UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): April 21, 2015

 

 

PARTY CITY HOLDCO INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-37344   46-0539758

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

80 Grasslands Road

Elmsford, New York

  10523
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (914) 345-2020

Former name or former address, if changed since last report: N/A

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 


Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

On April 21, 2015, in connection with the closing of the initial public offering (the “IPO”) by Party City Holdco Inc. (the “Company”) of its common stock, the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2015 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), was entered into by and among the Company, THL PC Topco, L.P., Advent-Party City Acquisition Limited Partnership and the other persons listed in the signature pages thereto, substantially in the form previously filed as Exhibit 4.7 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-193466), as amended (the “Registration Statement”). Additionally, in connection with closing of the IPO, the Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2015 (the “Stockholders’ Agreement”), was entered into by and among the Company THL PC Topco, L.P., Advent-Party City Acquisition Limited Partnership and the other persons listed in the signature pages thereto, substantially in the form previously filed as Exhibit 4.9 to the Company’s Registration Statement. Copies of the Registration Rights Agreement and Stockholders’ Agreement are filed as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2, respectively, herewith and incorporated herein by reference.

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

As previously disclosed in the Company’s Registration Statement, in connection with the consummation of the IPO, the Company filed a restated certificate of incorporation (the “Restated Certificate”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The Restated Certificate became effective on April 21, 2015. The Company’s board of directors and stockholders previously approved the Restated Certificate to be filed in connection with the consummation of the IPO. The Restated Certificate restates the Company’s certificate of incorporation in its entirety to, among other things: (i) authorize 300 million shares of common stock and (ii) authorize 15 million shares of undesignated preferred stock that may be issued from time to time by the Company’s board of directors in one or more series.

The foregoing description of the Restated Certificate is qualified by reference to the Restated Certificate, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

As previously disclosed in the Company’s Registration Statement, and in connection with the consummation of the IPO, the amended and restated bylaws of the Company (the “Amended and Restated Bylaws”), previously approved by the Company’s board of directors and stockholders to become effective immediately upon the consummation of the IPO, became effective. The Amended and Restated Bylaws amend and restate the Company’s bylaws in their entirety to, among other things: (i) eliminate the ability of the Company’s stockholders to take action by written consent in lieu of a meeting; (ii) establish procedures relating to the presentation of stockholder proposals at stockholder meetings; (iii) establish procedures relating to the nomination of directors; (iv) modify the indemnification provisions for the Company’s directors and officers; and (v) conform to the amended provisions of the Restated Certificate.

The foregoing description of the Amended and Restated Bylaws is qualified by reference to the Amended and Restated Bylaws, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.


Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

3.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
3.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws
4.1    Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement among Party City Holdco Inc., THL PC Topco, L.P., Advent-Party City Acquisition Limited Partnership and certain other stockholders of Party City Holdco Inc. dated as of April 21, 2015
4.2    Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement among Party City Holdco Inc., THL PC Topco, L.P., Advent-Party City Acquisition Limited Partnership and certain other stockholders of Party City Holdco Inc. dated as of April 21, 2015.

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

PARTY CITY HOLDCO INC.
Date: April 21, 2015 By:

/s/ Michael A. Correale

Michael A. Correale
Chief Financial Officer

 

3

Exhibit 3.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

PARTY CITY HOLDCO INC.

Party City Holdco Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), hereby certifies that this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”), and that:

A. The name of the Corporation is: Party City Holdco Inc.

B. The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of the State of Delaware on May 31, 2012 under the name PC Topco Holdings, Inc., amended on November 25, 2013 and amended on April 2, 2015 (as amended, the “ Original Certificate of Incorporation ”).

C. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation amends and restates the Original Certificate of Incorporation.

D. The Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation upon the filing of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, shall read in its entirety as follows:

ARTICLE I — NAME

The name of the corporation is Party City Holdco Inc.

ARTICLE II — REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19808. The name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.

ARTICLE III — PURPOSE

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL.

ARTICLE IV — CAPITALIZATION

(a) Authorized Shares . The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 315,000,000, consisting of 300,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Common Stock ”) and 15,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Preferred Stock ”).

(b) Common Stock . Subject to the powers, preferences and rights of any Preferred Stock, including any series thereof, having any preference or priority over, or rights superior to, the Common Stock and except as otherwise provided by law and this Article IV, the holders of the Common Stock shall have and possess all powers and voting and other rights pertaining to the stock of the Corporation.


(i) Voting . Each holder of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote; provided , that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including, but not limited to, any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including, but not limited to, any certificate of designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or pursuant to the DGCL. There shall be no cumulative voting.

(ii) Dividends . Dividends may be declared and paid on the Common Stock from funds lawfully available therefor as and when determined by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) and subject to any preferential dividend rights of any then outstanding Preferred Stock. Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL or this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of record of Common Stock shall share ratably in all dividends payable in cash, stock or otherwise and other distributions.

(iii) No Preemptive Rights . The holders of the Common Stock shall have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any shares of any class of stock of the Corporation whether now or hereafter authorized.

(iv) No Conversion Rights . The Common Stock shall not be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of the same class of the Corporation’s capital stock.

(v) Liquidation Rights . Upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Common Stock will be entitled to receive all assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, subject to any preferential rights of any then outstanding Preferred Stock. A merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into any other corporation or other entity or a sale or conveyance of all or any part of the assets of the Corporation, in any such case which shall not in fact result in the liquidation of the Corporation and the distribution of assets to its stockholders, shall not be deemed to be a voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution or winding up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Article IV(b)(v).

(c) Preferred Stock . Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued in one or more series, from time to time, with each such series to consist of such number of shares and to have such voting powers relative to other classes or series of Preferred Stock, if any, or Common Stock, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such designations, preferences and relative,

 

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participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such series adopted by the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors is hereby expressly vested with the authority, to the full extent now or hereafter provided by applicable law, to adopt any such resolution or resolutions. Except as otherwise provided in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, no vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock or Common Stock shall be a prerequisite to the designation or issuance of any shares of any series of the Preferred Stock authorized by and complying with the conditions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the right to have such vote being expressly waived by all present and future holders of the capital stock of the Corporation. Any shares of Preferred Stock that are redeemed, purchased or acquired by the Corporation may be reissued except as otherwise provided by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Different series of Preferred Stock shall not be construed to constitute different classes of shares for the purposes of voting by classes unless expressly provided in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such series adopted by the Board of Directors.

(d) No Class Vote On Changes In Authorized Number of Shares Of Preferred Stock . Subject to the special rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock pursuant to the terms of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, any certificate of designations or any resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such series of stock adopted by the Board of Directors, the number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.

ARTICLE V — BOARD OF DIRECTORS

(a) Number of Directors; Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships . The number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall be not fewer than three (3) and not more than fifteen (15), each of whom shall be a natural person. All elections of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by stockholders entitled to vote in such elections. The number of directors initially shall be nine (9). Subject to the special rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the precise number of directors shall be fixed exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. Vacancies and newly-created directorships shall be filled exclusively pursuant to a vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director, except that (i) subject to clause (ii) below, any vacancy created by the removal of a director by the stockholders for cause shall only be filled, in addition to any other vote otherwise required by law, by vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and (ii) prior to the Trigger Date (as defined below), any vacancy created by the removal of a director designated or nominated by a Sponsor Holder (as defined below) shall be filled exclusively by such Sponsor Holder. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. A director elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor in office, and a director chosen to fill a position resulting from an increase in the number of directors 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 his or her successor and to his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

 

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(b) Classified Board of Directors . Subject to the special rights of the holders of any class or series of stock to elect directors, the Board of Directors shall be classified with respect to the time for which directors severally hold office into three classes: Class I; Class II; and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly equal in number as practicable, of one-third of the total number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors and the allocation of directors among the three classes shall be determined by the Board of Directors. The initial Class I Directors shall serve for a term expiring at the first annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation following the filing of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation; the initial Class II Directors shall serve for a term expiring at the second annual meeting of stockholders following the filing of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation; and the initial Class III Directors shall serve for a term expiring at the third annual meeting of stockholders following the filing of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Each director in each class shall hold office until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. At each annual meeting of stockholders beginning with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the filing of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the successors of the class of directors whose term expires at that meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in the third year following the year of their election, with each director in each such class to hold office until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. If the number of directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly as equal as practicable.

(c) Removal . Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the directors of the Corporation may be removed only for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose; provided , however , that prior to the first date (the “ Trigger Date ”) on which the investment funds affiliated with Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. and their respective successors and affiliates (collectively, the “ THL Entities ”) and investment funds affiliated with Advent International Corporation and their respective successors and affiliates (together with the THL Entities, the “ Sponsor Holders ” and each, a “ Sponsor Holder ”) cease collectively to beneficially own (directly or indirectly) more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the directors of the Corporation may be removed with or without cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. For the purpose of this Article V(c), “ beneficial ownership ” shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

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ARTICLE VI — INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES

(a) Indemnification . The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person (an “ Indemnitee ”) who was or is made, or is threatened to be made, a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “ Proceeding ”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or an officer of the Corporation or, while a director or an officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, member, trustee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, nonprofit entity or other enterprise (including, but not limited to, service with respect to employee benefit plans) (any such entity, an “ Other Entity ”), against all liability and loss suffered (including, but not limited to, expenses (including, but not limited to, attorneys’ fees and expenses), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify an Indemnitee in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such Indemnitee only if the commencement of such Proceeding (or part thereof) by the Indemnitee was authorized by the Board of Directors or the Proceeding (or part thereof) relates to the enforcement of the Corporation’s obligations under this Article VI(a).

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

(c) Claims . If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such proceeding) under this Article VI is not paid in full within sixty days after a written claim therefor by the Indemnitee has been received by the Corporation, the Indemnitee may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim to the fullest extent permitted by law. In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to the requested indemnification under applicable law.

(d) Insurance . The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, trustee, employee, member, trustee or agent of the Corporation, or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of an Other Entity, against any liability asserted against the person and incurred by the person in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power or the obligation to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article VI.

(e) Non-Exclusivity of Rights . The rights conferred on any Indemnitee by this Article VI are not exclusive of other rights arising under any bylaw, agreement, vote of directors or stockholders or otherwise, and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs and legal representatives of such Indemnitee.

 

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(f) Amounts Received from an Other Entity . Subject to Article VI(g), the Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify any Indemnitee who was or is serving at the Corporation’s request as a director, officer, employee or agent of an Other Entity shall be reduced by any amount such Indemnitee may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such Other Entity.

(g) Indemnification Priority . As between the Corporation and any other person (other than an entity directly or indirectly controlled by the Corporation) who provide indemnification and advancement of expenses to the Indemnitees for their service to, or on behalf of, the Corporation (collectively, the “ Secondary Indemnitors ”) (i) the Corporation shall be the full indemnitor of first resort in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses in connection with any Jointly Indemnifiable Claims (as defined below), pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Article VI, irrespective of any right of indemnification, advancement of expenses or other right of recovery any Indemnitee may have from any Secondary Indemnitor (i.e., the Corporation’s obligations to such Indemnitees are primary and any obligation of any Secondary Indemnitor to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same loss or liability incurred by such Indemnitees is secondary to the Corporation’s obligations), (ii) the Corporation shall be required to advance the full amount of expenses incurred by any such Indemnitee and shall be liable for the full amount of all liability and loss suffered by such Indemnitee (including, but not limited to, expenses (including, but not limited to, attorneys’ fees and expenses), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding), without regard to any rights any such Indemnitee may have against any Secondary Indemnitor, and (iii) the Corporation irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases each Secondary Indemnitor from any and all claims against such Secondary Indemnitor for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. The Corporation shall indemnify each Secondary Indemnitor directly for any amounts that such Secondary Indemnitor pays as indemnification or advancement on behalf of any such Indemnitee and for which such Indemnitee may be entitled to indemnification from the Corporation in connection with Jointly Indemnifiable Claims. No right of indemnification, advancement of expenses or other right of recovery that an Indemnitee may have from any Secondary Indemnitor shall reduce or otherwise alter the rights of the Indemnitee or the obligations of the Corporation hereunder. No advancement or payment by any Secondary Indemnitor on behalf of any such Indemnitee with respect to any claim for which such Indemnitee has sought indemnification from the Corporation shall affect the foregoing and the Secondary Indemnitors shall be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of such Indemnitee against the Corporation. Each Indemnitee shall execute all papers reasonably required and shall do all things that may be reasonably necessary to secure the rights of such Indemnitee’s Secondary Indemnitors under this Article VI(g), including the execution of such documents as may be necessary to enable the Secondary Indemnitors effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights, including in the right of the Corporation. Each of the Secondary Indemnitors shall be third-party beneficiaries with respect to this Article VI(g), entitled to enforce this Article VI(g). As used in this Article VI(g), the term “Jointly Indemnifiable Claims” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, any action, suit, proceeding or other matter for which an Indemnitee shall be entitled to

 

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indemnification or advancement of expenses from both a Secondary Indemnitor and the Corporation, whether pursuant to Delaware law, any agreement or certificate of incorporation, bylaws, partnership agreement, operating agreement, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or comparable organizational documents of the Corporation or the Secondary Indemnitors, as applicable.

(h) Amendment or Repeal . Any right to indemnification of any Indemnitee arising hereunder shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to or repeal of this Article VI after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit, proceeding or other matter for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought.

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

(j) Reliance . Indemnitees who after the date of the adoption of this Article VI become or remain an Indemnitee described in Article VI(a) will be conclusively presumed to have relied on the rights contained in this Article VI in entering into or continuing the service. The rights to indemnification conferred in this Article VI will apply to claims made against any Indemnitee described in Article VI(a) arising out of acts or omissions that occurred or occur either before or after the adoption of this Article VI in respect of service as a director or officer of the corporation or other service described in Article VI(a).

ARTICLE VII — ACTION BY CONSENT; SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

(a) Action by Written Consent . Except as otherwise provided for or fixed by or pursuant to the provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors providing for the issuance of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation may be effected only at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders; provided , however , that prior to the Trigger Date, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation at any meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by stockholders holding at least a majority of the voting power of the then issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote on the subject matter thereof.

(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders . Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by either (a) the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors or (b) the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies.

(c) Election of Directors by Written Ballot . Election of directors need not be by written ballot.

 

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ARTICLE VIII — AMENDMENTS TO THE

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS

(a) Bylaws . In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by law, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation subject to the power of the stockholders of the Corporation to alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws; provided , that with respect to the powers of stockholders to make, alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws, (i) prior to the Trigger Date, in addition to any other vote otherwise required by law, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote with respect thereto, voting together as a single class, which such majority must include at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66  2 3 %) of the shares then held by the Sponsor Holders, shall be required to make, alter, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation and (ii) from and after the Trigger Date, in addition to any other vote otherwise required by law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66  2 3 %) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be required to make, alter amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation.

(b) Amendments to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and notwithstanding that a lesser percentage may be permitted from time to time by applicable law, no provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation may be altered, amended or repealed in any respect, nor may any provision or bylaw inconsistent therewith be adopted, unless in addition to any other vote required by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or otherwise required by law, (i) prior to the Trigger Date, such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption is approved by, in addition to any other vote otherwise required by law, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote with respect thereto, which such majority must include at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66  2 3 %) of the shares then held by the Sponsor Holders, and (ii) from and after the Trigger Date, such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption is approved by, in addition to any other vote otherwise required by law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66  2 3 %) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote on the subject matter.

ARTICLE IX — BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

(a) Section 203 of the DGCL . The Corporation hereby expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.

(b) Interested Stockholder Transactions . Notwithstanding any other provision in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, the Corporation shall not engage in any Business Combination (as defined below) with any Interested Stockholder (as defined hereinafter) for a period of three years following the time that such stockholder became an Interested Stockholder, unless:

 

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

 

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

 

  3) at or subsequent to such time the Business Combination is approved by the Board of Directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66  2 3 %) of the outstanding Voting Stock which is not owned by such stockholder.

(c) Exceptions to Prohibition on Interested Stockholder Transactions . The restrictions contained in this Article IX shall not apply if:

 

  1) a stockholder becomes an Interested Stockholder inadvertently and (i) as soon as practicable divests itself of ownership of sufficient shares so that the stockholder ceases to be an Interested Stockholder; and (ii) would not, at any time within the three-year period immediately prior to a Business Combination between the Corporation and such stockholder, have been an Interested Stockholder but for the inadvertent acquisition of ownership; or

 

  2)

the Business Combination is proposed prior to the consummation or abandonment of and subsequent to the earlier of the public announcement or the notice required hereunder of a proposed transaction which (i) constitutes one of the transactions described in the second sentence of this Article IX(c)(2); (ii) is with or by a Person who either was not an Interested Stockholder during the previous three years or who became an Interested Stockholder with the approval of the Board of Directors; and (iii) is approved or not opposed by a majority of the directors then in office (but not less than one) who were directors prior to any Person becoming an Interested Stockholder during the previous three years or were recommended for election or elected to succeed such directors by a majority of such directors. The proposed transactions referred to in the preceding sentence are limited to (x) a merger or consolidation of the Corporation (except for a merger in respect of which, pursuant to § 251(f) of the DGCL, no vote of the stockholders of the Corporation is required); (y) a sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (other than to any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary or to the Corporation) having an aggregate market value equal to fifty percent (50%) or more of either that aggregate market value of all of the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding Stock (as defined hereinafter) of the Corporation; or (z) a proposed tender or exchange offer for fifty percent (50%) or

 

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  more of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Corporation. The Corporation shall give not less than 20 days’ notice to all Interested Stockholders prior to the consummation of any of the transactions described in clause (x) or (y) of the second sentence of this Article IX(c)(2).

