred in connection with Permitted Acquisitions so long as the performance conditions with respect thereto have not been satisfied and the amount payable with respect thereto has not been fixed), (iv) all obligations of such Person under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement(s) relating to property acquired by such Person, (v) all Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligation of such Person, (vi) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of letters of credit, acceptances or similar extensions of credit, (vii) all Guarantees of such Person of the type of Indebtedness described in clauses (i) through (vi) above, (viii) all Indebtedness of a third party secured by

 

14


any Lien on property owned by such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness has been assumed by such Person, (ix) all mandatory obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value any Capital Stock of such Person on or prior to the date that is 180 days following the Revolving Commitment Termination Date (other than any contingent obligation to repurchase Capital Stock of any future, present or former employee, director, officer or consultant (or any Affiliates, spouses, former spouses, other immediate family members, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees or distributees of any of the foregoing) of FHH and its Subsidiaries upon the death, disability, retirement or termination of employment of any such Person or otherwise pursuant to any employee, management or director equity plan, employee, management or director stock option plan or any other employee, management or director benefit plan or any agreement with any employee, director, officer or consultant of FHH and its Subsidiaries) and (x) all Hedging Obligations. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, except to the extent that the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

Indemnified Taxes ” shall mean Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document.

Information Memorandum ” shall mean the Confidential Information Memorandum dated June 2013 relating to the Borrowers and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Initial Funding Date ” shall mean the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.2 and Section 3.3 have been satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.2 .

Interest Period shall mean with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, a period of one, two, three or six months; provided that:

(i) the initial Interest Period for such Borrowing shall commence on the date of such Borrowing (including the date of any conversion from a Borrowing of another Type), and each Interest Period occurring thereafter in respect of such Borrowing shall commence on the day on which the next preceding Interest Period expires;

(ii) if any Interest Period would otherwise end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period would end on the next preceding Business Day;

(iii) any Interest Period which begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of such calendar month; and

(v) no Interest Period may extend beyond the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.

Investment Grade Rating ” means a rating equal to or higher than Aa (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and AA (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by Fitch, Inc.

Investments ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.4 .

 

15


Issuing Banks ” shall have the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph hereof provided that any Lender (other than SunTrust Bank) that the Borrowers wish to designate as an Issuing Bank hereunder shall be acceptable to the Administrative Agent and shall have executed and delivered a joinder to this Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers.

LC Commitment ” shall mean that portion of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments that may be used by the Borrowers for the issuance of Letters of Credit in an aggregate face amount not to exceed $10,000,000.

LC Disbursement ” shall mean a payment made by any Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

LC Documents ” shall mean all applications, agreements and instruments relating to the Letters of Credit but excluding the Letters of Credit.

LC Exposure ” shall mean, at any time, the sum of (i) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time, plus (ii) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrowers or converted to a Revolving Loan at such time. The LC Exposure of any Lender shall be its Pro Rata Share of the total LC Exposure at such time.

Lender Insolvency Event ” shall mean that (i) a Lender or its Parent Company is insolvent, or is generally unable to pay its debts as they become due, or admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due, or makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, (ii) a Lender or its Parent Company is the subject of a bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation or similar proceeding, or a receiver, trustee, conservator, custodian or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such capacity, has been appointed for such Lender or its Parent Company, or such Lender or its Parent Company has taken any action in furtherance of or indicating its consent to or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment, or (iii) a Lender or its Parent Company has been adjudicated as, or determined by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Person or its assets to be, insolvent; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, a Lender Insolvency Event shall not be deemed to have occurred solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in or control of a Lender or a Parent Company thereof by a Governmental Authority or an instrumentality thereof so long as such ownership or acquisition does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender.

Lender-Related Hedge Provider ” shall mean any Person that, at the time it enters into a Hedging Transaction with any Loan Party, (i) is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender and (ii) except when the Lender-Related Hedge Provider is SunTrust Bank or any of its Affiliates, has provided prior written notice to the Administrative Agent which has been acknowledged by the Borrower Representative of (x) the existence of such Hedging Transaction and (y) the methodology to be used by such parties in determining the obligations under such Hedging Transaction from time to time. In no event shall any Lender-Related Hedge Provider acting in such capacity be deemed a Lender for purposes hereof to the extent of and as to Hedging Obligations except that each reference to the term “Lender” in Article IX and Section 10.3(b) shall be deemed to include such Lender-Related Hedge Provider. In no event shall the approval of any such Person in its capacity as Lender-Related Hedge Provider be required in connection with the release or termination of any security interest or Lien of the Administrative Agent.

 

16


Lenders ” shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph hereof and shall include, where appropriate, the Swingline Lender, each Increasing Lender and each Additional Lender that joins this Agreement pursuant to Section 2.22 .

Letter of Credit ” shall mean any stand-by letter of credit issued pursuant to Section 2.21 by any Issuing Bank for the account of any Borrower pursuant to the LC Commitment.

Leverage Ratio ” shall mean, as of any date, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Total Indebtedness as of such date to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA for the four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on or immediately prior to such date for which financial statements are required to have been delivered under this Agreement.

LIBOR ” shall mean, for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Borrowing, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) appearing on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or any successor page) as the London interbank offered rate for Dollar deposits at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London, England time) two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period for a term comparable to such Interest Period. If for any reason such rate is not available, LIBOR for such Interest Period shall be the rate per annum reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent as the rate of interest at which Dollar deposits in the approximate amount of the Eurodollar Loans comprising part of such Borrowing would be offered by the Administrative Agent to major banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market at their request at or about 10:00 a.m. two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period for a term comparable to such Interest Period.

Lien ” shall mean any mortgage, pledge, security interest, lien (statutory or otherwise), charge, encumbrance, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, or other arrangement having the practical effect of any of the foregoing or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement and any capital lease having the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

Loan Documents ” shall mean, collectively, this Agreement, the Collateral Documents, the LC Documents, the Fee Letter, all Notices of Borrowing, all Notices of Continuation/Conversion, all Compliance Certificates, any promissory notes issued hereunder and any and all other instruments, agreements, documents and writings executed in connection with any of the foregoing.

Loan Parties ” shall mean the Borrowers and the Subsidiary Loan Parties.

Loans ” shall mean all Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans in the aggregate or any of them, as the context shall require, and shall include, where appropriate, any loan made pursuant to Section 2.22 .

Material Adverse Effect ” shall mean, with respect to any event, act, condition or occurrence of whatever nature (including any adverse determination in any litigation, arbitration, or governmental investigation or proceeding), whether singularly or in conjunction with any other event or events, act or acts, condition or conditions, occurrence or occurrences whether or not related, resulting in a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect on, (i) the business, financial condition, assets or liabilities of the Borrower Representative and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform any of their respective material obligations under the Loan Documents, (iii) any material rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, the Swingline Lender or the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents or (iv) the legality, validity or enforceability of any material provision of the Loan Documents.

 

17


Material Indebtedness ” shall mean any Indebtedness (other than the Loans and the Letters of Credit of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries individually or in an aggregate committed or outstanding principal amount exceeding $10,000,000. For purposes of determining the amount of attributed Indebtedness from Hedging Obligations, the “principal amount” of any Hedging Obligations at any time shall be the Net Mark-to-Market Exposure of such Hedging Obligations.

Moody’s ” shall mean Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

Multiemployer Plan ” shall mean any “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, which is contributed to by (or to which there is or may be an obligation to contribute of) any Borrower, any of their Subsidiaries or an ERISA Affiliate, and each such plan for the five-year period immediately following the latest date on which any Borrower, any of their Subsidiaries or an ERISA Affiliate contributed to or had an obligation to contribute to such plan.

Net Mark-to-Market Exposure ” of any Person shall mean, as of any date of determination with respect to any Hedging Obligation, the excess (if any) of all unrealized losses over all unrealized profits of such Person arising from such Hedging Obligation. “Unrealized losses” shall mean the fair market value of the cost to such Person of replacing the Hedging Transaction giving rise to such Hedging Obligation as of the date of determination (assuming such Hedging Transaction were to be terminated as of that date), and “unrealized profits” shall mean the fair market value of the gain to such Person of replacing such Hedging Transaction as of the date of determination (assuming such Hedging Transaction were to be terminated as of that date).

Non-Defaulting Lender ” shall mean, at any time, a Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender.

Non-Public Information ” shall mean any material non-public information (within the meaning of United States federal and state securities laws) with respect to the Borrowers, their Affiliates or any of their securities or loans.

Non-U.S. Plan ” shall mean any plan, fund (including, without limitation, any superannuation fund) or other similar program established, contributed to (regardless of whether through direct contributions or through employee withholding) or maintained outside the United States by any Borrower or one or more of their Subsidiaries primarily for the benefit of employees of such Borrower or such Subsidiaries residing outside the United States, which plan, fund or other similar program provides, or results in, retirement income, a deferral of income in contemplation of retirement, or payments to be made upon termination of employment, and which plan is not subject to ERISA or the Code.

Notices of Borrowing ” shall mean, collectively, the Notices of Revolving Borrowing and the Notices of Swingline Borrowing.

Notice of Continuation/Conversion ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(b) .

Notice of Revolving Borrowing ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3 .

Notice of Swingline Borrowing ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4 .

Obligations ” shall mean (a) all amounts owing by the Loan Parties to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Lender (including the Swingline Lender) or the Sole Lead Arranger pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit including, without limitation, all principal, interest (including any interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like

 

18


proceeding relating to the Borrowers, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnification and reimbursement payments, reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including all reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and any Lender (including the Swingline Lender) in each case, to the extent payable by any Loan Party pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document), whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, now existing or hereafter arising hereunder or thereunder, (b) all Hedging Obligations owed by any Loan Party to any Lender-Related Hedge Provider, and (c) all Bank Product Obligations, together with all renewals, extensions, modifications or refinancings of any of the foregoing provided , however , that the definition of ‘Obligations’ shall not create any guarantee by any Guarantor of (or grant of security interest by any Guarantor to support, as applicable) any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Guarantor for purposes of determining any obligations of any Guarantor.

OFAC ” shall mean the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

OSHA ” shall mean the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended and in effect from time to time, and any successor statute thereto.

Other Connection Taxes ” shall mean, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

Other Taxes ” shall mean any and all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery, performance or enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment.

Parent Company ” shall mean, with respect to a Lender, the “bank holding company” as defined in Regulation Y, if any, of such Lender, and/or any Person owning, beneficially or of record, directly or indirectly, a majority of the shares of such Lender.

Participant ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.4(d ).

Patent ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Guaranty and Security Agreement.

Patent Security Agreement ” shall mean any Patent Security Agreement executed by a Loan Party owning Patents or licenses of Patents in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, both on the Closing Date and thereafter.

Patriot Act ” shall mean the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-177 (signed into law March 9, 2006)), as amended and in effect from time to time.

Payment Office ” shall mean the office of the Administrative Agent located at 303 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308, or such other location as to which the Administrative Agent shall have given written notice to the Borrower Representative and the other Lenders.

 

19


PBGC ” shall mean the U.S. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA, and any successor entity performing similar functions.

Perfection Certificate ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Guaranty and Security Agreement.

Permitted Acquisition ” shall mean any Acquisition by a Loan Party that occurs when the following conditions have been satisfied:

(i) (A) the Borrowers’ Leverage Ratio is less than 2.00:1.00, on a Pro Forma Basis, based on the last Fiscal Quarter ended for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.1(b); or

(B) (1) the Borrowers’ Leverage Ratio is greater than or equal to 2.00:1.00, on a Pro Forma Basis, based on the last Fiscal Quarter ended for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.1(b) , (2) the sum of (A)(1) the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount minus (2) the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit Exposure giving effect to any advances made in connection with such Acquisition, plus (B) cash and cash equivalents on hand (in Controlled Accounts) of the Loan Parties is at least $20,000,000; and (3) the aggregate consideration payable in connection with such Acquisition (excluding any consideration paid in the form of common Capital Stock of FFH or from the proceeds of any common Capital Stock of FFH issued after the Closing Date substantially contemporaneously with such Acquisition (“Equity Consideration”) for such acquisition but including any cash, and Indebtedness or liabilities incurred or assumed and all transaction costs) is less than $75,000,000;

(ii) the total consideration (including any Equity Consideration) for acquisition of Persons or assets located outside of the United States (“Foreign Acquisition”) does not exceed $100,000,000 during the term of this Agreement; provided that, if Borrower’s Leverage Ratio is less than 2.00:1.00, on a Pro Forma Basis, based on the last Fiscal Quarter ended for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.1(b) prior to any such Foreign Acquisition, the total consideration for such Foreign Acquisition may be computed excluding any Equity Consideration paid in connection with such Foreign Acquisition;

(iii) before and after giving effect to such Acquisition, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, and all representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in the Loan Documents shall be and remain true and correct in all material respects;

(iv) before and after giving effect to such Acquisition, on a Pro Forma Basis, the Borrowers are in compliance with each of the covenants set forth in Article VI , measuring Consolidated Total Indebtedness for purposes of Section 6.1 as of the date of such Acquisition and otherwise recomputing the covenants set forth in Article VI as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b)  as if such Acquisition had occurred, and any Indebtedness incurred in connection therewith was incurred, on the first day of the relevant period for testing compliance, and the Borrowers shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a pro forma Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer certifying to the foregoing at least five (5) days prior to the date of the consummation of such Acquisition;

 

20


(v) at least 30 days prior to the date of the consummation of such Acquisition, the Borrowers shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent notice of such Acquisition, together with historical financial information and analysis with respect to the Person whose stock or assets are being acquired and information reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent;

(vi) at least five (5) days prior to the date of the consummation of such Acquisition, the Borrowers shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent copies of the acquisition agreement and related documents (including financial information and analysis, environmental assessments and reports, opinions, certificates and lien searches) and information reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent;

(vii) such Acquisition is consensual and approved by the board of directors (or the equivalent thereof) of the Person whose stock or assets are being acquired ;

(viii) the Person or assets being acquired is in the same type of business conducted by the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business similar, reasonably related, ancillary or complementary thereto (including related, complementary, synergistic or ancillary technologies in which the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries are currently engaged);

(ix) such Acquisition is consummated in compliance with all Requirements of Law, and all consents and approvals from any Governmental Authority or other Person required in connection with such Acquisition have been obtained;

(x) before and after giving effect to such Acquisition and any Indebtedness incurred in connection therewith, the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are Solvent;

(xi) within the time periods required by Section 5.11 , the Borrowers will execute and deliver, or cause their Subsidiaries to execute and deliver, all guarantees, Collateral Documents and other related documents required under Section 5.11 ; and

(xii) the Borrowers have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate executed by a Responsible Officer certifying that each of the conditions (to the extent applicable) set forth above has been satisfied.

Permitted Encumbrances ” shall mean:

(i) Liens imposed by law for taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;

(ii) statutory Liens of landlords, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and other Liens imposed by law in the ordinary course of business for amounts not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;

 

21


(iii) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;

(iv) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with insurance, workers compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, and deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(v) judgment and attachment liens not giving rise to an Event of Default or Liens created by or existing from any litigation or legal proceeding that are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;

(vi) customary rights of set-off, revocation, refund or chargeback under deposit agreements or under the Uniform Commercial Code or common law of banks or other financial institutions where any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries maintains deposits (other than deposits intended as cash collateral) in the ordinary course of business;

(vii) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

(viii) non-exclusive leases or subleases granted in the ordinary course of business to others not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, and any interest or title of a lessor under any lease not in violation of this Agreement;

(ix) statutory Liens arising from the rights of lessors under leases (including any precautionary financing statements regarding property subject to a lease) not in violation of the requirements of this Agreement; provided that such Liens are only in respect of the property subject to, and secure only, the respective lease;

(x) rights of consignors of goods, whether or not perfected by the filing of a financing statement or other registration, recording or filing;

(xi) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

(xii) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business;

(xiii) Liens (a) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code or any comparable or successor provision on items in the course of collection, (b) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and (c) in favor of banking institutions arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

 

22


(xiv) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by FFH or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any Permitted Acquisition;

(xv) the rights reserved or vested in any Person by the terms of any lease, license, franchise, grant or permit held by FFH or any of its Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business or by a statutory provision, to terminate any such lease, license, franchise, grant or permit, or to require annual or periodic payments as a condition to the continuance thereof;

(xvi) restrictive covenants affecting the use to which real property may be put in each case that do not secure Indebtedness and do not involve, either individually or in the aggregate, (1) a substantial and prolonged interruption or disruption of the business activities of FFH and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (2) a Material Adverse Effect;

(xvii) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or other arrangements for sale of goods entered into by FFH or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(xviii) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (i) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of Borrowers or any of other Loan Parties to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations of the Loan Parties incurred in the ordinary course of business of Borrowers and any other Loan Party, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Foreign Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations of such Foreign Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business of such Foreign Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of FFH or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business; and

(xviv) Liens granted in favor of a Loan Party from a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party.

Permitted Holder ” shall mean Compass Group Diversified Holdings, LLC and any of its Affiliates.

Permitted Investments ” shall mean:

(i) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

(ii) commercial paper having the highest rating, at the time of acquisition thereof, of S&P or Moody’s and in either case maturing within twelve months from the date of acquisition thereof;

(iii) certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and time deposits maturing within 180 days of the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;

 

23


(iv) fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 90 days for securities described in clause (i) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (iii) above;

(v) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof having an Investment Grade Rating from Moody’s or S&P with maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition; and

(vi) money market accounts maintained with mutual funds having assets in excess of $1,000,000,000 or money market accounts maintained with mutual funds investing solely in any one or more of the Permitted Investments described in clauses (i) through (v) above.

Permitted Liens ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.2.

Permitted Third Party Bank ” shall mean any bank or other financial institution with whom any Loan Party maintains a Controlled Account and with whom a Control Account Agreement has been executed.

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

Plan ” shall mean any “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3 of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan) maintained or contributed to by any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has or may have an obligation to contribute, and each such plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA for the five-year period immediately following the latest date on which any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate maintained, contributed to or had an obligation to contribute to (or is deemed under Section 4069 of ERISA to have maintained or contributed to or to have had an obligation to contribute to, or otherwise to have liability with respect to) such plan.

Platform ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.1(c) .

Pricing Grid ” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of “Applicable Margin”.

Pro Forma Basis ” shall mean, (i) with respect to any Person, business, property or asset acquired in a Permitted Acquisition or other Acquisition approved in writing by the Required Lenders, the inclusion as “Consolidated EBITDA” of the EBITDA (i.e. net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) for such Person, business, property or asset as if such Acquisition had been consummated on the first day of the applicable period, based on historical results accounted for in accordance with GAAP and (ii) with respect to any Person, business, property or asset sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, the exclusion from “Consolidated EBITDA” of the EBITDA (i.e. net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) for such Person, business, property or asset so disposed of during such period as if such disposition had been consummated on the first day of the applicable period, in accordance with GAAP.

Pro Rata Share ” shall mean (i) with respect to any Class of Commitment or Loan of any Lender at any time, a percentage, the numerator of which shall be such Lender’s Commitment of such Class (or, if such Commitment has been terminated or expired or the Loans have been declared to be due

 

24


and payable, such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure), and the denominator of which shall be the sum of all Commitments of such Class of all Lenders (or, if such Commitments have been terminated or expired or the Loans have been declared to be due and payable, all Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders) and (ii) with respect to all Classes of Commitments and Loans of any Lender at any time, the numerator of which shall be the sum of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment (or, if such Revolving Commitment has been terminated or expired or the Loans have been declared to be due and payable, such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure) and the denominator of which shall be the sum of all Lenders’ Revolving Commitments (or, if such Revolving Commitments have been terminated or expired or the Loans have been declared to be due and payable, all Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders funded under such Commitments).

Public Lender ” shall mean any Lender who does not wish to receive Non-Public Information and who may be engaged in investment and other market related activities with respect to the Borrowers, their Affiliates or any of their securities or loans.

Qualified ECP Guarantor ” means, in respect of any Swap Obligation, each Loan Party that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant Guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or such other Person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another Person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Real Estate ” shall mean all real property owned or leased by the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries.

Recipient ” shall mean, as applicable, (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender and (c) the Issuing Banks.

Regulation D ” shall mean Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.

Regulation T ” shall mean Regulation T of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.

Regulation U ” shall mean Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.

Regulation X ” shall mean Regulation X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.

Regulation Y ” shall mean Regulation Y of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.

Related Parties ” shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective managers, administrators, trustees, partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors or other representatives of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

Related Transaction Documents ” shall mean the Loan Documents and all other agreements or instruments executed in connection with the Related Transactions.

 

25


Related Transactions ” shall mean, collectively, the making of the initial Loans on the Closing Date, the Closing Date IPO, the payment of all fees, costs and expenses associated with all of the foregoing and the execution and delivery of all Related Transaction Documents.

Release ” shall mean any release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or within any building, structure, facility or fixture.

Required Lenders ” shall mean, at any time, Lenders holding more than 50% of the aggregate outstanding Revolving Commitments at such time or, if the Lenders have no Commitments outstanding, then Lenders holding more than 50% of the aggregate outstanding Revolving Credit Exposure of the Lenders at such time; provided , that so long as there are three (3) or fewer Lenders, then Required Lenders shall include at least two (2) Lenders (unless there is only one (1) Lender, in which case such Lender shall constitute “Required Lenders”); provided, further, that to the extent that any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender and all of its Revolving Commitments and Revolving Credit Exposure shall be excluded for purposes of determining Required Lenders.

Requirement of Law ” for any Person shall mean the articles or certificate of incorporation, bylaws, partnership certificate and agreement, or limited liability company certificate of organization and agreement, as the case may be, and other organizational and governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation, or determination of a Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

Responsible Officer ” shall mean (x) with respect to certifying compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Article VI , the chief financial officer or the treasurer of the Borrower Representative and (y) with respect to all other provisions, any of the president, the chief executive officer, the chief operating officer, the chief financial officer, the treasurer or a vice president of the Borrower Representative or such other representative of the Borrower Representative as may be designated in writing by any one of the foregoing with the consent of the Administrative Agent.

Restricted Payment ” shall mean, for any Person, any dividend or distribution on any class of its Capital Stock, or any payment on account of, or set apart assets for a sinking or other analogous fund for, the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition of any shares of its Capital Stock, any Indebtedness subordinated to the Obligations or any Guarantee thereof or any options, warrants or other rights to purchase such Capital Stock or such Indebtedness, whether now or hereafter outstanding, or any management or similar fees.

Revolving Commitment ” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Revolving Loans to the Borrowers and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the amount set forth with respect to such Lender on Schedule I , as such schedule may be amended pursuant to Section 2.22 , or, in the case of a Person becoming a Lender after the Closing Date, the amount of the assigned “Revolving Commitment” as provided in the Assignment and Acceptance executed by such Person as an assignee, or the joinder executed by such Person, in each case as such commitment may subsequently be increased or decreased pursuant to the terms hereof.

Revolving Commitment Termination Date ” shall mean the earliest of (i)  [              2018] , (ii) the date on which the Revolving Commitments are terminated pursuant to Section 2.7 and (iii) the date on which all amounts outstanding under this Agreement have been declared or have automatically become due and payable (whether by acceleration or otherwise).

 

26


Revolving Credit Exposure ” shall mean, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans, LC Exposure and Swingline Exposure.

Revolving Loan ” shall mean a loan made by a Lender (other than the Swingline Lender) to the Borrowers under its Revolving Commitment, which may either be a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Loan.

S&P ” shall mean Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Sanctioned Country ” shall mean a country subject to a sanctions program identified on the list maintained by OFAC and available at http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Pages/ default.aspx , or as otherwise published from time to time.

Sanctioned Person ” shall mean (i) a Person named on the list of “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” maintained by OFAC available at http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/SDN-List/Pages/default.aspx , or as otherwise published from time to time, or (ii) (A) an agency of the government of a Sanctioned Country, (B) an organization controlled by a Sanctioned Country, or (C) a person resident in a Sanctioned Country, to the extent subject to a sanctions program administered by OFAC.

Secured Parties ” shall mean the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks, the Lender-Related Hedge Providers and the Bank Product Providers.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933.

Sole Lead Arranger ” shall mean SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., in its capacity as sole lead arranger in connection with this Agreement.

Solvent ” shall mean, with respect to any Person on a particular date, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including subordinated and contingent liabilities, of such Person; (b) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts and liabilities, including subordinated and contingent liabilities as they become absolute and matured; (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature; and (d) such Person is not engaged in a business or transaction, and is not about to engage in a business or transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital. The amount of contingent liabilities (such as litigation, guaranties and pension plan liabilities) at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at the time, represents the amount that would reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

Subsidiary ” shall mean, with respect to any Person (the “ parent ”) at any date, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association or other entity (i) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (ii) that is, as of such date, otherwise controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to “Subsidiary” hereunder shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrowers.

 

27


Subsidiary Loan Party ” shall mean any Subsidiary that executes or becomes a party to the Guaranty and Security Agreement.

Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Swingline Commitment ” shall mean the commitment of the Swingline Lender to make Swingline Loans in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $5,000,000.

Swingline Exposure ” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the principal amount of the Swingline Loans in which such Lender is legally obligated either to make a Base Rate Loan or to purchase a participation in accordance with Section 2.4 , which shall equal such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of all outstanding Swingline Loans.

Swingline Lender ” shall mean SunTrust Bank.

Swingline Loan ” shall mean a loan made to the Borrowers by the Swingline Lender under the Swingline Commitment.

Synthetic Lease ” shall mean a lease transaction under which the parties intend that (i) the lease will be treated as an “operating lease” by the lessee pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification Sections 840-10 and 840-20, as amended, and (ii) the lessee will be entitled to various tax and other benefits ordinarily available to owners (as opposed to lessees) of like property.

Synthetic Lease Obligations ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, the sum of (i) all remaining rental obligations of such Person as lessee under Synthetic Leases which are attributable to principal and, without duplication, (ii) all rental and purchase price payment obligations of such Person under such Synthetic Leases assuming such Person exercises the option to purchase the lease property at the end of the lease term.

Taiwanese Disposition ” shall mean the disposition of Borrowers’ manufacturing facility and related assets in Taiwan on terms and conditions reasonable acceptable to the Administrative Agent to a wholly-owned Foreign Subsidiary (other than directors’ qualifying shares required by applicable law) of one or more Loan Parties.

Taxes ” shall mean any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including an interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

Trademark ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Guaranty and Security Agreement.

Trademark Security Agreement ” shall mean any Trademark Security Agreement executed by a Loan Party owning registered Trademarks or applications for Trademarks in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, both on the Closing Date and thereafter.

Trading with the Enemy Act ” shall mean the Trading with the Enemy Act of the United States of America (50 U.S.C. App. §§ 1 et seq.), as amended and in effect from time to time.

 

28


Type ”, when used in reference to a Loan or a Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Base Rate.

Unfinanced Cash Capital Expenditures ” shall mean, for any period, the amount of Capital Expenditures made by the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries during such period in cash, but excluding any such Capital Expenditures financed with Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.1(c) or that constitute reinvestment of proceeds as permitted under Section 2.11(a) .

Unfunded Pension Liability ” of any Plan shall mean the amount, if any, by which the value of the accumulated plan benefits under the Plan, determined on a plan termination basis in accordance with actuarial assumptions at such time consistent with those prescribed by the PBGC for purposes of Section 4044 of ERISA, exceeds the fair market value of all Plan assets allocable to such liabilities under Title IV of ERISA (excluding any accrued but unpaid contributions).

Uniform Commercial Code ” or “ UCC ” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as amended and in effect from time to time in the State of New York.

United States ” or “ U.S. ” shall mean the United States of America.

U.S. Person ” shall mean any Person that is a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.19(f)(ii) .

Withdrawal Liability ” shall mean liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

Withholding Agent ” shall mean the Borrowers, any other Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, as applicable.

Section 1.2. Classifications of Loans and Borrowings . For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g. “Revolving Loan”) or by Type (e.g. “Eurodollar Loan” or “Base Rate Loan”) or by Class and Type (e.g. “Revolving Eurodollar Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g. “Revolving Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g. “Eurodollar Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g. “Revolving Eurodollar Borrowing”).

Section 1.3. Accounting Terms and Determination . Unless otherwise defined or specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP as in effect from time to time, applied on a basis consistent with the most recent audited consolidated financial statement of the Borrower Representative delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a); provided that if the Borrowers notify the Administrative Agent that the Borrowers wish to amend any covenant in Article VI to eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP on the operation of such covenant (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower Representative that the Required Lenders wish to amend Article VI for such purpose), then the Borrowers’ compliance with such covenant shall be determined on the basis of GAAP in effect immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant is amended in a manner satisfactory to the Borrowers and the Required Lenders. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial

 

29


nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to (i) any election under Accounting Standards Codification Section 825-10 (or any other Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party at “fair value”, as defined therein, (ii) FAS 141R or any subsequent codification thereto or (iii) any change in GAAP requiring leases which were previously classified as operating leases to be classified as capitalized leases.

Section 1.4. Paid in Full . Any reference in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document to payment, repayment or satisfaction in full of the Obligations means termination of all Commitments and the repayment in full in cash (or, in the case of Letters of Credit or Bank Product Obligations, the Cash Collateralization or support by a standby letter of credit in accordance with the terms hereof or any agreement entered into in connection therewith) of all Obligations other than unasserted contingent indemnification obligations and other than any Bank Product Obligations or Hedging Obligations that constitute Obligations that, at such time, are allowed by the applicable Bank Product Provider or the counterparty to the Hedging Transaction to which such Hedging Obligations are incurred to remain outstanding.

Section 1.5. Terms Generally . The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including” and the word “to” means “to but excluding”. Unless the context requires otherwise (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as it was originally executed or as it may from time to time be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and permitted assigns, (iii) the words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import shall be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision hereof, (iv) all references to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement and (v) all references to a specific time shall be construed to refer to the time in the city and state of the Administrative Agent’s principal office, unless otherwise indicated.

ARTICLE II

AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE COMMITMENTS

Section 2.1. General Description of Facilities . Subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein set forth, (i) the Lenders hereby establish in favor of the Borrowers a revolving credit facility pursuant to which each Lender severally agrees (to the extent of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment) to make Revolving Loans to the Borrowers in accordance with Section 2.2 ; (ii) each Issuing Bank may issue Letters of Credit in accordance with Section 2.21 ; (iii) the Swingline Lender may make Swingline Loans in accordance with Section 2.4 ; and (iv) each Lender agrees to purchase a participation interest in the Letters of Credit and the Swingline Loans pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof; provided that in no event shall the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans and outstanding LC Exposure exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount in effect from time to time.

 

30


Section 2.2. Revolving Loans . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Loans, ratably in proportion to its Pro Rata Share of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments, to the Borrowers, from time to time during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time that will not result in (a) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Revolving Commitment or (b) the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures of all Lenders exceeding the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount. During the Availability Period, the Borrowers shall be entitled to borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement; provided that the Borrowers may not borrow or reborrow should there exist a Default or Event of Default.

Section 2.3. Procedure for Revolving Borrowings . An Authorized Representative of the Borrower Representative shall give the Administrative Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Revolving Borrowing (other than Swingline Loans), substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.3 attached hereto (a “ Notice of Revolving Borrowing ”), (x) prior to 2:00 p.m. (Atlanta, Georgia time) one (1) Business Day prior to the requested date of each Base Rate Borrowing and (y) prior to 2:00 p.m. (Atlanta, Georgia time) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of each Eurodollar Borrowing. Each Notice of Revolving Borrowing shall be irrevocable (other than as expressly permitted herein) and shall specify (i) the aggregate principal amount of such Borrowing, (ii) the date of such Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the Type of such Revolving Loan comprising such Borrowing, (iv) the applicable Borrower, (v) the account of the applicable Borrower to which the proceeds of such Revolving Borrowing shall be credited and (vi) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the duration of the initial Interest Period applicable thereto (subject to the provisions of the definition of Interest Period). Each Revolving Borrowing shall consist entirely of Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Loans, as the Borrower Representative may request. The aggregate principal amount of each Eurodollar Borrowing shall not be less than $1,000,000 or a larger multiple of $500,000, and the aggregate principal amount of each Base Rate Borrowing shall not be less than $500,000 or a larger multiple of $100,000; provided that Base Rate Loans made pursuant to Section 2.4 or Section 2.21(d ) may be made in lesser amounts as provided therein. At no time shall the total number of Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding at any time exceed four (4). Promptly following the receipt of a Notice of Revolving Borrowing in accordance herewith, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loan to be made as part of the requested Revolving Borrowing.