(d) Definitions . As used in this Article IX only, and unless otherwise provided by the express terms of this Article IX, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them as set forth in paragraph (d) of this Article IX:

 

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

 

  2) Business Combination ” means:

 

  i. any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation with (A) the Interested Stockholder, or (B) with any Person if the merger or consolidation is caused by the Interested Stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation paragraph (b) of this Article IX is not applicable to the surviving entity;

 

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

 

  iii.

any transaction or series of transactions which results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of ten percent (10%) or more of any class or series of Stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the Interested Stockholder, except: (A) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into Stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the Interested Stockholder became such; (B) pursuant to a merger under § 251(g) or § 253 of the DGCL; (C) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into Stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of Stock of the

 

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  Corporation subsequent to the time the Interested Stockholder became such; or (D) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase Stock made on the same terms to all holders of such Stock;

 

  3) Interested Stockholder ” means any Person (other than the Corporation and any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that is the owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Corporation, or is an Affiliate or Associate of the Corporation and was the owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Corporation at any time within the three-year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such Person is an Interested Stockholder, and the Affiliates and Associates of such Person. Notwithstanding anything in this Article IX to the contrary, the term “ Interested Stockholder ” shall not include: (i) the Sponsor Holders or their respective Affiliates or Associates; (ii) any Person who would otherwise be an Interested Stockholder because of a transfer, sale, assignment, conveyance, hypothecation, encumbrance, or other disposition of five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Corporation (in one transaction or a series of transactions) by any party specified in the immediately preceding clause (i) to such Person; provided , however , that such Person was not an Interested Stockholder prior to such transfer, sale, assignment, conveyance, hypothecation, encumbrance, or other disposition; or (iii) any Person whose ownership of shares in excess of the fifteen percent (15%) limitation set forth herein is the result of action taken solely by the Corporation, provided , that, for purposes of this clause (iii), such Person shall be an Interested Stockholder if thereafter such Person acquires additional shares of Voting Stock of the Corporation, except as a result of further action by the Corporation not caused, directly or indirectly, by such Person;

 

  4)

Owner ,” including the terms “ own ” and “ owned ,” when used with respect to any Stock, means a Person that individually or with or through any of its affiliates or associates beneficially owns such Stock, directly or indirectly; or has (i) the right to acquire such Stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided , however , that a Person shall not be deemed the owner of Stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates until such tendered Stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (ii) the right to vote such Stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided , however , that a Person shall not be deemed the owner of any Stock because of such Person’s right to vote such Stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such Stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more Persons; or (iii) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in (ii) of this Article IX (d)(4)), or disposing of such Stock with any other Person that beneficially owns, or whose affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such Stock; provided , that, for the purpose of determining whether a Person is an

 

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  Interested Stockholder, the Voting Stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include Stock deemed to be owned by the Person through application of this definition of “owned” but shall not include any other unissued Stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise;

 

  5) Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity;

 

  6) Stock ” means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest; and

 

  7) Voting Stock ” means, with respect to any corporation, Stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and, with respect to any entity that is not a corporation, any equity interest entitled to vote generally in the election of the governing body of such entity. Every reference to a percentage of Voting Stock shall refer to such percentage of the votes of such Voting Stock.

ARTICLE X — RENOUNCEMENT OF CORPORATE OPPORTUNITY

(a) Scope . The provisions of this Article X are set forth to define, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the duties of Exempted Persons (as defined below) to the Corporation with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities. “ Exempted Persons ” means each Sponsor Holder and their respective Affiliates (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries) and all of their respective partners, principals, directors, officers, members, managers and/or employees, including any of the foregoing who serve as officers or directors of the Corporation.

(b) Competition and Allocation of Corporate Opportunities . The Exempted Persons shall not have any fiduciary duty to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, renounces any interest or expectancy of the Corporation and its subsidiaries in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities that are from time to time presented to the Exempted Persons, even if the opportunity is one that the Corporation or its subsidiaries might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so, and each such Exempted Person shall have no duty to communicate or offer such business opportunity to the Corporation and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be liable to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director or officer or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such Exempted Person pursues or acquires such business opportunity, directs such business opportunity to another person or fails to present such business opportunity, or information regarding such business opportunity, to the Corporation or its subsidiaries.

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

 

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(d) Amendment of this Article . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary elsewhere contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and in addition to any vote required by the DGCL, the affirmative vote of eighty percent (80%) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote on the adoption, alteration, amendment or repeal of amendments to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend or repeal, or to adopt any provision inconsistent with, this Article X. No amendment or repeal of this Article X shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any Exempted Person for or with respect to any activities or opportunities of which such Exempted Person becomes aware prior to such amendment or repeal.

ARTICLE XI — EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF CERTAIN ACTIONS

The Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each such case subject to said Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article XI.

ARTICLE XII — SEVERABILITY

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

[remainder of page intentionally left blank – signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be executed by the officer below this 21st day of April, 2015.

 

PARTY CITY HOLDCO INC.
By:

/s/ Michael A. Correale

Name: Michael A. Correale
Title: Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation]

Exhibit 3.2

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

SECTION 1 - STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1.1. Annual Meeting . An annual meeting of the stockholders of Party City Holdco Inc. (the “ Corporation ”) for the election of directors to succeed those whose term expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held at the place, if any, within or without the State of Delaware, on the date and at the time that the board of directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) shall each year fix. Unless stated otherwise in the notice of the annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, such annual meeting shall be at the principal office of the Corporation.

Section 1.2. Advance Notice of Nominations and Proposals of Business .

(a) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and proposals for business to be transacted by the stockholders at an annual meeting of stockholders may be made (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice with respect to such meeting (or any supplement thereto), (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or (iii) by any stockholder of record of the Corporation who (A) was a stockholder of record at the time of the giving of the notice contemplated in Section 1.2(b), (B) is entitled to vote at such meeting and (C) has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.2. Subject to Section 1.2(i) and except as otherwise required by law, clause (iii) of this Section 1.2(a) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or propose other business (other than matters properly brought pursuant to applicable provisions of federal law, including the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended from time to time, the “ Act ”) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder) before an annual meeting of stockholders.

(b) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 1.2(a), (i) the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation with the information contemplated by Section 1.2(c), and (ii) the business must be a proper matter for stockholder action under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “ DGCL ”). The notice requirements of this Section 1.2 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 Act and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting.

(c) To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation a date (i) not less than 90 nor more than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the prior year’s annual meeting or (ii) if there was no annual meeting in the prior year or if the date of the current year’s annual meeting is more than 30 days before or after the anniversary date of the prior year’s annual meeting, on or before 10 days after the day on which the date of the current year’s annual meeting is first disclosed in a public announcement. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an


annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the delivery of such notice. Such notice from a stockholder must include (i) as to each nominee that the stockholder proposes for election or reelection as a director, (A) all information relating to such nominee that would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the election of such nominee as a director pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Act and such nominee’s written consent to serve as a director if elected, and (B) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary arrangements, agreements or understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationship, if any, between or concerning such stockholder and its respective affiliates or associates, or others with whom they are acting in concert, on the one hand, and the proposed nominee, and his or her respective affiliates or associates, on the other hand; (ii) as to each proposal that the stockholder seeks to bring before the meeting, a brief description of such proposal, the reasons for making the proposal at the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the bylaws of the Corporation, the language of the proposed amendment) and any material interest that the stockholder has in the proposal; (iii) (A) the name and address of the stockholder giving the notice and the Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, (B) the class (and, if applicable, series) and number of shares of stock of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially or of record by the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, (C) a description of any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class (or, if applicable, series) of shares of stock of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class (or, if applicable, series) of shares of stock of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the Corporation or otherwise (each, a “ Derivative Instrument ”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially or of record by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of stock of the Corporation of the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, (D) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person has a right to vote any securities of the Corporation, (E) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person is a general partner or beneficially owns an interest in a general partner, (F) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of the shares of stock of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, (G) any other information relating to such stockholder and Stockholder Associated Person, if any, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in an election contest pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Act, (H) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record 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 or nomination, (I) a certification as to whether or not the stockholder and all Stockholder Associated Persons have complied with all applicable federal, state and other legal requirements in connection with the stockholder’s and each Stockholder Associated Person’s

 

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acquisition of shares of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation and the stockholder’s and each Stockholder Associated Person’s acts or omissions as a stockholder (or beneficial owner of securities) of the Corporation and (J) whether either the stockholder intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of, in the case of a proposal, at least the percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to carry the proposal or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, a sufficient number of holders of the Corporation’s voting shares reasonably believed by such stockholder to be sufficient to elect such nominee or nominees or otherwise to solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination. For purposes of these bylaws, a “ Stockholder Associated Person ” of any stockholder means (i) any “affiliate” or “associate” (as those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Act) of such stockholder, (ii) any beneficial owner of any capital stock or other securities of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder, (iii) any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with any such Stockholder Associated Person referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, and (iv) any person acting in concert in respect of any matter involving the Corporation or its securities with either such stockholder or any beneficial owner of any capital stock or other securities of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder; “ beneficial ownership ” shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Act; and “ control ” 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. In addition, in order for a nomination to be properly brought before an annual or special meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 1.2(a), any nominee proposed by a stockholder shall complete a questionnaire, in a form provided by the Corporation, and deliver a signed copy of such completed questionnaire to the Corporation within 10 days of the date that the Corporation makes available to the stockholder seeking to make such nomination or such nominee the form of such questionnaire. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may be reasonably requested by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of the proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of the nominee. The information required to be included in a notice pursuant to this Section 1.2(c) shall be provided as of the date of such notice and shall be supplemented by the stockholder not later than 10 days after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting to disclose any changes to such information as of the record date. The information required to be included in a notice pursuant to this Section 1.2(c) shall not include any ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is directed to prepare and submit the notice required by this Section 1.2(c) on behalf of a beneficial owner of the shares held of record by such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and who is not otherwise affiliated or associated with such beneficial owner.

(d) Subject to the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”), Section 1.2(i) and applicable law, only persons nominated in accordance with procedures stated in this Section 1.2 shall be eligible for election as and to serve as a member of the Board of Directors and the only business that shall be conducted at an annual meeting of stockholders is the business that has been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.2. The chairman of the meeting shall have the

 

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power and the duty to determine whether a nomination or any proposal has been made according to the procedures stated in this Section 1.2 and, if any nomination or proposal does not comply with this Section 1.2, unless otherwise required by law, the nomination or proposal shall be disregarded.

(e) For purposes of this Section 1.2, “public announcement” means disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a comparable news service or in a document publicly filed or furnished by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Act.

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.2, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to matters set forth in this Section 1.2. Nothing in this Section 1.2 shall affect any rights, if any, of stockholders to request inclusion of nominations or proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to applicable provisions of federal law, including the Act.

(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.2, 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 or proposed business or does not provide the information required by Section 1.2(c), including any required supplement thereto, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 1.2, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.

(h) Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (1) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or (2) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 1.2 is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.2. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by paragraph (b) of this Section 1.2 shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 90 th day prior to such special meeting and not later

 

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than the close of business on the later of the 60 th day prior to such special meeting or the 10 th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(i) All provisions of this Section 1.2 are subject to, and nothing in this Section 1.2 shall in any way limit the exercise, or the method or timing of the exercise of, the rights of any person granted by the Corporation to nominate directors, which rights may be exercised without compliance with the provisions of this Section 1.2.

Section 1.3. Special Meetings; Notice .

Special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called only in the manner set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation. Notice of every special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall state the purpose(s) of such meeting. Except as otherwise required by law or section 1.2(h), the business conducted at a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation shall be limited exclusively to the business set forth in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, and the individual or group calling such meeting shall have exclusive authority to determine the business included in such notice.

Section 1.4. Notice of Meetings .

Notice of the place, if any, date and time of all meetings of stockholders of the Corporation, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed present and vote at such meeting, and, in the case of all special meetings of stockholders, the purpose(s) of the meeting, shall be given, not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date on which such meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to notice of the meeting.

The Corporation may postpone or cancel any previously called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation by making a public announcement (as defined in Section 1.2(e)) of such postponement or cancellation prior to the meeting. When a previously called annual or special meeting is postponed to another time, date or place, if any, notice of the place (if any), date and time of the postponed meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed present and vote at such postponed meeting, shall be given in conformity with this Section 1.4 unless such meeting is postponed not more than 60 days after initial notice of the meeting was provided in conformity with this Section 1.4.

When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present and vote at such

 

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adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; however , if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than 30 days after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, or if a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the place, if any, date and time of the adjourned meeting and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed present and vote at such adjourned meeting, shall be given in conformity herewith to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting. At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted that may have been transacted at the original meeting.

Section 1.5. Quorum .

At any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to cast a majority of the total votes entitled to be cast by the holders of all outstanding capital stock of the Corporation, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for all purposes, unless or except to the extent that the presence of a larger number is required by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation. If a separate vote by one or more classes or series is required, the holders of shares entitled to cast a majority of the total votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the shares of the class or classes or series, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter.

If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chairman of the meeting may adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date and time.

Section 1.6. Organization .

The Chairman of the Board of Directors or, in his or her absence, the person whom the Board of Directors designates or, in the absence of that person or the failure of the Board of Directors to designate a person, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or, in his or her absence, the person chosen by the holders of a majority of the shares of capital stock entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, shall call to order any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation and act as chairman of the meeting. In the absence of the Secretary of the Corporation, the secretary of the meeting shall be the person the chairman appoints.

Section 1.7. Conduct of Business .

The chairman of any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation shall determine the order of business and the rules of procedure for the conduct of such meeting, including the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as he or she determines to be in order. The chairman shall have the power to adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date and time. The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the meeting. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of the meeting shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, 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 chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of

 

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an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The chairman of the meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination or matter of business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such chairman should so determine, such chairman shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

Section 1.8. Proxies; Inspectors .

(a) At any meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder entitled to vote may vote in person or by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing or by a transmission permitted by applicable law.

(b) Prior to a meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, the Corporation shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at a meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting may, and to the extent required by applicable law, shall, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before beginning the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the inspectors in the performance of the duties of inspectors. The inspectors shall have the duties prescribed by applicable law.

Section 1.9. Voting .

Except as otherwise required by the rules or regulations of any stock exchange on which any capital stock of the Corporation may be listed or pursuant to any law or regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities or by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, all matters other than the election of directors shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast on the matter affirmatively or negatively. All elections of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast.

Section 1.10. Stock List .

A complete list of stockholders of the Corporation entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of

 

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such stockholder, shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder, for any purpose germane to a meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, for a period of at least 10 days before the meeting (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting or (ii) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation; provided , however , if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than 10 days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the 10th day before such meeting date.

The stock list shall also be open to the examination of any such stockholder during the entire meeting. The Corporation may look to this list as the sole evidence of the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at a meeting and the number of shares held by each stockholder.

Section 1.11. Written Consent .

Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, stockholders may not take any action by written consent in lieu of a meeting of stockholders.

SECTION 2 - BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 2.1. Qualifications of Directors .

The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. In addition to the powers and authorities these bylaws expressly confer upon them, the Board of Directors may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not prohibited by the DGCL or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these bylaws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders. Directors need not be stockholders to be qualified for election or service as a director of the Corporation.

Section 2.2. Removal; Resignation .

Prior to the first date (the “ Trigger Date ”) on which investment funds affiliated with Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. and their respective successors and affiliates (collectively, the “ THL Entities ”) and investment funds affiliated with Advent International Corporation and their respective successors and affiliates (collectively, the “ Advent Entities ” and together with the THL Entities, the “ Sponsor Holders ” and each, a “ Sponsor Holder ”) cease collectively to beneficially own (directly or indirectly) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed with or without cause by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company. At and following the Tigger Date, any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed, but only with cause, by the holders of 75% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company. Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing, including by electronic transmission, to the Corporation.

Section 2.3. Regular Meetings .

Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at the place (if any), on the date and at the time as shall have been established by the Board of Directors and publicized among all directors. A notice of a regular meeting, the date of which has been so publicized, shall not be required.

 

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Section 2.4. Special Meetings .

Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by (i) the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, (ii) two or more directors then in office, or (iii) if prior to the Trigger Date, by any director nominated or designated for nomination by a Sponsor Holder, and shall be held at the place, if any, on the date and at the time as he, she or they shall fix. Notice of the place, if any, date and time of each special meeting shall be given to each director either (a) by mailing written notice thereof not less than five days before the meeting, or (b) by telephone, facsimile or other means of electronic transmission providing notice thereof not less than twenty-four hours before the meeting. Any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting of the Board of Directors.

Section 2.5. Quorum .

At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the total number of directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for all purposes; provided that prior to the Trigger Date, it shall be necessary to constitute a quorum, in addition to a majority of the total number of directors then in office (a) that one director nominated or designated for nomination by the THL Entities (other than attendance for the sole purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened), provided in each case that such THL Entities then hold at least 10% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, and (b) for an action of the Board of Directors taken at a meeting to be valid, directors that constitute a quorum must be present at the time that the vote on such action is taken. For the avoidance of doubt, prior to the Trigger Date, if directors that constitute a quorum are not present at the time that the vote on any action is taken, a quorum shall not be constituted with respect to such action, and any vote taken with respect to such action shall not be a valid action of the Board of Directors, notwithstanding that a quorum of the Board of Directors may have been present at the commencement of such meeting. If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date or time, without further notice or waiver thereof.

Section 2.6. Participation in Meetings By Conference Telephone or Other Communications Equipment .

Members of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or committee thereof by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all directors participating in the meeting can hear each other director, and such participation shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

Section 2.7. Conduct of Business .

At any meeting of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted in the order and manner that the Board of Directors may from time to time determine, and all matters shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the directors present, except as otherwise provided in the

 

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Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws or required by applicable law. The Board of Directors or any committee thereof may take action without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings, or electronic transmission or electronic transmissions, are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

Section 2.8. Compensation of Directors .

The Board of Directors shall be authorized to fix the compensation of directors. The directors of the Corporation shall be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and shall be reimbursed a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors, paid an annual retainer or paid other compensation, including equity compensation, as directors of the Corporation. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of committees may have their expenses, if any, of attendance of each meeting of such committee reimbursed and may be paid compensation for attending committee meetings or being a member of a committee.

SECTION 3 - COMMITTEES

Section 3.1. Committees of the Board of Directors .

The Board of Directors may designate committees of the Board of Directors, with such lawfully delegable powers and duties as it thereby confers, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and shall, for those committees, appoint a director or directors to serve as the member or members, designating, if it desires, other directors as alternate members who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee. In the absence or disqualification of any member of any committee and any alternate member in his or her place, the member or members of the committee present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or they constitute a quorum, may by unanimous vote appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member. All provisions of this Section 3.1 are subject to, and nothing in this Section 3.1 shall in any way limit the exercise or method or timing of the exercise of, the rights of any person granted by the Corporation with respect to the existence, duties, composition or conduct of any committee of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4 - OFFICERS

Section 4.1. Generally .

The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary, one or more Assistant Secretaries, a Treasurer, one or more Assistant Treasurer, a Chief Financial Officer and other officers as may from time to time be appointed by the Board of Directors. Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. The compensation of officers appointed by the Board of Directors shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof or by the officers as may be designated by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

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Section 4.2. President .

Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. Subject to the provisions of these bylaws and to the direction of the Board of Directors, he or she shall have the responsibility for the general management and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall perform all duties and have all powers that are commonly incident to the office of chief executive or which are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors. He or she shall have the power to sign all stock certificates, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation that are authorized and shall have general supervision and direction of all of the other officers, employees and agents of the Corporation.

Section 4.3. Vice President .

Each Vice President shall have the powers and duties delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors or the President. One Vice President may be designated by the Board of Directors to perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President in the event of the President’s absence or disability.

Section 4.4. Secretary and Assistant Secretaries .

The Secretary shall issue all authorized notices for, and shall keep minutes of, all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. He or she shall have charge of the corporate books and shall perform other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

Any Assistant Secretary shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary may from time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act of the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary (or, if there shall be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board of Directors) shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary.

Section 4.5. Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers .

The Chief Financial Officer shall keep or cause to be kept the books of account of the Corporation in a thorough and proper manner and shall render statements of the financial affairs of the Corporation in such form and as often as required by the Board of Directors or the President. The Chief Financial Officer, subject to the order of the Board of Directors, shall have the custody of all funds and securities of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall perform other duties commonly incident to his office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the President shall designate from time to time. The President may direct the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer to assume and perform the duties of the Chief Financial Officer in the absence or disability of the Chief Financial Officer, and each Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer shall perform other duties commonly incident to his office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the President shall designate from time to time.

 

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Section 4.6. Delegation of Authority .

The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officer or agent, notwithstanding any provision hereof.

Section 4.7. Removal .

The Board of Directors may remove any officer of the Corporation at any time, with or without cause.

Section 4.8. Action with Respect to Securities of Other Companies .

Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the President, or any officer of the Corporation authorized by the President, shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of stockholders or equityholders of, or with respect to any action of, stockholders or equityholders of any other entity in which the Corporation may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which the Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other entity.

SECTION 5 - STOCK

Section 5.1. Certificates of Stock .

Shares of the capital stock of the Corporation may be certificated or uncertificated, as provided in the DGCL. Stock certificates shall be signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, (i) the Chairman of the Board (if any) or the Vice Chairman of the Board (if any), the President or a Vice President, and (ii) the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Chief Financial Officer certifying the number of shares owned by such stockholder. Any signatures on a certificate may be by facsimile.

Section 5.2. Transfers of Stock .

Transfers of stock shall be made only upon the transfer books of the Corporation kept at an office of the Corporation (within or without the State of Delaware) or by transfer agents designated to transfer shares of the stock of the Corporation.

Section 5.3. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.

In the event of the loss, theft or destruction of any certificate of stock, another may be issued in its place pursuant to regulations as the Board of Directors may establish concerning proof of the loss, theft or destruction and concerning the giving of a satisfactory bond or indemnity.

 

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Section 5.4. Regulations .

The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of certificates of stock of the Corporation shall be governed by other regulations as the Board of Directors may establish.

Section 5.5. Record Date .

(a) In order for the Corporation to determine the stockholders of the Corporation entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may, except as otherwise required by applicable law, fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of any meeting of stockholders. 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 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 and to vote at a meeting of stockholders of the Corporation 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.

(b) A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders of the Corporation shall apply to any postponement or adjournment of the meeting, provided , that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determination of the stockholders entitled to vote at a postponed or adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix the record date of the stockholders entitled to notice of such postponed or adjourned meeting at the same or on an earlier date as that fixed for determination of the stockholders entitled to vote at the postponed or adjourned meeting.

(c) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders of the Corporation entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting (until such time as stockholders are no longer permitted to act by written consent pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation), the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which date shall not be more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. Any stockholder of record seeking to have the stockholders authorize or take corporate action by written consent shall, by written notice to the Secretary, request that the Board of Directors fix a record date. The Board of Directors shall promptly, but in any event no later than 10 days after the date on which such a request is received, adopt a resolution fixing the record date (unless the Board of Directors has previously fixed a record date pursuant to the first sentence hereof). If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors pursuant to the first sentence hereof or otherwise within 10 days of the date on which such a request is received, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, where no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by applicable law, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered agent in Delaware, its principal place of business or to any officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are reported. Delivery shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If

 

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no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be the close of business on the date on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking the prior action.

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

SECTION 6 - NOTICES

Section 6.1. Notices .

Except as otherwise provided herein or permitted by applicable law, notices to stockholders shall be in writing and delivered personally or mailed to the stockholders at their addresses appearing on the books of the Corporation. If mailed, notice to a stockholder of the Corporation shall be deemed given when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to a stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders of the Corporation may be given by electronic transmission in the manner provided in Section 232 of the DGCL.

Section 6.2. Waivers .

A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder or director, or a waiver by electronic transmission by such person or entity, whether given before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such person or entity. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in the waiver. Attendance at any meeting shall constitute waiver of notice except attendance for the sole purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

SECTION 7 - MISCELLANEOUS

Section 7.1. Corporate Seal .

The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary. If and when so directed by the Board of Directors, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer.

 

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Section 7.2. Reliance upon Books, Reports, and Records .

Each director and each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books and records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers, agents or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors so designated, or by any other person or entity as to matters which such director or committee member reasonably believes are within such other person’s or entity’s professional or expert competence and that has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

Section 7.3. Fiscal Year .

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as fixed by the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors makes no determination to the contrary, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall be the twelve months ending with December 31, in each year.

Section 7.4. Time Periods.

In applying any provision of these bylaws that requires that an act be done or not be done a specified number of days before an event or that an act be done during a specified number of days before an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.

SECTION 8 - AMENDMENTS

These bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and the DGCL.

 

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Exhibit 4.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

by and among

PARTY CITY HOLDCO INC.,

THL PC TOPCO, L.P.

ADVENT-PARTY CITY ACQUISITION LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

and

THE OTHER STOCKHOLDERS THAT ARE SIGNATORIES HERETO

Dated as of April 21, 2015


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

             Page  
Section 1.  

Certain Definitions

     1   
Section 2.  

Registration Rights

     5   
  2.1.  

Demand Registrations

     5   
  2.2.  

Piggyback Registrations

     9   
  2.3.  

Allocation of Securities Included in Registration Statement

     11   
  2.4.  

Registration Procedures

     13   
  2.5.  

Registration Expenses

     20   
  2.6.  

Certain Limitations on Registration Rights

     20   
  2.7.  

Limitations on Sale or Distribution of Other Securities

     20   
  2.8.  

No Required Sale

     21   
  2.9.  

Indemnification

     22   
  2.10.  

Limitations on Registration of Other Securities; Representation

     25   
  2.11.  

No Inconsistent Agreements

     26   
Section 3.  

Underwritten Offerings

     26   
  3.1.  

Requested Underwritten Offerings

     26   
  3.2.  

Piggyback Underwritten Offerings

     26   
Section 4.  

General

     27   
  4.1.  

Adjustments Affecting Registrable Securities

     27   
  4.2.  

Rule 144 and Rule 144A

     27   
  4.3.  

Nominees for Beneficial Owners

     28   
  4.4.  

Amendments and Waivers

     28   
  4.5.  

Notices

     28   
  4.6.  

Termination and Effect of Termination

     29   
  4.7.  

Successors and Assigns

     29   
  4.8.  

Entire Agreement

     30   
  4.9.  

Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial

     30   
  4.10.  

Interpretation: Construction

     31   
  4.11.  

Counterparts

     31   
  4.12.  

Severability

     31   
  4.13.  

Remedies

     31   
  4.14.  

Further Assurances

     31   
  4.15.  

Confidentiality

     32   
Schedule 4.5 Notices   

 

i


This AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of April 21, 2015 by and among Party City Holdco Inc. (formerly known as PC Topco Holdings, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), THL PC Topco, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (collectively with its Affiliates which own stock of the Company from time to time, the “ THL Party ”), Advent-Party City Acquisition Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (collectively with its Affiliates which own stock of the Company from time to time, the “ Advent Party ”) and the other Persons listed on the signature pages hereto (each a “ Management Stockholder ” and, collectively, the “ Management Stockholders ”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Company, the THL Party, the Advent Party and certain stockholders of the Company are parties to that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated July 27, 2012, as amended from time to time (the “ Prior Agreement ”);

WHEREAS, the Company, the THL Party, the Advent Party and the Management Stockholders desire to amend and restate the Prior Agreement to grant the THL Party, the Advent Party and the Management Stockholders the registration rights set forth herein; and

WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 4.4 of the Prior Agreement, this Agreement has been approved by the Company and all holders of Registrable Securities (as defined in the Prior Agreement).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants and obligations hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree to amend and restate the Prior Agreement in its entirety as follows:

Section 1. Certain Definitions . As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Additional Piggyback Rights ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.2(b) .

Advent Party ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.

Affiliate ” means with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person, where “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management and policies of a Person whether through the ownership of voting securities, contract or otherwise. For the avoidance of doubt, neither the Company nor any Person controlled by the Company shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any Holder.

Agreement ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.

automatic shelf registration statement ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.4(v) .


Block Trade ” means an offering and/or sale of Registrable Securities by one or more of the Holders on a block trade or underwritten basis (whether firm commitment or otherwise) without substantial marketing efforts prior to pricing, including, without limitation, a same day trade, overnight trade or similar transaction.

Board ” means the board of directors of the Company.

Business Day ” shall mean a day other than a Saturday, Sunday, federal or New York State holiday or other day on which commercial banks in the City of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.

Claims ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.9(a) .

Common Stock ” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company and any and all securities of any kind whatsoever which may be issued after the date hereof in respect of, or in exchange for, such shares of common stock of the Company pursuant to a merger, consolidation, stock split, stock dividend or recapitalization of the Company or otherwise.

Common Stock Equivalents ” means, with respect to any Person, all options, warrants and other securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for (at any time or upon the occurrence of any event or contingency and without regard to any vesting or other conditions to which such securities may be subject), shares of capital stock or other equity securities of such Person (including, without limitation, any note or debt security convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or other equity securities of such Person).

Company ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.

Demand Exercise Notice ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(a)(i) .

Demand Registration ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(a)(i) .

Demand Registration Request ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(a)(i) .

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC issued under such Act, as they may from time to time be in effect.

Expenses ” means any and all fees and expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with Section 2 , including, without limitation: (i) SEC, stock exchange or FINRA registration and filing fees and all listing fees and fees with respect to the inclusion of securities on the New York Stock Exchange or on any other securities market on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted, (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or “blue sky” laws of any state or jurisdiction of the United States or compliance with the securities laws of foreign jurisdictions and in connection with the preparation of a “blue sky” survey, including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of outside “blue sky” counsel and securities counsel in foreign jurisdictions, (iii) printing and copying expenses, (iv) messenger and delivery expenses, (v) expenses incurred in connection with any road show, (vi) fees and

 

2


disbursements of counsel for the Company, (vii) with respect to each registration or underwritten offering, the fees and disbursements of (a) one counsel for the THL Party, (b) one counsel for the Advent Party and (c) one counsel for all other Participating Holder(s) collectively (selected by the holders of a majority of the shares held by such other Participating Holder(s)), together in each case with any local counsel, (viii) fees and disbursements of all independent public accountants (including the expenses of any audit and/or “cold comfort” letter and updates thereof) and fees and expenses of other Persons, including special experts, retained by the Company, (ix) fees and expenses payable to a Qualified Independent Underwriter, (x) fees and expenses of any transfer agent or custodian, (xi) any other fees and disbursements of underwriters, if any, customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities and (xii) expenses for securities law liability insurance and, if any, rating agency fees.

FINRA ” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

Holder ” or “ Holders ” means (i) any Person who is a signatory to this Agreement or (ii) any Permitted Transferee to whom any Person who is a signatory to this Agreement shall assign or transfer any rights hereunder, provided that such transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by this Agreement in respect of such Registrable Securities.

Initiating Holders ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(a)(i) .

IPO ” means the initial bona fide underwritten public offering and sale of Common Stock (or other equity securities of the Company) to the general public pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act.

Litigation ” means any action, proceeding or investigation in any court or before any governmental authority.

Majority Participating Holders ” means Participating Holders holding more than 50% of the Registrable Securities proposed to be included in any offering of Registrable Securities by such Participating Holders pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.2 .

Management Stockholders ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble to this Agreement.

Manager ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(c) .

NASD ” means the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

Participating Holders ” means all Holders with Registrable Securities which are proposed to be included in any offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.2 .

Partner Distribution ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(a)(iii) .

Permitted Transferee ” means, in relation to any Person who is a signatory to this Agreement, any Person to whom such Person is permitted to transfer Registrable Securities under the Stockholders Agreement.

 

3


Person ” means any individual, corporation (including not for profit), general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust, association, joint-stock company, unincorporated organization, governmental entity or agency or other entity of any kind or nature.

Piggyback Request ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.2(a) .

Piggyback Shares ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.3(a)(iii) .

Postponement Period ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(b) .

Prior Agreement ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the recitals to this Agreement.

Qualified Independent Underwriter ” means a “qualified independent underwriter” within the meaning of NASD Conduct Rule 2720.

Registrable Securities ” means (a) any shares of Common Stock held by the Holders at any time (including those held as a result of, or issuable upon, the conversion or exercise of Common Stock Equivalents), whether now owned or acquired by the Holders at a later time, (b) any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable, directly or indirectly, in exchange for or with respect to the Common Stock referenced in clause (a) above by way of stock dividend, stock split or combination of shares or in connection with a reclassification, recapitalization, merger, share exchange, consolidation or other reorganization and (c) any securities issued in replacement of or exchange for any securities described in clause (a) or (b) above. As to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (A) a registration statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have been declared effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with such registration statement, (B) such securities shall have been sold (other than in a privately negotiated sale) in compliance with the requirements of Rule 144, (C) such securities are able to be immediately sold pursuant to Rule 144 without any restrictions on transfer under such rule, (D) in the case of the Advent Party and the THL Party, the entire amount of such Holder’s Registrable Securities, together with the Registrable Securities of its Affiliates, constitute less than 1% of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock or (E) in the case of the Management Stockholders, such Holder, or the employee of the Company that is an Affiliate such Holder, ceases to be an employee or an Affiliate of the Company.

Rule 144 ” and “ Rule 144A ” have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.2 .

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or such other federal agency which at such time administers the Securities Act.

Section 2.3(a) Sale Number ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.3(a) .

Section 2.3(b) Sale Number ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.3(b) .

Section 2.3(c) Sale Number ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.3(c) .

 

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Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC issued under such Act, as they may from time to time be in effect.

Shelf Registrable Securities ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(e) .

Shelf Registration Statement ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(e) .

Shelf Underwriting ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(e) .

Shelf Underwriting Notice ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(e) .

Shelf Underwriting Request ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(e) .

Stockholders Agreement ” means that certain Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, as amended from time to time, among the Company, the THL Party, the Advent Party and certain of the Management Stockholders.

Subsidiary ” means any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company on the date hereof and any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company organized or acquired after the date hereof.

THL Party ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.

Valid Business Reason ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(b) .

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

Section 2. Registration Rights .

2.1. Demand Registrations .

(a) (i) Subject to Sections 2.1(b) and 2.3 , at any time and from time to time, for so long as the THL Party or the Advent Party owns at least 5% of the outstanding Registrable Securities of the Company, such party shall have the right to require the Company to file one or more registration statements under the Securities Act covering all or any part of its Registrable Securities by delivering a written request therefor to the Company specifying the number of Registrable Securities to be included in such registration and the intended method of distribution therefor (a “ Demand Registration Request ”). The registration so requested is referred to herein as a “ Demand Registration ” (with respect to any Demand Registration, the Holder(s) making such demand for registration being referred to as the “ Initiating Holders ”). Any Demand Registration Request may request that the Company register Registrable Securities on an appropriate form, including a shelf registration statement, and, if the Company is a WKSI, an automatic shelf registration statement. No later than five Business Days after receipt of a Demand Registration Request, the Company shall give written notice (the “ Demand Exercise Notice ”) of such Demand Registration Request to each other Holder.

(ii) The Company, subject to Sections 2.3 and 2.6 , shall include in a Demand Registration (x) the Registrable Securities of the Initiating Holders and (y) the Registrable

 

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Securities of any other Holder which shall have made a written request to the Company for inclusion in such registration pursuant to Section 2.2 (which request shall specify the maximum number of Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such Participating Holder) within five days after the receipt of the Demand Exercise Notice.

(iii) The Company shall, subject to Section 2.1(b) , use its reasonable best efforts to (x) no later than 30 days following receipt of a Demand Registration Request, file with the SEC and, within 60 days of such filing, cause to be declared effective such registration under the Securities Act (including, without limitation, by means of a shelf registration pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act if so requested) of the Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to register, for distribution in accordance with such intended method of distribution, including a distribution to, and resale by, the members or partners of a Holder (a “ Partner Distribution ”) and (y) if requested by the Initiating Holders, obtain acceleration of the effective date of the registration statement relating to such registration.