Section 2.4. Swingline Commitment .

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender may, in its sole discretion, make Swingline Loans to the Borrowers, from time to time during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time not to exceed the lesser of (i) the Swingline Commitment then in effect and (ii) the difference between the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount and the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures of all Lenders; provided that the Swingline Lender shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan. The Borrowers shall be entitled to borrow, repay and reborrow Swingline Loans in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

31


(b) An Authorized Representative of the Borrower Representative shall give the Administrative Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Swingline Borrowing, substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.4 attached hereto (a “ Notice of Swingline Borrowing ”), prior to 2:00 p.m. (Atlanta, Georgia time) on the requested date of each Swingline Borrowing. Each Notice of Swingline Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify (i) the principal amount of such Swingline Borrowing, (ii) the date of such Swingline Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day) and (iii) the account of the Borrowers to which the proceeds of such Swingline Borrowing should be credited. The Administrative Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lender of each Notice of Swingline Borrowing. The aggregate principal amount of each Swingline Loan shall not be less than $100,000 or a larger multiple of $50,000, or such other minimum amounts agreed to by the Swingline Lender and the Borrower Representative. The Swingline Lender will make the proceeds of each Swingline Loan available to the applicable Borrower in Dollars in immediately available funds at the account specified by the Borrower Representative in the applicable Notice of Swingline Borrowing not later than 1:00 p.m. on the requested date of such Swingline Borrowing.

(c) The Swingline Lender, at any time and from time to time in its sole discretion, may, but in no event no less frequently than once each calendar week shall, on behalf of the Borrowers (which hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs the Swingline Lender to act on its behalf), give a Notice of Revolving Borrowing to the Administrative Agent requesting the Lenders (including the Swingline Lender) to make Base Rate Loans in an amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of any Swingline Loan. Each Lender will make the proceeds of its Base Rate Loan included in such Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender in accordance with Section 2.5 , which will be used solely for the repayment of such Swingline Loan.

(d) If for any reason a Base Rate Borrowing may not be (as determined in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent), or is not, made in accordance with the foregoing provisions, then each Lender (other than the Swingline Lender) shall purchase an undivided participating interest in such Swingline Loan in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share thereof on the date that such Base Rate Borrowing should have occurred. On the date of such required purchase, each Lender shall promptly transfer, in immediately available funds, the amount of its participating interest to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender.

(e) Each Lender’s obligation to make a Base Rate Loan pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section or to purchase participating interests pursuant to subsection (d) of this Section shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including, without limitation, (i) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such Lender or any other Person may have or claim against the Swingline Lender, the Borrowers or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (ii) the existence of a Default or an Event of Default or the termination of any Lender’s Revolving Commitment, (iii) the existence (or alleged existence) of any event or condition which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (iv) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent or any Lender or (v) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing. If such amount is not in fact made available to the Swingline Lender by any Lender, the Swingline Lender shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Lender, together with accrued interest thereon for each day from the date of demand thereof (x) at the Federal Funds Rate until the second Business Day after such demand and (y) at the Base Rate at all times thereafter. Until such time as such Lender makes its required payment, the Swingline Lender shall be deemed to continue to have outstanding Swingline Loans in the amount of the unpaid participation for all purposes of the Loan Documents. In addition, such Lender shall be deemed to have assigned any and all payments made of principal and interest on its Loans and any other amounts due to it hereunder to the Swingline Lender to fund the amount of such Lender’s participation interest in such Swingline Loans that such Lender failed to fund pursuant to this Section, until such amount has been purchased in full.

 

32


Section 2.5. Funding of Borrowings .

(a) Each Lender will make available each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer in immediately available funds by 1:00 p.m. (Atlanta, Georgia time) to the Administrative Agent at the Payment Office; provided that the Swingline Loans will be made as set forth in Section 2.4 . The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the applicable Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts that it receives, in like funds by the close of business on such proposed date, to an account maintained by the Borrowers with the Administrative Agent or, at the Borrower Representative’s option, by effecting a wire transfer of such amounts to an account designated by the Borrower Representative to the Administrative Agent.

(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by any Lender prior to 5:00 p.m. one (1) Business Day prior to the date of a Borrowing in which such Lender is to participate that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such amount available to the Administrative Agent on such date, and the Administrative Agent, in reliance on such assumption, may make available to the applicable Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to the Administrative Agent by such Lender on the date of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount on demand from such Lender together with interest (x) at the Federal Funds Rate until the second Business Day after such demand and (y) at the Base Rate at all times thereafter. If such Lender does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower Representative, and the applicable Borrower shall immediately pay such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent together with interest at the rate specified for such Borrowing. Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fund its Pro Rata Share of any Borrowing hereunder or to prejudice any rights which the applicable Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.

(c) All Revolving Borrowings shall be made by the Lenders on the basis of their respective Pro Rata Shares. No Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Lender in its obligations hereunder, and each Lender shall be obligated to make its Loans provided to be made by it hereunder, regardless of the failure of any other Lender to make its Loans hereunder.

Section 2.6. Interest Elections .

(a) Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Notice of Borrowing. Thereafter, the Borrower Representative may elect to convert such Borrowing into a different Type or to continue such Borrowing, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower Representative may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.

(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower Representative shall give the Administrative Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Borrowing that is to be converted or continued, as the case may be, substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.6 attached hereto (a “ Notice of Continuation/Conversion ”) (x) prior to 2:00 p.m. (Atlanta, Georgia time) one (1) Business Day prior to the requested date of a conversion into a Base Rate Borrowing and (y) prior to 2:00 p.m. (Atlanta, Georgia time) three (3) Business Days prior to a continuation of or conversion into a Eurodollar Borrowing. Each such Notice of Continuation/Conversion shall be irrevocable and shall specify (i) the Borrowing to which such Notice of Continuation/Continuation applies and, if different

 

33


options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof that are to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing), (ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Notice of Continuation/Conversion, which shall be a Business Day, (iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be a Base Rate Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing, and (iv) if the resulting Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of “Interest Period”. If any such Notice of Continuation/Conversion requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, the Borrower Representative shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month. The principal amount of any resulting Borrowing shall satisfy the minimum borrowing amount for Eurodollar Borrowings and Base Rate Borrowings set forth in Section 2.3 .

(c) If, on the expiration of any Interest Period in respect of any Eurodollar Borrowing, the Borrower Representative shall have failed to deliver a Notice of Continuation/Conversion, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, the Borrower Representative shall be deemed to have elected to convert such Borrowing to a Base Rate Borrowing. No Borrowing may be converted into, or continued as, a Eurodollar Borrowing if a Default or an Event of Default exists, unless the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall have otherwise consented in writing. No conversion of any Eurodollar Loan shall be permitted except on the last day of the Interest Period in respect thereof.

(d) Upon receipt of any Notice of Continuation/Conversion, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

Section 2.7. Optional Reduction and Termination of Commitments .

(a) Unless previously terminated, all Revolving Commitments, Swingline Commitments and LC Commitments shall terminate on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.

(b) Upon at least three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the Administrative Agent (which notice shall be irrevocable), the Borrowers may reduce the Aggregate Revolving Commitments in part or terminate the Aggregate Revolving Commitments in whole; provided , that, the Borrowers may rescind any notice of reduction or termination if such reduction or termination would have resulted from (A) a refinancing (or payment in full) of the Loans or (B) any extension or refinancing (or payment) of a portion of the Loans with Indebtedness permitted hereunder, in each case, which incurrence or refinancing (or other payment) shall not be consummated or otherwise shall be delayed; provided , further that (i) any partial reduction shall apply to reduce proportionately and permanently the Revolving Commitment of each Lender, (ii) any partial reduction pursuant to this Section shall be in an amount of at least $1,000,000 and any larger multiple of $500,000, and (iii) no such reduction shall be permitted which would reduce the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount to an amount less than the aggregate outstanding Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders (after giving effect to any prepayments made in connection with such reduction). Any such reduction in the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount below the principal amount of the Swingline Commitment and the LC Commitment shall result in a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the Swingline Commitment and the LC Commitment.

(c) With the written approval of the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers may terminate (on a non-ratable basis) the unused amount of the Revolving Commitment of a Defaulting Lender, and in such event the provisions of Section 2.20(e) will apply to all amounts thereafter paid by the Borrowers for the account of any such Defaulting Lender under this Agreement (whether on account

 

34


of principal, interest, fees, indemnity or other amounts); provided that such termination will not be deemed to be a waiver or release of any claim that the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender or any other Lender may have against such Defaulting Lender.

Section 2.8. Repayment of Loans . The outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans shall be due and payable (together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon) on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.

Section 2.9. Evidence of Indebtedness .

(a) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice appropriate records evidencing the Indebtedness of the Borrowers to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable thereon and paid to such Lender from time to time under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall maintain appropriate records in which shall be recorded (i) the Revolving Commitment of each Lender, (ii) the amount of each Loan made hereunder by each Lender, the applicable Borrower, the Class and Type thereof and, in the case of each Eurodollar Loan, the Interest Period applicable thereto, (iii) the date of any continuation of any Loan pursuant to Section 2.6 , (iv) the date of any conversion of all or a portion of any Loan to another Type pursuant to Section 2.6 , (v) the date and amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrowers to each Lender hereunder in respect of the Loans and (vi) both the date and amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from the Borrower in respect of the Loans and each Lender’s Pro Rata Share thereof. Administrative Agent shall provide copies of such records upon the reasonable request of either Borrower. The entries made in such records shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations of the Borrowers therein recorded unless Administrative Agent receives a statement of exceptions thereto within 45 days after Borrowers receive copies of such records; provided that the failure or delay of any Lender or the Administrative Agent in maintaining or making entries into any such record or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrowers to repay the Loans (both principal and unpaid accrued interest) of such Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(b) This Agreement evidences the obligation of the Borrowers to repay the Loans and is being executed as a “noteless” credit agreement. However, at the request of any Lender (including the Swingline Lender) at any time, the Borrowers agree they will prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the order of such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form approved by the Administrative Agent, such approval not to unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment permitted hereunder) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).

Section 2.10. Optional Prepayments . The Borrowers shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, by giving written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the Administrative Agent no later than (i) in the case of any prepayment of any Eurodollar Borrowing, 11:00 a.m. not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the date of such prepayment, (ii) in the case of any prepayment of any Base Rate Borrowing, 12:00 noon (Atlanta, Georgia time) on the date of such prepayment, and (iii) in the case of any prepayment of any Swingline Borrowing, prior to 11:00 a.m. on the date of such prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the proposed date of such prepayment and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid. Upon receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly

 

35


notify each affected Lender of the contents thereof and of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any such prepayment. If such notice is given, the aggregate amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date designated in such notice, together with accrued interest to such date on the amount so prepaid in accordance with Section 2.12(d ); provided , that , the Borrowers may rescind any notice of prepayment if such prepayment would have resulted from (A) a refinancing (or payment in full) of the Loans or (B) any extension or refinancing (or payment) of a portion of the Loans with Indebtedness permitted hereunder, in each case, which incurrence or refinancing (or other payment) shall not be consummated or otherwise shall be delayed provided further that if a Eurodollar Borrowing is prepaid on a date other than the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrowers shall also pay all amounts required pursuant to Section 2.18 . Each partial prepayment of any Loan shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Revolving Borrowing of the same Type pursuant to Section 2.2 or, in the case of a Swingline Loan, pursuant to Section 2.4 . Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans comprising such Borrowing.

Section 2.11. Mandatory Prepayments . If at any time the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders exceeds the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount, as reduced pursuant to Section 2.7 or otherwise, the Borrowers shall within one (1) Business Day repay the Swingline Loans and the Revolving Loans in an amount equal to such excess, together with all accrued and unpaid interest on such excess amount and any amounts due under Section 2.18 . Each prepayment shall be applied as follows: first , to the Swingline Loans to the full extent thereof; second , to the Base Rate Loans to the full extent thereof; and third , to the Eurodollar Loans to the full extent thereof. If, after giving effect to prepayment of all Swingline Loans and Revolving Loans, the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders exceeds the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount, the Borrowers shall Cash Collateralize its reimbursement obligations with respect to all Letters of Credit in an amount equal to such excess plus any accrued and unpaid fees thereon.

Section 2.12. Interest on Loans .

(a) The Borrowers shall jointly and severally pay interest on (i) each Base Rate Loan at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time and (ii) each Eurodollar Loan at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the applicable Interest Period in effect for such Loan plus the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time.

(b) The Borrowers shall pay interest on each Swingline Loan at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time.

(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this Section, at the option of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders during the continuance of an Event of Default and automatically after acceleration, the Borrowers shall jointly and severally pay interest (“ Default Interest ”) with respect to all Eurodollar Loans at the rate per annum equal to 200 basis points above the otherwise applicable interest rate for such Eurodollar Loans for the then-current Interest Period until the last day of such Interest Period, and thereafter, at the election of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, and with respect to all Base Rate Loans and all other Obligations hereunder (other than Loans), at the rate per annum equal to 200 basis points above the otherwise applicable interest rate for Base Rate Loans.

(d) Interest on the principal amount of all Loans shall accrue from and including the date such Loans are made to but excluding the date of any repayment thereof. Interest on all outstanding Base Rate Loans and Swingline Loans shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of each March, June, September and December and on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date. Interest on all outstanding Eurodollar Loans shall be payable on the last day of each Interest Period applicable thereto, and, in the case of any Eurodollar Loans having an Interest Period in excess of three months, on each day

 

36


which occurs every three months after the initial date of such Interest Period, and on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date. Interest on any Loan which is converted into a Loan of another Type or which is repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such conversion or on the date of any such repayment or prepayment (on the amount repaid or prepaid) thereof. All Default Interest shall be payable on demand.

Section 2.13. Fees .

(a) The Borrowers jointly and severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent for its own account fees in the amounts and at the times set forth in the Fee Letter.

(b) The Borrowers jointly and severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a commitment fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Percentage per annum (determined daily in accordance with the Pricing Grid) on the daily amount of the unused Revolving Commitment of such Lender during the Availability Period. For purposes of computing the commitment fee, the Revolving Commitment of each Lender shall be deemed used to the extent of the outstanding Revolving Loans and LC Exposure, but not Swingline Exposure, of such Lender.

(c) The Borrowers jointly and severally agree to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender, a letter of credit fee with respect to its participation in each Letter of Credit, which shall accrue at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Loans then in effect on the average daily amount of such Lender’s LC Exposure attributable to such Letter of Credit during the period from and including the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit to but excluding the date on which such Letter of Credit expires or is drawn in full (including, without limitation, any LC Exposure that remains outstanding after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date to the extent that such Lender has any obligations with respect to any LC Exposure under this Agreement) and (ii) to each Issuing Bank for its own account a facing fee, which shall accrue at the rate set forth in the Fee Letter on the average daily amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the Availability Period (or until the date that such Letter of Credit is irrevocably cancelled, whichever is later), as well as each Issuing Bank’s standard fees with respect to issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Required Lenders elect to increase the interest rate on the Loans to the rate for Default Interest pursuant to Section 2.12(c) , the rate per annum used to calculate the letter of credit fee pursuant to clause (i) above shall automatically be increased by 200 basis points.

(d) The Borrowers jointly and severally agree to pay on the Closing Date to the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates all fees in the Fee Letter that are due and payable on the Closing Date.

(e) Accrued fees under subsections (b) and (c) of this Section shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on September 30, 2013, until and on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date (and in the case of subsection (c), if later, the date the LC Exposure shall be repaid or Cash Collateralized in its entirety); provided that any such fees accruing after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date shall be payable on demand.

(f) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, during such period as a Lender is a Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender will not be entitled to commitment fees accruing with respect to its Revolving Commitment during such period pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section or letter of credit fees accruing during such period pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section (without prejudice to the rights of the Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders in respect of such fees), provided that (x) to the extent that a portion of the LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender is reallocated to the Non-

 

37


Defaulting Lenders pursuant to Section 2.25 , such fees that would have accrued for the benefit of such Defaulting Lender will instead accrue for the benefit of and be payable to such Non-Defaulting Lenders, pro rata in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments, and (y) to the extent any portion of such LC Exposure cannot be so reallocated, such fees will instead accrue for the benefit of and be payable to the relevant Issuing Bank. The pro rata payment provisions of Section 2.20 shall automatically be deemed adjusted to reflect the provisions of this subsection.

Section 2.14. Computation of Interest and Fees .

Interest hereunder based on the Administrative Agent’s prime lending rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year) and paid for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). All other interest and all fees hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and paid for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be made in good faith and, except for manifest error, shall be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes and shall promptly notify the Borrower Representative and the Lenders of such rate in writing (or by telephone, promptly confirmed in writing).

Section 2.15. Inability to Determine Interest Rates . If, prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for any Eurodollar Borrowing:

(i) the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the Borrowers) that, by reason of circumstances affecting the relevant interbank market, adequate means do not exist for ascertaining LIBOR for such Interest Period, or

(ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO Rate does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making, funding or maintaining their Eurodollar Loans for such Interest Period,

the Administrative Agent shall give written notice (or telephonic notice, promptly confirmed in writing) to the Borrower Representative and to the Lenders as soon as practicable thereafter. Until the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower Representative and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) the obligations of the Lenders to make Eurodollar Revolving Loans or to continue or convert outstanding Loans as or into Eurodollar Loans shall be suspended and (ii) all such affected Loans shall be converted into Base Rate Loans on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto unless the Borrowers prepay such Loans in accordance with this Agreement. Unless the Borrower Representative notifies the Administrative Agent at least one (1) Business Day before the date of any Eurodollar Borrowing for which a Notice of Revolving Borrowing or a Notice of Continuation/Conversion has previously been given that it elects not to borrow, continue or convert to a Eurodollar Borrowing on such date, then such Revolving Borrowing shall be made as, continued as or converted into a Base Rate Borrowing.

Section 2.16. Illegality . If any Change in Law shall make it unlawful or impossible for any Lender to make, maintain or fund any Eurodollar Loan and such Lender shall so notify the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the Borrower Representative and the other Lenders, whereupon until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative that the circumstances giving rise to such suspension no longer exist, the obligation of such Lender to make Eurodollar Revolving Loans, or to continue or convert outstanding Loans as or into Eurodollar Loans, shall be suspended. In the case of the

 

38


making of a Eurodollar Borrowing, such Lender’s Revolving Loan shall be made as a Base Rate Loan as part of the same Revolving Borrowing for the same Interest Period and, if the affected Eurodollar Loan is then outstanding, such Loan shall be converted to a Base Rate Loan either (i) on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such Eurodollar Loan if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Loan to such date or (ii) immediately if such Lender shall determine that it may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Loan to such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the affected Lender shall, prior to giving such notice to the Administrative Agent, designate a different Applicable Lending Office if such designation would avoid the need for giving such notice and if such designation would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender in the good faith exercise of its discretion.

Section 2.17. Increased Costs .

(a) If any Change in Law shall:

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement that is not otherwise included in the determination of the Adjusted LIBO Rate hereunder against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate) or any Issuing Bank; or

(ii) impose on any Lender, any Issuing Bank or the eurodollar interbank market any other condition (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or any Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or any participation therein;

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender of making, converting into, continuing or maintaining a Eurodollar Loan or to increase the cost to such Lender or such Issuing Bank of participating in or issuing any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount received or receivable by such Lender or such Issuing Bank hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount), then, from time to time, such Lender or such Issuing Bank may provide the Borrower Representative (with a copy thereof to the Administrative Agent) with written notice and demand with respect to such increased costs or reduced amounts, and within five (5) Business Days after receipt of such notice and demand the Borrowers jointly and severally agree to pay to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank for any such increased costs incurred or reduction suffered, which will be without duplication of any amounts paid under Section 2.19 hereof.

(b) If any Lender or any Issuing Bank shall have determined that on or after the date of this Agreement any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s capital (or on the capital of the Parent Company of such Lender or such Issuing Bank) as a consequence of its obligations hereunder or under or in respect of any Letter of Credit to a level below that which such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such Parent Company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s policies or the policies of such Parent Company with respect to capital adequacy), then, from time to time, such Lender or such Issuing Bank may provide the Borrower Representative (with a copy thereof to the Administrative Agent) with written notice and demand with respect to such reduced amounts, and within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of such notice and demand the Borrowers shall pay to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such Parent Company for any such reduction suffered.

 

39


(c) A certificate of such Lender or such Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender, the Issuing Bank or the Parent Company of such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower Representative (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) and shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided, that the Borrowers shall not be required to compensate a Lender or Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section 2.17 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered incurred more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender or such Issuing Bank notifies the Borrower of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s request to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law constituting the occurrence or event giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180 day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

Section 2.18. Funding Indemnity . In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of a Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion or continuation of a Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, or (c) the failure by the Borrowers to borrow, prepay, convert or continue any Eurodollar Loan on the date specified in any applicable notice (regardless of whether such notice is withdrawn or revoked (other than solely by reason of a Lender being a Defaulting Lender or any revocation pursuant to Section 2.16 )), then, in any such event, the Borrowers shall jointly and severally compensate each Lender, within ten (10) Business Days after written demand from such Lender, for any loss, cost or expense attributable to such event (excluding any loss of the Applicable Margin on the relevant Revolving Loans). In the case of a Eurodollar Loan, such loss, cost or expense shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (A) the amount of interest that would have accrued on the principal amount of such Eurodollar Loan if such event had not occurred at the Adjusted LIBO Rate applicable to such Eurodollar Loan for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Eurodollar Loan) over (B) the amount of interest that would accrue on the principal amount of such Eurodollar Loan for the same period if the Adjusted LIBO Rate were set on the date such Eurodollar Loan was prepaid or converted or the date on which the Borrowers failed to borrow, convert or continue such Eurodollar Loan. A certificate as to any additional amount payable under this Section submitted to the Borrower Representative by any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

Section 2.19. Taxes .

(a) For purposes of this Section 2.19 , the term “Lender” includes any Issuing Bank and the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.

(b) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Borrower or any other Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes; provided that if any applicable law requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall make such deduction or withholding and timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax or Other Tax, then the sum payable by the Borrowers or other Loan Party, as applicable, shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions and withholdings (including deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the applicable Recipient shall receive an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings been made.

 

40


(c) In addition, without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section, the Borrowers shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.

(d) The Borrowers shall jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, within five (5) Business Days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid or payable by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower Representative by the applicable Recipient (with a copy to the Administrative Agent in the case of a Recipient other than the Administrative Agent) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(e) As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrowers or any other Loan Party to a Governmental Authority, the Borrowers or other Loan Party, as applicable, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(f) Tax Forms .

(i) Any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent, on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent), duly executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying, to the extent such Lender is legally entitled to do so, that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax.

(ii) Any Lender that is a Foreign Person and that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the Code or any treaty to which the United States is a party with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Lender that is a Foreign Person shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, (w) on or prior to the date such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement, (x) on or prior to the date on which any such form or certification expires or becomes obsolete, (y) after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent form or certification previously delivered by it pursuant to this subsection, and (z) from time to time upon the reasonable request by the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent, deliver to the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

(A) if such Lender is claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any

 

41


Loan Document, duly executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN, or any successor form thereto, establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty, and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Loan Document, duly executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN, or any successor form thereto, establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;

(B) duly executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI, or any successor form thereto, certifying that the payments received by such Lender are effectively connected with such Lender’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States;

(C) if such Lender is claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 871(h) or Section 881(c) of the Code, duly executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN, or any successor form thereto, together with a certificate (a “ U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ”) upon which such Lender certifies that (1) such Lender is not a bank for purposes of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, or the obligation of the Borrowers hereunder is not, with respect to such Lender, a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business, within the meaning of that Section, (2) such Lender is not a 10% shareholder of any Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3) or Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, (3) such Lender is not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to any Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code, and (4) the interest payments in question are not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by such Lender; or

(D) if such Lender is not the beneficial owner (for example, a partnership or a participating Lender granting a typical participation), duly executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, or any successor form thereto, accompanied by IRS Form W-9, IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable.

(iii) Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered under this Section expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect and such Lender is not legally entitled to provide an updated form or certification, it shall promptly notify the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent of its inability to update such form or certification.

(g) If a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment.

 

42


(h) If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.19 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.19 ), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (h) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (h), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (h) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

Section 2.20. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs .

(a) The Borrowers shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 2.17 , 2.18 or 2.19 , or otherwise) prior to 3:00 p.m. (Atlanta, Georgia time) on the date when due, in immediately available funds, free and clear of any defenses, rights of set-off, counterclaim, or withholding or deduction of taxes. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at the Payment Office, except payments to be made directly to any Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.17 , 2.18 , 2.19 and 10.3 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be made payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in Dollars.

(b) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed LC Disbursements, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied as follows: first , to all fees and reimbursable expenses of the Administrative Agent then due and payable pursuant to any of the Loan Documents; second , to all reimbursable expenses of the Lenders and all fees and reimbursable expenses of each Issuing Bank then due and payable pursuant to any of the Loan Documents, pro rata to the Lenders and the relevant Issuing Banks based on their respective pro rata shares of such fees and expenses; third , to all interest and fees then due and payable hereunder, pro rata to the Lenders based on their respective pro rata shares of such interest and fees; and fourth , to all principal of the Loans and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due and payable hereunder, pro rata to the parties entitled thereto based on their respective pro rata shares of such principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements.

(c) If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements or Swingline Loans that would result in such Lender receiving payment of a greater

 

43


proportion of the aggregate amount of its Revolving Credit Exposure and accrued interest and fees thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender with respect to its Revolving Credit Exposure, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Revolving Credit Exposure of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Revolving Credit Exposure; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrowers pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Revolving Credit Exposure to any assignee or participant, other than to any Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this subsection shall apply). The Borrowers consent to the foregoing and agree, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrowers rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrowers in the amount of such participation.

(d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower Representative prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the Issuing Banks hereunder that the Borrowers will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrowers have made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks, as the case may be, the amount or amounts due. In such event, if the Borrowers have not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the Issuing Banks, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or such Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any amount paid by the Borrowers for the account of a Defaulting Lender under this Agreement (whether on account of principal, interest, fees, reimbursement of LC Disbursements, indemnity payments or other amounts) will be applied by the Administrative Agent at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first , to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent under this Agreement; second , to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to each Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender under this Agreement; third , to Cash Collateralize the Issuing Banks LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 2.25 ; fourth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or Swingline Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth , to the payment of interest due and payable to the Lenders hereunder that are not Defaulting Lenders, ratably among them in accordance with the amounts of such interest then due and payable to them; sixth , to the payment of fees then due and payable to the Lenders hereunder that are not Defaulting Lenders, ratably among them in accordance with the amounts of such fees then due and payable to them; seventh , to the payment of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due and payable to the Lenders hereunder that are not Defaulting Lenders; eighth , as the Borrowers may request (so long as no default or Event of Default exists) to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; ninth , if so reasonably

 

44


determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize the Issuing Banks’ future LC Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 2.25 ; tenth , so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to either Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by either Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eleventh , to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or unreimbursed LC Disbursements in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 3.3 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, or payments in respect of unreimbursed LC Disbursements owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in LC Disbursements and Swing Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Revolving Commitments without giving effect to Section 2.25(a) . Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.20(e) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

Section 2.21. Letters of Credit .

(a) During the Availability Period, each Issuing Bank, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders pursuant to subsections (d) and (e) of this Section, may, in its sole discretion, issue, at the request of the Borrower Representative, Letters of Credit for the account of any Borrower or any Loan Party on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; provided that (i) each Letter of Credit shall expire on the earlier of (A) the date one year after the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension although any Letter of Credit may be automatically renewable for successive one year periods subject to customary evergreen provisions of the applicable Issuing Bank) and (B) the date that is five (5) Business Days prior to the Revolving Commitment Termination Date; (ii) each Letter of Credit shall be in a stated amount of at least $25,000; and (iii) the Borrowers may not request any Letter of Credit if, after giving effect to such issuance, (A) the aggregate LC Exposure would exceed the LC Commitment or (B) the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders would exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount. Each Revolving Lender shall be deemed to have purchased, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally purchases from the relevant Issuing Bank without recourse a participation in each Letter of Credit equal to such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit on the date of issuance. Each issuance of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to utilize the Revolving Commitment of each Lender by an amount equal to the amount of such participation.

(b) To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or any amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower Representative shall give the relevant Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent irrevocable written notice at least three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of such issuance specifying the date (which shall be a Business Day) such Letter of Credit is to be issued (or amended, renewed or extended, as the case may be), the expiration date of such Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. In addition to the satisfaction of the conditions in Article III , the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or any amendment which increases the amount of such Letter of Credit) will be subject to the further conditions that such Letter of Credit shall be in such form and contain such terms as the relevant Issuing Bank shall

 

45


approve and that the Borrowers shall have executed and delivered any additional applications, agreements and instruments relating to such Letter of Credit as the relevant Issuing Bank shall reasonably require; provided that in the event of any conflict between such applications, agreements or instruments and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall control.

(c) At least two (2) Business Days prior to the issuance of any Letter of Credit, the relevant Issuing Bank will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received such notice, and, if not, the relevant Issuing Bank will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Unless the relevant Issuing Bank has received notice from the Administrative Agent, on or before the Business Day immediately preceding the date such Issuing Bank is to issue the requested Letter of Credit, directing such Issuing Bank not to issue the Letter of Credit because such issuance is not then permitted hereunder because of the limitations set forth in subsection (a) of this Section or that one or more conditions specified in Article III are not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the relevant Issuing Bank shall, on the requested date, issue such Letter of Credit in accordance with such Issuing Bank’s usual and customary business practices.

(d) Each Issuing Bank shall examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit promptly following its receipt thereof. Each Issuing Bank shall notify the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent of such demand for payment and whether such Issuing Bank has made or will make a LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrowers of their obligation to reimburse such Issuing Bank and the Lenders with respect to such LC Disbursement. The Borrowers shall be jointly and severally irrevocably and unconditionally obligated to reimburse each Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursements paid by such Issuing Bank in respect of such drawing, without presentment, demand or other formalities of any kind. Unless the Borrower Representative shall have notified the relevant Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent prior to 11:00 a.m. on the Business Day immediately prior to the date on which such drawing is honored that the Borrowers intend to reimburse such Issuing Bank for the amount of such drawing in funds other than from the proceeds of Revolving Loans, the Borrowers shall be deemed to have timely given a Notice of Revolving Borrowing to the Administrative Agent requesting the Lenders to make a Base Rate Borrowing on the date on which such drawing is honored in an exact amount due to the Issuing Bank; provided that for purposes solely of such Borrowing, the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.3 hereof shall not be applicable. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of such Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.3 , and each Lender shall make the proceeds of its Base Rate Loan included in such Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Bank in accordance with Section 2.5 . The proceeds of such Borrowing shall be applied directly by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the relevant Issuing Bank for such LC Disbursement.

(e) If for any reason a Base Rate Borrowing may not be (as determined in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent), or is not, made in accordance with the foregoing provisions, then each Lender (other than the relevant Issuing Bank) shall be obligated to fund the participation that such Lender purchased pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of such LC Disbursement on and as of the date which such Base Rate Borrowing should have occurred. Each Lender’s obligation to fund its participation shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including, without limitation, (i) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such Lender or any other Person may have against the relevant Issuing Bank or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (ii) the existence of a Default or an Event of Default or the termination of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments, (iii) any adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries, (iv) any breach of this Agreement by any Borrower or any other Lender, (v) any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or (vi) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the

 

46


foregoing. On the date that such participation is required to be funded, each Lender shall promptly transfer, in immediately available funds, the amount of its participation to the Administrative Agent for the account of the relevant Issuing Bank. Whenever, at any time after any Issuing Bank has received from any such Lender the funds for its participation in a LC Disbursement, such Issuing Bank (or the Administrative Agent on its behalf) receives any payment on account thereof, the Administrative Agent or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, will distribute to such Lender its Pro Rata Share of such payment; provided that if such payment is required to be returned for any reason to the Borrowers or to a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or similar official in any bankruptcy proceeding, such Lender will return to the Administrative Agent or such Issuing Bank any portion thereof previously distributed by the Administrative Agent or such Issuing Bank to it.