(iv) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Company shall, at the request of any Holder seeking to effect or considering a Partner Distribution, file any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendments, or include in the initial registration statement any disclosure or language, or include in any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment any disclosure or language, and otherwise take any action, deemed necessary or advisable by such Holder to effect such Partner Distribution.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 2.1(a) , the Demand Registration rights granted in Section 2.1(a) are subject to the following limitations: (i) (x) the Company shall not be required to effect more than one Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(i)(y) in any nine month period from the THL Party (it being understood that a registration pursuant to a Piggyback Request (as defined in Section 2.2) by the THL Party shall not constitute a Demand Registration for the purposes of this Section 2.1(b)(i) ) and (y) the Company shall not be required to effect more than one Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(i)(y) in any nine month period from the Advent Party (it being understood that a registration pursuant to a Piggyback Request by the Advent Party shall not constitute a Demand Registration for the purposes of this Section 2.1(b)(i) ); (ii) each registration in respect of a Demand Registration Request made by an Initiating Holder must include, in the aggregate (based on the Common Stock included in such registration by all Holders participating in such registration), shares of Common Stock having an aggregate market value of at least $25 million; and (iii) if the Board, in its good faith judgment, determines that any registration of Registrable Securities should not be made or continued because it would materially interfere with any material financing, acquisition, corporate reorganization, merger, share exchange or other transaction or event involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or because the Company does not yet have appropriate financial statements of acquired or to be acquired entities available for filing (in each case, a “ Valid Business Reason ”), then (x) the Company may postpone filing a registration statement relating to a Demand Registration Request until five Business Days after such Valid Business Reason no longer exists, but in no event for more than 45 days after the date the Board determines a Valid Business Reason exists and (y) in case a registration statement has been filed relating to a Demand Registration Request, if the Valid Business Reason has not resulted from actions taken by the Company, the Company may, to the extent determined in the good faith judgment of the Board to be reasonably necessary to avoid interference with any of the

 

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transactions described above, cause such registration statement to be withdrawn and its effectiveness terminated or may postpone amending or supplementing such registration statement until five Business Days after such Valid Business Reason no longer exists, but in no event for more than 45 days after the date the Board determines a Valid Business Reason exists (such period of postponement or withdrawal under this clause (iv), the “ Postponement Period ”). The Company shall give written notice of its determination to postpone or withdraw a registration statement and of the fact that the Valid Business Reason for such postponement or withdrawal no longer exists, together with a certificate of such determination signed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company, in each case, promptly after the occurrence thereof; provided , however, the Company shall not be permitted to postpone or withdraw a registration statement after the expiration of any Postponement Period until 12 months after the expiration of such Postponement Period.

If the Company shall give any notice of postponement or withdrawal of any registration statement pursuant to clause (x) above, the Company shall not, during the Postponement Period, register any Common Stock, other than pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 or S-8 (or an equivalent registration form then in effect). Each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company that the Company has determined to withdraw, terminate or postpone amending or supplementing any registration statement pursuant to clause (x) above, such Holder will discontinue its disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement. If the Company shall have withdrawn or prematurely terminated a registration statement filed under Section 2.1(a)(i) (whether pursuant to clause (iii) above or as a result of any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other governmental agency or court), the Company shall not be considered to have effected an effective registration for the purposes of this Agreement until the Company shall have filed a new registration statement covering the Registrable Securities covered by the withdrawn or terminated registration statement and such registration statement shall have been declared effective and shall not have been withdrawn. If the Company shall give any notice of withdrawal or postponement of a registration statement, the Company shall, not later than five Business Days after the Valid Business Reason that caused such withdrawal or postponement no longer exists (but in no event later than 45 days after the date of the postponement or withdrawal), use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration under the Securities Act of the Registrable Securities covered by the withdrawn or postponed registration statement in accordance with this Section 2.1 (unless the Initiating Holders shall have withdrawn such request, in which case the Company shall not be considered to have effected an effective registration for the purposes of this Agreement), and such registration shall not be withdrawn or postponed pursuant to clause (x) above, of this Section 2.1(b) .

(c) In connection with any Demand Registration, the Participating Holder holding the highest percentage of the then outstanding Registrable Securities at the time of the Demand Registration Request shall have the right to designate the lead managing underwriter (any lead managing underwriter for the purposes of this Agreement, the “ Manager ”) in connection with any underwritten offering pursuant to such registration and each other managing underwriter for any such underwritten offering; provided that in each case, each such underwriter is reasonably satisfactory to the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

(d) The obligation to effect a Demand Registration as described in this Section 2.1 shall be deemed satisfied only when a registration statement covering the applicable Registrable

 

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Securities shall have become effective (unless, after effectiveness, the registration statement becomes subject to any stop order, injunction or other order of the SEC or other governmental agency, in which case the obligation shall not be deemed satisfied) and, if the method of disposition is a firm commitment underwritten public offering, all such Registrable Securities have been sold pursuant thereto.

(e) In the event that the Company files a shelf registration statement under Rule 415 of the Securities Act pursuant to a Demand Registration Request and such registration becomes effective (such registration statement, a “ Shelf Registration Statement ”), the Initiating Holders with respect to such Demand Registration Request shall have the right at any time or from time to time to elect to sell pursuant to an underwritten offering Registrable Securities available for sale pursuant to such registration statement (“ Shelf Registrable Securities ”), so long as the Shelf Registration Statement remains in effect and only if the method of distribution set forth in the shelf registration allows for sales pursuant to an underwritten offering. The Initiating Holders shall make such election by delivering to the Company a written request (a “ Shelf Underwriting Request ”) for such underwritten offering to the Company specifying the number of Shelf Registrable Securities that the Initiating Holders desire to sell pursuant to such underwritten offering (the “ Shelf Underwriting ”). As promptly as practicable, but no later than two Business Days after receipt of a Shelf Underwriting Request, the Company shall give written notice (the “ Shelf Underwriting Notice ”) of such Shelf Underwriting Request to each other Holder. The Company, subject to Sections 2.3 and 2.6 , shall include in such Shelf Underwriting (x) the Registrable Securities of the Initiating Holders and (y) the Shelf Registrable Securities of any other Holder which shall have made a written request to the Company for inclusion in such Shelf Underwriting (which request shall specify the maximum number of Shelf Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such Holder) pursuant to a Shelf Underwriting Notice within seven days after the receipt of such notice. The Company shall, as expeditiously as possible (and in any event within 20 days after the receipt of a Shelf Underwriting Request), but subject to Section 2.1(b) , use its reasonable best efforts to facilitate such Shelf Underwriting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the THL Party or the Advent Party wishes to engage in a Block Trade off of a Shelf Registration Statement (either through filing an automatic shelf registration statement or through a take-down from an already existing Shelf Registration Statement), then such Holder only needs to notify the Company of the Block Trade on the day such offering is to commence and the Company shall notify the THL Party or the Advent Party that did not initiate the Block Trade. Such Holder must elect whether or not to participate in such Block Trade on the day such offering is to commence, and the Company shall as expeditiously as possible use its reasonable best efforts (including cooperating with the Participating Holders with respect to the provision of necessary information) to facilitate such shelf offering (which may close as early as three Business Days after the date it commences), provided that the Holder requesting such Block Trade shall use commercially reasonable efforts to work with the Company and the underwriters prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of the registration statement, prospectus and other offering documentation related to the Block Trade. For the avoidance of doubt, the Management Stockholders shall not be entitled to receive notice of, or to elect to participate in, a Block Trade or any Shelf Registration Statement or prospectus to be used in connection with such Block Trade. The Company shall, at the request of the Holder initiating the Block Trade, file any prospectus supplement or, if the applicable Shelf Registration Statement is an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Section 2.4 ), any post-effective amendments and otherwise take any action necessary to include therein all disclosure

 

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and language deemed necessary or advisable by the Holder initiating the Block Trade to effect such Shelf Underwriting. Once a Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective, the THL Party and the Advent Party may request, and the Company shall be required to facilitate, an unlimited number of Shelf Underwritings with respect to such Shelf Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.1(e) , each Shelf Underwriting must include, in the aggregate (based on the Common Stock included in such Shelf Underwriting by all Holders participating in such Shelf Underwriting), shares of Common Stock having an aggregate market value of at least $25 million.

2.2. Piggyback Registrations .

(a) If the Company proposes or is required (pursuant to Section 2.1 or otherwise) to register any of its equity securities for its own account or for the account of any other shareholder under the Securities Act (other than pursuant to registrations on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any similar successor forms thereto), the Company shall give prompt written notice of its intention to do so at least five Business Days prior to the filing of any registration statement under the Securities Act to each Holder. Upon the written request of any Holder (a “ Piggyback Request ”), made within five days following the receipt of any such written notice (which request shall specify the maximum number of Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such Holder and the intended method of distribution thereof), the Company shall, subject to Sections 2.2(c) , 2.3 and 2.6 hereof, use its reasonable best efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities, which such Holders have so requested the registration thereof, to be registered under the Securities Act with the securities which the Company at the time proposes to register to permit the sale or other disposition by such Holders (in accordance with the intended method of distribution thereof) of the Registrable Securities to be so registered, including, if necessary, by filing with the SEC a post-effective amendment or a supplement to the registration statement filed by the Company or the prospectus related thereto. There is no limitation on the number of such piggyback registrations pursuant to the preceding sentence which the Company is obligated to effect. No registration of Registrable Securities effected under this Section Error! Reference source not found. shall relieve the Company of its obligations to effect Demand Registrations under Section 2.1 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the THL Party or the Advent Party wishes to engage in a Block Trade off of a Shelf Registration Statement (either through filing an automatic shelf registration statement or through a take-down from an already existing Shelf Registration Statement), then such Holder only needs to notify the Company of the Block Trade on the day such offering is to commence and the Company shall notify the THL Party or the Advent Party that did not initiate the Block Trade. Such Holder must elect whether or not to participate in such Block Trade on the day such offering is to commence, and the Company shall as expeditiously as possible use its reasonable best efforts (including cooperating with the Participating Holders with respect to the provision of necessary information) to facilitate such shelf offering (which may close as early as three Business Days after the date it commences), provided the Holder requesting such Block Trade shall use commercially reasonable efforts to work with the Company and the underwriters prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of the registration statement, prospectus and other offering documentation related to the Block Trade. For the avoidance of doubt, the Management Stockholders shall not be entitled to receive notice of, or to elect to participate in, a Block Trade or any Shelf Registration Statement and prospectus to be used in connection with such Block Trade.

 

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(b) The Company, subject to Sections 2.3 and 2.6 , may elect to include in any registration statement and offering pursuant to demand registration rights by any Person, (i) authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or shares of Common Stock held by the Company as treasury shares and (ii) any other shares of Common Stock which are requested to be included in such registration pursuant to the exercise of piggyback registration rights granted by the Company after the date hereof and which are not inconsistent with the rights granted in, or otherwise conflict with the terms of, this Agreement (“ Additional Piggyback Rights ”); provided , however, that, with respect to any underwritten offering, such inclusion shall be permitted only to the extent that it is pursuant to, and subject to, the terms of the underwriting agreement or arrangements, if any, entered into by the Majority Participating Holders in such underwritten offering; provided further that no party holding Additional Piggyback Rights shall be entitled to receive notice of, or to elect to participate in, a Block Trade or any Shelf Registration Statement and prospectus to be used in connection with such Block Trade.

(c) If, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any equity securities and prior to the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company shall determine for any reason not to register or to delay registration of such equity securities, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to all Holders and (i) in the case of a determination not to register, shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such abandoned registration, without prejudice, however, to the rights of Holders under Section 2.1 , and (ii) in the case of a determination to delay such registration of its equity securities, shall be permitted to delay the registration of such Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in registering such other equity securities.

(d) Any Holder shall have the right to withdraw its request for inclusion of its Registrable Securities in any registration statement pursuant to this Section 2.2 by giving written notice to the Company of its request to withdraw; provided , however, that such request must be made in writing prior to the earlier of the execution of the underwriting agreement or the execution of the custody agreement with respect to such registration.

(e) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Company shall, at the request of any Holder (including to effect a Partner Distribution), file any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendments, or include in the initial registration statement any disclosure or language, or include in any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment any disclosure or language, and otherwise take any action, deemed necessary or advisable by such Holder (including to effect such Partner Distribution).

 

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2.3. Allocation of Securities Included in Registration Statement .

(a) If any requested registration made pursuant to Section 2.1 (including a Shelf Underwriting) involves an underwritten offering and the Manager of such offering shall advise the Company that, in its view, the number of securities requested to be included in such underwritten offering by the Holders, the Company or any other Persons exercising Additional Piggyback Rights exceeds the largest number (the “ Section 2.3(a) Sale Number ”) that can be sold in an orderly manner in such underwritten offering within a price range acceptable to the Majority Participating Holders, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to include in such underwritten offering:

(i) first, all Registrable Securities requested to be included in such underwritten offering by the Holders thereof (including pursuant to the exercise of piggyback rights pursuant to Section 2.2 ); provided , however, that if the number of such Registrable Securities exceeds the Section 2.3(a) Sale Number , the number of such Registrable Securities (not to exceed the Section 2.3(a) Sale Number ) to be included in such underwritten offering shall be allocated on a pro rata basis among all Holders requesting that Registrable Securities be included in such underwritten offering, based on the number of Registrable Securities then owned by each such Holder requesting inclusion in relation to the aggregate number of Registrable Securities owned by all Holders requesting inclusion;

(ii) second, to the extent that the number of Registrable Securities to be included pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 2.3(a) is less than the Section 2.3(a) Sale Number , any securities that the Company proposes to register; provided that the number of such securities when aggregated with that number of Registrable Securities to be included pursuant to clause (i), totals no more than the Section 2.3(a) Sale Number ; and

(iii) third, to the extent that the number of Registrable Securities to be included pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 2.3(a) is less than the Section 2.3(a) Sale Number , the remaining Registrable Securities to be included in such underwritten offering shall be allocated on a pro rata basis among all Persons requesting that securities be included in such underwritten offering pursuant to the exercise of Additional Piggyback Rights (“ Piggyback Shares ”), based on the number of Piggyback Shares then owned by each Person requesting inclusion in relation to the aggregate number of Piggyback Shares owned by all Persons requesting inclusion; provided that the number of such securities when aggregated with that number of Registrable Securities to be included pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) totals no more than the Section 2.3(a) Sale Number .

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.3(a) to the contrary, no Management Stockholder will be entitled to include Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering requested by the Initiating Holders pursuant to Section 2.1 to the extent that the Manager of such underwritten offering shall determine in good faith that the participation of such Management Stockholder would adversely affect in any material respect the marketability of the securities being sold by the Initiating Holders in such underwritten offering.

(b) If any registration or offering made pursuant to Section 2.2 involves an underwritten primary offering on behalf of the Company after the date hereof and the Manager shall advise the Company that, in its view, the number of securities requested to be included in such underwritten offering by the Holders, the Company or any other Persons exercising Additional Piggyback Rights exceeds the largest number (the “ Section 2.3(b) Sale Number ”) that can be sold in an orderly manner in such underwritten offering within a price range acceptable to the Company, the Company shall include in such underwritten offering:

(i) first, all equity securities that the Company proposes to register for its own account;

 

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(ii) second, to the extent that the number of Registrable Securities to be included pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 2.3(b) is less than the Section 2.3(b) Sale Number , the remaining Registrable Securities to be included in such underwritten offering shall be allocated on a pro rata basis among all Holders requesting that Registrable Securities be included in such underwritten offering pursuant to the exercise of piggyback rights pursuant to Section 2.2 , based on the number of Registrable Securities then owned by each such Holder requesting inclusion in relation to the aggregate number of Registrable Securities owned by all Holders requesting inclusion; provided that the number of such remaining Registrable Securities when aggregated with that number of equity securities to be included pursuant to clause (i), totals no more than the Section 2.3(b) Sale Number : and

(iii) third, to the extent that the number of Registrable Securities to be included pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 2.3(b) is less than the Section 2.3(b) Sale Number , the remaining Registrable Securities to be included in such underwritten offering shall be allocated on a pro rata basis among all Persons requesting that securities be included in such underwritten offering pursuant to the exercise of Additional Piggyback Rights, based on the number of Piggyback Shares then owned by each Person requesting inclusion in relation to the aggregate number of Piggyback Shares owned by all Persons requesting inclusion; provided that the number of such securities when aggregated with that number of Registrable Securities to be included pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) totals no more than the Section 2.3(b) Sale Number .

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.3(b) to the contrary, no Management Stockholder will be entitled to include Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering pursuant to Section 2.2 to the extent that the Manager of such underwritten offering shall determine in good faith that the participation of such Management Stockholder would adversely affect in any material respect the marketability of the securities being sold by the Company or the other Holders in such underwritten offering.

(c) If any registration pursuant to Section 2.2 involves an underwritten offering that was initially requested by any Person(s) other than a Holder to whom the Company has granted registration rights which are not inconsistent with the rights granted in, or otherwise conflict with the terms of, this Agreement and the Manager shall advise the Company that, in its view, the number of securities requested to be included in such underwritten offering exceeds the number (the “ Section 2.3(c) Sale Number ”) that can be sold in an orderly manner in such underwritten offering within a price range acceptable to the Company, the Company shall include in such underwritten offering:

(i) first, the shares requested to be included in such underwritten offering shall be allocated on a pro rata basis among such Person(s) requesting the registration and all Holders requesting that Registrable Securities be included in such underwritten offering pursuant to the exercise of piggyback rights pursuant to Section 2.2 , based on the aggregate number of securities or Registrable Securities, as applicable, then owned by each of the foregoing requesting inclusion in relation to the aggregate number of securities or Registrable Securities, as applicable, owned by all such Holders and Persons requesting inclusion, up to the Section 2.3(c) Sale Number :

(ii) second, to the extent that the number of Registrable Securities to be included pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 2.3(c) is less than the Section 2.3(c) Sale Number , the remaining Registrable Securities to be included in such underwritten offering shall be allocated on a pro rata basis among all Persons requesting that securities be included in such underwritten offering pursuant to the exercise of Additional Piggyback Rights, based on the number of Piggyback Shares then owned by each Person requesting inclusion in relation to the aggregate number of Piggyback Shares owned by all Persons requesting inclusion; provided that the number of such remaining Registrable Securities when aggregated with that number of shares requested to be included pursuant to clause (i), totals no more than the Section 2.3(c) Sale Number ; and

 

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(iii) third, to the extent that the number of Registrable Securities to be included pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 2.3(c) is less than the Section 2.3(c) Sale Number , the remaining Registrable Securities to be included in such underwritten offering shall be allocated to shares the Company proposes to register for its own account; provided that the number of such securities when aggregated with that number of Registrable Securities to be included pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) totals no more than the Section 2.3(c) Sale Number .

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.3(c) to the contrary, no Management Stockholder will be entitled to include Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering pursuant to Section 2.2 to the extent that the Manager of such underwritten offering shall determine in good faith that the participation of such Management Stockholder would adversely affect in any material respect the marketability of the securities being sold by the Person(s) requesting the registration or the other Holders in such underwritten offering.

(d) If, as a result of the proration provisions set forth in clauses (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 2.3 , any Holder shall not be entitled to include all Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering that such Holder has requested be included, such Holder may elect to withdraw such Holder’s request to include Registrable Securities in the registration to which such underwritten offering relates or may reduce the number requested to be included; provided , however, that (x) such request must be made in writing prior to the earlier of the execution of the underwriting agreement or the execution of the custody agreement with respect to such registration and (y) such withdrawal or reduction shall be irrevocable and, after making such withdrawal or reduction, such Holder shall no longer have any right to include Registrable Securities in the registration as to which such withdrawal or reduction was made to the extent of the Registrable Securities so withdrawn or reduced.

2.4. Registration Procedures . If and whenever the Company is required by the provisions of this Agreement to effect or cause the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act as provided in this Agreement (or use best efforts or reasonable best efforts to accomplish the same), the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible:

(a) prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement on an appropriate registration form of the SEC for the disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof (including, without limitation, a Partner Distribution), which registration form (i) shall be selected by the Company and (ii) shall, in the case of a shelf registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the selling Holders thereof

 

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and such registration statement shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable registration form and include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith, and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective and remain continuously effective for such period as any Participating Holder pursuant to such registration statement shall request, and no less than 180 days, (provided, however, that as far in advance as reasonably practicable before filing a registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, or comparable statements under securities or state “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction, or any free writing prospectus related thereto, or before sending a response to an SEC comment letter prior to any such filing, the Company will furnish to one counsel for the Holders participating in the planned offering (selected by the Majority Participating Holders) and to one counsel for the Manager, if any, copies of reasonably complete drafts of all such documents proposed to be filed (including all exhibits thereto and each document incorporated by reference therein to the extent then required by the rules and regulations of the SEC), which documents will be subject to the reasonable review and reasonable comment of such counsel (including any objections to any information pertaining to any Participating Holder and its plan of distribution and otherwise to the extent necessary, if at all, to complete the filing or maintain the effectiveness thereof), and the Company shall make the changes reasonably requested by such counsel and shall not file any registration statement or amendment thereto, any prospectus or supplement thereto or any free writing prospectus related thereto to which the Majority Participating Holders or the underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object), provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be required to file any document with the SEC which in the view of the Company or its counsel contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make any statement therein not misleading;

(b) (i) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements (including, without limitation, any reports required to be filed pursuant to the Exchange Act) to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement continuously effective for such period as any Participating Holder pursuant to such registration statement shall request and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the sale or other disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement and (ii) provide notice to such sellers of Registrable Securities and the Manager, if any, of the Company’s reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to a registration statement would be appropriate;

(c) furnish, without charge, to each Participating Holder and each underwriter, if any, of the securities covered by such registration statement such number of copies of such registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits), the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus) and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 under the Securities Act, each free writing prospectus utilized in connection therewith, in each case, in all material respects in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and other documents, as such seller and underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller (the Company hereby consenting to the use in accordance with all applicable laws of each such registration statement

 

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(or amendment or post-effective amendment thereto) and each such prospectus (or preliminary prospectus or supplement thereto) or free writing prospectus by each such Participating Holder and the underwriters, if any, in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement or prospectus);

(d) use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or state “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as any sellers of Registrable Securities or any managing underwriter, if any, shall reasonably request in writing, and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such sellers or underwriter, if any, to consummate the disposition of the Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions (including keeping such registration or qualification in effect for so long as such registration statement remains in effect), except that in no event shall the Company be required to qualify to do business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction where it would not, but for the requirements of this paragraph (d), be required to be so qualified, to subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or to consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction;

(e) promptly notify each Participating Holder and each managing underwriter, if any: (i) when the registration statement, any pre-effective amendment, the prospectus or any prospectus supplement related thereto, any post-effective amendment to the registration statement or any free writing prospectus has been filed with the SEC and, with respect to the registration statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any comment letter or request by the SEC or state securities authority for amendments or supplements to the registration statement or the prospectus related thereto or for additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or state “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose; (v) of the existence of any fact of which the Company becomes aware which results in the registration statement or any amendment thereto, the prospectus related thereto or any supplement thereto, any document incorporated therein by reference, any free writing prospectus or the information conveyed to any purchaser at the time of sale to such purchaser containing an untrue statement of a material fact or omitting to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make any statement therein not misleading; and (vi) if at any time the representations and warranties contemplated by any underwriting agreement, securities sale agreement, or other similar agreement, relating to the offering shall cease to be true and correct in all material respects; and, if the notification relates to an event described in clause (v), unless the Company has declared that a Postponement Period exists, the Company shall promptly prepare and furnish to each such seller and each underwriter, if any, a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus supplemented or amended so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading;

(f) comply (and continue to comply) with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC (including, without limitation, maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in

 

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Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) in accordance with the Exchange Act), and make generally available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable after the effective date of the registration statement (and in any event within 45 days, or 90 days if it is a fiscal year, after the end of such 12-month period described hereafter), an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering the period of at least 12 consecutive months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first calendar quarter after the effective date of the registration statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder;

(g) (i) cause all such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be listed on the principal securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, take all actions that may be required by the Company as the issuer of such Registrable Securities in order to facilitate the managing underwriter’s arranging for the registration of at least two market makers as such with respect to such shares with FINRA, and (ii) comply (and continue to comply) with the requirements of any self-regulatory organization applicable to the Company, including without limitation all corporate governance requirements;

(h) provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement not later than the effective date of such registration statement and, in the case of any secondary equity offering, provide and enter into any reasonable agreements with a custodian for the Registrable Securities;

(i) enter into such customary agreements (including, if applicable, an underwriting agreement) and take such other actions as the Majority Participating Holders or the underwriters shall reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities (it being understood that the Holders with the Registrable Securities which are to be distributed by any underwriters shall be parties to any such underwriting agreement and may, at their option, require that the Company make to and for the benefit of such Holders the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company which are being made to and for the benefit of such underwriters);

(j) use its reasonable best efforts (i) to obtain an opinion from the Company’s counsel and a “cold comfort” letter and updates thereof from the independent public accountants who have certified the Company’s financial statements (and/or any other financial statements) included or incorporated by reference in such registration statement, in each case, in customary form and covering such matters as are customarily covered by such opinions and “cold comfort” letters (including, in the case of such “cold comfort” letter, events subsequent to the date of such financial statements) delivered to underwriters in underwritten public offerings, which opinion and letter shall be dated the dates such opinions and “cold comfort” letters are customarily dated and otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the underwriters, if any, and to the Majority Participating Holders, and (ii) furnish to each Participating Holder upon its request and to each underwriter, if any, a copy of such opinion and letter addressed to such underwriter;

(k) deliver promptly to counsel for each Participating Holder and to each managing underwriter, if any, copies of all correspondence between the SEC and the Company, its counsel

 

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or auditors and all memoranda relating to discussions with the SEC or its staff with respect to the registration statement, and, upon receipt of such confidentiality agreements as the Company may reasonably request, make reasonably available for inspection by counsel for each Participating Holder, by counsel for any underwriter participating in any disposition to be effected pursuant to such registration statement and by any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any Participating Holder or any such underwriter, all pertinent financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, and cause all of the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such counsel for a Participating Holder, counsel for an underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such registration statement;

(l) use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance or obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement, or the lifting of any suspension of the qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, in each case, as promptly as reasonably practicable;

(m) provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities, not later than the effective date of the registration statement;

(n) use its reasonable best efforts to make available its employees and personnel for participation in “road shows” and other marketing efforts and otherwise provide reasonable assistance to the underwriters (taking into account the needs of the Company’s businesses and the requirements of the marketing process) in the marketing of Registrable Securities in any underwritten offering;

(o) promptly prior to the filing of any document which is to be incorporated by reference into the registration statement or the prospectus (after the initial filing of such registration statement), and prior to the filing or use of any free writing prospectus, provide copies of such document to counsel for each Participating Holder and to each managing underwriter, if any, and make the Company’s representatives reasonably available for discussion of such document and make such changes in such document concerning the Participating Holders prior to the filing thereof as counsel for such Participating Holders or underwriters may reasonably request (provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be required to file any document with the SEC which in the view of the Company or its counsel contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make any statement therein not misleading);

(p) furnish to counsel for each Participating Holder upon its request and to each managing underwriter, without charge, upon request, at least one conformed copy of the registration statement and any post-effective amendments or supplements thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference, the prospectus contained in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus), any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 under the Securities Act and all exhibits (including those incorporated by reference) and any free writing prospectus utilized in connection therewith;

 

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(q) cooperate with the Participating Holders and the managing underwriter, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of book-entry shares or certificates not bearing any restrictive legends representing the Registrable Securities to be sold, and cause such Registrable Securities to be issued in such denominations and registered in such names in accordance with the underwriting agreement at least two Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities to the underwriters or, if not an underwritten offering, in accordance with the instructions of the Participating Holders at least two Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities and instruct any transfer agent and registrar of Registrable Securities to release any stop transfer orders in respect thereof (and, in the case of Registrable Securities registered on a Shelf Registration Statement, at the request of any Holder, prepare and deliver book-entry shares or certificates representing such Registrable Securities not bearing any restrictive legends and deliver or cause to be delivered an opinion or instructions to the transfer agent in order to allow such Registrable Securities to be sold from time to time);

(r) take no direct or indirect action prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act; provided , however, that to the extent that any prohibition is applicable to the Company, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to make any such prohibition inapplicable;

(s) use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by the applicable registration statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the Participating Holders or the underwriters, if any, to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

(t) take all such other commercially reasonable actions as are necessary or advisable in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

(u) take all reasonable action to ensure that any free writing prospectus utilized in connection with any registration covered by Section 2.1 or 2.2 complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, is filed in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby, is retained in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby and, when taken together with the related prospectus, prospectus supplement and related documents, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and

(v) in connection with any underwritten offering, if at any time the information conveyed to a purchaser at the time of sale includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, promptly file with the SEC such amendments or supplements to such information as may be necessary so that the statements as so amended or supplemented will not, in light of the circumstances, be misleading.

To the extent the Company is a WKSI at the time any Demand Registration Request is submitted to the Company, and such Demand Registration Request requests that the Company file an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (an “ automatic shelf registration statement ”) on Form S-3, the Company shall file an automatic shelf registration statement which covers those Registrable Securities which are

 

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requested to be registered. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to remain a WKSI (and not become an ineligible issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act)) during the period during which such automatic shelf registration statement is required to remain effective.

If the Company does not pay the filing fee covering the Registrable Securities at the time the automatic shelf registration statement is filed, the Company agrees to pay such fee at such time or times as the Registrable Securities are to be sold. If the automatic shelf registration statement has been outstanding for at least three years, at the end of the third year the Company shall refile a new automatic shelf registration statement covering the Registrable Securities. If at any time when the Company is required to re-evaluate its WKSI status the Company determines that it is not a WKSI, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to refile the shelf registration statement on Form S-3 and, if such form is not available, Form S-l and keep such registration statement effective during the period during which such registration statement is required to be kept effective.

If the Company files any shelf registration statement for the benefit of the holders of any of its securities other than the Holders, and the Holders do not request that their Registrable Securities be included in such Shelf Registration Statement, the Company agrees that it shall include in such registration statement such disclosures as may be required by Rule 430B under the Securities Act (referring to the unnamed selling security holders in a generic manner by identifying the initial offering of the securities to the Holders) in order to ensure that the Holders may be added to such shelf registration statement at a later time through the filing of a prospectus supplement rather than a post-effective amendment.

The Company may require as a condition precedent to the Company’s obligations under this Section 2.4 that each Participating Holder as to which any registration is being effected furnish the Company such information regarding such seller and the distribution of such securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request provided that such information is necessary for the Company to consummate such registration and shall be used only in connection with such registration.

Each Holder agrees that upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event described in clause (v) of paragraph (e)  of this Section 2.4 , such Holder will discontinue such Holder’s disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement covering such Registrable Securities until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by paragraph (e)  of this Section 2.4 and, if so directed by the Company, will deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such Holder’s possession of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities that was in effect at the time of receipt of such notice. In the event the Company shall give any such notice, the applicable period mentioned in paragraph (a)  of this Section 2.4 shall be extended by the number of days during such period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when each Participating Holder covered by such registration statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by paragraph (e)  of this Section 2.4 .

 

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If any such registration statement or comparable statement under state “blue sky” laws refers to any Holder by name or otherwise as the holder of any securities of the Company, then such Holder shall have the right to require (i) the insertion therein of language, in form and substance satisfactory to such Holder and the Company, to the effect that the holding by such Holder of such securities is not to be construed as a recommendation by such Holder of the investment quality of the Company’s securities covered thereby and that such holding does not imply that such Holder will assist in meeting any future financial requirements of the Company, or (ii) in the event that such reference to such Holder by name or otherwise is not in the judgment of the Company, as advised by counsel, required by the Securities Act or any similar federal statute or any state “blue sky” or securities law then in force, the deletion of the reference to such Holder.

2.5. Registration Expenses .

(a) The Company shall pay all Expenses with respect to any registration or offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2 , whether or not a registration statement becomes effective or the offering is consummated.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) the provisions of this Section 2.5 shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to cause these expense provisions to comply with state “blue sky” laws of each state in which the offering is made and (y) in connection with any underwritten offering hereunder, each Participating Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and any transfer taxes, if any, attributable to the sale of such Registrable Securities, pro rata with respect to payments of discounts and commissions in accordance with the number of shares sold in the offering by such Holder.

2.6. Certain Limitations on Registration Rights . In the case of any registration under Section 2.1 involving an underwritten offering, or, in the case of a registration under Section 2.2 , if the Company has determined to enter into an underwriting agreement in connection therewith, all securities to be included in such underwritten offering shall be subject to such underwriting agreement and no Person may participate in such underwritten offering unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided therein and completes and executes all reasonable questionnaires, and other customary documents (including custody agreements and powers of attorney) which must be executed in connection therewith; provided , however, that all such documents shall be consistent with the provisions hereof, and (ii) provides such other information to the Company or the underwriter as may be necessary to register such Person’s securities.

2.7. Limitations on Sale or Distribution of Other Securities .

(a) Each Holder agrees, (i) to the extent requested in writing by a managing underwriter, if any, of any underwritten public offering pursuant to a registration or offering effected pursuant to Section 2.1 (except in the case of an Block Trade, unless the Holder has the option to participate in such Block Trade pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise), not to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, including any sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, any Common Stock, or any other equity security of the Company or any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity security of the Company (other

 

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than as part of such underwritten public offering) during the time period reasonably requested by the managing underwriter, not to exceed 90 days (plus customary 17 day lockup extension periods) or such shorter period as the managing underwriter shall agree to (other than in the case of the IPO, which time period shall be 180 days (plus customary 17 day lockup extension periods)), provided that (x) such shorter period shall apply to all Holders who are subject to such period, and (y) if a managing underwriter of an offering releases any Holder of its obligations under this Section 2.7(a)(i) , all other Holders shall be released from their obligations under this Section 2.7(a) (i) , on a pro rata basis, in accordance with the number of Registrable Securities held by them at such time (and the Company hereby also so agrees (except that the Company may effect any sale or distribution of any such securities pursuant to a registration on Form S-4 (if reasonably acceptable to such managing underwriter) or Form S-8, or any successor or similar form which is (x) then in effect or (y) shall become effective upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of any then outstanding Common Stock Equivalent), to use its reasonable best efforts to cause each holder of any equity security or any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity security of the Company purchased from the Company at any time other than in a public offering so to agree); and (ii) to the extent requested in writing by a managing underwriter of any underwritten public offering effected by the Company for its own account (including without limitation any offering in which one or more Holders is selling Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of piggyback rights under Section 2.2 hereof), it will not sell any Common Stock (other than as part of such underwritten public offering) during the time period reasonably requested by the managing underwriter, which period shall not exceed 90 days (plus customary 17 day lockup extension periods) or such shorter period as the managing underwriter shall agree to (other than in the case of the IPO, which time period shall be 180 days (plus customary 17 day lockup extension periods)), provided that (x) such shorter period shall apply to all Holders who are subject to such period, and (y) if a managing underwriter of an offering releases any Holder of its obligations under this Section 2.7(a)(ii) , all other Holders shall be released from their obligations under this Section 2.7(a)(ii) , on a pro rata basis, in accordance with the number of Registrable Securities held by them at such time.

(b) The Company hereby agrees that, in connection with an offering pursuant to Section 2.1 or 2.2 , the Company shall not sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of, any Common Stock, or any other equity security of the Company or any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity security of the Company (other than as part of such underwritten public offering, a registration on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any successor or similar form which is (x) then in effect or (y) shall become effective upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of any then outstanding Common Stock Equivalent), until a period of 90 days (or such shorter period to which the Majority Participating Holders shall agree, but 180 days in the case of the IPO) shall have elapsed from the pricing date of such offering (in each case plus customary 17 day lockup extension periods); and the Company shall (i) so provide in any registration rights agreements hereafter entered into with respect to any of its securities and (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause each holder of any equity security or any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity security of the Company purchased from the Company at any time other than in a public offering to so agree.

2.8. No Required Sale . Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to create an independent obligation on the part of any Holder to sell any Registrable Securities pursuant to any effective registration statement.

 

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2.9. Indemnification .