(f) To the extent that any Lender shall fail to pay any amount required to be paid pursuant to subsection (d) or (e) of this Section on the due date therefor, such Lender shall pay interest to the relevant Issuing Bank (through the Administrative Agent) on such amount from such due date to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate; provided that if such Lender shall fail to make such payment to the relevant Issuing Bank within three (3) Business Days of such due date, then, retroactively to the due date, such Lender shall be obligated to pay interest on such amount at the rate set forth in Section 2.12(c) .

(g) If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Borrowers receive notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders demanding that its reimbursement obligations with respect to the Letters of Credit be Cash Collateralized pursuant to this subsection, the Borrowers shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Issuing Banks and the Lenders, an amount in cash equal to 103% of the aggregate LC Exposure of all Lenders as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid fees thereon; provided that such obligation to Cash Collateralize the reimbursement obligations of the Borrowers with respect to the Letters of Credit shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrowers described in Section 8.1(h) or (i) . Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. So long as an Event of Default exists, the Borrowers agree to execute any documents and/or certificates to effectuate the intent of this subsection. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Borrowers’ risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest and profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. So long as an Event of Default exists, moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse each Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it had not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrowers for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, with the consent of the Required Lenders, be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Borrowers are required to Cash Collateralize its reimbursement obligations with respect to the Letters of Credit as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, Administrative Agent shall return such cash collateral so posted (to the extent not so applied as aforesaid) to the Borrowers within three (3) Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.

(h) Upon the request of any Lender, but no more frequently than quarterly, each Issuing Bank shall deliver (through the Administrative Agent) to each Lender and the Borrowers a report describing the aggregate Letters of Credit then outstanding. Upon the request of any Lender from time to time, each Issuing Bank shall deliver to such Lender any other information reasonably requested by such Lender with respect to each Letter of Credit then outstanding.

 

47


(i) The Borrowers’ obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements hereunder shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of any of the following circumstances:

(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement;

(ii) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right which any Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of any Borrower may have at any time against a beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Persons or entities for whom any such beneficiary or transferee may be acting), any Lender (including the relevant Issuing Bank) or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement or the Letter of Credit or any document related hereto or thereto or any unrelated transaction;

(iii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect;

(iv) payment by any Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document to the Issuing Bank that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit;

(v) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of set-off against, the Borrowers’ obligations hereunder; or

(vi) the existence of a Default or an Event of Default.

Neither the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Lender nor any Related Party of any of the foregoing shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to above), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the relevant Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse any Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrowers to the extent of any actual direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect (including claims for lost profits or other consequential damages), or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrowers that are caused by such Issuing Bank’s failure to exercise due care when determining whether drafts or other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of any Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), such Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised due care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, each Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

 

48


(j) Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the relevant Issuing Bank and the Borrowers when a Letter of Credit is issued and subject to applicable laws, (i) each standby Letter of Credit shall be governed by the “International Standby Practices 1998” (ISP98) (or such later revision as may be published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice on any date any Letter of Credit may be issued), (ii) each documentary Letter of Credit shall be governed by the Uniform Customs and Practices for Documentary Credits (2007 Revision), International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 600 (or such later revision as may be published by the International Chamber of Commerce on any date any Letter of Credit may be issued) and (iii) the Borrowers shall specify the foregoing in each letter of credit application submitted for the issuance of a Letter of Credit.

Section 2.22. Increase of Commitments; Additional Lenders .

(a) From time to time after the Closing Date and in accordance with this Section, the Borrowers and one or more Increasing Lenders or Additional Lenders (each as defined below) may enter into an agreement to increase the aggregate Revolving Commitments hereunder (each such increase, an “ Incremental Commitment ”) so long as the following conditions are satisfied:

(i) the aggregate principal amount of all such Incremental Commitments made pursuant to this Section shall not exceed $50,000,000 (the principal amount of each such Incremental Commitment, the “ Incremental Commitment Amount ”);

(ii) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to any such proposed increase, no Default or Event of Default shall exist, all representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by a Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects), and, since December 31, 2012, there shall have been no change which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(iii) any incremental Revolving Commitments provided pursuant to this Section (the “ Incremental Revolving Commitments ”) shall have a termination date no earlier than the Revolving Commitment Termination Date;

(iv) the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries shall be in pro forma compliance with each of the financial covenants set forth in Article VI as of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered, calculated as if all such Incremental Revolving Commitments had been established (and fully funded) as of the first day of the relevant period for testing compliance;

(v) (x) other than for periods after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date and payment in full of all Revolving Credit Exposure (other than with respect to Incremental Revolving Commitments), the Initial Yield applicable to any such Incremental Revolving Commitments shall not exceed the sum of the Applicable Margin then in effect for Eurodollar Revolving Loans plus one fourth of the Up-Front Fees paid in respect of the existing Revolving Commitments (the “ Existing Yield ”) (which may be accomplished by increasing the Applicable Margin then in effect for Eurodollar Revolving Loans) and (y) other than for periods after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date and payment in full of all Revolving Credit Exposure

 

49


(other than with respect to Incremental Revolving Commitments), the Applicable Margin (excluding any upfront and similar fees paid to the Lenders providing the Incremental Revolving Facility) applicable to any such Incremental Revolving Commitments shall not be less than the Applicable Margin then in effect for Eurodollar Revolving Loans;

(vi) any collateral securing any such Incremental Commitments shall also secure all other Obligations on a pari passu basis; and

(vii) all other terms and conditions with respect to any such Incremental Commitments shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(b) The Borrower Representative shall provide at least 30 days’ written notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly provide a copy of such notice to each Lender) of any proposal to establish an Incremental Commitment. The Borrower Representative shall also, but is not required to, specify any fees offered to those Lenders (the “ Increasing Lenders ”) that agree to increase the principal amount of their Revolving Commitments, which fees may be variable based upon the amount by which any such Lender is willing to increase the principal amount of its Revolving Commitment. Each Increasing Lender shall as soon as practicable, and in any case within 10 Business Days following receipt of such notice, specify in a written notice to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent the amount of such proposed Incremental Commitment that it is willing to provide. No Lender (or any successor thereto) shall have any obligation, express or implied, to offer to increase the aggregate principal amount of its Revolving Commitment, and any decision by a Lender to increase its Revolving Commitment shall be made in its sole discretion independently from any other Lender. Only the consent of each Increasing Lender (if any) shall be required for an increase in the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Commitments pursuant to this Section. No Lender which declines to increase the principal amount of its Revolving Commitment may be replaced with respect to its existing Revolving Commitment solely as a result thereof without such Lender’s consent. If any Lender shall fail to notify the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent in writing about whether it will increase its Revolving Commitment within 15 days after receipt of such notice, such Lender shall be deemed to have declined to increase its Revolving Commitment. If any Lender shall decline (or be deemed to decline) to provide its pro rata share of requested Incremental Commitment, then such portion of the Incremental Commitment shall be offered to the other Increasing Lenders. If the Lenders have not agreed to provide all of the requested Incremental Commitment within 10 Business Days after delivery of such notice, the Borrowers may designate new lenders that are acceptable to the Administrative Agent (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) as additional Lenders hereunder in accordance with this Section (the “ Additional Lenders ”), which Additional Lenders may assume all or a portion of such Incremental Commitment not provided by the Increasing Lenders. The Borrowers and the Administrative Agent shall have discretion jointly to adjust the allocation of such Incremental Revolving Commitments among the Increasing Lenders and the Additional Lenders. The sum of the increase in the Revolving Commitments of the Increasing Lenders plus the Revolving Commitments of the Additional Lenders shall not in the aggregate exceed the Incremental Commitment Amount.

(c) Subject to subsections (a) and (b) of this Section, any increase requested by the Borrowers shall be effective upon delivery to the Administrative Agent of each of the following documents:

(i) an originally executed copy of an instrument of joinder, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, executed by the Borrowers, by each Additional Lender and by each Increasing Lender, setting forth the new Revolving Commitments of such Lenders and setting forth the agreement of each Additional Lender to become a party to this Agreement and to be bound by all of the terms and provisions hereof;

 

50


(ii) such evidence of appropriate corporate authorization on the part of the Borrowers with respect to such Incremental Commitment and such opinions of counsel for the Borrowers with respect to such Incremental Commitment as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request;

(iii) a certificate of the Borrowers signed by a Responsible Officer, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, certifying that each of the conditions in subsection (a) of this Section has been satisfied;

(iv) to the extent requested by any Additional Lender or any Increasing Lender, executed promissory notes evidencing such Incremental Revolving Commitments, issued by the Borrowers in accordance with Section 2.9 ; and

(v) any other certificates or documents that the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request that are necessary to give effect to such Incremental Commitment, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Upon the effectiveness of any such Incremental Commitment, the Commitments and Pro Rata Share of each Lender will be adjusted to give effect to the Incremental Revolving Commitments and Schedule I shall automatically be deemed amended accordingly.

(d) If any Incremental Revolving Commitments are to have a termination date later than the Revolving Commitments or, to the extent permitted under Section 2.22(a)(v) above, a different Initial Yield than the Existing Yield (any such Incremental Revolving Commitments, the “ Non-Conforming Credit Extensions ”), all such terms shall be as set forth in a separate assumption agreement among the Borrowers, the Lenders providing such Incremental Revolving Commitments and the Administrative Agent, the execution and delivery of which agreement shall be a condition to the effectiveness of the Non-Conforming Credit Extensions. If the Borrowers incur Incremental Revolving Commitments under this Section, regardless of whether such Incremental Revolving Commitments are Non-Conforming Credit Extensions, the Borrowers shall, after such time, repay and incur Revolving Loans ratably as between the Incremental Revolving Commitments and the Revolving Commitments outstanding immediately prior to such incurrence. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 10.2 , the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers are expressly permitted to amend the Loan Documents to the extent necessary (and mutually agreeable) to give effect to any increase pursuant to this Section and mechanical changes necessary or advisable in connection therewith (including amendments to implement the requirements in the preceding two sentences, amendments to ensure pro rata allocations of Eurodollar Loans and Base Rate Loans between Loans incurred pursuant to this Section and Loans outstanding immediately prior to any such incurrence and amendments to implement ratable participation in Letters of Credit between the Non-Conforming Credit Extensions consisting of Incremental Revolving Commitments and the Revolving Commitments outstanding immediately prior to any such incurrence).

(e) For purposes of this Section, the following terms shall have the meanings specified below:

(i) “ Initial Yield ” shall mean, with respect to Incremental Revolving Commitments, the amount (as determined by the Administrative Agent) equal to the sum of (A) the margin above the Eurodollar Rate on such Incremental Revolving Loans, as applicable (including as margin the effect of any “LIBOR floor” applicable on the date of the calculation), plus (B) (x) the amount of any Up-Front Fees on such Incremental Revolving Commitments, as applicable (including any fee or discount received by the Lenders in connection with the initial extension thereof), divided by (y) the lesser of (1) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Incremental Revolving Commitments, as applicable, and (2) four.

 

51


(ii) “ Up-Front Fees ” shall mean the amount of any fees or discounts received by the Lenders in connection with the making of Loans or extensions of credit, expressed as a percentage of such Loan or extension of credit. For the avoidance of doubt, “Up-Front Fees” shall not include any arrangement fee paid to the Sole Lead Arranger.

(iii) “ Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” shall mean, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (x) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (y) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment by (ii) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

Section 2.23. Mitigation of Obligations . If any Lender’s obligation to make Eurodollar Loans, or to continue or convert outstanding Loans as or into Eurodollar Loans, is suspended pursuant to Section 2.16 , any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.17 , or if the Borrowers are required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.19 , then, at the written request of the Borrower, such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the sole judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would reinstate such Lender’s obligations make, continue or convert Eurodollar Loans, or eliminate or reduce amounts payable under Section 2.17 or Section 2.19 , as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrowers hereby jointly and severally agree to pay all out-of-pocket costs and expenses actually incurred by any Lender in connection with such designation or assignment so long as no Borrower previously requested to replace any such Lender pursuant to Section 2.24 prior to such designation or assignment.

Section 2.24. Replacement of Lenders . If (a) any Lender’s obligation to make Eurodollar Loans, or to continue or convert outstanding Loans as or into Eurodollar Loans, is suspended pursuant to Section 2.16 , (b) any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.17 , or if the Borrowers are required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.19 , (c) any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, or (d) in connection with any proposed amendment, modification, termination, waiver or consent with respect to any of the provisions hereof as contemplated by Section 10.2(b) , the consent of Required Lenders shall have been obtained but the consent of one or more of such other Lenders (each a “Non-Consenting Lender” whose consent is required shall not have been obtained, then the Borrowers may, at their sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 10.4(b )), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 2.17 or 2.19 , as applicable) and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender) (a “ Replacement Lender ”); provided that (i) the Borrowers shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount of all Loans owed to it, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder from the assignee (in the case of such outstanding principal and accrued interest) and from the Borrowers (in the case of all other

 

52


amounts), (iii) in the case of a claim for compensation under Section 2.17 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.19 , such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments, and (iv) in the case of a Non-Consenting Lender, each Replacement Lender shall consent, at the time of such assignment, to each matter in respect of which such terminated Lender was a Non-Consenting Lender. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrowers to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

Section 2.25. Defaulting Lenders .

(a) If a Revolving Lender becomes, and during the period it remains, a Defaulting Lender, the following provisions shall apply, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement:

(i) the LC Exposure and the Swingline Exposure of such Defaulting Lender will, subject to the limitation in the proviso below, automatically be reallocated (effective no later than one (1) Business Day after the Administrative Agent has actual knowledge that such Revolving Lender has become a Defaulting Lender) among the Non-Defaulting Lenders pro rata in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments (calculated as if the Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment was reduced to zero and each Non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment had been increased proportionately); provided that the sum of each Non-Defaulting Lender’s total Revolving Credit Exposure may not in any event exceed the Revolving Commitment of such Non-Defaulting Lender as in effect at the time of such reallocation; and

(ii) to the extent that any portion (the “ unreallocated portion ”) of the LC Exposure and the Swingline Exposure of any Defaulting Lender cannot be reallocated pursuant to clause (i) above for any reason, the Borrowers will, not later than three (3) Business Days after demand by the Administrative Agent (at the direction of the applicable Issuing Bank and/or the Swingline Lender), (x) Cash Collateralize the obligations of the Borrowers to such Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender in respect of such LC Exposure or such Swingline Exposure, as the case may be, in an amount at least equal to the aggregate amount of the unreallocated portion of the LC Exposure and the Swingline Exposure of such Defaulting Lender, (y) in the case of such Swingline Exposure, prepay and/or Cash Collateralize in full the unreallocated portion thereof, or (z) make other arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the applicable Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender in their sole discretion to protect them against the risk of non-payment by such Defaulting Lender;

provided that neither any such reallocation nor any payment by a Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant thereto nor any such Cash Collateralization or reduction will constitute a waiver or release of any claim the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender or any other Lender may have against such Defaulting Lender or cause such Defaulting Lender to be a Non-Defaulting Lender.

(b) If the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Swingline Lender agree in writing in their discretion that any Defaulting Lender has ceased to be a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice, and subject to any conditions set forth therein, the LC Exposure and the Swingline Exposure of the other Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Commitment, and such Lender will purchase at par such portion of outstanding Revolving Loans of the other Lenders and/or make such other adjustments as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Revolving Credit Exposure of the Lenders to be on a pro rata basis in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments, whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender and will be a Non-Defaulting Lender (and such Revolving Credit Exposure of each Lender will

 

53


automatically be adjusted on a prospective basis to reflect the foregoing). If any cash collateral has been posted with respect to the LC Exposure or the Swingline Exposure of such Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will promptly return such cash collateral to the Borrowers; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrowers while such Lender was a Defaulting Lender; provided , further , that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Non-Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

(c) So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, no Issuing Bank will be required to issue, amend, extend, renew or increase any Letter of Credit, and the Swingline Lender will not be required to fund any Swingline Loans, as applicable, unless it is satisfied that 100% of the related LC Exposure and Swingline Exposure after giving effect thereto is fully covered or eliminated by any combination satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be, of the following:

(i) in the case of a Defaulting Lender, the Swingline Exposure and the LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender is reallocated to the Non-Defaulting Lenders as provided in subsection (a)(i) of this Section;

(ii) in the case of a Defaulting Lender, without limiting the provisions of subsection (a)(ii) of this Section, their reimbursement obligations in respect of such Letter of Credit or such Swingline Loan have been Cash Collateralized in an amount at least equal to the aggregate amount of the unreallocated obligations (contingent or otherwise) of such Defaulting Lender in respect of such Letter of Credit or such Swingline Loan, or the Borrowers make other arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Swingline Lender, as the case may be, in their sole discretion to protect them against the risk of non-payment by such Defaulting Lender; and

(iii) in the case of a Defaulting Lender, the Borrowers agree that the face amount of such requested Letter of Credit or the principal amount of such requested Swingline Loan will be reduced by an amount equal to the unreallocated, non-Cash Collateralized or otherwise unsatisfactorily protected in accordance with this Section 2.25 portion thereof as to which such Defaulting Lender would otherwise be liable, in which case the obligations of the Non-Defaulting Lenders in respect of such Letter of Credit or such Swingline Loan will, subject to the limitation in the proviso below, be on a pro rata basis in accordance with the Commitments of the Non-Defaulting Lenders, and the pro rata payment provisions of Section 2.20 will be deemed adjusted to reflect this provision; provided that the sum of each Non-Defaulting Lender’s total Revolving Credit Exposure may not in any event exceed the Revolving Commitment of such Non-Defaulting Lender as in effect at the time of such reduction.

Section 2.26. All Obligations to Constitute Joint and Several Obligations .

(a) All Obligations shall constitute joint and several obligations of the Borrowers and shall be secured by the Administrative Agent’s Lien upon all of the Collateral, and by all other Liens heretofore, now or at any time hereafter granted by the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, the Bank Product Providers or the Lender-Related Hedge Providers, to the extent provided in the Loan Documents.

 

54


(b) Each of the Borrowers expressly represents and acknowledges that it is part of a common enterprise with the other Borrowers and that any financial accommodations by the Administrative Agent, the other Lenders, Bank Product Providers and Lender-Related Hedge Providers to any other Borrower hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and the documentation for Bank Product Obligations or Hedging Obligations are and will be of direct and indirect interest, benefit and advantage to the Borrowers. The Borrowers acknowledge that any Notice of Continuation/Conversion, Notice of Borrowing or other notice or request given by the Borrower Representative to the Administrative Agent shall bind the Borrowers, and that any notice given by the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Bank Product Provider or any Lender-Related Hedge Provider to the Borrower Representative shall be effective with respect to all of the Borrowers. Each of the Borrowers acknowledges and agrees that the Borrowers shall be liable, on a joint and several basis, for all of the Loans and other Obligations, regardless of which Borrower actually may have received the proceeds of any of the Loans or other extensions of credit or the amount of such Loans received or the manner in which the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Bank Product Provider or any Lender-Related Hedge Provider accounts among the Borrowers for such Loans or other extensions of credit on its books and records, and further acknowledges and agrees that Loans and other extensions of credit to the Borrowers inure to the mutual benefit of all of the Borrowers and that the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Bank Product Providers and the Lender-Related Hedge Providers are relying on the joint and several liability of the Borrowers in extending the Loans and other financial accommodations hereunder.

(c) In the event any Borrower (a “ Funding Borrower ”) shall make any payment or payments under this Agreement or shall suffer any loss as a result of any realization upon any collateral granted by it to secure its obligations hereunder, such Funding Borrower shall have the right to seek contribution payments from each other Borrower (each, a “ Contributing Borrower ”) to the extent permitted by applicable law. Nothing in this Section 2.26(c) shall affect any Borrower’s joint and several liability to the Lenders, the Bank Product Providers and the Lender-Related Hedge Providers for the entire amount of its Obligations.

(d) Until the payment in full of the Obligations, each Borrower covenants and agrees that its right to receive any contribution hereunder from a Contributing Borrower shall be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Obligations of the Borrowers to the Lenders, the Bank Product Providers and the Lender-Related Hedge Providers hereunder. No Borrower will exercise any rights that it may acquire by way of subrogation hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any documentation for Bank Product Obligations or Hedging Obligations or at law by any payment made hereunder or otherwise, nor shall any Borrower seek or be entitled to seek any contribution or reimbursement from any other Borrower in respect of payments made by such Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document or under any documentation for Bank Product Obligations or Hedging Obligations, until all amounts owing to the Lenders, the Bank Product Providers and the Lender-Related Hedge Providers on account of the Obligations are paid in full in cash (or, with respect to Bank Product Obligations and Hedging Obligations, are either cash collateralized or supported by a letter of credit). If any amounts shall be paid to any Borrower on account of such subrogation or contribution rights at any time when all of the Obligations shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall be held by such Borrower in trust for the Lenders, the Bank Product Providers and the Lender-Related Hedge Providers segregated from other funds of such Borrower, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Borrower, be turned over to the Administrative Agent in the exact form received by such Borrower (duly endorsed by such Borrower to the Administrative Agent, if required), to be applied against the Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, as provided for herein.

 

55


ARTICLE III

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT

Section 3.1. Conditions to Effectiveness . This Agreement shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.2 ):

(a) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received the following, each to be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

(i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed by or on behalf of each party hereto or written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement;

(ii) a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of each Loan Party in the form of Exhibit 3.1(a)(ii) , attaching and certifying copies of its bylaws and of the resolutions of its board of directors or other equivalent governing body, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and certifying the name, title and true signature of each officer of such Loan Party executing the Loan Documents to which it is a party;

(iii) certified copies of the articles or certificate of incorporation, together with certificates of good standing or existence, as may be available from the Secretary of State of the jurisdiction of organization of such Loan Party and each other jurisdiction where such Loan Party is qualified to do business as a foreign corporation;

(iv) a favorable written opinion of Paul Hastings LLP, counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and each of the Lenders, and covering such matters relating to the Loan Parties, the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated therein as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders shall reasonably request;

(v) a certificate in the form of Exhibit 3.1(a)(v) , dated the Closing Date and signed by a Responsible Officer, certifying that after giving effect to the funding of any initial Revolving Borrowing, (x) no Default or Event of Default exists, (y) all representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in the Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by a Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) and (z) since the date of the financial statements of the Borrowers described in Section 4.4 , there shall have been no change which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(vi) certified copies of all consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations and filings and orders required or advisable to be made or obtained under any Requirement of Law, or by any Contractual Obligation of any Loan Party, in connection with the execution, delivery, performance, validity and enforceability of the Loan Documents or any of the transactions contemplated thereby, and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations, filings and orders shall be in full force and effect and all applicable waiting periods shall have expired, and no investigation or inquiry by any governmental authority regarding the Commitments or any transaction being financed with the proceeds thereof shall be ongoing;

 

56


(vii) copies of (A) the internally prepared quarterly financial statements of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the Fiscal Quarter ended [March 31, 2013] , (B) the audited consolidated and unaudited consolidating financial statements for the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2010, December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2012 and (C) financial projections on a quarterly basis for the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2014 and annually thereafter through December 31, 2017;

(viii) a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by the chief financial officer of each Loan Party, confirming that each Loan Party is Solvent before and after giving effect to the funding of any initial Revolving Borrowing and the consummation of the transactions contemplated to occur on the Closing Date and that after giving pro forma effect to the transactions contemplated hereby, the ratio of (x) Consolidated Total Indebtedness as of the Closing Date to (y) Consolidated EBITDA for the four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on [March 31, 2013] shall not exceed 1.00:1.00;

(ix) CUSIP numbers for the Commitments; and

(x) such other documents, certificates, information or legal opinions as are reasonable and customary for transactions of this type to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent.

(b) To the extent requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender not less than five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall have received all documentation and other information with respect to the Loan Parties that the Administrative Agent or such Lender reasonably believes is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know-your-customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the Patriot Act

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of this Section, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section, each Lender that has signed this Credit Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved of, accepted or been satisfied with each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to, approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto. Administrative Agent shall promptly provide Borrower with a copy of any such notice received from such Lender.

Section 3.2. Conditions to Initial Advances . The obligations of the Lenders (including the Swingline Lender) to make Loans and the obligation of the Issuing Banks to issue any Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.2 ):

(a) The Administrative Agent shall have received payment of all fees, expenses and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Initial Funding Date, including, without limitation, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent, the Sole Lead Arranger and their Affiliates (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent) required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrowers hereunder, under any other Loan Document and under any agreement with the Administrative Agent or the Sole Lead Arranger.

 

57


(b) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received the following, each to be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

(i) a favorable written opinion of Paul Hastings LLP, counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and each of the Lenders, and covering such matters relating to the Loan Parties, the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated therein as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders shall reasonably request;

(ii) a certificate in the form of Exhibit 3.1(b)(v) , dated the Closing Date and signed by a Responsible Officer, certifying that after giving effect to the funding of any initial Revolving Borrowing, (x) no Default or Event of Default exists, (y) all representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in the Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by a Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) and (z) since the date of the financial statements of the Borrowers described in Section 4.4 , there shall have been no change which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(iii) a duly executed Notice of Borrowing for any initial Revolving Borrowing;

(iv) a duly executed funds disbursement agreement, together with a report setting forth the sources and uses of the proceeds hereof;

(v) certified copies of all consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations and filings and orders required or advisable to be made or obtained under any Requirement of Law, or by any Contractual Obligation of any Loan Party, in connection with the execution, delivery, performance, validity and enforceability of the Loan Documents or any of the transactions contemplated thereby, and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations, filings and orders shall be in full force and effect and all applicable waiting periods shall have expired, and no investigation or inquiry by any governmental authority regarding the Commitments or any transaction being financed with the proceeds thereof shall be ongoing;

(vi) a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by the chief financial officer of each Loan Party, confirming that each Loan Party is Solvent before and after giving effect to the funding of any initial Revolving Borrowing and the consummation of the transactions contemplated to occur on the Closing Date and that after giving pro forma effect to the transactions contemplated hereby, the ratio of (x) Consolidated Total Indebtedness as of the Closing Date to (y) Consolidated EBITDA for the four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on [March 31, 2013] shall not exceed 1.00:1.00;

(vii) the Guaranty and Security Agreement, duly executed by the Borrowers, together with (A) UCC financing statements and other applicable documents under the laws of all necessary or appropriate jurisdictions with respect to the perfection of the Liens granted under the Guaranty and Security Agreement, as requested by the Administrative Agent in order to perfect such Liens, duly authorized by the Loan Parties, (B) copies of UCC, tax, judgment and fixture lien search reports in all necessary jurisdictions and under all legal and trade names of the Loan Parties, as requested by the Administrative Agent, indicating that there are no prior Liens on any of the Collateral other than Permitted Liens and Liens to be released on the Closing Date, (C) a Perfection Certificate, duly completed and executed by the Borrowers, (D) duly executed Patent Security Agreements, Trademark Security Agreements and Copyright Security Agreements, (E)

 

58


original certificates evidencing all issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock of all Subsidiaries owned directly by any Loan Party (or, if the pledge of all of the voting Capital Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary would result in materially adverse tax consequences, limited to 65% of the issued and outstanding voting Capital Stock of such Foreign Subsidiary and 100% of the issued and outstanding non-voting Capital Stock of such Foreign Subsidiary, as applicable) and (F) stock or membership interest powers or other appropriate instruments of transfer executed in blank; and

(viii) copies of duly executed payoff letters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, executed by the Existing Lender or the administrative agent thereof, together with (a) UCC-3 or other appropriate termination statements, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, releasing all liens of the Existing Lender upon any of the personal property of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries, (b) cancellations and releases, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, releasing all liens of the Existing Lender upon any of the real property of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries, and (c) any other releases, terminations or other documents reasonably required by the Administrative Agent to evidence the payoff of Indebtedness owed to the Existing Lender.

(c) All conditions precedent to the Closing Date IPO, shall have been satisfied, and the Closing Date IPO shall be consummated prior to or simultaneously with the closing and funding of the Loans.

Section 3.3. Conditions to Each Credit Event . The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing and of the Issuing Banks to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit is subject to Section 2.25(c) and the satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default or Event of Default shall exist;

(b) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, all representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by a Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects); and

(c) the Borrowers shall have delivered the required Notice of Borrowing.

Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrowers on the date thereof as to the matters specified in subsections (a) and (b) of this Section; provided, however, with respect to clause (b) of this Section, representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in the Loan Documents that specifically refer to an earlier date must only be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by a Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) as of such earlier date.

 

59


Section 3.4. Delivery of Documents . All of the Loan Documents, certificates, legal opinions and other documents and papers referred to in this Article, unless otherwise specified, shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent for the account of each of the Lenders and in sufficient counterparts or copies for each of the Lenders and shall be in form and substance satisfactory in all respects to the Administrative Agent.

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Borrowers represent and warrant , both before and after giving effect to the Related Transactions, to the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Issuing Banks as follows:

Section 4.1. Existence; Power . Each Borrower and each of their Subsidiaries (i) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing as a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other organization under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (ii) has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted, and (iii) is duly qualified to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where a failure to be so qualified could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.2. Organizational Power; Authorization . The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of the Loan Documents and the other Related Transaction Documents to which it is a party are within such Loan Party’s organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational and, if required, shareholder, partner or member action. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each Borrower and constitutes, and each other Loan Document and Related Transaction Document to which any Loan Party is a party, when executed and delivered by such Loan Party, will constitute, valid and binding obligations of such Borrower or such Loan Party (as the case may be), enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms, except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.

Section 4.3. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of the Loan Documents and the other Related Transaction Documents to which it is a party (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any action by, any Governmental Authority, except those as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect and except for filings necessary to perfect or maintain perfection of the Liens created under the Loan Documents, (b) will not violate any Requirement of Law applicable to any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries or any judgment, order or ruling of any Governmental Authority, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any Contractual Obligation of any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries or any of their assets or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries, except Liens (if any) created under the Loan Documents, except in the case of clauses (b) and (c) those the failure of which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.4. Financial Statements . The Borrowers have furnished to each Lender (i) the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2012, and the related audited consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the Fiscal Year then ended, prepared by Grant Thornton LLP and (ii) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries as of [ March 31, 2013] , and

 

60


the related unaudited consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the Fiscal Quarter and year-to-date period then ended, certified by a Responsible Officer. Such financial statements fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial condition of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries as of such dates and the consolidated results of operations for such periods in conformity with GAAP consistently applied, subject to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii). Since December 31, 2012, there have been no changes with respect to the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries which have had or could reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.5. Litigation and Environmental Matters .

(a) No litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrators or Governmental Authorities is pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrowers, threatened against or affecting any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries (i) that could not reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) which in any manner draws into question the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or Related Transaction Document.

(b) Except for the matters set forth on Schedule 4.5, neither the Borrowers nor any of their Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any reasonable basis for any Environmental Liability, in each case under clauses (i) through (iv) which alone or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to result in a liability to the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries in excess of $10,000,000.

Section 4.6. Compliance with Laws and Agreements . Each Borrower and each of their Subsidiaries is in compliance with (a) all Requirements of Law and all judgments, decrees and orders of any Governmental Authority and (b) all indentures, agreements or other instruments binding upon it or its properties, except where non-compliance, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.7. Investment Company Act . Neither the Borrowers nor any of their Subsidiaries is (a) an “investment company” or is “controlled” by an “investment company”, as such terms are defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended and in effect from time to time, or (b) otherwise subject to any other regulatory scheme limiting its ability to incur debt or requiring any approval or consent from, or registration or filing with, any Governmental Authority in connection therewith.

Section 4.8. Taxes . Each Borrower and their Subsidiaries and each other Person for whose taxes any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries could become liable have timely filed or caused to be filed all Federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns that are required to be filed by them, and have paid all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns or on any assessments made against it or its property and all other taxes, fees or other charges imposed on it or any of its property by any Governmental Authority, except where the same are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which such Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, has set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries in respect of such taxes are adequate, and no tax liabilities that could be materially in excess of the amount so provided are anticipated.

 

61


Section 4.9. Margin Regulations . None of the proceeds of any of the Loans or Letters of Credit will be used, directly or indirectly, for “purchasing” or “carrying” any “margin stock” within the respective meanings of each of such terms under Regulation U or for any purpose that violates the provisions of Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X. Neither the Borrowers nor any of their Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying “margin stock”.

Section 4.10. ERISA . Except , in each case, as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in liability to the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $7,500,000, each Plan is in substantial compliance in form and operation with its terms and with ERISA and the Code (including, without limitation, the Code provisions compliance with which is necessary for any intended favorable tax treatment) and all other applicable laws and regulations. Each Plan (and each related trust, if any) which is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that it meets the requirements of Sections 401(a) and 501(a) of the Code covering all applicable tax law changes, or is comprised of a master or prototype plan that has received a favorable opinion letter from the Internal Revenue Service, and nothing has occurred since the date of such determination that would adversely affect such determination (or, in the case of a Plan with no determination, nothing has occurred that would adversely affect the issuance of a favorable determination letter or otherwise adversely affect such qualification). No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur. There exists no Unfunded Pension Liability with respect to any Plan. None of the Borrowers, any of their Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate is making or accruing an obligation to make contributions, or has, within any of the five calendar years immediately preceding the date this assurance is given or deemed given, made or accrued an obligation to make, contributions to any Multiemployer Plan. There are no actions, suits or claims pending against or involving a Plan (other than routine claims for benefits) or, to the knowledge of any Borrower, any of their Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate, threatened, which would reasonably be expected to be asserted successfully against any Plan and, if so asserted successfully, would reasonably be expected either singly or in the aggregate to result in liability to any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries. Each Borrower, each of their Subsidiaries and each ERISA Affiliate have made all contributions to or under each Plan and Multiemployer Plan required by law within the applicable time limits prescribed thereby, by the terms of such Plan or Multiemployer Plan, respectively, or by any contract or agreement requiring contributions to a Plan or Multiemployer Plan. No Plan which is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA has applied for or received an extension of any amortization period within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 303 or 304 of ERISA. None of the Borrowers, any of their Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate have ceased operations at a facility so as to become subject to the provisions of Section 4068(a) of ERISA, withdrawn as a substantial employer so as to become subject to the provisions of Section 4063 of ERISA or ceased making contributions to any Plan subject to Section 4064(a) of ERISA to which it made contributions. Each Non-U.S. Plan has been maintained in compliance with its terms and with the requirements of any and all applicable laws, statutes, rules, regulations and orders and has been maintained, where required, in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities, except as would not reasonably be expected to result in liability to any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries. All contributions required to be made with respect to a Non-U.S. Plan have been timely made. Neither the Borrowers nor any of their Subsidiaries has incurred any obligation in connection with the termination of, or withdrawal from, any Non-U.S. Plan. The present value of the accrued benefit liabilities (whether or not vested) under each Non-U.S. Plan, determined as of the end of the Borrowers’ most recently ended fiscal year on the basis of reasonable actuarial assumptions, did not exceed the current value of the assets of such Non-U.S. Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities.

 

62


Section 4.11. Ownership of Property; Insurance .

(a) Each of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all of its real and personal property material to the operation of its business, including all such properties reflected in the most recent audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrowers referred to in Section 4.4 or purported to have been acquired by any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries after said date (except as sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business or as permitted under this Agreement or any other Loan Document), in each case free and clear of Liens (other than Permitted Liens). All leases that individually or in the aggregate are material to the business or operations of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries are valid and subsisting and are in full force in all material respects.

(b) Each of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed or otherwise has the right to use, all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights and other intellectual property material to its business, and the use thereof by the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries does not infringe in any material respect on the rights of any other Person.

(c) As of the Closing Date, neither the Borrowers nor any of their Subsidiaries owns any Real Estate.

Section 4.12. Disclosure . Neither the Information Memorandum nor any of the reports (including, without limitation, all reports that the Borrowers are required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission), financial statements, certificates or other information (other than information of general economic or general industry nature) furnished by or on behalf of the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation or syndication of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or delivered hereunder or thereunder (as modified or supplemented by any other information so furnished), contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, taken as a whole in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrowers represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.

Section 4.13. Labor Relations . There are no strikes, lockouts or other material labor disputes or grievances against any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries, or, to the Borrowers’ knowledge, threatened against or affecting any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries, and no significant unfair labor practice charges or grievances are pending against any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries, or, to the Borrowers’ knowledge, threatened against any of them before any Governmental Authority. All payments due from any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries pursuant to the provisions of any collective bargaining agreement have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of any Borrower or any such Subsidiary, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 4.14. Subsidiaries . Schedule 4.14 sets forth the name of, the ownership interest of the applicable Loan Party in, the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of, and the type of each Subsidiary of the Borrowers and the other Loan Parties and identifies each Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Loan Party, in each case as of the Closing Date.

Section 4.15. Solvency . After giving effect to the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the other Related Transaction Documents, the making of the Loans under this Agreement and the consummation of the other Related Transactions, Borrowers and their Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are Solvent.

 

63


Section 4.16. Deposit and Disbursement Accounts . Schedule 3 of the Perfection Certificate lists all banks and other financial institutions at which any Loan Party maintains deposit accounts, lockbox accounts, disbursement accounts, investment accounts or other similar accounts as of the Closing Date (other than (i) accounts established and maintained solely for the purpose of funding payroll, payroll taxes, withholding taxes, workman’s compensation and other compensation and benefits to employees and other fiduciary accounts, and (ii) any accounts with amounts on deposit that do not exceed $100,000), and such Schedule correctly identifies the name, address and telephone number of each financial institution, the name in which the account is held, the type of the account, and the complete account number therefor.

Section 4.17. Collateral Documents .

(a) The Guaranty and Security Agreement is effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral (as defined therein), and when UCC financing statements in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 3 to the Guaranty and Security Agreement, the Guaranty and Security Agreement shall constitute a fully perfected Lien (to the extent that such Lien may be perfected by the filing of a UCC financing statement) on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the grantors thereunder in such Collateral, in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person, other than with respect to Permitted Liens. When the certificates evidencing all Capital Stock pledged pursuant to the Guaranty and Security Agreement are delivered to the Administrative Agent, together with appropriate stock powers or other similar instruments of transfer duly executed in blank, the Liens in such Capital Stock shall be fully perfected first priority security interests (subject to inchoate tax liens and restrictions under applicable federal and state securities laws), perfected by “control” as defined in the UCC.

(b) When the filings in subsection (a) of this Section are made and when, if applicable, the Patent Security Agreements and the Trademark Security Agreements are filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Copyright Security Agreements are filed in the United States Copyright Office, the Guaranty and Security Agreement shall constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in the Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights, if any, in which a security interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registering a security agreement, financing statement or analogous document in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office, as applicable, in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person.

Section 4.18. Intentionally Omitted .

Section 4.19. OFAC . Neither any Loan Party nor any of their Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Borrowers, any Affiliates of the Loan Parties (i) is a Sanctioned Person, (ii) has more than 10% of its assets in Sanctioned Countries, or (iii) derives more than 10% of its operating income from investments in, or transactions with, Sanctioned Persons or Sanctioned Countries. No part of the proceeds of any Loans hereunder will be used directly or indirectly to fund any operations in, finance any investments or activities in or make any payments to a Sanctioned Person or a Sanctioned Country or for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended and in effect from time to time.

 

64


Section 4.20. Patriot Act . Neither any Loan Party nor any of their Subsidiaries is an “enemy” or an “ally of the enemy” within the meaning of Section 2 of the Trading with the Enemy Act or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto. Neither any Loan Party nor any or their Subsidiaries is in violation of (a) the Trading with the Enemy Act, (b) any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 C.F.R., Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto or (c) the Patriot Act. None of the Loan Parties (i) is a blocked Person described in Section 1 of the Anti-Terrorism Order or (ii) to the best of its knowledge, engages in any dealings or transactions, or is otherwise associated, with any such blocked Person.

ARTICLE V

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

The Borrowers covenant and agree that until the Commitments have been terminated and the Obligations have been paid in full:

Section 5.1. Financial Statements and Other Information . The Borrowers will deliver to the Administrative Agent for delivery to each Lender:

(a) as soon as available and in any event within 90 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Borrower Representative a copy of the annual audited report for such Fiscal Year for the Borrower Representative and its Subsidiaries, containing a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower Representative and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Year and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows (together with all footnotes thereto) of the Borrower Representative and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous Fiscal Year, all in reasonable detail and reported on by Grant Thornton LLP or other independent public accountants of nationally recognized standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification, exception or explanation and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit except for qualifications resulting solely from the Obligations being classified as short term indebtedness during the one year period prior to the Revolving Commitment Termination Date) to the effect that such financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and the results of operations of the Borrower Representative and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and that the examination by such accountants in connection with such consolidated financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards;

(b) as soon as available and in any event within 45 days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter of the Borrower Representative, an unaudited consolidated and consolidating balance sheet of the Borrower Representative and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter and the related unaudited consolidated and consolidating statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower Representative and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Quarter and the then elapsed portion of such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding Fiscal Quarter and the corresponding portion of the Borrower Representative’s previous Fiscal Year together with management discussion and analysis of financial condition and operating results;

 

65


(c) as soon as available and in any event within 30 days after the end of each calendar month (other than March, June, September and December), an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower Representative and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such calendar month and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower Representative and its Subsidiaries for such calendar month and the then elapsed portion of such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding month and the corresponding portion of the Borrower Representative’s previous Fiscal Year;

(d) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of this Section (other than the financial statements for the fourth Fiscal Quarter of each Fiscal Year delivered pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section), a Compliance Certificate signed by the principal executive officer or the principal financial officer of the Borrower Representative (i) certifying as to whether there exists a Default or Event of Default on the date of such certificate and, if a Default or an Event of Default then exists, specifying the details thereof and the action which the Borrowers have taken or proposes to take with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth in reasonable detail calculations demonstrating compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Article VI , (iii) specifying any change in the identity of the Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Year or Fiscal Quarter from the Subsidiaries identified to the Lenders on the Closing Date or as of the most recent Fiscal Year or Fiscal Quarter, as the case may be, (iv) stating whether any change in GAAP or the application thereof has occurred since the date of the mostly recently delivered audited financial statements of the Borrower Representative and its Subsidiaries, and, if any change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such Compliance Certificate and (v) specifying any change in the identity of the Disqualified Competitors set forth on the Disqualified Competitor List;

(e) as soon as available and in any event within 30 days after the end of the calendar year, forecasts and a pro forma budget for the succeeding Fiscal Year, containing an income statement, balance sheet and statement of cash flow;

(f) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all functions of said Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Borrowers to their shareholders generally, as the case may be; and

(g) promptly following any request therefor, subject to applicable laws and confidentiality obligations owing by Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries to any other Person, such other information regarding the results of operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.

So long as the Borrowers are required to file periodic reports under Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Borrowers may satisfy its obligation to deliver the financial statements referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above by delivering such financial statements by electronic mail to such e-mail address as the Administrative Agent shall have provided to the Borrowers from time to time in writing.

Section 5.2. Notices of Material Events . The Borrower Representative will furnish to the Administrative Agent for delivery to each Lender prompt written notice of the following:

(a) the occurrence of any Event of Default or, to the knowledge of any Borrower, any Default;

 

66


(b) the filing or commencement of, or any material development in, any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or, to the knowledge of any Borrower, affecting any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(c) to the knowledge of any Borrower, the occurrence of any event or any other development by which any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries (i) fails to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) becomes subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) receives notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability, or (iv) becomes aware of any basis for any Environmental Liability, in each case which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(d) promptly and in any event within 15 days after (i) any Borrower, any of their Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate knows or has a reasonable basis to know that any ERISA Event has occurred, a certificate of the chief financial officer of the Borrowers describing such ERISA Event and the action, if any, proposed to be taken with respect to such ERISA Event and a copy of any notice filed with the PBGC or the IRS pertaining to such ERISA Event and any notices received by such Borrower, such Subsidiary or such ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or any other governmental agency with respect thereto, and (ii) becoming aware (1) that there has been an increase in Unfunded Pension Liabilities (not taking into account Plans with negative Unfunded Pension Liabilities) since the date the representations hereunder are given or deemed given, or from any prior notice, as applicable, (2) of the existence of any Withdrawal Liability, (3) of the adoption of, or the commencement of contributions to, any Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code by any Borrower, any of their Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate, or (4) of the adoption of any amendment to a Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code which results in a material increase in contribution obligations of any Borrower, any of their Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate, a detailed written description thereof from the chief financial officer of the Borrowers; and

(e) the occurrence of any event of default, or, to the knowledge of any Borrower, any default that is not cured within any applicable grace period, or the receipt by any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries of any written notice of an alleged default or event of default, with respect to any Material Indebtedness of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries.

The Borrowers will furnish to the Administrative Agent for delivery to each Lender the following:

(x) promptly and in any event at least 15 days prior thereto, notice of any change (i) in any Loan Party’s legal name, (ii) in any Loan Party’s chief executive office, its principal place of business, any office in which it maintains books or records or any office or facility at which Collateral owned by it is located from the establishment of a new office or facility, (iii) in any Loan Party’s identity or legal structure, (iv) in any Loan Party’s federal taxpayer identification number or organizational number or (v) in any Loan Party’s jurisdiction of organization;

(y) upon the reasonable request of Administrative Agent, as soon as available and in any event within 30 days after receipt thereof, a copy of any environmental report or site assessment obtained by or for any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries after the Closing Date on any material owned Real Estate; and

(z) prompt written notice after a Responsible Officer obtains knowledge of any casualty or other insured damage to any material portion of any Collateral or the commencement of any action or preceding for the taking of any material portion of any Collateral or interest therein under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding, which, in each case, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

67


Each notice or other document delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a written statement of a Responsible Officer setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice or other document and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

Section 5.3. Existence; Conduct of Business . The Borrowers will, and will cause each of their Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and its respective rights, licenses, permits, privileges, franchises, patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade names material to the conduct of its business; provided that nothing in this Section shall prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 7.3 .

Section 5.4. Compliance with Laws . The Borrowers will, and will cause each of their Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and requirements of any Governmental Authority applicable to its business and properties, including, without limitation, all Environmental Laws, ERISA and OSHA, except where the failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.5. Payment of Obligations . The Borrowers will, and will cause each of their Subsidiaries to, pay and discharge at or before maturity all of its obligations and liabilities (including, without limitation, all taxes, assessments and other governmental charges, levies and all other claims that could result in a statutory Lien) before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a)(i) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and (ii) such Borrower or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto to the extent required by GAAP and (b) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.6. Books and Records . The Borrowers will, and will cause each of their Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities to the extent necessary to prepare the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower Representative in conformity with GAAP.

Section 5.7. Visitation and Inspection . The Borrowers will, and will cause each of their Subsidiaries to, permit any representative of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to visit and inspect its properties, to examine its books and records and to make copies and take extracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with any of its officers and with its independent certified public accountants, all at such reasonable times during normal operating hours and as often as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request after reasonable prior notice to the Borrower Representative; provided that (i) only visits and inspections up to three (3) times per calendar year by the Administrative Agent will be at the expense of the Borrowers unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (ii) if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no prior notice shall be required. The Administrative Agent and its representatives and independent contractors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to avoid interruption of the normal business operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall give the Borrower Representative the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the independent public accountants of the Borrowers and their

 

68


respective Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.7, neither of the Borrowers nor any of their respective Subsidiaries will be required to disclose, permit the inspection, examination or making copies or abstracts of, or discussion of, any document, information or other matter that (i) in respect of which disclosure to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or their respective representatives or contractors) is prohibited by Law or any binding agreement or (ii) is subject to attorney-client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work product.

Section 5.8. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance . The Borrowers will, and will cause each of their Subsidiaries to, (a) keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, (b) maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies which are not Affiliates of the Borrowers (i) insurance with respect to its properties and business, and the properties and business of their Subsidiaries, against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by companies in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations and (ii) all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Collateral Documents, and will, upon reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, furnish to Administrative Agent for delivery to each Lender at reasonable intervals a certificate of a Responsible Officer setting forth the nature and extent of all insurance maintained by the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries in accordance with this Section, and (c) at all times shall name the Administrative Agent as additional insured on all liability policies of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries (excluding directors and officers insurance and workers compensation insurance) and as loss payee (pursuant to a loss payee endorsement approved by the Administrative Agent) on all casualty and property insurance policies of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries.

Section 5.9. Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations . The Borrowers will use the proceeds of all Loans to refinance existing Indebtedness on the Closing Date and thereafter to pay transaction costs and expenses arising in connection with the Related Transaction Documents, to finance working capital needs, Permitted Acquisitions and capital expenditures and for other general corporate purposes of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that would violate any rule or regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, including Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X. All Letters of Credit will be used for general corporate purposes.

Section 5.10. Cash Management . The Borrowers shall, and shall cause its Domestic Subsidiaries to:

(a) maintain all cash management and treasury business with SunTrust Bank or a Permitted Third Party Bank, including, without limitation, all deposit accounts, disbursement accounts, investment accounts and lockbox accounts (other than (i) accounts established and maintained solely for the purpose of funding payroll, payroll taxes, withholding taxes, workman’s compensation and other compensation and benefits to employees and other fiduciary accounts, and (ii) any accounts with amounts on deposit that do not exceed $100,000, all of which the Loan Parties may maintain without restriction) (each such deposit account, disbursement account, investment account and lockbox account, a “Controlled Account”); each Controlled Account shall be a cash collateral account, with all cash, checks and other similar items of payment in such account securing payment of the Obligations, and in which the Borrowers and each of their Subsidiaries shall have granted a first priority Lien to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, perfected either automatically under the UCC (with respect to Controlled Accounts at SunTrust Bank) or subject to Control Account Agreements;

 

69


(b) deposit promptly, and in any event no later than 10 Business Days after the date of receipt thereof, all cash, checks, drafts or other similar items of payment relating to or constituting payments made in respect of any and all accounts and other Collateral into Controlled Accounts, in each case except for cash and Permitted Investments the aggregate value of which does not exceed $500,000 at any time; and

(c) at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, at the request of the Required Lenders, the Borrowers will, and will cause each other Loan Party to, cause all payments constituting proceeds of accounts or other Collateral to be directed into lockbox accounts under agreements in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Section 5.11. Additional Subsidiaries and Collateral .

(a) In the event that, subsequent to the Closing Date, any Person becomes a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Borrower Representative (including any Subsidiary that is not wholly-owned solely as a result of directors’ qualifying shares required by applicable law), whether pursuant to formation, acquisition or otherwise, (x) the Borrower Representative shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereof and (y) within 30 days after such Person becomes a wholly-owned Subsidiary (or such later date as agreed to by the Administrative Agent), the Borrowers shall cause such Subsidiary (i) to become a new Guarantor (unless such Subsidiary (1) is a Foreign Subsidiary and adverse tax consequences could reasonably be expected to result from making such Subsidiary a Guarantor, (2) is prohibited by law from becoming a Guarantor, (3) is a Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary that is not required to be a Guarantor or (4) the primary assets of such Subsidiary are Capitol Stock or Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary and adverse tax consequences could reasonably be expected to result from making such Subsidiary a Guarantor) and to grant Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent in all of its personal property by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a supplement to the Guaranty and Security Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, executing and delivering a Copyright Security Agreement, Patent Security Agreement and Trademark Security Agreement, as applicable, and authorizing and delivering, at the request of the Administrative Agent, such UCC financing statements or similar instruments required by the Administrative Agent to perfect the Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent and granted under any of the Loan Documents, provided, that no Domestic Loan Party shall be required to take any action under the law of any non-U.S. jurisdiction in order to create or perfect a security interest in any assets of any Borrower or Loan Party which assets are either located outside of the United States or would require action under the law of any non-U.S. jurisdiction in order to create or perfect a security interest therein (other than, subject to the limitations set forth in the paragraph below, stock of a first-tier Foreign Subsidiary of any Borrower or Domestic Loan Party), and (ii) to deliver all such other documentation (including, without limitation, certified organizational documents, resolutions, lien searches, title insurance policies, surveys, environmental reports and legal opinions) reasonably requested by Administrative Agent and consistent with the documents delivered by the Loan Parties on or prior to the Closing Date pursuant to Section 3.1(b) . In addition, within 30 days after the date any Person becomes a Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower Representative (or such later date as agreed to by the Administrative Agent), the Borrower Representative shall, or shall cause the applicable Loan Party to (i) pledge all of the Capital Stock of such Domestic Subsidiary owned by a Loan Party to the Administrative Agent as security for the Obligations by executing and delivering a supplement to the Guaranty and Security Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (ii) deliver the original certificates evidencing such pledged Capital Stock (if any) to the Administrative Agent, together with appropriate powers executed in blank; provided that in no event shall any Capital Stock of any non-wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary be pledged hereunder to the extent that the granting of a security interest in such Capital Stock is prohibited by the applicable joint-venture, shareholder, stock purchase or similar agreement.

 

70


(b) In the event that, subsequent to the Closing Date, any Person becomes a Foreign Subsidiary, whether pursuant to formation, acquisition or otherwise, (x) the Borrower Representative shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereof and (y) to the extent such Foreign Subsidiary is owned directly by any Loan Party, within 60 days after such Person becomes a Foreign Subsidiary or, if the Administrative Agent determines in its sole discretion that the Borrowers are working in good faith, such longer period as the Administrative Agent shall permit in its sole discretion, the Borrowers shall, or shall cause the applicable Loan Party to (i) pledge 65% of the issued and outstanding voting Capital Stock and 100% of the issued and outstanding non-voting Capital Stock of such Foreign Subsidiary owned by such Loan Party to the Administrative Agent as security for the Obligations pursuant to a pledge agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (ii) deliver the original certificates evidencing such pledged Capital Stock, if any, to the Administrative Agent, together with appropriate powers executed in blank and (iii) deliver all such other documentation (including, without limitation, certified organizational documents, resolutions, lien searches and legal opinions) and to take all such other actions as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request provided, that Liens on the Capital Stock of (or other ownership interest in) a Foreign Subsidiary that are required to be pledged shall be documented under U.S. law if the cost of providing a local law pledge exceeds the benefit to Lenders, as determined by Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion; provided further that in no event shall any Capital Stock of any non-wholly owned Foreign Subsidiary be pledged hereunder to the extent that the granting of a security interest in such Capital Stock is prohibited by the applicable joint-venture, shareholder, stock purchase or similar agreement.

(c) The Borrowers agree that, following the delivery of any Collateral Documents required to be executed and delivered by this Section, the Administrative Agent shall have a valid and enforceable, first priority perfected Lien on the property required to be pledged pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this Section (to the extent that such Lien can be perfected by execution, delivery and/or recording of the Collateral Documents or UCC financing statements, or possession of such Collateral), free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens. All actions to be taken pursuant to this Section shall be at the expense of the Borrowers or the applicable Loan Party, and shall be taken to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent.

Section 5.12. Additional Real Estate; Leased Locations . To the extent otherwise permitted hereunder, if any Loan Party proposes to lease any Real Estate with annual lease payments of $500,000 or more, it shall first provide to the Administrative Agent a copy of such lease and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to deliver a Collateral Access Agreement from the landlord of such leased property, which agreement or letter shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent.

Section 5.13. Further Assurances . The Borrowers will, and will cause each other Loan Party to, execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements and other documents), which may be required under any applicable law, or which the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request, to effectuate the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents or to grant, preserve, protect or perfect the Liens created by the Collateral Documents or the validity or priority of any such Lien, all at the expense of the Loan Parties. The Borrowers also agree to provide to the Administrative Agent, from time to time upon reasonable request, evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent as to the perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Collateral Documents.

Section 5.14. Post-Closing Matters . The Borrowers will, and will cause each other Loan Party to, execute and deliver the documents and complete the tasks set forth on Schedule 5.14 , in each case, within the time limits specified on such schedule (as such time limits may be extended in writing by the Administrative Agent in its sole and absolute discretion).

 

71


ARTICLE VI

FINANCIAL COVENANTS

The Borrowers covenant and agree that until the Commitments have been terminated and the Obligations have been paid in full:

Section 6.1. Leverage Ratio . The Borrowers will maintain , as of the end of each Fiscal Quarter, commencing with the Fiscal Quarter ending on September 30, 2013, a Leverage Ratio of not greater than 2.75:1.00, such ratio (the “ Required Threshold ”); provided however , that if the Borrowers consummate one or more Permitted Acquisitions that in the aggregate equals or exceeds $50,000,000, then and in such event the Required Threshold for such Fiscal Quarter and the following three Fiscal Quarters shall be increased to 3.00:1.00.

Section 6.2. Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio . The Borrowers will maintain, as of the end of each Fiscal Quarter, commencing with the Fiscal Quarter ending on September 30, 2013, a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.50:1.00.

ARTICLE VII

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

The Borrowers covenant and agree that so long as any Lender has a Commitment hereunder or any Obligation remains outstanding:

Section 7.1. Indebtedness and Preferred Equity . The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of their Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a) Indebtedness created pursuant to the Loan Documents;

(b) Indebtedness of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 7.1 and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (immediately prior to giving effect to such extension, renewal or replacement) or shorten the maturity or the weighted average life thereof;

(c) Indebtedness of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations, and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof ( provided that such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 180 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvements), and extensions, renewals or replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (immediately prior to giving effect to such extension, renewal or replacement) or shorten the maturity or the weighted average life thereof; provided that the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the greater of (i) $5,000,000 and (ii) 5.0% of Consolidated Net Worth (measured as of the date such Indebtedness is incurred) at any time outstanding;

 

72


(d) Indebtedness of any Borrower owing to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary owing to any Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness that is owed by a Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party shall be subject to Section 7.4 ;

(e) Guarantees by the Borrowers of Indebtedness of any Subsidiary and by any Subsidiary of Indebtedness of any Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that Guarantees by any Loan Party of Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party shall be subject to Section 7.4 ;

(f) Indebtedness of any Person which becomes a Subsidiary after the date of this Agreement; provided that (i) such Indebtedness exists at the time that such Person becomes a Subsidiary and is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Subsidiary, and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness permitted hereunder shall not exceed the greater of (i) $10,000,000 and (ii) 10.0% of the Consolidated Net Worth (measured as of the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary) at any time outstanding;

(g) Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $10,000,000 and (ii) 10.0% of the Consolidated Net Worth (measured as of the date such Indebtedness is incurred) at any time outstanding;

(h) Hedging Obligations permitted by Section 7.10 ;

(i) obligations under an agreement to provide Bank Products and other Indebtedness in respect of netting services, automatic clearing house arrangements, employees’ credit or purchase cards, overdraft protections and similar arrangements in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(j) Indebtedness arising from judgments not constituting Events of Default under Section 8.1(k) ;

(k) Indebtedness resulting from the financing of insurance premiums, and any Indebtedness comprising reimbursement obligations in respect of retention obligations or any casualty obligations, in each case under any insurance policy and not to exceed $2,000,000 in the aggregate amount at any time outstanding;

(l) obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and performance and completion guarantees or obligations in respect thereto provided by either Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices;

(m) Indebtedness arising from customary agreements providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case entered into in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or Capital Stock permitted hereunder;

(n) Indebtedness arising from customary agreements providing for deferred consideration, indemnification, adjustments of purchase price (including “earnouts”) or similar obligations, in each case entered into in connection with Permitted Acquisitions or other Investments permitted by this Agreement;

 

73


(o) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees, consultants or independent contractors of, the Borrower Representative and its Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business; and (ii) Indebtedness consisting of obligations of Borrower Representative or its Subsidiaries under deferred compensation to employees, consultants or independent contractors of Borrower Representative or its Subsidiaries or other similar arrangements incurred by such Persons in connection with the Related Transactions, Permitted Acquisitions or other Investments permitted under this Agreement;

(p) Indebtedness and consisting of promissory notes issued by the Borrower Representative or any of its Subsidiaries to current or former officers, managers, consultants, directors and employees (or their respective spouses, former spouses, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees or distributees) to finance the purchase or redemption of Capital Stock of Borrower Representative of their Capital Stock, in each case to the extent permitted by Section 7.5 (including all applicable limitations);

(q) other unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrowers or their Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $10,000,000 and (ii) 10.0% of the Consolidated Net Worth (measured as of the date such Indebtedness is incurred) at any time outstanding; and

(r) prior to the Initial Funding Date, Indebtedness owing to the Existing Lender.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.1, in the event that an item of Indebtedness when incurred meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Indebtedness described in this Section 7.1 (other than clause (r)), the Borrower Representative may, in its sole discretion, classify such item as incurred in whole or in part pursuant to any one or combination of such categories, and may thereafter from time to time reclassify such item of Indebtedness, in whole or in part, into any one or more other categories, so long as such item of Indebtedness meets the criteria for such other categories when reclassified. The Borrower Representative will only be required to count any item of Indebtedness against the availability for any category of Indebtedness to the extent that, and for so long as, the Borrower Representative has classified such item as incurred pursuant to such category. The accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 7.1

The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, issue any preferred stock or other preferred equity interest that (i) matures or is mandatorily redeemable pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, (ii) is or may become redeemable or repurchaseable by such Borrower or such Subsidiary at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, or (iii) is convertible or exchangeable at the option of the holder thereof for Indebtedness or preferred stock or any other preferred equity interest described in this paragraph, on or prior to, in the case of clause (i), (ii) or (iii), 180 days after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.

Section 7.2. Liens . The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of their Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any of its assets or property now owned or hereafter acquired, except (each of the following a “Permitted Lien” and collectively, the “Permitted Liens”):

(a) Liens securing the Obligations; provided that no Liens may secure Hedging Obligations or Bank Product Obligations without securing all other Obligations on a basis at least pari passu with such Hedging Obligations or Bank Product Obligations and subject to the priority of payments set forth in Section 2.20 and Section 8.2 ;

 

74


(b) Permitted Encumbrances;

(c) Liens on any property or asset of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 7.2 ; provided that such Liens shall not apply to any other property or asset of any Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(d) (d) purchase money Liens upon or in any fixed or capital assets to secure the purchase price or the cost of construction or improvement of such fixed or capital assets or to secure Indebtedness incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition, construction or improvement of such fixed or capital assets (including Liens securing any Capital Lease Obligations); provided that (i) any such Lien secures Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.1(c), (ii) any such Lien attaches to such asset concurrently or within 180 days after the acquisition or the completion of the construction or improvements thereof, (iii) any such Lien does not extend to any other asset, and (iv) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets; provided, further, that individual financings of equipment provided by one lender or lessor, as the case may be, may be cross-collateralized to other individual financings of equipment provided by such lender or lessor respectively;

(e) any Lien (x) existing on any asset of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of any Borrower, (y) existing on any asset of any Person at the time such Person is merged with or into any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries, or (z) existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries; provided that (i) any such Lien was not created in the contemplation of any of the foregoing and (ii) any such Lien secures only those obligations which it secures on the date that such Person becomes a Subsidiary or the date of such merger or the date of such acquisition;

(f) Liens on any assets of Foreign Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.1(g) ;

(g) extensions, renewals, or replacements of any Lien referred to in subsections (c) through (e) of this Section; provided that the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased and that any such extension, renewal or replacement is limited to the assets originally encumbered thereby;

(h) additional Liens on any property of Borrower Representative or any of its Subsidiaries securing any Indebtedness or other liabilities; provided, that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all such Indebtedness and liabilities secured by property of the Loan Parties shall not the greater of (i) $2,500,000 and (ii) 2.5% of Consolidated Net Worth (measured as of the date such Lien is incurred); and

(i) Prior to the Initial Funding Date, Liens securing Indebtedness owing to the Existing Lender.

Section 7.3. Fundamental Changes .

(a) The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of their Subsidiaries to, merge into or consolidate into any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of (in a single transaction or a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired) or all or substantially all of the stock of any of their Subsidiaries (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired) or liquidate or dissolve; provided that if, at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect

 

75


thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (i) any Borrower or any Subsidiary may merge with a Person if such Borrower (or such Subsidiary if no Borrower is a party to such merger) is the surviving Person, (ii) any Subsidiary may merge into another Subsidiary, provided that if any party to such merger is a Subsidiary Loan Party, the Subsidiary Loan Party shall be the surviving Person, (iii) any Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to any Borrower or to a Subsidiary Loan Party, and (iv) any Subsidiary (other than a Borrower) may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrowers determine in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrowers and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders; provided , further , that any such merger involving a Person that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger shall not be permitted unless also permitted by Section 7.4 .

(b) The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of their Subsidiaries to, engage in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries on the date hereof and businesses reasonably related, ancillary or complementary thereto (including related, complementary, synergistic or ancillary technologies in which the Borrowers are currently engaged).