(a) In the event of any registration or offer and sale of any securities of the Company under the Securities Act pursuant to this Section 2 , the Company will, and hereby agrees to, and hereby does, indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each Participating Holder, its directors, officers, fiduciaries, employees, stockholders, members or general and limited partners (and the directors, officers, fiduciaries, employees, stockholders, members or general and limited partners thereof), each other Person who participates as a seller (and its directors, officers, fiduciaries, employees, stockholders, members or general and limited partners), underwriter or Qualified Independent Underwriter, if any, in the offering or sale of such securities, each officer, director, employee, stockholder, fiduciary, managing director, agent, affiliate, consultant, representative, successor, assign or partner of such underwriter or Qualified Independent Underwriter, and each other Person, if any, who controls such seller or any such underwriter or Qualified Independent Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, actions or proceedings (whether commenced or threatened) and expenses (including reasonable fees of counsel and any amounts paid in any settlement effected with the Company’s consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to which each such indemnified party may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise in respect thereof (collectively, “ Claims ”), insofar as such Claims arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement under which such securities were registered under the Securities Act or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary, final or summary prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, together with the documents incorporated by reference therein, or any free writing prospectus utilized in connection therewith, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein 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, or (iii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in the information conveyed by the Company to any purchaser at the time of the sale to such purchaser, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or (iv) any violation by the Company of any federal, state or common law rule or regulation applicable to the Company and relating to action required of or inaction by the Company in connection with any such registration, and the Company will reimburse any such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim as such expenses are incurred; provided , however, that the Company shall not be liable to any such indemnified party in any such case to the extent such Claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact made in such registration statement or amendment thereof or supplement thereto or in any such prospectus or any preliminary, final or summary prospectus or free writing prospectus in reliance upon and in strict conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such indemnified party specifically for use therein. Such indemnity and reimbursement of expenses shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such seller.

 

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(b) Each Participating Holder (and, if the Company requires as a condition to including any Registrable Securities in any registration statement filed in accordance with Section 2.1 or 2.2 , any underwriter and Qualified Independent Underwriter, if any) shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless (in the same manner and to the same extent as set forth in paragraph (a)  of this Section 2.9 ) to the extent permitted by law the Company, its officers and directors, each Person controlling the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and all other prospective sellers and their directors, officers, stockholders, fiduciaries, managing directors, agents, affiliates, consultants, representatives, successors, assigns or general and limited partners and respective controlling Persons with respect to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact in, or omission or alleged omission of any material fact from, such registration statement, any preliminary, final or summary prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any free writing prospectus utilized in connection therewith, if such statement or alleged statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in strict conformity with written information furnished to the Company or its representatives by or on behalf of such Participating Holder or underwriter or Qualified Independent Underwriter, if any, specifically for use therein, and each such Participating Holder, underwriter or Qualified Independent Underwriter, if any, shall reimburse such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim as such expenses are incurred; provided , however, that the aggregate amount which any such Participating Holder shall be required to pay pursuant to this Section 2.9 (including pursuant to indemnity, contribution or otherwise) shall in no case be greater than the amount of the net proceeds received by such Participating Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement giving rise to such Claim; provided further that such Participating Holder shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that prior to the filing of any such registration statement or prospectus or amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or any free writing prospectus utilized in connection therewith, such Participating Holder has furnished in writing to the Company information expressly for use in such registration statement or prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or free writing prospectus which corrected or made not misleading information previously furnished to the Company. The Company and each Participating Holder hereby acknowledge and agree that, unless otherwise expressly agreed to in writing by such Participating Holders to the contrary, for all purposes of this Agreement, the only information furnished or to be furnished to the Company for use in any such registration statement, preliminary, final or summary prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, or any free writing prospectus, are statements specifically relating to (i) the beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock by such Participating Holder and its Affiliates as disclosed in the section of such document entitled “Selling Stockholders” or “Principal and Selling Stockholders” or other documents thereof and (ii) the name and address of such Participating Holder. If any additional information about such Holder or the plan of distribution (other than for an underwritten offering) is required by law to be disclosed in any such document, then such Holder shall not unreasonably withhold its agreement referred to in the immediately preceding sentence. Such indemnity and reimbursement of expenses shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such Holder.

(c) Indemnification similar to that specified in the preceding paragraphs (a)  and (b)  of this Section 2.9 (with appropriate modifications) shall be given by the Company and each Participating Holder with respect to any required registration or other qualification of securities under any applicable securities and state “blue sky” laws.

 

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(d) Any Person entitled to indemnification under this Agreement shall notify promptly the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of any action or proceeding with respect to which a claim for indemnification may be made pursuant to this Section 2.9 , but the failure of any indemnified party to provide such notice shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 2.9 , except to the extent the indemnifying party is materially and actually prejudiced thereby and shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 2 . In case any action or proceeding is brought against an indemnified party and such indemnified party shall have notified the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof (as required above), the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, unless in the reasonable opinion of outside counsel to the indemnified party a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist in respect of such Claim, to assume the defense thereof jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to the extent that it chooses, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party that it so chooses, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided , however, that (i) if the indemnifying party fails to take reasonable steps necessary to defend diligently the action or proceeding within 20 days after receiving notice from such indemnified party that the indemnified party believes it has failed to do so; or (ii) if such indemnified party who is a defendant in any action or proceeding which is also brought against the indemnifying party reasonably shall have concluded that there may be one or more legal or equitable defenses available to such indemnified party which are not available to the indemnifying party or which may conflict with those available to another indemnified party with respect to such Claim; or (iii) if representation of both parties by the same counsel is otherwise inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct, then, in any such case, the indemnified party shall have the right to assume or continue its own defense as set forth above (but with no more than one firm of counsel for all indemnified parties in each jurisdiction, except to the extent any indemnified party or parties reasonably shall have made a conclusion described in clause (ii) or (iii) above) and the indemnifying party shall be liable for any expenses therefor. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (A) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (B) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(e) If for any reason the foregoing indemnity is unavailable, unenforceable or is insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Sections 2.9(a) , (b)  or (c) , then each applicable indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable to such indemnified party as a result of any Claim in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and the indemnified party, on the other hand, with

 

24


respect to such Claim. The relative fault 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 indemnifying party or the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. If, however, the allocation provided in the second preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative faults but also the relative benefits of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if any contribution pursuant to this Section 2.9(e) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the preceding sentences of this Section 2.9(e) . The amount paid or payable in respect of any Claim shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim. 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. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.9(e) to the contrary, no indemnifying party (other than the Company) shall be required pursuant to this Section 2.9(e) to contribute any amount greater than the amount of the net proceeds received by such indemnifying party from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement giving rise to such Claim, less the amount of any indemnification payment made by such indemnifying party pursuant to Sections 2.9(b) and (c) . In addition, no Holder or any Affiliate thereof shall be required to pay any amount under this Section 2.9(e) unless such Person or entity would have been required to pay an amount pursuant to Section 2.9(b) if it had been applicable in accordance with its terms.

(f) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained herein shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution which any indemnified party may have pursuant to law or contract and shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made or omitted by or on behalf of any indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by any such party.

(g) The indemnification and contribution required by this Section 2.9 shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or expense, loss, damage or liability is incurred; provided , however, that the recipient thereof hereby undertakes to repay such payments if and to the extent it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such recipient is not entitled to such payment hereunder.

2.10. Limitations on Registration of Other Securities; Representation . From and after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Holders holding more than 50% of the Registrable Securities, enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company giving such holder or prospective holder any registration rights the terms of which are more favorable taken as a whole than the registration rights granted to the Holders hereunder unless the Company shall also give such rights to such Holders.

 

25


2.11. No Inconsistent Agreements . The Company shall not hereafter enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent in any material respects with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement.

Section 3. Underwritten Offerings .

3.1. Requested Underwritten Offerings . If requested by the underwriters for any underwritten offering pursuant to a registration requested under Section 2.1 , the Company shall enter into a customary underwriting agreement with the underwriters. Such underwriting agreement shall (i) be satisfactory in form and substance to the Majority Participating Holders, (ii) contain terms not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement and (iii) contain such representations and warranties by, and such other agreements on the part of, the Company and such other terms as are generally prevailing in agreements of that type, including, without limitation, indemnities and contribution agreements on substantially the same terms as those contained herein. Any Participating Holder shall be a party to such underwriting agreement and may, at its option, require that any or all of the representations and warranties by, and the other agreements on the part of, the Company to and for the benefit of such underwriters shall also be made to and for the benefit of such Participating Holder and that any or all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of such underwriters under such underwriting agreement be conditions precedent to the obligations of such Participating Holder; provided , however, that the Company shall not be required to make any representations or warranties with respect to written information specifically provided by a Participating Holder for inclusion in the registration statement. Unless otherwise agreed by the respective Participating Holders and the underwriters, each such Participating Holder shall not be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Participating Holder, its ownership of and title to the Registrable Securities, any written information specifically provided by such Participating Holder for inclusion in the registration statement and its intended method of distribution; and any liability of such Participating Holder to any underwriter or other Person under such underwriting agreement for indemnity, contribution or otherwise shall in no case be greater than the amount of the net proceeds received by such Participating Holder upon the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement and in no event shall relate to anything other than information about such Holder specifically provided by such Holder for use in the registration statement and prospectus.

3.2. Piggyback Underwritten Offerings . In the case of a registration pursuant to Section 2.2 , if the Company shall have determined to enter into an underwriting agreement in connection therewith, all of the Participating Holders’ Registrable Securities to be included in such registration shall be subject to such underwriting agreement. Any Participating Holder may, at its option, require that any or all of the representations and warranties by, and the other agreements on the part of, the Company to and for the benefit of such underwriters shall also be made to and for the benefit of such Participating Holder and that any or all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of such underwriters under such underwriting agreement be conditions precedent to the obligations of such Participating Holder; provided that the Company shall not be required to make any representations or warranties with respect to written information specifically provided by a Participating Holder for inclusion in the registration statement. Unless otherwise agreed by the respective Participating Holders and the underwriters,

 

26


each such Participating Holder shall not be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Participating Holder, its ownership of and title to the Registrable Securities, any written information specifically provided by such Participating Holder for inclusion in the registration statement and its intended method of distribution; and any liability of such Participating Holder to any underwriter or other Person under such underwriting agreement shall in no case be greater than the amount of the net proceeds received by such Participating Holder upon the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement and in no event shall relate to anything other than information about such Holder specifically provided by such Holder for use in the registration statement and prospectus.

Section 4. General .

4.1. Adjustments Affecting Registrable Securities . The Company agrees that it shall not effect or permit to occur any combination or subdivision of shares of Common Stock which would adversely affect the ability of any Holder to include its Registrable Securities in any registration contemplated by this Agreement or the marketability of such Registrable Securities in any such registration. The Company agrees that it will take all reasonable steps necessary to effect a subdivision of shares of Common Stock if in the reasonable judgment of (a) the Majority Participating Holders or (b) the Manager for the offering in respect of such Demand Registration Request, such subdivision would enhance the marketability of the Registrable Securities. Subject to the Stockholders Agreement (if in effect at the time), each Holder agrees to vote all of its shares of capital stock in a manner, and to take all other actions necessary, to permit the Company to carry out the intent of the preceding sentence including, without limitation, voting in favor of an amendment to the Company’s organizational documents in order to increase the number of authorized shares of capital stock of the Company. In any event, the provisions of this Agreement shall apply, to the full extent set forth herein with respect to the Registrable Securities, to any and all shares of capital stock of the Company, any successor or assign of the Company (whether by merger, share exchange, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) or any Subsidiary of the Company which may be issued in respect of, in exchange for or in substitution of, Registrable Securities and shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividends, splits, reverse splits, combinations, recapitalizations and the like occurring after the date hereof.

4.2. Rule 144 and Rule 144A . The Company covenants that (i) so long as it remains subject to the reporting provisions of the Exchange Act, it will timely file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (including, but not limited to, the reports under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act referred to in subparagraph (c)(l)(i) of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended (“ Rule 144 ”) ) or, if the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder, make publicly available other information so long as necessary to permit sales by such Holder under Rule 144, Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended (“ Rule 144A ”), or any similar rules or regulations hereafter adopted by the SEC, and (ii) it will take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (A) Rule 144, (B) Rule 144A or (C) any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company will deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

 

27


4.3. Nominees for Beneficial Owners . If Registrable Securities are held by a nominee for the beneficial owner thereof the beneficial owner thereof may, at its option, be treated as a Holder for purposes of any request or other action by any Holder or Holders pursuant to this Agreement (or any determination of any number or percentage of shares constituting Registrable Securities held by any Holder or Holders contemplated by this Agreement), provided that the Company shall have received assurances reasonably satisfactory to it of such beneficial ownership.

4.4. Amendments and Waivers . Except as otherwise provided herein, no modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective against the Company or any Holder unless such modification, amendment or waiver is approved in writing by the Company and the Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities then held by all Holders; provided that any amendment, modification, supplement or waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement which disproportionately materially adversely affects any Holder shall not be effective without the written approval of such Holder. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof (whether or not similar). No failure or delay on the part of any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof or of any other or future exercise of any such right, power or privilege.

4.5. Notices . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder to any party shall be deemed to be sufficient if contained in a written instrument addressed to such party delivered in person, by nationally recognized overnight courier or first class registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by facsimile or electronic mail at the address set forth below and to any other recipient at the address indicated on Schedule 4.5 hereto or at such other address as may hereafter be designated in writing by such party to the other parties:

(i) if to the Company, to:

Party City Holdco Inc.

80 Grasslands Road

Elmsford, NY 10523

Facsimile: (914) 784-4339

Attention: General Counsel

(ii) if to the THL Party, to:

c/o Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P.

100 Federal Street, 35th Floor

Boston, MA 02110

Facsimile: (617) 227-3514

Attention: Todd M. Abbrecht and Joshua M. Nelson

 

28


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

Ropes & Gray LLP

Prudential Tower

800 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02199-3600

Facsimile: (617) 235-0433

Attention: Julie H. Jones

(iii) if to the Advent Party, to:

c/o Advent International Corporation

75 State Street

Boston, MA 02109

Facsimile: (617) 951-9353

Attention: Jefferson M. Case and James Westra

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

Ropes & Gray LLP

Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02199-3600

Facsimile: (617) 235-0433

Attention: Julie H. Jones

(iv) if to the Management Stockholders, to the address indicated in the records of the Company.

All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to have been given to the receiving party upon actual receipt, if delivered in person; three Business Days after deposit in the mail, if sent by registered or certified mail; upon confirmation of successful transmission if sent by facsimile; or on the next Business Day after deposit with an overnight courier, if sent by overnight courier.

4.6. Termination and Effect of Termination . This Agreement shall terminate with respect to each Holder when such Holder no longer holds any Registrable Securities and will terminate in full when no Holder holds any Registrable Securities, except for the provisions of Sections 2.9 and 4.2 , which shall survive any such termination. No termination under this Agreement shall relieve any Person of liability for breach or Expenses incurred prior to termination. In the event this Agreement is terminated, each Person entitled to indemnification rights pursuant to Section 2.9 shall retain such indemnification rights with respect to any matter that (i) may be an indemnified liability thereunder and (ii) occurred prior to such termination.

4.7. Successors and Assigns . Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and the respective successors, permitted assigns, heirs and personal representatives of the parties hereto, whether so expressed or not. This Agreement may not be assigned by the Company without the

 

29


prior written consent of the THL Party. Each Holder shall have the right to assign all or part of its or his rights and obligations under this Agreement only in accordance with transfers of Registrable Securities to such Holder’s Permitted Transferees. For the avoidance of doubt, the THL Party shall have the right to assign all or part of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any of its Affiliates in connection with any transfer of Registrable Securities to such Affiliate. Upon any such assignment, such assignee shall have and be able to exercise and enforce all rights of the assigning Holder which are assigned to it and, to the extent such rights are assigned, any reference to the assigning Holder shall be treated as a reference to the assignee. If any Holder shall acquire additional Registrable Securities, such Registrable Securities shall be subject to all of tire terms, and entitled to all the benefits, of this Agreement. The parties hereto and their respective successors may assign their rights under this Agreement, in whole or in part, to any purchaser of shares of Registrable Securities held by them.

4.8. Entire Agreement . This Agreement, the Stockholders Agreement and the other documents referred to herein or delivered pursuant hereto which form part hereof constitute the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof.

4.9. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial .

(a) This Agreement, including the validity hereof and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder, all amendments and supplements hereto, and all actions or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement, of any nature whatsoever, shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the domestic substantive laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice of law or conflicts of law provision or rule that might otherwise cause the application of the domestic substantive laws of any other jurisdiction. The parties hereto hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the Borough of Manhattan within the State of New York in connection with any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby and each party hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which they may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such dispute brought in such court or any defense of inconvenient forum or lack of personal jurisdiction in respect of such dispute. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a judgment rendered in any such dispute may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.

(b) Each party hereto hereby waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any legal proceeding directly or indirectly arising out of, under or in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby. Each party hereto (i) 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 (ii) acknowledges that it and the other parties hereto have been induced to enter into this Agreement by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this Section 4.9 .

 

30


4.10. Interpretation: Construction .

(a) The table of contents and headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, do not constitute part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions hereof. Where a reference in this Agreement is made to a Section, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”

(b) The parties have participated jointly in negotiating and drafting this Agreement. In the event that an ambiguity or a question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.

4.11. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed and delivered in any number of separate counterparts (including by facsimile or electronic mail), each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

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

4.13. Remedies . The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that each party hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, without the posting of any bond, and, if any action should be brought in equity to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement, none of the parties hereto shall raise the defense that there is an adequate remedy at law. All remedies, either under this Agreement, by law, or otherwise afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

4.14. Further Assurances . Each party hereto shall do and perform or cause to be done and performed all such further acts and things and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments, and documents as any other party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

31


4.15. Confidentiality . Each Management Stockholder agrees that all material non-public information provided pursuant to or in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall be kept confidential by the person to whom such information is provided, until such time as such information becomes public other than through violation of this provision. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any party may disclose the information if required to do so by any law, rule, regulation, order, decree or subpoena of any governmental agency or authority or court.

[ Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank ]

 

32


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

 

PARTY CITY HOLDCO INC.
By:

/s/ Michael A. Correale

Name: Michael A. Correale
Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


THE THL PARTY:
THL PC TOPCO, L.P.
By: THL Equity Advisors VI, LLC,
its general partner
By: Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P.,
its sole member
By: Thomas H. Lee Advisors, LLC,
its general partner
By: THL Holdco, LLC,
its managing member
By:

/s/ Todd M. Abbrecht

Name: Todd M. Abbrecht
Title: Managing Director

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


THE ADVENT PARTY:
ADVENT-PARTY CITY ACQUISITION LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Advent-Party City GP, LLC, its general partner
By:

/s/ Michael J. Ristaino

Name: Michael J. Ristaino
Title: Authorized Signatory

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDER:
CHARLES ARTHUR RITTENBERG 2008 TRUST
By:

/s/ Gerald Rittenberg

Name: Gerald Rittenberg
Title:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDER:
JACK DOLLIVER RITTENBERG 2013 TRUST
By:

/s/ Gerald Rittenberg

Name: Gerald Rittenberg
Title:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDER:
THEODORE FREDERICK RITTENBERG 2014 TRUST
By:

/s/ Gerald Rittenberg

Name: Gerald Rittenberg
Title:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDER:
CRAIG M. RITTENBERG SELF-SETTLED TRUST U/A/D JUNE 28, 2008
By:

/s/ Gerald Rittenberg

Name: Gerald Rittenberg
Title:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDER:
GARRETT J. RITTENBERG SELF-SETTLED TRUST U/A/D JUNE 28, 2008
By:

/s/ Gerald Rittenberg

Name: Gerald Rittenberg
Title:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDER:
BJM 2 LLC
By:

/s/ James M. Harrison

Name: James M. Harrison
Title: Managing Member

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDER:
RITTS ENTERPRISES LLC
By:

/s/ Gerald Rittenberg

Name: Gerald Rittenberg
Title:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDER:
HARRISON FAMILY 2010 TRUST
By:

/s/ James M. Harrison

Name: James M. Harrison
Title: Grantor

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDER:

/s/ Gregg Melnick

Gregg Melnick

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDER:

/s/ Alice Tang

Alice Tang

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDER:

/s/ Diane Spaar

Diane Spaar

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDER:
ETHAN REES SPAAR IRREVOCABLE TRUST
By:

/s/ Diane Spaar

Name: Diane Spaar
Title:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDER:
JULIA ROSE SPAAR IRREVOCABLE TRUST
By:

/s/ Diane Spaar

Name: Diane Spaar
Title:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDER:
KEITH ALAN SPAAR JR. IRREVOCABLE TRUST
By:

/s/ Diane Spaar

Name: Diane Spaar
Title:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDER:
WILLA ANNE SPAAR IRREVOCABLE TRUST
By:

/s/ Diane Spaar

Name: Diane Spaar
Title:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDER:

/s/ Steven Skiba

Steven Skiba

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDER:

/s/ Michael Correale

Michael Correale

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDER:
GERALD C. RITTENBERG

/s/ Gerald C. Rittenberg

Gerald C. Rittenberg

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDER:
JAMES M. HARRISON

/s/ James M. Harrison

James M. Harrison

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDER:
MELNICK 2008 FAMILY TRUST
By:

/s/ Gregg Melnick

Name: Gregg Melnick
Title: Trustee

Exhibit 4.2

AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

by and among

PARTY CITY HOLDCO INC.,

THL PC TOPCO, L.P.,

ADVENT-PARTY CITY ACQUISITION LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

and

THE OTHER STOCKHOLDERS THAT ARE SIGNATORIES HERETO

Dated as of April 21, 2015


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section 1.

Definitions.

  1   

1.1.

Definitions.

  1   

1.2.

General Interpretive Principles.

  5   
Section 2.

Methodology for Calculations.

  6   
Section 3.

Corporate Governance.

  6   

3.1.

Board of Directors.

  6   

3.2.

Expenses and Indemnification.

  9   
Section 4.

Restrictions on Transfers of Stock by Stockholders.

  9   
Section 5.

Financial and Business Information.

  9   
Section 6.

Confidentiality.

  10   
Section 7.

Corporate Opportunities.

  10   
Section 8.

Termination.

  11   
Section 9.

Further Assurances.

  11   
Section 10.    

Amendment and Waiver.

  11   
Section 11.

Entire Agreement.

  11   
Section 12.

Successors and Assigns.

  12   
Section 13.

Severability.

  12   
Section 14.

Remedies.

  12   
Section 15.

Notices.

  12   
Section 16.

Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

  14   
Section 17.

No Publicity.

  15   
Section 18.

Company Logo.

  15   
Section 19.

Descriptive Headings.

  15   
Section 20.

Conflicting Agreements.

  15   
Section 21.

Counterparts.

  16   

 

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AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

This AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT (as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, the “ Agreement ”) dated as of April 21, 2015 is made by and among Party City Holdco Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), THL PC Topco, L.P. (the “ THL Party ”, which term includes any Affiliates of the foregoing which own Stock from time to time), Advent-Party City Acquisition Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (the “ Advent Party ”, which term includes any Affiliates of the foregoing which own Stock from time to time, and together with the THL Party, the “ Investor Stockholders ”), and the Persons listed as Management Holders on the signature pages hereto.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, on July 27, 2012, the Investor Stockholders, the Company and certain other parties entered into a Stockholders Agreement (the “ Prior Agreement ”);

WHEREAS, on the date hereof, the Company is consummating an initial public offering (the “ IPO ”) of its shares of Common Stock pursuant to an underwriting agreement dated April 15, 2015; and

WHEREAS, on the date hereof, the parties hereto desire to amend and restate the Prior Agreement in order to set forth their agreement with respect to certain rights and obligations associated with ownership of shares of capital stock of the Company.

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

Section 1. Definitions .

1.1. Definitions . As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Additional Unaffiliated Director ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(a) .

Advent Director ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(a)

Advent Party ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.

Affiliate ” means with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person, where “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management and policies of a Person whether through the ownership of voting securities, contract or otherwise. For the avoidance of doubt, neither the Company nor any Person controlled by the Company shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any Stockholder or of any Affiliate of any Stockholder.

 

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Agreement ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.

Board ” means the board of directors of the Company.

Cause ” shall have the meaning set forth below, except with respect to any Management Holder who is employed by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries pursuant to an effective written employment agreement, if any, between the Company and/or one of its Subsidiaries and such Management Holder in which there is a definition of “Cause,” in which event the definition of “Cause” as set forth in such employment agreement shall be deemed to be the definition of “Cause” herein solely for such Management Holder and only for so long as such employment agreement remains effective. In all other events, the term “Cause” shall mean the Board has determined, in its reasonable judgment, that any one or more of the following has occurred: (a) the Management Holder shall have been convicted of, or shall have pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to, any felony or any crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude; (b) the Management Holder shall have committed any fraud, theft, embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, breach of fiduciary duty or act of dishonesty; (c) the Management Holder shall have breached in any material respect any of the provisions of any agreement between the Management Holder and the Company or its Affiliates, including, without limitation, this Agreement; (d) the Management Holder shall have engaged in conduct likely to make the Company or any of its Affiliates subject to criminal liabilities other than those arising from the Company’s normal business activities; or (e) the Management Holder shall have willfully engaged in any other conduct that involves a breach of fiduciary obligation on the part of the Management Holder or otherwise could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect upon the business, interests or reputation of the Company or any of its Affiliates.

Certificate of Incorporation ” means the certificate of incorporation of the Company as in effect from time to time.

Chief Executive Officer ” means the chief executive officer of the Company then in office.

Common Stock ” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company and any and all securities of any kind whatsoever of the Company which may be issued after the date of this Agreement in respect of, or in exchange for, such shares of common stock of the Company pursuant to a merger, consolidation, stock split, stock dividend or recapitalization of the Company or otherwise.

Common Stock Equivalents ” means all securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for (at any time or upon the occurrence of any event or contingency and without regard to any vesting or other conditions to which such securities may be subject) (i) shares of Common Stock or (ii) other Equity Securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for (at any time or upon the occurrence of any event or contingency and without regard to any vesting or other conditions to which such securities may be subject), Common Stock.

Company ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.

Equity Securities ” means any capital Stock or other equity security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including Common Stock and Common Stock Equivalents.

 

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Executive Chairman ” means the executive chairman of the Board.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect from time to time.

Group ” means two or more Persons who agree to act together for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of Stock.

Investor Stockholders ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Investor Stockholder Party ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7 .

Issue ” means to issue or in any other way directly or indirectly sell or exchange, or agree to issue, sell or exchange, any security or any legal or beneficial interest therein.

Majority Management Holders ” means the Senior Management Holders holding a majority of the aggregate Voting Shares held by the Senior Management Holders.

Management Holder ” means any current or former director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or any Affiliate of such Person (other than the Investor Stockholders and the Sponsor Directors)) who is a Stockholder and any Permitted Management Holder Transferee who is a Stockholder.

Minimum Percentage ” means, at any given time, a fraction (expressed as a percentage), with the numerator being the number of shares, in the aggregate, held by such Stockholder at such time and the denominator being the number of shares of Common Stock, in the aggregate, held by such Stockholder immediately following the closing of the IPO (including any additional closing pursuant to the underwriters’ over-allotment option).

Necessary Action ” means, with respect to any party and a specified result, all actions (to the extent such actions are permitted by law and within such party’s control) necessary to cause such result, including (i) voting or providing a written consent or proxy with respect to the Common Stock, (ii) causing the adoption of stockholders’ resolutions and amendments to the organizational documents of the Company, (iii) executing agreements and instruments, and (iv) making, or causing to be made, with governmental, administrative or regulatory authorities, all filings, registrations or similar actions that are required to achieve such result.

Option Plan ” means the Company’s 2012 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

Option Stock ” means Common Stock received upon the exercise of Common Stock Equivalents (including Plan Options and Plan Stock Appreciation Rights).

Permanent Disability ” shall have the meaning set forth below, except with respect to any Management Holder who is employed by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries pursuant to an effective written employment agreement, if any, between the Company and/or one of its Subsidiaries and such Management Holder in which there is a definition of “Permanent Disability,” in which event the definition of “Permanent Disability” as set forth in such

 

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employment agreement shall be deemed to be the definition of “Permanent Disability” herein solely for such Management Holder and only for so long as such employment agreement remains effective. In all other events, the term “Permanent Disability” shall mean: a determination by independent competent medical authority (selected by the Board) that the Management Holder is unable to perform his duties and in all reasonable medical likelihood such inability shall continue for a consecutive period of 90 days or for a period in excess of 120 days in any 365 day period.

Permitted Management Holder Transferee ” means any transferee who obtained Stock as a direct or indirect result of a Permitted Management Transfer by a Management Holder.

Permitted Management Transfer ” means any Transfer of Stock by a Management Holder (i) to spouses, children, and exclusive benefit trusts, in each case, so long as such Management Holder retains voting control of such Stock, (ii) to the Company or (iii) upon the death of an individual Management Holder, pursuant to the terms of any trust or will of the deceased individual Management Holder or by the laws of intestate succession.

Person ” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, limited or general partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, governmental entity or agency or other entity of any kind or nature.

Plan Options ” means, options to purchase Common Stock of the Company pursuant to the Option Plan.

Plan Stock Appreciation Rights ” means the right to receive Common Stock or cash payments in connection with the appreciation of a specified number of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Option Plan.

Prior Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Proprietary Information ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6 .

Registration Rights Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated April 21, 2015, among the Company, the Investor Stockholders and certain other parties, as amended from time to time.

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or such other federal agency which at such time administers the Securities Act.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC issued under such Act, as they may from time to time be in effect.

Senior Management Holders ” means the Management Holders who, as of the date hereof, each hold at least 56,000 shares of Common Stock and each of whom is an “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act) or, if not an accredited investor, has retained a “purchaser representative” (as defined in Rule 501(h) under the Securities Act) or has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that he or she is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the action(s) contemplated.

 

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Sponsor Directors ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(a) .

Stock ” means any shares of Common Stock or of any other class or series of authorized capital stock of the Company, whether owned, issued or authorized on the date of this Agreement or hereafter, including any Option Stock but excluding any Plan Options.

Stockholders ” means the parties to this Agreement (other than the Company) and any other subsequent holder of Stock who agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity of which shares of capital stock or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other similar managing body of such corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity are at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person, or (ii) the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person.

THL Director ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(a)

THL Party ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.

THL Supplemental Director ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(b)(ii) .

Transfer ” means to transfer, sell, assign, distribute, pledge, encumber, hypothecate, assign, exchange, or in any other way directly or indirectly dispose of, in whole or in part, either voluntarily or involuntarily, including by gift, by way of merger (forward or reverse) or similar transaction, by operation of law or otherwise, any security or any legal or beneficial interest therein, including the grant of an option or other right or interest that would result in the transferor no longer having the economic consequences of ownership in, or the power to vote, such security.

Trigger Date ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(f)

Unaffiliated Director ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1 .

Voting Shares ” means, at any time, any securities of the Company, the holders of which are generally entitled to vote for the election of directors to the Board (including all outstanding shares of Common Stock).

1.2. General Interpretive Principles . When a reference is made in this Agreement to a Section, Schedule or Exhibit such reference shall be to a Section of, or a Schedule or Exhibit to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words “ include ,” “ includes ” or “ including ” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “ without limitation .” The words “ hereof ,” “ herein ” and “ hereunder ” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole (including the Schedules and Exhibits) and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any document made or delivered pursuant hereto unless

 

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otherwise defined therein. The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires, any noun or pronoun shall be deemed to cover all genders. Any statute, rule, order or regulation defined or referred to in this Agreement or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to in this Agreement shall mean such statute, rule, order or regulation as from time to time amended, updated, modified, supplemented or superseded, including by succession of comparable successor statutes, rules, orders or regulations and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein. Where specific language is used to clarify by example a general statement contained herein, such specific language shall not be deemed to modify, limit or restrict in any manner the construction of the general statement to which it relates. 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.

Section 2. Methodology for Calculations . Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, for purposes of calculating (a) the amount of outstanding shares of Common Stock as of any date and (b) the amount of shares of Common Stock owned by a Person hereunder (and the percentage of the outstanding shares of Common Stock owned by a Person hereunder), no Common Stock Equivalents of the Company shall be treated as having been converted, exchanged or exercised. In the event of any stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split, any combination of the shares of Stock or any similar event, with respect to all references in this Agreement to a Stockholder or Stockholders holding a number of shares of Stock, the applicable number shall be appropriately adjusted to give effect to such stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split, any combination of the shares of Stock or similar event.

Section 3. Corporate Governance .

3.1. Board of Directors .

(a) Composition of Initial Board. Concurrently with the effectiveness of this Agreement, the Company, the Investor Stockholders and the Management Holders shall take all Necessary Action to cause the Board to be comprised of nine directors, (i) three of whom shall be designated by the THL Party (each such director, a “ THL Director ”), (ii) two of whom shall be designated by the Advent Party (each such director, an “ Advent Director ” and together with the THL Directors, the “ Sponsor Directors ”), (iii) one of whom shall be the Chief Executive Officer, (iv) one of whom shall be the Executive Chairman and (v) two of whom shall be independent directors who meet the independence criteria set forth in Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act (each such director, an “ Unaffiliated Director ”). Within one year of the effectiveness of this Agreement, the Company, the Investor Stockholders and certain other Management Holders shall take all Necessary Action to cause the Board to increase in size by one director to 10 directors and to fill such vacancy with one additional Unaffiliated Director (the “ Additional Unaffiliated Director ”) who shall be appointed by a majority of the Board, which majority must include at least one THL Director. Each of the foregoing directors shall be divided into three classes of directors, each of whose members shall serve for staggered three-year terms as follows:

 

  (A) the class I directors shall include one THL Director, one Advent Director and one Unaffiliated Director, and their term will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2015;

 

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  (B) the class II directors shall include one THL Director, one Unaffiliated Director and the Chief Executive Officer, and their term will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2016; and

 

  (C) the class III directors shall include one THL Director, one Advent Director, the Executive Chairman and the Additional Unaffiliated Director, and their term will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2017.

For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 3.1(a) shall have no further force or effect after the Additional Unaffiliated Director is appointed to the Board.

(b) THL Representation.

(i) For so long as the THL Party holds a number of shares of Common Stock representing the Minimum Percentages shown below, the Company shall, and the Investor Stockholders and Management Holders shall take all Necessary Action to, include in the slate of nominees recommended by the Board for election as directors at each applicable annual or special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected, or pursuant to a written consent, that number of individuals designated by the THL Party that, if elected, will result in the THL Party having the number of directors serving on the Board that is shown below, and the other Investor Stockholders agree to vote in favor of such nominees.

 

Minimum Percentage

  

Number of THL Directors

30% or greater    3
Less than 30% but greater than or equal to 15%    2
Less than 15% but greater than or equal to 5%    1

(ii) In addition, for so long as the THL Party holds a number of shares of Common Stock representing Minimum Percentages shown below, upon receiving a written request from the THL Party, the Company, the other Investor Stockholders and the Management Holders will take all Necessary Action to cause the Board as soon as practicable to: (a) increase the size of the Board to permit the inclusion of the number of additional directors shown below on the Board and (b) appoint such directors to fill the vacancies created thereby as are specified by the THL Party. Any director so appointed (each, a “ THL Supplemental Director ”) shall be assigned to such class of directors to be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders that is latest to occur of the then-existing classes of directors. Thereafter, for so long as the THL Party holds a number of shares of Common Stock representing the Minimum Percentage shown below, in addition to any directors designated in accordance with Section 3.1(b)(i) , the Company shall, and the Investor Stockholders and the Management Holders shall take all Necessary Action to, include in the slate of nominees recommended for election as directors at each applicable annual or special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected, or pursuant to a written consent, that number of individuals designated by the THL Party that, if elected, will result in the THL Party having the number of THL Supplemental Directors serving on the Board that is shown below, and the other Investor Stockholders agree to vote in favor of such nominees.

 

Minimum Percentage

  

Number of THL Supplemental Directors

50% or greater    2
Less than 50% but greater than or equal to 40%    1

 

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(c) Advent Representation. For so long as the Advent Party holds a number of shares of Common Stock representing the Minimum Percentages shown below, the Company shall, and the Investor Stockholders and Management Holders shall take all Necessary Action to, include in the slate of nominees recommended by the Board for election as directors at each applicable annual or special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected, or pursuant to a written consent, that number of individuals designated by the Advent Party that, if elected, will result in the Advent Party having the number of directors serving on the Board that is shown below, and the other Investor Stockholders agree to vote in favor of such nominees.

 

Minimum Percentage

  

Number of Advent Directors

50% or greater    2
Less than 50% but greater than or equal to 20%    1

(d) The Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Chairman will serve on the Board, and the Investor Stockholders agree to vote in favor of the Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Chairman as directors.