Section 7.4. Investments, Loans . The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of their Subsidiaries to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that was not a wholly owned Subsidiary prior to such merger) any Capital Stock, evidence of Indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant, or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, Guarantee any obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any other Person (all of the foregoing being collectively called “ Investments ”), or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person that constitute a business unit, or create or form any Subsidiary, except:

(a) Investments (other than Permitted Investments) existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 7.4 (including Investments in Subsidiaries);

(b) Permitted Investments;

(c) Guarantees by the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries constituting Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.1 ; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Loan Parties that is Guaranteed by any Loan Party shall be subject to the limitation set forth in subsection (e) of this Section;

(d) Investments made by the Borrowers in or to any Subsidiary Loan Party (or any Subsidiary that will substantially concurrently with such Investment become a Subsidiary Loan Party in accordance with Section 5.11 ) and by any Subsidiary Loan Party to any Borrower or in or to another Subsidiary Loan Party (or any Subsidiary that will substantially concurrently with such Investment become a Subsidiary Loan Party in accordance with Section 5.11 );

(e) Investments by Loan Parties in wholly owned Subsidiaries (other than as a result of directors’ qualifying shares required by applicable law) that are not Loan Parties, including Guarantees of Indebtedness of such Subsidiaries but excluding the Taiwanese Disposition, which do not exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding;

(f) the Taiwanese Disposition so long as the aggregate fair market value of all such assets transferred does not exceed $7,000,000;

 

76


(g) Cash Investments made by the any Loan Party in or to any non-wholly owned Subsidiary (excluding any Subsidiary that is non-wholly owned solely as a result of directors’ qualifying shares required by applicable law) or joint venture, including Guarantees of Indebtedness of such Subsidiaries and any Joint Ventures; provided that the aggregate amount of such Investments by the Loan Parties shall not exceed the greater of (i) $10,000,000 or (ii) 10% of the Consolidated Net Worth of the Borrower Representative and its Subsidiaries; provided that, for purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.4(g) , such Investments shall be valued at the actual amount of cash invested (less the amount of any cash dividends or distributions received by any Loan Party from such non-wholly owned Subsidiary) and for purposes of determining compliance with Article VI , such Investments shall be valued at the actual amount of cash invested;

(h) Investments made by any Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party in or to another Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party;

(i) loans or advances to employees, officers or directors of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business for travel, relocation and related expenses; provided that the aggregate amount of all such loans and advances does not exceed $1,000,000 at any time outstanding;

(j) Hedging Transactions permitted by Section 7.10 ;

(k) Permitted Acquisitions;

(l) Investments constituting Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.1 ;

(m) Investments held by a Person acquired in a Permitted Acquisition or an Acquisition that is approved by the Required Lenders to the extent that such Investments were not made in connection with or contemplation of such Acquisition and were in existence as of the date of consummation of such Acquisition;

(n) (i) extensions of trade credit (other than to Affiliates of the Borrowers) arising or acquired in the ordinary course of business and (ii) Investments received in settlements in the ordinary course of business of such extensions of trade credit;

(o) extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the sale or lease of goods in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices;

(p) other Investments which in the aggregate do not exceed $1,000,000 in any Fiscal Year;

(q) the [German Acquisition] so long as (i) no Default or Event of Default, on a Pro Forma Basis, shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such Acquisition, (ii) the total consideration for such Acquisition shall not exceed $2,500,000, and (iii) such Acquisition shall be consummated on substantially the same terms as disclosed to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date or on such other terms as the Administrative Agent may approve (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) , in each case as certified to the Administrative Agent and Lenders by the Borrower Representative; and

(r) Investments solely from the proceeds of sales of assets permitted under Section 7.6(g) .

 

77


Section 7.5. Restricted Payments . The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of their Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except:

(i) dividends payable by any Borrower solely in interests of any class of its common equity;

(ii) Restricted Payments made by any Subsidiary to any Borrower (including without limitation Restricted Payments made by Fox to FFH) or to another Subsidiary, on at least a pro rata basis with any other shareholders if such Subsidiary is not wholly owned by any Borrower and other wholly owned Subsidiaries of any Borrower;

(iii) cash Restricted Payments paid on, or in connection with, the common Capital Stock of FFH; provided that, before and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, (a) each of the Borrowers and the Subsidiary Loan Parties are Solvent, (b) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time such Restricted Payment is made, (c) the Borrowers are in pro forma compliance with each of the covenants set forth in Article VI (measuring Consolidated Total Indebtedness for purposes of Section 6.1 as of the date of such Restricted Payment (including any Indebtedness incurred in connection with such Restricted Payment) and otherwise recomputing the covenants set forth in Article VI as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1 as if such Restricted Payment was made, and any Indebtedness incurred in connection therewith was incurred, on the first day of such Fiscal Quarter) and (d) (i) the Leverage Ratio is less than 1.50:1.00 (measuring Consolidated Total Indebtedness as of the date of such Restricted Payment (including any Indebtedness incurred in connection with such Restricted Payment) and otherwise recomputing the Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.1) or (ii) (x) the amount of such Restricted Payments does not exceed the Consolidated EBITDA for the twelve-month period ended immediately prior to such Restricted Payment for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent and (y) the sum of (A)(1) the Aggregate Revolving Commitment Amount minus (2) the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit Exposure giving effect to any advances made in connection with such Restricted Payment, plus (B) cash and cash equivalents on hand (in Controlled Accounts) of the Loan Parties is at least $20,000,000; and

(iv) Restricted Payments with respect to mandatory obligations to repurchase Capital Stock of any future, present or former employee, director, officer or consultant (or any Affiliates, spouses, former spouses, other immediate family members, successors, executors, administrators, heirs, legatees or distributees of any of the foregoing) of FHH and its Subsidiaries upon the death, disability, retirement or termination of employment of any such Person or otherwise pursuant to any employee, management or director equity plan, employee, management or director stock option plan or any other employee, management or director benefit plan or any agreement with any employee, director, officer or consultant of FHH and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,500,000 during any calendar year.

Section 7.6. Sale of Assets . The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of their Subsidiaries to, convey, sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its assets, business or property or, in the case of any Subsidiary, any shares of such Subsidiary’s Capital Stock, in each case whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to any Person other than any Borrower or a Subsidiary Loan Party (or to qualify directors if required by applicable law), except:

(a) the sale or other disposition for fair market value of obsolete or worn out property or other property not necessary for operations disposed of in the ordinary course of business;

 

78


(b) the sale, disposition and transfer of inventory, cash and Permitted Investments in the ordinary course of business;

(c) sales and discounts (without recourse) of overdue accounts, but only in connection with the compromise or collection thereof consistent with customary industry practice;

(d) sales or abandonment of any intellectual property no longer determined to be material to the business of Borrower Representative and its Subsidiaries;

(e) the issuance by Borrower Representative of its own Capital Stock;

(f) Liens permitted under Section 7.2 and Investments permitted under Section 7.4 ;

(g) the sale or other disposition of such assets in an aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of $1,500,000 and 1.50% of Consolidated Net Worth (measured as of the date of such disposition) in any 12-month period ending on the date of determination thereof; and

(h) the Taiwanese Disposition so long as the aggregate fair market value of all such assets transferred does not exceed $7,000,000.

Section 7.7. Transactions with Affiliates . The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of their Subsidiaries to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of their Affiliates, except:

(a) in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to such Borrower or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties;

(b) transactions between or among any Borrower and any Subsidiary not involving any other Affiliates;

(c) the consummation of the Related Transactions and the payment of fees and expenses in connection therewith;

(d) the issuance of common Capital Stock of Borrower Representative to any employee, director, officer, manager, distributor or consultant (or their respective controlled Affiliates) of any Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries;

(e) reasonable compensation and salaries (and expense reimbursement and indemnification arrangements for) to officers and directors of Borrower Representative and its Subsidiaries; and

(f) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 7.5 .

Section 7.8. Restrictive Agreements . The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of their Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries to create, incur or permit any Lien upon any of its assets or properties, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or (b) the ability of any of their Subsidiaries to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to its Capital Stock, to make or repay loans or advances to any Borrower or any other Subsidiary thereof, to Guarantee Indebtedness of any

 

79


Borrower or any other Subsidiary thereof or to transfer any of its property or assets to any Borrower or any other Subsidiary thereof; provided that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by law, regulation, rule or order, by this Agreement or any other Loan Document or by the charter documents of any joint venture (excluding any Subsidiary that is non-wholly owned solely as a result of directors’ qualifying shares required by applicable law) permitted under Section 7.4(g) , (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary pending such sale, provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary that is sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (iii) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions and conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, and (iv) clause (a) shall not apply to customary provisions in leases, licenses and other contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business.

Section 7.9. Sale and Leaseback Transactions . The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of their Subsidiaries to, enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, whereby it shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereinafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property sold or transferred .

Section 7.10. Hedging Transactions . The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of their Subsidiaries to, enter into any Hedging Transaction, other than Hedging Transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business to hedge or mitigate risks to which any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries is exposed in the conduct of its business or the management of its liabilities. Solely for the avoidance of doubt, the Borrowers acknowledge that a Hedging Transaction entered into for speculative purposes or of a speculative nature (which shall be deemed to include any Hedging Transaction under which any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries is or may become obliged to make any payment (i) in connection with the purchase by any third party of any Capital Stock or any Indebtedness or (ii) as a result of changes in the market value of any Capital Stock or any Indebtedness) is not a Hedging Transaction entered into in the ordinary course of business to hedge or mitigate risks.

Section 7.11. Amendment to Material Documents . The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of their Subsidiaries to, amend, modify or waive any of its rights under its certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents.

Section 7.12. Accounting Changes . The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of their Subsidiaries to, make any significant change in accounting treatment or reporting practices, except as required by GAAP, or change the fiscal year of any Borrower or of any of their Subsidiaries, except to change the fiscal year of a Subsidiary to conform its fiscal year to that of the Borrowers.

Section 7.13. Government Regulation . The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of their Subsidiaries to, (a) be or become subject at any time to any law, regulation or list of any Governmental Authority of the United States (including, without limitation, the OFAC list) that prohibits or limits the Lenders or the Administrative Agent from making any advance or extension of credit to the Borrowers or from otherwise conducting business with the Loan Parties, or (b) fail to provide documentary and other evidence of the identity of the Loan Parties as may be reasonably requested by the Lenders or the Administrative Agent at any time to enable the Lenders or the Administrative Agent to verify the identity of the Loan Parties or to comply with any applicable law or regulation, including, without limitation, Section 326 of the Patriot Act at 31 U.S.C. Section 5318.

 

80


ARTICLE VIII

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

Section 8.1. Events of Default . If any of the following events (each, an “ Event of Default ”) shall occur:

(a) the Borrowers shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or of any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement, when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment or otherwise; or

(b) the Borrowers shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount payable under subsection (a) of this Section or an amount related to a Bank Product Obligation) payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of three (3) Business Days; or

(c) any representation or warranty made by any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or in any amendments or modifications hereof or waivers hereunder, or in any certificate, report, financial statement or other document (other than projections, pro forms, budgets and general economic information) submitted to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders by any Loan Party or any authorized representative of any Loan Party pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall prove to be incorrect in any material respect (other than any representation or warranty that is expressly qualified by a Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representation or warranty shall prove to be incorrect in any respect) when made or deemed made or submitted; or

(d) the Borrowers shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.1 5.2 , or 5.3 (with respect to the Borrowers’ legal existence) or Article VI or VII ; or

(e) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those referred to in subsections (a), (b) and (d) of this Section) or any other Loan Document or related to any Bank Product Obligation, and such failure shall remain unremedied for 30 days after the earlier of (i) any officer of any Borrower becomes aware of such failure, or (ii) notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower Representative by the Administrative Agent or any Lender; or

(f) the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries (whether as primary obligor or as guarantor or other surety) shall fail to pay any principal of, or premium or interest on, any Material Indebtedness that is outstanding, when and as the same shall become due and payable (whether at scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument evidencing or governing such Indebtedness; or any other event shall occur or condition shall exist under any agreement or instrument relating to any Material Indebtedness and shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in such agreement or instrument, if the effect of such event or condition is to accelerate, or permit the acceleration of, the maturity of such Indebtedness; or any Material Indebtedness shall be

 

81


declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid or redeemed (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or redemption), purchased or defeased, or any offer to prepay, redeem, purchase or defease such Indebtedness shall be required to be made, in each case prior to the stated maturity thereof; or

(g) the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries shall (i) commence a voluntary case or other proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, liquidator or other similar official of it or any substantial part of its property, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (i) of this subsection, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, liquidator or other similar official for any Borrower or any such Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing; or

(h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries or its debts, or any substantial part of its assets, under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, liquidator or other similar official for any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries or for a substantial part of its assets, and in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall remain undismissed for a period of 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered; or

(i) any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries shall become unable to pay, shall admit in writing its inability to pay, or shall fail to pay, its debts as they become due; or

(j) except where the following, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in liability to the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $7,500,000 (i) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when taken together with other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability to the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries (ii) there is or arises an Unfunded Pension Liability (not taking into account Plans with negative Unfunded Pension Liability), or (iii) there is or arises any potential Withdrawal Liability; or

(k) any judgment or order for the payment of money in excess of $5,000,000 in the aggregate (to the extent not covered by independent third party insurance as to which the insurer has acknowledged coverage) shall be rendered against any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries, and either (i) enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order or (ii) there shall be a period of 60 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or

(l) any non-monetary judgment or order shall be rendered against any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there shall be a period of 60 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or

(m) a Change in Control shall occur or exist; or

 

82


(n) any material provision of the Guaranty and Security Agreement or any other Collateral Document (other than pursuant to the terms hereof and thereof) shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding on, or enforceable against, any Loan Party (other than as a result of any action taken or not taken that is solely in the control of the Administrative Agent or any Lender), or any Loan Party shall so state in writing, or any Loan Party shall seek to terminate its obligation under the Guaranty and Security Agreement or any other Collateral Document (other than the release of any guaranty or collateral to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 9.11 ); or

(o) any Lien purported to be created under any Collateral Document shall fail or cease to be, or shall be asserted by any Loan Party not to be, a valid and perfected Lien on any material portion of the Collateral, with the priority required by the applicable Collateral Documents (other than as a result of any action taken or not taken that is solely in the control of the Administrative Agent or any Lender);

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to any Borrower described in subsection (h) or (i) of this Section) and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and upon the written request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower Representative, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, whereupon the Commitment of each Lender shall terminate immediately, (ii) declare the principal of and any accrued interest on the Loans, and all other Obligations owing hereunder, to be, whereupon the same shall become, due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers, (iii) exercise all remedies contained in any other Loan Document, and (iv) exercise any other remedies available at law or in equity; provided that, if an Event of Default specified in either subsection (h) or (i) shall occur, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon, and all fees and all other Obligations shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers.

Section 8.2. Application of Proceeds from Collateral . All proceeds from each sale of, or other realization upon, all or any part of the Collateral by any Secured Party after an Event of Default arises shall be applied as follows:

(a) first , to the reimbursable expenses of the Administrative Agent incurred in connection with such sale or other realization upon the Collateral, until the same shall have been paid in full;

(b) second , to the fees and other reimbursable expenses of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Banks then due and payable pursuant to any of the Loan Documents, until the same shall have been paid in full;

(c) third , to all reimbursable expenses, if any, of the Lenders then due and payable pursuant to any of the Loan Documents, until the same shall have been paid in full;

(d) fourth , to the fees and interest then due and payable under the terms of this Agreement, until the same shall have been paid in full;

(e) fifth , to the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loans, the LC Exposure, the Bank Product Obligations and the Net Mark-to-Market Exposure of the Hedging Obligations that constitute Obligations, until the same shall have been paid in full, allocated pro rata among the Secured Parties based on their respective pro rata shares of the aggregate amount of such Loans, LC Exposure, Bank Product Obligations and Net Mark-to-Market Exposure of such Hedging Obligations;

 

83


(f) sixth , to additional cash collateral for the aggregate amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit until the aggregate amount of all cash collateral held by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement is at least 103% of the LC Exposure after giving effect to the foregoing clause fifth ; and

(g) seventh , to the extent any proceeds remain, to the Borrowers or as otherwise provided by a court of competent jurisdiction.

All amounts allocated pursuant to the foregoing clauses third through fifth to the Lenders as a result of amounts owed to the Lenders under the Loan Documents shall be allocated among, and distributed to, the Lenders pro rata based on their respective Pro Rata Shares; provided that all amounts allocated to that portion of the LC Exposure comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit pursuant to clauses fifth and sixth shall be distributed to the Administrative Agent, rather than to the Lenders, and held by the Administrative Agent in an account in the name of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Issuing Banks and the Lenders as cash collateral for the LC Exposure, such account to be administered in accordance with Section 2.21(g) . All cash collateral for LC Exposure shall be applied to satisfy drawings under the Letters of Credit as they occur; if any amount remains on deposit on cash collateral after all letters of credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, amounts received from any Loan Party that is not a Qualified ECP Guarantor shall not be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligation of such Guarantor.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Bank Product Obligations and Hedging Obligations shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the Bank Product Provider or the Lender-Related Hedge Provider, as the case may be. Each Bank Product Provider or Lender-Related Hedge Provider that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article IX hereof for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.

ARTICLE IX

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

Section 9.1. Appointment of the Administrative Agent .

(a) Each Lender irrevocably appoints SunTrust Bank as the Administrative Agent and authorizes it to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with all such actions and powers that are reasonably incidental thereto. The Administrative Agent may perform any of its duties hereunder or under the other Loan Documents by or through any one or more sub-agents or attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent or attorney-in-fact may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers through

 

84


their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions set forth in this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent, attorney-in-fact or Related Party and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as the Administrative Agent.

(b) Each Issuing Bank shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith until such time and except for so long as the Administrative Agent may agree at the request of the Required Lenders to act for the Issuing Banks with respect thereto; provided that the Issuing Banks shall have all the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Administrative Agent in this Article with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by any Issuing Bank in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and the application and agreements for letters of credit pertaining to the Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in this Article included the Issuing Banks with respect to such acts or omissions and (ii) as additionally provided in this Agreement with respect to the Issuing Banks.

Section 9.2. Nature of Duties of the Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except those discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 10.2 ), and (c) except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it, its sub-agents or its attorneys-in-fact with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 10.2 ) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless and until written notice thereof (which notice shall include an express reference to such event being a “Default” or “Event of Default” hereunder) is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower Representative or any Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements, or other terms and conditions set forth in any Loan Document, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article III or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the Borrowers) concerning all matters pertaining to such duties.

Section 9.3. Lack of Reliance on the Administrative Agent . Each of the Lenders, the Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any other Issuing Bank or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it

 

85


has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each of the Lenders, the Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any other Issuing Bank or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking any action under or based on this Agreement, any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

Section 9.4. Certain Rights of the Administrative Agent . If the Administrative Agent shall request instructions from the Required Lenders with respect to any action or actions (including the failure to act) in connection with this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to refrain from such act or taking such act unless and until it shall have received instructions from such Lenders, and the Administrative Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining. Without limiting the foregoing, no Lender shall have any right of action whatsoever against the Administrative Agent as a result of the Administrative Agent acting or refraining from acting hereunder in accordance with the instructions of the Required Lenders where required by the terms of this Agreement.

Section 9.5. Reliance by the Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent may also rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the Borrowers), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts.

Section 9.6. The Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity . The bank serving as the Administrative Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement and any other Loan Document in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise or refrain from exercising the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent; and the terms “Lenders”, “Required Lenders” or any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity. The bank acting as the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of business with any Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of any Borrower as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.

Section 9.7. Successor Administrative Agent .

(a) The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower Representative. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent, subject to approval by the Borrower Representative provided that no Default or Event of Default shall exist at such time. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed, and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or a bank which maintains an office in the United States, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000.

 

86


(b) Upon the acceptance of its appointment as the Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. If, within 45 days after written notice is given of the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation under this Section, no successor Administrative Agent shall have been appointed and shall have accepted such appointment, then on such 45 th day (i) the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation shall become effective, (ii) the retiring Administrative Agent shall thereupon be discharged from its duties and obligations under the Loan Documents and (iii) the Required Lenders shall thereafter perform all duties of the retiring Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided above. After any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent and its representatives and agents in respect of any actions taken or not taken by any of them while it was serving as the Administrative Agent.

(c) In addition to the foregoing, if a Lender becomes, and during the period it remains, a Defaulting Lender, and if any Default has arisen from a failure of the Borrowers to comply with Section 2.25(a) , then any Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender may, upon prior written notice to the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent, resign as an Issuing Bank or as Swingline Lender, as the case may be, effective at the close of business Atlanta, Georgia time on a date specified in such notice (which date may not be less than five (5) Business Days after the date of such notice).

Section 9.8. Withholding Tax .

(a) To the extent required by any applicable law, the Administrative Agent may withhold from any interest payment to any Lender an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding tax. If the Internal Revenue Service or any authority of the United States or any other jurisdiction asserts a claim that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender (because the appropriate form was not delivered or was not properly executed, or because such Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstances that rendered the exemption from, or reduction of, withholding tax ineffective, or for any other reason), such Lender shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (to the extent that the Administrative Agent has not already been reimbursed by the Borrowers and without limiting the obligation of the Borrowers to do so) fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as tax or otherwise, including penalties and interest, together with all expenses incurred, including legal expenses, allocated staff costs and any out of pocket expenses.

(b) Without duplication of any indemnity provided under subsection (a) of this Section, each Lender shall also indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes attributable to such Lender (to the extent that the Administrative Agent has not already been reimbursed by the Borrowers and without limiting the obligation of the Borrowers to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 10.4(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this subsection.

 

87


Section 9.9. The Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim .

(a) In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or any Revolving Credit Exposure shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrowers) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans or Revolving Credit Exposure and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent under Section 10.3 ) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(ii) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same.

(b) Any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and each Issuing Bank to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, if the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Section 10.3 .

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or any Issuing Bank any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

Section 9.10. Authorization to Execute Other Loan Documents . Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to execute on behalf of all Lenders all Loan Documents (including, without limitation, the Collateral Documents and any subordination agreements) other than this Agreement.

Section 9.11. Collateral and Guaranty Matters . The Lenders irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion:

(a) to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document (i) upon the termination of all Revolving Commitments, the Cash Collateralization of all reimbursement obligations with respect to Letters of Credit in an amount equal to 103% of the aggregate LC Exposure of all Lenders, and the payment in full of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations and such Cash Collateralized reimbursement obligations), (ii) that is sold or to be sold as part of or in connection with any sale permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or (iii) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing in accordance with Section 10.2 ; and

 

88


(b) to release any Loan Party from its obligations under the applicable Collateral Documents if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder.

Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Loan Party from its obligations under the applicable Collateral Documents pursuant to this Section. In each case as specified in this Section, the Administrative Agent is authorized, at the Borrowers’ expense, to execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party may reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Collateral from the Liens granted under the applicable Collateral Documents, or to release such Loan Party from its obligations under the applicable Collateral Documents, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section.

Section 9.12. Co-Syndication Agents . Each Lender hereby designates Fifth Third Bank and U.S. Bank National Association as Co-Syndication Agents and agrees that the Co-Syndication Agents shall have no duties or obligations under any Loan Documents to any Lender or any Loan Party.

Section 9.13. Right to Realize on Collateral and Enforce Guarantee . Anything contained in any of the Loan Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, each Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Lender hereby agree that (i) no Lender shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce the Collateral Documents, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies hereunder and under the Collateral Documents may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent, and (ii) in the event of a foreclosure by the Administrative Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale or other disposition, the Administrative Agent or any Lender may be the purchaser or licensor of any or all of such Collateral at any such sale or other disposition and the Administrative Agent, as agent for and representative of the Lenders (but not any Lender or Lenders in its or their respective individual capacities unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise agree in writing), shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such public sale, to use and apply any of the Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any collateral payable by the Administrative Agent at such sale or other disposition.

Section 9.14. Secured Bank Product Obligations and Hedging Obligations . No Bank Product Provider or Lender-Related Hedge Provider that obtains the benefits of Section 8.2 , the Collateral Documents or any Collateral by virtue of the provisions hereof or of any other Loan Document shall have any right to notice of any action or to consent to, direct or object to any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document or otherwise in respect of the Collateral (including the release or impairment of any Collateral) other than in its capacity as a Lender and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Loan Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Bank Product Obligations and Hedging Obligations unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice of such Obligations, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Bank Product Provider or Lender-Related Hedge Provider, as the case may be.

 

89


ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 10.1. Notices .

(a) Written Notices .

(i) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone, all notices and other communications to any party herein to be effective shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:

 

To any of the Borrowers:

Fox Factory Holding Corp.

Fox Factory, Inc.

915 Disc Drive

Scotts Valley, CA 95066

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Telecopy Number: (831) 768-7177

 

To the Administrative Agent:

SunTrust Bank

3333 Peachtree Road

Atlanta, Georgia 30326

Attention: David Ernst

Telecopy Number: (404) 926-5258

 

With a copy to:

SunTrust Bank

Agency Services

303 Peachtree Street, N.E. / 25 th Floor

Atlanta, Georgia 30308

Attention: Doug Weltz

Telecopy Number: (404) 495-2170

and

King & Spalding LLP

1180 Peachtree Street, N.E.

Atlanta, Georgia 30309

Attention: Carolyn Z. Alford

Telecopy Number: (404) 572-5100

To SunTrust Bank as an

 

Issuing Bank:

SunTrust Bank

25 Park Place, N.E. / Mail Code 3706 / 16 th Floor

Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Attention: Standby Letter of Credit Dept.

Telecopy Number: (404) 588-8129

 

90


To the Swingline Lender:

SunTrust Bank

Agency Services

303 Peachtree Street, N.E. / 25 th Floor

Atlanta, Georgia 30308

Attention: Doug Weltz

Telecopy Number: (404) 495-2170

 

To any other Lender:

the address set forth in the Administrative Questionnaire

or the Assignment and Acceptance executed by such

Lender

Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All such notices and other communications shall be effective upon actual receipt by the relevant Person or, if delivered by overnight courier service, upon the first Business Day after the date deposited with such courier service for overnight (next-day) delivery or, if sent by telecopy, upon transmittal in legible form by facsimile machine or, if mailed, upon the third Business Day after the date deposited into the mail or, if delivered by hand, upon delivery; provided that notices delivered to the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender shall not be effective until actually received by such Person at its address specified in this Section.

(ii) Any agreement of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender herein to receive certain notices by telephone or facsimile is solely for the convenience and at the request of the Borrower Representative. The Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank and each Lender shall be entitled to rely on the authority of any Person purporting to be a Person authorized by the Borrower Representative to give such notice and the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders shall not have any liability to the Borrowers or other Person on account of any action taken or not taken by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in reliance upon such telephonic or facsimile notice. The obligation of the Borrowers to repay the Loans and all other Obligations hereunder shall not be affected in any way or to any extent by any failure of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender to receive written confirmation of any telephonic or facsimile notice or the receipt by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender of a confirmation which is at variance with the terms understood by the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank and such Lender to be contained in any such telephonic or facsimile notice.

(b) Electronic Communications .

(i) Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or any Issuing Bank pursuant to Article II unless such Lender, such Issuing Bank, as applicable, and the Administrative Agent have agreed to receive notices under any Section thereof by electronic communication and have agreed to the procedures governing such communications. The Administrative Agent or the Borrowers may, in their discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

91


(ii) Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement); provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

(c) Certification of Public Information . Each Borrower and each Lender acknowledge that certain of the Lenders may be Public Lenders and, if documents or notices required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.1 or Section 5.2 otherwise are being distributed through Syndtrak, Intralinks or any other Internet or intranet website or other information platform (the “ Platform ”), any document or notice that the Borrower Representative has indicated contains Non-Public Information shall not be posted on that portion of the Platform designated for such Public Lenders. The Borrower Representative agrees to clearly designate all information provided to the Administrative Agent by or on behalf of the Borrowers which is suitable to make available to Public Lenders. If the Borrower Representative has not indicated whether a document or notice delivered pursuant to Section 5.1 or Section 5.2 contains Non-Public Information, the Administrative Agent reserves the right to post such document or notice solely on that portion of the Platform designated for Lenders who wish to receive Non-Public Information.

(d) Private Side Information Contacts . Each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable law, including Unites States federal and state securities laws, to make reference to information that is not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain Non-Public Information with respect to the Borrowers, their Affiliates or any of their securities or loans for purposes of United States federal or state securities laws. In the event that any Public Lender has determined for itself not to access any information disclosed through the Platform or otherwise, such Public Lender acknowledges that (i) other Lenders may have availed themselves of such information and (ii) neither the Borrowers nor the Administrative Agent have any responsibility for such Public Lender’s decision to limit the scope of the information it has obtained in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Section 10.2. Waiver; Amendments .

(a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document, and no course of dealing between the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent or any Lender , shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power hereunder or thereunder. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or of any other Loan Document or consent to any departure by the Borrowers therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by subsection (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or the issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default or Event of Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default or Event of Default at the time.

 

92


(b) No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or of the other Loan Documents (other than the Fee Letter), nor consent to any departure by the Borrowers therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Borrowers and the Required Lenders, or the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders, and then such amendment, waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that, in addition to the consent of the Required Lenders, no amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender;

(ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or reimbursement obligation with respect to a LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby provided , however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to (A) amend or waive Default Interest or default fees pursuant to Section 2.12 or (B) to amend the definition of Consolidated Net Leverage (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or Letter of Credit or to reduce any fee payable hereunder;

(iii) postpone the date fixed for any payment of any principal of, or interest on, any Loan or LC Disbursement or any fees hereunder or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date for the termination or reduction of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby;

(iv) change Section 2.20(b) or (c)  in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender;

(v) change any of the provisions of this subsection (b) or the definition of “Required Lenders” or “Required Revolving Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders which are required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the consent of each Lender;

(vi) release all or substantially all of the guarantors, or limit the liability of such guarantors, under any guaranty agreement guaranteeing any of the Obligations (except in connection with a transaction permitted by this Agreement or any other Loan Document), without the written consent of each Lender; or

(vii) release all or substantially all collateral (if any) securing any of the Obligations, without the written consent of each Lender;

provided , further , that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights, duties or obligations of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or any Issuing Bank without the prior written consent of such Person.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended, and amounts payable to such Lender hereunder may not be permanently reduced, without the consent of such Lender (other than reductions in fees and interest in which such reduction does not disproportionately affect such Lender).

 

93


(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) without the consent of any Lender (but with the consent of the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent) if, upon giving effect to such amendment and restatement, such Lender shall no longer be a party to this Agreement (as so amended and restated), the Commitments of such Lender shall have terminated (but such Lender shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.17 , 2.18 , 2.19 and 10.3 ), such Lender shall have no other commitment or other obligation hereunder and such Lender shall have been paid in full all principal, interest and other amounts owing to it or accrued for its account under this Agreement.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers and the other Loan Parties (i) to add one or more additional credit facilities to this Agreement, to permit the extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Revolving Credit Exposure and any Incremental Facility and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders and (ii) to change, modify or alter Section 2.20(b) or (c)  or any other provision hereof relating to pro rata sharing of payments among the Lenders to the extent necessary to effectuate any of the amendments (or amendments and restatements) enumerated in subsection (d), (e)(i) or (f) of this Section.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein:

(i) The Borrowers may, by written notice to the Administrative Agent from time to time, make one or more offers (each, a “Loan Modification Offer”) to all the Lenders of any Class to make one or more amendments or modifications to (A) allow the maturity and scheduled amortization of the Loans of the accepting Lenders to be extended, (B) increase the Applicable Margin, Applicable Percentage or other fees payable with respect to the Loans and Commitments of the accepting Lenders and (C) amend or otherwise provide for any other terms or covenants that are applicable to any period after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date (each, a “Permitted Amendment”) pursuant to procedures reasonably specified by the Administrative Agent and reasonably acceptable to the Borrowers. Such notice shall set forth (x) the terms and conditions of the requested Permitted Amendment and (y) the date on which such Permitted Amendment is requested to become effective. A Permitted Amendment shall become effective only with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments of the Lenders that accept the applicable Loan Modification Offer (such Lenders, the “Accepting Lenders”) and, in the case of any Accepting Lender, only with respect to such Lender’s Loans and/or Commitments as to which such Lender’s acceptance has been made. The Borrowers, each Loan Party and each Accepting Lender shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a modification agreement (a “Loan Modification Agreement”) and such other documentation as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably specify to evidence the acceptance of such Permitted Amendment and the terms and conditions thereof. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Loan Modification Agreement. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that, upon the effectiveness of any Loan Modification Agreement, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to reflect the existence and terms of the Permitted Amendment evidenced thereby and only with respect to the Loans and Commitments of the Accepting Lenders as to which such Lenders’ acceptance has been made.

 

94


(ii) Any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, that by its express terms amends or modifies the rights or duties under this Agreement or such other Loan Document of one or more Classes of Lenders (but not of one or more other Classes of Lenders) may be effected by an agreement or agreements in writing signed by the Borrowers or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and the requisite percentage in interest of each affected Class of Lenders that would be required to consent thereto under this Section if all such affected Classes of Lenders were the only Lenders hereunder at the time.

Section 10.3. Expenses; Indemnification .

(a) The Borrowers shall jointly and severally pay (i) all reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Sole Lead Arranger, Administrative Agent and their Affiliates in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of the Loan Documents and any amendments, modifications or waivers thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be consummated), including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Sole Lead Arranger, the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (but limited, in the case of legal fees and expenses of legal counsel, to the actual reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, disbursements and other charges of one counsel to the Sole Lead Arranger, the Administrative Agent and their Affiliates, any local counsel and any regulatory counsel reasonably required in the sole opinion of the Sole Lead Arranger), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred by any Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including, without limitation, the actual reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, disbursements and other charges of (A) one primary counsel and one local counsel for the Administrative Agent and (B), in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, one conflicts counsel to all other Lenders) actually incurred by the Sole Lead Arranger, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made or any Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

(b) The Borrowers shall jointly and severally indemnify the Sole Lead Arranger, Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and each Issuing Bank, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by any Borrower or any other Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any other Related Transaction Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or Release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any

 

95


of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by any Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that (i) the Borrowers shall not be liable for legal fees and expenses of legal counsel with respect to any individual claims, damages, losses, liabilities or expenses of more than one primary counsel, one local counsel and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, one conflicts counsel to all affected Indemnitees, taken as a whole, (ii) such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from (x) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) a claim brought by any Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document (it being understood and agreed that each Indemnitee shall be obligated to refund or return any and all amounts paid by the Borrowers under this clause (ii) to such Indemnitee for any such claims, damages, losses, liabilities or expenses to the extent such Indemnitee (or any of its Affiliates) is found in a final, nonappealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction not to be entitled to payment of such amounts in accordance with the terms hereof) and (iii) the Borrowers shall not be liable for claims, damages, losses, liabilities or expenses that arise from a dispute solely among Indemnitees (other than any claims against SunTrust Bank in its capacity as Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank, Swingline Lender or similar capacity or SunTrust Robinson Humphrey in its capacity as Sole Lead Arranger) (it being understood and agreed that each Indemnitee shall be obligated to refund or return any and all amounts paid by the Borrowers under this clause (iii) to such Indemnitee for any such claims, damages, losses, liabilities or expenses, to the extent such Indemnitee (or any of its Affiliates) is found in a final, nonappealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction not to be entitled to payment of such amounts in accordance with the terms hereof), solely to the extent that the underlying dispute does not arise as a result of any action, inaction or representation of, or information provided by or on behalf of, the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries. The Borrowers shall not, without the prior written consent of any Indemnitee, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which such Indemnitee is a party and indemnity has been sought hereunder by such Indemnitee, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnitee from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such indemnity. The Borrowers shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without their written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed). No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of any information or other materials obtained through any Platform, except as a result of such Indemnitee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgment.

(c) The Borrowers shall pay, and hold the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank and each of the Lenders harmless from and against, any and all present and future stamp, documentary, and other similar taxes with respect to this Agreement and any other Loan Documents, any collateral described therein or any payments due thereunder, and save the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank and each Lender harmless from and against any and all liabilities with respect to or resulting from any delay or omission to pay such taxes.

(d) To the extent that the Borrowers fail to pay any amount required to be paid to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender under subsection (a), (b) or (c) hereof, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, the relevant Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (in accordance with its respective Revolving Commitment (or Revolving Credit Exposure, as applicable) determined as of the time that the unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified payment, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender in its capacity as such.

 

96


(e) To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Borrower shall assert, and each Borrower hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to actual or direct damages) arising out of, in connection with or as a result of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated therein, any Loan or any Letter of Credit or the use of proceeds thereof.

(f) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly after written demand therefor.

Section 10.4. Successors and Assigns .

(a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that no Borrower may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments, Loans and other Revolving Credit Exposure at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

(i) Minimum Amounts .

(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitments, Loans and other Revolving Credit Exposure at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

(B) in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans and Revolving Credit Exposure outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans and Revolving Credit Exposure of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Acceptance, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $5,000,000 and in minimum increments of $1,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower Representative otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

97


(ii) Proportionate Amounts . Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans, other Revolving Credit Exposure or the Commitments assigned.

(iii) Required Consents . No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:

(A) the consent of the Borrower Representative (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (x) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (y) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund of such Lender;

(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required; and

(C) the consent of the Issuing Banks (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment that increases the obligation of the assignee to participate in exposure under one or more Letters of Credit (whether or not then outstanding), and the consent of the Swingline Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment in respect of the Revolving Commitments.

(iv) Assignment and Acceptance . The parties to each assignment shall deliver to the Administrative Agent (A) a duly executed Assignment and Acceptance, (B) a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, (C) an Administrative Questionnaire unless the assignee is already a Lender and (D) the documents required under Section 2.19(f) .

(v) No Assignment to the Borrowers . No such assignment shall be made to any Borrower or any of the Borrowers’ Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

(vi) No Assignment to Natural Persons . No such assignment shall be made to a natural person.

(vii) No Assignment to Disqualified Competitors . No such assignment shall be made to any Disqualified Competitor. Upon request by any Lender to the Administrative Agent or the Borrowers, as the case may be, the Administrative Agent or the Borrowers, as the case may be, shall provide such Lender with a copy of the Disqualified Institution List.

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.17 , 2.18 , 2.19 and 10.3 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment; provided that, except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for

 

98


purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section. If the consent of the Borrower Representative to an assignment is required hereunder (including a consent to an assignment which does not meet the minimum assignment thresholds specified above), the Borrower Representative shall be deemed to have given its consent unless they shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within ten (10) Business Days after notice thereof has actually been delivered by the assigning Lender (through the Administrative Agent) to the Borrower Representative.

(c) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrowers, shall maintain at one of its offices in Atlanta, Georgia a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amount of the Loans and Revolving Credit Exposure owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”). Information contained in the Register with respect to any Lender shall be available for inspection by such Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice; information contained in the Register shall also be available for inspection by the Borrower Representative at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. In establishing and maintaining the Register, the Administrative Agent shall serve as the Borrowers’ agent solely for tax purposes and solely with respect to the actions described in this Section, and the Borrowers hereby jointly and severally agree that, to the extent SunTrust Bank serves in such capacity, SunTrust Bank and its officers, directors, employees, agents, sub-agents and affiliates shall constitute “Indemnitees”.

(d) Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower Representative, the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Banks, sell participations to any Person (other than a Disqualified Competitor, a natural person, any Borrower or any of the Borrowers’ Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, the Swingline Lender and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver with respect to the following to the extent affecting such Participant: (i) increase the Commitment of such Lender; (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder; (iii) postpone the date fixed for any payment of any principal of, or interest on, any Loan or LC Disbursement or any fees hereunder or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date for the termination or reduction of any Commitment; (iv) change Section 2.20(b) or (c)  in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby; (v) change any of the provisions of Section 10.2(b) or the definition of “Required Lenders” or “Required Revolving Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders which are required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder; (vi) release all or substantially all of the guarantors, or limit the liability of such guarantors, under any guaranty agreement guaranteeing any of the Obligations; or (vii) release all or substantially all collateral (if any) securing any of the Obligations. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the Borrowers agree that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.17 , 2.18 , and 2.19 to the same extent as if it were a Lender

 

99


and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.23 as though it were a Lender. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.7 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.20 as though it were a Lender.

Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrowers, maintain a register in the United States on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “ Participant Register ”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or other obligations under any Loan Document) except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.

(e) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 2.17 and 2.19 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower Representative’s prior written consent. A Participant shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.19 unless the Borrower Representative is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrowers, to comply with Section 2.19(f) and (g)  as though it were a Lender.

(f) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including, without limitation, any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

Section 10.5. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process .

(a) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any claim, controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract or tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document (except, as to any other Loan Document, as expressly set forth therein) and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be construed in accordance with and be governed by the law of the State of New York.

(b) Each Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York county, and of any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such District Court or such New York state court or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, such appellate court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any Borrower or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

100


(c) Each Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding described in subsection (b) of this Section and brought in any court referred to in subsection (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to the service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 10.1 . Nothing in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

Section 10.6. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT 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, AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

Section 10.7. Right of Set-off . In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable law and not by way of limitation of any such rights, each Lender and each Issuing Bank shall have the right, at any time or from time to time upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, without prior notice to the Borrowers, any such notice being expressly waived by the Borrowers to the extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply against all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) of any Borrower at any time held or other obligations at any time owing by such Lender and such Issuing Bank to or for the credit or the account of any Borrower against any and all Obligations held by such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, irrespective of whether such Lender or such Issuing Bank shall have made demand hereunder and although such Obligations may be unmatured. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees promptly to notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower Representative after any such set-off and any application made by such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees to apply all amounts collected from any such set-off to the Obligations before applying such amounts to any other Indebtedness or other obligations owed by any Borrower and any of their Subsidiaries to such Lender or such Issuing Bank.

Section 10.8. Counterparts; Integration . This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement, the Fee Letter, the other Loan Documents, and any separate letter agreements relating to any fees payable to the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto and thereto and their affiliates regarding the subject matters hereof

 

101


and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, regarding such subject matters. Delivery of an executed counterpart to this Agreement or any other Loan Document by facsimile transmission or by electronic mail in pdf format shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

Section 10.9. Survival . All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrowers herein and in the certificates, reports, notices or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.17 , 2.18 , 2.19 , 10.3 and, for a period of two (2) years following the termination of this Agreement, 10.11 and Article IX shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

Section 10.10. Severability . Any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability without affecting the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof or thereof; and the illegality, invalidity or unenforceability of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 10.11. Confidentiality . Each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders agrees that non-public information relating to the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses provided to it in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents by the Borrowers, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrowers shall be treated by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders in a confidential manner, and shall not be disclosed by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or the Lenders to Persons who are not parties to this Agreement and bound by this Section 10.11 , except that such information may be disclosed (i) subject to execution by such Person of an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this provision, to any Lender, participant or potential Lender, (ii) the officers, directors, employees, affiliates, attorneys, accountants, members, partners, stockholders and advisors of any of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders or any Issuing Bank on a confidential basis and only on a “need to know” basis in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) as required by law, compulsory legal process or regulation or as requested or required by any governmental or regulatory agency or authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), provided that (x) prior to any disclosure under this clause (iii), the disclosing party agrees to provide Borrowers with prior notice thereof, to the extent that it is practicable to do so and to the extent that the disclosing party is permitted to provide such prior notice to Borrowers pursuant to the terms of the applicable law, compulsory legal process or regulation (as determined by the disclosing party in its reasonable discretion based on advice of legal counsel) and (y) any disclosure under this clause (iii) shall be limited to the portion of the information as may be required by such law, compulsory legal

 

102


process or regulation (as determined by the disclosing party in its reasonable discretion based on advice of legal counsel), (iv) to the extent that such information becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or any other confidentiality agreement among the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lenders and Borrowers, or which becomes available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, the Lenders or any of the foregoing on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries, (v) in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (vi) to any rating agency on a confidential basis, (vii) to the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar organization on a confidential basis, or (ix) with the written consent of the Borrower Representative. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of any information as provided for in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such information as such Person would accord its own confidential information. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Section and those of any other Contractual Obligation entered into with any Loan Party (whether or not a Loan Document), the terms of this Section shall govern.

Section 10.12. Interest Rate Limitation . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which may be treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively, the “ Charges ”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate of interest (the “ Maximum Rate ”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by a Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Rate to the date of repayment (to the extent permitted by applicable law), shall have been received by such Lender.

Section 10.13. Waiver of Effect of Corporate Seal . Each Borrower represents and warrants that neither it nor any other Loan Party is required to affix its corporate seal to this Agreement or any other Loan Document pursuant to any Requirement of Law, agrees that this Agreement is delivered by such Borrower under seal and waives any shortening of the statute of limitations that may result from not affixing the corporate seal to this Agreement or such other Loan Documents.

Section 10.14. Patriot Act . The Administrative Agent and each Lender hereby notifies the Loan Parties that, pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of such Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the Patriot Act.

Section 10.15. No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility . In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), each Borrower and each other Loan Party acknowledges and agrees and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding that (i) (A) the services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and/or the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the

 

103


Borrowers, each other Loan Party and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, on the other hand, (B) each of the Borrowers and the other Loan Parties have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they have deemed appropriate, and (C) each Borrower and each other Loan Party is capable of evaluating and understanding, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for any Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person, and (B) neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender has any obligation to any Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their Affiliates with respect to the transaction contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrowers, the other Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, and each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders has no obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrowers, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each of the Borrowers and the other Loan Parties hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent or any Lender with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

Section 10.16. Location of Closing . Each Lender and each Issuing Bank acknowledges and agrees that it has delivered, with the intent to be bound, its executed counterparts of this Agreement to the Administrative Agent, c/o King & Spalding LLP, 1185 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036. Each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees that it has delivered, with the intent to be bound, its executed counterparts of this Agreement and each other Loan Document, together with all other documents, instruments, opinions, certificates and other items required under Section 3.1 , to the Administrative Agent, c/o King & Spalding LLP, 1185 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036. All parties agree that the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement has occurred in New York.

(remainder of page left intentionally blank)

 

104


IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

FOX FACTORY HOLDING CORP.
By:    
 

Name:

Title:

 

FOX FACTORY, INC.
By:    
 

Name:

Title:

Signature Page to

Revolving Credit Agreement


SUNTRUST BANK

as the Administrative Agent, as an Issuing Bank, as the Swingline Lender and as a Lender

By:    
 

Name:

Title:


[NAME OF BANK]

as a Lender

By:    
 

Name:

Title:


EXHIBIT B

GUARANTY AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

dated as of [                   , 2013]

made by

FOX FACTORY HOLDING CORP. and

FOX FACTORY, INC.,

as Borrowers

and

THE OTHER GRANTORS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO

in favor of

SUNTRUST BANK

as Administrative Agent


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     1   

Section 1.1

   Definitions      1   

Section 1.2

   Other Definitional Provisions; References      4   

ARTICLE II GUARANTEE

     5   

Section 2.1

   Guarantee      5   

Section 2.2

   Payments      7   

ARTICLE III GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

     7   

Section 3.1

   Grant of Security Interest      7   

Section 3.2

   Transfer of Pledged Securities      8   

Section 3.3

   Grantors Remain Liable under Accounts, Chattel Paper and Payment Intangibles      8   

ARTICLE IV ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, WAIVERS AND CONSENTS

     8   

Section 4.1

   Acknowledgments, Waivers and Consents      8   

Section 4.2

   No Subrogation, Contribution or Reimbursement      11   

ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     11   

Section 5.1

   Benefit to the Guarantors      11   

Section 5.2

   Pledged Securities; Promissory Notes      11   

Section 5.3

   First Priority Liens      12   

Section 5.4

   Legal Name, Organizational Status, Chief Executive Office      12   

Section 5.5

   Prior Names, Prior Chief Executive Offices      12   

Section 5.6

   Goods      12   

Section 5.7

   Chattel Paper      12   

Section 5.8

   Accounts      12   

Section 5.9

   Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks      12   

Section 5.10

   Commercial Tort Claims      12   

Section 5.11

   Letter-of-Credit Rights      13   

ARTICLE VI COVENANTS

     13   

Section 6.1

   Maintenance of Perfected Security Interest; Further Documentation      13   

Section 6.2

   Further Identification of Collateral      14   

Section 6.3

   Changes in Names, Locations      14   

Section 6.4

   Pledged Securities      14   

Section 6.5

   Limitations on Modifications, Waivers, Extensions of Agreements Giving Rise to Accounts      15   

Section 6.6

   Instruments and Tangible Chattel Paper      15   

Section 6.7

   Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks      15   

Section 6.8

   Commercial Tort Claims      16   

 

i


ARTICLE VII REMEDIAL PROVISIONS

     17   

Section 7.1

   Pledged Securities      17   

Section 7.2

   Collections on Accounts      18   

Section 7.3

   Proceeds      18   

Section 7.4

   UCC and Other Remedies      19   

Section 7.5

   Private Sales of Pledged Securities      20   

Section 7.6

   Waiver; Deficiency      20   

Section 7.7

   Non-Judicial Enforcement      20   

ARTICLE VIII THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

     20   

Section 8.1

   The Administrative Agent’s Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact      20   

Section 8.2

   Duty of the Administrative Agent      22   

Section 8.3

   Filing of Financing Statements      22   

Section 8.4

   Authority of the Administrative Agent      23   

ARTICLE IX SUBORDINATION OF INDEBTEDNESS

     23   

Section 9.1

   Subordination of All Guarantor Claims      23   

Section 9.2

   Claims in Bankruptcy      23   

Section 9.3

   Payments Held in Trust      23   

Section 9.4

   Liens Subordinate      24   

Section 9.5

   Notation of Records      24   

ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS

     24   

Section 10.1

   Waiver      24   

Section 10.2

   Notices      24   

Section 10.3

   Payment of Expenses, Indemnities      24   

Section 10.4

   Amendments in Writing      25   

Section 10.5

   Successors and Assigns      25   

Section 10.6

   Severability      25   

Section 10.7

   Counterparts      25   

Section 10.8

   Survival      25   

Section 10.9

   Captions      26   

Section 10.10

   No Oral Agreements      26   

Section 10.11

   Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction      26   

Section 10.12

   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL      26   

Section 10.13

   Acknowledgments      27   

Section 10.14

   Additional Grantors      27   

Section 10.15

   Set-Off      28   

Section 10.16

   Releases      28   

Section 10.17

   Acceptance      29   

Section 10.18

   Keepwell      29   

 

ii


Schedules

 

Schedule 1

   -    Notice Addresses

Schedule 2

   -    Pledged Securities and Promissory Notes

Schedule 3

   -    Filings and Other Actions Required to Perfect Security Interests

Schedule 4

   -    Legal Name, Organizational Status, Chief Executive Office

Schedule 5

   -    Prior Names and Prior Chief Executive Offices

Schedule 6

   -    Patents and Patent Licenses

Schedule 7

   -    Trademarks and Trademark Licenses

Schedule 8

   -    Copyrights and Copyright Licenses

Schedule 9

   -    Commercial Tort Claims

Schedule 10

   -    Letter-of-Credit Rights

Annexes

 

Annex I

   -    Form of Joinder Agreement

Annex II

   -    Form of Intellectual Property Security Agreement

Annex III    

   -    Form of Acknowledgment and Consent

 

iii


GUARANTY AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

THIS GUARANTY AND SECURITY AGREEMENT , dated as of August [__], 2013, is made by FOX FACTORY HOLDING CORP., a Delaware corporation (“ FFH ”), FOX FACTORY, INC., a California corporation (“ FF ” and together with FFH, each a “ Borrower ” and, collectively, the “ Borrowers ”) and certain Subsidiaries of the Borrowers identified on the signature pages hereto as “Guarantors” (together with the Borrowers and any other Subsidiary of the Borrowers that becomes a party hereto from time to time after the date hereof, each, a “ Grantor ” and, collectively, the “ Grantors ”), in favor of SUNTRUST BANK, as administrative agent (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”) for the Secured Parties (as defined below).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Borrowers are entering into that certain Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Borrowers, the lenders from time to time parties thereto and the Administrative Agent, providing for a revolving credit facility (as amended, restated, supplemented, replaced, increased, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”); and

WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligations of the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents that the Grantors are required to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which the Grantors (other than the Borrowers) shall guaranty all Obligations of the Borrowers and the Grantors (including the Borrowers) shall grant Liens on all of their personal property to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, to secure their respective Obligations;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and to induce the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank to enter into the Credit Agreement and to induce the Lenders and the Issuing Bank to make their respective extensions of credit to the Borrowers thereunder, each Grantor hereby agrees with the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1 Definitions .

(a) Each term defined above shall have the meaning set forth above for all purposes of this Agreement. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement, and the terms “Account Debtor”, “Account”, “Chattel Paper”, “Commercial Tort Claim”, “Deposit Account”, “Document”, “Electronic Chattel Paper”, “Equipment”, “Financial Asset”, “Fixture”, “General Intangible”, “Goods”, “Instrument”, “Inventory”, “Investment Property”, “Letter-of-Credit Right”, “Payment Intangible”, “Proceeds”, “Securities Account”, “Security”, “Supporting Obligation”, and “Tangible Chattel Paper” shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the UCC as in effect on the date hereof.

(b) The following terms shall have the following meanings:

Agreement ” shall mean this Guaranty and Security Agreement, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.


Collateral ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1 .

Copyright Licenses ” shall mean any and all present and future written agreements providing for the granting of any right in or to Copyrights (whether the applicable Grantor is licensee or licensor thereunder), including, without limitation, any thereof referred to in Schedule 8 (other than any thereof which are terminated, transferred or otherwise disposed of after the date hereof to the extent permitted under the Credit Agreement).

Copyrights ” shall mean, collectively, with respect to each Grantor, all copyrights, whether registered or unregistered, owned by or assigned to such Grantor and all registrations and applications for the foregoing (whether by statutory or common law, whether established or registered in the United States or any other country or any political subdivision thereof), together with any and all (i) rights and privileges arising under applicable law with respect to such Grantor’s use of any copyrights, (ii) reissues, continuations, extensions and renewals thereof and amendments thereto, (iii) income, fees, royalties, damages and payments now and hereafter due and/or payable thereunder and with respect thereto, including damages, claims and payments for past, present or future infringements thereof, (iv) rights corresponding thereto throughout the world and (v) rights to sue for past, present or future infringements thereof, including, without limitation, any thereof referred to in Schedule 8 (other than any thereof which are terminated, transferred or otherwise disposed of after the date hereof to the extent permitted under the Credit Agreement).

Excluded Property ” shall mean (i) (A) any voting Capital Stock in excess of 65% of the issued and outstanding voting Capital Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary and (B) any Capital Stock of any non-wholly owned Subsidiary to the extent that the granting of a security interest in such Capital Stock is prohibited by the applicable joint venture, shareholder, stock purchase or similar agreement relating to such Capital Stock, (ii) any rights or interest in any contract, lease, permit, license, or license agreement covering real or personal property of any Grantor if under the terms of such contract, lease, permit, license, or license agreement, or applicable law with respect thereto, the grant of a security interest or lien therein is prohibited as a matter of law or under the terms of such contract, lease, permit, license, or license agreement and such prohibition or restriction has not been waived or the consent of the other party to such contract, lease, permit, license, or license agreement has not been obtained ( provided , that, the foregoing exclusions shall in no way be construed to apply to the extent that any described prohibition or restriction is ineffective under Section 9-406, 9-407, 9-408, or 9-409 of the UCC or other applicable law), (iii) margin stock, and (iv) any United States intent-to-use Trademark applications to the extent that, and solely during the period in which, the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent-to-use Trademark applications under applicable federal law; provided that “Excluded Property” shall not include any proceeds, products, substitutions or replacements of Excluded Property (unless such proceeds, products, substitutions or replacements would otherwise constitute Excluded Property).

Guaranteed Obligations ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a) .

Guarantors ” shall mean, collectively, each Grantor other than the Borrowers.

Issuers ” shall mean, collectively, each issuer of a Pledged Security.

Monetary Obligation ” shall mean a monetary obligation secured by Goods or owed under a lease of Goods and includes a monetary obligation with respect to software used in Goods.

Note ” shall mean an instrument that evidences a promise to pay a Monetary Obligation and any other instrument within the description of “promissory note” as defined in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

2


Patent Licenses ” shall mean any and all present and future written agreements providing for the granting of any right in or to Patents (whether the applicable Grantor is licensee or licensor thereunder), including, without limitation, any thereof referred to in Schedule 6 (other than any thereof which are terminated, transferred or otherwise disposed of after the date hereof to the extent permitted under the Credit Agreement).

Patents ” shall mean, collectively, with respect to each Grantor, all letters patents and all patent applications issued to, assigned to or under an obligation to be or assigned to such Grantor (whether established or registered or recorded in the United States or any other country or any political subdivision thereof), together with any and all (i) rights and privileges arising under applicable law with respect to such Grantor’s use of any patents, (ii) inventions and improvements described and claimed therein, (iii) reissues, divisions, continuations, renewals, extensions and continuations-in-part thereof and amendments thereto, and rights to obtain any of the foregoing, (iv) income, fees, royalties, damages, claims and payments now or hereafter due and/or payable thereunder and with respect thereto including damages and payments for past, present or future infringements thereof, (v) rights corresponding thereto throughout the world and (vi) rights to sue for past, present or future infringements thereof, including, without limitation, any thereof referred to in Schedule 6 (other than any thereof which are terminated, transferred or otherwise disposed of after the date hereof to the extent permitted under the Credit Agreement).

Pledged Certificated Stock ” shall mean all certificated securities and any other Capital Stock or Stock Equivalent of any Person, other than Excluded Property, evidenced by a certificate, instrument or other similar document, in each case now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by any Grantor, and any dividend or distribution of cash, instruments or other property made on, in respect of or in exchange for the foregoing from time to time, including in each case those interests set forth on Schedule 2 .

Pledged Securities ” shall mean, collectively, all Pledged Certificated Stock and all Pledged Uncertificated Stock.

Pledged Uncertificated Stock ” shall mean any Capital Stock or Stock Equivalent of any Person, other than Pledged Certificated Stock and Excluded Property, in each case now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by any Grantor, including all right, title and interest of any Grantor as a limited or general partner in any partnership or as a member of any limited liability company not constituting Pledged Certificated Stock, all right, title and interest of any Grantor in, to and under any organizational document of any partnership or limited liability company to which it is a party, and any dividend or distribution of cash, instruments or other property made on, in respect of or in exchange for the foregoing from time to time, including in each case those interests set forth on Schedule 2 .

Qualified ECP Guarantor ” means, in respect of any Swap Obligation, each Loan Party that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time such Swap Obligation is incurred or such other person as constitutes an ECP under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder.

Secured Obligations ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1 .

Secured Parties ” shall mean the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing Bank, the Lender-Related Hedge Providers and the Bank Product Providers.

Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and in effect from time to time.

 

3


Stock Equivalents ” shall mean all securities convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock or any other Stock Equivalent and all warrants, options or other rights to purchase, subscribe for or otherwise acquire any Capital Stock or any other Stock Equivalent, whether or not presently convertible, exchangeable or exercisable.

Trademark Licenses ” shall mean any and all present and future written agreements providing for the granting of any right in or to Trademarks (whether the applicable Grantor is licensee or licensor thereunder), including, without limitation, any thereof referred to in Schedule 7 (other than any thereof which are terminated, transferred or otherwise disposed of after the date hereof to the extent permitted under the Credit Agreement).

Trademarks ” shall mean, collectively, with respect to each Grantor, all trademarks, service marks, slogans, logos, trade dress, uniform resource locations (URL’s), domain names, trade names and other source identifiers, whether registered or unregistered, owned by or assigned to such Grantor and all registrations and applications for the foregoing (whether by statutory or common law, whether established or registered in the United States, any State thereof, or any other country or any political subdivision thereof), and all goodwill associated therewith, now existing or hereafter adopted or acquired, together with any and all (i) rights and privileges arising under applicable law with respect to such Grantor’s use of any trademarks, (ii) reissues, continuations, extensions and renewals thereof and amendments thereto, (iii) income, fees, royalties, damages and payments now and hereafter due and/or payable thereunder and with respect thereto, including damages, claims and payments for past, present or future infringements thereof, (iv) rights corresponding thereto throughout the world and (v) rights to sue for past, present or future infringements thereof, including, without limitation, any thereof referred to in Schedule 7 (other than any thereof which are terminated, transferred or otherwise disposed of after the date hereof to the extent permitted under the Credit Agreement).

UCC ” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York.

Section 1.2 Other Definitional Provisions; References . The definition of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits, Schedules and Annexes shall, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits, Schedules and Annexes to, this Agreement and (e) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights. Where the context requires, terms relating to the Collateral or any part thereof, when used in relation to a Grantor, shall refer to such Grantor’s Collateral or the relevant part thereof.

 

4


ARTICLE II

GUARANTEE

Section 2.1 Guarantee .

(a) Each Guarantor unconditionally guarantees, jointly with the other Guarantors and severally, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, (i) the due and punctual payment of all Obligations of the Borrowers and the other Loan Parties, including, without limitation, (A) the principal of and premium, if any, and interest (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on the Loans, when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or more dates set for prepayment or otherwise, (B) each payment required to be made by the Borrowers under the Credit Agreement in respect of any Letter of Credit, when and as due, including payments in respect of reimbursement or disbursements, interest thereon and obligations to provide cash collateral, and (C) all other monetary obligations, including fees, costs, expenses and indemnities, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise (including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), of the Loan Parties to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents; (ii) the due and punctual performance of all covenants, agreements, obligations and liabilities of the Loan Parties under or pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents; (iii) the due and punctual payment of all Bank Product Obligations of any other Loan Party; and (iv) the due and punctual payment of all Hedging Obligations owed by any other Loan Party to any Lender-Related Hedge Provider (all the monetary and other obligations referred to in the preceding clauses (i) through (iv) being collectively called the “ Guaranteed Obligations ”). Each Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent from such Guarantor, and that such Guarantor will remain bound upon its guarantee notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Guaranteed Obligations.

(b) Each Guarantor further agrees that its guarantee constitutes a guarantee of payment when due and not of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party to any of the security held for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations or to any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party in favor of the Borrowers or any other Guarantor.

(c) It is the intent of each Guarantor and the Administrative Agent that the maximum obligations of the Guarantors hereunder shall be, but not in excess of:

(i) in a case or proceeding commenced by or against any Guarantor under the provisions of Title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §§101 et seq ., as amended and in effect from time to time (the “ Bankruptcy Code ”), on or within one year from the date on which any of the Guaranteed Obligations are incurred, the maximum amount which would not otherwise cause the Guaranteed Obligations (or any other obligations of such Guarantor owed to the Administrative Agent or the Secured Parties) to be avoidable or unenforceable against such Guarantor under (i) Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code or (ii) any state fraudulent transfer or fraudulent conveyance act or statute applied in any such case or proceeding by virtue of Section 544 of the Bankruptcy Code; or

 

5


(ii) in a case or proceeding commenced by or against any Guarantor under the Bankruptcy Code subsequent to one year from the date on which any of the Guaranteed Obligations are incurred, the maximum amount which would not otherwise cause the Guaranteed Obligations (or any other obligations of such Guarantor to the Administrative Agent or the Secured Parties) to be avoidable or unenforceable against such Guarantor under any state fraudulent transfer or fraudulent conveyance act or statute applied in any such case or proceeding by virtue of Section 544 of the Bankruptcy Code; or

(iii) in a case or proceeding commenced by or against any Guarantor under any law, statute or regulation other than the Bankruptcy Code (including, without limitation, any other bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium, readjustment of debt, dissolution, liquidation or similar debtor relief laws), the maximum amount which would not otherwise cause the Guaranteed Obligations (or any other obligations of such Guarantor to the Administrative Agent or the Secured Parties) to be avoidable or unenforceable against such Guarantor under such law, statute or regulation, including, without limitation, any state fraudulent transfer or fraudulent conveyance act or statute applied in any such case or proceeding.

The substantive laws under which the possible avoidance or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations as may be determined in any case or proceeding shall hereinafter be referred to as the “ Avoidance Provisions ”. To the extent set forth in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of this subsection, but only to the extent that the Guaranteed Obligations would otherwise be subject to avoidance or found unenforceable under the Avoidance Provisions, if any Guarantor is not deemed to have received valuable consideration, fair value or reasonably equivalent value for the Guaranteed Obligations, or if the Guaranteed Obligations would render such Guarantor insolvent, or leave such Guarantor with an unreasonably small capital to conduct its business, or cause such Guarantor to have incurred debts (or to have intended to have incurred debts) beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, in each case as of the time any of the Guaranteed Obligations are deemed to have been incurred under the Avoidance Provisions and after giving effect to the contribution by such Guarantor, the maximum Guaranteed Obligations for which such Guarantor shall be liable hereunder shall be reduced to that amount which, after giving effect thereto, would not cause the Guaranteed Obligations, as so reduced, to be subject to avoidance or unenforceability under the Avoidance Provisions.

This subsection is intended solely to preserve the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties hereunder to the maximum extent that would not cause the Guaranteed Obligations of such Guarantor to be subject to avoidance or unenforceability under the Avoidance Provisions, and neither the Grantors nor any other Person shall have any right or claim under this subsection as against the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party that would not otherwise be available to such Person under the Avoidance Provisions.

(d) Each Guarantor agrees that if the maturity of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is accelerated by bankruptcy or otherwise, such maturity shall also be deemed accelerated for the purpose of this guarantee without demand or notice to such Guarantor. The guarantee contained in this Article shall remain in full force and effect until all Guaranteed Obligations are satisfied in full and all Commitments have been terminated, notwithstanding that, from time to time during the term of the Credit Agreement, no Obligations may be outstanding.

 

6


Section 2.2 Payments . Each Guarantor hereby agrees and guarantees that payments hereunder will be paid to the Administrative Agent without set-off or counterclaim in U.S. dollars at the office of the Administrative Agent specified pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

ARTICLE III

GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

Section 3.1 Grant of Security Interest . Each Grantor hereby pledges, assigns and transfers to the Administrative Agent, and grants to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in, all of the following property now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by such Grantor or in which such Grantor now has or at any time in the future may acquire any right, title or interest and whether now existing or hereafter coming into existence (collectively, the “ Collateral ”), as collateral security for the prompt and complete payment and performance when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Obligations (collectively, the “ Secured Obligations ”):

(a) all Accounts and Chattel Paper;

(b) all Copyrights and Copyright Licenses;

(c) all Commercial Tort Claims;

(d) all contracts;

(e) all Deposit Accounts;

(f) all Documents;

(g) all General Intangibles;

(h) all Goods (including, without limitation, all Inventory, all Equipment and all Fixtures);

(i) all Instruments;

(j) all Investment Property;

(k) all Letter-of-Credit Rights;

(l) all Notes and all intercompany obligations between the Loan Parties;

(m) all Patents and Patent Licenses;

(n) all Pledged Securities;

(o) all Trademarks and Trademark Licenses;

(p) all books and records, Supporting Obligations and related letters of credit or other claims and causes of action, in each case to the extent pertaining to the Collateral; and

(q) to the extent not otherwise included, substitutions, replacements, accessions, products and other Proceeds (including, without limitation, insurance proceeds, licenses, royalties, income, payments, claims, damages and proceeds of suit) of any or all of the foregoing and all collateral security, guarantees and other Supporting Obligations given with respect to any of the foregoing;

 

7


provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no Lien or security interest is hereby granted on any Excluded Property, and, to the extent that any Collateral later becomes Excluded Property, the Lien granted hereunder will automatically be deemed to have been released; provided , further , that if and when any property shall cease to be Excluded Property, a Lien on and security interest in such property shall automatically be deemed granted therein.

Section 3.2 Transfer of Pledged Securities . All certificates and instruments representing or evidencing the Pledged Certificated Stock shall be delivered to and held pursuant hereto by the Administrative Agent or a Person designated by the Administrative Agent and, in the case of an instrument or certificate in registered form, shall be duly indorsed to the Administrative Agent or in blank by an effective endorsement (whether on the certificate or instrument or on a separate writing), and accompanied by any required transfer tax stamps to effect the pledge of the Pledged Securities to the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, all Pledged Certificated Stock must be delivered or transferred in such manner, and each Grantor shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to take all such further action as may be requested by the Administrative Agent, as to permit the Administrative Agent to be a “protected purchaser” to the extent of its security interest as provided in Section 8-303 of the UCC.

Section 3.3 Grantors Remain Liable under Accounts, Chattel Paper and Payment Intangibles . Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, each Grantor shall remain liable under each of the Accounts, Chattel Paper and Payment Intangibles to observe and perform all of the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it thereunder, all in accordance with the terms of any agreement giving rise to each such Account, Chattel Paper or Payment Intangible. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any other Secured Party shall have any obligation or liability under any Account, Chattel Paper or Payment Intangible (or any agreement giving rise thereto) by reason of or arising out of this Agreement or the receipt by the Administrative Agent or any such other Secured Party of any payment relating to such Account, Chattel Paper or Payment Intangible pursuant hereto, nor shall the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party be obligated in any manner to perform any of the obligations of any Grantor under or pursuant to any Account, Chattel Paper or Payment Intangible (or any agreement giving rise thereto) to make any payment, to make any inquiry as to the nature or the sufficiency of any payment received by it or as to the sufficiency of any performance by any party under any Account, Chattel Paper or Payment Intangible (or any agreement giving rise thereto), to present or file any claim, to take any action to enforce any performance or to collect the payment of any amounts which may have been assigned to it or to which it may be entitled at any time or times.

ARTICLE IV

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, WAIVERS AND CONSENTS

Section 4.1 Acknowledgments, Waivers and Consents .

(a) Each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that the obligations undertaken by it under this Agreement involve the guarantee of, and each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that the obligations undertaken by it under this Agreement involve the provision of collateral security for, obligations of Persons other than such Grantor and that such Grantor’s guarantee (if any) and provision of collateral security for the Secured Obligations are absolute, irrevocable and unconditional under any and all circumstances. In full recognition and furtherance of the foregoing, each Grantor understands and agrees, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law and except as may otherwise be expressly and

 

8


specifically provided in the Loan Documents, that each Grantor shall remain obligated hereunder (including, without limitation, with respect to each Guarantor the guarantee made by it herein and, with respect to each Grantor, the collateral security provided by such Grantor herein), and the enforceability and effectiveness of this Agreement and the liability of such Grantor, and the rights, remedies, powers and privileges of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, shall not be affected, limited, reduced, discharged or terminated in any way:

(i) notwithstanding that, without any reservation of rights against any Grantor and without notice to or further assent by any Grantor, (A) any demand for payment of any of the Secured Obligations made by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party may be rescinded by the Administrative Agent or such other Secured Party and any of the Secured Obligations continued; (B) the Secured Obligations, the liability of any other Person upon or for any part thereof or any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto may, from time to time, in whole or in part, be renewed, extended, amended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived, surrendered or released by, or any indulgence or forbearance in respect thereof granted by, the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party; (C) the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents and all other documents executed and delivered in connection therewith or in connection with Hedging Obligations and Bank Product Obligations included as Obligations may be amended, modified, supplemented or terminated, in whole or in part, as the Administrative Agent (or the Required Lenders, all Lenders, or the other parties thereto, as the case may be) may deem advisable from time to time; (D) the Borrowers, any Guarantor or any other Person may from time to time accept or enter into new or additional agreements, security documents, guarantees or other instruments in addition to, in exchange for or relative to any Loan Document, all or any part of the Secured Obligations or any collateral now or in the future serving as security for the Secured Obligations; (E) any collateral security, guarantee or right of offset at any time held by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party for the payment of the Secured Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released; and (F) any other event shall occur which constitutes a defense or release of sureties generally (other than a defense of payment or performance); and

(ii) regardless of, and each Grantor hereby expressly waives to the fullest extent permitted by law any defense now or in the future arising by reason of, (A) the illegality, invalidity or unenforceability of the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any of the Secured Obligations or any other collateral security therefor or guarantee or right of offset with respect thereto at any time or from time to time held by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party; (B) any defense, set-off or counterclaim (other than a defense of payment or performance) which may at any time be available to or be asserted by any Grantor or any other Person against the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party; (C) the insolvency, bankruptcy arrangement, reorganization, adjustment, composition, liquidation, disability, dissolution or lack of power of any Grantor or any other Person at any time liable for the payment of all or part of the Secured Obligations or the failure of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to file or enforce a claim in bankruptcy or other proceeding with respect to any Person, or any sale, lease or transfer of any or all of the assets of any Grantor, or any changes in the shareholders of any Grantor; (D) the fact that any collateral or Lien contemplated or intended to be given, created or granted as security for the repayment of the Secured Obligations shall not be properly perfected or created, or shall prove to be unenforceable or subordinate to any other Lien, it being recognized and agreed by each of the Grantors that it is not entering into this Agreement in reliance on, or in contemplation of the benefits of, the validity, enforceability, collectability or value of any of the collateral for the Secured Obligations; (E) any failure of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to marshal assets in favor of any Grantor or any other Person, to exhaust any collateral for all or any part of the Secured Obligations, to pursue or

 

9


exhaust any right, remedy, power or privilege it may have against any Grantor or any other Person or to take any action whatsoever to mitigate or reduce any Grantor’s liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (F) any law which provides that the obligation of a surety or guarantor must neither be larger in amount nor in other respects more burdensome than that of the principal or which reduces a surety’s or guarantor’s obligation in proportion to the principal obligation; (G) the possibility that the Secured Obligations may at any time and from time to time exceed the aggregate liability of such Grantor under this Agreement; or (H) any other circumstance or act whatsoever, including any action or omission of the type described in subsection (a)(i) of this Section (with or without notice to or knowledge of any Grantor), which constitutes, or might be construed to constitute, an equitable or legal discharge or defense of the Borrowers for the Obligations (other than a defense of payment or performance), or of such Guarantor under the guarantee contained in Article II , or with respect to the collateral security provided by such Grantor herein, or which might be available to a surety or guarantor, in bankruptcy or in any other instance.

(b) Each Grantor hereby waives to the extent permitted by law (i) except as expressly provided otherwise in any Loan Document, all notices to such Grantor, or to any other Person, including, but not limited to, notices of the acceptance of this Agreement, the guarantee contained in Article II or the provision of collateral security provided herein, or the creation, renewal, extension, modification or accrual of any Secured Obligations, or notice of or proof of reliance by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party upon the guarantee contained in Article II or upon the collateral security provided herein, or of default in the payment or performance of any of the Secured Obligations owed to the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party and enforcement of any right or remedy with respect thereto, or notice of any other matters relating thereto; the Secured Obligations, and any of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred, or renewed, extended, amended or waived, in reliance upon the guarantee contained in Article II and the collateral security provided herein and no notice of creation of the Secured Obligations or any extension of credit already or hereafter contracted by or extended to the Borrowers need be given to any Grantor, and all dealings between the Borrowers and any of the Grantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, on the other hand, likewise shall be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon the guarantee contained in Article II and on the collateral security provided herein; (ii) diligence and demand of payment, presentment, protest, dishonor and notice of dishonor; (iii) any statute of limitations affecting any Grantor’s liability hereunder or the enforcement thereof; (iv) all rights of revocation with respect to the Secured Obligations, the guarantee contained in Article II and the provision of collateral security herein; and (v) all principles or provisions of law which conflict with the terms of this Agreement and which can, as a matter of law, be waived.

(c) When making any demand hereunder or otherwise pursuing its rights and remedies hereunder against any Grantor, the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party may, but shall be under no obligation to, join or make a similar demand on or otherwise pursue or exhaust such rights and remedies as it may have against the Borrowers, any other Grantor or any other Person or against any collateral security or guarantee for the Secured Obligations or any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to make any such demand, to pursue such other rights or remedies or to collect any payments from the Borrowers, any other Grantor or any other Person or to realize upon any such collateral security or guarantee or to exercise any such right of offset, or any release of the Borrowers, any other Grantor or any other Person or any such collateral security, guarantee or right of offset, shall not relieve any Grantor of any obligation or liability hereunder, and shall not impair or affect the rights and remedies, whether express, implied or available as a matter of law, of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party against any Grantor. For the purposes hereof, “demand” shall include the commencement and continuance of any legal proceedings. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any other Secured Party shall have any obligation to protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien at any time held by it as security for the Secured Obligations or for the guarantee contained in Article II or any property subject thereto.

 

10


Section 4.2 No Subrogation, Contribution or Reimbursement . Until all Secured Obligations are satisfied in full and all commitments of each Secured Party under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document have been terminated, notwithstanding any payment made by any Grantor hereunder or any set-off or application of funds of any Grantor by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party, no Grantor shall be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party against the Borrowers or any other Grantor or any collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party for the payment of the Secured Obligations, nor shall any Grantor seek or be entitled to seek any indemnity, exoneration, participation, contribution or reimbursement from the Borrowers or any other Grantor in respect of payments made by such Grantor hereunder, and each Grantor hereby expressly waives, releases and agrees not to exercise any or all such rights of subrogation, reimbursement, indemnity and contribution. Each Grantor further agrees that to the extent that such waiver and release set forth herein is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be void or voidable for any reason, any rights of subrogation, reimbursement, indemnity and contribution such Grantor may have against the Borrowers or any other Grantor or against any collateral or security or guarantee or right of offset held by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party shall be junior and subordinate to any rights the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties may have against the Borrowers and such Grantor and to all right, title and interest the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties may have in such collateral or security or guarantee or right of offset. The Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, may use, sell or dispose of any item of collateral or security as it sees fit, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, without regard to any subrogation rights any Grantor may have, and upon any disposition or sale, any rights of subrogation any Grantor may have shall terminate.

ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

To induce the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties to enter into the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, to induce the Lenders and the Issuing Bank to make their respective extensions of credit to the Borrowers thereunder and to induce the Lender-Related Hedge Providers and the Bank Product Providers to enter into Hedging Obligations and Bank Product Obligations with the Grantors, each Grantor represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each other Secured Party as follows:

Section 5.1 Benefit to the Guarantors . Each Guarantor is a Subsidiary of a Borrower, and the guaranty and surety obligations of each Guarantor pursuant to this Agreement reasonably may be expected to benefit, directly or indirectly, such Guarantor; and each Guarantor has determined that this Agreement is necessary and convenient to the conduct, promotion and attainment of the business of such Guarantor and the Borrowers.

Section 5.2 Pledged Securities; Promissory Notes . Schedule 2 correctly sets forth (a) all duly authorized, issued and outstanding Capital Stock of each Guarantor and each other Person that is beneficially owned by each Grantor and (b) all promissory notes held by each Grantor and all intercompany notes between the Grantors, in each case, in principal amount in excess of $100,000, in each case as of the Closing Date.

 

11


Section 5.3 First Priority Liens . The Liens and security interests granted pursuant to this Agreement (a) upon completion of the filings and other actions set forth on Schedule 3 (which, in the case of all filings and other documents referred to on said Schedule have been prepared by or otherwise delivered to the Administrative Agent in completed and duly executed form) will constitute valid perfected Liens on, and security interests in, all of the Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, as collateral security for such Grantor’s obligations, enforceable in accordance with the terms hereof against all creditors of such Grantor and any Persons purporting to purchase any Collateral from such Grantor and (b) are prior to all other Liens on the Collateral in existence on the Closing Date, except for Permitted Liens.

Section 5.4 Legal Name, Organizational Status, Chief Executive Office . On the Closing Date, the correct legal name of such Grantor, such Grantor’s jurisdiction of organization, organizational identification number, federal (and, if applicable, state) taxpayer identification number and the location of such Grantor’s chief executive office or sole place of business are specified on Schedule 4 .

Section 5.5 Prior Names, Prior Chief Executive Offices . Schedule 5 correctly sets forth as of the Closing Date (a) all names and trade names that such Grantor has used in the last five years and (b) the chief executive office of such Grantor over the last five years (if different from that which is set forth in Section 5.4 ).

Section 5.6 Goods . On the Closing Date, no portion of the Collateral constituting Goods with an aggregate value of $100,000 or more is at any time in the possession of a bailee that has issued a negotiable or non-negotiable document covering such Collateral.

Section 5.7 Chattel Paper . No Collateral constituting Chattel Paper or Instruments in a principal amount in excess of $100,000 contains any statement therein to the effect that such Collateral has been assigned to an identified party other than the Administrative Agent, and the grant of a security interest in such Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent hereunder does not violate the rights of any other Person as a secured party.

Section 5.8 Accounts . The amount represented by such Grantor to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties from time to time as owing by each Account Debtor or by all Account Debtors in respect of the Accounts, Chattel Paper and Payment Intangibles will at such time be in all material respects the correct amount actually owing by such Account Debtor or Account Debtors thereunder.

Section 5.9 Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks . Schedule 6 correctly sets forth all Patents registered or applied for with any Governmental Authority. Schedule 6 correctly sets forth all Patent Licenses entered into by a Grantor that are material to the conduct of the Grantor’s business as conducted as of the Closing Date. Schedule 7 correctly sets forth all Trademarks registered or applied for with any Governmental Authority. Schedule 7 correctly sets forth all Trademark Licenses entered into by a Grantor that are material to the conduct of the Grantor’s business as conducted as of the Closing Date. Schedule 8 correctly sets forth all Copyrights registered or applied for with any Governmental Authority. Schedule 8 correctly sets forth all Copyright Licenses entered into by a Grantor that are material to the conduct of the Grantor’s business as conducted as of the Closing Date, other than licenses to commercially available software. To the best of each such Grantor’s knowledge, each Patent and Trademark set forth on Schedule 6 and Schedule 7 , respectively, that is material to the conduct of the business of the Grantors is valid, subsisting, unexpired and enforceable and has not been abandoned. Except as set forth in any such Schedule, as of the Closing Date, none of such Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights is the subject of any licensing or franchise agreement that is material to the conduct of the Grantor’s business.

Section 5.10 Commercial Tort Claims . Schedule 9 correctly sets forth all Commercial Tort Claims of such Grantor in existence as of the Closing Date with a value in excess of $100,000.

 

12


Section 5.11 Letter-of-Credit Rights . Schedule 10 correctly sets forth all letters of credit under which such Grantor is named as the beneficiary in existence as of the Closing Date with face amounts in excess of $100,000.

ARTICLE VI

COVENANTS

Each Grantor covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties that, from and after the date of this Agreement until the Secured Obligations shall have been paid in full and all Commitments shall have been terminated:

Section 6.1 Maintenance of Perfected Security Interest; Further Documentation .

(a) Except as otherwise specifically permitted under this Agreement, such Grantor shall maintain the security interest created by this Agreement as a perfected security interest having at least the priority described in Section 5.3 , except as otherwise permitted in connection with the Credit Agreement, and shall defend such security interest against the material claims and demands of all Persons whomsoever, except with respect to Permitted Liens.

(b) At any time and from time to time, upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party, and at the sole expense of such Grantor, such Grantor will promptly and duly give, execute, deliver, indorse, file or record any and all financing statements, continuation statements, amendments, notices (including, without limitation, notifications to financial institutions and any other Person), contracts, agreements, assignments, certificates, stock powers or other instruments, obtain any and all governmental approvals and consents and take or cause to be taken any and all steps or acts that may be necessary or advisable or as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to create, perfect, establish the priority of, or to preserve the validity, perfection or priority of, the Liens granted by this Agreement or to enable the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to enforce its rights, remedies, powers and privileges under this Agreement with respect to such Liens or to otherwise obtain or preserve the full benefits of this Agreement and the rights, powers and privileges herein granted.

(c) Without limiting the obligations of the Grantors under subsection (b) of this Section, (i) upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, such Grantor shall take or cause to be taken all actions (other than any actions required to be taken by the Administrative Agent) reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to cause the Administrative Agent to (A) have “control” (within the meaning of Sections 9-104, 9-105, 9-106, and 9-107 of the UCC) over any Collateral constituting Deposit Accounts, Electronic Chattel Paper, Investment Property (including the Pledged Securities), or Letter-of-Credit Rights, with a value in excess of $100,000 including, without limitation, executing and delivering any agreements, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, with securities intermediaries, issuers or other Persons in order to establish “control”, and each Grantor shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of such Grantor’s acquisition of any such Collateral, and (B) be a “protected purchaser” (as defined in Section 8-303 of the UCC); (ii) with respect to Collateral with a value in excess of $100,000 other than certificated securities and Goods covered by a document in the possession of a Person other than such Grantor or the Administrative Agent, such Grantor shall obtain written acknowledgment that such Person holds possession for the Administrative Agent’s benefit; and (iii) with respect to any Collateral constituting Goods that are in the possession of a bailee with a value in excess of $100,000 such Grantor shall take or cause to be taken all actions (other than any actions required to be taken by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party) necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to cause the Administrative Agent to have a perfected security interest in such Collateral under applicable law.

 

13


Section 6.2 Further Identification of Collateral . Such Grantor will furnish to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties from time to time, at such Grantor’s sole cost and expense, statements and schedules further identifying and describing the Collateral and such other reports in connection with the Collateral as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, all in reasonable detail.

Section 6.3 Changes in Names, Locations . Such Grantor recognizes that financing statements pertaining to the Collateral have been or may be filed by the Administrative Agent where such Grantor is organized. Without limitation of any other covenant herein, such Grantor will not cause or permit (i) any change to be made in its legal name or corporate, limited liability company, or limited partnership structure or (ii) any change to such Grantor’s jurisdiction of organization, unless such Grantor shall have first (1) notified the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties of such change at least 10 Business Days (or such fewer number of days as agreed to by Administrative Agent) prior to the date of such change, and (2) taken all action reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent for the purpose of maintaining the perfection and priority of the Administrative Agent’s security interests under this Agreement, and unless such Grantor shall otherwise be in compliance with Section 7.3 of the Credit Agreement. In any notice furnished pursuant to this Section, such Grantor will expressly state in a conspicuous manner that the notice is required by this Agreement and contains facts that may require additional filings of financing statements or other notices for the purposes of continuing perfection of the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the Collateral.

Section 6.4 Pledged Securities .

(a) If such Grantor shall become entitled to receive or shall receive any stock certificate or other instrument (including, without limitation, any certificate or instrument representing a dividend or a distribution in connection with any reclassification, increase or reduction of capital or any certificate or instrument issued in connection with any reorganization), option or rights in respect of the Capital Stock or other equity interests of any nature of any Issuer, whether in addition to, in substitution of, as a conversion of, or in exchange for, any shares (or such other interests) of the Pledged Securities, or otherwise in respect thereof, except as otherwise provided herein or in the Credit Agreement, such Grantor shall accept the same as the agent of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, hold the same in trust for the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties and deliver the same forthwith to the Administrative Agent in the exact form received, duly indorsed by such Grantor to the Administrative Agent, if required, together with an undated stock power or other equivalent instrument of transfer reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent covering such certificate or instrument duly executed in blank by such Grantor, to be held by the Administrative Agent, subject to the terms hereof, as additional collateral security for the Secured Obligations.

(b) In the case of each Grantor which is an Issuer, and each other Issuer that executes the Acknowledgment and Consent in the form of Annex III (which the applicable Grantor shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain from each such other Issuer), such Issuer agrees that (i) it will be bound by the terms of this Agreement relating to the Pledged Securities issued by it and will comply with such terms insofar as such terms are applicable to it, (ii) it will notify the Administrative Agent promptly in writing of the occurrence of any of the events described in subsection (a) of this Section with respect to the Pledged Securities issued by it and (iii) the terms of Section 7.1(c) and Section 7.5 shall apply to it, mutatis mutandis , with respect to all actions that may be required of it pursuant to Section 7.1(c) or Section 7.5 with respect to the Pledged Securities issued by it.

 

14


(c) Such Grantor shall furnish to the Administrative Agent such powers and other equivalent instruments of transfer as may be required by the Administrative Agent to assure the transferability of and the perfection of the security interest in the Pledged Securities when and as often as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.

(d) The Pledged Securities will constitute not less than 100% of the Capital Stock or other equity interests of the Issuer thereof owned by any Grantor, except Pledged Securities of any Foreign Subsidiary shall be limited to not more than 65% of the voting Capital Stock and 100% of the non-voting Capital Stock of such Foreign Subsidiary.

(e) Such Grantor shall not, without executing and delivering, or causing to be executed and delivered, to the Administrative Agent such agreements, documents and instruments as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require, issue or acquire any Capital Stock or hold any Pledged Security that consists of an interest in a partnership or a limited liability company which (i) is dealt in or traded on a securities exchange or in a securities market, (ii) by its terms expressly provides that it is a Security governed by Article 8 of the UCC, (iii) is held in a Securities Account or (iv) constitutes a Security or a Financial Asset.

Section 6.5 Limitations on Modifications, Waivers, Extensions of Agreements Giving Rise to Accounts . Such Grantor will not (i) amend, modify, terminate or waive any provision of any Chattel Paper, Instrument or any agreement giving rise to an Account or Payment Intangible comprising a portion of the Collateral, or (ii) fail to exercise promptly and diligently each and every right which it may have under any Chattel Paper, Instrument and each agreement giving rise to an Account or Payment Intangible comprising a portion of the Collateral (other than any right of termination), in each case except where such action or failure to act, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 6.6 Instruments and Tangible Chattel Paper . If any amount payable under or in connection with any of the Collateral shall be or become evidenced by any Instrument or Tangible Chattel Paper and the value of such Instruments and Tangible Chattel Paper in the aggregate is $100,000 or more, each such Instrument or Tangible Chattel Paper, shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent as soon as practicable, duly endorsed in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to be held as Collateral pursuant to this Agreement.

Section 6.7 Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks .

(a) Such Grantor (either itself or through licensees) will, except with respect to any Trademark that such Grantor shall reasonably determine is not material to the conduct of such Grantor’s business, (i) use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain as in the past the quality of services offered under such Trademark, (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain such Trademark in full force and effect, free from any claim of abandonment for non-use, (iii) employ such Trademark with the appropriate notice of registration (if applicable), (iv) not adopt or use any mark which is confusingly similar or a colorable imitation of such Trademark unless the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, shall obtain a perfected security interest in such mark pursuant to this Agreement, and (v) not intentionally (and not permit any licensee or sublicensee thereof to) do any act, or knowingly omit to do any act, whereby any Trademark may become invalidated.

(b) Such Grantor will not, except with respect to any Patent that such Grantor shall reasonably determine is not material to the conduct of such Grantor’s business, intentionally do any act, or knowingly omit to do any act, whereby any Patent may become abandoned or dedicated.

 

15


(c) Such Grantor will not, except with respect to any Copyright that such Grantor shall reasonably determine is not material to the conduct of such Grantor’s business, intentionally do any act, or knowingly omit to do any act, whereby any Copyright may become abandoned or dedicated.

(d) Such Grantor will notify the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties as soon as reasonably practicable (but in any event, within 5 Business Days) if it knows, or has reason to know, that any application or registration relating to any Copyright, Patent or Trademark that is material to the conduct of such Grantor’s business will become abandoned or dedicated to the public (other than due to the natural expiration thereof), or of any adverse determination or development (including, without limitation, the institution of, or any such determination or development in, any proceeding in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any court or tribunal in any country) regarding such Grantor’s ownership of any such Copyright, Patent or Trademark or its right to register the same or to keep and maintain the same.

(e) Whenever a Grantor, either by itself or through any agent, employee, licensee or designee, shall file an application for the registration of any Copyright, Patent or Trademark with the United States Copyright Office, the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any similar office or agency in any other country or any political subdivision thereof, such Grantor shall report such filing to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties within five (5) Business Days after the last day of the fiscal quarter in which such filing occurs. Upon request of the Administrative Agent, such Grantor shall execute and deliver an Intellectual Property Security Agreement substantially in the form of Annex II , and any and all other agreements, instruments, documents, and papers as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to evidence the Administrative Agent’s and the other Secured Parties’ security interest in any Copyright, Patent or Trademark and the goodwill and General Intangibles of such Grantor relating thereto or represented thereby, and such Grantor hereby constitutes the Administrative Agent its attorney-in-fact to execute and file all such writings for the foregoing purposes, all acts of such attorney being hereby ratified and confirmed; such power being coupled with an interest is irrevocable until the Secured Obligations are paid in full and the Commitments are terminated.

(f) In each case subject to each Grantor’s reasonable business judgment, each Grantor will take all reasonable and necessary steps, including, without limitation, in any proceeding before the United States Copyright Office, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or any similar office or agency in any other country or any political subdivision thereof, to maintain and pursue each application (and to obtain the relevant registration) and to maintain each registration of the Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks, including, without limitation, filing of applications for renewal, affidavits of use and affidavits of incontestability.

(g) In the event that any Copyright, Patent or Trademark of a Grantor included in the Collateral is infringed, misappropriated or diluted by a third party, such Grantor shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties after it learns thereof and shall, unless such Grantor shall reasonably determine that such Copyright, Patent or Trademark is immaterial to such Grantor which determination such Grantor shall promptly report to the Administrative Agent, and, subject to such Grantor’s reasonable business judgment, promptly sue for infringement, misappropriation or dilution, seek injunctive relief where appropriate and to recover any and all damages for such infringement, misappropriation or dilution, or take such other actions as such Grantor shall reasonably deem appropriate under the circumstances to protect such Copyright, Patent or Trademark.

Section 6.8 Commercial Tort Claims . If such Grantor shall at any time hold or acquire a Commercial Tort Claim that satisfies the requirements of the following sentence, such Grantor shall, within 30 days after such Commercial Tort Claim satisfies such requirements, notify the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties in a writing signed by such Grantor containing a brief description

 

16


thereof, and granting to the Administrative Agent in such writing (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) a security interest therein and in the Proceeds thereof, all upon the terms of this Agreement, with such writing to be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. The provisions of the preceding sentence shall apply only to a Commercial Tort Claim that satisfies the following requirements: (i) the monetary value claimed by or payable to the relevant Grantor in connection with such Commercial Tort Claim shall exceed $100,000, and (ii) either (A) such Grantor shall have filed a law suit or counterclaim or otherwise commenced legal proceedings (including, without limitation, arbitration proceedings) against the Person against whom such Commercial Tort Claim is made, or (B) such Grantor and the Person against whom such Commercial Tort Claim is asserted shall have entered into a settlement agreement with respect to such Commercial Tort Claim.

ARTICLE VII

REMEDIAL PROVISIONS

Section 7.1 Pledged Securities .

(a) Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Administrative Agent shall have given notice to the relevant Grantor of the Administrative Agent’s intent to exercise its corresponding rights pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section, each Grantor shall be permitted to receive all cash dividends paid in respect of the Pledged Securities paid in the normal course of business of the relevant Issuer, to the extent permitted in the Credit Agreement, and to exercise all voting and corporate rights with respect to the Pledged Securities.

(b) If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, then at any time in the Administrative Agent’s discretion, upon written notice, (i) the Administrative Agent shall have the right to receive any and all cash dividends, payments or other Proceeds paid in respect of the Pledged Securities and make application thereof to the Obligations in accordance with Section 8.2 of the Credit Agreement, and (ii) any or all of the Pledged Securities shall be registered in the name of the Administrative Agent or its nominee, and the Administrative Agent or its nominee may thereafter exercise (x) all voting, corporate and other rights pertaining to such Pledged Securities at any meeting of shareholders (or other equivalent body) of the relevant Issuer or Issuers or otherwise and (y) any and all rights of conversion, exchange and subscription and any other rights, privileges or options pertaining to such Pledged Securities as if it were the absolute owner thereof (including, without limitation, the right to exchange at its discretion any and all of the Pledged Securities upon the merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or other fundamental change in the organizational structure of any Issuer, or upon the exercise by any Grantor or the Administrative Agent of any right, privilege or option pertaining to such Pledged Securities, and in connection therewith, the right to deposit and deliver any and all of the Pledged Securities with any committee, depositary, transfer agent, registrar or other designated agency upon such terms and conditions as the Administrative Agent may determine), all without liability except to account for property actually received by it, but the Administrative Agent shall have no duty to any Grantor to exercise any such right, privilege or option and shall not be responsible for any failure to do so or delay in so doing.

(c) Each Grantor hereby authorizes and instructs each Issuer of any Pledged Securities pledged by such Grantor hereunder (and each Issuer party hereto hereby agrees) to (i) comply with any instruction received by it from the Administrative Agent in writing (x) after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (y) that is otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, without any other or further instructions from such Grantor, and each Grantor agrees that each Issuer shall be fully protected in so complying, and (ii) unless otherwise expressly permitted hereby, after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, pay any dividends or other payments with respect to the Pledged Securities directly to the Administrative Agent.

 

17


(d) After the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, if the Issuer of any Pledged Securities is the subject of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, custodianship or other proceedings under the supervision of any Governmental Authority, then, upon receipt by any Grantor of written notice from the Administrative Agent, all rights of the Grantor in respect thereof to exercise the voting and other consensual rights which such Grantor would otherwise be entitled to exercise with respect to the Pledged Securities issued by such Issuer shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Administrative Agent who shall thereupon have the sole right to exercise such voting and other consensual rights, but the Administrative Agent shall have no duty to exercise any such voting or other consensual rights and shall not be responsible for any failure to do so or delay in so doing.

Section 7.2 Collections on Accounts . After the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, each Grantor shall collect upon the Accounts, Instruments, Chattel Paper and Payment Intangibles subject to the Administrative Agent’s direction and control. Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default each Grantor shall notify the applicable Account Debtors that the applicable Accounts, Chattel Paper and Payment Intangibles have been assigned to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties and that payments in respect thereof shall be made directly to the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may in its own name or in the name of others communicate with the applicable Account Debtors to verify with them to its satisfaction the existence, amount and terms of any applicable Accounts, Chattel Paper or Payment Intangibles.

Section 7.3 Proceeds .

(a) Each Grantor hereby agrees to comply with the provisions set forth in Section 5.10 of the Credit Agreement with respect to all Proceeds of the Collateral.

(b) The Administrative Agent hereby agrees not to deliver a “notice of control” or its equivalent with respect to any Controlled Account unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

(c) All Proceeds of the Collateral (including, without limitation, Proceeds constituting collections of Accounts, Chattel Paper, Instruments or Payment Intangibles comprising a portion of the Collateral) while held by the Administrative Agent (or by any Grantor in trust for the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties) shall continue to be collateral security for all of the Secured Obligations and shall not constitute payment thereof until applied as hereinafter provided. At such intervals as may be agreed upon by each Grantor and the Administrative Agent, or, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, at any time at the Administrative Agent’s election, the Administrative Agent shall apply all or any part of the funds or Proceeds on deposit in said special collateral account on account of the Secured Obligations in the order set forth in Section 8.2 of the Credit Agreement, and any part of such funds or Proceeds which the Administrative Agent elects not so to apply and deems not required as collateral security for the Secured Obligations shall be paid over from time to time by the Administrative Agent to each Grantor or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same.

 

18


Section 7.4 UCC and Other Remedies .

(a) If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, may exercise in its discretion, in addition to all other rights, remedies, powers and privileges granted to them in this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and in any other instrument or agreement securing, evidencing or relating to the Secured Obligations, all rights, remedies, powers and privileges of a secured party under the UCC (regardless of whether the UCC is in effect in the jurisdiction where such rights, remedies, powers or privileges are asserted) or any other applicable law or otherwise available at law or equity. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent, without demand of performance or other demand, presentment, protest, advertisement or notice of any kind (except any notice required by law referred to below) to or upon any Grantor or any other Person (all and each of which demands, presentments, protests, advertisements and notices are hereby waived), may in such circumstances forthwith collect, receive, appropriate and realize upon the Collateral, or any part thereof, and/or may forthwith sell, lease, assign, give option or options to purchase, or otherwise dispose of and deliver the Collateral or any part thereof (or contract to do any of the foregoing), in one or more parcels at public or private sale or sales, at any exchange, broker’s board or office of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party or elsewhere upon such terms and conditions as it may deem advisable and at such prices as it may deem best, for cash or on credit or for future delivery without assumption of any credit risk. The Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party shall have the right upon any such public sale or sales, and, to the extent permitted by law, upon any such private sale or sales, to purchase the whole or any part of the Collateral so sold, free of any right or equity of redemption in any Grantor, which right or equity is hereby waived and released. If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, each Grantor further agrees, at the Administrative Agent’s request, to assemble the Collateral and make it available to the Administrative Agent at places which the Administrative Agent shall reasonably select, whether at such Grantor’s premises or elsewhere. Any such sale or transfer by the Administrative Agent either to itself or to any other Person shall be absolutely free from any claim of right by any Grantor, including any equity or right of redemption, stay or appraisal which such Grantor has or may have under any rule of law, regulation or statute now existing or hereafter adopted. Upon any such sale or transfer, the Administrative Agent shall have the right to deliver, assign and transfer to the purchaser or transferee thereof the Collateral so sold or transferred. The Administrative Agent shall apply the net proceeds of any action taken by it pursuant to this Section, after deducting all reasonable costs and expenses of every kind incurred in connection therewith or incidental to the care or safekeeping of any of the Collateral or in any way relating to the Collateral or the rights of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties hereunder, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, to the payment in whole or in part of the Obligations, in accordance with Section 8.2 of the Credit Agreement, and only after such application and after the payment by the Administrative Agent of any other amount required by any provision of law, including, without limitation, Section 9-615 of the UCC, need the Administrative Agent account for the surplus, if any, to any Grantor. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each Grantor waives all claims, damages and demands it may acquire against the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party arising out of the exercise by them of any rights hereunder. If any notice of a proposed sale or other disposition of Collateral shall be required by law, such notice shall be deemed reasonable and proper if given at least 10 days before such sale or other disposition.

(b) In the event that the Administrative Agent elects not to sell the Collateral, the Administrative Agent retains its rights to dispose of or utilize the Collateral or any part or parts thereof in any manner authorized or permitted by law or in equity and to apply the proceeds of the same towards payment of the Secured Obligations. Each and every method of disposition of the Collateral described in this Agreement shall constitute disposition in a commercially reasonable manner. The Administrative Agent may appoint any Person as agent to perform any act or acts necessary or incident to any sale or transfer of the Collateral.

 

19


Section 7.5 Private Sales of Pledged Securities . Each Grantor recognizes that the Administrative Agent may be unable to effect a public sale of any or all the Pledged Securities, by reason of certain prohibitions contained in the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or otherwise, and may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales thereof to a restricted group of purchasers which will be obliged to agree, among other things, to acquire such securities for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that any such private sale may result in prices and other terms less favorable than if such sale were a public sale and, notwithstanding such circumstances, agrees that any such private sale shall be deemed to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner. The Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to delay a sale of any of the Pledged Securities for the period of time necessary to permit the Issuer thereof to register such securities for public sale under the Securities Act, or under applicable state securities laws, even if such Issuer would agree to do so. Each Grantor agrees to use its best efforts to do or cause to be done all such other acts as may reasonably be necessary to make such sale or sales of all or any portion of the Pledged Securities pursuant to this Section valid and binding and in compliance with any and all other applicable Requirements of Law. Each Grantor further agrees that a breach of any of the covenants contained in this Section will cause irreparable injury to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, that the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties have no adequate remedy at law in respect of such breach and, as a consequence, that each and every covenant contained in this Section shall be specifically enforceable against such Grantor, and such Grantor hereby waives and agrees not to assert any defenses against an action for specific performance of such covenants.

Section 7.6 Waiver; Deficiency . Each Grantor waives and agrees not to assert any rights or privileges which it may acquire under the UCC or any other applicable law. Each Grantor shall remain liable for any deficiency if the proceeds of any sale or other disposition of the Collateral are insufficient to pay its Obligations or Guaranteed Obligations, as the case may be, and the fees and disbursements of any attorneys employed by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to collect such deficiency.

Section 7.7 Non-Judicial Enforcement . The Administrative Agent may enforce its rights hereunder without prior judicial process or judicial hearing, and, to the extent permitted by law, each Grantor expressly waives any and all legal rights which might otherwise require the Administrative Agent to enforce its rights by judicial process.

ARTICLE VIII

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

Section 8.1 The Administrative Agent’s Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact .

(a) Each Grantor hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Administrative Agent and any officer or agent thereof, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full irrevocable power and authority in the place and stead of such Grantor and in the name of such Grantor or in its own name, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of this Agreement, to take any and all reasonably appropriate action and to execute any and all documents and instruments which may be reasonably necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor hereby gives the Administrative Agent the power and right, on behalf of such Grantor, without notice to or assent by such Grantor, to do any or all of the following:

(i) pay or discharge Taxes and Liens levied or placed on or threatened against the Collateral, effect any repairs or any insurance called for by the terms of this Agreement and pay all or any part of the premiums therefor and the costs thereof;

 

20


(ii) execute, in connection with any sale provided for in Section 7.4 or Section 7.5 , any endorsements, assignments or other instruments of conveyance or transfer with respect to the Collateral; and

(iii) (A) direct any party liable for any payment under any of the Collateral to make payment of any and all moneys due or to become due thereunder directly to the Administrative Agent or as the Administrative Agent shall direct; (B) take possession of and indorse and collect any checks, drafts, notes, acceptances or other instruments for the payment of moneys due under any Account, Instrument, General Intangible, Chattel Paper or Payment Intangible or with respect to any other Collateral, and to file any claim or to take any other action or proceeding in any court of law or equity or otherwise deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent for the purpose of collecting any or all such moneys due under any Account, Instrument or General Intangible or with respect to any other Collateral whenever payable; (C) ask or demand for, collect, and receive payment of and receipt for any and all moneys, claims and other amounts due or to become due at any time in respect of or arising out of any Collateral; (D) sign and indorse any invoices, freight or express bills, bills of lading, storage or warehouse receipts, drafts against debtors, assignments, verifications, notices and other documents in connection with any of the Collateral; (E) receive, change the address for delivery, open and dispose of mail addressed to any Grantor, and execute, assign and indorse negotiable and other instruments for the payment of money, documents of title or other evidences of payment, shipment or storage for any form of Collateral on behalf of and in the name of any Grantor; (F) commence and prosecute any suits, actions or proceedings at law or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect the Collateral or any portion thereof and to enforce any other right in respect of any Collateral; (G) defend any suit, action or proceeding brought against such Grantor with respect to any Collateral; (H) settle, compromise or adjust any such suit, action or proceeding and, in connection therewith, give such discharges or releases as the Administrative Agent may deem appropriate; (I) assign any Patent or Trademark (along with the goodwill of the business to which any such Trademark pertains) throughout the world for such term or terms, on such conditions, and in such manner as the Administrative Agent shall in its sole discretion determine; and (J) generally, sell, transfer, pledge and make any agreement with respect to or otherwise deal with any of the Collateral as fully and completely as though the Administrative Agent were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes, and do, at the Administrative Agent’s option and such Grantor’s expense, at any time, or from time to time, all acts and things which the Administrative Agent deems necessary to protect, preserve or realize upon the Collateral and the Administrative Agent’s and the other Secured Parties’ security interests therein and to effect the intent of this Agreement, all as fully and effectively as such Grantor might do.

Anything in this subsection to the contrary notwithstanding, the Administrative Agent agrees that it will not exercise any rights under the power of attorney provided for in this subsection unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. The Administrative Agent shall give the relevant Grantor notice of any action taken pursuant to this subsection when reasonably practicable; provided that the Administrative Agent shall have no liability for the failure to provide any such notice.

(b) If any Grantor fails to perform or comply with any of its agreements contained herein within the applicable grace periods, the Administrative Agent, at its option, but without any obligation so to do, may perform or comply, or otherwise cause performance or compliance, with such agreement.

(c) The out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent incurred in connection with actions undertaken as provided in this Section shall be payable by such Grantor to the Administrative Agent on demand.

 

21


(d) Each Grantor hereby ratifies all that said attorneys shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof and in compliance herewith. All powers, authorizations and agencies contained in this Agreement are coupled with an interest and are irrevocable until this Agreement is terminated and the security interests created hereby are released.

Section 8.2 Duty of the Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent’s sole duty with respect to the custody, safekeeping and physical preservation of the Collateral in its possession, under Section 9-207 of the UCC or otherwise, shall be to deal with it in the same manner as the Administrative Agent deals with similar property for its own account, and the Administrative Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which comparable secured parties accord comparable collateral. Neither the Administrative Agent, any other Secured Party nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents shall be liable for failure to demand, collect or realize upon any of the Collateral or for any delay in doing so or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of any Grantor or any other Person or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to the Collateral or any part thereof. The powers conferred on the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties hereunder are solely to protect the Administrative Agent’s and the other Secured Parties’ interests in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to exercise any such powers. The Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties shall be accountable only for amounts that they actually receive as a result of the exercise of such powers, and neither they nor any of their officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible to any Grantor for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for their own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgment. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Administrative Agent shall be under no duty whatsoever to make or give any presentment, notice of dishonor, protest, demand for performance, notice of non-performance, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration, or other notice or demand in connection with any Collateral, or to take any steps necessary to preserve any rights against any Grantor or other Person or ascertaining or taking action with respect to calls, conversions, exchanges, maturities, tenders or other matters relative to any Collateral, whether or not it has or is deemed to have knowledge of such matters, in each case except as expressly provided herein or in the other Loan Documents. Each Grantor, to the extent permitted by applicable law, waives any right of marshaling in respect of any and all Collateral, and waives any right to require the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to proceed against any Grantor or other Person, exhaust any Collateral or enforce any other remedy which the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party now has or may hereafter have against any Grantor or other Person.

Section 8.3 Filing of Financing Statements . Pursuant to the UCC and any other applicable law, each Grantor authorizes the Administrative Agent, its counsel or its representative, at any time and from time to time, to file or record financing statements, continuation statements, amendments thereto and other filing or recording documents or instruments with respect to the Collateral without the signature of such Grantor in such form and in such offices as the Administrative Agent reasonably determines appropriate to perfect the security interests of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement. Additionally, each Grantor authorizes the Administrative Agent, its counsel or its representative, at any time and from time to time, to file or record such financing statements that describe the collateral covered thereby as “all assets of the Grantor”, “all personal property of the Grantor” or words of similar effect. A photographic or other reproduction of this Agreement shall be sufficient as a financing statement or other filing or recording document or instrument for filing or recording in any jurisdiction.

 

22


Section 8.4 Authority of the Administrative Agent . Each Grantor acknowledges that the rights and responsibilities of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement with respect to any action taken by the Administrative Agent or the exercise or non-exercise by the Administrative Agent of any option, voting right, request, judgment or other right or remedy provided for herein or resulting or arising out of this Agreement shall, as between the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, be governed by the Credit Agreement and by such other agreements with respect thereto as may exist from time to time among them, but, as between the Administrative Agent and the Grantors, the Administrative Agent shall be conclusively presumed to be acting as agent for the Secured Parties with full and valid authority so to act or refrain from acting, and no Grantor shall be under any obligation, or entitlement, to make any inquiry respecting such authority.

ARTICLE IX

SUBORDINATION OF INDEBTEDNESS

Section 9.1 Subordination of All Guarantor Claims . As used herein, the term “Guarantor Claims” shall mean all debts and obligations of the Borrowers or any other Grantor to any Grantor (other than the Borrowers), whether such debts and obligations now exist or are hereafter incurred or arise, or whether the obligation of the debtor thereon be direct, contingent, primary, secondary, several, joint and several, or otherwise, and irrespective of whether such debts or obligations be evidenced by note, contract, open account, or otherwise, and irrespective of the Person or Persons in whose favor such debts or obligations may, at their inception, have been or may hereafter be created, or the manner in which they have been or may hereafter be acquired. After the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, no Guarantor shall receive or collect, directly or indirectly, from any obligor in respect thereof any amount upon the Guarantor Claims.

Section 9.2 Claims in Bankruptcy . In the event of receivership, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, debtor’s relief or other insolvency proceedings involving any Grantor, the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties shall have the right to prove their claim in any proceeding, so as to establish their rights hereunder and receive directly from the receiver, trustee or other court custodian dividends and payments which would otherwise be payable upon Guarantor Claims. Each Grantor hereby assigns such dividends and payments to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties for application against the Secured Obligations as provided under Section 8.2 of the Credit Agreement. Should the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party receive, for application upon the Secured Obligations, any such dividend or payment which is otherwise payable to any Grantor, and which, as between such Grantor, shall constitute a credit upon the Guarantor Claims, then upon payment in full of the Secured Obligations and termination of all Commitments, the intended recipient shall become subrogated to the rights of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties to the extent that such payments to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties on the Guarantor Claims have contributed toward the liquidation of the Secured Obligations, and such subrogation shall be with respect to that proportion of the Secured Obligations which would have been unpaid if the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties had not received dividends or payments upon the Guarantor Claims.

Section 9.3 Payments Held in Trust . In the event that, notwithstanding Section 9.1 and Section 9.2 , any Grantor should receive any funds, payments, claims or distributions which are prohibited by such Sections, then it agrees (a) to hold in trust for the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties an amount equal to the amount of all funds, payments, claims or distributions so received, and (b) that it shall have absolutely no dominion over the amount of such funds, payments, claims or distributions except to pay them promptly to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties; and each Grantor covenants promptly to pay the same to the Administrative Agent.

 

23


Section 9.4 Liens Subordinate . Each Grantor agrees that, until the Secured Obligations are paid in full and all Commitments have terminated, any Liens securing payment of the Guarantor Claims shall be and remain inferior and subordinate to any Liens securing payment of the Secured Obligations, regardless of whether such encumbrances in favor of such Grantor, the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party presently exist or are hereafter created or attach. Without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, no Grantor, during the period in which any of the Secured Obligations are outstanding or any of the Commitments are in effect, shall (a) exercise or enforce any creditor’s right it may have against any debtor in respect of the Guarantor Claims, or (b) foreclose, repossess, sequester or otherwise take steps or institute any action or proceeding (judicial or otherwise, including, without limitation, the commencement of or joinder in any liquidation, bankruptcy, rearrangement, debtor’s relief or insolvency proceeding) to enforce any Lien held by it.

Section 9.5 Notation of Records . Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, all promissory notes and all accounts receivable ledgers or other evidence of the Guarantor Claims accepted by or held by any Grantor shall contain a specific written notice thereon that the indebtedness evidenced thereby is subordinated under the terms of this Agreement.

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 10.1 Waiver . No failure on the part of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to exercise and no delay in exercising, and no course of dealing with respect to, any right, remedy, power or privilege under any of the Loan Documents shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege under any of the Loan Documents preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law. The exercise by the Administrative Agent of any one or more of the rights, powers and remedies herein shall not be construed as a waiver of any other rights, powers and remedies, including, without limitation, any rights of set-off.

Section 10.2 Notices . All notices and other communications provided for herein shall be given in the manner and subject to the terms of Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement; provided that any such notice, request or demand to or upon any Guarantor shall be addressed to such Guarantor at its notice address set forth on Schedule 1 .

Section 10.3 Payment of Expenses, Indemnities .

(a) Each Grantor agrees to pay or promptly reimburse the Administrative Agent and each other Secured Party for all advances, charges, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, all costs and expenses of holding, preparing for sale and selling, collecting or otherwise realizing upon the Collateral and all attorneys’ fees, legal expenses and court costs) incurred by any Secured Party in connection with the exercise of its respective rights and remedies hereunder, including, without limitation, any advances, charges, costs and expenses that may be incurred in any effort to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement or any obligation of any Grantor in respect of the Collateral or in connection with (i) the preservation of the Lien of, or the rights of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party under, this Agreement, (ii) any actual or attempted sale, lease, disposition, exchange, collection, compromise, settlement or other realization in respect of, or care of, the Collateral, including all such costs and expenses incurred in any bankruptcy, reorganization, workout or other similar proceeding, or (iii) collecting against such Grantor under the guarantee contained in Article II or otherwise enforcing or preserving any rights under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Grantor is a party.

 

24


(b) Each Grantor agrees to pay, and to save the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties harmless from, any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, court costs and attorneys’ fees and any and all liabilities with respect to, or resulting from any delay in paying, any and all stamp, excise, sales or other taxes which may be payable or determined to be payable with respect to any of the Collateral or in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) incurred because of, incident to, or with respect to the Collateral (including, without limitation, any exercise of rights or remedies in connection therewith) or the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance or administration of this Agreement, to the extent the Borrowers would be required to do so pursuant to Section 10.3 of the Credit Agreement.

(c) All amounts for which any Grantor is liable pursuant to this Section shall be due and payable by such Grantor to the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party upon demand.

Section 10.4 Amendments in Writing . None of the terms or provisions of this Agreement may be waived, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified except in accordance with Section 10.2 of the Credit Agreement.

Section 10.5 Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of each Grantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, the future holders of the Loans, and their respective successors and assigns; provided that no Grantor may assign, transfer or delegate any of its rights or Secured Obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.

Section 10.6 Severability . Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 10.7 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any of the parties hereto may execute this Agreement by signing any such counterpart. Delivery of an executed counterpart to this Agreement by facsimile transmission or by electronic mail in pdf format shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

Section 10.8 Survival . The obligations of the parties under Section 10.3 shall survive the repayment of the Secured Obligations and the termination of the Credit Agreement, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments, the Hedging Obligations and the Bank Product Obligations. To the extent that any payments on the Secured Obligations or proceeds of any Collateral are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be repaid to a trustee, debtor in possession, receiver or other Person under any bankruptcy law, common law or equitable cause, then, to such extent, the Secured Obligations so satisfied shall be revived and continue as if such payment or proceeds had not been received and the Administrative Agent’s and the other Secured Parties’ Liens, security interests, rights, powers and remedies under this Agreement and each other applicable Collateral Document shall continue in full force and effect. In such event, each applicable Collateral Document shall be automatically reinstated and each Grantor shall take such action as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties to effect such reinstatement.

 

25


Section 10.9 Captions . Captions and section headings appearing herein are included solely for convenience of reference and are not intended to affect the interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.

Section 10.10 No Oral Agreements . The Loan Documents embody the entire agreement and understanding between the parties and supersede all other agreements and understandings between such parties relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof. The Loan Documents represent the final agreement between the parties and may not be contradicted by evidence of prior, contemporaneous or subsequent oral agreements of the parties. There are no unwritten oral agreements between the parties.

Section 10.11 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction .

(a) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any claims, controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract or tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document (except, as to any other Loan Document, as expressly set forth therein) and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be construed in accordance with and be governed by the law of the State of New York.

(b) Each Grantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York county, and of any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such District Court or such New York state court or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, such appellate court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against the Borrowers or their properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

(c) Each Grantor irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding described in subsection (b) of this Section and brought in any court referred to in subsection (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to the service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 10.2 . Nothing in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

Section 10.12 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT 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,

 

26


SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

Section 10.13 Acknowledgments .

(a) Each Grantor hereby acknowledges that:

(i) it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party;

(ii) neither the Administrative Agent nor any other Secured Party has any fiduciary relationship with or duty to any Grantor arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and the relationship between the Grantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, on the other hand, in connection herewith or therewith is solely that of debtor and creditor; and

(iii) no joint venture is created hereby or by the other Loan Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among the Secured Parties or among the Grantors and the Secured Parties.

(b) Each of the parties hereto specifically agrees that it has a duty to read this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party and agrees that it is charged with notice and knowledge of the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party; that it has in fact read this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party and is fully informed and has full notice and knowledge of the terms, conditions and effects of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party; that it has been represented by independent legal counsel of its choice throughout the negotiations preceding its execution of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is party; and has received the advice of its attorney in entering into this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party; and that it recognizes that certain of the terms of this Agreement and other Loan Documents to which it is a party result in one party assuming the liability inherent in some aspects of the transaction and relieving the other party of its responsibility for such liability. Each Grantor agrees and covenants that it will not contest the validity or enforceability of any exculpatory provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to which it is a party on the basis that such Grantor had no notice or knowledge of such provision or that the provision is not “conspicuous”.

(c) Each Grantor warrants and agrees that each of the waivers and consents set forth in this Agreement are made voluntarily and unconditionally after consultation with outside legal counsel and with full knowledge of their significance and consequences, with the understanding that events giving rise to any defense or right waived may diminish, destroy or otherwise adversely affect rights which such Grantor otherwise may have against any other Grantor, the Administrative Agent, the other Secured Parties or any other Person or against any Collateral. If, notwithstanding the intent of the parties that the terms of this Agreement shall control in any and all circumstances, any such waivers or consents are determined to be unenforceable under applicable law, such waivers and consents shall be effective to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Section 10.14 Additional Grantors . Each Person that is required to become a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.12 of the Credit Agreement and is not a signatory hereto shall become a Grantor for all purposes of this Agreement upon execution and delivery by such Person of a Joinder Agreement in the form of Annex I .

 

27


Section 10.15 Set-Off . Each Grantor agrees that, in addition to (and without limitation of) any right of set-off, bankers’ lien or counterclaim a Secured Party may otherwise have, at any time and from time to time upon the occurrence of and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Secured Party shall have the right and be entitled (after consultation with the Administrative Agent), at its option, to offset (i) balances held by it or by any of its Affiliates for account of any Grantor or any of its Subsidiaries at any of its offices, in dollars or in any other currency, and (ii) Obligations then due and payable to such Secured Party (or any Affiliate of such Secured Party), which are not paid when due, in which case it shall promptly notify the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent thereof; provided that such Secured Party’s failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity thereof.

Section 10.16 Releases .

(a) Payment in Full . Any reference in this Agreement to payment, repayment or satisfaction in full of the Secured Obligations means termination of all Commitments and the repayment in full in cash (or, in the case of Letters of Credit or Bank Product Obligations, the Cash Collateralization or support by a standby letter of credit in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement or any agreement entered into in connection therewith) of all Secured Obligations other than unasserted contingent indemnification obligations and other than any Bank Product Obligations or Hedging Obligations that constitute Secured Obligations that, at such time, are allowed by the applicable Bank Product Provider or the counterparty to the Hedging Transaction to which such Hedging Obligations are incurred to remain outstanding.

(b) Release Upon Payment in Full . Upon the complete payment in full of all Secured Obligations and the termination of the Credit Agreement, the Letters of Credit and all Commitments, the Administrative Agent, at the written request and expense of the Borrowers, will promptly release, reassign and transfer the Collateral to the Grantors, without recourse, representation, warranty or other assurance of any kind, and declare this Agreement to be of no further force or effect.

(c) Further Assurances . If any of the Collateral shall be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by any Grantor in a transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement, then the Administrative Agent, at the request and sole expense of such Grantor, shall promptly execute and deliver to such Grantor all releases or other documents reasonably necessary for the release of the Liens created hereby on such Collateral of such Grantor, made without recourse, representation, warranty or other assurance of any kind. At the request and sole expense of the Borrowers, a Grantor shall be released from its obligations hereunder in the event that all the Capital Stock of such Grantor shall be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in a transaction expressly permitted by the Credit Agreement; provided that the Borrowers shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent, at least 5 Business Days prior to the date of the proposed release, a written request for release identifying the relevant Grantor and the terms of the sale or other disposition in reasonable detail, including the price thereof and any expenses in connection therewith, together with a certification by the Borrowers stating that such transaction is in compliance with the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

(d) Retention in Satisfaction . Except as may be expressly applicable pursuant to Section 9-620 of the UCC, no action taken or omission to act by the Administrative Agent or the other Secured Parties hereunder, including, without limitation, any exercise of voting or consensual rights or any other action taken or inaction, shall be deemed to constitute a retention of the Collateral in satisfaction of the Secured Obligations or otherwise to be in full satisfaction of the Secured Obligations, and the Secured Obligations shall remain in full force and effect, until the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties shall have applied payments (including, without limitation, collections from Collateral) towards the Secured Obligations in the full amount then outstanding or until such subsequent time as is provided in subsection (a) of this Section.

 

28


Section 10.17 Acceptance . Each Grantor hereby expressly waives notice of acceptance of this Agreement, acceptance on the part of the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties being conclusively presumed by their request for this Agreement and delivery of the same to the Administrative Agent.

Section 10.18 Keepwell . Each Qualified ECP Guarantor hereby jointly and severally absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each other Loan Party to honor all of its obligations under this Guaranty and Security Agreement in respect of Swap Obligations (provided, however, that each Qualified ECP Guarantor shall only be liable under this Section 10.19 for the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering its obligations under this Section 10.19 , or otherwise under this Guaranty, as it relates to such other Loan Party, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount). The obligations of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section shall remain in full force and effect until this Agreement has been terminated pursuant to Section 10.16(a) . Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Section 10.19 constitute, and this Section 10.19 shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each other Loan Party for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

29


IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this Guaranty and Security Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

BORROWERS:
FOX FACTORY HOLDING CORP.
By:    
 

Name:

Title:

 

FOX FACTORY, INC.
By:    
 

Name:

Title:

Signature Page to

Guaranty and Security Agreement


Acknowledged and Agreed to as of the date hereof:

 

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:
SUNTRUST BANK
By:    
 

Name:

Title:

Signature Page to

Guaranty and Security Agreement

Exhibit 10.24

FOX FACTORY HOLDING CORP.

NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION POLICY 1

CASH COMPENSATION

Retainer for Serving as Lead Director

The Lead Director shall be paid an annual retainer of $10,000 (or such other amount as determined by the Board in its discretion), plus the other retainers and compensation he or she may be eligible to receive set forth below (as such amounts may be changed from time to time by the Board in its discretion).

Retainers for Serving as Committee Chairpersons

Non-employee directors shall be paid the following annual retainers for serving as the chairperson of the following committees of the Board:

 

•    

    $15,000               Audit Committee

•    

    $7,500               Compensation Committee

•    

    $7,500               Nominations and Corporate Governance Committee

Non-employee directors shall be paid an annual retainer in the amount as so determined by the Board in its discretion for serving as the chairperson of any other committee of the Board.

Retainer for Serving on the Board

Each non-employee directors shall be paid an annual retainer of $40,000 (or such other amount as may be determined by the Board in its discretion) for his or her service on the Board, which retainer shall be payable quarterly. No separate meeting fees shall be paid for Board meetings attended by the directors, unless otherwise determined by the Board.

Committee Meeting Attendance

Each non-employee director shall be paid $1,000 (or such other amount as may be determined by the Board in its discretion) for each meeting of any committee of the Board attended by such director telephonically or in person.

EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION

Pursuant to the following, Non-employee directors shall be granted annual equity-based compensation awards each year in the form of restricted share units pursuant to the Company’s 2013 Omnibus Plan or pursuant to any other applicable equity-based compensation plan of the Company then effect, as such plans are amended from time to time. Such awards shall vest on the day immediately prior to the next annual meeting, subject to accelerated vesting in the event of the director’s death or a change of control of the Company and shall be subject to such additional terms and conditions as may be set forth in the applicable award agreement and plan.

 

 

1   Non-Employee Director Policy to go into effect upon consummation of the initial public offering.


The Non-employee directors who are serving on the Board at the time the Company’s initial public offering is consummated shall be entitled to receive an initial award of restricted share units, the number of which shall be determined by dividing $20,000 by the initial public offering price to the public of the Company’s common stock in the Company’s initial public offering. The Company shall grant such initial awards to the non-employee directors on the date that the Company’s initial public offering is consummated. Such awards shall vest on the day immediately prior to the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders held in 2014, subject to accelerated vesting in the event of the director’s death or a change of control of the Company.

Thereafter and subject to applicable laws and the Company’s policies then in place for equity-based awards, the non-employee directors who serve on the Board immediately following the Company’s 2014 annual meeting of shareholders and each annual meeting thereafter shall be entitled to receive an annual award of restricted share units. The number of restricted share units to be awarded annually shall be determined by dividing $40,000 (or such other amount as determined by the Board in its sole discretion), by the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Such annual awards shall be granted on the date of the Company’s annual meeting or, alternatively, during the Company’s open trading window that follows the Company’s annual meeting. If a non-employee director joins the Board on a day other than the date of the annual meeting, such non-employee director shall be entitled to receive a prorated award of restricted share units. Such prorated award shall be determined by multiplying $40,000 times a fraction, (i) the numerator of which shall be the difference between 365 and the number of days that have lapsed since the annual meeting immediately preceding the day such non-employee director joined the award, and (ii) the denominator of which is 365. The product resulting from the prior sentence shall then be divided by the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant to determine the number of restricted share units to be awarded. Such annual award shall be granted on the date such director joins the Board or, alternatively, during the Company’s open trading window that follows the date that such director joins the Board.

EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT

Each of the non-employee directors shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for reasonable expenses which they properly incur in connection with attending Board meetings and their duties as a director.

DIRECTORS HOLDING 5% OR MORE OF THE COMPANY’S STOCK AND REPRESENTATIVES OF STOCKHOLDERS HOLDING 5% OR MORE OF THE COMPANY’S STOCK

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any non-employee director who, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns 5% or more of the Company’s outstanding securities or is employed by or represents a stockholder of the Company that, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns 5% or more of the Company’s outstanding securities shall not be entitled to receive any cash compensation or equity-based compensation for his or her service on the Board. Such non-employee director shall, however, be entitled to receive reimbursement for reasonable expenses which he or she properly incurs in connection with attending Board meetings and their duties as a director.

AMENDMENTS, REVISION AND TERMINATION

This policy may be amended, revised or terminated by the Board of Directors at any time and from time-to-time in its sole discretion.

 

- 2 -

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We have issued our report dated May 13, 2013, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Fox Factory Holding Corporation contained in the Registration Statement and Prospectus. We consent to the use of the aforementioned report in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, and to the use of our name as it appears under the caption “Experts.”

/s/ Grant Thornton LLP

San Jose, California

July 24, 2013