(e) In the event that a vacancy is created at any time by the death, disability, retirement, resignation or removal of any THL Director or any Advent Director, the Company hereby agrees to take all Necessary Action to cause the vacancy created thereby to be filled as soon as practicable by a THL Director or an Advent Director, as the case may be, for so long as such Investor Stockholder has the right to designate an individual for nomination to the Board under this Agreement.

(f) For so long as the Investor Stockholders hold a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the “ Trigger Date ”), any director of the Company may be removed with our without cause by holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; provided , that the Investor Stockholders agree not to vote to remove each other’s directors without cause. At and following the Trigger Date, directors may only be removed for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75 percent of the voting power of the outstanding Stock.

(g) Subject to Section 3.1(b)(ii), the Board shall not, and the Company will take all Necessary Action to ensure that the Board shall not, consist of fewer than three or greater than 15 directors, the exact number of directors to be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board, including a majority of the Advent Directors and the THL Directors, voting together as a class.

(h) Upon any decrease in the number of directors that an Investor Stockholders is entitled to designate for nomination to the Board, such Investor Stockholder shall take all

 

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Necessary Action to cause the appropriate number of Sponsor Directors to offer to tender resignation. If such resignation is then accepted by the Board, the Company and the Investor Stockholders shall take all Necessary Action to cause the authorized size of the Board to be reduced accordingly.

(i) Except as required by applicable law, the business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board. At all meetings of the Board, a quorum shall consist of not less than a number of directors holding a majority of the votes held by all directors; provided , that until the Trigger Date, the attendance of at least one THL Director shall be required for a quorum to be present. At each meeting of the Board (or committee thereof) at which a quorum is present, each director shall be entitled to one vote on each matter to be voted on at such meeting. All actions of the Board shall require the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes held by all directors present at such meeting. Subject to applicable law, any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Board may also be taken by written consent of the members of the Board in lieu of a meeting.

(j) The Company and the Investor Stockholders shall take all Necessary Action to ensure that the composition of the Board complies with all applicable law and stock exchange rules upon loss of the “controlled company” exemption under the applicable stock exchange rules.

3.2. Expenses and Indemnification . The Company shall pay the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by each member of the Board in connection with performing his or her duties as a member of the Board, including the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such person for attending meetings of the Board or any committee thereof or meetings of any board of directors or other similar managing body (and any committee thereof) of any Subsidiary of the Company. The Company shall obtain customary director and officer liability insurance on commercially reasonable terms.

Section 4. Restrictions on Transfers of Stock by Stockholders . No Stockholder (other than any Investor Stockholder in accordance with paragraph (b) below) shall Transfer any Stock other than (i) pursuant to a Permitted Management Transfer, (ii) with the prior written consent of the THL Party or (iii) to any Person either (A) pursuant to the exercise of registration rights under the Registration Rights Agreement, or (B) pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, provided , that, until the Minimum Percentage of the THL Party is less than 10 percent, no Transfers shall be permitted under this clause (iii) if, after giving effect to any such Transfers, the Minimum Percentage held by such Stockholder and his Permitted Management Holder Transferee is less than the Minimum Percentage of the THL Party.

Section 5. Financial and Business Information . For so long as any Investor Stockholder, together with its Affiliates, has the right to designate a member of the Board the Company shall provide to such Investor Stockholder the following information (i) unaudited consolidated quarterly financial reports of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP for the first three fiscal quarters of each year, which shall be provided at the same time that the Company provides such financial reports to the Company’s lenders and no later than 60 days after the end of such fiscal quarter, (ii) audited consolidated

 

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annual financial reports of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP, which shall be provided at the same time that the Company is required to provide such financial reports to the Company’s lenders and no later than 120 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year, (iii) an annual consolidated budget for the Company and its Subsidiaries as approved by the Board no later than 90 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year, (iv) with respect to each Investor Stockholder, complete copies of the quarterly information packages distributed to the Company’s lenders at the same time the Company provides such information packets to the Company’s lenders and no later than 60 days after the end of each fiscal quarter and (v) all information that is provided to the Board in connection with any meeting thereof, which information shall be provided to all Investor Stockholders at the same time it is provided to the Board; provided , however , that each Stockholder receiving information pursuant to this Section 5 shall comply with the requirements of Section 6 herein.

Section 6. Confidentiality . Each Stockholder shall maintain the confidentiality of any confidential and proprietary information of the Company, including any information received by any Investor Stockholder pursuant to Section 5 hereof, (“ Proprietary Information ”) using the same standard of care, but in no event less than reasonable care, as it applies to its own confidential information; provided , however , that a Stockholder may disclose Proprietary Information (a) to its representatives in connection with monitoring its investment in the Company, (b) to any Affiliate, partner, limited partner, member, trustee, investor or related investment fund of such Stockholder and its and their respective investors, limited partners, directors, employees and consultants, in each case, in the ordinary course of business, or (c) as may otherwise be required by law, rule, regulation or self-regulatory organization, and further provided , that (i) such Proprietary Information provided pursuant to clauses (a) to (c)  above is identified prior to disclosure by the Stockholder to the recipient as requiring confidential treatment, and (ii) the disclosing Stockholder shall be responsible for the acts and omissions related to the Proprietary Information of any Person to whom such Stockholder discloses Proprietary Information (other than pursuant to clause (c)  above). “ Proprietary Information ” shall not include any information (a) that is publicly available (other than as a result of dissemination by such Stockholder) or a matter of public knowledge generally, (b) that was known to such Stockholder on a non-confidential basis, without, to such Stockholders’ knowledge, breach of any third party’s confidentiality obligations, prior to its disclosure by the Company, or (c) that is or was independently developed or conceived by such Stockholder without use of the Proprietary Information.

Section 7. Corporate Opportunities . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, and each of the Stockholders, hereby renounces any interest, duty or expectancy of the Company and its Subsidiaries in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities that are from time to time presented to any Investor Stockholder, any Affiliate of any Investor Stockholder or any director (or director of any Subsidiary of the Company) designated by any of the foregoing (each an “ Investor Stockholder Party ”) even if the opportunity is one that the Company or its Subsidiaries might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so and each Investor Stockholder Party shall have no duty to communicate or offer such business opportunity to the Company and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be liable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such Investor Stockholder Party

 

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pursues or acquires such business opportunity, directs such business opportunity to another Person or fails to present such business opportunity, or information regarding such business opportunity, to the Company or its Subsidiaries.

Section 8. Termination . Section 3 shall terminate automatically (without any action by any party hereto) as to each Investor Stockholder upon the time at which such Investor Stockholder no longer has the right to designate an individual for nomination to the Board under this Agreement; provided , that the provision in Section 3.2 shall survive such termination. The remainder of this Agreement shall terminate automatically (without any action by any party hereto) as to each Stockholder when such Stockholder ceases to hold any Shares; provided , that this Agreement shall terminate with respect to each such Management Holder at such time when (i) such Management Holder is not a director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or any Affiliate of such Person (other than the Investor Stockholders and the Sponsor Directors)), (ii) such Management Holder holds less than 1% of the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock and (iii) except where such Management Holder is terminated without Cause or for Good Reason (to the extent defined in any applicable employment agreement), six months have elapsed since such Management Holder was a director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

Section 9. Further Assurances . At any time or from time to time after the date of this Agreement, the parties agree to cooperate with each other, and at the request of any other party, to execute and deliver any further instruments or documents and to take all such further action as the other party may reasonably request in order to evidence or effectuate the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and to otherwise carry out the intent of the parties hereunder.

Section 10. Amendment and Waiver . Except as otherwise provided herein, no modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective against the Company or any Stockholder unless such modification, amendment or waiver is approved in writing by the THL Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment shall be made or waiver granted in a manner that adversely affects (i) the Advent Party without the prior written consent of such affected party, (ii) the Management Holders’ rights hereunder, to the extent that such amendment or waiver has a material and disproportionate impact or effect on the Management Holders’ as a Group as compared to the other Stockholders, without the prior written consent of the Majority Management Holders, or (iii) any particular Management Holder’s rights or obligations hereunder to the extent (and only to the extent) such particular Management Holder would be uniquely and adversely affected by such amendment or waiver, without the written consent of such Management Holder. The failure of any party to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and shall not affect the right of such party thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.

Section 11. Entire Agreement . This Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the other writings referred to herein or delivered pursuant hereto or which make specific reference to this Section 11 form a part hereof and contain the entire agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof 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.

 

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Section 12. Successors and Assigns . Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Company and its successors and assigns and each Stockholder and its successors, permitted assigns, heirs and personal representatives. Subject to compliance with the provisions of this Agreement, (i) each Investor Stockholder shall, at any time and without the consent of any other party hereto, have the right to assign all or part of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to one or more of its Affiliates or (ii) each Stockholder shall, at any time and without the consent of any other party hereto, have the right to assign all or part of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any Person to whom such Stockholder Transferred Stock in accordance with this Agreement; provided , however , that, without the prior written consent of the THL Party, the Advent Party shall not be permitted to assign any of its rights under Section 3 to any transferee other than an Affiliate of such person. Upon any such permitted assignment, such assignee shall have and be able to exercise and enforce all rights of the assigning party which are assigned to it and, to the extent such rights are assigned, any reference to the assigning Stockholder shall be treated as a reference to the assignee.

Section 13. Severability . Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be 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 or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

Section 14. Remedies . Each party hereto shall be entitled to enforce its rights under this Agreement specifically, to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing in its favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that money damages may not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the provisions of this Agreement and that each party may in its sole discretion apply to any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive relief (without posting a bond or other security) in order to enforce or prevent any violation of the provisions of this Agreement.

Section 15. Notices . All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder to any party shall be deemed to be sufficient if contained in a written instrument delivered in person or by telecopy (with a confirmatory copy sent by different means within three business days of such notice), nationally recognized overnight courier or first class registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to such party at the address set forth below and to any subsequent holder of Stock subject to this Agreement at such address as indicated by the Company’s records, or at such address or to the attention of such other person as may hereafter be designated in writing by such party to the other parties:

if to the Company to:

Party City Holdco Inc.

80 Grasslands Road

Elmsford, NY 10523

Facsimile: (914) 345-2056

Attention: Michael A. Correale

Email: MCorreale@amscan.com

 

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

Ropes & Gray LLP

Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02199-3600

Facsimile: (617) 235-0433

Attention: Julie H. Jones

Email: Julie.Jones@ropesgray.com

if to the THL Party, to:

c/o Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P.

100 Federal Street, 35th Floor

Boston, MA 02110

Facsimile: (617) 227-3514

Attention: Todd M. Abbrecht and Joshua M. Nelson

Email: TAbbrecht@THL.com

            JNelson@THL.com

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

Ropes & Gray LLP

Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02199-3600

Facsimile: (617) 235-0433

Attention: Julie H. Jones

Email: Julie.Jones@ropesgray.com

if to the Advent Party, to:

Advent International Corporation

75 State Street

Boston, MA 02109

Facsimile: (617) 951-9353

Attention: Jefferson M. Case and James Westra

Email: JCase@AdventInternational.com

            JWestra@AdventInternational.com

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

Ropes & Gray LLP

Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02199-3600

Facsimile: (617) 235-0433

Attention: Julie H. Jones

Email: Julie.Jones@ropesgray.com

 

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if to any Management Holder, to: such address indicated in the records of the Company:

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

Ropes & Gray LLP

Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02199-3600

Facsimile: (617) 235-0433

Attention: Julie H. Jones

Email: Julie.Jones@ropesgray.com

All such notices, requests, consents and other communications will be deemed to have been given hereunder when received.

Section 16. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial .

(a) This Agreement, including the validity hereof and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder, all amendments and supplements hereto and the transactions contemplated hereby, and all actions or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement, of any nature whatsoever, shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the domestic substantive laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice of law or conflicts of law provision or rule that might otherwise cause the application of the domestic substantive laws of any other jurisdiction. The parties hereto hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the Borough of Manhattan within the State of New York in connection with any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby (except for actions to enforce a judgment rendered by a state or federal court located in the Borough of Manhattan within the State of New York in connection with any dispute that arises out of this Agreement or any of the transactions), and each party hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which they may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such dispute brought in such court or any defense of inconvenient forum or lack of personal jurisdiction in respect of such dispute. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a judgment rendered in any such dispute may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.

(b) Each party hereto hereby waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any legal proceeding directly or indirectly arising out of, under or in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby. Each party hereto (i) 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 (ii) acknowledges that it and the other parties hereto have been induced to enter into this Agreement by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this Section 16 .

 

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Section 17. No Publicity .

(a) None of the Stockholders or the Company shall issue any public announcements or make any published statements regarding this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, without the prior written consent of the THL Party and the Advent Party; provided , that , this Section 17(a) shall not limit disclosures by any Stockholder if such disclosure is requested or required by applicable law or any governmental entity or self-regulatory organization having jurisdiction over such Stockholder or its Affiliates or any of its respective representatives or advisers, or that such Stockholder deems advisable to provide to such a governmental entity or self-regulatory organization, in each case whether in connection with an audit, examination or otherwise.

(b) The Company shall not, and shall ensure that its Affiliates and its and their respective officers, directors, employees and other representatives do not, without the prior written consent of the applicable Investor Stockholder, (i) use in advertising, publicity or otherwise the name of such Investor Stockholder, or any of its Affiliates, or the name of any member, stockholder, partner, manager or employee of such Investor Stockholder or any of its Affiliates or any trade name, trademark, trade device, logo, service mark, symbol or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof owned or used by such Investor Stockholder or any of its Affiliates, (ii) represent, directly or indirectly, that any product or any service provided by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company has been approved, endorsed, recommended or provided by, or in association with, such Investor Stockholder or any of its Affiliates after the date of this Agreement, or (iii) disclose the fact that such Investor Stockholder is a Stockholder of the Company.

Section 18. Company Logo . The Company hereby grants the Investor Stockholders permission to use the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ name and logo in marketing materials. The Investor Stockholders, or Affiliates of the Investor Stockholders, as applicable, shall include a trademark attribution notice giving notice of the Company’s ownership of its trademarks in the marketing materials in which the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ name and logo appear.

Section 19. Descriptive Headings . The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.

Section 20. Conflicting Agreements . Other than with respect to proxies or powers of attorney that one or more of the Investor Stockholders may have granted or grant to an Affiliate of such Investor Stockholder, each Stockholder represents and warrants that such Stockholder has not granted and is not a party to any proxy, voting trust or other agreement which conflicts with any provision of this Agreement, and no holder of Stock shall grant any proxy or become party to any voting trust or other agreement which conflicts with any provision of this Agreement.

 

-15-


Section 21. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts each of which shall be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

[ Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank ]

 

-16-


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Stockholders Agreement as of the day and year first written above.

 

PARTY CITY HOLDCO INC.
By:

/s/ Michael A. Correale

Name: Michael A. Correale
Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT]


THE THL PARTY:
THL PC TOPCO, L.P.
By: THL Equity Advisors VI, LLC,
its general partner
By: Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P.,
its sole member
By: Thomas H. Lee Advisors, LLC,
its general partner
By: THL Holdco, LLC,
its managing member
By:

/s/ Todd M. Abbrecht

Name: Todd M. Abbrecht
Title: Managing Director

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT]


THE ADVENT PARTY:
ADVENT-PARTY CITY ACQUISITION
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By: Advent-Party City GP, LLC,
its general partner
By:

/s/ Michael J. Ristaino

Name: Michael J. Ristaino
Title: Authorized Signatory

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT HOLDER:
CHARLES ARTHUR RITTENBERG 2008
TRUST

By:

/s/ Gerald Rittenberg

Name:

Gerald Rittenberg

Title:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT HOLDER:
JACK DOLLIVER RITTENBERG 2013 TRUST
By:

/s/ Gerald Rittenberg

Name: Gerald Rittenberg
Title:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT HOLDER:
THEODORE FREDERICK RITTENBERG 2014 TRUST
By:

/s/ Gerald Rittenberg

Name: Gerald Rittenberg
Title:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT HOLDER:
CRAIG M. RITTENBERG SELF-SETTLED TRUST U/A/D JUNE 28, 2008
By:

/s/ Gerald Rittenberg

Name: Gerald Rittenberg
Title:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT HOLDER:
GARRETT J. RITTENBERG SELF-SETTLED TRUST U/A/D JUNE 28, 2008
By:

/s/ Gerald Rittenberg

Name: Gerald Rittenberg
Title:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT HOLDER:
GERALD C. RITTENBERG

/s/ Gerald Rittenberg

Gerald C. Rittenberg

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT HOLDER:
BJM 2 LLC
By:

/s/ James M. Harrison

Name: James M. Harrison
Title: Managing Member

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT HOLDER:
RITTS ENTERPRISES LLC
By:

/s/ Gerald Rittenberg

Name: Gerald Rittenberg
Title:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT HOLDER:
HARRISON FAMILY 2010 TRUST
By:

/s/ James M. Harrison

Name: James M. Harrison
Title: Grantor

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT HOLDER:
JAMES M. HARRISON

/s/ James M. Harrison

James M. Harrison

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT HOLDER:

/s/ Gregg Melnick

Gregg Melnick

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT HOLDER:

/s/ Alice Tang

Alice Tang

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT HOLDER:

/s/ Diane Spaar

Diane Spaar

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT HOLDER:
ETHAN REES SPAAR IRREVOCABLE TRUST
By:

/s/ Diane Spaar

Name: Diane Spaar
Title:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT HOLDER:
JULIA ROSE SPAAR IRREVOCABLE TRUST
By:

/s/ Diane Spaar

Name: Diane Spaar
Title:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT HOLDER:
KEITH ALAN SPAAR JR. IRREVOCABLE TRUST
By:

/s/ Diane Spaar

Name: Diane Spaar
Title:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT HOLDER:
WILLA ANNE SPAAR IRREVOCABLE TRUST
By:

/s/ Diane Spaar

Name: Diane Spaar
Title:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT HOLDER:

/s/ Steven Skiba

Steven Skiba

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT HOLDER:

/s/ Michael Correale

Michael Correale

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT]


MANAGEMENT HOLDER:
MELNICK 2008 FAMILY TRUST
By:

/s/ Gregg Melnick

Name: Gregg Melnick
Title: Trustee

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT]